Modular system for manufacturing a front connector

Abstract

A modular system for manufacturing a front connector (30) for connecting to a terminal device (31) of a wiring assembly (3) comprises a front connector body (302) and a plurality of terminal devices (32A-32C), to each of which at least one electrical conductor (5) can be connected. The front connector body (302) has a plurality of receiving chambers (303), each bounded by two transverse walls (305) and two longitudinal walls (304, 306, 307), and each chamber is designed to receive one terminal device (32A-32C) of the plurality of terminal devices (32A-32C), wherein the transverse walls (305) are spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction (X) and the longitudinal walls (304, 306, 307) are spaced apart from each other along a transverse direction (Y) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a modular system for manufacturing a front connector for connecting to a terminal device, a front connector manufactured using a modular system, and a wiring assembly for connecting electrical conductors.

[0002] Such a modular system for manufacturing a front connector comprises a front connector body and a plurality of terminal devices, to each of which at least one electrical conductor can be connected.

[0003] Such a front connector allows, for example, the connection of multiple electrical conductors, such as more than 10, to a wiring assembly. Electrical conductors can be connected to the front connector, and the front connector, along with the already connected conductors, can then be attached to a terminal device of the wiring assembly, thus connecting the electrical conductor to the terminal device in a single step.

[0004] In this way, sensors and / or actuators can be connected together to the interconnection module. The interconnection module can, for example, be part of a control system that can perform control tasks in an industrial plant and can be mounted, for example, in a control cabinet on a support device, such as a DIN rail.

[0005] German patent application DE 10 2022 118 243, which has not been published previously, discloses a connection arrangement for connecting electrical conductors, in which a plurality of terminal blocks are housed in a common outer casing. The terminal blocks are associated with disc-shaped housing parts that can be attached to one another and, in an attached position, can be jointly housed in the outer casing.

[0006] A front connector allows electrical conductors to be connected together to a wiring module by attaching the front connector to a corresponding terminal device. This eliminates the need for individual wiring, where conductors are connected to a terminal block and then to a wiring module via the terminal block. This improves the reliability of connections to a wiring module and also simplifies the wiring effort for connecting sensors and actuators to a wiring module.

[0007] There is a need to produce a simple front connector that allows for variable connection of electrical conductors.

[0008] A conventional front connector is typically configured with screw terminals. Components for forming these screw terminals are, for example, sandwiched between the connector body and a cover, thus being integrated into the connector. If other terminal configurations are required, such as spring-clamp connections, a different, modified front connector is used. This results in a considerable variety of options, which increases costs and complicates versatile application.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a modular system for manufacturing a front connector, a front connector and a wiring assembly that allows for a simple variable configuration of a front connector.

[0010] This problem is solved by an object having the features of claim 1.

[0011] Accordingly, the front connector body has a plurality of receiving chambers, each of which is bounded by two transverse walls and two longitudinal walls and each of which is designed to receive a terminal assembly of the plurality of terminal assemblies, wherein the transverse walls are spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction and the longitudinal walls are spaced apart from each other along a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0012] Terminal blocks can be mounted on the contact body, to which one or more electrical conductors can be connected. The front connector body can be modularly equipped with the terminal blocks by inserting them into receiving chambers formed on the front connector body.

[0013] Each receiving chamber is bounded by two transverse walls and two longitudinal walls. The transverse walls are spaced apart along a longitudinal direction. The longitudinal walls, on the other hand, are spaced apart along a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The transverse walls and the longitudinal walls together define the receiving chambers in which the terminal devices can be installed to create a front connector for connecting electrical conductors.

[0014] The longitudinal and transverse walls can each be closed, thus completely enclosing a recording chamber. However, at least one longitudinal wall and / or at least one transverse wall can also have one or more openings, through which, for example, a connection between a recording chamber and an adjacent recording chamber is established, so that the recording chamber is not completely closed.

[0015] In one embodiment, the front connector body has at least two rows of receiving chambers, each row being formed by receiving chambers arranged one after the other along the longitudinal direction, and the rows being arranged side by side along the transverse direction. In particular, the receiving chambers can be aligned in a grid pattern with respect to each other by forming rows of receiving chambers in which receiving chambers are arranged one after the other along the longitudinal direction, with two or more rows being arranged side by side so that terminal devices can be received on the grid of the receiving chambers.

