conductor terminal block

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a conductor terminal for clamping electrical conductors, comprising an insulating housing and a contact element. The contact element comprises a sheet metal part with at least one clamping spring arranged thereon. The insulating housing has at least one conductor entry channel leading to a respective clamping spring. An opening is provided in the sheet metal part for receiving an electrical conductor inserted into an associated conductor entry channel.

[0002] Such conductor connection terminals are known, for example, in the form of box terminals, in which several electrical conductors are electrically connected to one another using a common contact element.

[0003] EP 1 855 353 B1 describes such a conductor connection terminal comprising a spring steel sheet and a busbar suspended in this spring steel sheet. The clamping points for clamping an electrical conductor are formed between the free ends of leaf spring tongues and the busbar. The leaf spring tongues are cut out of the spring steel sheet in such a way that their tongue roots are firmly connected to the upper edge area of ​​the spring steel sheet. The busbar is inserted into a V-shaped receiving space. The lengths of the leaf spring tongues are dimensioned such that, when the clamping point is unoccupied and closed, their tongue ends extend through the window recess of the spring steel sheet and rest against the underside of the busbar.

[0004] DE 40 03 701 A1 shows a device connection terminal with a contact insert sheet that is bent into a V-shape toward the clamping leg section, forming a hollow. This creates a shaped surface of the contact insert sheet that directly represents one side half of a socket part of a plug connection integrated into the device connection terminal.

[0005] DE 196 54 523 A1 discloses a conductor connection terminal which is formed from a busbar rod and a spring steel sheet from which leaf springs are punched out in the manner of tongues, the punched-out tongue ends of which are directed towards the busbar rod.

[0006] CN 202 888 493 U shows a three-part electrical connector, with a clamping spring protruding from each part to form a clamping point for an electrical conductor to be clamped.

[0007] DE 203 03 537 U1 discloses a box terminal for connecting multiple electrical conductors. Several adjacent tongues are cut out of a carrier element, which, together with a contact element, form clamping points for the electrical conductors to be clamped. The contact tongues extend linearly into the carrier element.

[0008] DE 10 2012 219741 A1 shows a connector with electrical contacts and an upper contact opening that extends conically into the connector.

[0009] DE 10 2006 010309 A1 discloses a box terminal, wherein the box terminal has two opposing contact elements that are electrically connected to each other via a separate insert. The box terminal has conductor entry channels that act as release buttons for an electrical conductor.

[0010] DE 10 2014 102517 A1 discloses a spring-loaded terminal contact for contacting electrical conductors with at least one busbar and with at least one clamping spring, which has a contact leg, a clamping leg, and a spring arc arranged between the contact leg and the clamping leg. The clamping leg extends toward the busbar and has a spring clamping edge for clamping an electrical conductor inserted between the clamping leg and the busbar in a conductor insertion direction. The busbar has a clamping edge, which, together with the spring clamping edge, forms a clamping point for the electrical conductor to be clamped. The busbar has a groove-shaped recess adjacent to the clamping edge in front of the clamping point in the conductor insertion direction.

[0011] US 9 105 991 B1 shows an electrical contact element with a two-part housing, wherein a connecting element between the housing parts forms a clamping area for an electrical conductor.

[0012] Based on this, it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved conductor connection terminal which particularly improves the clamping of multi-wire conductors.

[0013] The object is achieved by the conductor connection terminal having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are described in the subclaims.

[0014] It is proposed that the insulating housing have channel side walls that define the conductor insertion channel and extend into the opening. Because the channel side walls now protrude into the opening in the sheet metal part, improved guidance, particularly of multi-wire conductors, through the opening is facilitated. The strands are held together beyond the clamping point by means of these channel side walls. When clamping an electrical conductor, any migration of the strands, for example due to force applied by the clamping spring, is prevented or at least the risk of migration is reduced by the channel side walls providing lateral guidance of the electrical conductor to be clamped beyond the clamping point in the conductor insertion direction.

