Contacting device for contacting at least one electrical conductor to an electrical conductor track of an electrical component

Abstract

Contacting device for contacting at least one electrical conductor to an electrical conductor track of an electrical component, comprising: - a housing (100) with a cavity (104), with a first and second opening (101, 102) for inserting the at least one electrical conductor (10, 10a, 10b) into the cavity (104) and with a third opening (103) for inserting the electrical conductor track (20) into the cavity (104), - a contact bracket (200) arranged in the cavity (104) of the housing, wherein the contact bracket (200) comprises a first section (210) designed as a resilient leg and a second section (220) designed as a resilient leg, - wherein a first section (21) of the conductor track (20) of the electrical component (2) is arranged in the third opening (103) and a second section (22) of the conductor track (20) of the electrical component (2) is arranged in the cavity (104) of the housing (100) when the contacting device (1) is attached to the electrical component (2), - wherein the at least one conductor (10, 10a, 10b) is pressed against the first section (21) of the conductor track (20) by bending the spring-loaded leg of the first section (210) of the contact bracket (200), thereby holding the at least one conductor (10, 10a, 10b) in a clamping position on the conductor track (20) for electrical contact with the conductor track (20) when the at least one conductor (10, 10a, 10b) is inserted into the first opening (101) of the housing (100) and the conductor track (20) is inserted into the third opening (103) of the housing, - wherein the at least one conductor (10, 10a, 10b) is fixed in the cavity (104) of the housing (100) by bending the springy leg of the second section (220) of the contact bracket (200) and the at least one conductor (10, 10a, 10b) is electrically connected to a second section (22) of the conductor track (20) by means of the second section (220) of the contact bracket (200) when the at least one conductor (10, 10a, 10b) is inserted into the second opening (102) of the housing (100) and the conductor track (20) is inserted into the third opening (103) of the housing.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a contacting device for contacting at least one electrical conductor to an electrical conductor track of an electrical component.

[0002] A contacting device is required to connect an electrical conductor to an electrical track of an electrical component, such as a contactor, circuit breaker, motor protection switch, or thermal relay. Depending on the specific application, it is often only possible to contact the electrical conductor with the electrical track from a specific direction. In other applications, it is necessary to contact several electrical conductors coming from different directions or only from one direction to a common electrical track.

[0003] The document DE 29818669 U1 relates to a contacting device for contacting at least one electrical conductor to an electrical conductor track, having a first and a second opening for inserting the at least one electrical conductor into a cavity of a housing of the contacting device. A contact bracket having a first and a second section is arranged in the cavity of the housing. The contact bracket presses the at least one conductor against a section of a conductor track by means of the first section when the at least one conductor is inserted into the first opening of the housing. Furthermore, the contact bracket presses the at least one conductor against a second section of the conductor track by means of the second section when the at least one conductor is inserted into the second opening of the housing.

[0004] From the document DE 60000963 T2, a contacting device for contacting at least one electrical conductor to an electrical conductor track of a component is known. A housing of the contacting device has a first opening for inserting an electrical conductor and a second opening for inserting an electrical conductor track into a cavity of the housing. A contact bracket is arranged in a clamping cage in the housing. The electrical conductor is pressed against the clamping cage by the contact bracket and is contacted with the conductor track via the clamping cage when the conductor track is inserted into the housing.

[0005] From the document DE 102015104268 A1 an electrical switching device is known with which two electrical conductors can be contacted by means of two contact brackets to a conductor track which is fixedly arranged in a housing of the electrical switching device.

[0006] From the publication DE 102005056847 A1, a contacting device is known in which a contact clip is arranged in a separate clamping cage for contacting an electrical conductor with a conductor track. From the publication DE 102004043468 A1, a switching device with two contact clips / cage clamps arranged on a separate connection piece in a housing is known. In both the publication DE 102005056847 A1 and the publication DE 102004043468 A1, there is no direct mechanical or electrical contact between the contact clips and a conductor track of a component inserted into the housing.

