Connection terminal for connecting electrical conductors

Abstract

The utility model relates to a kind of wiring terminals for connecting electric wire, the electric wire is introduced into the wiring terminal in wire introduction direction (L), the wiring terminal has: a) at least one cutting clamp connector with blade opposite each other, cutting gap is formed between the blade, b) at least one pressing spring, the at least one pressing spring is configured to, electric wire is extruded into cutting gap by means of spring force, c) at least one holding device, the at least one holding device is configured to, pressing spring is kept in pre-tightening state, in the pre-tightening state, there is spring force for pressing electric wire into cutting gap, d) at least one trigger element, by operating the at least one trigger element, pressing spring can be disengaged with holding device, so that electric wire can be extruded into cutting gap by the spring force of the pressing spring.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a terminal block for connecting electrical wires, wherein the electrical wires are introduced into the terminal block in the wire introduction direction L, and the terminal block has:

[0002] a) At least one clamping connector having blades facing each other, forming a cutting gap between the blades.

[0003] b) At least one compression spring, said compression spring being configured to press the electrical wire into the cutting gap by means of spring force.

[0004] c) At least one retaining device configured to hold the pressing spring in a preloaded state, wherein a spring force is present to press the electrical wire into the cutting gap.

[0005] d) At least one triggering element, by manipulating the at least one triggering element, the pressing spring can be disengaged from the holding device, such that the wire can be squeezed into the cutting gap by the spring force of the pressing spring. Background Technology

[0006] Terminal blocks are known in various embodiments, for example, with spring-loaded clamping connectors. A connecting device for connecting wires, having a self-triggered piercing contact, is known from EP 1 463152B1. Utility Model Content

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to describe a further improved terminal block.

[0008] The aforementioned objective is achieved in the type of terminal block mentioned at the beginning by means that, by actuating a triggering element, at least a portion of the pressing spring can be displaced relative to the clip-on connector in the wire introduction direction. This allows for a particularly compact, thus small-structure, design of the terminal block with clip-on connector and automatic triggering technology. The terminal block can be implemented with a small number of components and correspondingly manufactured cost-effectively. The cutting gap or the plane formed by the blade can be, for example, substantially orthogonal to the wire introduction direction. Advantageously, the triggering element can be configured to be actuated in an actuation direction that is aligned or parallel to the wire introduction direction or extends at a relatively small angle relative to the wire introduction direction, particularly less than 15 degrees.

[0009] In the open position of the clip-on connector, the pressing spring is preloaded and held in place by the retaining device, for example, by the pressing section being held in place by the retaining device. The clip-on connector, also known as an IDC connector, is configured for direct electrical contact with an insulated conductor without prior removal of the insulation. This is achieved by pressing the conductor with its insulating sheath through a blade into the cutting gap, which cuts through the insulation and establishes electrical contact with the inner conductor. The blade may be, for example, forked.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the trigger element and the pressing spring are formed as an integral structural unit, particularly the pressing spring and the trigger element are molded as a single-piece structural unit, especially as a sheet metal component. This is particularly desirable for the design of terminals in compact embodiments with small structures. The trigger element can be configured as a component independent of the pressing spring. In this case, the trigger element is formed as an integral structural unit with the pressing spring by means of connection techniques, such as screwing, riveting and / or bonding and / or form-fitting connections. In a particularly advantageous design, the pressing spring can be molded as a single piece with the trigger element, for example, as a sheet metal component. For example, the pressing spring and the trigger element can be molded as a stamped and bent component made of sheet metal.

[0011] According to an advantageous design of this invention, a pressing spring has a pressing section and a fastening section. The pressing section contacts the electrical conductor to compress the conductor into a cutting gap. The fastening section secures the pressing spring to a portion of a clip-on connector or to another component of the terminal block. Therefore, the pressing section is in direct physical contact with the electrical conductor, meaning it directly transmits the pressing force to the conductor. The fastening section allows the pressing spring to be fixed relative to the spring force of the pressing section. For example, the fastening section can be coupled in a shape-fitting manner to the foot section of the clip-on connector.

[0012] According to an advantageous design of this invention, the trigger element is disposed between the fastening section and the pressing section. In this way, the trigger section is structurally integrated into the pressing element at its central location. If the pressing element is molded together with the trigger element as a one-piece sheet member, as mentioned above, the sheet member can extend from the fastening section to the trigger element and then further from the trigger element to the pressing section. The trigger element can also generate a portion of the spring force of the pressing spring.

