Connection arrangement and terminal block

Abstract

Connection arrangement (100) for connecting an electrical conductor (L), with a current bar (110), a clamping spring (111) which has a retaining leg (113) and a clamping leg (114), wherein the clamping leg (114) can be moved into a clamping position and into an open position, an actuating element (131) by means of which the clamping leg (114) can be moved from the clamping position to the open position, and a release element (118) which engages with the clamping leg (114) of the clamping spring (111) in the open position and which is deflectable in such a way that when the conductor (L) to be connected is inserted into a conductor connection space (117) the release element (118) can be actuated in such a way that the release element (118) disengages from the clamping leg (114) of the clamping spring (111), wherein the release element (118) is designed in the form of a release leg which is formed integrally with the clamping spring (111), and wherein a through-opening (121, 122) is formed on the clamping spring (111) and on the release element (118) through which the current bar (110) is passed.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a connection arrangement for connecting an electrical conductor. Furthermore, the invention relates to a terminal block with at least one such connection arrangement.

[0002] Such connection arrangements typically feature a clamping spring designed as a torsion spring, which has a retaining leg and a clamping leg. A conductor inserted into the connection arrangement can be clamped against the current bar by means of the clamping leg of the clamping spring. When clamping flexible conductors, in particular, the clamping spring must be moved into a release position and thus actuated by an actuating element before the conductor is inserted. This action pivots the clamping spring or the clamping leg away from the current bar, allowing the conductor to be inserted into the space between the current bar and the clamping spring. Only with rigid and therefore stable conductors can the conductor exert sufficient force on the clamping spring or the clamping leg of the clamping spring to pivot the clamping leg away from the current bar without requiring the actuating element to be operated by a user.With flexible conductors, the user must first pivot the clamping spring away from the conductor bar by actuating the actuator, allowing the flexible conductor to be inserted. To clamp the inserted conductor, the user must manually actuate the actuator a second time to move the clamping spring from the release position to the clamping position. Manually actuating the actuator makes the assembly or connection of the conductor more difficult for the user, as the handling is cumbersome and therefore time-consuming.

[0003] The invention is based on the objective of providing a connection arrangement in which the connection of particularly flexible conductors can be simplified.

[0004] The problem is solved according to the invention by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0005] The connection arrangement according to the invention comprises a current bar, a clamping spring having a retaining leg and a clamping leg, the clamping leg being transferable to a clamping position and an open position, an actuating element by means of which the clamping leg can be moved from the clamping position to the open position, and a release element which engages with the clamping leg of the clamping spring in the open position and which is deflectable such that, when the conductor to be connected is inserted into a conductor connection space, the release element can be actuated in such a way that the release element disengages from the clamping leg of the clamping spring. The release element is designed in the form of a release leg which is integrally formed with the clamping spring. A through-opening is provided in both the clamping spring and the release element, through which the current bar is passed.

