conductor connection terminal

Abstract

A conductor terminal (1) for connecting at least one electrical conductor (9) by means of spring force, comprising an insulating housing (2) and a spring-loaded clamping connection, which is arranged at least predominantly in the insulating housing (2), wherein the spring-loaded clamping connection has at least one busbar (3) and a clamping spring (4), wherein the busbar (3) has a contact section (31) for clamping the electrical conductor (9) and the clamping spring (4) has a clamping leg (43) with a clamping edge (46) for pressing the electrical conductor (9) against the contact section (31), wherein the clamping spring (4) has a spring arc (42) adjoining the clamping leg (43) and a contact leg (41) adjoining the spring arc (42), which is supported on the busbar (3), wherein the spring-loaded clamping connection has a retaining element (5) for holding the clamping leg (43) in the open position.wherein the spring-loaded clamping connection has a release element (8) with a release section (80) by which, when the release section (80) is acted upon with a release force, the clamping leg (43) held on the retaining element (5) can be released from the retaining element (5), characterized in that the release element (8) is designed as a separate component which is pivotably mounted on a part of the clamping spring (4) which is movable relative to the busbar (3) and / or to the insulating housing (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a conductor terminal for connecting at least one electrical conductor by means of spring force, comprising an insulating housing and a spring-loaded clamping connection, which is arranged at least predominantly in the insulating housing, wherein the spring-loaded clamping connection has at least one busbar and a clamping spring, wherein the busbar has a contact section for clamping the electrical conductor and the clamping spring has a clamping leg with a clamping edge for pressing the electrical conductor against the contact section, wherein the clamping spring has a spring arc adjoining the clamping leg and a support leg adjoining the spring arc, which is supported on the busbar, wherein the spring-loaded clamping connection has a retaining element for holding the clamping leg in the open position, and wherein the spring-loaded clamping connection has a release element with a release section.by the fact that, when the release section is subjected to a release force, the clamping leg held on the retaining element can be detached from the retaining element.

[0002] Such a conductor terminal is known from DE 10 2020 119 372 A1. It is a conductor terminal with automatic connection of the electrical conductor to be connected when the conductor is inserted into the terminal. Insertion of the electrical conductor automatically releases the clamping leg of the clamping spring, which is held in an open position, thereby clamping the electrical conductor securely.

[0003] Based on this, the object of the present invention is to provide a further improved conductor terminal.

[0004] This problem is solved in a conductor terminal of the type mentioned above by designing the release element as a separate component, which is pivotably mounted on a part of the clamping spring that is movable relative to the busbar and / or the insulating housing. Such a design allows for the simple integration of an automatic release technology into spring-clamp terminals and conductor terminals of various designs. In particular, proven conductor terminals of known design can thus be easily upgraded to an automatic release functionality, i.e., with automatic connection of the electrical conductor to be clamped.

[0005] The release element is advantageously designed as a separate component, i.e., not as part of the retaining element, the clamping spring, the busbar, or any other component of the conductor terminal. Accordingly, the release element can also be made of a different material than, for example, the clamping spring, particularly an inexpensive plastic material. This also simplifies the manufacturing of the other components, especially the busbar and the clamping spring, since these do not have a release element molded in one piece.

[0006] Because the release element is pivotally mounted on a part of the clamping spring that is movable relative to the busbar and / or the insulating housing, the release element can be variably positioned during operation by utilizing the mobility of the movable part of the clamping spring, thus performing its release function particularly efficiently. Due to the pivoting mounting of the release element, it can be pivoted in a defined manner by a release force acting on the release section, thereby releasing the locking mechanism of the clamping leg on the retaining element, for example, like a lever or an eccentric.

[0007] The busbar can be fixed in a substantially unchanging position within the insulating housing, apart from potentially minor movement due to dimensional tolerances. Parts of the clamping spring, such as the contact leg, can also be fixed in a fixed position within the insulating housing. The insulating housing may have a conductor entry opening through which an electrical conductor can be guided in a conductor entry direction to a clamping point between the contact section and the clamping edge.

[0008] The clamping arm, together with the contact section of the busbar, can form a clamping point for connecting an electrical conductor between the clamping arm and the contact section. In the open position, at least the clamping edge of the clamping arm is pivoted away from the contact section of the busbar. The clamping arm can be pivoted, for example, between an open position in which the electrical conductor is freely movable between the clamping arm and the contact section, and a clamped position in which the clamping arm clamps the electrical conductor to the contact section.

[0009] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the release element is designed as a plastic component. This allows for cost-effective production of the release element in various different shapes.

[0010] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the release element is pivotably mounted on the clamping arm. In this way, the release element moves with the clamping arm when shifting from the clamped position to the open position and vice versa. Appropriate bearing elements, such as bearing pins, can be formed on the clamping arm, on which the release element can be pivotably mounted with corresponding bearing receptacles. This embodiment is particularly suitable, for example, for variants of the conductor terminal block in which the clamping spring is designed as a cage spring.

