Connection terminal

Abstract

Connection terminal (1) for connecting an electrical conductor (48) with: - an insulating housing (2) having a conductor insertion opening (15) which opens out at a conductor insertion end face (14) of the insulating housing (2), extends in a conductor insertion direction (L) and leads to a spring-loaded terminal connection, - a clamping spring (3) which is designed as a U-shaped leg spring with a contact leg (25, 45), a spring arch (26) adjoining the contact leg (25, 45) and a clamping leg (27, 47) adjoining the spring arch (26), - a busbar piece (4) which, together with the clamping leg (27, 47), forms the spring-loaded terminal connection, and - an actuating element (30, 41) which is displaceably mounted in the insulating housing (2) and has an actuating section (32, 43) designed to open the terminal spring (3), wherein - the actuating element (30, 41) has a pulling arm (42) which extends predominantly in the conductor insertion direction (L) and is led out at the conductor insertion end face (14) or the rear side (22) of the insulating material housing (2), which is opposite the conductor insertion end face (14), characterized in that the pulling arm (42) has two mutually spaced pulling arm sections (31, 42) which are guided past the clamping spring (3) on opposite sides of the end section of the clamping leg (27, 47) having a clamping edge (28), wherein the pulling arm sections (31, 42) are connected to one another by a transverse web (33, 44), and that the section of the clamping leg (27, 47) with the clamping edge (28, 50) has actuating side edges and the actuating sections (32, 43) on the Pull arm sections (31, 42) rest on the actuating side edges in order to push the clamping leg (27, 47) away from the busbar section (4) to open the clamping point,wherein the free end of the clamping leg (27) is cut free to form the exposed clamping edge (28) and is bent out relative to the actuating side edges of the clamping leg (27) in the direction of the busbar piece (4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a terminal for connecting electrical conductors with - an insulating housing having a conductor insertion opening which opens out at a conductor insertion end face of the insulating housing, extends in a conductor insertion direction and leads to a spring-loaded terminal connection, - a clamping spring which is designed as a U-shaped leg spring with a contact leg, a spring arch adjoining the contact leg and a clamping leg adjoining the spring arch, - a busbar piece, which together with the clamping leg forms the spring-loaded terminal connection, and - an actuating element which is slidably mounted in the insulating material housing and has an actuating section designed to open the terminal spring, wherein the actuating element has a pulling arm which extends predominantly in the conductor insertion direction and is led out at the conductor insertion end face or the rear side of the insulating material housing which is opposite the conductor insertion end face.

[0002] Connection terminals for electrical conductors are used in a variety of forms, for example, as box terminals for the electrically conductive connection of electrical conductors to a common busbar section, as terminal blocks that can be snapped onto a mounting rail, as PCB connection terminals that can be mounted on a printed circuit board, or for connectors. The electrical conductor is clamped to the busbar section with a clamping spring. At least to remove the electrical conductor, the terminal must be opened. This can be done using a separate operating tool (e.g., a screwdriver) or an operating element built into the connection terminal.

[0003] DE 101 03 187 B4 discloses a terminal block with a terminal housing made of insulating material and at least one clamping spring, as well as an actuating slide slidably mounted in the terminal housing. The terminal housing has a linearly extending housing opening on its upper side with a linear guide for the actuating slide, which is freely accessible from above.

[0004] DE 198 23 648 C1 shows a terminal block with an actuating element that is housed inside the insulating housing and can be moved using a screwdriver. The actuating element rests on a pressure surface of a cage clamp spring.

[0005] DE 195 12 371 A1 discloses a screwless terminal with a cage clamp spring and a lever system for opening the clamp spring, which has a pivoting lever.

[0006] DE 1 765 992 A describes a screwless connecting terminal with a leg spring. It has a contact section with two opposing spring arcs and adjoining clamping legs. To open the terminal for a conductor to be connected, flat slides protrude from the end face of the insulating housing. These slides are slidably accommodated in the insulating housing and engage a respective associated clamping contact leg of the leg spring.

[0007] The height of the connection terminals is relatively large.