[0015] For this purpose, the cover part has a conductor entry channel defined by the channel side walls. The channel side walls of the cover part extend laterally past the clamping spring into the opening in the sheet metal part. This opening is the window left by exposing the clamping spring from the sheet metal part, which is defined by two side webs. The channel side walls protrude behind the sheet metal part in the conductor insertion direction and extend into a conductor retention pocket. This provides lateral guidance for an electrical conductor to be clamped beyond the clamping point. Furthermore, the clamping spring is centered and guided laterally.

[0016] The sheet metal part can be bent in the area of ​​the opening. The channel side walls then protrude through the opening in the bent section of the sheet metal part. This enables a very compact design of the conductor connection terminal with good conductor routing.

[0017] Each conductor entry channel must have two spaced-apart channel side walls that extend into the opening. This allows the conductor to be routed from both sides.

[0018] The duct side walls can be T-shaped in cross-section, particularly for the outer duct side walls, or H-shaped, i.e., double-T-shaped. These H-shaped duct side walls can be used, in particular, for the adjacent conductor entry ducts. These T- and H-shaped cross-sections increase the stability of the duct side walls while maintaining a compact design.

[0019] The sheet metal part can be curved in the root area. The curvature has a groove base of the curvature oriented transversely to the main extension direction of the clamping spring. This curvature is present not only in the area of ​​the tongue root of the clamping spring tongue, but also in the adjacent part of the sheet metal part, which merges into the side webs that define the opening. This curvature improves the spring elasticity of the clamping spring after punching. The clamping spring is initially bent back in the curvature against the spring force of the clamping spring and then elastically deformed. This allows the length of the clamping spring to be shortened or a very low-profile conductor connection terminal to be realized.Furthermore, the curvature, especially when inserting a stranded conductor, causes the conductor to press against the elastic part of the clamping spring, causing the clamping spring to elastically deform when the electrical conductor is inserted. This reduces the risk of strands of a stranded conductor slipping out compared to a conductor terminal without such a curvature. This is also achieved by the fact that the curvature increases the spring elasticity of the sheet metal part in the root area, allowing the sheet metal part, along with the side webs, to deform elastically when an electrical conductor is clamped.

[0020] The main extension direction of the clamping spring is considered to be the average extension of the clamping spring from the root area of ​​the clamping spring to the clamping end of the clamping spring. The main extension direction of the clamping spring can be defined by the area of ​​the clamping spring located in the conductor entry channel between the root area and the support section of the sheet metal part. However, it is also conceivable that the main extension direction of the clamping spring is defined exclusively by the area of ​​the clamping spring in the conductor entry channel delimited by the side web and the support section of the sheet metal part.

[0021] It is conceivable for the sheet metal part to be provided with two curvatures in the root area. These two curvatures can be connected to one another and run in opposite directions to one another, i.e. have an S-shape. This increases the elastic effect of the clamping spring. The second curvature can follow the first curvature, essentially in the direction of the clamping end of the clamping spring. In the main direction of extension of the clamping spring, this S-shaped design creates a kind of parallelism between the course of the clamping spring and the crossbar or the surface of the crossbar that faces the conductor entry. The course of the main direction of extension of the clamping spring is essentially in the conductor entry channel, i.e. in the area between the support section and the side web or the root area of ​​the clamping spring.

[0022] The first curvature and the second curvature can thus be designed such that the main extension direction of the clamping spring in the non-deflected state of the clamping spring is aligned parallel, i.e. approximately parallel +-10°, to the surface of a transverse web of the sheet metal part adjoining the root region or to the transverse orientation of the transverse web transverse to the longitudinal extension direction of the transverse web or the alignment direction of the clamping springs.

[0023] The groove of the first curvature can be located on the side of the sheet metal part opposite the side of the sheet metal part from which the clamping spring protrudes.

[0024] The at least one clamping spring can be formed integrally from the material of the sheet metal part. The clamping spring is then exposed from the sheet metal part (e.g., cut or punched free) and bent out of the plane of the sheet metal part. An opening is then present in the plane of the sheet metal part. This opening is the window left by exposing the clamping spring from the sheet metal part, which is delimited by two side webs.

[0025] In this way, a very material-saving conductor connection terminal can be created in which the sheet metal part, together with the clamping spring formed from it, contributes to the spring-elastic clamping of an electrical conductor.

