Spring-cage terminal and conductor connection terminal

Abstract

Spring-loaded terminal connection for connecting an electrical conductor (9) by means of spring force, wherein the spring-loaded terminal connection has at least one busbar (7) and a clamping spring (1) which has a clamping leg (2) with a clamping edge (26) for clamping the electrical conductor (9) to a contact section (71) of the busbar (7), and with a holding element (5) which is designed to hold the clamping leg (7) in an open position, characterized in that the clamping spring (1) is formed from a spring sheet to form a frame and an interior space (3) is formed in the frame, in which interior space an actuating element (6), in particular an actuating push-button, for actuating the clamping leg (2) into the open position can be or is at least partially arranged.

Description

The invention relates to a spring force clamping connection for connecting an electrical conductor by means of spring force, wherein the spring force clamping connection has at least one busbar and a clamping spring which has a clamping limb with a clamping edge for clamping the electrical conductor to a contact section of the busbar, and with a holding element which is configured to hold the clamping limb in an open position. The invention also relates to a conductor connection terminal with such a spring force clamping connection.Such a conductor connection terminal is known from DE 10 2020 119 372 A1. This is a conductor connection terminal with automatic connection of the electrical conductor to be connected when the latter is inserted into the conductor connection terminal. By inserting the electrical conductor, the clamping leg of the clamping spring held in an open position is automatically released and thereby effects a clamping of the electrical conductor.Proceeding from this, it is an object of the present invention to specify a further improved spring force terminal connection and a conductor terminal connection.This object is achieved in a conductor connection terminal of the type mentioned at the beginning in that the clamping spring is formed from a spring sheet to form a frame and an interior space is formed in the frame, in which interior space an actuating element for actuating the clamping limb into the open position can be arranged or is arranged at least partially. In this way, a conductor terminal with automatic connection of the electric conductor to be connected can be improved in operability and reliability. In addition, due to the possibility of arranging the actuating element at least partially in the interior space of the frame, the spring force terminal connection and a conductor terminal formed therewith can be designed to be particularly compact. The clamping spring is thus shaped in a particular manner, in contrast to the prior art, namely in such a way that a frame is formed from a spring sheet in which the mentioned interior space is formed. The spring sheet may be formed (bent) by bending several times to form the frame.The actuating element can be designed as a pivotable actuating lever or as an actuating presser, in particular as an actuating presser displaceably mounted in an actuating channel of an insulating material housing of the conductor connection terminal. For example, the actuating pusher can be arranged in the actuating channel so as to be linearly displaceable. By means of the actuating element, the clamping leg can be transferred into the open position upon manual actuation counter to the spring force of the clamping spring. In this open position, the clamping leg can then be held by the holding element, in particular even without further manual actuation of the actuating element, so that an insertion of the electrical conductor is possible at any time without any special exertion of force.The clamping leg can form together with the contact section of the busbar a clamping point for clamping an electrical conductor between the clamping leg and the contact section. In the open position, at least the clamping edge of the clamping leg is pivoted away from the contact section of the busbar. The clamping leg can be pivoted, for example, between an open position, in which the electrical conductor is freely movable between the clamping leg and the contact section, and a clamping position, in which the clamping leg clamps the electrical conductor to the contact section.The holding element can act directly on the clamping leg, for example, in order to hold it in the open position. Thus, for example, a first latching element can be arranged on the clamping limb and a second latching element can be arranged on the holding element, wherein the first and the second latching element can be latched to one another in the open position. The holding element can be designed as a protruding latching arm. The second latching element can be designed as a latching projection or latching hook. The first latching element can be designed as a latching edge or latching opening.The holding element can be present as a separate component, which is fastened, for example, to an insulating material housing of a conductor connection terminal, to the busbar or to another component.According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the holding element is formed in one piece from the material of the clamping spring. This has the advantage that the holding element can be produced directly during the shape bending process of the clamping spring. A separate mounting of the holding element is thus superfluous.According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the actuating element is positively