Spring-cage terminal and conductor connection terminal

Abstract

Spring-loaded terminal connection (1) with a busbar element (3) and a clamping spring (9), wherein the clamping spring (9) has a contact leg (10) supported on the busbar element (3) and a clamping leg (11) and a transition section (12) connecting the contact leg (10) to the clamping leg (11) between the contact leg (10) and the clamping leg (11), and wherein the busbar element (3) has a circumferentially closed tubular profile with a base plate (4), a cover plate (5) located at a distance from the base plate (4) and two spaced-apart side walls (6a, 6b) which connect the base plate (4) to the cover plate (5) on one side each, characterized in that - a side wall (6a, 6b) has a recess (7) with a support (8), - the clamping leg (11) projects into the recess (7) and rests on the support (8) in an open position (O) and is locked, - the clamping leg (11) can be unlocked by relative movement of the support on the side wall (6a, 6b), and that - the busbar element (3) has a plug contact (15) which is designed for an electrically conductive plug contact connection with a busbar (45) which can be inserted into the plug contact (15).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a spring-loaded terminal connection with a busbar element and a clamping spring, wherein the clamping spring has a contact leg supported on the busbar part and a clamping leg and a transition section between the contact leg and the clamping leg connecting the contact leg to the clamping leg, and wherein the busbar element has a circumferentially closed tubular profile with a base plate, a cover plate spaced opposite the base plate and two spaced-apart side walls which connect the base plate to the cover plate on one side each.

[0002] The invention further relates to a conductor connection terminal.

[0003] Spring-cage terminals are used to connect an electrical conductor to a terminal point formed between the clamping leg of a clamping spring and a busbar.

[0004] DE 10 2015 017 151 A1 discloses a conductor connection contact element for clamping an electrical conductor with a busbar piece and a clamping spring. The busbar piece is formed from a sheet metal part with an opposite second side wall, a base section, and an opposite cover section. The side walls, together with the base section and the cover section, define a conductor insertion channel. The clamping spring is arranged on the busbar piece. It has a contact section at a first end region and a clamping section with a clamping edge for clamping the electrical conductor at the second end region, which is opposite the first end region. The contact section is arranged on the base section of the busbar piece. The clamping section extends with its freely movable end toward the cover section.Viewed transversely to the conductor insertion direction of the clamping section, an actuating section accessible for an actuating tool is provided in the direction of the side wall next to the clamping edge. A conductor guide area adjacent to the clamping section is formed on the first side wall. The conductor guide area is a section of the first side wall oriented obliquely toward the opposite second side wall.

[0005] DE 10 2015 108 630 A1 discloses a direct plug-in terminal with a clamping cage and a clamping spring. The clamping spring is arranged in the clamping cage and has a clamping leg with which an electrical conductor inserted into the clamping cage can be clamped between the clamping cage and the clamping spring. The clamping spring is formed from a thermally induced shape memory alloy. The direct plug-in terminal has a clamping spring with a retaining leg that is latched and / or clamped in the clamping cage. A terminal block can be equipped with several such direct plug-in terminals.

[0006] DE 10 2021 117 060 A1 describes a cable connection system in which an actuator is provided with a bar at the end that guides the actuator along the sliding edges of the busbar and actuates a clamping leg of a V-shaped clamping spring. This reduces friction and creates space for a cable collar on the cable connection side of the bar.

[0007] DE 20 2017 105 162 U1 discloses a conductor terminal with at least one spring-loaded clamp connection, which has at least one contact element and at least one clamping spring, wherein the clamping spring has at least one contact leg fixed to the contact element and at least one clamping leg movable relative to the contact element. Between the clamping leg and the contact element, a clamping point for clamping an electrical conductor is present in the conductor terminal. The conductor terminal also has at least one conductor stop element, by which the insertion depth of an electrical conductor into the conductor terminal is limited. The conductor stop element is additionally designed as a holding element for holding the contact leg in the position fixed to the contact element.

[0008] There is a need to provide a self-retaining spring-cage terminal for connecting electrical conductors in an open position. It is often desired that conductor terminals be delivered with the spring-cage terminal open at the factory.

[0009] Based on this, it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved spring-loaded terminal connection and a conductor connection terminal with such a spring-loaded terminal connection.

[0010] The object is achieved with the spring-loaded terminal connection having the features of claim 1 and the conductor connection terminal having the features of claim 14. Advantageous embodiments are described in the subclaims.

[0011] It is proposed that the spring-loaded terminal connection has a recess with a support on at least one side wall of the busbar element. The clamping leg protrudes into the recess and rests on the support in an open position, where it is latched. The clamping leg can be released by relative movement of the support on the side wall. The busbar element has a plug contact designed for an electrically conductive plug-in contact connection with a busbar that can be inserted into the plug contact. The busbar can be designed, for example, as a contact tab or a busbar extending transversely across several spring-loaded terminal connections.

