Installation switching device with a terminal arrangement

Abstract

Installation switching device (1) with a terminal arrangement in a terminal compartment (18) of the installation switching device (1) accessible through an opening (20), with a terminal (10) for connecting a conductor (14) to the installation switching device (1), with a clamping spring (12) acting as a compression spring on the conductor end (16) for clamping the conductor end (16) against a support, wherein the terminal (10) comprises a busbar (102) with a terminal end (112) and an adjoining discharge area (114), wherein the busbar (102) has a window-like recess (116) at the terminal end (112) with a support edge (118) and a clamping edge (120) opposite the support edge (118) at the transition of the terminal end (112) into the discharge area (114), wherein the clamping spring (12) has a support leg (212), with which it is supported on the support edge (118) of the conductor rail (102),and wherein an arc section (214) and a clamping leg (216) are connected to the support leg (212), so that the conductor end (16) can be clamped between the clamping leg (216) and the clamping edge (120) as a counter-support, and a terminal cover part (22) covering the opening (20) with a test opening (236), wherein the terminal connection (10) is arranged in the terminal connection space (18) such that a part of the clamping spring (12) is associated with the test opening (236) in the terminal cover part (22) and thus an electrical test contact can be made from the outside when the terminal cover part (22) is in place, characterized in that the terminal connection space (18) is laterally bounded by housing broad sides (9) and is open at least towards a front face (4), that this opening (20) of the terminal connection space (18) is pivotably connected to a housing The terminal cover part (22) can be covered,which has a connection surface (24) with a number of connection openings (26) corresponding to the number of connecting conductors (14) to be connected, and guide means (28) for the connecting conductors (14) molded onto each connection opening (26), wherein spring actuating means (30) are molded onto the terminal cover part (22) and are designed such that, when the terminal cover part (22) pivots against the clamping spring (12), they actuate the clamping spring (12) in an opening manner, and wherein the spring actuating means (30) are formed by the guide means (28) for the connecting conductors (14) molded onto each connection opening (26).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a terminal connection for connecting a conductor to an installation switching device, comprising a clamping spring acting as a compression spring on the conductor end for clamping the conductor end to a support, according to the preamble of claim 1, as well as a terminal arrangement and an installation switching device with a terminal connection of the generic type.

[0002] From EP 1 575 130 A1, a generic terminal connection is known in which several insertion openings and a retaining opening are provided in a contact frame. The clamping spring is held at a first free end in the retaining opening on the contact frame, and at its second free end, it is divided by one or more slot-shaped recesses into a number of finger-like extensions corresponding to the number of insertion openings. Each extension is guided through one of the insertion openings, and a connecting conductor can be clamped in each of the insertion openings by one of the extensions. A connection part for attaching a further electrical outgoing conductor into the switching device is formed on the contact frame. The clamping spring is supported by a support edge at the transition between the contact frame and the connection part. The connection part is bent upwards in the direction of insertion of the connecting conductor.For the current path from a connected conductor to the terminal block, only a narrow web is available on the contact frame in a terminal connection according to EP 1 575 130 A1. Consequently, the contact resistance between the connected conductor and the other electrical outgoing conductor into the switching device is high. A separate connection window is available for each conductor to be connected, separated by a crossbar. This makes the terminal connection according to EP 1 575 130 A1 relatively wide, so that it does not fit into switching devices with only half a standard module width. A standard module width is defined as the 35 mm width specified in the German standard DIN EN 50022 for the modular unit of DIN rail devices. An installation switching device with half a standard module width therefore has a width of 17.5 mm.

[0003] Other devices of this type are known from the publications EP 1 432 077 A1, EP 1 641 079 A1, DE 202 06 763 U1, DE 196 54 611 A1, DE 203 12 861 U1, EP 1 575 130 A1, EP 1 672 741 A1, DE 10 2004 062 850 B3, EP 1 128 471 A1, GB 2 121 619 A and GB 2 095 925 A.

[0004] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a generic terminal connection for the screwless connection of one or more connecting conductors, which has a low contact resistance and can be installed in installation switching devices with only half a standard module width.

[0005] The problem is solved in a generic terminal connection by the characterizing features of claim 1.

