Terminal block system for connecting an electrical cable

Abstract

Terminal block (1) for connecting an electrical conductor (3), comprising a housing (10), a clamping lever (13) pivotably arranged on the housing (10) and adjustable between a release position in which an electrical conductor (3) can be attached to the terminal block (1) and a clamping position in which an electrical conductor (3) attached to the terminal block (1) is clamped to the terminal block (1), a coupling element (12) connected to the clamping lever (13) and movable relative to the housing (10) for adjusting the clamping lever (13) between the clamping position and the release position, a guide device (14) by means of which the coupling element (12) is guided on the housing (10) such that the clamping lever (13) assumes a stable position in the clamping position, and an adjusting element (11) arranged on the housing (10).which is operatively connected to the coupling element (12) and can be actuated to adjust the coupling element (12) which is guided to the housing (10) via the guide device (14), characterized in that the guide device (14) is formed by a pivot lever which is pivotably arranged on the housing (10) and which is different from the adjusting element (11), and by which the coupling element (12) is guided on the housing (10).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a terminal for connecting an electrical line according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such a connection terminal comprises a housing and a clamping lever which is pivotably mounted on the housing and which can be adjusted between a release position in which an electrical line can be attached to the connection terminal, and a clamping position in which an electrical line attached to the connection terminal is clamped to the connection terminal. A coupling element is connected to the clamping lever and can be moved relative to the housing to adjust the clamping lever between the clamping position and the release position. The connection terminal further comprises a guide device via which the coupling element is guided on the housing such that the clamping lever assumes a stable position in the clamping position, and an adjustment element arranged on the housing which is operatively connected to the coupling element and can be actuated to adjust the coupling element guided to the housing via the guide device.

[0003] Such a terminal block is used to connect an electrical cable to an electrical assembly, such as a control cabinet or electrical system. Several terminal blocks can be combined to create a terminal block configuration and enable the connection of multiple electrical cables to the electrical device.

[0004] DE 10 2015 119 342 A1 discloses a connecting terminal comprising a clamping lever, a coupling element, and an adjustment element. The coupling element is directly connected to the adjustment element and is guided by the adjustment element. The adjustment element, in turn, is guided in a recess formed on a receiving body, which has a gear profile.

[0005] A terminal known from DE 10 2013 006 739 A1, for example, implements a so-called toggle lever, in which a clamping lever is coupled to an actuating lever via a coupling element. By pivoting the actuating lever, the clamping lever is pivoted and assumes a stable position in the clamped position, in which it is held in place for clamping a cable to the terminal.

[0006] In a connection terminal known from DE 102011 055 845 A1, a clamping lever is pivotably mounted on a receiving body and coupled to a first lever arm. The first lever arm interacts with a second lever arm pivotably mounted on the receiving body to clamp an electrical line to the receiving body when the clamping lever is in a clamping position.

[0007] In a terminal known from DE 10 2011 106 432 A1, a clamping lever is pivotably mounted on a holder. A hand lever is pivotally connected to the clamping lever, which in turn is pivotally coupled to the holder via an auxiliary lever. By adjusting the hand lever, the clamping lever can be moved into a clamping position to clamp an electrical cable to the holder in the clamping position.

[0008] Other designs of connection terminals are known, for example, from DE 10 2013 108 116 A1 and DE 10 2013 110 481 A1.

[0009] With such terminals, the clamping lever must travel a comparatively large distance to adjust between its clamped and released positions. It is desirable to minimize the movement required by a user to operate the terminal, while still ensuring reliable operation of the clamping lever.

[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide a connection terminal which enables a simple but reliable actuation of a clamping lever for adjustment between a clamping position and a release position.

[0011] This object is achieved by an article having the features of claim 1.

[0012] Accordingly, the guide device is formed by a pivoting lever which is arranged pivotably on the housing and is different from the adjusting element, via which the coupling element is guided on the housing.

[0013] The coupling element is thus guided to the housing via the guide device, in particular along a curved adjustment path, for example, along a circular arc. The guide is such that the clamping lever assumes a stable position in its clamped position, i.e., it remains stable in this position if the clamping lever is not actuated from the clamped position. The guide device thus holds the clamping lever in its clamped position, similar to a toggle lever, and prevents it from moving out of the clamped position on its own.

[0014] The connection terminal is actuated to adjust the clamping lever between the clamping position and the release position via the adjustment element, which can, for example, be provided with a tool engagement to which a tool can be applied to adjust the adjustment element. The adjustment element is operatively connected to the coupling element and can be actuated to move the coupling element and thus also the clamping lever.

