conductor connection terminal

Abstract

A conductor terminal (1) with at least one spring-clamp terminal for connecting an electrical conductor by means of spring clamping, wherein the spring-clamp terminal has a clamping spring (4) which has at least one clamping leg (43) for clamping an electrical conductor, wherein a pull element (7) is attached to the clamping leg (43) which is designed to deflect the clamping leg (43) by means of a tensile force, wherein the pull element (7) projects from a first surface side (47) of the clamping leg (43) from the clamping leg (43), wherein the conductor terminal (1) has an actuating element (5) which is coupled to the pull element (7) so that by manual actuation of the actuating element (5) a tensile force can be transmitted to the clamping leg (43) via the pull element (7) and the clamping leg (43) can be deflected by the tensile force, characterized in thatthat the pulling element (7) can be wound at least partially onto a drive element (52) of the actuating element (5) during an actuation movement of the actuating element (5).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a conductor connection terminal with at least one spring-loaded clamping connection for connecting an electrical conductor by means of spring-loaded clamping, wherein the spring-loaded clamping connection has a clamping spring which has at least one clamping leg for clamping an electrical conductor, wherein a tension element which is designed to deflect the clamping leg by tensile force is fastened to the clamping leg.

[0002] Such a conductor connection terminal is known, for example, from DE 20 2009 002 324 U1. DE 10 2010 024 809 A1 discloses a connection terminal with a clamping spring actuated by tensile force. DE 10 2017 108 171 A1 discloses a spring-loaded connection with a clamping spring actuated by a tension element. DE 10 2015 115 612 A1 discloses a connection terminal for connecting an electrical conductor. DE 10 2014 114 026 A1 discloses a conductor connection terminal and a method for its assembly. DE 10 2005 052 980 B3 discloses a clamping device for a DIN rail-mounted device.

[0003] The invention is based on the object of providing a conductor connection terminal with an improved tension element actuation of the clamping spring.

[0004] This object is achieved with a conductor connection terminal according to claim 1. This involves the tension element protruding from a first surface side of the clamping leg. Such actuation of the clamping leg by means of a tension element has the advantage that greater forces can be transmitted compared to other types of actuation, such as via laterally projecting actuating tabs on the clamping leg, since the tension element can usually be attached closer to the free end of the clamping leg than other types of actuating elements. Due to the principles of leverage, a greater actuating force can thus be transmitted to the clamping leg, which is particularly advantageous in conductor connection terminals for large conductor cross-sections, since particularly high clamping forces occur on the clamping leg in these cases.

[0005] Compared to the prior art, connecting the tension element to the clamping leg requires no additional elements that overlap the clamping leg from the outside and therefore require additional installation space. The conductor connection terminal according to the invention can therefore be designed to be particularly small and compact.

[0006] As mentioned, the force application point of the tension element on the clamping leg can be positioned at a comparatively large distance from the spring arch. This allows the actuation force of the clamping leg to be essentially equal to the necessary contact force with which the clamping leg acts on a clamped electrical conductor.

[0007] The tension element can be connected to the clamping leg at one or more attachment points. For example, the tension element can be in the form of a loop or eyelet. The tension element can be connected to the clamping leg at two attachment points, for example. It is advantageous if the two attachment points are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the clamping leg, i.e., in the greatest longitudinal direction of the clamping leg. This keeps the overall width of the tension element small.

[0008] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the clamping leg has a length from the spring arch to the free end of the clamping leg, wherein the tension element is connected to the clamping leg at at least one fastening point, which is located in the area between the free end and a maximum distance of 20% or 10% of the length of the clamping leg from the free end. This optimizes the articulation of the clamping leg by the tension element with a view to minimizing the actuation force.

[0009] The tension element can be attached to the clamping leg, particularly with respect to the width of the clamping leg, in the area of ​​the attachment point, essentially centrally, or at least not at the edge. For example, the attachment point of the tension element on the clamping leg can be circumferentially surrounded by the first surface side. In this way, the clamping leg is subjected to an actuating force by the tension element symmetrically or at least approximately symmetrically. Furthermore, the tension element can be connected to the clamping leg in such a way that it does not project beyond the clamping leg, even laterally. This also has a positive effect on the compact design of the conductor connection terminal.

