conductor terminal and electrical connector

Abstract

The invention relates to a conductor terminal with a housing and with several insulation displacement connections, each having opposing cutting edges between which a cutting gap is formed, creating a clamping point for clamping an electrical conductor. The invention also relates to an electrical connector with at least one conductor terminal.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a conductor terminal with a housing and with several insulation displacement connections, each having opposing cutting edges between which a cutting gap is formed, creating a clamping point for clamping an electrical conductor. The invention also relates to an electrical connector with at least one conductor terminal.

[0002] A conductor connection terminal of this type is known from DE 198 17 433 A1.

[0003] The invention is based on the objective of further improving such a conductor terminal block with insulation displacement connections.

[0004] This problem is solved in a conductor terminal of the type mentioned above by arranging the insulation displacement connections (IDCs) on a circular path within the housing. The IDCs are thus arranged in a ring-shaped configuration within the housing. This allows for a particularly space-saving arrangement of multiple IDCs within the housing, which is especially well-suited for circular connectors. The housing can be designed as an insulating housing.

[0005] Such an insulation displacement connection, also known as an IDC connection, is designed to directly electrically contact an insulated conductor without prior stripping. This is achieved by pressing the conductor, with its insulating sheath, into the cutting gap through the opposing cutting edges, which cut the insulation and establish electrical contact with the inner conductor. The cutting edges can, for example, be forked.

[0006] The insulation displacement connection (IDC) terminal block according to the invention allows for the simple and quick connection of multiple electrical conductors to the IDC terminals without prior stripping. The electrical conductors can be inserted into the housing with their insulation intact and then directly electrically connected using the IDC technology. For example, all electrical conductors to be connected can be inserted side-by-side into the housing from the same side and electrically connected. Therefore, the electrical conductors do not require any further pretreatment, in particular no additional cutting or shortening.This allows the conductor terminal to be fitted with the electrical conductors particularly easily and quickly, especially without the need to bend and insert each electrical conductor individually and one after the other into the respective insulation displacement connection and then cut and shorten each conductor individually after contacting the respective insulation displacement connection.

[0007] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the conductor terminal has a manual actuating element for operating several or all insulation displacement connectors (IDCs). This actuating element is rotatably mounted about a pivot axis and is configured to connect an electrical conductor inserted into the housing to several or all IDCs when rotated in a first direction. This simplifies and streamlines the process of connecting multiple electrical conductors to the IDCs at the conductor terminal, particularly reducing the time required. Specifically, the actuation of a single rotary actuating element allows for the simultaneous electrical contacting of several or all electrical conductors at their respective associated IDCs within the housing.

[0008] The required rotary motion of the actuator can be performed by the user in a simple, intuitive, and ergonomic manner. The actuator allows for relative movement between the electrical conductor and the associated insulation displacement connector (IDC), thereby inserting the conductor into the IDC gap and clamping it securely at the terminal. For example, if the IDC connector is fixed within the housing, the rotary actuator can be used to move the electrical conductor. Alternatively, the IDC connector can be movably mounted within the housing and moved by the rotary actuator.

[0009] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that when the rotary actuator is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction of rotation, the electrical conductors clamped at several or all insulation displacement connectors can be released from the respective insulation displacement connector. Advantageously, electrical conductors already connected to the insulation displacement connectors can thus be released by actuating one rotary actuator. Accordingly, the conductor terminal according to the invention also allows for simple rewiring. By rotating the rotary actuator in the second direction of rotation, for example, an opposite relative movement between the electrical conductor and the associated insulation displacement connector can be initiated.

[0010] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the cutting gaps of several or all insulation displacement connectors are aligned tangentially to the circular path on which the insulation displacement connectors are arranged in the housing with respect to their longitudinal extension direction. Accordingly, clamping an electrical conductor to the insulation displacement connector requires relative movement between the electrical conductor and the insulation displacement connector in the aforementioned tangential direction to the circular path. This allows for the contacting of a large number of electrical conductors at insulation displacement connectors while simultaneously enabling the simple construction of a multi-pole conductor terminal.