[0008] The subsequently published DE 10 2015 212 898 A1 shows an electrical connector device with a cage clamp and an actuating pin having a cam profile with a tapered side and a grooved portion. The leg-like, rising rear portion of the cage clamp has a groove that accommodates the grooved portion of the actuating pin when the connection is closed.

[0009] JP H06-215 810 A discloses a connecting terminal for an electrical cable in which a clamping spring can be opened by means of a displaceable actuating element, the actuating element having a wedge shape.

[0010] DE 10 2008 052 626 A1 discloses a terminal block from the applicant comprising a clamping spring and an actuating element. By pivoting the actuating element using an actuating lever, an eccentric, cam-shaped part of the actuating element presses against a part of the clamping spring, thus opening the clamping spring.

[0011] Based on this, it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved connection terminal with the smallest possible size, in which a simple and reliable actuation of the at least one clamping spring for opening a terminal point is ensured while maintaining the required air and creepage distances.

[0012] The object is achieved with the connecting terminal having the features of claim 1 or claim 2. Advantageous embodiments are described in the subclaims.

[0013] It is proposed that the tension arm has two tension arm sections spaced apart from one another, which are guided past the clamping spring on opposite sides of the end section of the clamping leg with the clamping edge, wherein the tension arm sections are connected to one another by a crossbar, and that actuating tabs are projected laterally next to the end section of the clamping leg with the clamping edge and the actuating sections on the tension arm sections rest on the projected actuating tabs in order to press the clamping leg away from the busbar piece in order to open the clamping point.

[0014] By designing the actuating element as a pull arm which extends in the conductor insertion direction approximately parallel, i.e. predominantly or at an acute angle to the conductor insertion direction in the range of + / - 40° to the conductor insertion opening and protrudes either at the front of the insulating housing, in which the conductor insertion opening is open for inserting an electrical conductor, or at the rear opposite this front or end face, an extremely compact and easy-to-handle connection terminal can be created. The actuating element does not need to be arranged above the clamping spring when not actuated, but is positioned next to the clamping spring in the side view or, when passed through the clamping spring, in the clamping spring. In addition to reducing the overall height, the kinematics when actuating the pull arm are optimised.

[0015] The terminal block can be single-pole or multi-pole. Therefore, the terms "one conductor entry opening," "one clamping spring," "one actuating element," and "one conductor" are not to be understood as numerals, but as indefinite articles meaning "at least one."

[0016] To open the clamping spring, the pull arm can be subjected to a tensile force or a compressive force. In either case, the actuating element is displaced in the direction of extension of the pull arm by applying force to the pull arm.

[0017] The tension arm is guided laterally alongside the clamping spring. It is also conceivable that an actuating element is provided for actuating two adjacent clamping springs and, for this purpose, is guided laterally in the space between the adjacent clamping springs.

[0018] The tension arm has two spaced-apart tension arm sections which are guided past the clamping spring on opposite sides of the end section of the clamping leg which has the clamping edge, i.e. on opposite sides of the clamping spring. The two opposite tension arm sections are connected to one another with a crossbar. The crossbar can then be gripped behind with an operating tool (e.g. screwdriver) in order to exert a pulling force on the tension arm sections to move the operating element and to apply the corresponding force to the clamping spring. Actuating tabs are projected laterally next to the end section of the clamping leg which has the clamping edge, with the operating sections on the tension arm sections resting on these projecting actuating tabs in order to press the clamping leg away from the busbar section to open the clamping point.For this purpose, the narrow side (front side) of the pulling arm facing the clamping leg can rest on the actuating tabs of the clamping leg and press the clamping leg towards the contact leg in order to open the clamping point for clamping an electrical conductor or for removing a clamped electrical conductor.

[0019] The opposing pull-arm sections, which extend laterally past the clamping spring or the end section of the clamping leg with the clamping edge, ensure that the actuating element does not tilt and that the actuating force is optimally distributed between the two pull-arm sections. The mechanical load on the pull-arm sections is thus advantageously reduced compared to a design with only a single pull-arm section.

[0020] It is particularly advantageous if the end regions of the tension arm sections adjacent to the clamping spring have actuating projections for actuating the clamping spring. When the actuating element is moved, the protruding actuating sections then rest on the actuating section of the clamping spring and exert a force on the clamping spring, which opens the clamping point for clamping an electrical conductor.