[0010] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a second surface side of the clamping leg facing away from the first surface side is free of elevations, at least in the region of the fastening point of the tension element. The second surface side is thus free of elevations, at least in the region of the fastening point of the tension element, so that there are no edges or projections there that would hinder the sliding along, for example, of an electrical conductor. The tension element can be fastened to the clamping leg without elements protruding from the second surface side of the clamping leg. Thus, there are no interfering elements there that could, for example, hinder the insertion and clamping of an electrical conductor at a clamping point or generally in the vicinity of the clamping leg.The fastening point at which the tension element is fastened to the clamping leg can, for example, be flat on the second surface side with the other adjacent surfaces of the clamping leg or be slightly lowered compared to these adjacent surfaces.

[0011] The clamping spring can have at least the clamping leg, a contact leg for supporting the clamping spring and a spring arch connecting the contact leg to the clamping leg.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first surface of the clamping leg is an actuating side facing the contact leg, and the second surface is a clamping side facing away from the contact leg, to which an electrical conductor can be clamped by the clamping leg. In this way, the tension element does not interfere with the use of the spring-loaded terminal connection, i.e., an electrical conductor can be guided to and removed from a terminal point in the usual manner for conductor connection terminals with spring-loaded clamping technology.

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the clamping leg has a clamping edge at the free end on the clamping side. This allows for particularly secure clamping of an electrical conductor by means of the clamping spring.

[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the tension element is attached to the clamping leg by means of a joining process, in particular a joining process according to groups 2-9 of DIN 8593. This allows for a multitude of degrees of freedom in the design of the type of attachment of the tension element to the clamping leg.

[0015] Joining is the fourth of the six main manufacturing groups in manufacturing technology according to DIN 8580. Joining involves permanently connecting (joining) two or more solid bodies, the joining parts, with a geometrically defined shape. Groups 2–9 of DIN 8593 are: filling, pressing and pressing in, joining by primary forming, joining by forming, welding, soldering, bonding, and textile joining. Particularly suitable for the present invention are joining connections by material bonding, e.g., welding, soldering, and / or bonding, or positive and non-positive connections such as screwing, press fittings, clamping connections (e.g., clamping with a conical stub of the tension element), riveting, clinching, and comparable joining processes.

[0016] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the tension element is fastened to the first surface side of the clamping leg. The tension element is thus fastened to the surface of the first surface side, e.g., by means of one or more of the aforementioned joining processes. This has the advantage that the clamping leg can be designed without holes, at least in the region of the fastening point of the tension element. In particular, it is not necessary to provide a through-hole on the clamping leg for fastening the tension element.

[0017] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the tension element is narrower, at least in the region of its fastening point on the clamping leg, than the clamping leg in the region of the fastening point. In this way, the tension element fits seamlessly into the design of a conductor connection terminal and requires little installation space. The tension element therefore does not protrude laterally beyond the clamping leg, i.e. in the direction of extension of the clamping edge. For example, the tension element can be narrower than the clamping leg at its clamping edge. The tension element can, for example, have a width of at most 50% or at most 25% of the width of the clamping leg in the region of the fastening point.

[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the tension element is designed as a tension rod, tension wire, tension strand, or tension cable. This allows the use of a variety of possible components to implement the tension element.

[0019] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the clamping leg and the contact leg run predominantly parallel to each other, at least in the area protruding from the spring arc, when the clamping spring is relaxed. This allows the realization of particularly advantageous embodiments of conductor connection terminals, for example, conductor connection terminals with spring-loaded terminal connections using direct plug-in technology. Direct plug-in technology means that an electrical conductor, if sufficiently rigid, can be inserted directly into the terminal point and clamped there without actuating the clamping spring. Only to release the electrical conductor does the clamping spring need to be actuated by means of the tension element.

[0020] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the clamping leg, starting from the spring arch, initially runs essentially parallel to the contact leg and then extends diagonally away from the contact leg. In this way, a very efficient spring-loaded clamp can be realized at a clamping point, particularly with a busbar arranged diagonally to the free end region of the clamping leg.

[0021] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the conductor connection terminal comprises a busbar, with a clamping point of the spring-loaded terminal connection being formed between the clamping leg of the clamping spring and the busbar. The electrical conductor can thus be clamped firmly at the clamping point between the clamping leg, in particular its clamping edge, and the busbar.

