TERMINAL

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a connection terminal for connecting an electrical conductor, which has a housing, a current bar arranged in the housing, a clamping spring arranged in the housing and a pivotably mounted actuating lever, wherein upon a pivoting movement of the actuating lever the clamping spring can be transferred into an open and a closed position, wherein the clamping spring has a clamping leg for clamping a conductor inserted into the housing against the current bar in the closed position.An actuating tab is arranged on the clamping leg in such a way that when the clamping spring is transferred from the closed position to the open position, a compressive force FD is applied by the actuating lever to the actuating tab, wherein the actuating tab has a connection region arranged directly on the clamping leg and a pressure region arranged on the connection region, wherein the pressure region is formed at a distance from the clamping leg.

[0002] Corresponding connection terminals are known from EP 2 562 878 A2 and WO 2020 / 022955 A1. DE 697 03 829 T2 discloses a corresponding connection terminal in which a clamping spring can be moved into an open position and a closed position by means of an actuating lever. The actuating lever is pivotally mounted in the housing. The actuating lever has a rounded arm by means of which the actuating lever grips the clamping spring on a tension element formed on the clamping spring in order to move the clamping spring from the closed position to the open position by applying a tensile force. The structure of the clamping spring and also of the entire connection terminal is very complex and elaborate. The convenience for a user when connecting a conductor is also reduced with such a connection terminal.

[0003] Further connection terminals are known from DE 44 08 985 A1, DE 20 2013 101 582 U1, EP 3 350 881 A1 and DE 10 2012 110 895 A1.

[0004] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a connection terminal by means of which a secure connection of a conductor can be achieved while at the same time reducing the complexity of the construction of the connection terminal.

[0005] The invention is solved by the features of the independent claim. Expedient embodiments and advantageous further developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

[0006] The connection terminal according to the invention is characterized in that the actuating lever is positioned relative to the actuating tab in such a way that the actuating lever is held in a self-locking manner in the open position, wherein the self-locking is formed in that in the open position a pressure point PD acting on the actuating tab when the pressure force FD is applied by means of the actuating lever is arranged above a pivot axis of the actuating lever.

[0007] According to the invention, it is now provided that no tensile force, but rather a compressive force is applied to the actuating tab and thus the clamping spring by means of an actuating lever in order to open the latter. The actuating tab is arranged directly on the clamping leg of the clamping spring, so that the force acting on the actuating tab can directly cause a movement of the clamping leg without having to use additional elements independent of the clamping spring or elements additionally provided on the clamping spring. This can prevent energy loss of the compressive force acting to actuate the clamping leg of the clamping spring. The connection terminal is therefore highly efficient, so that a high level of safety can be achieved when connecting and disconnecting a conductor. The operating comfort for a user of the connection terminal can also be significantly improved.Due to the direct effect on the clamping leg via the actuating tab connected to it, the structure of the connection terminal can also be less complex. The compressive force applied to the actuating tab preferably acts against the direction of insertion of the conductor into the connection terminal and also against the direction of movement of the clamping leg when moving from the closed position to the open position. When the actuating lever is pivoted, the actuating lever presses against the actuating tab, whereby the actuating tab is also moved, in particular pivoted, together with the clamping leg of the clamping spring arranged on it. The contact leg of the clamping spring, which is connected to the clamping leg via an arcuate connecting section, on the other hand, preferably remains in its position and is not moved or pivoted when the compressive force is applied to the actuating tab.

[0008] The actuating tab is preferably arranged on only one side of the clamping leg. The actuating tab is preferably arranged on a transverse side surface of the clamping leg that extends along the length of the clamping leg. By connecting the actuating tab to the clamping leg on one side, the width of the terminal can be reduced.

[0009] The actuating tab is divided into two regions. According to the invention, the actuating tab has a connection region arranged directly on the clamping leg and a pressure region arranged on the connection region, wherein the pressure region is spaced apart from the clamping leg. The pressure region is the region of the actuating tab to which the compressive force is applied by the actuating lever to the actuating tab. The pressure region preferably has no direct contact with the clamping leg, but only with the connection region, which is connected to the clamping leg.

[0010] The pressure region is preferably formed in a different plane than the connection region. The plane spanned by the pressure region is preferably formed at an angle > 0, more preferably at an angle > 45° to the plane spanned by the connection region. The pressure region is preferably formed at an angle of 90° to the connection region. The pressure region preferably runs along the width of the clamping spring and thus transversely to the longitudinal extent of the clamping spring or the clamping leg of the clamping spring, such that the compressive force acting on the pressure region at an angle of 90° acts along the longitudinal extent of the clamping spring or the clamping leg of the clamping spring. This can prevent the clamping spring from tilting sideways when the compressive force is applied to the actuating tab.