coupled to the clamping spring. The actuating element can be positively coupled in particular to the clamping limb. In this way, the actuating element inevitably carries with it certain movements of the clamping spring or of the clamping limb. In particular, it is thereby possible in a simple manner for the user to distinguish whether the clamping spring is in the clamping position or the open position, which can be detected, for example, on the basis of different positions of the actuating element relative to the insulating material housing. For example, an actuating element designed as an actuating presser can be arranged lower in an actuating channel of the insulating housing in the open position than in the clamping position.According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the actuating element dips into the interior space of the frame at least in the open position. In this case, a part of the actuating element can protrude from the interior or the region surrounded by the frame. The actuating element can be arranged in the interior space at least in the open position to an extent of more than 30% or more than 40% or more than 50%, i.e. it can be surrounded by the frame.According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the actuating element has at least one first form-fit element and the clamping spring has at least one second form-fit element which is designed as a counterpart to the first form-fit element, wherein the actuating element is coupled in a form-fit manner to the second form-fit element of the clamping spring via its first form-fit element. In this way, both the previously mentioned positive coupling of the actuating element with the clamping spring and an efficient force transmission of the actuating force from the actuating element to the clamping spring can be realized in a particularly efficient manner without tilting. For example, one of the form-fitting elements can be designed as a protruding projection and the other form-fitting element as an elongated hole receiving the projection. The projection can be guided in the slot when the actuating element is actuated.According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the spring force clamping connection has a release element with a release section, by means of which the clamping leg held on the holding element in the open position can be released from the holding element when an electrical conductor to be clamped exerts an actuating force on the release section. This allows the clamping leg to be automatically released from the holding element by the insertion of the electrical conductor. The release section can be acted upon by a separate tool, a component of the conductor connection terminal, such as an actuating element, or directly via the inserted electrical conductor itself with compressive force and thereby bring about the release of the clamping leg from the holding element. By means of the release element, the clamping leg held on the holding element in the open position can be released from the holding element by the application of pressure to the release section in the conductor insertion direction of the electrical conductor to be connected.Depending on the design of the spring force clamping connection, the release element can be designed as part of the clamping spring, for example as a release element formed integrally with the clamping spring, or as a separate component. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the release element is designed as a release lever which is mounted pivotably on the spring force clamping connection or in an insulating material housing of the conductor connection terminal in the manner of a rocker or a rocker lever. The release lever can have a bearing section with which it is mounted and about which it can be pivoted. The release lever can have a first lever arm which projects in a direction from the bearing section and on which the release section is arranged. The release lever can have a second lever arm which protrudes from the bearing portion in a direction different from the first lever arm and extends to the retaining element or the connection point between retaining element and clamping limb and which is configured for mechanically releasing the clamping limb from the retaining element, for example by the second lever arm moving the retaining element somewhat away from the connection point to the clamping limb. In this case, the first lever arm can be arranged at an angle, for example substantially at a right angle, to the second lever arm.According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the clamping spring has a mounting section which is configured for mounting the clamping spring on the busbar or another component of a conductor connection terminal. The clamping spring can be supported and supported with its support section, for example, on a surface of the busbar, for example a surface facing the actuating element. The clamping spring can be supported with its support section, for example, on a surface of the busbar facing away from the contact section.According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the holding element is fastened to the support section or is formed integrally therewith. In this way, the support section additionally serves as a counter bearing for holding the holding element with respect to the tensile force exerted by the clamping leg on the holding element in the open position. The holding element can be cut free from the support section, for example, during the punching-bending process of the sheet metal part from which the clamping spring is