[0026] The sheet metal part can support an electrically conductive busbar opposite the free end of the clamping spring. Providing such a separate busbar, onto which the electrical conductor rests and is clamped by the spring force of the clamping spring, has the advantage that improved current transfer can be ensured by selecting a different, electrically conductive material, e.g., one with a higher copper content. Alternatively, the clamping point can also be formed between the clamping spring and a web of the sheet metal part opposite the clamping spring.

[0027] The conductor terminal can have an insulating housing with a housing section into which the sheet metal part is accommodated. The housing section is then closed with a cover section, which can, for example, be latched onto the housing section. The cover section then has at least one conductor entry channel leading to a respective clamping spring.

[0028] The channel side walls are formed on a cover part.

[0029] The invention is explained in more detail below by way of example with the accompanying drawings. They show: Figure 1 - Side sectional view of a first embodiment of a conductor connection terminal; Figure 2 - Side sectional view of Figure 1 with clamped electrical conductor; Figure 3 - Side sectional view of a contact element for the conductor connection terminal made of Figure 1 and 2 ; Figure 4 - side sectional view of a second embodiment of the conductor connection terminal, Figure 5 - perspective view of the contact element from Figure 3 ; Figure 6 - perspective view of the cover part of the conductor connection terminal from Figures 1 , 2 and 4; Figure 7 - perspective front view of the housing part for the conductor connection terminal; Figure 8 - perspective rear view of the housing part of the conductor connection terminal; Figure 9 - longitudinal section through the housing part of Figure 7 ; Figure 10 - Longitudinal section through the cover part of Figure 6 ; Figure 11 - Front view of the cover part from Figure 6 ; Figure 12 - Top view of the sheet metal part of the contact element made of Figure 5 ; Figure 13 - Perspective view of a second embodiment of a contact element for a two-row conductor terminal; Figure 14 - Side view of the contact part of Figure 13 ; Figure 15 - Front view of the contact part from Figure 13 and 14 ; Figure 16 -Side sectional view through a two-row embodiment of the conductor connection terminal with the contact part made of Figures 13 to 15 ; Figure 17 - perspective rear view of the conductor connection terminal from Figure 16; Figure 18 - Front view of the conductor connection terminal from Figure 16 .

[0030] Figure 1shows a side sectional view of a first, single-row conductor connection terminal 1 for clamping electrical conductors. The conductor connection terminal 1 has an insulating housing 2, which is formed from a housing part 3 and a cover part 4 closing the housing part 3 at the front. The cover part 4 is pushed into the housing part 3 and locked into place therewith. A contact element 5, which has a sheet metal part 6 and a busbar 7, is inserted into the housing part 3. The sheet metal part 6 has a clamping spring 8, which is exposed from the sheet metal part 6 (e.g. cut or punched free) and is bent out of the plane of the sheet metal part 6. By bending out the clamping spring 8, an opening delimited by side webs 9 remains in the sheet metal part 6. The freely movable end of the clamping spring 8 forms a clamping end, which e.g.in the unoccupied resting state rests on the busbar 7 and together with the busbar 7 forms a clamping point for clamping an electrical conductor clamped between terminal end 10 and busbar 7.

[0031] It is clear that the sheet metal part is bent in a U-shape and has a support section 11 for the busbar 7 adjacent to the terminal end 10.

[0032] The cover part 4 has a conductor insertion channel 12, which is defined by the channel side walls 13. The channel side walls 13 of the cover part 4 extend laterally past the clamping spring 8 into the opening of the sheet metal part 6. The channel side walls 13 protrude behind the sheet metal part 6 in the conductor insertion direction L and extend into a conductor receiving pocket 14. This provides lateral guidance of an electrical conductor to be clamped beyond the clamping point. Furthermore, the clamping spring 8 is centered and guided laterally.

[0033] The Figure 2 omits conductor terminal 1 Figure 1now with the electrical conductor 15 inserted and clamped in place. This electrical conductor 15 has an insulating sheath 16 that surrounds the electrically conductive conductor core 17. The stripped end of the electrical conductor 15 is guided laterally along the duct side walls 13 through the opening defined by the side webs 9 of the sheet metal part 6 and dips into the conductor receiving pocket 14. It can be seen that the clamping spring 8 is now displaced away from the busbar 7 and rests with its clamping edge 10 on the electrical conductor 15. The electrical conductor 15 rests with its stripped end on the side of the busbar 7 that is diametrically opposite the clamping edge 10. The electrical conductor 15 is pressed against the busbar 7 by the spring force of the clamping spring 8, and the sharp-edged clamping edge 10 of the clamping spring 8 prevents the electrical conductor 15 from being pulled out.