[0006] According to the invention, the terminal connection comprises a busbar with a terminal end and an adjoining discharge area. The busbar has a window-like recess at the terminal end with a support edge and a clamping edge opposite the support edge at the transition from the terminal end to the discharge area. The clamping spring further comprises a support leg with which it is supported against the support edge of the busbar. An arc-shaped section connects to the support leg, and a clamping leg connects to the arc-shaped section, so that the conductor end can be clamped between the clamping leg and the clamping edge as a counter-support. The conductor end can be inserted into the window-like recess from the side of the arc-shaped section.

[0007] Because the clamping edge is located at the transition between the terminal end and the discharge area, the entire width of the busbar is available for current flow from the terminal conductor clamped to the discharge area, thus achieving low contact resistance. Furthermore, the terminal end has only a window-like recess into which both terminal conductors can be clamped, if necessary.

[0008] This allows the terminal connection to be made so narrow that it can be installed in an installation switching device with only half a standard module width.

[0009] A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the busbar has an approximately U-shape, wherein the connecting end forms one leg of the U, and the discharge area is formed by the crossbar and the other leg of the U.

[0010] The clamping spring runs outside the U-shaped busbar, so that when installed in the terminal connection compartment of a switching device it is accessible there for an actuating tool or a clamping element.

[0011] According to an advantageous embodiment, a raised edge for attaching further conductors leading into the interior of the installation switching device can be provided at the free end of the other leg of the U.

[0012] According to a further embodiment, a discharge rail can also be integrally formed at the free end of the other U-leg. The discharge rail can run approximately perpendicular to the other U-leg, and the side of the connection end opposite the clamping edge can be supported on the discharge rail.

[0013] In another embodiment, to facilitate the clamping of two connecting conductors, the clamping leg of the clamping spring can be longitudinally slotted, so that two independently clampable partial springs are created.

[0014] A terminal arrangement according to the invention in a terminal connection space of an installation switching device accessible through a housing opening, with a terminal connection according to the invention, is characterized in that the terminal connection is arranged in the terminal connection space in such a way that a part of the busbar is accessible from the outside as a calibration contact surface.

[0015] Another terminal arrangement according to the invention in a terminal connection compartment of an installation switching device accessible through a housing opening, comprising a terminal connection according to the invention and a terminal cover part covering the housing opening with a test opening, is characterized in that the terminal connection is arranged in the terminal connection compartment in such a way that a part of the clamping spring is assigned to the test opening in the terminal cover part, and thus an electrical test contact can be made from the outside when the terminal cover part is attached.

[0016] In an installation switching device according to the invention, comprising a housing with two shell-shaped housing parts, a front and rear front side, a mounting side, front and rear narrow sides and wide sides, at least one terminal connection according to the invention is fixed in position in a terminal connection space of the housing.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of an installation switching device according to the invention, the terminal connection compartment is laterally bounded by the broad sides of the housing and is open at least towards the front, and the opening of the terminal connection compartment can be covered by a terminal cover part pivotably connected to the housing, which has a connection surface with a number of connection openings corresponding to the number of connecting conductors to be connected, as well as guide means for the connecting conductors molded onto each connection opening, and spring actuating means are molded onto the terminal cover part and are designed so that, when the terminal cover part is pivoted against the clamping spring, they actuate it in an opening manner.

[0018] In a further advantageous embodiment, the terminal cover is spring-loaded by the clamping spring in the opposite direction to the insertion of the external connecting conductor and can be pressed against the clamping spring. The spring actuating means can be formed by the guides for the connecting conductors molded onto each connection opening.

[0019] In an installation switching device according to the invention, one or more terminal connections arranged on the outgoing side according to the invention and one or more conventional screw terminals arranged on the input side can be arranged.

[0020] However, screwless terminal connections according to the invention can also be arranged on both the input and output sides.

[0021] Further advantageous embodiments and improvements of the invention and further advantages can be found in the dependent claims.

[0022] The invention, as well as further advantageous embodiments and improvements of the invention, will be explained and described in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which two embodiments of the invention are shown.

[0023] They show: Fig. 1: A schematic view of a terminal connection according to the invention in a first embodiment, Fig. 2: a view of the terminal connection according to Fig. 1. From a slightly angled top, Fig. 3: A view of the spring-loaded clamp of the installation switching device according to the invention. Fig. 1, in the open state, Fig. 4: a schematic view of a modification of the spring clamp according to Fig. 1 Fig. 5: a schematic partial sectional view of an installation switching device according to the invention

[0024] In the figures, identical or equivalent components or elements are each provided with the same reference numbers, even if they are designed in a slightly modified form in different versions.