[0012] This allows an electrical conductor to be inserted into the spring-loaded terminal connection, which is in the open position, and, after unlocking, clamped to the busbar element with the clamping leg. A contact insert wired with an electrical conductor in this way can then be inserted into a desired terminal point and, using the plug-in contact, electrically connected to a busbar, i.e., the counterpart. This also enables the connection of fine-stranded and extra-fine-stranded conductors.

[0013] The spring-cage terminal connection is very space-saving, simple in design, and cost-effective. Due to the very smooth snap-action mechanism, which is achieved through the relative movement of the clamping leg and the support of the clamping leg directly or indirectly on the support formed in the recess in the side wall, multi-strand conductors can be connected without prior treatment, such as crimping or similar.

[0014] Both side walls can have opposing recesses, each with a support. This allows the clamping leg to be locked in the open position on both sides. This ensures secure locking, evenly distributes the spring force across the supports, and prevents the clamping leg from tipping over.

[0015] In one embodiment of the spring-loaded terminal connection, a release element can be arranged in the interior of the busbar element. The release element can have a locking contour and a release arm adjoining the locking contour. The locking contour can be designed to rest on the support of the side wall of the busbar element and to support the clamping leg in the hold-open position on the locking contour.

[0016] In a variant that can be automatically released by an inserted electrical conductor, the trigger element is positioned in alignment in the conductor insertion direction, so that an electrical conductor inserted into the busbar element strikes the trigger element and this is displaced together with the locking contour and is released by relative movement of the locking contour on the support to the clamping leg of the clamping leg.

[0017] The locking contour on the release element provides indirect support for the clamping leg on the support. By moving the locking contour, the clamping leg can be released from the hold-open position locked to the locking contour. The spring force of the clamping spring causes it to rebound past the locking contour into a closed clamping position. In the locked hold-open position, the locking contour is positioned between the clamping leg and the support.

[0018] Both side walls can have opposing recesses, each with a support. In such a design, the locking contour can have opposing bearing walls, each resting on a support of a respective recess. The bearing walls can be connected to the release arm and have a bearing platform designed to lock the clamping leg in the open position.

[0019] The release arm can protrude from the bearing walls in the longitudinal direction of the busbar element and, with a bend, transition into a release section extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the busbar element towards the base plate. This allows the internal space in the busbar element located behind the clamping spring in the conductor insertion direction to accommodate the release section. An electrical conductor to be clamped is inserted into the busbar element between the clamping leg, which is locked in the open position, and the base plate and then strikes the release section. This exerts a release force on the release section, displacing it together with the locking contour, whereby the clamping leg is released and can move freely towards the base plate and the electrical conductor.The electrical conductor is thus clamped between a clamping edge on the clamping leg and the base plate and is electrically connected to the base plate.

[0020] The clamping spring can be a U-shaped bent leg spring with a spring arch connecting the clamping leg to the contact leg as a transition section.

[0021] A bearing bracket can be bent from a side wall into the interior of the busbar element, with the spring arc enclosing the bearing bracket. This allows the leg spring and its spring arc to be positively held by the bearing bracket so that it does not move out of a permissible position range. The bearing bracket provides a stop for the spring arc without hindering the basic movement of the spring arc within a tolerance range.

[0022] In another embodiment, the clamping spring can be a leaf spring with a tongue root. Two contact legs can protrude from the tongue root at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the busbar element. Between the pair of contact legs, the clamping leg can protrude in the form of a leaf spring tongue exposed from the laterally adjacent contact legs.

[0023] Such a leaf spring can be used instead of the U-shaped clamping spring described above in the first embodiment, with the clamping leg being supported indirectly via the locking contour of a release element on the support in the recess in the side wall of the busbar element for locking in the open position. Unlocking then occurs as described by shifting the locking contour arranged between the clamping leg and the support.

[0024] In another embodiment, for direct locking on the support of the recess in the side wall of the busbar element, a projection (i.e. a bearing tab) can protrude laterally from the clamping leg, which projects into the recess and rests on the support in a hold-open position and is locked. The clamping spring is slidably mounted on the busbar element with its contact legs, wherein the lateral projections can be unlocked by moving the clamping spring relative to the busbar element. The relative movement between the support or the locking contour and the clamping leg for unlocking occurs by moving the clamping spring. This variant is possible with both a U-shaped leg spring and a leaf spring as the clamping spring, in which case no additional release element with an intermediate locking contour is required.However, the relative movement can also be achieved by unlocking either by displacing a locking contour or by displacing the clamping spring or by displacing both the clamping spring and the locking contour.