[0034] It is clear that the clamping spring 8 is convexly curved in the root area 18, i.e., in the transition to the frame-like sheet metal part 6, in this clamping position of the busbar 7. The root area 18 with this curved section contributes significantly to the spring elasticity and to the application of the necessary spring force.

[0035] Compared to Figure 1 It is also clear that the sheet metal part 6 with its root area 18 is bent slightly further away from the opposite busbar 7. The root area 18 with the adjoining side webs 9 also clearly contributes to the spring elasticity. The sheet metal part 6 is folded opposite the root area 18 with two spaced-apart bends such that the side webs 9, which limit the opening, extend transversely (90 degrees + / -10 degrees) to the longitudinal direction of the clamped electrical conductor 15. The clamping end 10 of the clamping spring 8 moves from the rest position ( Figure 1) to the clamping position ( Figure 2 ) seen in the conductor insertion direction L in front of this transverse section of the side webs 9.

[0036] It is also clear that the clamping spring 8 extends in a main extension direction H, which is defined by the central orientation of the clamping spring 8 in the conductor insertion channel 12 in the area of ​​the clamping spring 8 delimited by the side web 9 and the support section 11 of the sheet metal part 6.

[0037] Figure 3 shows a side sectional view through the sheet metal part 6. The clamping spring 8 is in the resting state, with the sharp-edged clamping end 10 resting on the support section 11.

[0038] It is clear that the sheet metal part 6 is curved in the root area 18, i.e. in the transition from the cross web 20 to the clamping spring 8. This curvature is S-shaped, i.e. it consists of a first curvature 29 and a second curvature 30 which are designed in opposite directions. At least one of these curvatures 29, 30 has a groove 19, the groove base of which is aligned transversely to the main direction of extension H of the clamping spring 8. The first curvature 29 is present not only on the clamping spring 8, but also on the adjacent side webs 9. In the transition between the cross web 20 and the side webs 9 there is a third curvature 40. The first and third curvatures 29, 40 are also S-shaped, i.e. they are designed in opposite directions to one another.

[0039] The clamping spring 8 is first bent at the root area 18, starting at the clamping end 10, at an angle α in the resting state, and then at an angle β. These two bending radii α and β are different. For example, angle α can be in the range of 38 degrees + / -2 degrees, and angle β can be in the range of 41.5 degrees + / -1 degree.

[0040] Adjacent to the clamping spring 8, the side bar 9 is first bent downward toward the plane of the support leg 11 and then curved. This angle of curvature can be greater than 90 degrees and should be in the range of approximately 120 degrees + / - 20 degrees.

[0041] When the clamping spring 8 (i.e. the spring tongue) is exposed, for example by punching out, the necessary hardening of the clamping spring 8 in the root area 18 is achieved by this described curvature. Bending the clamping spring 8 back with the illustrated bending angles α, β leads to an elastic pre-deformation, which improves the spring forces of the clamping spring 8 and enables the clamping spring 8 to be shortened. This makes it possible to produce a very low-profile conductor connection terminal 1. In addition, an inserted electrical conductor 15 only strikes the clamping spring 8 in an area of ​​the sheet metal part 6 that is exposed from the rest of the sheet metal part 6 by a slot, and the clamping spring 8 then yields elastically when the inserted electrical conductor 15 hits it. It can also be seen that the transverse web 20 of the sheet metal part 6 adjoining the root area 18 is inclined at an angle γ to the plane of the support section 11.This angle γ can, for example, be in the range of 38 degrees + / -2 degrees.

[0042] The transverse web 20 has a surface 41 facing the conductor insertion channel 12. The surface 41 and the main extension direction H of the clamping spring 8 are approximately parallel to one another. The transverse orientation of the transverse web 20 transverse to its longitudinal extension direction and the main extension direction are essentially parallel to one another.