[0015] The function of holding the clamping lever in a stable position in the clamped position on the one hand and moving the clamping lever between the clamped position and the release position on the other hand are thus divided between the guide device on the one hand and the adjustment element on the other. The guide device holds the clamping lever in the clamped position so that the clamping lever remains stable in the position assumed in the clamped position. Actuation, on the other hand, takes place via the adjustment element, for example using a tool. By acting on the adjustment element to operate the connection terminal and adjusting the adjustment element, which is different from the guide device, an actuation movement that the user has to perform can be adapted so that it is transferred, for example in a translated manner, to a movement of the clamping lever.For example, a comparatively small movement of the adjustment element can lead to a comparatively large movement of the clamping lever, which makes it possible to reduce the actuation movement to be performed by a user.

[0016] The coupling element can, for example, be guided at a first end via the guide device to the housing, while a second end of the coupling element is articulated to the clamping lever.

[0017] In order to provide length compensation (required due to the guidance via the guide device) when the adjustment element is actuated, the first end of the coupling element can be arranged on the adjustment element in a positionally variable manner (viewed along a pivoting plane along which the clamping lever can be pivoted). The first end of the coupling element is thus not fixedly arranged on the adjustment element, but can move to a certain extent on the adjustment element and thus change its position.

[0018] In one embodiment, the first end of the coupling element is connected to the adjustment element via an axle element. The first end of the coupling element is thus connected to the adjustment element in an articulated manner via the axle element. Because the axle element engages in an elongated hole in the adjustment element, the axle element, and thus the first end of the coupling element, is also connected to the adjustment element in a positionally variable manner.

[0019] The coupling element can also be guided to the housing via the axle element. The axle element can be guided to the housing via the guide device, so that the first end of the coupling element is guided relative to the housing.

[0020] In one embodiment, the coupling element is formed, for example, by a spring element, for example, made of spring steel. The coupling element can be curved and is coupled at one end to the clamping lever and at another, opposite end to the adjustment element.

[0021] According to a further aspect, the adjusting element is arranged on the housing so as to be pivotable about a first pivot axis. The adjusting element is thus implemented as a lever element that can be pivoted to thereby actuate the connecting terminal and move the clamping lever between its clamping position and the release position. The first pivot axis is preferably different from a second pivot axis about which the clamping lever is pivotably arranged on the housing, so that the adjusting element and the clamping lever can be pivoted about different pivot axes.

[0022] In an advantageous embodiment, the guide device is designed to guide the coupling element—in particular the first end of the coupling element, via which the coupling element is coupled to the adjustment element—along an adjustment path curved about a third pivot axis. The guide device thus ensures that, upon actuation of the adjustment element, the first end of the coupling element moves toward the housing along a predetermined, curved movement path. This movement path can be described, for example, by a circular arc around the third pivot axis.

[0023] The relative position of the pivot axes is advantageously selected such that the actuating movement of the adjusting element is translated into a pivoting movement of the clamping lever. Thus, a movement of the adjusting element through a first angle about the first pivot axis associated with the adjusting element is preferably translated into a movement of the clamping lever through a second angle about the second pivot axis associated with the clamping lever.

[0024] The first angle is preferably smaller than the second angle. This can be achieved, for example, by the radius of the movement path predetermined by the guide device around the third pivot axis being smaller than the distance between the connection point of the coupling element to the adjustment element (realized, for example, by the axle element) and the first pivot axis about which the adjustment element can be pivoted. In this way, a pivoting movement of the adjustment element through a first angle is translated into a movement of the first end of the coupling element coupled to the adjustment element through a second, larger angle. This movement is transmitted via the coupling element to the clamping lever, so that the clamping lever is also pivoted through a large angle (compared to the angle of the adjustment element).

[0025] The guide device is implemented by an additional pivot lever, which is pivotably mounted on the housing and guides the coupling element to the housing. The coupling element is thus guided along a circular arc-shaped path to the housing via the pivot lever, which can be coupled, for example, to the first end of the coupling element.

[0026] The coupling element can also be coupled to the guide device, for example via an axle element with which the coupling element is coupled to the adjustment element, in that the axle element is connected, for example, to the pivot lever (in the first variant of the guide device) or engages in the link (in the second variant of the guide device).