[0013] According to a preferred design of this utility model, the pressing section is connected to the fastening section via a triggering element.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the terminal block has a bridging spring, through which the blades can be loaded with spring force in the direction pointing towards each other. This ensures the desired cutting pressure and contact pressure of the clip-on connector, which is particularly helpful when the clip-on connector is made of a material with no elastic properties or only relatively small elastic properties.

[0015] According to an advantageous design of this invention, the bridging spring is integrally formed with the pressing spring and / or the trigger segment. In this way, the bridging spring can be advantageously integrated into the overall construction of the pressing spring and the trigger element. For example, the bridging spring can also be formed as part of a stamped and bent sheet metal component. Alternatively, the bridging spring can be provided as a separate component at the pressing spring and / or the clip-on connector.

[0016] According to an advantageous design of this invention, the cutting clamp connector has at least two cutting clamping arms, wherein a cutting edge of the cutting clamp connector is provided at each cutting clamping arm. This allows for the simple and cost-effective manufacture of the cutting clamp connector. The cutting clamping arms can be arranged parallel to each other.

[0017] For example, the bridging spring may have spaced-apart pressing tabs that extend from the trigger section against the direction of the wire introduction and bridging the cutting clamping arm of the cut-and-clamp connector from the outside. The pressing tabs may be bent from the trigger section, for example, when integrally formed with it.

[0018] According to an advantageous design of this invention, one, several, or all of the cutting clamping arms extend beyond their respective cutting edges in a longitudinal direction parallel to the cutting gap to the end side of the cutting clamping arm. Correspondingly, one or more cutting clamping arms do not terminate directly at their respective cutting edges, but extend slightly in their longitudinal direction. In this region, the cutting clamping arms may be configured without cutting edges. In particular, the cutting clamping arms may be spaced apart from each other in this region such that electrical wires having a maximum specific wire cross-section for the terminal block can be introduced between the cutting clamping arms. This enables the electrical wires to be further guided in the wire introduction direction to a trigger element disposed behind the cutting clamping arm, so as to actuate the trigger element by means of pressure.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one retaining device is disposed at the cutter clamp connector. This has the advantage that the pressing spring and, in particular, the pressing section, can be held in the pre-tightened open position when using the cutter clamp connector. Correspondingly, no additional components are required to implement the retaining device. For example, at least one retaining device can be configured as at least one end side of the cutter clamping arm. In this case, the pressing section can lie flat on one or more end sides of the cutter clamping arm in the pre-tightened open position.

[0020] According to an advantageous design of this invention, if the conductor to be clamped applies an actuating force to the triggering element, the pressing spring at the holding device can disengage from the holding device. Therefore, if the conductor is introduced into the clip-on connector in the conductor introduction direction and its free end presses against the triggering element, the clamping process of the conductor at the clip-on connector can be triggered directly by the conductor itself. This advantageously enables the automatic connection function of the conductor.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the terminal block has an insulating material housing with at least one wire entry opening for accommodating an electrical wire in the wire entry direction, wherein a clip-on connector is disposed within the insulating material housing. The insulating material housing insulates the clip-on connector from the surrounding environment and protects it from environmental influences. In addition to the clip-on connector, other components of the terminal block, particularly a pressing spring, a triggering element, and / or a bridging spring, may also be disposed within the insulating material housing.

[0022] According to an advantageous design of this invention, the trigger element is positioned behind the clip-on connector in the wire introduction direction. This ensures that the trigger element is actuated by the wire at an appropriate moment during the insertion process when the wire is inserted into the clip-on connector, i.e., when the wire is sufficiently inserted into the clip-on connector.

[0023] The clip-on connector may have foot sections oriented at an angle relative to the cutting clamping arm, for example, substantially at a right angle. The foot sections may be configured to support and / or secure the clip-on connector within an insulating housing. The foot sections may also have solder contact sections, such as SMD solder joints, by means of which the clip-on connector can be soldered to a circuit board.

[0024] In the context of this invention, the indefinite term "one" should not be understood as a numeral. Therefore, if, for example, a component is referred to, it should be interpreted in the sense of "at least one component." If angles are described in degrees, they refer to a circle of 360 degrees (360°). Attached Figure Description

[0025] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0026] The attached diagram shows:

[0027] Figure 1 The terminal block is shown in the open position in the perspective view.

[0028] Figure 2 Another embodiment is shown in the side view, depicting the terminal block in the open position.