[0007] Contacting devices for contacting an electrical conductor to an electrical conductor track of a component are known from the publications DE 20307509 U1, DE 102012000180 A1, DE 2225591 A1, and EP 1962320 A1. The contacting devices have a first opening for inserting an electrical conductor into a cavity of a housing and a second opening for inserting an electrical conductor track of a component into the cavity of the housing. A contact clip for clamping the electrical conductor to the electrical conductor track is arranged in the housing.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a contacting device for contacting at least one electrical conductor to an electrical conductor track of an electrical component, by means of which it is possible to connect the at least one electrical conductor to the electrical conductor track of the electrical component with a high degree of flexibility depending on the application.

[0009] The object is achieved by a contacting device having the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the subclaims

[0010] An embodiment of such a contacting device is specified in claim 1. The contacting device comprises a housing with a cavity, with a first and second opening for inserting the electrical conductor into the cavity and with a third

[0011] Opening for inserting the electrical conductor track into the cavity. Furthermore, the contacting device comprises a contact bracket arranged in the cavity of the housing, the contact bracket comprising a first section and a second section.

[0012] The contact bracket is designed such that the conductor is pressed against a section of the conductor track by means of the first section of the contact bracket, whereby the conductor is held in a clamping fit on the conductor track for electrical contact with the conductor track when the conductor is pushed into the first opening of the housing and the conductor track is pushed into the third opening of the housing. Furthermore, the contact bracket is designed such that the conductor is fixed in the cavity of the housing by means of the second section of the contact bracket, and the conductor is electrically connected to a second section of the conductor track by means of the second section of the contact bracket when the conductor is pushed into the second opening of the housing and the conductor track is pushed into the third opening of the housing.

[0013] Further embodiments of the contacting device are specified in the subclaims.

[0014] Using the contacting device, an electrical conductor can be contacted with the electrical track from different directions, depending on the application. Furthermore, it is possible to contact two different conductors simultaneously with the same electrical track.

[0015] Compared to a typical steel cage design of a contacting device with conventional push-in springs, the design of the contacting device according to the invention is more cost-effective and requires only a small amount of space. Since the at least one electrical conductor is clamped directly to the electrical conductor track, unlike conventional steel spring designs, the contacting device according to the invention eliminates additional contact resistance. In particular, a complete spring, including the steel frame, can be omitted.

[0016] While conventional contacting devices require at least two springs, the clamping of a conductor from different directions to a conductor track or the clamping of more than one conductor to the conductor track in the contacting device of the invention is achieved using only one contact clip or a spring arranged in the housing of the contacting device. Due to the smaller installation space, the cap / shoulder dimension, which is particularly important for users in the field of building services, can be maintained. The connection direction is particularly important for this application, since the cap usually covers the devices from the front.

[0017] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to figures showing exemplary embodiments of the present invention. They show: Fig. 1 an electrical component with an electrical conductor track for contacting an electrical conductor, Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment of a contacting device for contacting an electrical conductor with an electrical conductor track, Fig. 3 shows a first embodiment of a contacting device for contacting an electrical conductor with an electrical conductor track which is inserted into a cavity of the housing of the contacting device, Fig. 4 shows a cross section through a first embodiment of a contacting device for contacting an electrical conductor with an electrical conductor track, Fig. 5 a second embodiment of a contacting device for contacting an electrical conductor with an electrical conductor track.

[0018] Fig. 1 shows an electrical component 2, which can be designed as a switching device, for example, a contactor, a circuit breaker, a motor protection switch, or a thermal relay. The component 2 has a plurality of electrical conductor tracks 20, 20', 20'', which protrude on one side from the housing of the electrical component 2 for contacting electrical conductors. The conductor tracks can each be designed as a flat conductor with a vertical section 21, which runs outside the housing of the component along a vertical side wall of the housing, and with a horizontal section 22, which is arranged outside the housing of the component 2 along a horizontal side wall of the housing of the component.