produced.According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the support section has a first support leg and a second support leg, which is arranged at a distance from the first support leg and runs substantially parallel to the first support leg. In this way, the clamping spring can be supported and supported on a surface of the busbar in a particularly secure and stable manner.According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the clamping spring has at least one spring curve on which the predominant bending occurs when the clamping spring springs in the open position. A defined spring elasticity of the clamping spring is thus realized by the spring bow. The clamping spring can have in particular two spring arches spaced apart from one another, as will be explained in the following.According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the torsional movement in the spring arch during compression takes place substantially orthogonally to the thickness direction of the sheet metal material from which the at least one spring arch is formed. This allows a particularly skillful shaping of the clamping spring into the frame-like construction with the interior from a single sheet metal part. The spring bow thus does not execute the necessary bending movement in the thickness direction of the sheet metal material, as in the case of conductor connection terminals known in the prior art, but substantially orthogonally thereto. If more than one spring bow is present, this can also apply to each of the spring arches.According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a first spring bow and a second spring bow arranged at a distance from the first spring bow extend from the support section to the clamping leg, wherein the interior space of the frame is arranged between the first and the second spring bow. In this way, the frame-like configuration of the clamping spring explained at the beginning is also further promoted by the spring arches. The first spring curve can be arranged parallel to the second spring curve. In an advantageous embodiment, the first spring bow can be arranged in alignment with the first support leg in the actuation direction of the actuating element, and the second spring bow can be arranged in alignment with the second support leg.The support section can have a first subsection formed integrally with the first spring bow and a second subsection formed integrally with the second spring bow, wherein the first subsection is formed separately from the second subsection, for example by a parting line arranged between the first and the second subsection.According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the clamping leg has a first leg section which is connected to the first spring bend and a second leg section which is connected to the second spring bend, and the clamping leg has a connecting section by means of which the first leg section is connected to the second leg section. In this way, the frame-like configuration of the clamping spring continues as far as into the clamping limb. For example, the first and the second leg section can be arranged parallel to one another and the connecting section can be arranged substantially orthogonally to the first and the second leg section. In each of the first and second leg sections, a second form-fit element can be arranged.According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that on a side of the connecting portion facing away from the first and the second spring bow, a clamping tongue of the clamping leg protrudes from the connecting portion, at the free end of which tongue the clamping edge is formed. In this case, the clamping tongue can extend as far as the contact section of the busbar, at least in the clamping position without inserted electrical conductors.According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the holding element is arranged between the busbar and the actuating element. In this way, the holding element can be accommodated in a particularly space-saving manner, for example in the interior of the frame. The holding element can extend through the interior. In this way, a spring force clamping connection with a frame-like clamping spring with an internal holding function of the clamping leg can be realized.According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the busbar has a slot-shaped opening through which the clamping spring or at least its clamping limb projects. This is conducive to secure clamping of an electrical conductor to the busbar. For example, the contact section can be formed as a contact tongue cut free from the material of the busbar and bent, e.g. a contact tongue bent away from the surface of the busbar, on which contact tongue the support section is supported on the busbar. The electrical conductor to be clamped can then likewise be guided through the slot-shaped opening, so that it is securely held therein. The slot-shaped opening can be surrounded on the circumference completely or predominantly by the material of the busbar.The object mentioned at the outset is also achieved by a conductor connection terminal having an insulating material housing which has at least one conductor insertion opening for receiving an electrical conductor in a conductor insertion direction (L), wherein at least one spring force clamping terminal of the type explained above is arranged in the insulating material housing. The advantages explained above can also be realized in this way. The electric conductor can be inserted through the conductor insertion opening in the conductor insertion direction up to the clamping