[0029] Figure 3 The figure shows the clamped position according to Figure 2 The wiring terminals,

[0030] Figure 4 The basis shown in section AA Figure 3 The wiring terminals. Detailed Implementation

[0031] exist Figure 1 The terminal block 1 shown has a clip-on connector 3, a pressing spring 4, a retaining device 7, and a trigger element 42. The clip-on connector 3 is configured as a bent sheet metal member having a foot section 30 and two cutting arms 32 extending at an angle from the foot section 30 and arranged substantially parallel to each other. Each cutting arm 32 has a cutting edge 33 of the clip-on connector 3. There is a cutting gap 34, for example, V-shaped, between the cutting edges 33. The cutting arms 32 extend beyond the corresponding cutting edge 33 to the end side 35. The cutting arms 32 are spaced apart from each other in the upper region, that is, between the cutting edge 33 and the end side 35, so that an electrical wire can be introduced therebetween.

[0032] The pressing spring 4 is configured to compress the electrical wire into the cutting gap 34 by means of spring force. The pressing spring 4 has a pressing section 44 configured to directly contact the electrical wire in order to compress it into the cutting gap 34. The pressing spring 4 also has a fastening section 40 by means of which the pressing spring 4 is connected to the foot section 30, for example by means of the shape-fitting of a tab 41 laterally bent around the foot section 30 by means of the fastening section 40. Alternatively, the pressing spring 4 may also be fastened to another component of the terminal block 1 via its fastening section 40.

[0033] The pressing spring 4 also has a trigger section 42 as an integral structural unit, which forms the rear wall type of the device shown. Thus, the pressing spring 4 extends one piece from the fastening section 40 to the trigger section 42 and further one piece from there to the pressing section 44, wherein a retaining section 43 may also be formed between the trigger section 42 and the pressing section 44.

[0034] The retaining device 7 is used to hold the pressing spring 4 in the open position, that is, in the pre-tightened state, in which there is a spring force for pressing the electrical wire into the cutting gap 34. Figure 1 Terminal 1, also in the open position, is shown. In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining device 7 is formed by a cutting clamping arm 32 and, in particular, its end side 35. The pressing section 44 of the pressing spring 4 or the retaining section 43 connected to the pressing section 40 is supported on the end side 35 of the cutting clamping arm 32 in the case of spring preload.

[0035] Now, if the electrical wire is introduced into the cutting clamp connector 3 through the free space between the cutting clamping arms 32 above the blade 33 and pressed against the trigger section 42, this causes the pressing section 44 and the possibly present retaining section 43 to shift in the direction of wire introduction, that is, in the direction along which the electrical wire is introduced between the cutting clamping arms 32. If the pressing section 44 is sufficiently shifted, the pressing section 44 or the retaining section 43 disengages from the end side 35 and then moves downward toward the blade 33 by spring preload. Thus, the pressing section 44 presses the electrical wire against the blade 33, thereby cutting the insulation of the electrical wire and the internal electrical contact wire.

[0036] exist Figure 1 The terminal block 1 shown may additionally have an insulating housing; however, this is in Figure 1 Not shown in the image. According to... Figures 2 to 4 An embodiment of the terminal block 1 having an insulating material housing 2 is described. The insulating material housing 2 has a wire introduction opening 20. An electrical wire 9 can be introduced into the insulating material housing 2 through the wire introduction opening 20 in the wire introduction direction L and connected to the clip-on connector 3.

[0037] The clip-type connector 3, the pressing spring 4, and the retaining device 7 can be, for example, similar to those according to... Figure 1 As described. Additionally, the terminal block 1 may have an actuating element 5, for example in the form of an actuating lever or actuating press, by means of which the press spring 4 can be turned to the open position, that is, to the pre-tightened state, in which the pressing section 44 or the holding section 43 is held at the holding device 7. Figure 2An embodiment of the actuating element 5 as a pivotable actuating lever is shown. The actuating element 5 has a lever arm 50 at which the actuating lever can be manually operated by a user. The actuating element 5 can, for example, pivot about a rotation axis 51. The actuating element 5 has a spring-loaded member 52 that can press against a retaining section 43 when the actuating element 5 is correspondingly manually operated, so as to turn the pressing spring 4 to the open position.

[0038] Figure 2 The terminal 1 is shown in the open position. The electrical wire 9 has been slightly inserted into the insulating housing 2, but has not yet contacted the trigger section 42. Figure 3 The figure shows the clamped position according to Figure 2 Terminal 1. The wire 9 is pressed against the trigger section 42, thereby the holding section 43 is disengaged from the holding device 7, and correspondingly, by the pre-tightened pressing spring 4, the wire 9 is pressed against the blade 33 by the pressing section 44.