[0025] The clamping leg can be tapered in the transition to its free end area to form a locking edge, wherein the locking edge is designed for direct locking with the support or for indirect locking with the locking contour of the trigger element.

[0026] The clamping leg can have a clamping edge at its free end area for clamping an electrical conductor.

[0027] The cover plate, the base plate and / or the side walls can have a slot open on one side with a contact nose protruding into the slot to form the plug contact for a busbar, such as a contact tab.

[0028] The slot can end in a curved tongue root contour in the direction of the clamping spring.

[0029] The conductor terminal comprises an insulated housing and a busbar within the insulated housing. The insulated housing has connecting contact receiving channels, and the busbar extends into the connecting contact receiving channels. For this purpose, the busbar can have several contact lugs arranged side by side.

[0030] The conductor terminal and the spring-cage terminals described above are coordinated in such a way that at least one spring-cage terminal is inserted into one of the connection contact receiving channels. The inserted spring-cage terminal is electrically connected to the busbar element of the spring-cage terminal via the plug-in contact.

[0031] The conductor terminal can be a terminal block with adjacently arranged terminal contact receiving openings. The busbar extends transversely along the terminal contact receiving openings, with each busbar extending into a respective terminal contact receiving channel. The insulating housing can have a locking foot designed for latching onto a mounting rail. This allows several such terminal blocks to be lined up next to each other and latched onto the common mounting rail.

[0032] In general, in the context of this application, the words “a / an”, unless expressly defined otherwise, are not to be understood as a number, but as an indefinite article with the literal meaning of “at least one”.

[0033] The invention permits various embodiments and is described in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment. The figures show: Fig. 1 - perspective view of a first embodiment of a spring clamp connection with a view of the conductor insertion opening; Fig. 2 - perspective view of a first embodiment of the spring clamp connection with a view of the plug contact; Fig. 3 - Side view of the spring clamp connection with clamping spring in the hold-open position; Fig. 4 - Side section view of the spring clamp connection with clamping spring in the hold-open position; Fig. 5 - Exploded view of the spring clamp connection with busbar element, clamping spring and release element with a view of the conductor insertion opening; Fig. 6 - Exploded view of the spring clamp connection with busbar element, clamping spring and release element with a view of the plug contact; Fig. 7 - perspective view of the spring clamp terminal in the hold-open position with an inserted electrical conductor; Fig. 8 - perspective view of the spring clamp connection from Fig. 7 with a view of the plug contact; Fig. 9 - Side view of the spring clamp connection from Fig. 7 in the hold-open position with an electrical conductor inserted; Fig. 10 - Side view of the spring clamp connection from Fig. 9 in the hold-open position with an electrical conductor inserted; Fig. 11 - perspective view of a second embodiment of a spring clamp connection with a view of the conductor insertion opening; Fig. 12 - perspective view of the second embodiment of the spring clamp connection with a view of the plug contact; Fig. 13 - Side view of the spring clamp connection from Fig. 11 with clamping spring in the open position; Fig. 14 - Side view of the spring clamp connection from Fig. 13 with clamping spring in the open position; Fig. 15 - Exploded view of the spring clamp connection from Fig. 11 with busbar element and clamping spring with view of the conductor insertion opening; Fig. 16 - Exploded view of the spring clamp connection from Fig. 12 with busbar element and clamping spring with view of the plug contact; Fig. 17 - perspective view of the second embodiment of the spring clamp connection in the hold-open position with an inserted electrical conductor; Fig. 18 - perspective view of the spring clamp connection from Fig. 17 with a view of the plug contact; Fig. 19 - Side view of the spring clamp connection from Fig. 17 in the hold-open position with an electrical conductor inserted; Fig. 20 - Side view of the spring clamp connection from Fig. 19 in the hold-open position with an inserted electrical conductor; Fig. 21 - perspective view of a conductor connection terminal; Fig. 22 - perspective view of the conductor terminal from Fig. 21 with inserted electrical conductors; Fig. 23 - Side section view of the conductor terminal from Fig. 22 with the first embodiment of spring clamp connections; Fig. 24 - perspective side section view of the conductor connection terminal from Fig. 23; Fig. 25 - Side section view of the conductor terminal from Fig. 22 with the second embodiment of spring clamp connections; Fig. 26 - perspective side section view of the conductor terminal from Fig. 25.

[0034] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a spring-loaded terminal connection 1 with a view of a conductor insertion opening 2. The spring-loaded terminal connection 1 has a busbar element 3 which is designed as a circumferentially closed tubular profile with a base plate 4, a cover plate 5 located at a distance from the base plate 4 and two spaced-apart side walls 6a, 6b which connect the base plate 4 to the cover plate 5 on one side each.