[0011] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the retaining element is formed integrally with the clamping spring or the busbar. Accordingly, no additional component is required for the retaining element, which simplifies the assembly of the conductor terminal components. Furthermore, the spring-clamp connection is self-supporting even when the clamping leg is held by the retaining element; that is, essentially no forces from the clamping spring are transmitted to the insulating housing. If the retaining element is formed integrally with the clamping spring, the clamping spring can, for example, have a retaining leg formed integrally with the clamping leg, which then forms the retaining element. If the retaining element is formed integrally with the busbar, this can be achieved, for example, by appropriately shaping the busbar in the area of ​​the clamping leg.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the release element is pivotably mounted on the retaining element. This variant is well suited for designs of the conductor terminal block with a movable retaining element, e.g., a retaining element which, in order to release the locking of the clamping leg on the retaining element, must be deflected by the release element so that a locking element formed on the retaining element is moved away from the clamping leg or a locking body formed thereon.

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the release element is configured to deflect the retaining element and / or the clamping leg when the release element is pivoted by a release force acting on the release section. This reliably releases the locking mechanism of the clamping leg on the retaining element.

[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the release element is designed as an eccentric. In this way, the release element can exert large forces to release the clamping leg. The release element can, for example, have an outer contour that is eccentrically shaped relative to the pivot axis of the release element and that slides along a contour of the insulating housing during the pivoting movement of the release element.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the release element is designed as a pivotable rocker arm. In this embodiment, the release element can act like a lever, having a force arm on one side of the pivot axis and a load arm on the other. The release section can, for example, be arranged on the force arm. When the release section is actuated, the load arm can support the release element, for example, on the contact leg, thereby transmitting a force to the retaining element to deflect it.

[0016] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the release element is supported on the mounting leg during a pivoting movement caused by a release force acting on the release section. This support allows the release element to move away from the mounting leg in the region of its pivot axis during the pivoting movement, thereby displacing, for example, the retaining element if it is connected to the release element.

[0017] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the conductor terminal has a manual actuating element for moving the clamping arm into the open position. This manual actuating element has a manual actuating section for manual operation. This has the advantage that the conductor terminal has its own actuating element, which can be optimally matched to the other components of the conductor terminal. Therefore, it is not necessary to use a separate tool for actuating the clamping arm. The manual actuating element can, for example, be designed as a pivotable actuating lever, a sliding actuating push button, or an actuating slider. Alternatively, the conductor terminal can also be designed without a manual actuating element. In this case, the clamping spring can be actuated by a tool.

[0018] 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°).

[0019] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. These show... Fig. 1 a conductor terminal in lateral sectional view in the clamping position, Fig. 2 the conductor connection terminal according to Fig. 1 in the open position, Fig. 3 the conductor connection terminal according to Fig. 1 with attached electrical conductor, Fig. 4. The parts of the conductor terminal without the insulating housing in perspective view, Fig. 5 another embodiment of a conductor terminal block in a side sectional view in the clamping position, Fig. 6 the conductor connection terminal according to Fig. 5 in the open position, Fig. 7 the conductor connection terminal according to Fig. 5 with attached electrical conductor, Fig. 8 a spring clamp connection of the conductor terminal according to Fig. 6 in perspective view, Fig. 9 the conductor connection terminal according to Fig. 5 in perspective view.

[0020] The in Fig. One identifiable conductor connection terminal 1 has an insulating housing 2 in which a spring-loaded clamping connection is arranged, which has a busbar 3 and a clamping spring 4. The insulating housing 2 has a conductor entry opening 20 through which an electrical conductor to be connected is to be inserted into the insulating housing 2 in a conductor entry direction L.

[0021] The busbar 3 has a contact section 31 to which an electrical conductor can be clamped. The clamping spring 4 can be designed as a loop-shaped clamping spring. The clamping spring 4 has a clamping leg 43, which terminates at its free end with a clamping edge 46. At the end opposite the clamping edge 46, the clamping leg 43 transitions into a spring arc 42 of the clamping spring 4. A contact leg 41 of the clamping spring 4 adjoins the spring arc 42. The contact leg 41 initially extends substantially parallel to the conductor entry direction L and then transitions via a bend into a retaining section 40 extending substantially perpendicular to the conductor entry direction L. The clamping spring 4 is fixed to the busbar 3 by the retaining section 40.

[0022] The conductor connection terminal 1 also has a retaining element 5, on which the clamping leg 43 is inserted in a Fig. The retaining element 5 can be locked in two recognizable open positions. For this purpose, it has at least one locking element 50. At least one locking element 44, such as a locking tab, is formed on the clamping leg 43, for example in the form of at least one tab flared at the side edge. As can be seen in Fig. 2 can be seen in which the clamping leg 43 is pivoted into the open position, in this open position the locking tab 44 is engaged on the locking element 50 and thereby the clamping leg 43 is held in the open position.