[0016] Because the receiving chambers are each enclosed by two transverse walls and two longitudinal walls, a corresponding terminal assembly can be modularly accommodated in each chamber. It is conceivable that all receiving chambers could be equipped with a terminal assembly each for configuring the front connector. Alternatively, it is conceivable that only some receiving chambers could be equipped with a terminal assembly each for configuring the front connector, while other receiving chambers remain empty. The receiving chambers can be individually equipped with a terminal assembly each and, in the configured state of the front connector, are held in place within their respective receiving chambers.

[0017] Because each receiving chamber is bounded by two transverse walls and two longitudinal walls, a terminal assembly inserted into the receiving chamber can be held in place, for example, by snapping it into position. No additional components, such as a cover for the front connector body, are required to secure the terminal assemblies to the contact body.

[0018] In one embodiment, each terminal assembly can be inserted into a corresponding receiving chamber of the plurality of receiving chambers along an insertion direction perpendicular to both the longitudinal and transverse directions. The receiving chambers are formed along a plane spanned by the longitudinal and transverse directions on the front connector body and are each bounded by transverse and longitudinal walls. The terminal assemblies can be inserted into the receiving chambers perpendicular to this plane along the insertion direction in order to configure the front connector and equip it with terminal assemblies.

[0019] In one embodiment, the receiving chambers have the same dimensions when measured along the longitudinal and transverse directions. In cross-section along a plane spanned by the longitudinal and transverse directions, the receiving chambers are, for example, rectangular in shape and have the same dimensions, so that the clamping devices can be variably inserted into the receiving chambers and each clamping device can be inserted into any receiving chamber.

[0020] In one embodiment, each terminal assembly of the plurality of terminal assemblies has a contact element for plugging into a corresponding contact blade of the terminal device. The contact element can, for example, be formed by a contact socket with contact lamellae between which a contact blade of the terminal device can be inserted to establish electrical contact between the respective terminal assembly and a contact blade of the terminal device. Each terminal assembly can thus be plugged into a corresponding contact blade of the terminal device via its associated contact element if the terminal assembly is received in a receiving chamber of the front connector body and the front connector is therefore configured for insertion into the terminal device.

[0021] In one embodiment, the front connector body forms a plurality of blade openings, with each receiving chamber being assigned one of these openings. The contact element of the terminal assembly assigned to the receiving chamber can be connected to a corresponding contact blade of the connecting device via these openings. Each receiving chamber, for example, forms a blade opening on its base. The contact element of a terminal assembly is located in the area of ​​the blade opening when the terminal assembly is inserted into the respective receiving chamber. The contact element thus lies in the area of ​​the blade opening and, when the front connector is attached to the connecting device, can make contact with the corresponding contact blade of the connecting device.

[0022] In one embodiment, each terminal assembly of the plurality of terminal assemblies has a module housing that can be inserted into an associated receiving chamber of the plurality of receiving chambers. The module housing can, in particular, enclose components of the respective terminal assembly, for example, a spring element for forming a spring-force connection or a clamping body for providing a screw connection. By enclosing components of the terminal assemblies in associated module housings, modular terminal assemblies are created that can be inserted modularly into the receiving chambers of the front connector body to configure the front connector.

[0023] The module housings of the terminal devices are preferably cuboid in shape and have a complementary form to the receiving chambers defined by the transverse and longitudinal walls. In particular, the module housings of the terminal devices can have the same dimensions when measured along the longitudinal and transverse directions, so that all module housings of the terminal devices are identically shaped in a cross-sectional plane defined by the longitudinal and transverse directions and can therefore be inserted into any receiving chamber. The terminal devices can thus be modularly accommodated in the receiving chambers, with each terminal device and its module housing fitting into any receiving chamber.

[0024] In one embodiment, the front connector body has first locking devices and the module housings of the terminal units have second locking devices. The first and second locking devices are designed to interlock when the module housings of the terminal units are inserted into the receiving chambers, thus creating a snap-fit ​​connection between the terminal units and the front connector body. When the terminal units are inserted into the receiving chambers of the front connector body, the module housings lock into the receiving chambers, thereby securing the module housings and, consequently, the terminal units within the receiving chambers.

