conductor terminal block

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a conductor connection terminal according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] DE 10 2015 101 893 A1 discloses a conductor terminal with a busbar and a clamping spring, wherein the busbar and the clamping spring form a clamping point for an electrical conductor to be clamped. The clamping point can be opened by an actuating element mounted in an insulating housing, wherein the actuating element interacts with a contact leg of the clamping spring. To guide the actuating element, a recess is arranged on the actuating element, wherein a projection of the busbar is received in the recess. EP 3 595 090 A1 discloses a conductor terminal with an actuating element that is pivotably arranged above a busbar section.

[0003] Based on this, it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved conductor connection terminal.

[0004] The object is achieved with a conductor connection terminal having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are described in the subclaims.

[0005] In the conductor connection terminal according to the invention, it is proposed that the actuating element has a guide pin, wherein the guide pin is mounted displaceably in a guide contour of the insulating material housing in the conductor insertion direction.

[0006] The design of the guide pin allows the actuating element to be guided from an initial position to an actuated position and back. The initial position is the position in which the terminal is fully closed. The actuated position is the position in which the terminal is fully open, allowing the electrical conductor to be inserted into the conductor connection terminal.

[0007] A sliding section is arranged on the actuating element, thus enabling sliding operation. By forming the sliding section and mounting it on the outside of the insulating housing, the user can move the actuating element by shifting the sliding section on the insulating housing. Sliding operation provides an alternative actuation option to push-button operation, allowing the user to move the actuating element using the sliding section. A combined sliding and push-button actuation is also conceivable, allowing the user to choose between sliding or push-button operation depending on the application.

[0008] With a sliding actuation, the sliding section for moving the actuating element is easily accessible to the user from the outside. This is moved during the actuation process and is also very easily accessible to the user when the terminal point is open. With a push-button actuation, on the other hand, the actuating element is guided inside the insulating housing, whereby the actuating element can only be accessed by the user from the outside via a smaller pressure surface than the sliding section. Furthermore, when the terminal point is open, the actuating element of the push-button actuation is mounted within the insulating housing, making it difficult for the user to access and may require an additional actuating tool to release the actuating element.

[0009] It is not necessary for the sliding section to rest directly on the insulating housing. For example, it is conceivable for the sliding section to be arranged at a distance from the insulating housing. The actuating element is sufficiently stabilized by the guide pin, while simultaneously guiding the actuating element from the initial position to the actuating position. The guide pin can, for example, be arranged on the sliding section of the actuating element.

[0010] The actuating section can be operatively connected to the clamping leg of the clamping spring to open and / or close the clamping point.

[0011] The actuating section is, in particular, the section that can interact with the clamping spring in such a way that the actuating section rests against the clamping leg to open the clamping point. During the actuation process, the clamping leg is displaced into an open position by the actuating section, allowing the electrical conductor to be inserted into or removed from the conductor terminal.

[0012] The guide contour can be designed as an elongated recess, wherein the guide contour is configured such that the guide pin is held in a holding position in an open and / or closed position of the clamping point. Furthermore, a recess can advantageously be arranged in the guide contour, wherein the guide pin is held in the recess in an open and / or closed position of the clamping point.

[0013] If the guide pin is moved into the recess of the guide contour, a spring force from the clamping leg can, for example, act on the actuating section in such a way that the actuating element is tilted into a holding position. The actuating element is held in this holding position without external influence, allowing the electrical conductor to be inserted into or removed from the conductor connection terminal.

[0014] It is also conceivable for a projection to be arranged on the guide contour, wherein the projection makes it difficult to move the guide pin or the actuating element, such that increased force must be applied to guide the guide pin past this projection. For example, it is possible for the projection to make it difficult to move the guide pin in the starting position, so that the actuating element cannot be inadvertently moved into an actuating position and release an inserted electrical conductor. However, it is also conceivable for the projection to make it difficult to move the actuating element in the actuating position, so that the actuating element can be held in the open position of the clamping point.In particular, both a recess and a projection can be arranged on the guide contour in order, for example, to hold the guide pin in an open position of the clamping point and in a closed position of the clamping point in a holding position.