[0021] The at least one actuating section of the pull arm is preferably curved on the upper side that acts on the clamping spring. This has the advantage that when force is applied to the pull arm, the actuating section guides along the actuating leg of the clamping spring and opens the clamping spring without jamming.

[0022] The actuating element can then remain in the open position without further locking due to the force of the clamping spring, which creates a frictional connection with the insulating housing. However, it is also conceivable that such a frictional connection could be prevented by an adapted curvature of the upper surface acting on the clamping spring and, if applicable, the opposing wall sections of the tension arm and the insulating housing.

[0023] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the busbar section forms a stop for the actuating element, limiting the displacement of the actuating element when the clamping spring is opened. When the actuating element is moved into the open position of the clamping spring, the actuating element preferably abuts the busbar section with the actuating portion of the pull arm, thereby preventing further withdrawal of the pull arm from the insulating housing. In practice, this can be easily implemented without additional material and without requiring additional space.

[0024] The clamp spring is a torsion spring with a contact leg, a spring bend adjoining the contact leg, and a clamping leg adjoining the spring bend. This type of torsion spring is also known as a U-shaped clamp spring. The clamping leg is aligned with the busbar section to form the spring-loaded clamp connection.

[0025] It is particularly advantageous if the clamping leg has a recess on the side through which the tension arm is guided. At least one actuating section of the tension arm then interacts with an actuating area of ​​the clamping spring adjacent to the recess.

[0026] The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. They show: Fig. 1a) - Side sectional view of a terminal block with cage clamp in the closed position; Fig. 1b) - Side sectional view of the terminal from Fig. 1a) in the open state; Fig. 2 - Top view of the terminal block from Fig. 1a) and Fig. 1b); Fig. 3 - Front partial section view of the terminal block from Fig. 1 and Fig. 2; Fig. 4 - Perspective view of the clamping spring of the terminal from Fig. 1 to 3; Fig. 5 - perspective view of the busbar section of the terminal block from Fig. 1 to 3; Fig. 6a) - Side sectional view of an embodiment of a connecting terminal according to the invention with leg spring in the closed state; Fig. 6b) - Side sectional view of the terminal from Fig. 6a) in the open state; Fig. 7 - Longitudinal partial section view of the terminal from Fig. 6a) and Fig. 6b) in plan view; Fig. 8a) - Side sectional view of another embodiment of a connecting terminal according to the invention with leg spring and actuating element in the closed state; Fig. 8b) - Side sectional view of the terminal block after Fig. 8a) in the open state; Fig. 9 - Longitudinal partial section view of the terminal from Fig. 8a) and Fig. 8b) in plan view; Fig. 10a) - Side sectional view of another embodiment of a connecting terminal according to the invention in the closed state; Fig. 10b) - Side sectional view of the terminal from Fig. 10a) in the open state; Fig. 11 - Longitudinal section of the terminal block from Fig. 10a) and Fig. 10b) in top view.

[0027] Fig. 1a) and Fig. 1b) show side sectional views of a connection terminal 1 with an insulating housing 2 in the closed and open states, into which a cage clamp spring 3 and a busbar section 4 are installed. The cage clamp spring 3 has, in a conventional manner, a contact leg 5 resting on the busbar section 4, an adjoining spring bend 6 which merges into an actuating leg 7, and a clamping leg 8 bent back from the end of the actuating leg 7 opposite the spring bend 6 in the direction of the busbar 4. The clamping leg 8 has a conductor receiving opening 9 for passing through a stripped end of an electrical conductor. The conductor receiving opening 9 is delimited at the free end of the clamping leg 8 by a transverse web 10. The inner edge of the transverse web 10, together with the opposite area of ​​the busbar section 4, forms a clamping point for clamping an electrical conductor.For this purpose, a clamping edge 11 is formed on the busbar piece 4 by means of a protrusion, onto which the clamping force of the cage tension spring 3 is concentrated in order to increase the surface pressure.