[0043] Furthermore, it can be seen that the main extension direction H of the clamping spring 8 is located in the area of ​​the conductor insertion channel 12, i.e. the conductor receptacle, between the root area 18 and the support section 11 of the sheet metal part 6.

[0044] Figure 4shows a second embodiment of the conductor connection terminal 1. Reference can essentially be made to the description of the first embodiment. In contrast, however, the contact element 5 has only the sheet metal part 6 without a separate additional busbar 7. The electrical conductor 15 is clamped to the support section 11 of the sheet metal part 6 with the clamping spring 8.

[0045] Figure 5shows a perspective view of the sheet metal part 6 of the previously described conductor connection terminals 1. It is clear that a plurality of clamping springs 8 arranged next to one another have been exposed from the sheet metal part 6 and have been bent out from the plane spanned by the side webs 9 adjoining the respective root region 18 to the opposite support section 11. It is clear that the side webs 9 remaining as a result of cutting free the clamping spring 8 delimit an opening 21. The side webs 9 are bent transversely to the plane of the side webs 9 adjoining the root region 18 and then folded back with the support section 11 in the opposite direction to the conductor insertion direction L. The clamping spring 8 (clamping tongue) is movable in an area in front of the plane spanned by the vertical sections of the side webs 9, as seen in the conductor insertion direction L.

[0046] It is also clear that the support section 11, viewed in the conductor insertion direction L, has a protruding nose 22 (material tab) behind the respective clamping end 10 of a clamping spring 8, on which the busbar 7 (not shown) can be supported. The busbar 7 can be held in a form-fitting manner in the space between these noses 22 and the side webs 9.

[0047] Figure 6shows a perspective view of the cover part 4 with the channel side walls 13 laterally delimiting a respective conductor entry channel 12. It is clear that two adjacent channel side walls 13 of adjacent conductor entry channels 12 are each connected to one another by a connecting web 23. The connecting web 23 then ends in front of narrower tabs 24, which are inserted into an opening in the sheet metal part 6 delimited by a side web 9. The webs 9 are then positioned between the tabs 24 connected to one another by the connecting web 23 of the cover part 4.

[0048] This cover part 4 is made of a plastic material made of insulating material and has suitable locking elements for locking the cover part 4 with the housing part 3.

[0049] It is clear that the two outer channel side walls 13 have a T-shaped cross-section. The intermediate pairs of channel side walls 13 with the connecting webs 23 have an H-shaped or double-T-shaped cross-section. The cross-section under consideration lies in the main area behind the vanes 24.

[0050] Figure 7 shows a perspective front view of the housing part 3 of the single-row conductor connection terminal 1. Here, it is clear that on the inside of the housing part 3 there are locking projections 25, which serve to lock the cover part 4. Furthermore, locking tabs 26 protrude from the front side of the housing part 3, which engage in the matching locking opening of the cover part 4. The contact element is inserted into the interior of the housing part 3, which consists of the Figure 5 shown sheet metal part 6 and possibly a busbar 7. The housing part 3 is then connected to the Figure 6 closed with the cover part 4 shown.

[0051] Figure 8 shows a perspective rear view of the housing part 3 from Figure 7 It is clear that a test opening 27 is provided on the rear side of the housing part 3, which leads to the side webs 9 of the sheet metal part 6. By inserting an electrically conductive test tool, the electrical potential applied to the contact element can be measured.

[0052] Figure 9 shows a longitudinal sectional view of housing part 3 in plan view. It is clear that housing part 3 has several adjacent conductor collection pockets in the rear area. Also visible is the test opening 27, which leads into the interior of housing part 3.

[0053] Figure 10shows a longitudinal sectional view of the cover part 4 in plan view. It is clear that the conductor entry channels 12 extend from the front to the end of the cover part 4. The conductor entry channels 12 initially have an expanded section and then taper into a tapered section. The conductor entry channels 12 are delimited by the channel side walls 13, which extend beyond the tapered section and terminate in narrower tabs 24. The material thickness of the channel side walls 13 widens from the tabs 14 towards the front. The diametrically opposite channel side walls 13 of adjacent conductor entry channels 12 are each integrally connected to one another by a connecting web 23.Since the connecting web 23 and the channel side walls 13 are formed from the same insulating material, the channel side walls 13 and the connecting webs 23 do not appear separately in the sectional view, but are visible as a widened section with the channel side walls on the opposite surfaces of this material section.