[0025] In one embodiment, each receiving chamber is assigned a first locking device. The module housing of each terminal assembly, on the other hand, has a second locking device. When a terminal assembly is inserted into its assigned receiving chamber, the first locking device of the receiving chamber engages with the second locking device on the module housing of the terminal assembly, thus creating a locking connection between the terminal assembly and the front connector body in the receiving chamber.

[0026] The first locking devices can be formed, for example, by locking openings on the longitudinal and / or transverse walls of the front connector body. The second locking devices, on the other hand, can be formed, for example, by locking projections on the module housing. In another embodiment, the first locking devices can be formed by locking projections and the second locking devices by locking openings or recesses or further locking projections.

[0027] In one embodiment, the module housings of the terminal devices are received in the receiving chambers of the front connector body in a configured position of the front connector, and the first locking devices are locked to the second locking devices.

[0028] In one embodiment, the first terminal devices of the majority of terminal devices form a spring-clamp connection of the first type with a spring element for clamping an electrical conductor. The spring-clamp connections of the first type can, for example, be designed as so-called push-in terminals, in which a clamping leg of the spring element clamps onto a connected electrical conductor to electrically contact the conductor with an electrical contact section of a current bar. The spring-clamp connection can, for example, have an actuating element, such as a push button, by which the clamping leg of the spring element can be moved from a clamping position to a release position, whereby the clamping leg does not lock relative to a module housing of the terminal device in the release position.

[0029] In one embodiment, the second terminal assembly of most terminal assemblies forms a spring-clamp connection of the second type with a spring element for clamping an electrical conductor. In a spring-clamp connection of the second type, for example, a clamping leg of the spring element can act on a connected electrical conductor to electrically contact the conductor with an electrical contact section of a current bar. The spring-clamp connection can, for example, have an actuating element, such as a push button, by which the clamping leg of the spring element can be moved from a clamping position to a release position, whereby the clamping leg locks in the release position relative to a module housing of the terminal assembly.

[0030] Unlike the first type of spring-loaded connection, the second type of spring-loaded connection creates a locking mechanism between the clamping arm in the release position. When the clamping arm is moved into the release position, it remains in this position, in which a space within the module housing is opened for the force-free insertion of an electrical conductor, or in which a connected electrical conductor can be removed from the terminal assembly in a virtually force-free manner.

[0031] In one embodiment, the spring-force connection of the second type has a release element configured to interact with an electrical conductor when connected to the spring-force connection of the second type and to release the spring element from the release position. The spring-force connection of the second type thus releases automatically when an electrical conductor is inserted, as the electrical conductor interacts with the release element, which releases the clamping leg of the spring element from the release position and thereby causes the clamping leg to move from the release position to the clamping position.

[0032] In one embodiment, the third terminal assembly of most terminal assemblies forms a screw connection. Electrical conductors can be clamped to the terminal assemblies via screw elements using these third terminal assemblies.

[0033] The modular system preferably comprises terminal assemblies of different types. In particular, one embodiment includes first, second, and third terminal assemblies, and optionally further different terminal assemblies, from which a selection can be made to configure a front connector, thus equipping and configuring the front connector body with the terminal assemblies. The different terminal assemblies preferably have module housings with identical external dimensions, so that the terminal assemblies can be variably and freely selected for insertion into the different receiving chambers of the front connector body.

[0034] A front connector is preferably manufactured using a modular system as described above. For example, a manufacturer can offer this modular system to a customer who can configure the front connector themselves by equipping the connector body with a selection of terminal devices.

[0035] A wiring assembly for connecting electrical conductors comprises a terminal device and a front connector that can be connected to the terminal device. The front connector is manufactured using a modular system of the type described above. Such a wiring assembly can, for example, be part of a control system in an industrial plant, to which sensors and actuators are connected via electrical conductors. The front connector establishes a connection to a control unit that can perform control tasks.

[0036] The wiring assembly can be designed, in particular, to be mounted on a support device, especially a mounting rail. For example, the wiring assembly can be mounted in a control cabinet using a support device.