[0035] The visible side wall 6a has a recess 7 with a support 8, which is formed by the lower edge pointing towards the cover plate 5, which delimits the support 8.

[0036] A clamping spring 9 is installed in the interior of the busbar element 3. It has a contact leg 10, a clamping leg 11, and a transition section 12 in the form of a spring arc connecting the contact leg 10 to the clamping leg 11. The clamping spring 9 is thus designed as a U-shaped bent leg spring.

[0037] A release element 13 is movably arranged in the interior of the busbar element 3. This release element has a locking contour 14 that rests on the support 8. In the illustrated hold-open position O, the clamping leg 11 is displaced toward the contact leg 10 and rests on the locking contour 14. Thus, the clamping leg 11 is indirectly mounted on the support 8 and positively locked in the hold-open position O with the help of the release element 13.

[0038] An electrical conductor can be inserted into the conductor insertion opening 2 along the clamping leg 11 in order to be clamped between the clamping edge at the free end of the clamping leg and the base plate 4 after the clamping leg 11 has been released.

[0039] Opposite the conductor insertion opening 2 there is a plug contact 15 for making electrically conductive contact with a busbar or contact lug that can be inserted into the plug contact 15. For this purpose, a slot 16 is provided in the cover plate 5, which opens out onto the insertion side, which is diametrically opposite the conductor insertion opening 2, and extends towards the conductor insertion opening 2. The slot 16 is provided with a contact lug 17 that projects into the slot 16. In the exemplary embodiment shown, two opposing contact lugs 17 are provided on both edges of the slot 16, which are formed by ramps 18 running obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the slot 16. The slot 16 can end with a separating slot 19 that runs transversely to the longitudinal direction towards the side wall 6a. This exposes a retaining lug 20 of the cover plate 5, against which the contact leg 10 rests.

[0040] The cover plate 5 can have a guide section 21 in the area of ​​the conductor insertion opening 2, which is positioned obliquely in the longitudinal direction L or conductor insertion direction into the interior of the busbar element 3 in order to guide an electrical conductor to the base plate 4. A support tab 22 can protrude from the obliquely positioned guide section 21, which can be used as a support for mounting the spring-loaded terminal connection 1 in an insulating housing.

[0041] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the spring-loaded terminal connection 1 with a view of the plug contact 15.

[0042] It can be seen that the base plate 4 also has a slot 16 with contact tabs 17. The slots 16 can be arranged parallel to each other and symmetrically in the center of the base and cover plates 4, 5.

[0043] It is also clear that the second side wall 6b has a recess 7 with a support 8. The support 8 is formed by the lower edge pointing towards the cover plate 5, which delimits the support 8. The release element 13 also has a locking contour 14 on this side, which rests on the support 8. The clamping leg 11 is displaced towards the contact leg 10 in the illustrated hold-open position O and also rests on this locking contour 14 and is thus locked on both sides of each side wall 6a, 6b with a locking contour 14.

[0044] A bearing tab 23 projects from the second side wall 6b into the transition section 12 (i.e., the spring arch) to support the clamping spring 9 between the contact leg 10 and the clamping leg 11. A material tab 24 is bent from the retaining tab 20 toward the contact leg 11 to engage an opening or recess in the contact leg 10 and thus hold the clamping spring 9 in a form-fitting manner.

[0045] Fig. 3 shows a side view and Fig. 4 shows a side sectional view of the spring clamp connection 1 with the clamping spring 9 in the open position.

[0046] It can be seen that the release element has two opposing bearing walls 25, which merge into a common release arm 16. On the bearing walls 15, the locking contours 14 are formed by bearing platforms 27, each facing the opposite bearing wall 15, facing the cover plate 5 and projecting toward each other. The clamping leg 11 has a clamping edge 28 at its free end, which rests on the bearing platforms 27 in the locked, open position O.

[0047] The release arm 16 projects from the bearing walls 15 in the longitudinal direction L of the busbar element 3 and merges into a release section 29 extending transversely to the longitudinal direction L and transversely to the plane of the base plate 4.

[0048] An electrical conductor inserted into the conductor insertion opening 2 strikes the trigger section 29 and displaces the trigger element 13 in the recess 7 such that the bearing platform 27 or locking contour 14 releases the positive locking or stop for the clamping leg 11, and the clamping leg 11 is released. The clamping leg 11 can thus move toward the base plate 4 due to the spring force stored in the spring arc 12 and clamp the electrical conductor between the clamping edge 28 and the base plate 4.

[0049] Fig. 5 shows an exploded view of the spring-loaded terminal connection 1 with the busbar element 3, the clamping spring 9 and the release element 13 with a view of the conductor insertion opening 2. Fig. 6 shows a corresponding exploded view of the spring-loaded terminal connection with a view of the plug contact 15.