[0054] Figure 11shows a front view of the cover part 4 with a view of the conductor entry channels 12. It is clear that in this cover part 4, for a three-pole conductor connection terminal, 3 conductor entry channels 12 are arranged next to one another and spaced from one another by the channel side walls 13 with the connecting web 23. Each conductor entry channel 12 leads to a clamping point formed by a clamping spring 8 and the common busbar 7 extending transversely to the direction of extension of the conductor entry channels 12, in order to clamp an electrical conductor 15 inserted into a respective conductor entry channel 12.

[0055] Figure 12shows a top view of the sheet metal part 6 of the previously described conductor connection terminals 1. It is clear that the clamping springs 8 are cut out of the sheet metal part 6, forming clamping tongues, while side webs 9 remain. These side webs 9 are connected to one another in the root area via a common cross web 28, so that the sheet metal part 6 has a frame-like structure.

[0056] It is also clear that the side webs 9 are folded transversely upwards in a vertical section and merge into the support section 11. This support section 11 also has a transverse web connecting the side webs 9, on which the lugs 22 are optionally arranged between the side webs 9 in the respective opening 21.

[0057] Figure 13shows another embodiment of a sheet metal part 36 for a two-row conductor connection terminal 31. In this case, reference can essentially be made to the previously described embodiments. However, in this embodiment, the support section 11 is arranged in the plane of the vertical opening 21 or vertical section of the side webs 9 and connects two groups of clamping springs 8, which are interconnected by a respective transverse web 28 and are arranged in a mirrored manner. The clamping tongues 8 of the opposing groups of clamping springs 8 protrude diagonally toward one another and are aligned toward the support section 11.

[0058] The Figure 3 The curvature shown is present on both sides.

[0059] Figure 14 shows a side view of the sheet metal part 36 from Figure 13. It is clear that two clamping springs 8 are arranged one above the other and are aligned towards the central support section 11 in the vertical section of the sheet metal part 36.

[0060] Figure 15 shows a view of the sheet metal part 36 on Figure 13 and 14with a view of the central support section 11. It is still clearly visible that the clamping end 10 of the clamping springs 8 is arranged at an obtuse angle to the center. The clamping end 10 of the clamping springs 8 therefore does not have a straight clamping edge, but rather a triangular clamping edge. When attempting to unscrew a clamped electrical conductor, it then slips to one or the other flank of the clamping edge, depending on the direction of rotation, resulting in a spiral shape that tends to lead in the direction of conductor insertion. An electrical conductor can therefore hardly be unscrewed. This embodiment of the clamping end 10 can be used for any conductor connection terminal 1, 31, regardless of the number of poles and also regardless of the design of the contact element 5 and the insulating housing 2, 32.

[0061] It is also clear that the opposing clamping springs 8 create two rows of spring clamp connections for electrical conductors 15.

[0062] Figure 16 shows a side sectional view through such a double-row conductor connection terminal 31. The insulating housing 32 is again designed in two parts, with a housing part 33 and a cover part 34. It is only approximately twice as high as the single-row version. It is clearly visible that the cover part 34 has two conductor entry channels 12 arranged one above the other and, depending on the number of poles, several such pairs of conductor entry channels 12 arranged side by side.

[0063] Here, too, channel side walls 13 are present on the cover part 34, which protrude through the opening in the sheet metal part 6.

[0064] It can also be seen that the busbar 37 in the illustrated embodiments of a two-row conductor terminal 31 is no longer plate-shaped, but is designed as a U-shaped sheet metal part. This busbar 37 is then installed in the vertically positioned support section 11 such that the support section 11 with the material tabs 22 is enclosed on both sides by the busbar 37.

[0065] Figure 17 shows a rear view of the double-row conductor terminal 31 on Figure 16 It is clear that here again there is a test opening 27 in the housing part 33, which leads to the sheet metal part 36.