[0037] The front connector can be connected (in configured position) to the connection device, whereby when the front connector is attached to the connection device, a connection is established between the terminal devices of the front connector and the associated contact blades of the connection device.

[0038] In one embodiment, the front connector can be pivoted relative to the connection device about a pivot axis to electrically connect the terminal contacts to the terminal contacts of the connection device. By pivoting the front connector onto the connection device, the terminal contacts are thus electrically connected to the terminal contacts of the connection device in a single operation. When the front connector is attached to the connection device, electrical conductors are preferably already connected to the terminal contacts of the front connector, so that by pivoting the front connector onto the connection device, electrical conductors are connected to the connection device and, via the connection device, to the wiring assembly.

[0039] The underlying concept of the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. The figures show: Fig. 1 a schematic view of a control system comprising a control unit and at least one interconnection assembly; Fig. 2 a view of a front connector and a connection device of a wiring assembly; Fig. 3. A view of the front connector when attached to the connecting device; Fig. 4 a view of an embodiment of a front connector body of a front connector; Fig. 5 a top view of the front connector body according to Fig. 4; Fig. 6A a first terminal assembly for attaching to the front connector body; Fig. 6B a second terminal assembly for attaching to the front connector body; Fig. 6C a third terminal device for attaching to the front connector body; Fig. 7 a view of an embodiment of a front connector body with terminal devices received in receiving chambers; Fig. 8 a side view of the arrangement according to Fig. 7; Fig. 9 a top view of the arrangement according to Fig. 7; Fig. 10A a sectional view along line AA according to Fig. 9; and Fig. 10B a sectional view along line BB according to Fig. 9.

[0040] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a control system 1, which can be formed, for example, by a control unit 2 and one or more interconnection modules 3 combined with the control unit 2, to which electrical conductors 5 are connected. The control unit 2 has, for example, a display 20 and an input device 21, for example in the form of a keyboard or other control buttons.

[0041] The control unit 2 can be used in particular to take over control tasks in an industrial plant, for example for processing signals from sensors and for controlling actuators that are connected to the control unit 2 via the conductor 5 and the circuit assembly 3.

[0042] The control system 1 can be arranged on a support device 4, in particular in the form of a mounting rail, and can be enclosed, for example, in a control cabinet.

[0043] The wiring assembly 3 is used in the Fig. 2 and Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, a front connector 30 and a connection device 31 are formed, which can be attached to one another and electrically connected to each other for connecting the conductors 5. The conductors 5 can be connected to the connection device 31 in a pre-configured manner via the front connector 30 by connecting the front connector 30, with the conductors 5 already connected, to the connection device 31, thereby connecting the conductors 5 to the connection device 31. For this purpose, the front connector 30 has terminal devices 32A, 32B, 32C, to which the conductors 5 can be connected and which can be connected via contact devices 300, for example in the form of contact sockets formed by lamellae, to associated contact blades 310 of the connection device 31, as shown in Figure 3. Fig. 3 is evident.

[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, the front connector 30 is connected to the connection device 31 by attaching the front connector 30 to the connection device 31 via axle elements 301 formed on a front connector body 302. These axle elements 301 create a pivot connection between the front connector 30 and the connection device 31, allowing the front connector 30 to pivot about a pivot axis S relative to the connection device 31. The front connector 30 can thus be pivoted about the pivot axis S onto the connection device 31, so that the contact elements 300 of the terminal assemblies 32A, 32B, 32C on the side of the front connector 30 come into contact with associated contact blades 310 on the side of the connection device 31. The terminal assemblies 32A, 32B, 32C are thus electrically connected to associated electrical assemblies on the side of the connection device 31.

[0045] This results in a simple wiring of the conductors 5, which in particular do not have to be individually connected to the connection device 31, but can be connected to the connection device 31 in one operation in a position that is already pre-configured and connected to the front connector 30.

[0046] Fig. 4 and Fig. Figure 5 shows an embodiment of a front connector body 302, to which the front connector 30 is attached for configuring the front connector. Fig. 6A, Fig. 6B and Fig. The terminal devices 32A, 32B, 32C shown in Figure 6C can be of different types and positioned along an insertion direction E.