[0011] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the cutting gaps of several or all insulation displacement connectors are aligned radially with respect to their longitudinal direction relative to the circular path on which the insulation displacement connectors are arranged in the housing. The cutting gaps can be arranged either radially inward or radially outward with respect to their longitudinal direction. Accordingly, clamping an electrical conductor to the insulation displacement connector requires relative movement between the electrical conductor and the insulation displacement connector in the aforementioned radial direction relative to the circular path. This allows for the contacting of a large number of electrical conductors at insulation displacement connectors while simultaneously enabling the simple design of a multi-pole conductor terminal.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the cutting gaps of several or all insulation displacement connectors are aligned axially with respect to their longitudinal direction relative to the circular path on which the insulation displacement connectors are arranged in the housing. In this case, the cutting gaps can be aligned longitudinally with respect to their longitudinal direction along the conductor terminal or, in the case of a connector, parallel to the mating direction of the connector. Accordingly, clamping an electrical conductor to the insulation displacement connector requires relative movement between the electrical conductor and the insulation displacement connector in the aforementioned axial direction relative to the circular path. This allows for the contacting of a large number of electrical conductors at insulation displacement connectors while simultaneously enabling the simple design of a multi-pole conductor terminal.

[0013] Where the terms "tangential," "axial," and "radial" are used, this refers to the circular path on which the insulation displacement connectors are arranged in the housing. It can also refer to the axis of rotation of the rotary actuator, which simultaneously defines the axial direction. The radial direction is orthogonal to the axial direction.

[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one actuating contour for clamping the electrical conductor to the respective insulation displacement connection is arranged on a radial inner surface of the rotary actuating element. Thus, the actuating contour enables relative movement between the electrical conductor and the associated insulation displacement connection, thereby inserting the electrical conductor into the cutting gap and clamping it at the clamping point. With such a conductor connection terminal, the actuating forces can be efficiently transmitted to the insulation displacement connections when the rotary actuating element is rotated. Preferably, exactly one actuating contour is assigned to each insulation displacement connection, and vice versa.

[0015] Because the rotary actuator has an actuating contour for actuating the respective insulation displacement connector (IDC) on a radial inner surface of the rotary actuator, a simple design with few components can be achieved, as the actuating contours for the individual IDC connectors can be structurally integrated directly on the inside of the rotary actuator. The actuating contour can, for example, have a decreasing radius from an open position of the IDC connector to a clamped position. In the clamped position (conductor clamped at the clamping point), there can accordingly be a radially inwardly projecting protrusion on the actuating contour. In the open position, i.e., when the conductor is not connected to the clamping point, there can be a recess relative to the mean radius; alternatively, the open position can also be represented by the plane or surface of the inner wall of the rotary actuator.

[0016] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the actuating contour is designed as a spiral inner contour. An actuating contour associated with an insulation displacement connection extends only over a specific circumferential angle of the rotary actuating element because several insulation displacement connections are distributed around the circumference. The spiral inner contour can therefore also be considered a ramp-shaped inner contour.

[0017] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one conductor actuator is arranged within the rotary actuating element for connecting an electrical conductor to a respective insulation displacement connector. When the rotary actuating element is rotated in the first direction of rotation, the conductor actuator guides the electrical conductor into the cutting gap. For example, the conductor actuator can have a conductor receiving pocket into which the electrical conductor is inserted with its free end. The conductor receiving pocket advantageously has a base that acts as a conductor stop, thus limiting and / or defining the insertion depth of the electrical conductor. Preferably, exactly one conductor actuator is assigned to each insulation displacement connector, and vice versa.The ladder actuator can be designed as a slide and / or push button guided in an actuating contour that runs obliquely relative to the rotary movement of the rotary actuating element, in particular a helical actuating contour.

