Connection device for connecting a conductor end

Abstract

A connection device for connecting a conductor end, comprising a housing (2) with a rear wall (21) and a front wall (22), a busbar (12) arranged in the housing (2), and a V-shaped clamping spring (11) arranged in the housing (2) with a support leg (13) supported on an abutment, with a clamping leg (15), and with a spring back (14) connecting these two legs, wherein a conductor entry channel (291) is formed in the housing (1) through which a conductor end to be connected can be guided into a contacting space (28) between the front wall (21) and the rear wall (22), and wherein the housing (2) has a receiving chamber (26) open towards the front wall (21) of the housing (1) for inserting and receiving the clamping spring (11), in which a housing projection (261) is formed which the clamping spring (11) overlaps, is characterized bythat the clamping spring (11) is secured against falling out of the receiving chamber (26) towards the front wall (21) by a clamping spring retaining means (263) integrated into the housing (2), even in a state in which the clamping leg (15) has been moved into an open position.

Description

The invention relates to a connecting device for connecting a conductor end according to the preamble of claim 1.Such a connection device is known from DE 10 2011 055 919 A1.It is known from DE 10 2013 108 952 A1 to provide a cover element on an actuating element for actuating a clamping spring of a connection device, which cover element is intended on the one hand to prevent multiple-length conductors from being misplugged and which cover element additionally secures the clamping spring laterally in the housing, wherein the cover element is formed laterally on the actuating element.The connection device of the generic type of DE 10 2011 055 919 A1 is intended to be developed further in such a way that the clamping spring is secured particularly well in a constructional manner against dropping out of the housing.The invention achieves this object by the subject matter of claim 1. According to this, a connection device for connecting a conductor end is provided, having a housing with a rear wall and a front wall, a busbar arranged in the housing, and a V-shaped clamping spring arranged in the housing, having a support leg supported on an abutment, a clamping leg and a spring back connecting these two legs - support leg and clamping leg - wherein a conductor insertion channel is formed in the housing, via which a conductor end to be connected can be guided into a contact space between the front wall and the rear wall, and wherein the housing has a receiving chamber open towards the front wall of the housing for inserting and receiving the clamping spring, in which receiving chamber a housing shoulder is formed, over which the clamping spring engages, wherein the clamping spring is at least positively secured by a clamping spring holding means integrated into the housing against failure out of the receiving chamber toward the front wall even in a state in which the clamping leg has been moved or tensioned into an open position. This open position is a position in which the clamping spring would otherwise be aligned with the contour of the receiving opening.In this way, the clamping spring is particularly well secured against failure from the housing in a structurally simple manner. It is particularly advantageous and reliable that the clamping spring holding means has been integrated into the housing and does not have to be arranged on a movable part such as the actuating pusher.It is thus preferred and simple if the clamping spring holding means is configured integrally with the housing. However, it can also be manufactured separately and attached to the housing and fastened to the latter, for example by adhesive or clamping.According to a development which is very easy to implement and secure in practice, the clamping spring holding means is designed as a wall section of the housing which is connected directly to the front wall and which secures the clamping spring produced from a metal sheet on one of its narrow sides against dropping out of the housing.According to another easily implementable and secure development, the clamping spring holding means can, however, also be designed as a wall section of the housing which is otherwise not directly connected to the front wall and which secures the clamping spring produced from a metal sheet on one of its narrow sides against dropping out of the housing.Thus, the wall section forming the clamping spring holding means can be configured parallel to the front wall so as to be flush therewith, such that the support leg or the clamping leg can be placed behind this wall section from the front wall during assembly, which secures it against failure towards the side of the front wall at least by positive locking. In this case, the wall section forming the clamping spring holding means can be formed on the housing shoulder according to a preferred-since simple and very secure-configuration.If the housing extension is dimensioned such that, in the assembled state of the clamping spring, it lies between the support leg and the clamping leg and forms a deflection travel limiting means which limits the