[0047] In the illustrated embodiment, the front connector body 302 has a plurality of receiving chambers 303, which are bounded by longitudinal walls 304, 306, 307 and transverse walls 305. The front connector body 302 forms two outer longitudinal walls 306, 307 and a central, middle longitudinal wall 304, which extend longitudinally along a longitudinal direction X and are spaced apart from each other along a transverse direction Y perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X. The front connector body 302 also forms a plurality of transverse walls 305, which extend along the transverse direction Y and are spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction X.

[0048] In this way, two rows of receiving chambers 303 are created on the front connector body 302, each row having a plurality of receiving chambers 303 arranged one after the other along the longitudinal direction X and arranged adjacent to each other along the transverse direction Y.

[0049] In the illustrated embodiment, the receiving chambers 303 are each bounded by two transverse walls 305 and two longitudinal walls 306, 304, 307, so that each receiving chamber 303 is circumferentially bounded by four walls. In the illustrated embodiment, the transverse walls 305 and the longitudinal walls 306, 304, 307 are closed, so that each receiving chamber 303 is circumferentially enclosed by the bounding walls.

[0050] In the illustrated embodiment, the receiving chambers 303 have the same dimensions when measured along the longitudinal direction X and along the transverse direction Y. In cross-section along a plane spanned by the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y, the receiving chambers 303 are rectangular and have the same dimensions.

[0051] Each recording chamber 303 can contain a terminal assembly 32A ( Fig. 6A), Fig. 32B ( Fig. 6B), Fig. 32C ( Fig. 6C). Each terminal assembly 32A, 32B, 32C has a module housing 320 and an electrical contact device 300. By inserting it into a receiving chamber 303, the module housing 320 is received in the respective receiving chamber 303, and the contact device 300 comes to rest in an area of ​​a knife opening 309 at the bottom of the respective receiving chamber 303, as can also be seen from the sectional views according to Fig. 10A and Fig. 10B results.

[0052] In the illustrated embodiment, first locking devices 308 in the form of locking openings are formed on the outer longitudinal walls 306, 307, with each receiving chamber 303 being assigned (exactly) one locking device 308 in the form of a locking opening. A second locking device 322 in the form of a locking projection is formed on each module housing 320 of a terminal assembly 32A, 32B, 32C. When a terminal assembly 32A, 32B, 32C is inserted in the insertion direction E, the locking devices 308, 322 of the receiving chambers 303 and the module housing 320 engage with each other in a snap-fit ​​manner, so that the terminal assembly 32A, 32B, 32C is locked in the receiving chamber 303 and thus fixed in the receiving chamber 303 opposite to the insertion direction E.

[0053] The module housings 320 of the different terminal devices 32A, 32B, 32C have the same dimensions when measured along the longitudinal direction X and along the transverse direction Y, so that each terminal device 32A, 32B, 32C can be inserted into any of the receiving chambers 303.

[0054] The module housing 320 of each terminal device 32A, 32B, 32C forms a plug-in opening 321 into which an electrical conductor 5 can be inserted to connect the conductor 5 to the respective terminal device 32A, 32B, 32C.

[0055] The in Fig. The terminal assembly 32A shown in Figure 6A forms a spring-loaded connection and comprises a spring element 323 and an actuating element 324. The terminal assembly 32A implements a so-called push-in connection to which a conductor 5 can be connected by inserting the conductor 5 into the plug-in opening 321. The conductor 5 then comes into contact with a clamping arm of the spring element 323, thus clamping the conductor 5 in the terminal assembly 32A with a current bar and electrically connecting it to the contact device 300. The clamping arm can be deflected via the actuating element 324 to release the conductor 5 from the terminal assembly 32A.

[0056] Such a terminal assembly 32A is shown in the sectional view according to Fig. 10A shown on the left.

[0057] The terminal assembly 32B according to Fig. 6B is implemented like the terminal assembly 32A according to Fig. 6A has a spring-loaded connection, but is designed as a self-releasing terminal block (so-called push-X connection). As can be seen from the sectional view according to Fig. As can be seen from the terminal assembly 32B arranged on the right, the terminal assembly 32B has a release element 327 which is designed to interact with the conductor 5 when a conductor 5 is inserted in order to cause the terminal assembly 32B to be released.