[0025] The terminal connection 10 comprises a busbar 102 and a clamping spring 12. The busbar 102 includes a terminal end 112 and an adjoining discharge section 114. At the terminal end 112, it has a window-like recess 116 with a support edge 118 and a clamping edge 120 opposite the support edge 118. The clamping edge 120 is located at the transition from the terminal end 112 to the discharge section 114.

[0026] The clamping spring 12 has a support leg 212 with which it is supported against the support edge 118 of the busbar 102. The support can be provided such that the support leg 212 has a raised edge 228 at its free end, with which it partially encompasses the support edge 118 for the purpose of support.

[0027] A curved section 214 is attached to the support leg 212, and a clamping leg 216 is attached to the curved section. The conductor end 16 of a connecting conductor 14 (see Fig. 5) is inserted into the window-like recess 116 from the side of the arc piece 214 and can be clamped between the clamping leg 216 and the clamping edge 120, which acts as a buttress. The free end of the clamping leg 216 extends through the window-like recess 116.

[0028] The clamping leg 216 of the clamping spring 12 is slotted lengthwise along a slot 218, so that two independently clampable partial springs 13a, 13b are created, with which two connecting conductors 14 can be clamped independently of each other.

[0029] The busbar 102 has an approximately U-shaped base, with the terminal end 112 forming the first leg of the U, and the discharge area 114 being formed by a crossbar 220 and the second leg of the U 222. A raised section 224 is attached to the free end of the second leg of the U 222. Additional connecting conductors can be attached to this raised section 224, connecting the terminal 10 to other components within the switchgear housing, such as the trip assemblies. In particular, the connecting conductors can be welded or brazed to this raised section 224; screwing them in place is also possible.

[0030] In an alternative embodiment of a terminal connection, which is located in the Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the raised edge at the free end of the second leg of the U-shape 222 is extended to form a grounding rail 226. The grounding rail 226 is thus positively connected to the second leg of the U-shape 222; it points approximately perpendicularly from it towards the window-like recess 116 and projects beyond it. At the free end of the grounding rail 226 is a further raised edge 228, to which additional internal connecting conductors can be welded or riveted. The raised edge 228 can also be used directly as a terminal connection within the switching device. Overall, according to this embodiment, the busbar 102 has an outer contour resembling the lowercase letter "b". The terminal end 112 of the busbar 102 is supported against the grounding rail 226. This increases the mechanical stability of the terminal connection 10.

[0031] Furthermore, the advantage arises that the forces acting on terminal 10 when inserting and removing the connecting conductor are absorbed by this as a closed system, thus reducing forces on other elements of the installation switching device, such as the housing.

[0032] The busbar 102, for example, can be manufactured cost-effectively and easily in very large quantities and in a wide variety of shapes as a stamped and bent part. The clamping spring 12 can be made from a single piece of bent spring strip.

[0033] The Fig. Figure 5 shows a partial sectional view of the terminal connection space 18 of an installation switching device 1 according to the invention with the housing open, with a terminal connection 10 according to the invention fixed in position therein.

[0034] The installation switching device 1 has a housing part 2 joined together along a separation joint 2a (of which in the Fig. (5 only one housing part is shown) formed insulating housing with a front front side 4, a rear front side 5, a mounting side 6, a front narrow side 7, a rear narrow side 8, and housing wide sides 9.

[0035] The terminal connection compartment 18 is bounded laterally, i.e., towards its broad side, by the broad sides 9 of the insulating housing. Towards the front 4, an opening 20 of the terminal connection compartment 18 is formed by a recess in the rear front of the housing part 2. Through this opening, the terminal 10, which is fixed in position within the terminal connection compartment 18, is accessible for connecting conductors 14. Due to a further recess on the rear narrow side 8 of the housing part 2, the opening 20 of the terminal connection compartment 18 extends over the butt joint between the rear narrow side 8 and the rear front 5 into the rear narrow side 8. This offers the advantage of increased flexibility in the connection direction of the conductor 14.

[0036] The terminal connection 10 rests on a projection 110 formed on the inside of the housing's broad side 9 and is fixed in position within the terminal connection compartment 18 by means of webs 104 and pins 106, 108 in a manner known per se. The terminal connection 10, fixed in position within the terminal connection compartment 18, is thus located in the area of ​​the butt joint between the rear narrow side 8 and the rear front side 5.