[0022] According to the invention, the conductor connection terminal has an actuating element that is coupled to the pulling element, so that by manual actuation of the actuating element, a pulling force can be transmitted to the clamping leg via the pulling element, and the clamping leg can be deflected by the pulling force. The actuating element can be designed, for example, as an actuating lever, actuating push-button, or other type of actuating element. The actuating element can, for example, be pivotably arranged on the conductor connection terminal, so that an actuating movement of the actuating element is a pivoting movement. Providing the actuating element on the conductor connection terminal has the advantage that no external actuating tool is required. The actuating element is therefore always present and can be used by the user at any time. The actuating element can have a driver element with which an actuating force is transmitted to the pulling element.

[0023] According to the invention, the tension element can be wound at least partially onto a driver element of the actuating element during an actuating movement of the actuating element. This allows the conductor connection terminal to be realized in a particularly compact and small design. By winding at least part of the tension element, it requires even less space when actuated. Furthermore, this allows a high actuating force to be transmitted.

[0024] The conductor terminal may also have a housing, e.g., an insulating housing. In this case, the clamping spring and the busbar may be at least predominantly housed in the housing.

[0025] The object mentioned above is also achieved with a conductor connection terminal according to claim 16.

[0026] For the purposes of the present invention, the indefinite term "a" is not to be understood as a numerical term. Therefore, if, for example, a component is mentioned, this is to be interpreted as "at least one component." Angles expressed in degrees refer to a circle of 360 degrees (360°).

[0027] The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments and drawings.

[0028] It shows Fig. 1 - 4 a clamping spring with tension element in different views and different designs and Fig. 5 a conductor connection terminal in a side sectional view.

[0029] The reference symbols used in the figures have the following assignment: 1 conductor connection terminal 2 housings 3 busbar 4 clamping spring 5 Actuating element 7 Tension element 8 Attachment point 20 first conductor entry opening 21 second conductor entry opening 22 Partition wall 30 first clamping section 31 second clamping section 32 Fixing area 33 Fixing area 40 Hanging element 41 investment legs 42 spring bows 43 clamping legs 44 Curvature range 45 clamping tongue 46 clamping edge 47 first surface side 48 second surface side 50 handle section 51 Functional section 52 Driving element 53 clamping section 70 fastening section 71 connecting section 72 Fixing section

[0030] In the Fig. 1 to 4, Figure a) shows a perspective view, Figure b) a side view, the Fig. ) a lateral sectional view and the Fig. ) an enlarged section from the Fig. ). The embodiments according to the Fig. 1 to 4 differ in the type of fastening of the tension element 7 to the clamping leg 43 of the clamping spring 4 and in the shape of the tension element 7. The clamping spring 4 has the same design in each case.

[0031] The clamping spring 4 has a clamping leg 43 for clamping an electrical conductor, a contact leg 41 for supporting the clamping spring 4, and a spring arch 42 connecting the contact leg 41 to the clamping leg 43. The contact leg 41 has a suspension element 40 at its free end, with which the contact leg 41 can be suspended from a part of the conductor connection terminal 1, for example, from a recess in a busbar. In this exemplary embodiment, the suspension element 40 is designed as a tab that is bent away from the clamping leg 43 and narrower than the contact leg 41. The clamping leg 43 extends from the spring arch 42, initially with a section that runs essentially or predominantly parallel to the contact leg 41.The clamping leg 43 transitions in a curved region 44 into a region extending obliquely away from the contact leg 41, which is designed as a clamping tongue 45. The clamping leg 43 terminates at the free end or at the free end of the clamping tongue 45 with a clamping edge 46. The clamping edge 46 clamps an electrical conductor to a busbar.

[0032] The clamping leg 43 has a first surface side 47 facing the contact leg 41. A second surface side 48 facing away from the first surface side 47 accordingly faces away from the contact leg 41. The second surface side 48 is the clamping side of the clamping leg 43, which faces a clamped electrical conductor.

[0033] In the Fig. 1, a tension element 7 is connected to the clamping leg 43 or the clamping tongue 45 at a fastening point 8. The tension element 7 has at one end in the region of the fastening point 8 a fastening section 70 which widens conically or in a similar manner towards the free end. The clamping leg 43 or the clamping tongue 45 has a through-opening, for example a bore or milling, which in terms of shape is designed as a counterpart to the design of the fastening section 70 of the tension element 7. In this exemplary embodiment, the through-opening in the clamping leg 43 widens conically towards the second surface side, wherein the conical section can extend over the entire thickness of the clamping leg 43 or only over part of the thickness of the clamping leg 43.In this way, the tension element 7 can be connected to the clamping leg 43 or the clamping tongue 45 by positive and non-positive engagement at the fastening point 8, without the tension element 7 protruding from the clamping leg 43 or the clamping tongue 45 on the second surface side 48.