[0066] Figure 18 shows a front view of the double-row conductor terminal 31 from Figure 16It can be seen that several conductor entry channels 12 are arranged in a row next to one another, and two such rows of conductor entry channels are arranged one above the other in the cover part 34. This provides, for example, a six-pole conductor connection terminal 31.

[0067] However, variants of two-pole, four-pole, eight-pole, etc. conductor connection terminals are also conceivable, ie conductor connection terminals with other integer numbers of poles. List of reference symbols

[0068] conductor connection terminal 1, 31 Area 41 Insulated housing 2, 32 35 Conductor insertion direction L Housing part 3, 33 Main extension direction H Cover part 4, 34 Contact element 5 Sheet metal part 6, 36 Busbar 7, 37 clamping spring 8 Side bridges 9 Clamping 10 Support section 11 Conductor entry channel 12 Canal side walls 13 Ladder catch bag 14 electrical conductor 15 Insulating sheath 16 Conductor core 17 root area 18 Nut 19 crossbar 20 breakthrough 21 Nose 22 connecting bridge 23 banner 24 locking projection 25 locking tab 26 Inspection opening 27 crossbar 28 First bulge 29 Second vault 30 Third vault 40

Claims

1. Conductor terminal (1, 31) for clamping electrical conductors (15), the conductor terminal comprising an insulating material housing (2, 32) and a contact element (5, 35), wherein the contact element (5, 35) having a sheet metal part (6, 36) with at least one clamping spring (8) arranged thereon, the insulating material housing (2, 32) has a housing part (3, 33) into which the sheet metal part (6, 36) is accommodated, and a cover part (4, 34) which closes the housing part (3, 33), wherein the cover part (4, 34) has at least one conductor insertion channel (12) leading to a respective clamping spring (8), and wherein an opening (21) is provided in the sheet metal part (6, 36) for receiving an electrical conductor (15) inserted into an associated conductor insertion channel (12), wherein the opening (21) is the window that remains after the clamping spring (8) has been exposed from the sheet metal part (6, 36), which is bounded by two side webs (9), wherein the cover part (4) of the insulating material housing (2, 32) has channel side walls (13) which delimit the conductor insertion channel (12) and extend into the opening (21), characterized in that for each conductor insertion channel (12) two spaced-apart channel side walls (13) are provided, which are arranged at a distance from one another and inserted into the opening (21), and that the channel side walls (13) of the cover part (4) extend laterally beyond the clamping spring (8) into the opening (21) of the sheet metal part (6), wherein the channel side walls (13) protruding in the conductor insertion direction (L) behind the sheet metal part (6) and into a conductor capture pocket (14) of the housing part (3, 33).

2. Conductor terminal (1, 31) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sheet metal part (6, 36) is bent in the area of the opening (21), wherein the channel side walls (13) passes through the opening (21) in the bent section of the sheet metal part (6, 36).

3. Conductor terminal (1, 31) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the channel side walls (13) have a T-shaped or H-shaped design in cross-section.

4. Conductor terminal (1, 31) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sheet metal part (6, 36) has at least one clamping spring (8) protruding from the sheet metal part (6, 36) and being connected to the sheet metal part (6, 36) in a root area (18) of the sheet metal part (6, 36), and that the sheet metal part (6, 36) is arched in the root area (18), wherein the arch having a groove (19) of the arch which is oriented transversely to the main direction of extension of the clamping spring (8).

5. Conductor terminal (1, 31) according to claim 4, characterized in that the groove (19) of the arch is located on the side of the sheet metal part (6, 36) opposite the side of the sheet metal part (6, 36) from which the clamping spring (8) projects.

6. Conductor terminal (1, 31) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one clamping spring (8) is integrally formed from the material of the sheet metal part (6, 36), wherein the clamping spring (8) is exposed from the sheet metal part (6, 36) and bent away from the plane of the sheet metal part (6, 36), and wherein an opening (21) is provided in the plane of the sheet metal part (6, 36).

7. Conductor terminal (1, 31) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet metal part (6, 36) carries an electrically conductive busbar (7, 37) opposite the free end of the clamping spring (8).

8. Conductor terminal (1, 31) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sheet metal part (6, 36) has multiple clamping springs (8) arranged side by side, and wherein the busbar (7, 37) extends in the line-up direction of the clamping springs (8).