[0037] The opening 20 of the terminal connection compartment 18 is covered by a terminal cover 22 which is pivotably connected to the housing. The terminal cover 22 is approximately L-shaped, with the two legs formed by cover plates positioned at an angle to each other.

[0038] The first cover plate covers the terminal connection compartment 18 towards the rear front side 5 and has a connection surface 24 with two connection openings 26, through each of the connection openings 26 a connecting conductor 14 can be connected.

[0039] The second cover plate covers the terminal connection compartment 18 towards the rear narrow side 8 and has an externally accessible, manually actuated pressure surface 230. At its free edge, the second cover plate has a semi-open, tube-like cavity, by which it is rotatably mounted in a pivot pin 232 connected to the housing's wide side 9. By applying pressure to the pressure surface 230, the terminal cover part 22 can thus be pivoted around the free edge of the second cover plate towards the clamping spring. A projection 234 on the housing wall, which serves as a stop, prevents the terminal cover part 22 from falling out.

[0040] On the first cover plate of the terminal cover part 22, tubular hollow bodies 28, forming an insertion channel, are attached to each of the connection openings 26, aligned with the clamping spring 12. These serve simultaneously as guides for the connecting conductor 14 to be inserted and as spring actuating elements. When the terminal cover part 22 is pivoted around the pivot pin 232 towards the clamping spring 12 by pressure on the pressure surface 230, the hollow bodies 28 push the clamping leg 216 in the clamping spring 12 away from the clamping edge 120 of the busbar 102, so that space is created between the clamping edge 120 and the clamping leg 216 for inserting the conductor end 16 of the connecting conductor 14. Fig. Figure 5 shows this condition.

[0041] When the pressure surface 230 of the terminal cover part 22 is released after the conductor end has been inserted, the clamping leg 216 of the clamping spring 12, due to its spring force, pushes the terminal cover part 22 outwards again via the hollow bodies 28 and simultaneously clamps the end 16 of the connecting conductor 14 against the clamping edge 120 of the window-like recess 116.

[0042] In the embodiment according to Fig. In the connection surface 24 of the terminal cover part 22, two connection openings 26 are provided, and behind each connection opening 26, a tubular hollow body 28 is integrally formed on the connection surface as a guide for the connecting conductor and as a spring actuating element 30. Each connection opening 26 and each guide 28 is assigned to one of the two partial clamping springs 13a, 13b, as formed by the slot 218 in the clamping spring 12. Thus, if two connecting conductors are to be connected, a connecting conductor 14 is inserted through each of the two connection openings 26 and clamped by one of the partial clamping springs 13a, 13b, respectively. The separation and guidance of the connecting conductors 14 takes place in the hollow bodies 28 that serve as guides for the connecting conductors 14; therefore, no separate guiding or disconnecting devices are required at the terminal connection 10.In particular, it is not necessary to divide the recess 116 into two receiving spaces by means of a bridge. The terminal connection 10 can therefore be designed very simply and narrowly, so that it can be installed in a switching device with a half-module width.

[0043] The spring force of the clamping spring 12 presses the clamping cover part 22 outwards against the projection 234 in the rest state, so that the clamping cover part always assumes a defined position in the rest state.

[0044] The terminal cover thus fulfills two functions: firstly, guiding the connecting conductors, and secondly, acting as a spring-loaded actuating tool. Without an external actuating tool for the clamping spring, both rigid and flexible conductor ends can be clamped and removed from the terminal using the device according to the invention.

[0045] Of course, there could also be an additional slot in the connection surface 24 of the terminal cover part 22, through which an external tool could then be inserted to actuate the clamping spring 12.

[0046] A test opening 236 is also provided in the connection surface 24. The clamping spring 12 can be electrically contacted through this test opening 236 using a test probe.

[0047] In the Fig.In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the connection surface 24 of the terminal cover part 22 is inclined towards the rear front face 5. The guide means 28 are approximately perpendicular to the connection surface 24. The angle of inclination at which the connecting conductor 14 is inserted into the terminal is therefore determined by the angle of inclination of the connection surface 24. An embodiment is also conceivable in which the connection surface 24 runs approximately parallel to the rear front face 5, and the guide means 28 are inclined relative to the connection surface 24. In this case, the angle of inclination at which the connecting conductors 14 are inserted into the terminal is determined by the angle of inclination of the guide means 28 relative to the connection surface 24.