[0023] The conductor terminal 1 also has a manual actuating element 6, which has a manual actuating section 60 at which the manual actuating element 6 is to be actuated manually. Furthermore, the manual actuating element 6 has a spring-loaded section 61 through which an actuating force can be transmitted to the clamping leg 43 when the manual actuating element 6 is actuated at the manual actuating section 60. As the Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the clamping arms 43 can be moved into the open position by deflecting the manual actuating element 6, e.g., by a pivoting movement, via the spring-loaded section 61. The clamping edge 46 is thereby positioned relative to the one shown in Figure 2. Fig. The clamping position shown in 1 has been moved away from the contact section 31.

[0024] The conductor terminal 1 further comprises a release element 8, which has a release section 80 and a support section 82. The release element 8 is pivotally mounted on the retaining element 5, i.e., it can be rotated about an axis of rotation. For this purpose, at least one bearing element 51 is formed on the retaining element 5. A bearing receptacle 81 is formed on the release element 8, which is positively connected to the bearing element 51. This allows the release element 8 to be rotatably mounted about the bearing element 51, i.e., the bearing element 51 forms an axis of rotation. It can be seen that the release section 80 is arranged on one side of the axis of rotation and the support section 82 on the other side of the axis of rotation. In this way, the release element 8 forms a kind of rocker or pivotable lever.

[0025] If now in the latched open position, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, an electrical conductor 9 is to be connected using the automatic conductor connection function, as can be seen in Figure 2. Fig. Figure 3 illustrates that the electrical conductor 9 is inserted into the insulating housing 2 in the conductor entry direction L. The end of the electrical conductor 9 then abuts the release section 80, exerting a release force on the release element 8. This causes the release element 8 to pivot about its axis of rotation around the bearing element 51. During this process, at least one support section 82 slides along the contact leg 41 or its retaining section 40, thus supporting the release element 8 there. This causes the retaining element 5 to pivot slightly clockwise, moving the locking element 50 away from the locking body 44 until the locking body 44 releases from the locking element 50 and the clamping leg 43 springs back due to the spring force of the clamping spring 4. The clamping leg 43 or the clamping edge 46 then clamps the electrical conductor 9 against the contact section 31.

[0026] The Fig. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the clamping spring 4 with the integrally formed retaining element 5. It can be seen that the retaining element 5 may have laterally projecting pins at its free end, forming bearing elements 51 to which a bearing receptacle 81 of the release element 8 is attached. The retaining section 40 can be designed as narrow, elongated, spaced-apart tension arms. The release element 8 can have a support section 82 on each side, with each support section 82 being assigned to and supported by a tension arm of the retaining section 40.

[0027] The Fig. Figure 5 shows an embodiment of a conductor terminal 1, which also has an insulating housing 2 with a conductor entry opening 20 through which an electrical conductor is to be inserted in a conductor entry direction L. A spring-loaded clamping connection is arranged in the insulating housing 2, which has a clamping spring 4 and a busbar 3. The busbar 3 in turn has a contact section 31 for clamping an electrical conductor.

[0028] The clamping spring 4 is designed as a cage spring in this case. The clamping spring 4 has a contact leg 41 which rests on the busbar 3 and thus supports the clamping spring 4 on the busbar 3. The clamping spring 4 extends from the contact leg 41 to a spring arc 42, from there via a connecting section 47 to a bending section 48, to which a clamping leg 43 of the clamping spring 4 is attached.

[0029] As is known from cage clamp springs, the clamping edge 46 of the clamping leg 43 for clamping the electrical conductor is located on the side of the contact section 31 facing away from the mounting leg 41, i.e. the electrical conductor is clamped on the side (underside) facing away from the mounting leg 41 on the contact section 31.

[0030] The conductor terminal 1 in turn has a retaining element 5, which in this case is formed integrally with the busbar 3, e.g. in the form of a locking element 50 formed in the area of ​​the contact section 31 on the busbar 3. On the clamping leg 43, at least one locking element 44 is formed, which serves to lock onto the locking element 50 in the open position, as shown in the Fig. 6 shows.

[0031] The conductor terminal 1 has a release element 8, which has a release section 80 that can be actuated by the inserted electrical conductor 9. The release element 8 has a bearing receptacle 81, with which the release element 8 is pivotably mounted on a bearing element 45 of the clamping leg 43. Furthermore, the release element 8 has an eccentric contour 83 on its outer surface, thus forming the release element 8 as an eccentric.