[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the actuating contour and / or the conductor actuators are configured to exert an actuating force on the respective insulation displacement connector and / or the electrical conductor associated with the respective insulation displacement connector during a rotational movement of the rotary actuating element in a tangential, axial, radially outward, or inward direction. This facilitates the reliable insertion of an electrical conductor into the cutting gap and reliable contact at the insulation displacement connector. In an advantageous embodiment, the direction of the actuating force is adapted to the selected orientation of the cutting gaps of the insulation displacement connectors.

[0019] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the rotary actuating element is ring-shaped. Such a ring-shaped rotary actuating element enables simple and ergonomic actuation of multiple, and in particular all, insulation displacement connectors by a single rotary movement.

[0020] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the axis of rotation passes through the annular arrangement of the insulation displacement connectors. In this way, the rotary actuation mechanism for actuating the clamping springs can be designed to be structurally simple and therefore particularly cost-effective. The axis of rotation can, for example, pass through the center of the conductor terminal and / or coincide with the central axis, i.e., be identical to the central axis.

[0021] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the axis of rotation is provided that it runs at least approximately parallel and / or aligned with the conductor insertion direction of some or all of the electrical conductors to be connected to the insulation displacement connectors. Accordingly, the electrical conductors can be connected to the insulation displacement connectors conveniently and without obstruction, and the electrical conductors can advantageously be inserted side by side into the electrical conductors to be connected to the insulation displacement connectors. For example, the conductor connection terminal can be designed such that all the electrical conductors are inserted into the housing from the same side. The conductor connection terminal can have one or more conductor insertion openings that define the conductor insertion direction.

[0022] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the rotary actuator is rotatably mounted on a first housing part of the conductor terminal. The rotary actuator is thus rotatable relative to the first housing part about the axis of rotation. This allows for reliable mounting of the rotary actuator with high mechanical stability.

[0023] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the rotary actuation element is designed as a second housing part of the conductor terminal. This has the advantage that the conductor terminal can be implemented with relatively few components. Furthermore, the rotary actuation element is easily accessible for manual operation and can be designed with comparable dimensions to the first housing part. As a second housing part, the rotary actuation element can perform additional functions of a conductor terminal housing, such as protecting and insulating internal components of the conductor terminal. For example, the second housing part can be designed as a cover part of the conductor terminal housing that at least partially covers the internal insulation displacement connections.

[0024] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the rotary actuator is fixed in the direction of its axis of rotation. This has the advantage that the length of the conductor terminal does not change when the rotary actuator is rotated.

[0025] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, each insulation displacement connection (IDC) is assigned exactly one conductor entry opening for inserting an electrical conductor to be clamped at the IDC. This enables the user to easily and reliably assign the electrical conductors to be connected to the respective IDC. For example, all conductor entry openings can be arranged on the same side of the housing of the conductor terminal.

[0026] In the conductor terminal according to the invention, the ring shape of the insulation displacement connection (IDC) allows for the accommodation of multiple IDC connections in a small installation space. The rotary actuator enables simple and ergonomic actuation of multiple, and in particular all, IDC connections with a single rotational movement. The connected electrical conductors can also be detached from the IDC connections by rotating the rotary actuator in the opposite direction. Unlike an actuating lever, the rotary actuator is therefore not designed as a pivotable component, but rather as a purely rotatable component, with the rotational movement occurring relative to other housing parts and / or the IDC connections.The rotary actuator can provide a relatively large handling area for manual operation, making it particularly advantageous for use with conductor terminals for small conductor cross-sections.

[0027] As mentioned, the insulation displacement connectors are arranged in a ring shape, e.g., distributed along a circular path. The insulation displacement connectors are preferably evenly distributed along this circular path. Since the rotary actuator can be fixed in the axial direction, its axial position relative to the housing does not change when rotated. In particular, the overall length of the conductor terminal remains unchanged when the rotary actuator is rotated.