[0028] The insulating housing 2 has an internally hollow base body 12, e.g., made of an electrically insulating plastic material, which is closed by a front cover part 13 after insertion of the cage clamp 3 and the busbar section 4. The front cover part 13 forms the front or conductor insertion end face 14 of the connection terminal 1 and has at least one conductor insertion opening 15 leading to a respective spring-loaded terminal connection. The conductor insertion opening 15 extends in the conductor insertion direction L from the conductor insertion end face 14 to the spring-loaded terminal connection formed by the busbar section 4 and the cage clamp 3. The cover part 13 is latched to the base body 12 with suitable latching elements.

[0029] To open the cage clamp 3, an actuating element 17 is provided, which has a tension arm 18 along the inner wall of the base body 12 parallel to the conductor insertion opening L and extends out of the conductor insertion end face 14. This at least in the open state ( Fig. 1b) The free end of the pulling arm 18 protruding from the conductor insertion end face 14 is provided with an actuating lug 19 facing upwards in order to release the actuating element 17 from the first in the Fig. 1a) shown clamping position into the second in Fig. 1b) shown open position. It is clear that at the end of the pull arm 18, which is opposite the actuating nose 19, an actuating projection 20 protrudes on at least one side of the pull arm 18. The actuating projections 20 have a curved upper side 21 facing the clamping leg 7, which cooperates with the clamping leg 7. When the actuating element 17 is displaced by exerting a tensile force on the pull arm 18, this upper side 21 slides along the actuating leg 7 in order to move the cage tension spring 3 from the clamping position according to Fig. 1a) into the open position according to Fig. 1b). In this case, the actuating projection 20 positioned between the insulating housing 2 and the clamping leg 7 exerts a force on the actuating leg 7 in order to displace it against the force of the cage clamp spring 3 in the direction of the contact leg 5. In this embodiment, the tension arm 18 is preferably guided through a slot in the transition between the actuating leg 7 and the clamping leg 8. The actuating element 17 is thus in the clamping position according to Fig. 1 does not lie between the cage clamp 3 and the adjacent inner wall of the insulating housing 2 on the upper side, along which the tension arm 18 is guided. Rather, the actuating leg 7 abuts in the curved transition to the clamping leg 8 in the unopened state of the clamping spring according to Fig. 1a) to the inside of the insulating housing 2 in the same way as the tension arm 18, which is guided through a slot in the clamping spring 3.

[0030] Optionally, the tension arm 18 can also be guided laterally next to the cage tension spring 3.

[0031] In the connection terminal 1 shown, in which the tension arm 18 is guided through a slot in the cage clamp 3, actuating sections 20 are provided on both sides of the tension arm 18, so that the cage clamp 3 is actuated relatively symmetrically.

[0032] Fig. 2 omits a top view of terminal 1 Fig. 1. It is clearly visible that the tension arm 18 of the outer, upper spring-loaded terminal connection is pulled forward from the conductor insertion end face 14. The other tension arms 18, however, are guided largely into the insulating housing 2 and only protrude with their actuating lug 19 on the conductor insertion end face 14. The outer, upper spring-loaded terminal connection is opened by the displacement of the actuating element 17.

[0033] On the top side of the insulating housing 12, adjacent to the rear side 22 of the insulating housing 2, test openings 23 are provided, which lead to a respective spring-cage terminal connection. By inserting a test tool (test pin) through the test opening 23, an electrically conductive contact can be established with the underlying cage clamp 3. This allows the electrical potential at the spring-cage terminal to be checked.

[0034] Fig. 3 omits a front view of terminal 1 Fig. 1a), Fig. 1b) and Fig. 2 in partial section. The tension arms 18 protrude from the conductor insertion end face 14 and are aligned with their actuating lugs 19 toward the top of the insulating housing 2. A conductor insertion opening 15 is then provided below each tension arm 18, which leads to an associated spring-loaded terminal connection formed by the cage clamp 3 and the busbar section 4. In the exemplary embodiment, a closure flap 16 is hinged to the crossbar 10 of the cage clamp 3, with which the conductor insertion opening 15 is closed in the clamped state without an electrical conductor connected.

[0035] In the space between two adjacent tension arms 18 and the associated adjacent conductor insertion openings 15, an optional test opening can be provided, which leads to the common busbar piece 4 extending transversely over the adjacent spring-loaded terminal connections.