[0015] The elongated recess can be designed, for example, as an elongated hole or at least in the form of an elongated hole, so that the guide pin can be guided in the longitudinal direction of the elongated hole. The longitudinal direction is the direction in which the elongated hole extends with its largest dimension.

[0016] The actuating section and the sliding section can be connected to each other via a connecting web. Furthermore, the connecting web can advantageously protrude substantially perpendicularly from the sliding section in the direction of the actuating section.

[0017] The connecting section can be arranged laterally next to the clamping spring, and the actuating section can be connected to a sliding section located, for example, outside the insulating housing. In this way, a sliding actuation mechanism can be provided in a simple design.

[0018] In particular, the connecting bar can protrude perpendicularly from the sliding section toward the actuating section. This essentially means that the connecting bar does not have to protrude exactly perpendicularly from the sliding section. A deviation of up to 5 degrees, especially up to 10 degrees, based on a 360° system, is conceivable.

[0019] It is conceivable for the guide pin to protrude from the connecting section. For example, the guide pin can protrude from the connecting web transversely to the conductor insertion direction and thus transversely to the deflection direction of the clamping leg. Transverse means, in particular, that the guide section protrudes at an angle between 85° and 105°, in particular at an angle of 90°.

[0020] The actuating section can rest on the clamping leg of the clamping spring with an actuating contour.

[0021] The actuating contour is specifically adapted to the contour of the clamping leg of the clamping spring. Thus, the actuating contour can be designed, for example, as a negative contour of the clamping leg. This further improves the force transmission from the actuating section to the clamping leg for opening the clamping point.

[0022] The sliding section can be mounted so that it can tilt around a pivot point.

[0023] A tilting movement occurs, in particular, as a rotation through a small angle of rotation. This means that the sliding section can tilt by up to 45°, in particular by up to 25°, to move into or out of the locking position. In contrast to a tilting movement, a pivoting movement, as generally used with actuating levers, occurs through a larger angle of rotation. In a pivoting movement, the angle of rotation is greater than 60°. Therefore, a tilting of the sliding section occurs through a smaller angle than a pivoting movement of the sliding section.

[0024] Furthermore, the tilting movement according to the invention does not result in the clamping point being opened and / or closed. The actuating element is moved into a locking position by the tilting movement around the support point or moved out of the locking position so that the actuating element can be held in an open position of the clamping point. However, with a pivoting movement of an actuating lever, the pivoting movement results in the clamping point being opened or closed. In the present invention, however, the clamping point is opened and / or closed by moving the actuating element.

[0025] The pivot point can be located in the area of ​​the guide pin. The sliding section can thus be mounted so that it can tilt around the guide pin. In particular, the sliding section is mounted so that it can tilt around the pivot point in the open position of the clamping point, i.e., in the actuated position.

[0026] This allows the actuating element to be moved into a latching position, for example in the actuating position, i.e. when the clamping point is open. Tilting of the actuating element can occur, for example, due to the spring force of the clamping leg, in that the spring force of the clamping leg acts on the actuating section when the clamping point is open in such a way that the actuating element is tilted about the pivot point into the latching position. In the latching position, the actuating element is held in the actuating position so that the electrical conductor can be inserted into the conductor connection terminal. Tilting of the sliding section about the pivot point thus represents tilting, with tilting being the rotation around the pivot point, for example into the latching position.

[0027] The sliding section can be positioned at an angle to the insulating housing, with the end of the sliding section facing the conductor entry opening protruding from the insulating housing. The sliding section can be moved out of the locking position, for example, by rotating it in the opposite direction. This can be achieved, for example, by applying force to the protruding end of the sliding section.

[0028] The support surface of the sliding section can be inclined. Furthermore, the support surface can advantageously be V-shaped.

[0029] The angled or V-shaped design allows the distance between the sliding section and the insulating housing to be reduced at least in part. Furthermore, the tilting movement around the pivot point can be further improved, as the geometry of the sliding section is thus adapted to the rotary movement or rotation.

[0030] The insulating housing can have a first housing part and a second housing part. Furthermore, the sliding portion of the actuating element can advantageously be mounted on the first housing part, with the guide contour for guiding the actuating element being arranged on the second housing part.

[0031] Due to the two-part design of the insulating housing, the conductor connection terminal according to the invention can be easily assembled by first inserting a contact insert into the first housing part and then closing off the second housing section of the insulating housing.