[0028] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the actuating element is designed as a slide and / or push button guided in an actuating contour, in particular a helical actuating contour, which runs obliquely relative to the rotational movement of the rotary actuating element. In this way, a conductor actuator, which can thus be designed as a sliding actuating element, is displaced in the conductor insertion direction by a rotation of the rotary actuating element in an actuating contour designed, for example, as a groove or elongated hole, and thus acts on the electrical conductor and moves it into the cutting gap.

[0029] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the conductor terminal has conductor entry openings on a conductor entry side through which electrical conductors can be guided to the insulation displacement connections, and the conductor terminal has plug-in openings on a side facing away from the conductor entry side, which lead to electrical plug contacts arranged in the housing of the conductor terminal. In this way, the conductor terminal can advantageously be further developed into a connector.

[0030] The aforementioned task can also be solved by an electrical connector, in particular a circular connector, with at least one conductor terminal of the type described above. The advantages described above can also be realized in this way.

[0031] For the purposes of the present invention, the indefinite term "a" is not to be understood as a numeral. Therefore, when, for example, a component is mentioned, this is to be interpreted as "at least one component". Where angles are specified in degrees, these refer to a circle of 360 degrees (360°).

[0032] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and drawings.

[0033] They show Fig. 1 a circular connector and a counterpart connector designed as a counterpart to it in perspective view, Fig. 2. A perspective view of an insulation displacement connection. Fig. 3 a part of the circular connector according to Fig. 1, Fig. 4 a rotary actuation element of the circular connector according to Fig. 1, Fig. 5 a housing part of the circular connector according to Fig. 1, Fig. 6-9 the function of the circular connector according to Fig. 1 when connecting an electrical conductor, Fig. 10 Another embodiment of a circular connector with a mating connector in perspective view, Fig. 11 Another embodiment of an insulation displacement connection in perspective view, Fig. 12 a ladder operator in perspective view, Fig. 13 parts of the circular connector according to Fig. 10 in perspective view, Fig. 14-17 the function of the circular connector according to Fig. 10 when connecting an electrical conductor, Fig. 18 a rotary actuating element in a further embodiment in perspective view, Fig. 19-22 the functioning of the rotary actuating element according to Fig. 18 when connecting an electrical conductor, Fig. 23 a rotary actuation element of another embodiment of a circular connector in perspective view.

[0034] The Fig. Figure 1 shows a circular connector 1 having a plug section 10 and a conductor terminal 11. The circular connector 1 can be plugged together at one end in a mating direction S with a mating connector 9 to form an electrical connection. At the end opposite the plug side is a conductor terminal 11 with several insulation displacement contacts arranged in a ring. An annular housing part 20 of the conductor terminal 11 extends around the insulation displacement contacts. At the end of the housing part 20 opposite the plug side is a rotatably mounted rotary actuator 5, which can be rotated about an axis of rotation D relative to the housing 2.

[0035] The rotary actuator 5 can be rotatably attached to the housing part 20 of the housing 2. The conductor connection terminal 11 has a separate conductor entry opening 57 for each electrical conductor to be connected, which can be located, for example, on one conductor entry side of the rotary actuator 5. It would also be possible to provide a common conductor entry opening 57 for several or all electrical conductors.

[0036] As can be seen, the mating connector 9 can be equipped with a comparably designed conductor terminal 11, e.g. also with insulation displacement connections and a rotary actuating element 5.

[0037] The Fig. Figure 2 shows an insulation displacement connection 4 of the conductor terminal 11. The insulation displacement connection 4 is formed as a single-piece, bent metal component. The insulation displacement connection 4 has a base section 47 from which two separate arms 41, 42 branch off side by side. On each arm 41, 42, a cutting edge 43 is formed in an insulation displacement area, with a cutting gap 40 formed between these opposing cutting edges 43. The cutting edges 43 terminate at their free end with a V-shaped cutting insertion section 44 that runs obliquely to the cutting gap 40. An electrical conductor can be inserted into the cutting gap 40 with its insulating sheath. First, the insulation is cut between the V-shaped cutting insertion sections 44, and then the electrically conductive core of the conductor is exposed and clamped between the cutting edges 43.