[0032] The insulating housing 2 has an actuating opening 21 through which the clamping spring 4 can be manually actuated by inserting a tool to move the clamping leg 43 into the open position. The tool can, for example, be used to exert a compressive force on the bending section 48. Alternatively, the conductor terminal 1 can have its own actuating element, for example, an actuating pusher, which protrudes through the actuating opening 21.

[0033] The Fig. Figure 6 shows the conductor connection terminal 1 after the clamping leg 43 has been moved into the open position. The clamping leg 43 is locked onto the locking element 50 via its at least one locking element 44 and is thus held in the open position. As can be seen, this is different compared to the one shown in Fig. In the clamping position shown in Figure 5, the release element 8 has also been relocated within the insulating housing 2. During this relocation process, the eccentric contour 83 abuts a support element 22 formed on the insulating housing 2. As the clamping leg 43 moves into the open position, the eccentric contour 83 slides along the support element 22, causing the release element 8 to move into the position shown in Figure 5. Fig. The modified pivot position shown in Figure 6 is pivoted counterclockwise. The release section 80 is now positioned so that an electrical conductor being inserted can exert a release force on the release section 80.

[0034] The Fig. Figure 7 shows how the inserted electrical conductor 9 exerts a release force on the release section 80, causing it to pivot clockwise. During this movement, the release element 8, with its eccentric contour 83, slides along the support element 22. Due to the connection between the release element 8 and the clamping leg 43, the clamping leg 43 is moved slightly against the conductor insertion direction L during this movement. This allows the locking element 44 to detach from the locking element 50, so that the clamping leg 43 springs back due to the spring force of the clamping spring 4.

[0035] The Fig. Figure 8 illustrates the design of the spring-loaded clamp connection without showing the release element 8 with the clamping spring 4, which is designed as a cage spring. It can be seen that the clamping leg 43 has a window-like opening 49, at the lower edge of which, on the inside of the opening, the clamping edge 46 is formed. The busbar 3 extends through this window-like opening 49 with at least part of its contact section 31. An electrical conductor 9 to be clamped is also inserted through the window-like opening 49.

[0036] The Fig. Figure 9 illustrates once again the structure of the conductor connection terminal 1 according to Fig. 5 in perspective view. The clamping spring 4 is again in the clamping position, without an electrical conductor 9 inserted. Reference symbol list 1 conductor connection terminal 2 insulating housings 3 Power rail 4 clamping springs 5 retaining element 6 manual actuating element 8 Solvent element 9 electrical conductors 20 conductor entry openings 21 Actuating opening 22 Support element 31 Contact section 40 Stop section 41 Attachment legs 42 feather bows 43 clamping legs 44 locking elements 46 clamping edge 47 Connecting section 48 bending section 49 window-like opening 50 locking elements 51 Bearing element 60 manual actuation section 61 Spring actuation section 80 Solution section 81 Bearing intake 82 Support section 83 Eccentric contour L conductor entry 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 10 2020 119 372 A1

[0002]

Claims

A conductor terminal (1) for connecting at least one electrical conductor (9) by means of spring force, comprising an insulating housing (2) and a spring-loaded clamping connection, which is arranged at least predominantly in the insulating housing (2), wherein the spring-loaded clamping connection has at least one busbar (3) and a clamping spring (4), wherein the busbar (3) has a contact section (31) for clamping the electrical conductor (9) and the clamping spring (4) has a clamping leg (43) with a clamping edge (46) for pressing the electrical conductor (9) against the contact section (31), wherein the clamping spring (4) has a spring arc (42) adjoining the clamping leg (43) and a contact leg (41) adjoining the spring arc (42), which is supported on the busbar (3), wherein the spring-loaded clamping connection has a retaining element (5) for holding the clamping leg (43) in the open position.wherein the spring-loaded clamping connection has a release element (8) with a release section (80) by which, when the release section (80) is acted upon with a release force, the clamping leg (43) held on the retaining element (5) can be released from the retaining element (5), characterized in that the release element (8) is designed as a separate component which is pivotably mounted on a part of the clamping spring (4) which is movable relative to the busbar (3) and / or to the insulating housing (2). Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the release element (8) is designed as a plastic component. Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the release element (8) is pivotably mounted on the clamping leg (43) or on the retaining element (5). Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining element (5) is formed integrally with the clamping spring (4) or with the busbar (3). Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the release element (8) is configured to deflect the retaining element (5) or the clamping leg (43) when the release element (8) is pivoted by a release force acting on the release section (80). Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the release element (8) is designed as an eccentric. Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the release element (8) is designed as a pivotable rocker. Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the release element (8) is supported on the mounting leg (41) during a pivoting movement caused by a release force acting on the release section (80). Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductor terminal (1) has a manual actuating element (6) for moving the clamping leg (43) into the open position, wherein the manual actuating element (6) has a manual actuating section (60) at which the manual actuating element (6) is to be actuated manually.

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