[0058] A clamping leg of the spring element 323 can be moved into a release position by means of the actuating element 324, in which the clamping leg of the spring element 323 is held in position relative to the module housing 320 of the terminal assembly 32B, for example by locking the clamping leg relative to the module housing 320 or by locking the actuating element 324 in an actuated position. When the release element 327 is triggered by inserting a conductor 5, the clamping leg of the spring element 323 is released from the release position, and the spring element 323 is thus moved from the release position to a clamping position, in which the inserted conductor 5 is clamped to the terminal assembly 32B and electrically connected to a current bar and, via that, to the contact device 300.

[0059] The terminal assembly 32C according to Fig. In contrast, 6C implements a screw connection in which a conductor 5 inserted into the plug opening 321 is clamped to the terminal assembly 32C via a screw element 326 and thereby connected to the contact assembly 300. As can be seen from the sectional view according to Fig. As can be seen in Figure 10B, the screw terminal has a clamping element 325 which can be adjusted by the screw element 326 to clamp an inserted conductor 5.

[0060] Terminal units 32A, 32B, 32C can function like conventional terminal units. Terminal units other than those specified by... Fig. 6A, Fig. 6B and Fig. 6C explained terminal arrangement 32A, 32B, 32C conceivable and possible.

[0061] Because the terminal devices 32A, 32B, 32C have module housings 320 with the same dimensions, the terminal devices 32A, 32B, 32C can be inserted modularly into the receiving chambers 303 of the front connector body 302 to configure the front connector 30.

[0062] In a Fig. In the embodiment of a front connector 30 shown in Figures 7 to 9, terminal devices 32A, 32B, 32C of different types are inserted into receiving chambers 303 of a front connector body 302 to configure the front connector 30. Terminal devices 32A, 32B, 32C can be combined with each other in any variable way. Each terminal device 32A, 32B, 32C is inserted into one of the receiving chambers 303 and locked into place within the receiving chamber 303.

[0063] At the in Fig. In the embodiments shown in 7 to 9, there are connections between individual receiving chambers 303 (for example, the one shown in Fig. 7 (receiving chambers shown on the far right) openings were created in the central longitudinal wall 304, through which adjacent receiving chambers 303 are connected to each other.

[0064] As this is shown Fig. As can be seen in Figure 7, it is not necessary for all receiving chambers 303 to be filled for the operation of the front connector 30; some receiving chambers 303 can also remain empty without this affecting the functionality of the front connector 30.

[0065] Fig. 10A and Fig. Figure 10B shows sectional views along lines AA and BB according to Fig. 9. Based on the sectional view according to Fig. Terminal devices 32A and 32B for forming spring-loaded connections in associated receiving chambers 303 are shown in section 10A. Terminal device 32C according to Fig. In contrast, 10B forms a screw connection. Each terminal assembly 32A, 32B, 32C, with an associated contact element 300, is inserted into an associated blade opening 309 of the respective receiving chamber 303 and can thus, when the front connector 30 is attached, be brought into contact with a contact blade 310 of a connection device 31, as shown schematically in Fig. 3 is shown.

[0066] The underlying idea of ​​the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can also be realized in other ways.

[0067] The modular insertion of the terminal assemblies into the receiving chambers of a contact body results in a simple, variably configurable design for the front connector. The terminal assemblies are inserted modularly into the receiving chambers and are locked in place without the need for additional components, such as a cover or similar, to complete the front connector. Reference symbol list 1 Control system 2 Control unit 20 Display device 21 Input device 3 Wiring assembly 30 front connectors 300 contact devices (contact sockets) 301 Axle element 302 Front connector body 303 admission chambers 304 Longitudinal wall 305 transverse wall 306, 307 Longitudinal wall (exterior wall) 308 Locking device (locking opening) 309 Knife opening 31 Connection device 310 contact knives 32A, 32B, 32C terminal assembly 320 module housings 321 Plug opening 322 Detent device (detent element) 323 Spring element 324 Actuating element 325 clamping element 326 Screw element 327 Trigger element 4 Support device 5 ladders S swivel axis E Direction of insertion X Longitudinal direction Y transverse direction QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] FROM 10 2022 118 243

[0005]