[0032] By supporting the guide pin on the second housing part and supporting the sliding section on the first housing part, the actuating element can be received in the conductor connection terminal in a captive manner, wherein the guide pins are received in the guide contour in a first assembly step and in a second step the second housing part closes the guide contour in such a way that the guide pin is mounted in the conductor connection terminal in a captive manner.

[0033] Alternatively, the guide contour can also be formed by the first and the second housing part, wherein, for example, a lower contact contour is formed by the first housing part and an upper contact contour, which is opposite the first contact contour, is formed by the second housing part.

[0034] A reverse variant is also conceivable, in which the guide contour for guiding the actuating element is arranged on the first housing part, wherein the sliding section of the actuating element is supported on the second housing part.

[0035] According to the invention, the support surface is mounted on the outside of the insulating housing, wherein the sliding section is designed for manual operation.

[0036] Furthermore, according to the invention, the support surface on the outside of the insulating housing is designed to be slidable.

[0037] Sliding friction can thus develop between the support surface and the outer surface of the insulating housing, allowing the sliding section to slide over the outer surface of the housing. The sliding section can also be mounted at a distance from the outer surface of the insulating housing. However, it is also conceivable for the sliding section to be mounted directly on the outer surface of the insulating housing.

[0038] By supporting it on the outside of the insulating housing, the sliding section remains easily accessible to the user both in the starting position and in the actuating position, whereby the actuating element can thus be guided more easily into the actuating position and back by the user.

[0039] The clamping leg can merge into a spring arch, whereby the spring arch extends into a contact leg, whereby the contact leg can be fixed to a part of the conductor connection terminal.

[0040] The contact leg is designed, in particular, to engage a part of the conductor connection terminal. Preferably, the contact leg is designed to engage the busbar.

[0041] The busbar and the clamping spring can be designed as a self-supporting contact insert.

[0042] This eliminates or at least reduces the spring forces exerted by the clamping spring on the housing and / or the actuating element. Furthermore, no additional components, such as fasteners, are required to secure the clamping spring.

[0043] The vague term "a" is to be understood as such and not as a number. It is also conceivable that two guide pins are arranged on the actuating element, with both guide pins being slidably mounted in a guide contour or each in a separate guide contour within the insulating housing. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the conductor connection terminal is designed as a multi-pole conductor connection terminal. Thus, a 2-pole, a 3-pole, or a 6-pole conductor connection terminal with two, three, or six corresponding clamping points is conceivable.

[0044] The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. They show: Figure 1 - A conductor connection terminal in a first embodiment in a lateral sectional view with the clamping point closed; Figure 2 - A conductor connection terminal according to Figure 1in a side sectional view with the terminal point open; Figure 3 - An enlarged section of the conductor connection terminal according to Figure 2 with an inserted electrical conductor; Figure 4a - An actuating element in a first embodiment in a side view and in a front view; Figure 4b - An actuating element in a second embodiment in a side view and in a front view; Figure 5 - Parts of the conductor connection terminal in a lateral sectional view in an enlarged representation similar Figure 3 ; Figure 6 - Parts of the conductor connection terminal in a perspective sectional view.

[0045] Figure 1shows a conductor connection terminal 1 in a first embodiment in a side sectional view. The conductor connection terminal 1 has an insulating housing 2 with a conductor insertion opening 3, wherein an electrical conductor can be inserted into the conductor connection terminal 1 in a conductor insertion direction L. A busbar 4 and a clamping spring 5 are arranged in the insulating housing 2. The clamping spring 5 has a contact leg 5a, which merges into a spring bend 5b and then extends into a clamping leg 5c. The clamping leg 5c and the busbar 4 form a clamping point 6 for the electrical conductor to be clamped.

[0046] The conductor connection terminal 1 has an actuating element 7, wherein the actuating element 7 is slidably mounted in the insulating housing 2. The actuating element 7 has an actuating section 7a, wherein the actuating section 7a interacts with the clamping leg 5c in such a way that the actuating section 7a rests against the clamping leg 5c to open the clamping point 6. The clamping point 6 is completely closed.