deflection travel of the clamping leg when the clamping spring is opened, it can advantageously be provided that the wall section is formed in this region of the housing extension and preferably additionally secures the clamping leg in the tensioned state.According to a further preferred embodiment, it is provided that the latching hook extends from the rear wall or from another housing section in the receiving chamber in the direction of the front wall and has a hook section which covers the support leg or another section of the clamping spring, such as the clamping leg or the bend, completely or in sections towards the front wall, which secures the clamping spring against failure towards the front wall.Thus, the clamping spring holding means can be designed as a latching hook formed onto the housing, behind which the clamping leg can be latched during assembly.According to a further preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the conductor insertion channel extends as far as into the region of the clamping space, and that the conductor insertion channel is substantially covered towards the front wall by a covering section of the front wall, wherein the clamping leg can be moved resiliently from the open position into a contacting state in which it presses a conductor end against the busbar, wherein it then lies in the contact space between the rear wall and the front wall and is secured in this region by the front wall and additionally in the receiving space by the spring retaining means of the housing against dropping out of the housing.According to a number of advantageous embodiments, the clamping spring holding means integrated into the housing has been formed, for example by injection molding, prior to the clamping spring being inserted into the housing.Alternatively, however, it can also be provided that the clamping spring holding means integrated into the housing has been formed, in particular has been formed in an embossing manner, after the clamping spring has been inserted into the housing.And it is finally also conceivable within the scope of the invention that the clamping spring holding means integrated into the housing is designed as a shoulder of a or the otherwise immovable busbar which is inserted into the housing.The invention also provides an electrical device, in particular a terminal block or a connector housing which can be arranged in series, having one or more connection devices according to one of the claims relating thereto.The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings on the basis of preferred exemplary embodiments. The invention is not limited to these exemplary embodiments, but can be varied within the scope of the claims and can also be implemented differently. In particular, individual features of individual exemplary embodiments can also be combined differently or used in other exemplary embodiments. The following are shown: FIGS. 1 a- din FIG. 1 a) a side view of a terminal block having two connection devices for connecting conductors, in FIG. 1 b) a side view of a partial region of the terminal block from FIG. 1 a) comprising one of the connection devices from FIG. 1 a), in FIG. 1 c ) a perspective view of a partial region of the terminal block from FIG. 1 a) comprising one of the connection devices from FIG. 1 a), and in FIG. 1 d ) an enlarged detail from FIG. 1 c ). FIGS. 2 a- b show in FIG. 2 a a metal and actuation assembly of the terminal block from FIG. 1 a and in FIG. 2 b a perspective view of the elements from FIG. 2 a ); FIGS. 3 a- din FIG. 3 a) a side view of a further terminal block with two connection devices for connecting conductors, in FIG. 3 b) a side view of a partial region of the terminal block from FIG. 3 a) comprising one of the connection devices from FIG. 3 a), in FIG. 3 c ) a perspective view of a partial region of the terminal block from FIG. 3 a) comprising one of the connection devices from FIG. 3 a), and in FIG. 3 d ) an enlarged section from FIG. 3 c ); and FIGS. 4 a- din FIG. 4 a ) a side view of a third terminal block with two connection devices for connecting conductors, in FIG. 4 b ) a side view of a partial region of the terminal block from FIG. 4 a ) comprising one of the connection devices from FIG. 4 a ), in FIG. 4 c ) a perspective view of a partial region of the terminal block from FIG. 4 a ) comprising one of the connection devices from FIG. 4 a ), and in FIG. 4 d ) an enlarged section from FIG. 4 c ). FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a partial region of a fourth terminal block with at least one connection device for connecting conductors; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a partial region of a fifth terminal block with at least one connection device for connecting conductors; FIG. 7 in a) and b) each a perspective view of a partial region of a sixth terminal block with two connection devices for connecting conductors during two different production steps; and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a partial area of a seventh terminal block with two connection devices for connecting conductors;FIGS. 1 a, 3 aand 4 a show in each case a side view of an electrical device designed here in each case as a terminal block. This has a housing 2 made of plastic, which here