[0011] To ensure a secure connection between the actuating tab and the clamping spring, and thus a secure transmission of the compressive force acting on the actuating tab to the clamping spring, it is preferably provided that the actuating tab and the clamping spring are formed integrally with one another. The clamping spring and the actuating tab are preferably formed from a bent metal strip.

[0012] To apply the pressure force, a pin-shaped actuating area is preferably formed on the actuating lever. Using the pin-shaped actuating area, a defined pressure force can be applied to the actuating tab at a defined pressure point.

[0013] To increase ease of use for the terminal user, the operating lever is positioned relative to the operating tab in such a way that the operating lever is self-locking in the open position. This self-locking feature allows the operating lever to remain in the open position independently and therefore does not need to be held in place by the user.

[0014] According to the invention, the self-locking mechanism is designed such that, in the open position, a pressure point acting upon application of the pressure force to the actuating tab by means of the actuating lever is located above a pivot axis of the actuating lever. This allows the actuating lever to be self-locked without significant design effort.

[0015] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings using a preferred embodiment.

[0016] They show: Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a terminal according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the Fig. 1 shown terminal in a partially sectioned view with the clamping spring in the closed position, Fig. 3 a schematic representation of the in Fig. 1 shown terminal in a partially sectioned view with the clamping spring in the open position, and Fig. 4 is a further illustration of part of the Fig. 1 shown terminal with the clamping spring in the closed position.

[0017] In Fig. 1 a terminal 100 for connecting an electrical conductor not shown here is shown.

[0018] The terminal 100 has a housing 10 in which a current bar 11, a clamping spring 12 and an actuating lever 13 are accommodated, as shown in particular in Fig. 2can be seen. The housing 10 is formed in two parts, with the two housing parts being detachably connected to one another via a plug or screw connection. A conductor insertion opening 14 is formed in the housing 10, through which a conductor to be connected can be inserted into the connection terminal 100. The housing 10 also has an opening 15 through which a part of the actuating lever 13, in particular a handle 16 for actuating the actuating lever 13, protrudes from the housing 10. The opening 15 is formed on an upper side 17 of the housing 10.

[0019] As in Fig. 2As can be seen, the clamping spring 12 has a clamping leg 18 and a contact leg 19, which are connected to one another via an arcuate connecting section 20. The clamping spring 12 is mounted in the housing 10 in such a way that the clamping leg 18 is movable, so that the clamping spring 12 can be moved into an open position, in which a conductor to be connected can be inserted into and released from the clamping space formed by the clamping spring 12 and the current bar 11, and into a closed position, in which a conductor to be connected is clamped against the current bar 11 by means of the clamping leg 18.

[0020] The housing 10 has a curved inner contour 21, which is adapted to the shape of the arcuate connecting section 20, so that the arcuate connecting section 20 can fit precisely against the inner contour 21, thus enabling the clamping spring 12 to be fixed in the housing 10. In contrast to the clamping leg 18, the contact leg 19 is arranged in the housing 10 in a movement-resistant manner, so that the contact leg 19 does not move but remains in its position when the clamping spring 12 is moved into the open position and the closed position.

[0021] A U-shaped projection 22 is arranged on the clamping spring 12, which serves as a stop or push-through protection for a conductor inserted into the housing 10. Furthermore, the projection 22 serves to accommodate the current bar 11, in that the projection 22 has an opening 23 through which the current bar 11 is guided, so that the current bar 11 rests flat against an inner side of the projection 22. The projection 22 is formed integrally with the clamping spring 12, with the projection 22 adjoining the contact leg 19. The clamping spring 12, together with the projection 22, is formed from a bent metal strip.

[0022] Furthermore, an actuating tab 24 is arranged on the clamping spring 12, which is arranged on the clamping leg 18 of the clamping spring 12 in such a way that when the clamping spring 12 is transferred from the closed position to the open position, a compressive force FD is applied by the actuating lever 13 to the actuating tab 24. To transfer the clamping spring 12 from the closed position to the open position, no force is applied directly to the clamping spring 12 and in particular to the clamping leg 18 of the clamping spring 12, but rather indirectly via the actuating tab 24. The compressive force FD acts opposite to the direction of movement BK or the deflection of the clamping leg 18 during the movement from the closed position to the open position. Fig. 2 and 4 the clamping spring 12 is shown in the closed position and in Fig. 3 the clamping spring 12 is shown in the open position.

[0023] The actuating tab 24 is connected on one side to the clamping leg 18 of the clamping spring 12, wherein the actuating tab 24 is connected to a transverse side surface 25 of the clamping leg 18 running along the length of the clamping leg 18. In the embodiment shown here, the actuating tab 24 is formed integrally with the clamping leg 18 and thus with the clamping spring 12.