[0006] Using the connection arrangement according to the invention, a flexible conductor can now be easily and securely connected and clamped against the current bar. The clamping spring is preferably designed as a torsion spring, which has a retaining leg and a clamping leg that is pivotable relative to the retaining leg. The retaining leg is preferably arranged in a fixed position. By pivoting the clamping leg of the clamping spring, it can be moved into an open position, in which the clamping leg is spaced apart from the current bar and a conductor to be connected can be inserted into or removed from the conductor connection space formed by this movement between the current bar and the clamping leg, and into a clamping position, in which the clamping leg can rest against the current bar or the connected conductor in order to clamp the conductor against the current bar.The retaining arm and the clamping arm are connected by an arc-shaped section. The clamping arm is moved, particularly from the clamping position to the open position, by means of an actuating element. The actuating element is preferably guided linearly within the housing. As soon as the clamping arm reaches the open position, it engages with the release element, thus holding the clamping arm in the open position and preventing it from unintentionally pivoting back from the open to the clamping position. While the clamping arm is held in the open position by the release element, the actuating element can move back to its initial position in the opposite direction of actuation, so that in the open position of the clamping arm, there is no longer any operative connection between the actuating element and the clamping arm.A pivoting movement of the release element allows the clamping leg to disengage from the release element, pivoting back into the clamping position and clamping a conductor to be connected against the clamping section of the current bar. The pivoting movement of the release element can be triggered by the conductor to be connected itself. For this purpose, the release element can have a pressure surface against which the conductor to be connected can strike when inserted into the conductor connection space, thus pivoting the release element. The pressure surface can project into the conductor connection space. The pressure surface can also define the boundaries of the conductor connection space in the insertion direction of the conductor to be connected. According to the invention, the release element is formed integrally with the clamping spring. The release element and the clamping spring can therefore be manufactured from the same material in a single production step.The release element and the clamping spring can, for example, be formed from a stamped and bent part. The release element is designed in the form of a release leg. This release leg can be connected directly or indirectly to the clamping spring. By being designed as a release leg, the release element can be formed in one piece and have the simplest possible geometry. Furthermore, this design allows the release element to be arranged in a space-saving manner within the connection assembly. According to the invention, the current conductor is held by the clamping spring and the release element by having a through-opening in both the clamping spring and the release element, through which the current conductor passes.The clamping spring, current bar and release element can thus form a force balance, so that forces occurring when connecting a conductor can be absorbed by them and therefore do not have to be absorbed by a housing surrounding the connection arrangement when arranged in a terminal block.

[0007] The two through-openings are preferably arranged such that the through-opening at the clamping spring is aligned with the through-opening at the release element. This allows a straight section of the current bar, which preferably forms a clamping section of the current bar, to pass through both through-openings. This enables the simplest possible geometry for the connection arrangement.

[0008] Preferably, the opening at the clamping spring and the opening at the release element are each designed as a window-like opening. A window-like opening means that the opening or the passage opening is bounded on all sides by a wall. This design as a window-like opening prevents the current conductor from unintentionally slipping out of one of the openings, particularly laterally. Furthermore, the current conductor is laterally stabilized by the wall bordering the respective passage opening.

[0009] The release element, designed as a release leg, can be integrally connected to the clamping spring via a connecting web, which can extend parallel to the main plane of extension of the current beam. The release element can thus be indirectly connected to the clamping spring via the connecting web. The clamping spring and the release element can be spaced apart from each other by the connecting web, even if the clamping spring and the release element are integrally formed together via the connecting web. The connecting web can be integrally connected to the clamping spring at a first end and to the release element at a second end opposite the first end. The connecting web is preferably straight. The clamping spring and the release element preferably extend at an angle, particularly at a 90° angle, away from the connecting web.Because the connecting bridge can extend parallel to the main extension plane of the current beam, it can span the current beam. This further improves the stability of the connection arrangement.

[0010] A rear grip can be formed on the release element, against which the clamping arm can be held in the open position. The clamping arm can then be hooked onto the rear grip with its clamping edge in the open position. The rear grip can, for example, be in the form of a step or a bend on the release arm of the release element. The rear grip preferably extends over the entire width of the release arm of the release element.

[0011] Preferably, the opening in the clamping spring can be large enough to allow the clamping leg of the clamping spring to pass through it. The clamping leg can pivot within the opening of the clamping spring. Preferably, the conductor to be connected can also be guided through the opening of the clamping spring. The release element is arranged, preferably behind the clamping spring (in the insertion direction), so that the conductor to be connected can collide with the release leg of the release element located behind it when passing through the opening of the clamping spring. The opening in the release element is preferably smaller than the opening in the clamping spring. The opening in the release element is preferably large enough to allow only the current bar to pass through it.

[0012] The clamping leg of the clamping spring can preferably be designed such that it tapers towards its clamping edge. With its tapered section, the clamping leg can pass through the opening in the clamping spring. The clamping spring and the release element can preferably be of the same width, with only the clamping leg tapering towards its clamping edge.

[0013] The through-opening of the clamping spring can preferably be formed on the retaining leg of the clamping spring. The current bar can then engage with the retaining leg via the through-opening.