also has two connection devices 1 for connecting conductor ends. The electrical device could also be designed as another electrical device. The respective electrical device could also have only one or more than two connection devices 1.In the present case, the two connection devices 1 are thus each formed as part of a single terminal block, in which two of the connection devices 1 are provided in a single housing 2, which can be connected to one another in an electrically conductive manner and are also here. A connection device in the sense of this document can alternatively, however, also be formed as part of an in particular seriesable electrical plug connector or also of another electrical device (not shown here), wherein the electrical device has a housing 2 with at least one connection device 1. The housing 2 is preferably made of an insulating plastic. In each housing 2, one or more of the terminal devices 1 may be formed.A part of the housing 2 with one of the two connection devices 1 will be described below. The other may have the same structure or may be configured symmetrically relative to the first connection device, for example, relative to a central plane of the housing 2.The housing 2 has two main sides which can be arranged in rows, of which one-the front wall 21-is partially open here and of which the other-the rear wall 22-can be fully or substantially closed here. The housing 21 further comprises one or more narrow sides 23, 24 connecting the front side 21 and the rear side 22 (see e.g. FIG. 1 c).Fastening means 25 such as retaining feet for fastening the housing 2 on a mounting base, for example a support rail 3, can be arranged on the housing.Each connection device has a clamping spring 11 with which a conductor end can be pressed against an electrically conductive busbar.The clamping spring 11 can be substantially V- or U-shaped and can have a support leg 13 and a clamping leg 15 and a spring back 14 connecting these two legs.The support leg 13 can be supported on a shoulder of the housing 2 and / or on another abutment such as an abutment leg 121 bent out of the busbar 12 (see FIG. 2 a ).The clamping spring 11 preferably consists of a metal sheet bent into the V-shape, for example of a steel alloy.From the front wall 21, one or more receiving chambers 26, 27 extend into the housing 2.One of these receiving chambers 26 serves in each case for inserting the respective clamping spring 11 from the front wall 21 into the housing 2, and it can also be referred to as clamping spring receiving chamber 26.Another of these receiving chambers 27, on the other hand, can each serve for inserting the busbar 12 into the housing 2. It can also be referred to as a busbar receiving chamber 27. The busbar 12 can be manufactured from a metal strip and preferably be bent substantially into a type of L shape, and the receiving chamber 27 can analogously form a type of L-shaped slot, see S 1. According to FIG. 2, the two L-shaped busbars 12 are formed as busbar sections of an overlapping busbar, which are connected to one another in one piece (see. FIG. 2a). According to FIG. 1 a, a through-row terminal is realized in this way by way of example.For insertion into its receiving chamber 26, the clamping spring 11 is preferably somewhat tensioned, so that the clamping spring 11 can be inserted into the receiving chamber 26 from the front wall 21. In the inserted state, it preferably overlaps a housing shoulder 261 on which it rests with its spring back 15. The housing attachment 261 can extend in a pin-like manner from the rear wall of the housing 2 in the direction of the front wall 21. It can be so long in the row direction that it extends approximately up to the plane of the front wall 21. The housing extension 261 can be rounded off towards the top, so that the rounded spring back 14 rests securely on it. The housing extension 261 can extend further away from the spring back 14 in the receiving chamber 26 starting from the section in which the spring back 14 rests thereon. The housing attachment 261 can be dimensioned in the direction of the support rail such that, in the assembled state of the clamping spring 11, it lies between the support leg 13 and the clamping leg 15. It can then optionally also form a type of deflection travel limiting means which limits the deflection travel of the clamping leg 15 when the clamping spring 11 is opened. The housing extension 261 can also be divided into two sections, between which a slot or the like is formed. The receiving chamber 26 can form a type of V-shaped gap through the housing shoulder 261.Between the receiving chambers 27, 26 for the busbar 11 and the clamping spring 11, a free space 28 can be formed between the front wall 21 and the rear wall 22 (not directly visible here, only indicated, it lies in the region below the front wall 21, in which the arrow of the reference sign 28 ends). The clamping leg 15 faces this free space 28 with its free end and lies opposite the busbar 11. The free space 28 also serves as a contact space in which the clamping leg 15 can press a conductor end against which the busbar 12 can press. After the clamping spring 11 has been mounted, the clamping leg 15 automatically moves in the tensioned state in this region covered toward the