[0019] In the Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 shows a first embodiment of such a contacting device 1 for contacting at least one electrical conductor 10 to one of the electrical conductor tracks 20. Fig. 2 shows a perspective section through the first embodiment of the contacting device 1. Fig. 3 shows the first embodiment of the contacting device 1 with a conductor track 20 inserted into a cavity of the housing of the contacting device 1. Fig. Figure 4 shows the first embodiment of the contacting device 1 in a cross-sectional view. For better clarity, the electrical conductor 10 is only shown in Fig. 4 is shown.

[0020] The contacting device 1 comprises a housing 100 with a cavity 104. The housing 100 comprises a first opening 101 and a second opening 102, which are designed for inserting an electrical conductor 10 into the cavity 104 of the housing 100. The housing 100 further comprises a third opening 103 for inserting the electrical conductor track 20 into the cavity 104 of the housing 100.

[0021] The contacting device 1 further comprises a contact bracket 200 arranged in the cavity 104 of the housing 100. The contact bracket 200 has a first section 210 and a second section 220. The contact bracket 200 is designed such that the conductor 10 is pressed against a section 21 of the conductor track 20 by means of the first section 210 of the contact bracket, whereby the conductor 10 is held in a clamp fit on the conductor track 20 for electrical contact with the conductor track 20 when the conductor 10 is inserted into the first opening 101 of the housing 100 and the conductor track 20 is inserted into the third opening 103 of the housing 100.

[0022] The contact bracket 200 is further configured such that the conductor 10 is fixed in the cavity 104 of the housing 100 by means of the second portion 220 of the contact bracket 200 and the conductor 10 is electrically connected to a second portion 22 of the conductor track 20 by means of the second portion 220 of the contact bracket 200 when the conductor 10 is inserted into the second opening 102 of the housing 100 and the conductor track 20 is inserted into the third opening 103 of the housing.

[0023] The contacting device 1 is designed to be attached to the electrical component 2 by means of corresponding fixing elements. The contacting device 1, in particular the third opening 103 and the cavity 104, are designed such that the section 21 of one of the conductor tracks 20 is arranged in the third opening 103 and the section 22 of the conductor track 20 is arranged in the cavity 104 of the housing of the contacting device when the contacting device 1 is attached to the electrical component 2. Fig. 3 shows the contacting device 1 attached to the component 2 with the conductor track 20 arranged inside the housing 100.

[0024] The cavity 104 of the housing 100 of the contacting device can be delimited by side walls 110a, 110b, 110c and a bottom wall 120 of the housing 100. The third opening 103 for inserting the electrical conductor track 20 into the cavity 104 of the housing can be provided in one of the side walls, for example, the side wall 110a, of the housing 100. The third opening 103 can, for example, be an open area in the side wall 110a, which extends approximately from the center of the side wall 110a toward the bottom wall 120. The third opening 103 can, in particular, be formed as a rectangular open area within the side wall 110a of the housing 100.

[0025] When the contacting device 1 is attached to the body of the electrical component 2 and the conductor track 20 is designed as a flat conductor, the conductor track 20 is arranged in the third opening or the open region 103 of the side wall 110a. The section 21 of the conductor track 20 is arranged parallel to the side wall 110a after being inserted into the third opening 103 of the housing 100. The vertically running section 21 of the conductor track 20 closes off the third opening 103, so that a closed cavity 104 is formed inside the housing of the contacting device 1. The horizontally running section 22 of the conductor track 20 is arranged above the bottom wall 120 after the contacting device 1 is attached to the electrical component 2 and the conductor track 20 has been inserted into the cavity 104 of the contacting device.

[0026] According to one possible embodiment, the contact bracket 200 has a third section 230 between the first and second sections 210, 220, at which section the contact bracket 200 is fastened to the housing 100. For this purpose, the contacting device can have a holding element 300 in the cavity 104, which serves to support the contact bracket and holds the contact bracket in position and function within the housing 104. The holding element 300 can, for example, be arranged as a roller-shaped projection within the cavity 104 of the housing 100, around which the third section 230 of the contact bracket 200 is arranged.