[0038] The arms 41, 42 are separated from each other by an intervening gap 45. The intervening gap 45 transitions into the cutting gap 40. At the end region facing away from the cutting edges 43, the insulation displacement connection 4 has a terminal contact 46 on the base body 47, e.g., a pin contact. The insulation displacement connection 4 can be fixed in the housing 2 by means of the terminal contact 46 and / or the base body 47.

[0039] The Fig. Figure 3 shows the housing part 20 together with the rotary actuating element 5, whereby the insulation displacement connectors 4 arranged in a ring shape in the housing part 20 are visible. The cutting gaps 40 of the insulation displacement connectors 4 extend in a tangential direction to the circular ring arrangement of the insulation displacement connectors 4 and to the rotary movement of the rotary actuating element 5 about the axis of rotation D.

[0040] The Fig. Figure 4 shows the rotary actuator 5 as a single component. Fig. Figure 5 shows the housing part 20 as a single component. It can be seen that rotation limiting elements 21 are formed on the side of the housing part 20 facing the rotary actuator 5. These elements interact with corresponding rotation limiting elements 51 of the rotary actuator 5. For example, the rotation limiting elements 21 can be designed as projecting pins, and the rotation limiting elements 51 as slot-shaped elongated holes. The arrangement can also be reversed. The rotation limiting elements 21 and 51 define the maximum rotational movement of the rotary actuator 5 relative to the housing 2. Furthermore, the rotation limiting elements 21 and 51 can provide rotational guidance between the housing part 20 and the rotary actuator 5.

[0041] It is also apparent that the rotary actuating element 5 has a main body 50, on the outer circumference of which a manual actuating surface is formed, on which the rotary actuating element 5 can be actuated by the user in the direction of rotation about the axis of rotation D. On the inner side facing the housing part 20, a ladder actuating section 52 is attached to the main body 50 via a centrally arranged connecting section 54. The ladder actuating section 52 has several ladder actuators 53, each of which is spatially assigned to a ladder entry opening 57. An electrical conductor inserted through a ladder entry opening 57 can then be placed with its free end in a ladder receiving pocket of the ladder actuator 53. A receiving gap 58 is formed between the respective ladder actuator 53 and the surface of the main body 50 facing the ladder actuator 53.

[0042] Based on the Fig. Sections 6 to 9 explain the function of the conductor connection terminal 11 when connecting an electrical conductor 8 to an insulation displacement connection 4. The following are shown. Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 the relevant parts of the conductor connection terminal 11 in a perspective view, which Fig. 8 and Fig. Figure 9 shows the relevant parts in a side sectional view. Fig. 6 and Fig. Figure 8 shows the conductor connection terminal 11 before the electrical conductor 8 is clamped to the insulation displacement connection 4, which Fig. 7 and Fig. Figure 9 shows the conductor connection terminal 11 with the electrical conductor 8 clamped to the insulation displacement connection 4.

[0043] First, an electrical conductor 8 is inserted through a conductor entry opening 57 into the conductor terminal 11. The free end of the electrical conductor 8 is placed in the conductor receiving pocket 56 of a conductor actuator 53. The conductor receiving pocket 56 has a base which acts as a stop for the insertion depth of the electrical conductor 8.

[0044] Now the rotary actuating element 5 is actuated by a certain angle of rotation about the axis of rotation D, as shown by the Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 show. The electrical conductor 8, held on one side of the receiving gap 58 by the main body 50 and on the other side by the conductor actuator 53, is pressed into the cutting gap 40 of the insulation displacement connector 4 by a tangential movement of the conductor actuator 53, whereby the cutting edges 43 are received in the receiving gap 58 between the conductor actuator 53 and the main body 50.