[0027] The adjustment element is preferably formed in one piece, for example, as a sheet metal part. A tool engagement can be formed directly on the adjustment element, to which a tool, such as a screwdriver, can be applied to adjust the adjustment element and, via it, the clamping lever.

[0028] The concept underlying the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures. They show: Fig. 1 a view of a terminal in a closed position corresponding to a clamping position of a clamping lever; Fig. 2 a view of the terminal in an open position corresponding to a release position of the clamping lever; Fig. 3A is a side view of the terminal in the closed position; Fig. 3B a view of the terminal in the position according to Fig. 3A, without a housing part of the terminal; Fig. 4A a view of the terminal when opened; Fig. 4B a view of the terminal in the position according to Fig. 4A, without the housing part of the connection terminal; Fig. 5A is a view of the terminal in the open position; Fig. 5B a view of the terminal in the position according to Fig. 5A, without the housing part; Fig. 6 a view of the terminal in the closed position, with a connecting line drawn between a pivot axis of an adjusting element and a pivot axis of a lever element implementing a guide device; Fig. 7 is a view of a terminal not according to the invention in a closed position; Fig. 8 a view of the connecting terminal not according to the invention in an open position; Fig. 9A is a view of the terminal not according to the invention in the closed position; Fig. 9B a view of the terminal not according to the invention in the position according to Fig. 9A, without a housing part of the connection terminal; Fig. 10A is a view of the terminal not according to the invention when opened; Fig. 10B is a view of the terminal not according to the invention in the position according to Fig. 10A, without the housing part; Fig. 11A is a view of the terminal not according to the invention in an open position; Fig. 11B is a view of the terminal not according to the invention in the position according to Fig. 11A, without the housing part; and Fig. 12 a view of the connecting terminal not according to the invention, with a line drawn between a pivot axis of an adjusting element and a pivot axis around which a link implementing a guide device is extended.

[0029] Fig. 1 to 6 show a first embodiment of a terminal 1, which is a component of, for example, a terminal system and enables the connection of an electrical line 3, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is shown.

[0030] The terminal block 1 has a housing 10, which is designed, for example, as a metal stamped sheet metal part and has two side walls 100 extending parallel to one another, between which the electrical line 3 can be inserted with one end 30 for electrical contact along a longitudinal direction L. The housing 10 encloses a base part 101, on which a conductor 3 comes to rest when plugged into the terminal block 1.

[0031] Between the side walls 100, an adjusting element 11 with a lever section 110 formed by parallel side surfaces is pivotally mounted such that the adjusting element 11 can be pivoted about a first pivot axis D1 relative to the housing 10. The adjusting element 11 is formed in one piece as a bent sheet metal part and has a head section 111 that forms a tool engagement for attaching a tool 2, for example, a screwdriver.

[0032] As can be seen in particular from the Fig. 3B, Fig. 4B and Fig. 5B, the adjusting element 11 is coupled via a coupling element 12 in the form of a spring element made of a curved spring plate to a clamping lever 13, which is arranged on the housing 10 so as to be pivotable about a second pivot axis D2 spaced from the first pivot axis D1. The coupling element 12 is articulatedly connected to the adjusting element 11 at a first end 120 via an axle element 112, which is guided in elongated holes 113 on the mutually parallel side surfaces of the lever section 110, and is articulated at its other, second end 121 via an axle element 132 to a lever section 131 of the clamping lever 13.

[0033] The axle element 112 is guided to the side walls 100 of the housing 10 on a guide device 14 in the form of two lever elements, each of which is arranged on an associated side wall 100 of the housing 10 so as to be pivotable about a third pivot axis D3, so that when the adjusting element 11 is adjusted along a pivoting direction S1 about the first pivot axis D1, the axle element 112 is moved about the third pivot axis D3 and, in the process, is moved in the elongated holes 113 of the side walls of the lever section 110 for length compensation required due to the different pivot axes D1, D3.

[0034] The clamping lever 13 has, remote from the lever section 131 to which the coupling element 12 is connected, a clamping section 130 which is designed to cooperate in a clamping manner with an electrical line 3 attached to the housing 10. For example, a cutting device can be arranged on the clamping section 130, via which a cutting device can be used to cut into a sheath of the electrical line 3 when clamped to the electrical line 3, in order to penetrate the insulating sheath and establish electrical contact.