[0050] The opening 30 in the support leg 10 for locking with the material flap 24 is visible. It is also clear that the clamping leg 11 tapers with a shoulder 31 on both sides, with the clamping edge 28 formed on the front edge of the narrower end region. This narrower end region extends into the space between the two spaced-apart bearing walls 25, so that the shoulders rest on the bearing platform 27.

[0051] The recess 7 has a first groove 32 or step on the support 8 and a second groove 33 or step on the opposite side. The contact force of the opened clamping spring 9 presses the trigger element 13, i.e., the locking element, into the first groove 32, which prevents displacement of the trigger element 13. The second groove 33 also counteracts displacement of the trigger element 13 through positive engagement.

[0052] Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of the spring-loaded terminal connection 1 in the open position O with an inserted electrical conductor 34. Fig. 8 shows a corresponding perspective view of the spring-loaded terminal connection 1 with a view of the plug contact 15.

[0053] The clamping leg 11 is displaced relative to the contact leg 10 into the hold-open position O and is locked to the release element 13 or locking element, so that the stripped end of the electrical conductor 34 can be inserted into the busbar element 3 without force between the clamping leg 11 and the base plate 4. The electrical conductor 34 thereby strikes the release section 29, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L or conductor insertion direction in alignment with the conductor insertion opening 2, and lifts the release element 13 out of the first groove 32, i.e. over the step on the support 8. The release element 13, which is fixed in position or locked with the aid of the first groove 32, is thus further displaced by the force of the clamping spring 9, so that the clamping leg 11 leaves the bearing platform 27 and can move freely into the closed clamping position away from the contact leg 10 and towards the stripped end of the electrical conductor 34. The clamping leg 11 is thus unlocked.For this purpose, only an initial force impulse through the electrical conductor 34 onto the trigger section 26 is required to lift the bearing walls 25 above the first groove 32.

[0054] Fig. 9 shows a side view and Fig. 10 shows a side sectional view of the spring clamp connection 1 from Fig. 7 in the hold-open position O with an inserted electrical conductor 34.

[0055] It is clear that the trigger section 29, with which the trigger arm 26 ends at its end opposite the bearing walls 25, projects transversely to the plane of the base plate 4 and transversely in alignment with the longitudinal direction L of the busbar element 3 or the inserted electrical conductor 34. The electrical conductor 34 thus strikes the trigger section 29 with its front end and tilts the trigger arm 26 together with the bearing walls 25 connected to it. Only a slight (light) tilting is required, which lifts the bearing walls 25 supported on the support 8 at the first groove 32 above the first groove 32 (i.e. above the step). The release element 13 can then move largely freely in the recess 7 and is further tilted or displaced by the force of the clamping spring 9 acting on the bearing walls 25, so that the clamping leg 11 slides off the bearing platforms 27 and is released.

[0056] Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a spring clamp connection 1 with a view of the conductor insertion opening 2. This has a clamping spring 9 in the form of a leaf spring.

[0057] The plug contact 15 on the busbar element 3 is designed according to the first embodiment, so reference can be made to the above explanations. However, the slot 16 extends on both sides in the longitudinal direction L.

[0058] The retaining tab 20 for the clamping spring 9 protrudes from the section of the cover plate 5 adjacent to the conductor insertion opening 2.

[0059] The clamping spring 9 is mounted between the retaining tab 20 and an upper edge 35 of the side walls 6a, 6b.

[0060] Fig. 12 shows a perspective view of the second embodiment of the spring-loaded terminal connection 1 with a view of the plug contact 15.

[0061] It can be seen that the recess is bent in a part-circular manner from the cover plate 5 to the base plate 4 in the direction of the conductor insertion opening 2 and has a support 8 on the edge facing the cover plate 5.

[0062] Fig. 13 shows a side view and Fig. 14 shows a side sectional view of the spring clamp connection 1 from Fig. 11 with clamping spring in the open position O.

[0063] The clamping spring 9, i.e., the leaf spring, is mounted displaceably in the longitudinal direction L between the retaining tab 20 and the upper edge 35. The side walls 6a, 6b have a first step 36 against which the contact leg 10 abuts in the open position O. Thus, the pre-tensioned clamping spring 9 is held in a form-fitting manner on the busbar element 3.

[0064] The clamping leg 11 has a widening 37 on both sides in the front area, which rests on the support 8 in the open position O.

[0065] If the clamping spring 9 is tensioned as shown and moved into the starting position, the lateral contact legs 10 snap behind a first step 36 on the contact, and the widened portion 37 of the clamping leg 11 rests on a slope of the side walls 6a, 6b forming the support 8, which side walls delimit the recess 7. Since the clamping spring 9 cannot move into this hold-open position O in the longitudinal direction L or the conductor insertion direction, the widened portion 37 cannot slide over the slopes on the side walls 6a, 6b, and the clamping spring 9 remains in the hold-open position O.