[0045] The Fig. Figure 10 shows a further embodiment of a circular connector 1 and a mating connector 9. These are comparable to the embodiment of the above, except for the design of the respective conductor terminal 11. Fig. 1. Unlike the Fig. In Figure 1, the conductor connection terminal 11 has a different embodiment of the rotary actuating element 5, in which several conductor actuators 53, designed as individual components, can be displaced radially by a rotary movement of the rotary actuating element 5. The conductor entry openings 57 can be configured similarly to those in Figure 1. Fig. 1. be designed as circular openings or, as in Fig. 10 is recognizable as slot-shaped elongated holes that also extend radially in their longitudinal direction. The conductor entry openings 57 are arranged in a cover 3, which covers the main body 50 of the rotary actuating element 5 on the side facing away from the plug section 10. The cover 3 can be decoupled from the rotary movement of the rotary actuating element 5, i.e., it does not participate in this rotation.

[0046] The Fig. Figure 11 shows an insulation displacement connection 4 of the conductor terminal 11 according to Fig. 10. The insulation displacement connection 4 in turn has the one based on the Fig. It has two features already explained, but in comparison it is only simply angled.

[0047] The Fig. Figure 12 shows a conductor actuator 53 of the conductor connection terminal 11 according to Fig. 10. It can be seen that the ladder actuator 53 has a mounting section 55 by which the ladder actuator 53 is held in the housing 2 and can be moved in a specific manner, as explained below. The ladder actuator 53 in turn has a ladder receiving pocket 56. Furthermore, the ladder actuator 53 has a receiving slot 58 for receiving the cutting edges 43 of the insulation displacement connector 4.

[0048] The Fig. Figure 13 shows the rotary actuating element 5 with conductor actuators 53 arranged on it, as well as four insulation displacement connectors 4. The insulation displacement connectors 4 are again arranged on a circular path, but with a different orientation of the longitudinal direction of their cutting gap 40. In this case, the cutting gaps 40 extend radially outwards.

[0049] On the rotary actuating element 5, actuating contours 59 are formed on the inside of the main body 50. Each of these contours holds and guides a conductor actuator 53 with its mounting section 55. The actuating contours 59 are designed as spiral inner contours that extend spirally from the outside to the inside of the rotary actuating element 5. It can be seen that an electrical conductor 8 is arranged on each conductor actuator 53. When the rotary actuating element 5 is rotated about its axis of rotation, the conductor actuators 53 are displaced radially inwards by the spiral inner contour of the actuating contour 59, and the electrical conductor 8, which is held in the conductor receiving pocket 56, is moved along with them.

[0050] The Fig. Figures 14 to 17 show this operation of the conductor connection terminal 11 for connecting the electrical conductors 8 to the insulation displacement terminals 4 in a manner consistent with the Fig. 6 to 9 in a similar way. The Fig. 14 and Fig. Figure 15 shows a top view of the relevant components, which Fig. 16 and Fig. 17 a side sectional view. The Fig. 14 and Fig. Figure 16 shows the conductor connection terminal 11 before the electrical conductor 8 is clamped to the insulation displacement connection 4, which Fig. 15 and Fig. Figure 17 shows the conductor connection terminal 11 with the electrical conductor 8 clamped to the insulation displacement connection 4.

[0051] First, an electrical conductor 8 is inserted through a conductor entry opening 57 into the conductor terminal 11. The free end of the electrical conductor 8 is placed in the conductor receiving pocket 56 of a conductor actuator 53.

[0052] Now the rotary actuating element 5 is actuated by a certain angle of rotation about the axis of rotation D, as shown by the Fig. 15 and Fig. Figure 17 shows the electrical conductor 8, held in the conductor receiving pocket 56 by the conductor actuator 53, being pressed into the cutting gap 40 of the insulation displacement connector 4 by a radial inward movement of the conductor actuator 53, whereby the cutting edges 43 are engaged in the receiving gap 58 between the conductor actuator 53 and the conductor actuator 53. During this rotational movement of the rotary actuator 5, the cover 3 with the slotted conductor entry openings 57 remains in its original position. The material of the cover 3 surrounding each conductor entry opening 57 holds the electrical conductor 8 in this position, so that it does not rotate with the rotary actuator 5, but is merely moved radially inward within the respective slotted conductor entry opening 57.