point between the clamping edge of the clamping leg and the contact portion of the busbar and clamped there.According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a conductor guide channel for guiding the electrical conductor to be clamped to the contact section can be formed in the insulating material housing, wherein the release section of the release element is arranged in the conductor guide channel or at least protrudes into the conductor guide channel.According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the release section of the release element can be arranged behind the contact section or at least behind the clamping point in the conductor insertion direction (L).In the sense of the present invention, the indefinite term "a" is not to be understood as a numerical word. Thus, if, for example, a component is mentioned, this is to be interpreted in the sense of "at least one component". Insofar as angle specifications are given in degrees, these refer to a circular dimension of 360 degrees (360°).The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments using drawings. It shows. FIGS. 1 to 4 show a clamping spring in various views, FIG. 5 shows a spring force clamping connection in a perspective view, FIG. 6 shows the spring force clamping connection according to FIG. 5 with an electrical conductor, FIG. 7 shows a conductor connection terminal in side view, FIG. 8 shows the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 7 in a lateral sectional view in the clamping position, FIG. 9 shows the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 8 in the open position, FIG. 10 shows the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 9 with an electrical conductor.FIG. 1 shows a clamping spring 1 in a perspective view in the clamping position, FIG. 2 shows the clamping spring according to FIG. 1 in a side view and FIG. 3 shows the clamping spring according to FIG. 1 in a plan view. FIG. 4 shows the clamping spring according to FIG. 1 in the open position.The clamping spring 1 has a clamping leg 2, a first spring bow 31, a second spring bow 32, a support section 4 and a holding element 5. the support section 4 is divided into a first subsection 43 and a second subsection 44, which are formed separately from one another and between which a parting line 45 is formed. The holding element 5 can be cut free from the first or second subsection 43, 44 and bent in a desired direction. The first subsection 43 merges integrally with the first spring bend 31. The second subsection 44 merges integrally into the second spring bend 32. On the support portion 4, a first support leg 41 and a second support leg 42 are also formed. The first and the second support leg 41, 42 serve for supporting the clamping spring 2 on a busbar, as will be explained in more detail below. For example, the first support leg 41 can be formed integrally with the first subsection 43 at the end facing away from the first spring arch 31, and the second support leg 42 can be formed integrally with the second subsection 44 at the end facing away from the second spring arch 32.The clamping leg 2 has a first leg section 21 and a second leg section 22 arranged at a distance therefrom. the first leg section 21 can be formed integrally with the first spring arch 31, the second leg section 22 can be formed integrally with the second spring arch 32. The clamping leg 2 further has a connecting portion 20, by means of which the first leg portion 21 is connected to the second leg portion 22. The clamping leg 2 has a first latching element 23, for example in the form of an edge of a cutout, which can be formed in the clamping leg 2 and in particular in the connecting section 20. The first latching element 23 interacts with a second latching element 50 formed on the holding element 5, for example a latching projection or latching hook, in order to hold the clamping limb 2 in the open position.The clamping leg 2 further has a clamping tongue 25 which extends from the connecting portion 20 and has a clamping edge 26 at the free end for clamping the electrical conductor. It can also be seen that the clamping spring 1 has at least one second form-fitting element 27, for example in the form of a slot arranged on each of the limb sections 21, 22, which slot serves for receiving a form-fitting element of an actuating element.A frame is formed by the clamping leg 2 with the connecting section 20 and the side legs 21, 22 and by the spring arches 31, 32 and the partial sections 43, 44 of the support section 4 that form the rear side, so to speak, in which frame an interior space 3 is formed. An actuating element for actuating the clamping limb 2 into the open position can be arranged at least partially in the interior 3.FIGS. 1 to 3 show the clamping spring 1 in the relaxed position. In FIG. 4, the clamping leg 2 has been deflected toward the holding element 5, so that the holding element 5 is latched by its second latching element 50 on the first latching element 23 of the clamping leg, as a result of which the clamping leg 2 is held by the holding element 5 in the tensioned position of the clamping spring, i.e. in the open position. The holding element 5 is loaded with a tensile force by the prestressed clamping leg 2.The spring force clamping connection shown in FIG. 5 has the clamping spring 1 described above and, as further components, an actuating element 6 and a busbar 7. The busbar 7 can be formed as an angled busbar, in which, in addition to a surface section 70, at least one region angled thereto is present. A slit-like opening 72 may be formed in the surface portion 70. A contact