[0036] The clamping leg 8 has two spaced-apart side webs 24 which, together with the cross web 10, delimit the conductor receiving opening 9.

[0037] Fig. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the clamping spring 3 of the connection terminal 1 described above. It is clear that the clamping spring is formed in one piece from a spring-elastic material, e.g., a sheet metal part made of a chromium alloy. The spring arch 6 adjoins a narrowly tapered contact leg 5. An actuating leg 7 then extends from the spring arch 6. Depending on the state of the clamping spring 3 in the clamping position as shown or the open position, this extends predominantly in the direction of the contact leg such that the contact leg has an angle to the clamping leg in the range of approximately 0-40°. The clamping leg 7 is then angled from the actuating leg 7 and extends towards the contact leg 5. In the transition between the actuating leg 7 and the clamping leg 8, a slot 80 is formed, through which the previously described tension arm 18 is guided. For this purpose, the clamping leg 8 has the Fig. 3 visible side webs 24, which merge into corresponding side webs on the actuating leg 7 after the bend. The side webs 24 delimit the slot 80. It is also clear that the cross web 10 in the illustrated connection terminal 1 does not merge from one side web 24 to the opposite side web 24, but is designed as opposing fingers facing each other, which support the locking tab 16. Thus, the fingers, together with the locking tab 16, form a continuous cross web 10.

[0038] It is also clear that the tapered contact leg 5 projects into the conductor receiving opening 9.

[0039] Fig. Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the busbar section 4, which extends transversely through a two-pole terminal block 1, as in Fig. 3, extends and is intended for supporting two adjacent cage clamp springs 3. For this purpose, two nose-like projecting supports 82 are provided at a distance from one another, each with a recess into which the free end of a respective contact leg 5 of a cage clamp spring 3 is inserted. A continuous busbar section then extends from these supports 82, which is initially bent upwards and then backwards again approximately parallel to the supports 82. The side of the busbar section 4 opposite the recesses 84 then forms a guide plane, in which the conductor insertion opening 15 is delimited on the upper side and forms a guide wall for an electrical conductor to be inserted, which adjoins and continues the insulating housing 2.

[0040] Fig. 6a) and Fig. 6b) show side sectional views of a terminal 1 according to the invention in the closed ( Fig. 6a)) and open ( Fig. 6b)) state. Here, the clamping spring 3 is designed as a leg spring. The leg spring 3 has a contact leg 25, which starts from a spring bend 26 and runs along the inside of the insulating housing 2 on the upper side and is then folded over towards the busbar section 4. The contact leg 25 is hooked into the busbar section 4, or the busbar section 4 can also be hooked into the contact leg 25. Opposite the spring bend 26, there is a clamping leg 27 that extends towards the busbar section 4 and the folded-over end region of the contact leg 25. The free end of the clamping leg 27 forms a clamping edge 28 for clamping an electrical conductor. To the side of the clamping edge 28, an actuating tab 29 is exposed and bent out of the plane of the clamping leg 27.The insulating housing 2, in turn, has a conductor insertion opening 15 that extends in a conductor insertion direction L. The actuating element 30 is installed on the side of the insulating housing 2 opposite the conductor insertion opening 15. This protrudes from the rear side 22 of the insulating housing 2, which is opposite the conductor insertion end face 14, when the connection terminal 1 is in the open state, as shown in FIG. Fig. 6b). In the illustrated embodiment, the actuating element 30 has two spaced-apart tension arm sections 31, which in their end region have an actuating section 32 pointing laterally towards the clamping spring 3. When the actuating element 30 is displaced in the conductor insertion direction L by applying a tensile force to the end of the actuating element 30 protruding from the rear side 22, the actuating sections 32 on the tension arm sections 31 engage under an associated actuating tab 29 in order to displace the clamping leg 27 in the direction of the contact leg 25 located above it and to open the clamping point for clamping an electrical conductor. An electrical conductor is guided in the conductor insertion direction L, starting from the conductor insertion end face 14, to the spring-loaded clamping connection. The spring-loaded clamping connection is formed by the clamping spring 3 and the busbar piece 4.