[0027] According to a further embodiment, the first section 210 of the contact bracket 200 can be shaped as a resilient leg that, starting from the third section 230 of the contact bracket, is oriented toward the third opening 103 of the housing. The contact bracket 200 can, in particular, be shaped such that the resilient leg of the first section 210 of the contact bracket is bent and, as a result of the bending, generates a restoring force with which it presses the conductor 10 against the first section 21 of the conductor track 20 when the conductor 10 is pushed through the first opening 101 into the cavity 104 of the housing 100 and the first section 21 of the conductor track 20 is pushed into the third opening 103 of the housing 100.

[0028] According to one possible embodiment, the second section 220 of the contact bracket 200 can also be shaped as a resilient leg, which, starting from the third section 230 of the contact bracket, is oriented toward the bottom wall 120 of the housing. The contact bracket 200 can, in particular, be shaped such that the resilient leg of the second section 220 of the contact bracket is bent and, as a result of the bending, generates a restoring force with which it presses the conductor 10 against the second section 22 of the conductor track 20 when the conductor 10 is inserted through the second opening 102 into the cavity 104 of the housing 100 and the conductor track 20 comprises a second section 22, which, after the first section 21 of the conductor track 20 has been inserted into the third opening 103 of the housing 100, is arranged parallel to the bottom wall 120 of the housing.

[0029] The conductor track 20 can in particular be designed as a flat conductor, wherein projections are arranged on the upper side of the section 21 and the section 22 of the conductor track 20, against which the end sections 210 and 220 of the contact bracket 200 abut.

[0030] According to a possible embodiment, the contacting device 1 can comprise a lever 400 for moving the first section 210 of the contact bracket or for moving the second section 220 of the contact bracket against the restoring force in order to release the electrical conductor 10 from the clamping fit by pressing down the first or second section 210, 220 of the contact bracket.

[0031] As in the Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the first and second openings 101, 102 can be provided in the housing 100 such that they lead into the cavity 104 of the housing 100 from different directions. The conductor 10 can thus be inserted into the cavity 104 of the housing from a first direction or a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The first opening 101 of the housing can, for example, be arranged in the side wall 110b, which is opposite the bottom wall 120 of the housing. The first opening 101 is oriented towards the bottom wall 120, so that the electrical conductor 10 is guided parallel to the side wall 110a after being inserted into the first opening 101.When the first section 21 of the conductor track 20 is arranged in the third opening 103 of the housing 100, the conductor 10 is arranged, after being inserted into the first opening 101, in the longitudinal direction parallel over the section 21 of the conductor track 20 or parallel over the third opening 103 of the housing 100.

[0032] The second opening 102 of the housing can be provided in the side wall 110c of the housing 100, which is arranged orthogonally to the bottom wall 120 and opposite the side wall 110a. The second opening 102 runs, for example, in the lower part of the side wall 110c directly above the bottom wall 120. The second opening 102 of the housing 100 is arranged in the side wall 110c such that the conductor 10 runs parallel to the bottom wall 120 and above the bottom wall 120 after being inserted into the second opening 102. The second opening 102 is arranged in particular in the side wall 110 such that the conductor 10, after being inserted into the second opening 102, is arranged above the section 22 of the conductor track 20 when the contacting device 1 is fastened to the electrical component 2 and the electrical conductor track 20 is inserted into the cavity 104 of the housing.The conductor 10 runs in particular parallel to the section 22 of the conductor track 20 arranged above the bottom wall 120.

[0033] Depending on which of the openings 101, 102 the conductor 10 is inserted into, the conductor can be inserted into the interior of the contacting device from different directions and arranged horizontally or vertically in the contacting device 1 and contacted with the electrical conductor track 20. In addition to the possibility of connecting a single electrical conductor to the electrical conductor track 20 from different directions, the contacting device 1 also offers the possibility of contacting two different conductors together with the electrical conductor track 20. The two conductors can be inserted into the contacting device 1 from different directions.