[0039] Figure 4 Showing according to Figure 3 The terminal 1 is marked in section AA. It can be seen that terminal 1 can have a bridging spring 6 as an additional component, by which the cutting arms 32 can be loaded with spring force in a direction pointing towards each other, so as to ensure the desired cutting pressure and contact pressure in this way. For example, the bridging spring 6 can extend from the rear section 60, which can be fastened to the trigger section 42, to the cutting clamping arm 32 against the wire introduction direction L by means of a laterally arranged pressing tab 61 and apply the aforementioned spring force to the cutting clamping arm. The bridging spring 6 can also be formed in one piece with the pressing spring 4, for example, in one piece with the trigger section 42. In this case, the rear section 60 can be omitted. Then, the pressing tab 61 can be formed directly in one piece with the trigger section 42 and bent from it.

[0040] List of reference numerals

[0041] 1 terminal block

[0042] 2. Insulating material housing

[0043] 3-cut clamp connector

[0044] 4. Pressing spring

[0045] 5 control elements

[0046] 6-Jump Spring

[0047] 7. Holding equipment

[0048] 9 electrical wires

[0049] 20 wires introduced into the opening

[0050] 30 foot section

[0051] 32 Cutting Clamping Arm

[0052] 33 blades

[0053] 34 Cutting gap

[0054] 35 end side

[0055] 44 Pressing Section

[0056] 40 Fastening Section

[0057] 41 splicing

[0058] 42 trigger section

[0059] 43. Maintaining Section

[0060] 50 lever arm

[0061] 51 Rotation axis

[0062] 52 Spring Carrier

[0063] 60 rear section

[0064] 61 Press-fit piece

[0065] L-direction of wire introduction

Claims

1. A terminal block (1) for connecting an electrical conductor, capable of introducing an electrical conductor into the terminal block (1) in the conductor introduction direction (L), the terminal block having: a) At least one clip-type connector (3) having blades (33) facing each other, forming a cutting gap (34) between the blades. b) At least one compression spring (4), said compression spring being configured to compress the electrical wire into the cutting gap (34) by means of spring force. c) At least one retaining device (7) configured to retain the pressing spring (4) in a pre-tensioned state, in which a spring force is present to press the electrical wire into the cutting gap (34). d) At least one triggering element (42), by manipulating the at least one triggering element, the pressing spring (4) can be disengaged from the holding device (7), such that the spring force of the pressing spring can compress the wire into the cutting gap (34). Its features are, e) By manipulating the trigger element (42), at least a portion of the pressing spring (4) can be displaced relative to the clip-on connector (3) in the wire introduction direction (L).

2. The terminal block according to claim 1, characterized in that, The trigger element (42) together with the pressing spring (4) constitutes an integral structural unit, and in particular, the pressing spring (4) together with the trigger element (42) is formed as a one-piece structural unit, especially as a sheet metal component.

3. The terminal block according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The pressing spring (4) has a pressing section (44) and a fastening section (40), the pressing section contacting the electrical wire to press the electrical wire into the cutting gap (34), and the pressing spring (4) being fastened to a part of the clip-on connector (3) or to another component of the terminal block (1) by means of the fastening section.

4. The terminal block according to claim 3, characterized in that, The trigger element (42) is disposed between the fastening section (40) and the pressing section (44).

5. The terminal block according to any one of claims 3 to 4, characterized in that, The pressing section (44) is connected to the fastening section (40) via the trigger element (42).

6. The terminal block according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The terminal block (1) has a bridging spring (6) through which the blades (33) can be loaded with spring force in the direction pointing towards each other.

7. The terminal block according to claim 6, characterized in that, The bridging spring (6) is integrally formed with the pressing spring (4) and / or the trigger element (42).

8. The terminal block according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The at least one retaining device (7) is disposed at the clip-type connector (3).

9. The terminal block according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The cutting clamp connector (3) has at least two cutting clamping arms (32), wherein the blade (33) is provided at each cutting clamping arm (32).

10. The terminal block according to claim 9, characterized in that, One, more or all of the cutting clamping arms (32) extend beyond their respective cutting edges (33) in a longitudinal direction parallel to the cutting gap to the end side (35) of the cutting clamping arm (32).

11. The terminal block according to any one of claims 9 to 10, characterized in that, The at least one holding device (7) is configured in the form of at least one end side (35) of the cutting clamping arm (32).

12. The terminal block according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, If the wire to be clamped applies a manipulating force to the trigger element (42), the pressing spring (4) held at the retaining device (7) can disengage from the retaining device (7).

13. The terminal block according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The terminal block (1) has an insulating material housing (2) having at least one wire inlet opening (20) for accommodating an electrical wire in the wire inlet direction (L), wherein the clip-on connector (3) is disposed in the insulating material housing (2).

14. The terminal block according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The trigger element (42) is positioned behind the clip-on connector (3) in the direction of wire introduction (L).

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