[0034] Starting from the fastening section 70, the tension element 7 has a connecting section 71, which merges into a fixing section 72 at the other end of the tension element 7. With the fixing section 72, the tension element 7 can be coupled to an actuating element, as will be explained below with reference to the Fig. 5 is explained.

[0035] The Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 show comparable designs of the clamping spring 4 and the tension element 7. In contrast to Fig. 1 is in the embodiment of the Fig. 2, the tension element 7 is fastened with its fastening section 70 to the fastening point 8 on the first surface side 47 of the clamping leg 43 or the clamping tongue 45, in this case by a material-to-material fastening such as welding or soldering. In this case, the clamping leg 43 or the clamping tongue 45 does not need to have a through-opening; instead, the tension element 7 can be fastened directly to the first surface side 47 of the clamping leg 43 or the clamping tongue 45.

[0036] The Fig. Figure 3 shows an embodiment in which the tension element 7 with its fastening section 70 at the fastening point 8 is also firmly connected to the clamping leg 43 or the clamping tongue 45, in this case by gluing. As in the embodiment of the Fig. 2 In this case, no through hole is required in the clamping leg 43 or the clamping tongue 45.

[0037] The Fig. Fig. 4 shows an embodiment with a tension element 7 that is fastened to the clamping leg 43 or the clamping tongue 45 at two fastening points 8 with respective fastening sections 70. The type of fastening at the fastening points 8 can be carried out using practically any type of joining, for example with a Fig. 1 to 3. The tension element 7 in this case has a loop shape. The fixing area 72, in turn, serves for coupling to an actuating element.

[0038] The Fig. Figure 5 shows a conductor terminal 1 using the example of a connecting terminal having two spring-loaded terminal connections with opposite connection sides. The conductor terminal 1 has a housing 2 having a first conductor insertion opening 20 on one connection side and a second conductor insertion opening 21 on the opposite connection side. Located inside the housing 2 are two clamping springs 4 of the type described above, each having a tension element 7. Furthermore, a busbar 3 is located in the housing 2. The conductor terminal 1 further has two actuating elements 5, for example in the form of pivotable actuating levers.

[0039] The busbar 3 has a first clamping section 30, a second clamping section 31 and fixing regions 32, 33. The clamping spring 4 shown on the left and its clamping edge 46 and the first clamping section 30 of the busbar 3 form a first clamping point for clamping an electrical conductor. The clamping spring 4 shown on the right and its clamping edge 46 and the second clamping section 31 of the busbar 3 form a second clamping point. An electrical conductor inserted through the conductor insertion opening 20 can be clamped at the first clamping point, and an electrical conductor inserted through the conductor insertion opening 21 can be clamped at the second clamping point. In order to separate the conductor receiving chambers formed at the first and second clamping points, for example,an intermediate wall 22 formed from the material of the housing 2 may be present, which extends substantially orthogonally to the conductor insertion directions of the conductors through the first and second conductor insertion openings 20, 21.

[0040] The clamping springs 4 are each fastened with their suspension elements 40 to the corresponding fixing areas 32, 33 of the busbar 3.

[0041] The actuating elements 5 each have a manual actuating section in the form of a handle section 50, by which the actuating element 5 can be grasped by the user and pivoted by manual actuation. From the handle section 50, the actuating element 5 transitions into a functional section 51, in which the actuating element 5 is supported and connected to the fixing section 72 of the respective pulling element 7. The actuating element 5 can have, for example, a driver element 52 in the functional section 51. The pulling element 7 is then clamped with its fixing section 72 between the driver element 52 and an adjacent clamping section 53 of the actuating element 5 and is thus fixed to the actuating element 5.

[0042] The Fig.5 shows the actuating element 5 in the closed position in the right-hand area. In this closed position, the clamping leg 43 of the clamping spring 4 is not deflected by the pulling element 7. If no electrical conductor is connected to the clamping point, the clamping leg 43 rests with the clamping edge 46 against the second clamping section 31. If the actuating element 5 is then pivoted into an open position, the state shown in the left-hand area of ​​the conductor connection terminal 1 results. The actuating element 5 then projects upwards out of the housing 2. The pulling element 7 is deflected by a pulling force by the driving element 52. The pulling element 7 can be at least partially wound onto the driving element 52. Due to the pulling force transmitted to the pulling element 7, the clamping leg 43 with the clamping edge 46 is also deflected, i.e. it is spaced from the first clamping section 30 even without an inserted electrical conductor.In this state, an electrical conductor can be inserted into or removed from the terminal point without any force.