portion 71 is also integrally formed from the material of the surface portion 70. The contact portion 71 is angled with respect to the surface portion 70. It can be seen that the clamping spring 1 extends with its clamping leg 2 or at least with the clamping tongue 25 through the slot-like opening 72 and can extend at least in the illustrated clamping position as far as the contact section 71. It can also be seen that the clamping spring 1 is mounted with its mounting legs 41, 42 on an upper side of the surface section 70, in particular on the upper side facing away from the contact section 71.It can also be seen that the actuating element 6, for example in the form of an actuating presser, extends at least partially into the interior 3 of the frame. The actuating element 6 has a manual actuating surface 60 on which the actuating element 6 can be actuated by application of a manually generated actuating force and can thereby be displaced in the direction of the busbar 7.It can also be seen that the actuating element 6 has a first form-fitting element 62 on each of the two sides, for example in the form of a protruding pin which engages in the second form-fitting element 27 of the respective side limb 21, 22 and is received therein in a form-fitting manner.If the actuating element 6 is actuated by a compressive force in the direction of the busbar 7, said actuating element moves towards the busbar 7. An actuating force is transmitted via the form-fitting elements 27, 62 to the clamping limb 2, which is correspondingly deflected and moved away from the contact section 71. In the further course of the actuation of the actuating element 6, the clamping limb 2 is deflected into the open position, as shown in FIG. 6. When the open position of the clamping leg 2 is reached, the second latching element 50 latches with the first latching element 23. an electrical conductor 9 can now be introduced to the clamping point without expenditure of force.Furthermore, a release element 8 is present, which can be designed, for example, as an angled rocker lever. The release element 8 has a bearing section 81, with which the release element 8 can be pivotably mounted on a bearing element. From the bearing portion 81, a first lever arm 80 extends in one direction and a second lever arm 82 extends in an opposite direction or at an angle to the first lever arm 80 The first lever arm 80 forms a release portion of the release element 8, the second lever arm 82 forms a transmission portion, by means of which an actuating movement exerted on the first lever arm 80 is transmitted to the holding element 5 in order to deflect the latter.FIG. 7 shows a conductor connection terminal 10 having an insulating housing 11 which has at least one conductor insertion opening 12 for inserting the electrical conductor 9 into the insulating housing 11. The electric conductor 9 is to be inserted in a conductor insertion direction L. A spring force clamping connection according to FIGS. 5, 6 is arranged in the insulating material housing 11. It can also be seen that the release element 8 is pivotably mounted with its bearing section 81 in a bearing receptacle 13, which can be formed, for example, by the material of the insulating material housing 11.FIG. 8 shows the conductor connection terminal 10 according to FIG. 7 in a sectional illustration, wherein the spring force clamping connection is in the clamping position. The conductor insertion opening 12 or the conductor insertion channel adjoining it is then blocked in the region of the busbar 7 by the clamping tongue 25, so that an electrical conductor cannot be easily inserted into the clamping point.FIG. 9 shows the conductor connection terminal in the same sectional illustration as FIG. 8, wherein the clamping leg 2 is now correspondingly deflected into the open position by the actuating element 6 and is held in this open position by the holding element 5 by latching the latching elements 50, 23. This open position is stably maintained until a force acting in the conductor insertion direction L is applied to the release section 80 of the release element 8, which force is sufficient to release the holding element 5 from the clamping leg 2 as can be seen in FIG. 10 by the tilting of the release element 8 caused thereby. In this case, the required force is applied directly to the release section 80 by the inserted electrical conductor 9, so that the release element 8 is pivoted as a result and the holding element 5 is deflected via its second lever arm 82, so that the latching between the first latching element 23 and the second latching element 50 is released. The prestressed clamping leg 2 can then be released from the holding element 5 and then presses the electrical conductor 9 against the contact section 71 by means of the clamping edge 26.List of reference characters1 Clamping spring 2 Clamping limb 3 Interior space 4 Mounting portion 5 Holding element 6 Actuating element 7 Busbar 8 Releasing element 9 Electrical conductor 10 Conductor connection terminal 11 Insulating material housing 12 Conductor insertion opening 13 Bearing receptacle 20 Connecting portion 21 First limb portion 22 Second limb portion 23 First latching element 25 Clamping tongue 26 Clamping edge 27 Second positive locking element 31 First spring bend 32 Second spring bend 41 First mounting leg 42 Second mounting leg 43 First subsection of the mounting portion 44 Second subsection of the mounting portion 45 Parting joint 50 Second latching element 60 Actuating surface 62 First positive locking element 70 Surface portion 71 Contact portion 72 Slot-like opening 80 First lever arm 81 Bearing portion 82 Second lever arm D Thickness direction L Conductor insertion directionReferences 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 2020 119 372 A1