[0014] Preferably, the retaining leg can have a first leg section and a second leg section arranged at an angle to the first leg section. The retaining leg can be connected to the clamping leg via an arcuate section at the first leg section, and the through-opening of the clamping spring can be arranged on the second leg section. The second leg section preferably extends away from the first leg section at an angle greater than 90°. The shape of the first leg section and the shape of the second leg section can differ from each other. For example, the first leg section can have one or more bends along its length. The second leg section can, for example, be straight.

[0015] The second leg section of the retaining leg can extend essentially parallel to the release element, which is designed as a release leg. The second leg section of the retaining leg, the connecting web, and the release leg of the release element can then form a kind of U-shape.

[0016] The problem according to the invention is further solved by means of a terminal block which has a housing and at least one connection arrangement arranged in the housing, wherein the connection arrangement is designed and further developed as described above.

[0017] The housing may have a conductor entry opening through which the conductor to be connected can be guided into the housing to the connection assembly. The pressure surface formed on the release element for actuating the release element by means of the conductor to be connected is preferably aligned with the conductor entry opening of the housing.

[0018] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments.

[0019] They show Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a terminal block according to the invention, Fig. 2 a schematic representation of the in Fig. 1 shown terminal block in an open position of the clamping leg of the clamping spring, Fig. 3 a schematic representation of the in Fig. 1. The terminal shown is in a clamping position of the clamping leg of the clamping spring with a conductor connected. Fig. 4 a schematic representation of the connection arrangement according to the invention with a connected conductor, Fig. 5 a schematic sectional view of the connection arrangement in the direction of the Fig. 4 shown line AA, Fig. 6 a schematic top view of the in Fig. 4 connection arrangement shown contrary to the one in Fig. 4 shown direction of line AA, and Fig. 7 a schematic top view of the in Fig. 4 Connection arrangement shown without a connected conductor.

[0020] In the Fig. Figures 1 to 3 show a terminal block 200 according to the invention.

[0021] The terminal block 200 has a housing 210. The housing 210 can be made of an insulating material. The housing 210 has a conductor entry opening (not visible here) through which a conductor L to be connected can be inserted into the housing 210 in the insertion direction E.

[0022] A connection arrangement 100 is arranged in the housing 210 of the terminal block 200. The connection arrangement 100 has a current bar 110 and a clamping spring 111, wherein a conductor L inserted into the housing 210 can be clamped against the current bar 110 and thus connected by means of the clamping spring 111.

[0023] The illustrations shown here particularly depict a terminal section 112 of the current bar 110. In a connected state, as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the conductor L to be connected is clamped against the terminal section 112.

[0024] The clamping spring 111 is designed as a torsion spring. The clamping spring 111 has a retaining leg 113 and a clamping leg 114. The retaining leg 113 is connected to the clamping leg 114 via an arc-shaped section 115. The clamping leg 114 is pivotable relative to the retaining leg 113 in order to move the clamping leg 114 into a clamping position and into an open position. The clamping leg 114 has a clamping edge 116 at its free end section, which clamps the conductor L to be connected against the clamping section 112 of the current bar 110 when the clamping leg 114 is in the clamping position.

[0025] The conductor L is clamped in a conductor connection compartment 117. The conductor L to be connected can be inserted into the conductor connection compartment 117 via the conductor entry opening of the housing 210. The conductor connection compartment 117 is formed between the clamping section 112 of the current bar 110 and the clamping leg 114 of the clamping spring 111.

[0026] Viewed in the insertion direction E, the conductor connection chamber 117 is bounded at the rear by a release element 118. The release element 118 is spring-loaded, allowing it to pivot or tilt. The release element 118 has a pressure surface 119 pointing towards the conductor entry opening, against which a conductor L can come into contact when inserted into the conductor connection chamber 117. If the conductor L comes into contact with the pressure surface 119, the release element 118 pivots or tilts in the insertion direction E.