Claims

[1] Conductor connection terminal (1) with at least one spring-loaded clamping connection for connecting an electrical conductor by means of spring-loaded clamping, wherein the spring-loaded clamping connection has a clamping spring (4) which has at least one clamping leg (43) for clamping an electrical conductor, wherein a tension element (7) which is designed to deflect the clamping leg (43) by tensile force is fastened to the clamping leg (43), wherein the tension element (7) protrudes from a first surface side (47) of the clamping leg (43) from the clamping leg (43), wherein the conductor connection terminal (1) has an actuating element (5) which is coupled to the tension element (7), so that by manual actuation of the actuating element (5) via the tension element (7) a tensile force can be transmitted to the clamping leg (43) and the latter can be deflected by the tensile force, characterized bythat the pulling element (7) can be wound at least partially onto a driver element (52) of the actuating element (5) during an actuating movement of the actuating element (5). [2] Conductor terminal according to claim 1, characterized by that the clamping leg (43) has a length from the spring arch (42) to the free end of the clamping leg (43), wherein the tension element (7) is connected to the clamping leg (43) at at least one fastening point (8) which is arranged in the area between the free end and a maximum distance of 20% of the length of the clamping leg (43) from the free end. [3] Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the fastening point of the tension element (7) on the clamping leg is circumferentially surrounded by the first surface side (47). [4] Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat a second surface side (48) of the clamping leg (43) facing away from the first surface side (47) is free of elevations at least in the region of the fastening point of the tension element (7). [5] Conductor connection terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the clamping spring (4) has at least the clamping leg (43), a contact leg (41) for supporting the clamping spring (4) and a spring arch (42) connecting the contact leg (41) to the clamping leg (43). [6] Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the first surface side (47) of the clamping leg (43) is an actuating side facing the contact leg (41) and the second surface side (48) is a clamping side facing away from the contact leg (41), to which an electrical conductor can be clamped by the clamping leg (43). [7] Conductor connection terminal according to claim 6, characterized bythat the clamping leg (43) has a clamping edge (46) at the free end on the clamping side. [8] Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the tension element (7) is fastened to the clamping leg (43) by means of a joining process, in particular a joining process according to groups 2-9 of DIN 8593. [9] Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the tension element (7) is fastened to the first surface side (47) of the clamping leg (43). [10] Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the clamping leg (43) is designed to be hole-free at least in the area of ​​the fastening point of the tension element (7). [11] Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the tension element (7) is narrower, at least in the region of its fastening point (8) on the clamping leg (43), than the clamping leg (43) in the region of the fastening point (8). [12] Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the tension element (7) is designed as a tension rod, tension wire, tension strand or tension rope. [13] Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the clamping leg (43) and the contact leg (41) run predominantly parallel to one another, at least in the area projecting from the spring arch (42), when the clamping spring (4) is relaxed. [14] Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the clamping leg (43), starting from the spring arch (42), initially runs essentially parallel to the contact leg (41) and then extends obliquely away from the contact leg (41). [15] Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the conductor connection terminal (1) has a busbar (3), wherein a clamping point of the spring-loaded terminal connection is formed between the clamping leg (43) of the clamping spring (4) and the busbar (3). [16] Conductor connection terminal (1) with at least one spring-loaded clamping connection for connecting an electrical conductor by means of spring-loaded clamping, wherein the spring-loaded clamping connection has a clamping spring (4) which has at least one clamping leg (43) for clamping an electrical conductor, wherein a tension element (7) which is designed to deflect the clamping leg (43) by tensile force is fastened to the clamping leg (43), wherein the tension element (7) protrudes from a first surface side (47) of the clamping leg (43) from the clamping leg (43), wherein the clamping leg (43) has a through-opening in which a fastening section (70) of the tension element (7) is arranged, characterized bythat a second surface side (48) of the clamping leg (43) facing away from the first surface side (47) is free of elevations at least in the region of the fastening point of the tension element (7) and / or that the through opening in the clamping leg (43) widens conically towards the second surface side (47).

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