front wall.In the housing 2, one or more-here two channels-are furthermore formed. The one channel is formed as a conductor insertion channel 291. This extends here from a narrow side-here the upper narrow side 23-of the housing 2 in the housing as far as the region of the free space 28, so that a conductor end can be guided from the narrow side 23 into the contacting region between the clamping spring 11 and the busbar 12 (see, for example, FIG. 1 c ). The conductor insertion channel 291 may also be formed to be open to the front side in one or more partial regions. The conductor insertion channel 291 can be designed, for example, starting from the upper narrow side 23, to be open in a first section to the front wall 21 and to be closed in a further section, so that a secure insertion of the conductor end as far as into the free space 28 and the contacting region in the free space 28 is ensured. The conductor insertion channel 291 is formed closed to the front wall 21 to such an extent that a multi-litre conductor can also be guided without problems as far as into the region of the clearance and contact space 28. The front wall 21 preferably forms a kind of web-shaped extension and cover of the conductor insertion channel 291, which extends in the insertion direction of the conductor to be clamped as far as the clamping space 28 and which is formed integrally with the housing 2.For contacting a conductor end, the clamping leg 15 is moved away from the busbar 12, which stresses the clamping spring 11. In this state, the conductor can be guided through the conductor insertion channel 291 as far as into the clearance and contact space 28 between the free end of the clamping leg 15 and the busbar 12 and can be guided between the front wall 21 and the rear wall 22. If the pressure on the clamping leg 15 is now released, the latter can be relaxed until the conductor end is pressed against the busbar 12 and contacted.The opening and clamping of the clamping leg 15 is preferably effected with the aid of an actuating tool, which can be a separate tool, such as a screwdriver or can be designed as a pre-assembled element of the terminal block. It is formed here by a pusher 16, e.g. from plastic (see FIGS. 2 a, band 1 c ), which is arranged here in the actuation channel 292 and which can be pressed onto the clamping leg 12 in order to tension it and in order to open the clamping point towards the busbar 12, so that a conductor end can be guided into the free space 28 (see also FIGS. 2 aand 2 b ).This construction of this type of connecting device is simple and cost-effective.In order to prevent the clamping spring 11 from dropping out of the housing 1 laterally towards the front wall 21-for example in the tensioned state of the clamping leg, where the latter can be aligned with the receiving opening-from the receiving chamber 26, in each of the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1 as, 3 aand 4 a, and 5, 7 a, 7 band 8 a clamping spring holding means 263 integrated into the housing 2 is provided. This can be formed in particular in the region of the receiving chamber 26. The clamping spring holding means 263 can be formed integrally with the housing 2, which is particularly simple, cost-effective and secure. However, it can also be arranged separately from the housing 2 and, for example, be attached to it in a clamping or adhesive manner or it can also be inserted into it.Preferably, the clamping spring holding means 263 is formed as an integral section of the housing 2, which additionally secures the clamping leg 15 or the supporting leg 13 or the spring back 14 towards the front wall 21 against failure out of the receiving chamber, in that it covers one of these elements towards the front at least temporarily or preferably even always-the latter means in any operating state, whether clamping state or opening state.Thus, the clamping spring holding means 263 can be configured and arranged, for example, in a manner of a wall piece, substantially parallel to the front wall 21, in alignment and / or connected thereto, such that the support leg 13 or the clamping leg 15 can be placed behind this housing extension 263 during the assembly-for example in the region of a bend-(see in particular FIGS. 1 band 1 dor FIG. 5 ), which at least positively secures it against dropping out towards the side of the front wall 21, and indeed also in a state in which the clamping leg has been tensioned to such an extent that it would otherwise not be held positively towards the front wall 21 in the assembly and receiving chamber 26.A first such embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1a-1d. Here, the clamping spring holding means 263 is formed as a continuation of the front wall 21 on the housing extension 261, behind which the clamping legs 15 can be placed during the assembly, so that after the completion of the assembly it is secured against failure towards the front wall 21. If the housing extension 261 is dimensioned such that, in the assembled state of the clamping spring 11, it lies between the support leg 13 and the clamping leg 15 and also forms a deflection travel limiting means which limits the deflection travel of the clamping leg 15 when the clamping spring is opened, it can advantageously and simply