[0047] It is clear that a guide pin 8 is arranged on the actuating element 7, wherein the guide pin 8 is slidably mounted in a guide contour 9 of the insulating housing 2. The guide contour 9 is designed as an elongated recess in the insulating housing. In this way, the actuating element 7 can be transferred from the initial position, i.e., with the clamping point 6 closed, to the actuating position, i.e., with the clamping point 6 open.

[0048] It can be seen that both a recess 9a and a projection 9b are arranged within the guide contour 9, with the guide pin 8 being held in the starting position by the projection. Thus, the actuating element 7 cannot be inadvertently moved from the starting position to the actuating position. To overcome the projection 9b, an increased force must first be applied so that the guide pin 8 can be moved over the projection 9b.

[0049] The actuating element 7 can be moved, for example, by a user, via a sliding section 7b. A connecting web 7c protrudes perpendicularly from the sliding section 7b, with the connecting web 7c connecting the sliding section 7b to the actuating section 7a. It is clear that the support surface 7d of the actuating element 7 facing the insulating housing 2 is arranged at a distance from the insulating housing 2. The actuating element 7 can thus be stably guided from the starting position to the actuating position and back simply by the mounting of the guide pin 8 in the guide contour 9 of the insulating housing 2.

[0050] Figure 2 shows a conductor connection terminal 1 to Figure 1 in a side sectional view with clamping point 6 open, ie in the actuating position. Figure 3 shows a conductor connection terminal 1 to Figure 2 in a different and enlarged sectional view.

[0051] From the Figure 2 and 3 It becomes clear that as soon as the actuating element 7 has been transferred into the actuating position, the sliding section 7 tilts about a pivot point 10, wherein the pivot point 10 is arranged in the region of the guide pin 8. If the guide pin 8 is transferred into the recess 9a of the guide contour 9, the spring force of the clamping leg 5c acts on the actuating section 9a in such a way that the actuating element 7 is tilted into a locking position by the sliding section 7b tilting about the pivot point 10 or a rotation 12 taking place about the pivot point 10. The actuating element 7 is held in the locking position without external influence, so that an electrical conductor 11 can be inserted into the conductor connection terminal 1.

[0052] It is also clear that the sliding section 7b is positioned at an angle to the insulating housing 2 in the locking position, with the end of the sliding section 7b facing the conductor insertion opening 3 projecting away from the insulating housing 2. The end of the sliding section 7b facing away from the conductor insertion opening 3, however, is closer to the insulating housing 2 or can even touch it. The sliding section 7b can be guided out of the locking position, for example, by a rotation 12 in the opposite direction. This can be done, for example, by applying force to the projecting end in the direction of the insulating housing 2, i.e. the end of the sliding section 7b facing the conductor insertion opening 3, as shown in the Figure 3 is illustrated by the force arrow F

[0053] Figure 4a shows an actuating element 7 according to the invention in a first embodiment in a side view and in a front view. Figure 4b shows an actuating element 7 according to the invention in a second embodiment in a side view and a front view. It is clear that both embodiments each have two guide pins 8 and two actuating sections 7a. The actuating elements 7 also each have two connecting webs 7c, with a guide pin 8 and an actuating section 7a protruding from one of the connecting webs 7c. The guide pin 8 and / or the actuating section 7a can protrude perpendicularly from the connecting web 7c. The guide pins 8 and the actuating sections 7a point towards one another. In an assembled state, the clamping spring 5 extends through the space between the spaced-apart connecting webs 7c.

[0054] It is also clear that the support surface 7d of the sliding sections 7b is inclined. In particular, the support surface 7d is V-shaped. The inclined support surface 7d can have an angle of X°, where X can preferably assume a value between 3° and 15°, in particular a value between 5° and 10°, with respect to a flat support surface 7d. Particularly preferably, X can assume a value of 10°, in particular 5°, with respect to a flat support surface 7d.

[0055] By forming the inclined support surface 7d, the distance between the sliding section 7b and an insulating housing 2 can be reduced at least in part of the sliding section 7b. Furthermore, the tilting movement about a pivot point 10 can be further improved, since the geometry of the sliding section 7b is thus adapted to the rotary movement or rotation 12.