[0041] Fig. 7 omits a longitudinal section view of terminal 1 Fig. 6a) and Fig. 6b) in partial section. It is clear that the upper spring-loaded terminal connection is opened by displacing the actuating element 30. In this case, the opposing tension arm sections 31, which are connected to one another by a crosspiece 33 at the free end, protrude at least partially from the conductor insertion end face 22. In the lower, closed spring-loaded terminal connection, however, the tension arm sections 31 are displaced so far into the insulating housing 2 that the opposing and mutually facing actuating sections 32 of the tension arm sections 31 no longer come into contact with the clamping leg 27 and its actuating tabs 29.

[0042] This sectional view also clearly shows that the contact leg 25 has a conductor feedthrough opening 34 in the section directed toward the busbar, so that the contact leg 25 is formed in this area from two spaced-apart webs. This allows the stripped electrical end of an electrical conductor to be passed through this section of the contact leg 25.

[0043] Fig. 8a) and Fig. 8b) show a further embodiment of a connecting terminal 1 according to the invention in the clamping position ( Fig. 8a) and the open position figure (8b).

[0044] In this embodiment, the clamping spring 3 is again designed as a leg spring with an L-shaped contact leg 25, an adjoining spring arch 26 and a clamping leg 27 adjoining the spring arch 26. The clamping leg 27 has a clamping edge 28 at its free end. Laterally next to the section of the clamping leg 27 with the clamping edge 28, an actuating tab 29 is exposed and bent out of the plane of the clamping leg 27.

[0045] The free end of the contact leg 25 is supported on a busbar section 4. This spring-loaded terminal connection, formed by the clamping spring 3 and the busbar section 4, is in turn accommodated in an insulating housing 2, which has a conductor insertion opening 15 on the side of the conductor insertion end face 14. The actuating element 35 is in the clamping position according to Fig. 8a) is guided into the insulating housing 2 so far that an actuating cap 36 is arranged at the free end adjacent to the conductor insertion end face 24 on the top of the insulating housing 2. The actuating element 35, in turn, has a type of pull arm 37, which is guided laterally past the end section of the clamping leg 27 with the clamping edge 28. The actuating tab 29 of the clamping leg 27 rests on the lower edge of the pull arm 37.

[0046] To open the terminal point formed by the spring-loaded terminal connection, the actuating element 35 is displaced by exerting a force on the actuating plate 36. The free end of the pull arm 37, together with the actuating plate 36, then protrudes from the conductor insertion end face 14. The narrow side (end face) 38 of the pull arm 37 facing the clamping leg 27 rests against the actuating tab 29 of the clamping leg 27 and presses the clamping leg 27 toward the contact leg 25, thus opening the terminal point for clamping an electrical conductor or for removing a clamped electrical conductor.

[0047] The narrow side 39 (front side) of the pull arm 37, which is opposite the front side 38 adjacent to the actuating tab, is adjacent to the busbar section 4 and is guided through it.

[0048] Fig. 9 shows a longitudinal section through the terminal 1 from the Fig. 8a) and Fig. 8b) in a top view. It is clear that the tension arms 37 are guided past the clamping leg on both sides of the associated clamping spring 3 in the region of the end of the clamping leg 27 having the clamping edge 28. The tension arms 37 rest on the projecting actuating tabs 29 in order to push the clamping leg 27 away from the busbar section 4 to open the clamping point.

[0049] It can also be seen that the contact leg 25 of the clamping spring 3 has a through-opening through which the pulling arm 37 of the actuating element 35 is guided.

[0050] In the variants described above, Fig. 6a), Fig. 6b) and Fig. 7 and 8a), 8b) and 9, the tension arm sections 42 are guided or held on the busbar piece 4, so that a self-supporting design of the spring-loaded terminal connection is obtained, in which no or only a small force transmission to the insulating housing takes place.

[0051] Fig. 10a) and Fig. 10b) show a further embodiment of a connecting terminal 1 according to the invention in the side sectional view in the clamping position ( Fig. 10a) and in the open position ( Fig. 10b). Here, a U-shaped clamping spring 3 is accommodated in an insulating housing 2, which is closed at the rear 14 with a cover part 40. An actuating element 41 is again provided, which has two opposing tension arm sections 42, each with an actuating section 43 at one end projecting into the interior space defined by the clamping spring 3, and a transverse web 44 connecting the tension arm sections 42 at the opposite end, located on the rear.