be provided that the wall section 263 is formed in this region of the housing extension 261 in the direction of the clamping leg 15 and secures the clamping leg 15 well in the tensioned state.A similar configuration is shown in FIG. 6, wherein the clamping spring holding means 263 is again configured as a projection-like continuation of the front wall 21, behind which the clamping legs 15 can be placed during the assembly, so that it is secured against failure in the tensioned "open" state toward the front wall 21. According to FIG. 6, however, this securing does not take place in a central region, but rather towards the free end of the clamping limb 15.In this case, see, for example, the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1, 5 or 6, the projection-like continuation 263 can have been formed together during the injection molding of the housing, with the result that the clamping spring is placed behind this projection-like continuation 263 with one of its functional elements such as the clamping limb 15 during its mounting.However, it is also conceivable-see, for example, the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 7 aand 7 b-for the projection-like continuation 263 to be formed only after the injection molding of the housing and after insertion of the clamping spring 11. Thus, it can be provided that the housing extension 261 has, in the manner of a housing pin, an injection-molded extension 2611-see FIG. 7a-which is shaped in an embossing manner after insertion of the clamping spring 11 (e.g. with a type of hot punch-so that the extension is shaped into a type of annular wall behind which the spring back 15 is well secured against failure. This state is disclosed in FIG. 7 b.A similar embodiment is shown in FIG. 5, in this case the clamping spring holding means 263 is again formed as a continuation of the front wall 21 on the housing attachment 261, behind which, however, not the clamping leg 15 but the supporting leg 13 can be placed during assembly, so that it is secured against failure towards the front wall 2.It is likewise conceivable-but not shown-that both the support leg 13 and the clamping leg 15 and optionally also the spring back 14 are secured against failure by clamping spring retaining means 263.The clamping spring holding means 263 can alternatively also be designed as a hook, in particular as a latching hook 2631, which can be formed integrally with the housing and in this case preferably in the housing 2 (see FIGS. 3 a- 3 dand FIGS. 4 a- 4 dand 8). According to one embodiment, this latching hook 2631 can extend from the rear wall 22 or from another housing section such as the housing shoulder in the receiving chamber 26 in the direction of the front wall and can have a hook section which preferably covers and engages the support leg 13 and / or another section of the clamping spring 11 such as the clamping leg 15 or the spring back 14 completely or in sections toward the front wall 21, which in turn secures the clamping spring 11 against dropping out in a well positive-locking and optionally also non-positive-locking manner toward the front wall 21.According to FIGS. 3a-3d and 4a-4d, the latching hook 2631 abuts at different locations of the housing and engages in a latching manner at different locations around the narrow side of the supporting leg 13, which side faces the open side of the receiving chamber 26 or the front wall 21. Further variants of an arrangement of this latching hook 2631 which are not shown here are likewise conceivable.According to FIG. 8, it is finally provided that the clamping spring holding means 263 is formed in the housing 2, wherein, however, it is formed in a manner similar to a clamping cage as a section of the busbar 12 which is substantially aligned with the front wall 21 and which preferably covers and engages the support leg 13 and / or the clamping leg 14 fully or in sections towards the front wall 21, which again ensures the clamping spring 11 against failure well towards the front wall 21 after it has been inserted into the housing 2.Reference numerals denote reference numerals1 Connecting devices 11 clamping spring 12 bus bar 121 abutment limb 13 support limb 14 spring back 15 clamping limb 16 pusher 2 housing 21 front wall 22 rear wall 23, 24 narrow sides 25 fastening means 26, 27 receiving chamber 261 housing projection 263 clamping spring holding means 2631 latching hook 27 receiving chamber 28 free space 291 conductor insertion channel 292 actuating channel 3 support railReferences included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 10 2011 055 919 A1 [0002, 0004]DE 10 2013 108 952 A1

[0003]

Claims