[0035] The clamping lever 13 is mounted between the side walls 100 of the housing 10 so as to be pivotable about an axis element 133 about the second pivot axis D2. By pivoting the adjusting element 11 in the pivot direction S1 about the first pivot axis D1, the clamping lever 13 is pivoted in the pivot direction S2 about the second pivot axis D2, as shown in the sequence of Fig. 3A, Fig. 3B towards Fig. 5A, Fig. 5B. As a result, the clamping section 130 is lifted from a bottom of the housing 10, so that an electrical line 3 can be attached to the housing 10 or a line 3 attached to the housing 10 can be removed again ( Fig. 5A, Fig. 5B).

[0036] By pivoting the adjusting element 11 back against the pivoting direction S1, the adjusting element 11 is brought into a clamping position in which the clamping section 130 of the clamping lever 13 is pressed into contact with an electrical line 3 attached to the housing 10 ( Fig. 3A, Fig. 3B).

[0037] In the illustrated embodiment, the coupling element 12 in the form of the spring plate is coupled with its first end 120 to the axle element 112 and via it to the adjusting element 11. The first end 120 of the coupling element 12 is guided via the axle element 112 in elongated holes 113 in the lateral walls of the head section 111 of the adjusting element 11, wherein the first end 120 of the coupling element 12 is additionally guided pivotably to the housing 10 via the lever elements implementing the guide device 14. The guide device 14 in the form of the lever elements ensures, in particular, that - as in Fig. 3A, Fig. 3B - the clamping lever 13, when in the clamping position, is held in a stable position and thus cannot pivot out of the clamping position by itself. This is achieved in that, when adjusting the clamping lever 13 into the clamping position, an imaginary line B between the axle element 112 and the pivot axis D2 assigned to the clamping lever 13 passes over the pivot axis D3 assigned to the lever elements implementing the guide device 14, so that in the clamping position, the pivot axis D3 is arranged on the side of the imaginary line B between the pivot axis D2 and the axle element 112 facing the coupling element 12 (in Fig. 3A, Fig. 3B to the left of line B). This holds the clamping lever 13 stably in the clamping position because, in the manner of a toggle lever, no moment acts on the clamping lever 13 in the direction of movement out of the clamping position. In this respect, the clamping lever 13, the coupling element 12, and the lever elements forming the guide device 14 together form a toggle lever.

[0038] The adjustment of the clamping lever 13 is effected by actuating the adjusting element 11 in a reduced manner. Due to the fact that the pivot axes D1, D2, D3 of the adjusting element 11, the clamping lever 13 and the lever elements implementing the guide device 14 differ and in particular the radius predetermined by the lever elements of the guide device 14 for the guided movement of the axle element 112 assigned to the first end 120 of the coupling element 12 is smaller than the distance of the axle element 112 from the pivot axis D1 assigned to the adjusting element 11, a pivoting movement of the adjusting element 11 by an angle α ( Fig. 5A) to a pivoting movement of the lever elements implementing the guide device 14 by a larger angle β, which in turn leads to a pivoting movement of the clamping lever 13 by an angle γ (significantly larger than the angle α of the adjusting element 11) (see Fig. 5B). A comparatively small actuating movement of the adjusting element 11 thus leads to a pivoting of the clamping lever 13 by a comparatively large angle γ and thus to a reliable lifting of the clamping section 130 of the clamping lever 13 from a cable 3 clamped in the connection terminal 1.

[0039] As from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 6, the reduction ratio can be adjusted by the distance between the pivot axes D1, D3 of the adjusting element 11 and the lever elements forming the guide device 14 along the line A. A smaller distance between the pivot axes D1, D3 leads to a lower reduction ratio.

[0040] In the illustrated embodiment, the adjusting element 11 is formed in one piece as a sheet metal part and realizes with its head section 111 a tool engagement, to which a tool 2 in the form of a screwdriver can be applied in order to adjust the adjusting element 11 and, via it, the clamping lever 13 (see Fig. 1). When pivoting the adjusting element 11, the axle element 112 adjusts radially to the pivot axis D1 in the elongated holes 113 of the lateral walls of the head section 111 of the adjusting element 11, thus creating a length compensation during the movement of the adjusting element 111, which is necessary due to the different pivot axes D1, D3 of the adjusting element 11 and the lever elements implementing the guide device 14.

[0041] Fig. 7 to 12 show an embodiment of a connecting terminal which is not part of the invention, wherein this differs in particular in the design of the guide device 14 from the embodiment according to Fig. 1 to 6.