[0052] The clamping spring 3 has a contact leg 45 resting on a busbar section 4, from which a transverse leg 46 extends transversely through a conductor insertion opening 15, which in turn merges into a clamping leg 47 extending in the conductor insertion direction L. The free end of the clamping leg 47 has a clamping edge for forming a clamping point for an electrical conductor 48 to be clamped on a projecting clamping edge 49 of the busbar section 4.

[0053] In the clamping position shown, the actuating section 43 of the actuating element 41 is displaced so far in the direction of the transverse leg 46 that the clamping leg 47 of the clamping spring 3 is not or as little as possible acted upon by the actuating section 43.

[0054] Fig. 10b) omits terminal 1 Fig. 10a) in the open position. The actuating element 41 is now displaced such that the tension arms 42 protrude at least partially from the insulating housing 2. As a result, the laterally projecting actuating section 43 is displaced toward the clamping edge of the clamping leg 47 and rests between the busbar section 4 and the clamping leg 47. The clamping leg 47 is thus moved away from the busbar section 4, so that the clamping point formed between the busbar section 4 and the clamping leg 47 opens for the electrical conductor 48 to be connected.

[0055] Fig. 11 shows a plan view of the terminal 1 from the Fig. 10a) and Fig.10b) in a partial longitudinal section. It is clear that the actuating element for a spring-loaded terminal connection has two opposing tension arm sections 42 with mutually facing, protruding actuating sections 43. The actuating sections 43 have a curved surface and are designed to slide along the side edges of the clamping leg 47 of the clamping spring in order to displace the clamping spring. The free end of the clamping leg 47 is cut free to form a protruding clamping edge 50 and is bent out relative to the actuating side edges of the clamping leg 47 in the direction of the busbar section 4. The actuating element 41 is displaced from the rear side 14 of the insulating housing 2 by engaging behind the crossbar 44, e.g., with a screwdriver. After exerting a tensile force on the actuating element 41, it is then displaced into the open position, as shown for the lower spring-loaded terminal connection.The laterally protruding actuating sections 43 of the tension arm sections 42, positioned between the busbar section 4 and the clamping leg 47, push the clamping leg 47 away from the busbar section 4 with their clamping edge to open the clamping point. An electrical conductor can then be guided with its stripped free end in the conductor insertion direction L into the conductor insertion opening 15 of the insulating housing 1 to the spring-loaded terminal connection. The actuating element 41 is then moved back to the upper clamping position shown, so that the clamping leg 47 can spring freely and clamp an inserted electrical conductor.

[0056] In practice, opening the clamping point is only necessary to remove an electrical conductor or to insert a fine-stranded or flexible multi-stranded electrical conductor. A rigid or less flexible electrical conductor can also be inserted into the unopened clamping point, thereby displacing the clamping leg 47 away from the busbar section 4.