[0027] The release element 118 is designed here in the form of a release leg. The release element 118 is formed integrally with the clamping spring 111. The release element 118, together with the clamping spring 111, can therefore be manufactured from a spring steel sheet by a stamping and bending process.

[0028] In the open position of the clamping leg 114 of the clamping spring 111, the clamping leg 114 engages with the release element 118 to hold the clamping leg 114 in the open position, as shown in Fig. 2 is shown. If a conductor L to be connected now comes into contact with the pressure surface 119 and this causes a pivoting or deflecting movement of the release element 118 in the insertion direction E, the clamping leg 114 disengages from the release element 118, allowing the clamping leg 114 to pivot in the direction of the conductor L in order to clamp the conductor L, which has been inserted into the conductor connection space 117, against the clamping section 112 of the current bar 110.

[0029] The release element 118 has a rear grip 120, on which the clamping leg 114 can engage with its clamping edge 116 in the open position, so that the clamping leg 114 is held in engagement with the release element 118. The rear grip 120 is formed by a bend or a step on the release element 118 or on the release leg of the release element 118.

[0030] The current beam 110 is supported by both the clamping spring 111 and the release element 118. For this purpose, a through-opening 121 is formed in the clamping spring 111 and a through-opening 122 is formed in the release element 118. The two through-openings 121 and 122 are aligned with each other.

[0031] Both passage openings 121, 122 are each designed as window-like openings, as is particularly evident in Fig. 5 and Fig. Figure 6 shows that the through-opening 121 of the clamping spring 111 is enclosed or limited by a wall 123 of the clamping spring. The through-opening 122 of the release element 118 is enclosed or limited by a wall 124 of the release element 118.

[0032] The through-opening 121 in the clamping spring 111 is larger than the through-opening 122 in the release element 118. Only the current bar 110 or the clamping section 112 of the current bar 110 passes through the through-opening 122 in the release element 118, as shown in Fig. 6. The current bar 110, or the clamping section of the current bar 110, passes through the through-opening 121 in the clamping spring 111, and the clamping leg 114 of the clamping spring 111 also passes through the through-opening 121. The conductor L to be connected is also passed through the through-opening 121. Viewed in the insertion direction E, the release element 118 is located behind the clamping spring 111, so that when the conductor L to be connected passes through the through-opening 121 of the clamping spring 111, it can collide with the release leg of the release element 118 located behind it, as is particularly evident in Fig. 4 can be seen.

[0033] The release element 118 is integrally connected to the clamping spring 111 via a connecting web 125. The clamping spring 111 and the release element 118 are spaced apart from each other by the connecting web 125, even though the clamping spring 111 and the release element 118 are integrally formed together via the connecting web 125. The connecting web 125 is integrally connected to the clamping spring 111 at a first end 126 and to the release element 118 at a second end 127 opposite the first end 126. In the embodiments shown here, the connecting web 125 is straight. The clamping spring 111 and the release element 118 each extend at an angle, in particular at a 90° angle, away from the connecting web 125. The connecting bridge 125 extends parallel to the main extension plane of the current beam 110, so that the connecting bridge 125 spans the current beam 110 in some areas.

[0034] The connecting web 125 is connected at its first end to the retaining leg 113 of the clamping spring 111. The retaining leg 113 has a first leg section 128 and a second leg section 129 arranged at an angle to the first leg section 128, the retaining leg 113 being connected to the clamping leg 114 via the arcuate section 115 by means of its first leg section 128. The through-opening 121 of the clamping spring 111 is arranged on the second leg section 129. In the embodiment shown here, the second leg section 129 extends away from the first leg section 128 at an angle > 90°.

[0035] The shape of the first leg section 128 and the shape of the second leg section 129 differ from each other. In the embodiment shown here, the first leg section 128 has a bend 130 along its length. The second leg section 129, on the other hand, is straight.

[0036] The second leg section 129 of the retaining leg 113 thus extends essentially parallel to the release element 118, which is designed as a release leg. The second leg section 129 of the retaining leg 113, the connecting web 125, and the release leg of the release element 118 form a kind of U-shape, as can be seen in particular in Fig. 3 can be seen.