[0066] To close the clamping point, the lateral contact legs 10 must be moved toward the conductor connection compartment. This overcomes the first step 36 and releases a certain amount of movement in the conductor insertion direction L. This allows the lateral projections 37 of the clamping leg 9 to slide off the support 8, i.e., the slopes, so that the clamping leg 11, with its clamping edge 28, moves freely toward the base plate 4 due to the spring force. The clamping spring thus closes the clamping point to clamp an electrical conductor 34 between the clamping edge 28 and the base plate 4.

[0067] In the clamping position, the contact legs 10 can abut against a second step 38 which is arranged offset in the conductor insertion direction L behind the first step 36 towards the base plate 4.

[0068] To close the clamping point, the lateral contact legs 10 must be raised above the first step 36. This can be achieved by applying pressure from the outside, particularly when the spring-loaded terminal connection 1 is still handled without a surrounding insulating housing. In this case, an electrical conductor 34 would first be inserted and then the clamping point is closed manually by applying pressure to the tiltable retaining tab 20 on the contact. The retaining tab 20 is thus used as an actuating section. The clamping spring 9 is displaced in the conductor insertion direction L by the spring force acting between the projections 37 of the clamping leg 11 and the supports 8 as soon as the stop for the contact legs 10 on the first step 36 is removed or overcome.

[0069] Fig. 15 shows an exploded view of the spring clamp connection 1 from Fig. 11 with busbar element 3 and the clamping spring 9 with a view of the conductor insertion opening. Fig. 16 shows an exploded view with a view of the plug contact 15.

[0070] It is clear that the retaining tab 20 protrudes from the front section of the cover plate 5 and is connected to the cover plate 5 by a web 39. Thus, the retaining plate 20 can be tilted by compressive force toward the upper edge 35 in order to lift the two contact legs 10 protruding from a tongue root 40 of the leaf spring 9 over the first step 36.

[0071] The clamping spring 9 is designed as a leaf spring, with the clamping leg 11 exposed by two laterally adjacent and opposing contact legs 10. The clamping leg 11 and the contact legs 10 are connected to each other in a tongue root 40.

[0072] It can be seen that adjacent to the free ends of the contact legs, lateral projections 37 protrude from the clamping leg 11 on both sides, extending in opposite directions from each other. The clamping leg 11 then tapers to a narrower end section, the front edge of which forms the clamping edge 28.

[0073] Fig. 17 shows a perspective view of the second embodiment of the spring-loaded terminal connection 1 in the open position O with an inserted electrical conductor 34. Fig. 18 shows a corresponding perspective view with a view of the plug contact 15.

[0074] It can be seen that the clamping spring 9, designed as a leaf spring, is locked in the open position. The contact leg 10 rests against the first step 36. By pressing the retaining tab 20, which serves as an actuating element, the contact legs 10 overcome the first step 36, allowing the clamping spring 9 to move in the conductor insertion direction and release.

[0075] Fig. 19 shows a side view and Fig. 20 shows a side sectional view of the spring clamp connection 1 from Fig. 17 in the open position O with an inserted electrical conductor 34.

[0076] The clamping leg 11 rests with its lateral projections 37 on the supports 8, which delimit the recess 7. The clamping leg 11 is in the open position O, so that the clamping edge 28 is at a distance from the inserted, stripped end of the electrical conductor 34, which rests on the base plate 4.

[0077] By overcoming the first step 36 by the contact legs 10, the clamping spring 9 is displaced and the clamping leg 11 is released, so that the clamping leg 11 springs out towards the base plate 4 due to the spring force stored in the tongue root 40 and clamps the electrical conductor 34 between the clamping edge 28 and the base plate 4.

[0078] The leaf spring of the second embodiment can, in principle, also be used in the variant with trigger element 13 of the first embodiment. This is a modification of the first embodiment.

[0079] With the spring-cage terminal connections 1, intuitive wiring can be achieved, which can be realized at low cost with a very high packing density. For this purpose, a contact unit is used, which partly represents a conductor connection and partly has an interface to a counterpart. This interface can be designed, for example, as a plug connection 15, as shown. Other variants of the plug connection 15 are conceivable, in which case spring-cage contacts, screw contacts, insulation displacement contacts, and the like can also be used. Furthermore, the contact unit can have a self-closing contact point, which is triggered when an electrical conductor 34 has been inserted.

[0080] Both designs require only a short actuation distance and thus a small force impulse to overcome a step or groove. The force of the clamping spring 9 is then utilized to release the clamping leg 11, which is locked in the open position O, and to clamp an electrical conductor 34 in a clamping position.