[0024] The actuating tab 24 is divided into two areas, a connection area 26 and a pressure area 27.

[0025] The connection area 26 is the area by which the actuating tab 24 is connected to the clamping leg 18 of the clamping spring 12. The connection area 26 runs laterally of the clamping spring 12 and extends from the clamping leg 18 beyond the contact leg 19, so that the connection area 26 overlaps the contact leg 19.

[0026] In contrast to the connection area 26, the pressure area 27 is spaced apart from the clamping leg 18, so that there is no direct connection between the pressure area 27 and the clamping leg 18. The pressure area 27 is the area where the pressure force FD is applied by the actuating lever 13 to the actuating tab 24. The pressure area 27 is arranged above the contact leg 19. The pressure area 27 is formed at an angle of 90° to the connection area 26. The pressure area 27 extends along the width of the clamping spring 12 and thus transversely to the longitudinal extent of the clamping spring 12 or the clamping leg 18 and the contact leg 19 of the clamping spring 12, so that the compressive force FD acting at an angle of 90° on the pressure area 27 acts along the longitudinal extent of the clamping spring 12 or the clamping leg 18 of the clamping spring 12. The pressure area 27 extends across the entire width of the clamping spring 12.

[0027] To apply the pressure force FD, a pin-shaped actuating area 28 is formed on the actuating lever 13, which presses directly against the pressure area 27 of the actuating tab 24, as shown in particular in Fig. 3 can be seen. During the movement from the closed position to the open position, the actuating lever 13 rolls with the pin-shaped actuating area 28 along the surface of the pressure area 27 to apply the pressure force FD. For this purpose, the actuating lever 13 is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis 29.

[0028] The operating lever 13 is positioned relative to the operating tab 24 in such a way that the operating lever 13 is held in the open position in a self-locking manner and thus remains independently in the open position, as shown in Fig. 3is shown, without a user having to hold the actuating lever 13 in this position. To create the self-locking mechanism, a pressure point PD, which acts on the actuating tab 24 when the pressure force FD is applied by means of the actuating lever 13, is arranged above the pivot axis 29 in the open position. The pressure point PD is the point at which the pin-shaped actuating area 28 of the actuating lever 13 presses with its tip 30 against the pressure area 27 of the actuating tab 24 in the open position. In order to move the clamping spring 12 from the open position to the closed position in order to close the clamping space, the actuating lever 13 is turned back by a user beyond this pressure point PD. List of reference symbols

[0029] Connection terminal 100 Housing 10 current bar 11 clamping spring 12 Operating lever 13 Conductor entry opening 14 opening 15 Handle 16 Top 17 clamping leg 18 Investment leg 19 Arched connecting section 20 inner contour 21 Approach 22 opening 23 Actuating tab 24 transverse side surface 25 Connection area 26 Print area 27 Operating area 28 Swivel axis 29 Great 30 Compressive force FD Direction of movement of the clamping leg of the clamping spring BK pressure point PD

Claims

1. Connection terminal (100) for connection of an electrical conductor, having a housing (10), a busbar (11), which is arranged in the housing (10), a clamping spring (12), which is arranged in the housing (10), and a pivotably mounted actuating lever (13), wherein, during a pivoting movement of the actuating lever (13), the clamping spring (12) is transferable into an open position and into a closed position, wherein the clamping spring (12) has a clamping limb (18) for clamping a conductor, introduced into the housing (10), against the busbar (11) in the closed position, wherein an actuating tab (24) is arranged on the clamping limb (12) in such a way that, during the transfer of the clamping spring (12) from the closed position into the open position, a pressure force (FD) is applied to the actuating tab (24) by the actuating lever (13), wherein the actuating tab (24) has an attachment region (26), which is arranged directly on the clamping limb (18), and a pressure region (27), which is arranged on the attachment region (26), wherein the pressure region (27) is formed so as to be spaced apart from the clamping limb (18), characterized in that the actuating lever (13) is positioned in relation to the actuating tab (24) in such a way that the actuating lever (13) is held in a self-locking manner in the open position, wherein the self-locking is formed in that, in the open position, a pressure point (PD) which acts when the pressure force (FD) is applied to the actuating tab (24) by means of the actuating lever (13) is arranged above a pivot axis (29) of the actuating lever (13).

2. Connection terminal (100) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the actuating tab (24) is arranged on one side of the clamping limb (18), wherein the pressure region (27) is formed so as to be angled away from the attachment region (26) at an angle of 90°.

3. Connection terminal (100) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the actuating tab (24) and the clamping spring (12) are formed in one piece with one another.

4. Connection terminal (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a tenon-like actuating region (28) is configured for applying the pressure force (FD) to the actuating lever (13).