[0042] While in the embodiment according to Fig. 1 to 6, the guide device 14 is formed by two lever elements for guiding the axle element 112 in a pivotable manner on the housing 10, in the embodiment according to Fig. 7 to 12, the guide device 14 is formed by guides formed into the side walls 100 of the housing 10, in which the axle element 112 is guided along a movement path curved about the third pivot axis D3.

[0043] The kinematic function of the embodiments according to Fig. 1 to 6 and Fig. 7 to 12 is identical. In particular, when adjusting the adjusting element 11, the axis element 112 moves along a same movement path curved in a circular arc around the pivot axis D3. While in the embodiment according to Fig. 1 to 6 a physical pivot axis D3 is specified for the lever elements implementing the guide device 14, in the embodiment according to Fig. 7 to 12, however, a virtual pivot axis D3 is created around which the links of the guide device 14 (with a constant radius) extend.

[0044] Regarding the function of the terminal 1 and also regarding the structural design apart from the guide device 14, reference should otherwise be made entirely to the preceding embodiment according to Fig. 1 to 6.

[0045] The idea underlying the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can in principle also be implemented in completely different embodiments.

[0046] A terminal block of the type described here can be used on a wide variety of devices, for example, electrical assemblies such as printed circuit boards or the like. Terminal blocks of the type described here can be combined with other terminal blocks to create a terminal block system for connecting multiple conductors to an electrical assembly. List of reference symbols 1 connection terminal 10 Contact part 100 side wall 101 Base part 11 Adjustment element 110 Lever section 111 Head section 112 axle element 113 Slot 12 Coupling element (spring element) 120, 121 End 13 clamping lever 130 clamping section 131 Lever section 132 connecting element 133 Axle element 14 Guide device 2 tools 3 Line 4 Electrical device A, B Line α, β, γ angles D1, D2, D3 swivel axis L longitudinal direction S1, S2 swivel direction

Claims

[1] A connecting terminal (1) for connecting an electrical line (3), comprising a housing (10), a clamping lever (13) pivotably mounted on the housing (10) and adjustable between a release position in which an electrical line (3) can be attached to the connecting terminal (1), and a clamping position in which an electrical line (3) attached to the connecting terminal (1) is clamped to the connecting terminal (1), a coupling element (12) connected to the clamping lever (13) and movable relative to the housing (10) for adjusting the clamping lever (13) between the clamping position and the release position, a guide device (14) by means of which the coupling element (12) is guided on the housing (10) such that the clamping lever (13) assumes a stable position in the clamping position, and an adjusting element (11) mounted on the housing (10),which is operatively connected to the coupling element (12) and can be actuated to adjust the coupling element (12) guided to the housing (10) via the guide device (14), , characterized by that the guide device (14) is formed by a pivoting lever which is arranged pivotably on the housing (10) and is different from the adjusting element (11), via which the coupling element (12) is guided on the housing (10). [2] Connection terminal (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the coupling element (12) is guided with a first end (120) via the guide device (14) to the housing (10) and is connected via a second end (121) in an articulated manner to the clamping lever (13). [3] Connection terminal (1) according to claim 2, characterized by that the first end (120) of the coupling element (12) is arranged on the adjusting element (11) in a positionally variable manner, viewed along a pivoting plane along which the clamping lever (13) is pivotable. [4] Connection terminal (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by that the first end (120) of the coupling element (12) is connected to the adjusting element (11) via an axle element (112), wherein the axle element (112) engages in an elongated hole (113) of the adjusting element (11). [5] Connection terminal (1) according to claim 4, characterized by that the axle element (112) is guided to the housing (10) via the guide device (14). [6] Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the coupling element (12) is formed by a spring element. [7] Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the adjusting element (11) is arranged on the housing (10) so as to be pivotable about a first pivot axis (D1), wherein the first pivot axis (D1) is spaced from a second pivot axis (D2) about which the clamping lever (13) is arranged on the housing (10) so as to be pivotable. [8] Connection terminal (1) according to claim 7, characterized by in that the guide device (14) is designed to guide the coupling element (12) along an adjustment path curved about a third pivot axis (D3), wherein the third pivot axis (D3) is spaced from the first pivot axis (D1) and the second pivot axis (D2). [9] Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a movement of the adjusting element (11) by a first angle (α) is translated into a second angle (γ) of the clamping lever (13) which is greater than the first angle (α). [10] Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the adjusting element (11) is formed as a single piece from a sheet metal part. [11] Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the adjusting element (11) forms a tool engagement for attaching a tool (2) for adjusting the adjusting element (11).

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