[0081] By using the described spring-cage terminal connections 1 or contact inserts, it is possible to connect an electrical conductor 34 to a contact insert outside of an insulating housing without additional tools. The unit consisting of the electrical conductor 34 and the spring-cage terminal connection 1 can then be connected and contacted with a counterpart like a plug-in connection (direct mating). The contact insert 1 can lock into the insulating housing or on the mating contact to absorb certain conductor retention forces. Due to the very compact design and the elimination of actuating elements such as actuating tools, push-buttons, or the like, considerable space can be saved, allowing a connection to be realized in a very small installation space.

[0082] In the example of a terminal block, for example, significantly more connections could be realized in the same installation space.

[0083] Fig. Figure 21 shows a perspective view of a conductor terminal 41 in the form of a terminal block with an insulating housing 42 and an optional locking foot 43. Opposite the locking foot 43, connecting contact receiving channels 44 open out, into which spring-cage terminals 1 according to the invention are inserted. The conductor insertion openings 2 are aligned with the opening of the connecting contact receiving channels 44, and the plug contacts 15 are aligned in the direction of the locking foot 43.

[0084] Fig. 22 shows a perspective view of the conductor connection terminal 41 from Fig. 21 with electrical conductors 34 inserted into the connection contact receiving channels 44 or the conductor insertion openings 2 of the busbar elements 3.

[0085] Fig. 23 shows a side section view and Fig. 24 shows a perspective side sectional view of the conductor terminal 41 of Fig. 22 with the first embodiment of spring clamp connections 1. The clamping springs 9 are not shown.

[0086] The conductor connection terminal 41 has a busbar 45 which extends transversely along the connection contact receiving openings 44, so that the busbar 45 can be inserted into the slots 16 of the plug contacts 15 and can be electrically conductively connected to the busbar elements 3 at the contact lugs 17 with a contact force.

[0087] This also makes the design of the counter component (in this example, a terminal block) very simple and therefore cost-effective. In the example of the terminal block, this can be a busbar 45 overmolded by the insulating housing 42. Further assembly of conductor connection components in the terminal block is therefore unnecessary.

[0088] A further advantage is that the user only uses the number of contact units (i.e., spring-cage terminals 1) that they actually need. Unused terminal points remain unpopulated.

[0089] Fig. 25 shows a side section view and Fig. 26 shows a perspective side sectional view of the conductor connection terminal 1 from Fig. 22 with the second embodiment of spring clamp connections 1.

[0090] The spring-loaded terminal connections 1 are again inserted into the connection contact receiving openings 44. Electrical conductors are inserted into the conductor connection compartment of the busbar elements 3 via the conductor insertion openings 2. The clamping springs 9, designed as leaf springs, are locked in the open position O, so that the clamping edges 28 do not yet clamp the stripped ends of the electrical conductors 34. The contact legs 10 still abut the first step 36, so that the clamping leg 11 still rests on the supports 8 of the side walls 6a, 6b. List of reference symbols 1 spring-loaded terminal connection 2 conductor insertion opening 3 Busbar element 4 Base plate 5 Cover plate 6a first side wall 6b second side wall 7 Recess 8 supports 9 clamping spring 10 investment legs 11 clamping legs 12 Transition section (spring arch) 13 Trigger element 14 locking contour 15 plug contact 16 slots 17 Contact nose 18 ramps 19 Separation slot 20 retaining tab 21 Guide Section 22 support bracket 23 Bearing tab 24 material rags 25 bearing wall 26 trigger arm 27 storage platform 28 clamping edge 29 Trigger section 30 Opening 31 paragraph 32 first throat 33 second throat 34 electrical conductor 35 upper edge 36 first stage 37 lateral projection 38 second stage 39 jetty 40 Root of the tongue 41 conductor connection terminal 42 Insulated housings 43 locking foot 44 Connection contact receiving channel 45 Busbar L Longitudinal direction / conductor insertion direction O Hold-open position QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

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

[0000] DE 10 2015 017 151 A1

[0004] DE 10 2015 108 630 A1

[0005] DE 10 2021 117 060 A1

[0006] DE 20 2017 105 162 U1

[0007]