Claims

[1] Connection terminal (1) for connecting an electrical conductor (48) with: - an insulating housing (2) having a conductor insertion opening (15) which opens out at a conductor insertion end face (14) of the insulating housing (2), extends in a conductor insertion direction (L) and leads to a spring-loaded terminal connection, - a clamping spring (3) which is designed as a U-shaped leg spring with a contact leg (25, 45), a spring arch (26) adjoining the contact leg (25, 45) and a clamping leg (27, 47) adjoining the spring arch (26), - a busbar piece (4) which, together with the clamping leg (27, 47), forms the spring-loaded terminal connection, and - an actuating element (30, 41) which is displaceably mounted in the insulating housing (2) and has an actuating section (32, 43) designed to open the terminal spring (3), wherein - the actuating element (30, 41) has a pulling arm (42) which extends predominantly in the conductor insertion direction (L) and is led out at the conductor insertion end face (14) or the rear side (22) of the insulating housing (2) which is opposite the conductor insertion end face (14), characterized bythat the tension arm (42) has two tension arm sections (31, 42) spaced apart from one another, which are guided past the clamping spring (3) on opposite sides of the end section of the clamping leg (27, 47) having a clamping edge (28), wherein the tension arm sections (31, 42) are connected to one another by a transverse web (33, 44), and that the section of the clamping leg (27, 47) with the clamping edge (28, 50) has actuating side edges and the actuating sections (32, 43) on the tension arm sections (31, 42) rest on the actuating side edges in order to press the clamping leg (27, 47) away from the busbar piece (4) to open the clamping point, wherein the free end of the clamping leg (27) is cut free to form the exposed clamping edge (28) and is pivotable relative to the Actuating side edges of the clamping leg (27) are bent out towards the busbar piece (4). [2] Connection terminal (1) for connecting an electrical conductor (48) with: - an insulating housing (2) having a conductor insertion opening (15) which opens out at a conductor insertion end face (14) of the insulating housing (2), extends in a conductor insertion direction (L) and leads to a spring-loaded terminal connection, - a clamping spring (3) which is designed as a U-shaped leg spring with a contact leg (25), a spring arch (26) adjoining the contact leg (25) and a clamping leg (27) adjoining the spring arch (26), - a busbar piece (4) which, together with the clamping leg (27), forms the spring-loaded terminal connection, and - an actuating element (35) which is displaceably mounted in the insulating housing (2) and has an actuating section (43) designed to open the terminal spring (3), wherein - the actuating element (35) has a pulling arm (37) which extends predominantly in the conductor insertion direction (L) and is led out at the conductor insertion end face (14) or the rear side (22) of the insulating housing (2) which is opposite the conductor insertion end face (14), characterized byin that the tension arm (37) has two tension arm sections (42) spaced apart from one another, which are guided past the clamping spring (3) on opposite sides of the end section of the clamping leg (27) having a clamping edge (28), the tension arm sections (42) being connected to one another by an actuating plate (36), and in that actuating tabs (29) are released laterally next to the end section of the clamping leg (27) having the clamping edge (28) and are bent out of the plane of the clamping leg (27), and the actuating sections (38) on the tension arm sections (42) rest on the released actuating tabs (29) in order to press the clamping leg (27) away from the busbar section (4) in order to open the clamping point. [3] Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the end regions of the tension arm sections (42) adjacent to the clamping spring (3) have actuating projections (43) for actuating the clamping spring (3). [4] Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the actuating section (32, 38, 43) of the pulling arm (37, 42) is curved on an upper side (21) acting on the clamping spring (3). [5] Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the busbar piece (4) forms a stop for the actuating element (35, 41) which limits the displacement of the actuating element (30, 35, 41) when the clamping spring (3) is opened. [6] Connection terminal (1) according to claim 5, characterized by that the actuating element (35, 41) with the actuating sections (38, 43) of the pulling arm (37, 42) abuts the busbar piece (4) when the actuating element (35, 41) is moved into the open position of the clamping spring (3). [7] Connection terminal (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized bythat the clamping leg (27, 47) is aligned towards the busbar piece (4) to form the spring-loaded terminal connection. [8] Connection terminal (1) according to claim 7, characterized by that the clamping leg (27) has a recess on the side through which the pulling arm (37, 42) is guided, and that the actuating section (38, 43) of the pulling arm (37, 42) cooperates with an actuating area of ​​the clamping spring (3) adjacent to the recess. [9] Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the tension arm sections (42) are guided on the busbar piece (4), so that a self-supporting design of the spring-loaded terminal connection results. [10] Connection terminal (1) according to claim 1 or one of the preceding claims with reference to claim 1, characterized bythat the pulling arm (37, 42) is designed to engage behind the crossbar (44) with a screwdriver for displacing the actuating element (35, 41) from the rear side (14) of the insulating housing (2). [11] Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that an electrical conductor can be guided in the conductor insertion direction (L) starting from the conductor insertion end face (14) between the two spaced-apart tension arm sections (42) along to the clamping point formed on the spring-loaded terminal connection for clamping an electrical conductor. [12] Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the free end of the clamping leg (27, 47) is bent out in the direction of the busbar piece (4) to form a projecting clamping edge (50).

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