[0056] The embodiments of the actuating element 7 of the Figure 4aand 4b differ only with regard to the sliding section 7b. In the first embodiment according to Figure 4a A recess is formed on the sliding section 7b, whereby the grip of the sliding section 7b can be increased for the user by the recess. In the second embodiment according to Figure 4b is formed as an elevation on the sliding section 7b, whereby the elevation also leads to improved operability, but at the same time the actuating element 7 of Figure 4b is larger than the actuating element 7 of the Figure 4a .

[0057] The actuating section 7a can be guided in a guide contour of the insulating housing 2, which additionally fixes the actuating section 7a when the clamping point is open and / or supports the aforementioned tilting movement. For example, in the area in which the actuating section 7a is located when the clamping point is open, there can be a depression or indentation into which the actuating section 7a lowers upon reaching the open clamping point. This is demonstrated by the Figure 5 and 6 further clarified. The Figure 5 shows the conductor connection terminal 1 in a similar representation to the Figure 3 , but without the actuating element 7. It is clear that the guide contour has a recess or depression 13 into which the actuating section 7a dips when it has reached the position with the clamping point open.

[0058] The Figure 6 shows this using a perspective view, where in the Figure 6 the clamping spring 5 is not shown, but the actuating element 7 is. Reference symbol list

[0059] 1Conductor connection terminal 2Insulating housing 3Conductor entry opening 4Busbar 5Clamping spring 5aContact leg 5bSpring arch 5cClamping leg 6Clamping point 7Actuating element 7aActuating section 7bSliding section 7cConnecting web 7dSupporting surface 8Guide pin 9Guide contour 9aRecess 9bProtrusion 10Pivot point 11Electrical conductor 12Rotation 13Recess LConductor entry direction FForce arrow

Claims

1. Conductor connection terminal (1) with an insulating housing (2), wherein the insulating housing (2) has a conductor insertion opening (3) for inserting an electrical conductor in a conductor insertion direction (L), with a busbar (4) and with a clamping spring (5), wherein the clamping spring (5) has a clamping leg (5c) which forms a clamping point (6) for the electrical conductor with the busbar (4), and with an actuating element (7), wherein the actuating element (7) is mounted in a displaceable manner in the insulating material housing (2) and has an actuating section (7a) and a sliding section (7b), wherein the actuating section (7a) is designed to open and / or close the clamping point (6), wherein the actuating element (7) has a guide pin (8), wherein the guide pin (8) is mounted in a guide contour (9) of the insulating material housing (2) so as to be displaceable in the conductor insertion direction (L), wherein the sliding section (7b) is configured for manually actuating the actuating element (7) and has a bearing surface (7d) which is supported on the outside of the insulating housing (2), characterized in that the bearing surface (7d) is designed to be slidably displaceable on the outside of the insulating housing (2).

2. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating section (7a) for opening and / or closing the clamping point (6) is in operative connection with the clamping leg (5c) of the clamping spring (5).

3. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide contour (9) is designed as an elongated recess, wherein the guide contour (9) is designed such that the guide pin (8) is held in a holding position in an open position and / or closed position of the clamping point (6).

4. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that a recess (9a) is arranged in the guide contour (9), wherein the guide pin (8) is held in the recess (9a) in an open position and / or closed position of the clamping point (6).

5. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating section (7a) and the sliding section (7b) are connected to each other via a connecting web (7c).

6. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting web (7c) projects substantially perpendicularly from the sliding section (7b) in the direction of the actuating section (7a).

7. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating section (7a) rests against an actuating contour on the clamping leg (5c) of the clamping spring (5).

8. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing surface (7d) of the sliding section (7b) is slanted.

9. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sliding section (7b) is mounted so as to be pivotable about a pivot point (10).

10. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the bearing surface (7d) is V-shaped.

11. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insulating housing (2) has a first housing part and a second housing part.

12. Conductor connection terminal according to claim 11, characterized in that the sliding section (7b) of the actuating element (7) is supported on the first housing part, wherein the guide contour (9) for guiding the actuating element (7) is arranged on the second housing part.

13. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping leg (5c) merges into a spring bow (5b), wherein the spring bow (5b) extends into a bearing leg (5a), wherein the bearing leg (5a) can be fixed to a part of the conductor connection terminal (1).

14. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the busbar (4) and the clamping spring (5) are designed as a self-supporting contact insert.