Claims

[1] Spring-loaded terminal connection (1) with a busbar element (3) and a clamping spring (9), wherein the clamping spring (9) has a contact leg (10) supported on the busbar element (3) and a clamping leg (11) and a transition section (12) connecting the contact leg (10) to the clamping leg (11) between the contact leg (10) and the clamping leg (11), and wherein the busbar element (3) has a circumferentially closed tubular profile with a base plate (4), a cover plate (5) located at a distance from the base plate (4) and two spaced-apart side walls (6a, 6b) which connect the base plate (4) to the cover plate (5) on one side each, characterized by , that - a side wall (6a, 6b) has a recess (7) with a support (8), - the clamping leg (11) projects into the recess (7) and rests on the support (8) in an open position (O) and is locked, - the clamping leg (11) can be unlocked by relative movement of the support on the side wall (6a, 6b), and that - the busbar element (3) has a plug contact (15) which is designed for an electrically conductive plug contact connection with a busbar (45) which can be inserted into the plug contact (15). [2] Spring clamp connection (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that both side walls (6a, 6b) have recesses (7) opposite one another, each with a support (8). [3] Spring-loaded terminal connection (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that - a triggering element (13) is arranged in the interior of the busbar element (3), - wherein the trigger element (13) has a locking contour (14) and a trigger arm (26) adjoining the locking contour (14), - the locking contour (14) is designed to rest on the support (8) of the side wall (6a, 6b) of the busbar element (3) and to support the clamping leg (11) in the open position (O) on the locking contour (14), and - that the trigger element (13) is positioned in alignment in the conductor insertion direction (L), so that an electrical conductor (34) inserted into the busbar element (3) strikes the trigger element (13) and displaces it together with the locking contour (14) and the clamping leg (11) is unlocked by relative movement of the locking contour (14) on the support (8) to the clamping leg (11). [4] Spring-loaded terminal connection (1) according to claim 2 and 3, wherein both side walls (6a, 6b) have mutually opposite recesses (7) each with a support (8), characterized byin that the locking contour (14) has bearing walls (25) lying opposite one another and resting on a respective recess (7) on the support (8), wherein the bearing walls (25) are connected to the release arm (26) and have a bearing platform (27) designed to lock the clamping leg (11) in the open position (O). [5] Spring-loaded terminal connection (1) according to claim 4, characterized by that the trigger arm (26) projects from the bearing walls (25) in the longitudinal direction (L) of the busbar element (3) and, with a bend, merges into a trigger section (13) extending transversely to the longitudinal direction (L) of the busbar element (3) towards the base plate (4). [6] Spring-loaded terminal connection (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the clamping spring (9) is designed as a U-shaped bent leg spring with a spring arch connecting the clamping leg (11) to the contact leg (10) as a transition section (12). [7] Spring-loaded terminal connection (1) according to claim 6, characterized by that a bearing tab (23) is bent from a side wall (6a, 6b) into the interior of the busbar element (3) and the spring arch (12) engages around the bearing tab (23). [8] Spring-loaded terminal connection (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the clamping spring (9) is a leaf spring with a tongue root (40), wherein two contact legs (10) protrude at a distance from one another from the tongue root (40) in the longitudinal direction (L) of the busbar element (3) and the clamping leg (11) protrudes between the pair of contact legs (10) in the form of a leaf spring tongue exposed from the laterally adjacent contact legs (10). [9] Spring clamp connection (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by in that a projection (37) projects laterally from the clamping leg (11), projects into the recess (7) and rests and is locked in an open position (O) on the support (8), wherein the clamping spring (11) is mounted with its contact legs (10) displaceably on the busbar element (3) and the lateral projection (37) can be unlocked by displacing the clamping spring (9) relative to the busbar element (3). [10] Spring-loaded terminal connection (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the clamping leg (11) is tapered in the transition to its free end region to form a locking edge (31), wherein the locking edge (31) is designed for direct locking with the support (8) or indirect locking with the locking contour (14) of the trigger element (13). [11] Spring-loaded terminal connection (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the clamping leg (11) has a clamping edge (28) at its free end region for clamping an electrical conductor (34). [12] Spring-loaded terminal connection (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the cover plate (5), the base plate (4) and / or the side walls (6a, 6b) have a slot (16) open on one side with a contact nose (17) projecting into the slot (16) to form the plug contact (15) for a busbar (45). [13] Spring-loaded terminal connection (1) according to claim 12, characterized by that the slot (16) ends in a curved tongue root contour in the direction of the clamping spring (9). [14] Conductor connection terminal (41) with an insulating housing (42) and with a busbar (45) in the insulating housing (42), wherein the insulating housing (42) has connection contact receiving channels (44) and the busbar (45) each projects into a connection contact receiving channel (44), characterized bythat at least one spring-loaded terminal connection (1) according to one of the preceding claims is inserted into one of the connection contact receiving channels (44) and is electrically conductively connected to the busbar (45) by means of the plug-in contact (15) on the busbar element (3) of the spring-loaded terminal connection (1). [15] Conductor connection terminal (41) according to claim 14, characterized by that the conductor connection terminal (41) is a series terminal with adjacently arranged connection contact receiving openings (44) and the busbar (45) extends transversely along the connection contact receiving openings (44), wherein the busbar (45) extends into a connection contact receiving channel (44) in each case.

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