[0002]

Claims

Spring force clamping connection for connecting an electrical conductor (9) by means of spring force, wherein the spring force clamping connection has at least one busbar (7) and a clamping spring (1) which has a clamping limb (2) with a clamping edge (26) for clamping the electrical conductor (9) to a contact section (71) of the busbar (7), and with a retaining element (5) which is configured to retain the clamping limb (7) in an open position, characterized in that the clamping spring (1) is formed from a spring sheet to form a frame, and an interior space (3) is formed in the frame, in which interior space an actuating element (6), in particular an actuating presser, for actuating the clamping limb (2) into the open position can be arranged or is arranged at least partially.Spring force clamping connection according to Claim 1, characterized in that the retaining element (5) is formed in one piece from the material of the clamping spring (1).Spring force clamping connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating element (6) is positively coupled to the clamping spring (1).Spring force clamping connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating element (6) dips into the interior space (3) at least in the open position.Spring force clamping connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating element (6) has at least one first form-fitting element (62) and the clamping spring (1) has at least one second form-fitting element (27) which is designed as a counterpart to the first form-fitting element (62), wherein the actuating element (6) is coupled in a form-fitting manner via its first form-fitting element (62) to the second form-fitting element (27) of the clamping spring (1).Spring force clamping connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring force clamping connection has a release element (8) with a release section (80), by means of which the clamping limb (2) held on the holding element (5) in the open position can be released from the holding element (5) when an electrical conductor to be clamped exerts an actuating force on the release section (80).Spring force clamping connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping spring (1) has a mounting section (4) which is configured to mount the clamping spring (1) on the busbar (7) or another component of a conductor connection terminal (10).Spring force clamping connection according to claim 7, characterised in that the holding element (5) is fastened to the support section (4) or is formed integrally therewith.Spring force clamping connection according to one of Claims 7 to 8, characterized in that the support section (4) has a first support leg (41) and a second support leg (42), which is arranged at a distance from the first support leg (41) and runs substantially parallel to the first support leg (41).Spring force clamping connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping spring (1) has at least one spring bend (31, 32) on which the bending which is predominant when the clamping spring (1) springs in the open position occurs.Spring force clamping connection according to Claim 10, characterized in that the torsional movement in the spring bend (31, 32) during compression takes place substantially orthogonally with respect to the thickness direction (D) of the sheet metal material from which the at least one spring bend (31, 32) is formed.Spring force clamping connection according to one of Claims 10 to 11, characterized in that a first spring bend (31) and a second spring bend (32), which is arranged at a distance from the first spring bend (31), extend from the mounting section (4) to the clamping limb (2), wherein the interior space (3) of the frame is arranged between the first and the second spring bend (31, 32).Spring force clamping connection according to Claim 12, characterized in that the clamping limb (2) has a first limb section (21) which is connected to the first spring bend (31) and a second limb section (22) which is connected to the second spring bend (32), and the clamping limb (2) has a connecting section (20) by means of which the first of the limb sections (21) is connected to the second limb section (22).Spring force clamping connection according to claim 13, characterised in that a clamping tongue (25) of the clamping limb (2) projects on a side of the connecting portion (20) facing away from the first and the second spring bow (31, 32), the clamping edge (26) being formed at the free end of said clamping tongue.Spring force clamping connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding element (5) is arranged between the busbar (7) and the actuating element (6).Spring force clamping connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining element (5) extends through the interior space (3).Spring force clamping connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the busbar (7) has a slot-shaped opening (72), through which the clamping spring (1) or at least its clamping limb (2) projects.Conductor connection terminal (10) with an insulating material housing (11), which has at least one conductor insertion opening (12) for receiving an electrical conductor (9) in a conductor insertion direction (L), characterized in that at least one spring force clamping connection according to one of the preceding claims is arranged in the insulating material housing (11).

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