[0053] The Fig. Figure 18 shows another embodiment of a rotary actuating element 5, which is similar to the embodiment according to Fig. 10 can be designed, in particular with a cover 3 covering the main body 50, in which the slot-shaped conductor entry openings 57 are formed. The Fig. Figure 18 shows only the rotary actuating element 5 with the cover 3; the remaining parts of the conductor connection terminal 11 can be designed similarly to the embodiment of the Fig. 10.

[0054] The Fig. Figures 19 to 22 show the actuation of the rotary actuating element 5 in a configuration with the Fig. 14 to 17 in a similar way. The Fig. 19 and Fig. Figure 20 shows a perspective view of the relevant components, whereby the cover 3 is not shown to illustrate the internal structure of the rotary actuator 5. Fig. 21 and Fig. Figures 22 each show a side sectional view of the rotary actuating element 5 with the cover 3. Fig. 19 and Fig. Figure 21 shows the rotary actuating element 5 before the electrical conductor 8 is clamped to the insulation displacement connection 4, which Fig. 20 and Fig. Figures 22 show the rotary actuating element 5 with the electrical conductor 8 clamped to the insulation displacement connection 4.

[0055] In the embodiment of the Fig. Actuation contours 59 are formed on the inner side of the main body 50, 18 to 22. However, unlike the previously described embodiment, these actuation contours 59 do not each hold and guide a separate component in the form of the ladder actuator 53. Instead, the actuation contours 59 are designed as curved, slot-shaped elongated hole contours, in which the functionality of the ladder actuator is integrated due to this design. Therefore, no separate component such as the previously described ladder actuator 53 is required. As in the Fig. 21 and Fig. As can be seen from 22, a conductor receiving pocket 56 for each electrical conductor 8 is formed in a housing component arranged behind the respective cutting edges 43 under the main body 50, as seen from the lid 3.

[0056] First, an electrical conductor 8 is inserted through a conductor entry opening 57 into the conductor terminal 11. The free end of the electrical conductor 8 is placed in a respective conductor receiving pocket 56.

[0057] Now the rotary actuating element 5 is actuated by a certain angle of rotation about the axis of rotation D, as shown by the Fig. 20 and Fig. 22 show. The electrical conductor 8 held in the conductor receiving pocket 56 is pressed into the cutting gap 40 of the insulation displacement connector 4 by a radially inward movement of the actuating contour 59, whereby the cutting edges 43 are received in a receiving gap 58 of the main body 50.