[0034] If both openings 101 and 102, or both terminal points, are used, the two conductors do not interfere with each other during wiring, as they are arranged clearly separated. In the widely used motor starter connections and reversing arrangements, the user can clearly see the spatial separation of the conductors, which is particularly important for ease of connection.

[0035] Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment of the contacting device 1 for contacting at least one electrical conductor to an electrical conductor track. The contacting device is particularly suitable for contacting two electrical conductors 10a, 10b with the common conductor track 20. The contacting device 1 has a first opening 101 in the housing 100 for inserting the conductor 10a, a second opening 102 for inserting the conductor 10b, and a third opening 103 in which the section 21 of the electrical conductor track 20 is arranged when the contacting device 1 is attached to the electrical component 2. In the second embodiment of the contacting device, the first opening 101 and the second opening 102 of the housing 100 are arranged in the same side wall 110b of the housing.As a result, for example, two different conductors 10a and 10b can be inserted from the same direction into the cavity 104 of the housing of the contacting device 1.

[0036] The contacting device comprises a contact bracket 200, which is held on a holding element 300. After the conductor track 20 has been inserted into the cavity 104 of the housing 100, the section 22 of the electrical conductor track 20 is arranged between the bottom wall 120 and a section 220 of the contact bracket 200.

[0037] According to the second embodiment of the contacting device, the contact bracket 200 has a first section 210 for clamping the electrical conductor 10a to the section 21 of the conductor track 20 and a second section 220 for fixing the electrical conductor 10b. The second section 220 of the contact bracket 200 can be designed such that the conductor 10b is held in a clamping fit on the second section 220 of the contact bracket 200 without the conductor 10b touching the second section 22 of the conductor track 20 when the conductor 10b is inserted through the second opening 102 in the cavity 104 of the housing and the second section 22 of the conductor track is arranged parallel in the longitudinal direction 20 above the bottom wall 120 of the housing 100.

[0038] The contact clip 200 can in particular be shaped such that the conductor 10b is clamped between regions of the contact clip 200. According to the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the conductor 10b is clamped between one end of the second section 220 of the contact bracket and the third section 230 of the contact bracket after being inserted into the second opening 102 of the housing. The contact bracket can be shaped such that the corresponding regions of the contact bracket touch each other and form a clamping device. When the conductor 10b is inserted into the second opening 102 of the housing, the regions of the contact bracket with the clamping function are bent apart by the conductor 10b, so that the conductor 10b is held in a clamped fit between the regions of the clamping device of the contact bracket.

[0039] In the second embodiment of the contacting device, the contact clip 200 is particularly shaped such that the contact clip 200 contacts the second section 22 of the conductor track 20 when the conductor track 20 is inserted into the cavity 104 of the housing and the second section 22 of the conductor track is arranged longitudinally parallel above the bottom wall 120 of the housing 100. For this purpose, the second section 220 can be loop-shaped, as in Fig. 5, so that a region of the loop-shaped portion 220 of the contact bracket touches the second portion 22 of the conductor track 20. List of reference symbols 1 contact device 2 electrical component 10, 10a, 10b electrical conductor 20, 20', 20'' electrical conductor track 21 first, vertical section of the electrical conductor track 22 second, horizontal section of the electrical conductor track 100 housings 101 first opening of the housing 102 second opening of the housing 103 third opening of the housing 104 Cavity 110a,110b,110c Side panels of the housing 120 Bottom wall of the housing 200 contact brackets 210 first section of the contact bracket 220 second section of the contact bracket 230 third section of the contact bracket 300 holding element 400 levers