Connection device for connecting a conductor end, a. with a housing (2) with a rear wall (21) and a front wall (21), a busbar (12) arranged in the housing (2), and b. a V-shaped clamping spring (11) arranged in the housing (2) with a support leg (13) supported on an abutment, with a clamping leg (15) and with a spring back (14) connecting these two legs, c. wherein a conductor insertion channel (291) is formed in the housing (1), via which a conductor end to be connected can be guided into a contact space (28) between the front wall (21) and the rear wall (22), and d. wherein the housing (2) has a receiving chamber (26 open towards the front wall (21) of the housing (1) for the insertion and for the reception of the clamping spring (11), in which a housing projection (261) is formed, over which the clamping spring (11) engages, characterized in that e. the clamping spring (11) is secured at least positively against failure from the receiving chamber (26) towards the front wall (21) even in a state in which the clamping leg (15) has been moved into an open position by a clamping spring holding means (263) integrated into the housing (2).Connection device according to claim 1, characterised in that the clamping spring holding means (263) is configured in one piece with the housing (1).Connection device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the clamping spring holding means (263) is designed as a wall section of the housing (1), which is connected to the front wall (21) and which secures the clamping spring (11) made of a metal sheet on one of its narrow sides against dropping out of the housing (1).Connection device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the clamping spring holding means (263) is designed as a wall section of the housing (1), which is otherwise not directly connected to the front wall (21) and which secures the clamping spring (11) made of a metal sheet on one of its narrow sides against dropping out of the housing (1).Connection device according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the wall section forming the clamping spring holding means (263) is formed parallel to the front wall (21) so as to be flush therewith, so that the support leg (13) or the clamping leg (15) can be placed behind this wall section during assembly from the front wall, which secures it against dropping out in a positive-locking manner towards the side of the front wall (21).Connection device according to claim 5, characterised in that the wall section (263) forming the clamping spring holding means (263) is formed on the housing extension (261) in the mounting opening (26).Connection device according to claim 5, characterised in that the housing extension (261) is dimensioned such that, in the assembled state of the clamping spring, it lies between the support leg (13) and the clamping leg (15) and forms a deflection travel limiting means which limits the deflection travel of the clamping leg (15) when the clamping spring (1)1 is opened, and in that the wall section (263) is formed in this region of the housing extension and preferably additionally secures the clamping leg (15) in the tensioned state.Connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping spring holding means (263) is designed as a latching hook which is integrally formed on the housing and behind which the clamping limb (11) can be latched during assembly.Connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching hook (61) extends from the rear wall (22) or from another housing section in the receiving chamber (26) in the direction of the front wall and has a hook section which covers the support leg (12) or another section of the clamping spring (11), such as the clamping leg (15) or the bend (13), completely or in sections towards the front wall (21), which secures the clamping spring (11) against failure towards the front wall.Connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductor insertion channel (291) extends as far as the region of the clamping space (28), and in that the conductor insertion channel (291) is substantially covered towards the front wall (21) by a covering section of the front wall, wherein the clamping leg (15) can be moved resiliently out of the open position into a contacting state in which it presses a conductor end against the busbar (12), wherein it then lies in the contact space (28) between the rear wall (22) and the front wall (21) and is secured in this region by the front wall (21) and additionally in the receiving space (26) by the spring retaining means (263) of the housing (2) against dropping out of the housing (2).Connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front wall (21) forms a web-shaped extension of the conductor insertion channel (291), which extends in the insertion direction of the conductor to be clamped as far as the clamping space (28) and which is formed integrally with the housing (2).Connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping spring retaining means (263) integrated into the housing (2) has been formed, in particular has been formed by injection moulding, before the clamping spring is inserted into the housing (13).Connection device according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the clamping spring holding means (263) integrated into the housing (2) has been formed, in particular has been formed in an embossing manner, after the clamping spring has been inserted into the housing (13).Connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping spring holding means (263) integrated into the housing (2) is designed as a shoulder of the busbar (12) which is inserted into the housing (2).Electrical device, in particular a terminal block or a seriesable plug connector housing, having one or more connection devices according to one of the preceding claims.

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