[0037] As shown in the top view of the connection arrangement 100 in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 7, the clamping leg 114 tapers in width towards its clamping edge 116. In particular, the area of ​​the clamping leg 114 which is guided through the through-opening 121 is therefore narrower than the rest of the clamping leg 114 and also narrower than the rest of the entire clamping spring 111. Except for the tapered area of ​​the clamping leg 114 of the clamping spring 111, the clamping spring 111, the connecting web 125 and the release element 118 have the same width in the embodiment shown here.

[0038] The connection arrangement 100 further comprises an actuating element 131, by means of which the clamping leg 114 is separated from the in Fig. 1 starting position shown or from the one in Fig. 3 clamping position shown in the open position, as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the actuating element 131 can be moved in the actuating direction B to actuate the clamping leg 114. Reference symbol list 100 connection arrangement 110 power bars 111 Clamping spring 112 Terminal section 113 retaining legs 114 clamping legs 115 Arc-shaped section 116 clamping edge 117 conductor connection room 118 Trigger element 119 Print area 120 Rear grip 121 Passage opening 122 Passage opening 123 Wall 124 wall 125 Connecting bridge 126 First End 127 Second Ending 128 First thigh section 129 Second thigh section 130 bend 131 Actuating element 200 terminal block 210 cases E Insertion direction B Direction of action L ladder

Claims

[1] Connection arrangement (100) for connecting an electrical conductor (L), with a current bar (110), a clamping spring (111) which has a retaining leg (113) and a clamping leg (114), wherein the clamping leg (114) can be moved into a clamping position and into an open position, an actuating element (131) by means of which the clamping leg (114) can be moved from the clamping position to the open position, and a release element (118) which engages with the clamping leg (114) of the clamping spring (111) in the open position and which is deflectable in such a way that when the conductor (L) to be connected is inserted into a conductor connection space (117) the release element (118) can be actuated in such a way that the release element (118) disengages from the clamping leg (114) of the clamping spring (111), wherein the release element (118) is designed in the form of a release leg which is formed integrally with the clamping spring (111), and wherein a through-opening (121, 122) is formed on the clamping spring (111) and on the release element (118) through which the current bar (110) is passed. [2] Connection arrangement (100) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the through-opening (121) on the clamping spring (111) is aligned with the through-opening (122) on the release element (118). [3] Connection arrangement (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the through-opening (121) on the clamping spring (111) and the through-opening (122) on the release element (118) are each designed in the form of a window-like opening. [4] Connection arrangement (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by, that the release element (118) designed as a release leg is integrally connected to the clamping spring (111) via a connecting web (125), the connecting web (125) extending parallel to the main extension plane of the current beam (110). [5] Connection arrangement (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that a rear grip (120) is formed on the release element (118), on which the clamping leg (114) is held in the open position. [6] Connection arrangement (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that the through-opening (121) on the clamping spring (111) is designed to be so large that the clamping leg (114) of the clamping spring (111) is guided through the through-opening (121). [7] Connection arrangement (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by , that the clamping leg (114) is tapered towards the clamping edge (116). [8] Connection arrangement (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by , that the through-opening (121) of the clamping spring (111) is formed on the retaining leg (113) of the clamping spring (111). [9] Connection arrangement (100) according to claim 8, characterized by , that the retaining leg (113) has a first leg section (128) and a second leg section (129) arranged at an angle to the first leg section (128), wherein the retaining leg (113) is connected to the clamping leg (114) via an arc-shaped section (115) by its first leg section (128), and wherein the through-opening (121) of the clamping spring (111) is arranged on the second leg section (129). [10] Connection arrangement (100) according to claim 9, characterized by , that the second leg section (129) of the retaining leg (113) extends essentially parallel to the release element (118) designed as a release leg. [11] Terminal block (200), comprising a housing (210) and at least one terminal arrangement (100) arranged in the housing (210), which is designed according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

Images