Claims

[1] Contacting device for contacting at least one electrical conductor to an electrical conductor track of an electrical component, comprising: - a housing (100) with a cavity (104), with a first and second opening (101, 102) for respectively inserting the at least one electrical conductor (10, 10a, 10b) into the cavity (104) and with a third opening (103) for inserting the electrical conductor track (20) into the cavity (104), - a contact bracket (200) arranged in the cavity (104) of the housing, wherein the contact bracket (200) comprises a first section (210) designed as a resilient leg and a second section (220) designed as a resilient leg, - wherein a first section (21) of the conductor track (20) of the electrical component (2) is arranged in the third opening (103) and a second section (22) of the conductor track (20) of the electrical component (2) is arranged in the cavity (104) of the housing (100) when the contacting device (1) is attached to the electrical component (2), - wherein the at least one conductor (10, 10a, 10b) is pressed against the first section (21) of the conductor track (20) by bending the resilient leg of the first section (210) of the contact bracket (200), whereby the at least one conductor (10, 10a, 10b) is held in a clamping fit on the conductor track (20) for electrical contact with the conductor track (20) when the at least one conductor (10, 10a, 10b) is inserted into the first opening (101) of the housing (100) and the conductor track (20) is inserted into the third opening (103) of the housing, - wherein the at least one conductor (10, 10a, 10b) is fixed in the cavity (104) of the housing (100) by bending the resilient leg of the second section (220) of the contact bracket (200), and the at least one conductor (10, 10a, 10b) is electrically connected to a second section (22) of the conductor track (20) by means of the second section (220) of the contact bracket (200) when the at least one conductor (10, 10a, 10b) is inserted into the second opening (102) of the housing (100) and the conductor track (20) is inserted into the third opening (103) of the housing. [2] Contacting device according to claim 1, - wherein the cavity (104) of the housing is delimited by side walls (110a, 110b, 110c) and a bottom wall (120) of the housing, - wherein the third opening (103) is provided in one of the side walls (110a) of the housing (100). [3] Contacting device according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the contact bracket (200) has a third section (230) between the first and second sections (210, 220), at which section the contact bracket (200) is fastened to the housing (100). [4] Contacting device according to claim 3, wherein the first portion (210) of the contact bracket (200) is aligned from the third portion (230) of the contact bracket in the direction of the third opening (103) of the housing. [5] Contacting device according to claim 4, wherein the contact bracket (200) is shaped such that the resilient leg of the first section (210) of the contact bracket is bent and, as a result of the bending, generates a restoring force with which it presses the at least one conductor (10, 10a, 10b) against the first section (21) of the conductor track (20) when the at least one conductor (10, 10a, 10b) is pushed through the first opening (101) into the cavity (104) of the housing (100) and the first section (21) of the conductor track (20) is pushed into the third opening (103) of the housing (100). [6] Contacting device according to one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the second portion (220) of the contact bracket (200) is aligned from the third portion (230) of the contact bracket in the direction of the bottom wall (120) of the housing. [7] Contacting device according to claim 6, wherein the contact bracket (200) is shaped such that the resilient leg of the second section (220) of the contact bracket is bent and, as a result of the bending, generates a restoring force with which it presses the at least one conductor (10, 10a, 10b) against the second section (22) of the conductor track (20) when the at least one conductor (10, 10a, 10b) is pushed through the second opening (102) into the cavity (104) of the housing (100) and the conductor track (20) comprises a second section (22) which, after the first section (21) of the conductor track (20) has been pushed into the third opening (103) of the housing (100), is arranged parallel to the bottom wall (120) of the housing. [8] Contacting device according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first and second openings (101, 102) are arranged in the housing (100) such that the first and second openings (101, 102) lead into the cavity (104) of the housing from different directions. [9] Contacting device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second section (220) of the contact bracket (200) is designed such that the at least one conductor (10, 10a, 10b) is held in a clamping fit on the second section (220) of the contact bracket without touching the second section (22) of the conductor track (20) when the at least one conductor (10, 10a, 10b) is pushed through the second opening (102) into the cavity (104) of the housing and the second section (22) of the conductor track (20) is arranged in the longitudinal direction parallel above the bottom wall (120) of the housing (100). [10] Contacting device according to one of claims 1 to 5 or 9, wherein the contact bracket (200) is shaped such that the contact bracket (200) contacts the second section (22) of the conductor track (20) when the conductor track (20) is inserted into the cavity (104) of the housing and the second section (22) of the conductor track (20) is arranged in the longitudinal direction parallel above the bottom wall (120) of the housing (100).

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