[0058] The Fig. Figure 23 shows another possible embodiment of the rotary actuating element 5, which again has a main body 50. The main body 50 has elongated actuating contours 61, each of which guides a slide 62. Each slide 62 is arranged in the actuating contour 61 with a projecting pin 60. Each slide 62 has an actuating surface 64 that extends into the interior of the rotary actuating element 5 and projects from a radial inner surface 63 of the main body 50. By rotating the rotary actuating element 5 about the axis of rotation, the slides 62 can be displaced axially, corresponding to the axially inclined course of the actuating contours 61. This allows the slides 62 with their respective actuating surfaces 64 to come into contact with a ladder actuator, which, for example, is similar to the one shown in Figure 23. Fig. 12 can be trained (in Fig.(23 not shown). This allows the respective conductor actuator to be moved either axially in the insertion direction S or radially inwards, thereby effecting the desired connection of the electrical conductor at the insulation displacement connection. In this process, the slides 62 perform an axial movement when the rotary actuating element 5 is rotated. Reference symbol list 1 circular connector 2 cases 3 lids 4 insulation displacement connection 5 Rotary actuating element 8 electrical conductors 9 mating connectors 10 Plug section 11. Terminal block 20 Housing part 21 Rotation path limiting element 40 cutting gap 41 Arm 42 Arm 43 cutting edge 44 Cutting insertion section 45 Separation gap 46 Connection contact 47 Basic section 50 main bodies 51 Rotation path limiting element 52 Ladder operating section 53 ladder operators 54 Connecting section 55 Mounting section 56 Ladder storage bag 57 Ladder entry opening 58 recording gap 59 Actuation contour 60 cones 61 elongated actuation contour 62 sliders 63 radial inner surface 64 operating area D axis of rotation S Plug 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] DE 198 17 433 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Conductor terminal (11) with a housing (2) and with several insulation displacement connections (4), each having opposing cutting edges (43) between which a cutting gap (40) is formed, which forms a clamping point for clamping an electrical conductor (8), characterized by that the insulation displacement connectors (4) are arranged on a circular path in the housing (2). [2] Conductor terminal according to claim 1, characterized by , that the conductor terminal (11) has a manual actuating element for actuating several or all insulation displacement connections (4) in the form of a rotary actuating element (5) rotatably mounted about a rotary axis (D), which is designed to connect an electrical conductor (8) inserted into the housing (2) to several or all insulation displacement connections (4) when rotated in a first direction of rotation of the rotary actuating element (5). [3] Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that when the rotary actuating element (5) is rotated in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation, the electrical conductors (8) clamped at several or all insulation displacement terminals (4) can be released from the respective insulation displacement terminal (4). [4] Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the cutting gaps (40) of several or all insulation displacement connectors (4) are aligned in a tangential direction to the circular path on which the insulation displacement connectors (4) are arranged in the housing (2) with respect to their longitudinal extension direction. [5] Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the cutting gaps (40) of several or all insulation displacement connectors (4) are aligned with respect to their longitudinal extension direction in the radial direction to the circular path on which the insulation displacement connectors (4) are arranged in the housing (2). [6] Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the cutting gaps (40) of several or all insulation displacement connectors (4) are aligned with respect to their longitudinal extension direction in the axial direction to the circular path on which the insulation displacement connectors (4) are arranged in the housing (2). [7] Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that at least one actuating contour (59, 61) for clamping the electrical conductor (8) to the respective insulation displacement connection (4) is arranged on a radial inner surface (63) of the rotary actuating element (5). [8] Conductor terminal according to claim 7, characterized by, that the actuation contour (59, 61) is designed as a spiral inner contour. [9] Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that within the rotary actuating element (5) at least one conductor actuator (53) is arranged for joining an electrical conductor (8) with a respective insulation displacement connection (4). [10] Conductor terminal according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized by , that the actuating contour (59, 61) and / or the conductor actuators (53) are designed to exert an actuating force on the respective insulation displacement connector (4) and / or the electrical conductor (8) associated with the respective insulation displacement connector (4) when the rotary actuating element (5) is rotated in a tangential, axial, radially outward or inward direction. [11] Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the rotary actuating element (5) has a ring shape. [12] Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the axis of rotation (D) passes through the ring-shaped arrangement of the insulation displacement connectors (4). [13] Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the axis of rotation (D) runs at least approximately parallel and / or aligned with the conductor insertion direction of the electrical conductor (8) to be connected to the insulation displacement terminals (4). [14] Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the rotary actuating element (5) is rotatably mounted on a first housing part of the conductor connection terminal (11). [15] Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the rotary actuating element (5) is fixed in the direction of its axis of rotation (D). [16] Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that each insulation displacement connection (4) is assigned a conductor entry opening (57) for the insertion of an electrical conductor (8) to be clamped at the insulation displacement connection (4). [17] Conductor terminal according to claim 16, characterized by , that the conductor terminal (11) has conductor entry openings (57) on a conductor entry side through which electrical conductors (8) can be led to the insulation displacement connections (4), wherein the conductor terminal (11) has plug openings on a side facing away from the conductor entry side, which lead to electrical plug contacts arranged in the housing (2) of the conductor terminal (11). [18] Electrical connector, in particular circular connector (1), with at least one conductor terminal (11) according to one of the preceding claims.

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