[0048] The terminal cover part 22 can be manufactured very cheaply as an injection-molded part made of plastic in a single injection molding process. Reference symbol list 1 installation switching device 2 Housing part 2a Separation joint 4 Front 5 Rear Front 6 Mounting side 7 Front narrow side 8 Rear narrow side 9 Case side 10 Screwless terminal connection 12 clamping springs 13a, b Partial spring 14 connecting conductors 16 ladder ends 18 terminal connection compartment 20 Opening 22 Terminal cover part 24 connection area 26 Connection opening 28 Guide elements, hollow bodies 30 spring actuators 102 busbar 104 Bridge 106 cones 108 cones 110 lead 112 End of connection 114 Drainage area 116 Window-like recess 118 Support edge 120 clamping edge 212 Support legs 214 pieces of sheet 216 clamping legs 218 slots 220 crossbeam 222 Second leg of the U 224 Upstand 226 Discharge rail 228 Upstand 230 printing area 232 joint pins 234 lead 236 Test opening

Claims

[1] Installation switching device (1) with a terminal arrangement in a terminal compartment (18) of the installation switching device (1) accessible through an opening (20), with a terminal (10) for connecting a conductor (14) to the installation switching device (1), with a clamping spring (12) acting as a compression spring on the conductor end (16) for clamping the conductor end (16) against a support, wherein the terminal (10) comprises a busbar (102) with a terminal end (112) and an adjoining discharge area (114), wherein the busbar (102) has a window-like recess (116) at the terminal end (112) with a support edge (118) and a clamping edge (120) opposite the support edge (118) at the transition of the terminal end (112) into the discharge area (114), wherein the clamping spring (12) has a support leg (212) with which it is supported on the support edge (118) of the conductor rail (102),and wherein an arc section (214) and a clamping leg (216) are connected to the support leg (212), so that the conductor end (16) can be clamped between the clamping leg (216) and the clamping edge (120) as a counter-support, and a terminal cover part (22) covering the opening (20) with a test opening (236), wherein the terminal connection (10) is arranged in the terminal connection space (18) such that a part of the clamping spring (12) is associated with the test opening (236) in the terminal cover part (22) and thus an electrical test contact can be made from the outside when the terminal cover part (22) is in place, , characterized by, that the terminal connection compartment (18) is laterally bounded by housing broad sides (9) and is open at least towards a front front (4), that this opening (20) of the terminal connection compartment (18) can be covered by the terminal cover part (22) pivotably connected to a housing, which has a connection surface (24) with a number of connection openings (26) corresponding to the number of connecting conductors (14) to be connected, and guide means (28) for the connecting conductors (14) molded onto each connection opening (26), wherein spring actuating means (30) are molded onto the terminal cover part (22) and are designed such that, when the terminal cover part (22) is pivoted against the clamping spring (12), they actuate the clamping spring (12) in an opening manner, and wherein the spring actuating means (30) are formed by the guide means (28) for the connecting conductors (14) molded onto each connection opening (26). [2] Installation switching device (1) according to claim 1, characterized byone or more screwless terminal connections (10) arranged on the outgoing side and one or more screw terminals arranged on the incoming side. [3] Installation switching device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by one or more screwless terminals arranged on the outgoing side and one or more screwless terminals arranged on the incoming side (10). [4] Installation switching device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the end of the ladder (16) can be inserted into the window-like recess (116) from the side of the arched piece (214). [5] Installation switching device (1) according to claim 4, characterized by , that the busbar (102) has approximately a U-shape, with the terminal end (112) forming one leg of the U, and the discharge area (114) being formed by the crossbar (220) and the other leg of the U. [6] Installation switching device (1) according to claim 5, characterized by, that the clamping spring (12) runs outside the U-shaped busbar, so that when installed in the terminal connection compartment (18) of the installation switching device (1) it is positioned there for a An operating tool or clamping element is accessible. [7] Installation switching device (1) according to claim 6, characterized by , that a raised edge (224) is provided at the free end of the other leg of the U for attaching additional conductors. [8] Installation switching device (1) according to claim 6, characterized by , that a discharge rail (226) is formed at the free end of the other U-leg. [9] Installation switching device (1) according to claim 8, characterized by , that the discharge rail (226) runs approximately perpendicular to the other leg of the U and that the side of the connection end (112) opposite the clamping edge (120) is supported on the discharge rail (226). [10] Installation switching device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the clamping leg (216) of the clamping spring (12) is longitudinally slotted, so that two independently clampable partial springs (13a, 13b) are created.

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