Claims

[1] Modular system for producing a front connector (30) for connecting to a connection device (31) of a wiring module (3), with a front connector body (302) and a plurality of terminal devices (32A-32C), to each of which at least one electrical conductor (5) can be connected, characterized by in that the front connector body (302) has a plurality of receiving chambers (303), each delimited by two transverse walls (305) and two longitudinal walls (304, 306, 307) and each designed to receive a terminal device (32A-32C) of the plurality of terminal devices (32A-32C), wherein the transverse walls (305) are spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal direction (X) and the longitudinal walls (304, 306, 307) are spaced apart from one another along a transverse direction (Y) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X). [2] Modular system according to claim 1, characterized byin that the front connector body (302) has at least two rows of receiving chambers (303), each row being formed by receiving chambers (303) arranged one after the other along the longitudinal direction (X), and the rows being arranged next to one another along the transverse direction (Y). [3] Modular system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that each clamping device (32A-32C) can be inserted into an associated receiving chamber (303) of the plurality of receiving chambers (303) along an insertion direction (E) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X) and to the transverse direction (Y). [4] Modular system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the receiving chambers (303) have the same dimensions as measured along the longitudinal direction (X) and as measured along the transverse direction (Y). [5] Modular system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat each terminal device (32A-32C) of the plurality of terminal devices (32A-32C) has a contact device (300) for plugging into an associated contact blade (310) of the connecting device (31). [6] Modular system according to claim 5, characterized by in that the front connector body (302) forms a plurality of blade openings (309), wherein each receiving chamber (303) is assigned a blade opening (309) of the plurality of blade openings (309), via which the contact device (300) of the terminal device (32A-32C) assigned to the receiving chamber (303) can be plugged into an assigned contact blade (310) of the connecting device (31). [7] Modular system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that each terminal device (32A-32C) of the plurality of terminal devices (32A-32C) has a module housing (320) which can be inserted into an associated receiving chamber (303) of the plurality of receiving chambers (303). [8] Modular system according to claim 7, characterized by that the module housing (320) is cuboid-shaped for insertion into an associated receiving chamber (303) of the plurality of receiving chambers (303). [9] Modular system according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by that the module housings (320) of the terminal devices (32A-32C) have the same dimensions as measured along the longitudinal direction (X) and as measured along the transverse direction (Y). [10] Modular system according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized by in that the front connector body (302) has first latching devices (308) and the module housings (320) of the terminal devices (32A-32C) have second latching devices (322), wherein the first latching devices (308) and the second latching devices (322) are designed to latch together when the module housings (320) are inserted into the receiving chambers (303). [11] Modular system according to claim 10, characterized bythat each receiving chamber (303) is assigned a first locking device (308) and the module housing (320) has a second locking device (322) for each terminal device (32A-32C). [12] Modular system according to claim 10 or 11, characterized by that in a configured position the module housings (320) are received in the receiving chambers (303) and the first locking devices (308) are locked to the second locking devices (322). [13] Modular system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that first terminal devices (32A) of the plurality of terminal devices (32A-32C) form a spring force connection of the first type with a spring element (323) for clamping an electrical conductor (5). [14] Modular system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat second terminal devices (32B) of the plurality of terminal devices (32A-32C) form a spring force connection of the second type with a spring element (323) for clamping an electrical conductor (5). [15] Modular system according to claim 14, characterized by that the spring element (323) of the spring force connection of the second type is adjustable between a clamping position and a release position and is locked in the release position, wherein the spring force connection of the second type has a release element (327) which is designed to cooperate with an electrical conductor (5) when connected to the spring force connection of the second type and to release the spring element (323) from the release position. [16] Modular system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that third terminal devices (32C) of the plurality of terminal devices (32A-32C) form a screw connection. [17] Front connector (3) manufactured using a modular system according to one of the preceding claims. [18] Wiring assembly (3) for connecting electrical conductors (5), with a connecting device (31) and a front connector (30) connectable to the connecting device (31), which is manufactured using a modular system according to one of claims 1 to 16. [19] Interconnection module (3) according to claim 18, characterized by that the front connector (30) for connecting to the connecting device (31) is pivotable about a pivot axis (S) relative to the connecting device (31) in order to electrically connect contact devices (300) of the terminal devices (32A-32C) to contact blades (310) of the connecting device (31).

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