CONTACT ARRANGEMENT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a contact arrangement for accommodation in a connection terminal.

[0002] Such contact arrangements can, for example, each form a bridging element and be used to connect multiple busbars of one or more connecting terminals to the same electrical potential. The connecting terminals can be fixed, for example, to a mounting rail with their insulating terminal housing and arranged in series there. Within the terminal housing of a connecting terminal, one or more busbars are arranged for electrical contact with a contact area of ​​the contact arrangement. The contact arrangement can be inserted into this busbar via an opening in a busbar of the connecting terminal and contacted with this busbar of the connecting terminal.

[0003] If it's a single-pole contact arrangement, it's simply plugged into a single terminal block. In this terminal block, e.g., a so-called multi-level terminal block, several busbars are arranged one above the other. When plugged into such a terminal block, the contact arrangement clamps the busbars together, thereby switching them to the same electrical potential.

[0004] A multi-pole contact arrangement is used to insert the individual poles into the busbars of several terminal blocks. This allows the busbars of different terminal blocks to be connected to the same electrical potential.

[0005] Such a contact arrangement is known, for example, from EP 0 678 934 B1. The contact arrangement comprises several current bars connected to one another via a web. A contact spring is arranged on each current bar, which, when inserted into an opening on a busbar of a terminal, clamps the current bar in this opening to establish electrical contact between the busbar and the current bar. The contact springs are attached to the respective current bar via riveted connections.

[0006] GB1393999A discloses a contact arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0007] The invention is based on the object of providing a contact arrangement which is characterized by a simplified assembly process.

[0008] The object is achieved according to the invention with the features of the independent claim. Expedient embodiments and advantageous further developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

[0009] The contact arrangement according to the invention has at least one current bar and at least one contact spring arranged on the at least one current bar, wherein the at least one contact spring has at least one holding region for holding the contact spring on the at least one current bar, wherein the at least one holding region is designed such that it forms a latching connection with the current bar.

[0010] The contact arrangement according to the invention is characterized in that the at least one contact spring is no longer fastened to the at least one current bar using a rivet connection, but rather using a snap-in connection. The snap-in connection enables a simple and quick assembly process of the at least one contact spring on the at least one current bar. The costs for the assembly process can thereby be reduced. In addition, the snap-in connection enables a detachable connection between the at least one current bar and the at least one contact spring. The snap-in connection, in particular, forms a clamping of the at least one contact spring on the at least one current bar in that the at least one contact spring is clamped to the at least one current bar via its at least one holding region.The at least one contact spring is preferably designed in the form of a leaf spring which, when mounted on the current bar, extends substantially parallel to the current bar. In the mounted state, the contact spring is movable at least in some regions relative to the current bar in order to be able to provide a spring effect. According to the invention, the at least one contact spring has two or more holding regions, so that the at least one contact spring can be held and fastened to the at least one current bar in several regions via a latching connection. The contact arrangement can have one current bar or two or more current bars, wherein the two or more current bars can be electrically conductively connected to one another via a web. Each current bar is then preferably assigned a contact spring which can be fastened to the current bar via one or more latching connections.Each current bar can also be assigned two or more contact springs, which can be attached to the current bar via one or more snap-in connections. The contact arrangement can, for example, form a bridging element or a plug. The contact arrangement can be inserted into a connection terminal via an opening in a housing of the connection terminal in order to make contact with a busbar arranged in the connection terminal. If the contact arrangement forms a bridging element, this can be designed, for example, as a cross-bridging element, potential bridging element or wire bridging element. If the contact arrangement forms a plug, this can be designed, for example, as a tap-off plug, a service plug or a test plug. These plugs can also be inserted into a connection terminal via an opening in a housing of the connection terminal in order to make contact with a busbar arranged in the connection terminal.

[0011] According to the invention, the at least one contact spring has a first holding region and a second holding region arranged at a distance from the first holding region. The contact spring can be held and fastened to the current bar in a particularly stable and secure manner via these two holding regions. Both holding regions preferably form a latching connection with the current bar. The two holding regions are preferably spaced apart from one another such that the first holding region is formed at a first end of the contact spring and the second holding region is formed at a second end of the contact spring opposite the first end. The contact spring can also have more than two holding regions, wherein even if there are more than two holding regions, these are each spaced apart from one another.

[0012] The first holding area can be designed such that it can form a fixed bearing. As a fixed bearing, the first holding area forms a fixed connection, in particular a fixed locking connection, between the contact spring and the current bar, both when the contact arrangement is plugged into a terminal and when the contact arrangement is not plugged into a terminal, so that the contact spring cannot accidentally detach from the current bar in the region of the first holding area.

[0013] The second holding area, however, can preferably be designed in such a way that it can form a loose bearing. The second holding area can, as a loose bearing, form a fixed connection, in particular a fixed latching connection between the contact spring and the current bar when the contact arrangement is not plugged into a connection terminal. If the contact arrangement is plugged into the connection terminal, the contact spring can detach from the current bar with its second holding area, so that when the contact arrangement is plugged into the connection terminal, the latching connection in the second holding area between the contact spring and the current bar can be released, so that there is no longer any fixed connection between the contact spring and the current bar in the plugged-in state. The contact spring can then, for example, only be held and fastened to the current bar via the first holding area in this plugged-in state.By designing the second holding area as a loose bearing, the spring action of the contact spring can be improved.

[0014] Alternatively, it is also possible for the second holding area, just like the first holding area, to be designed as a fixed bearing, so that a snap-in connection is formed between the contact spring and the current bar via the second holding area even when the contact arrangement is plugged into the connection terminal.

[0015] The first holding region is designed such that it has at least one holding tab which can engage in a fastening region formed on the current bar. The fastening region can be designed, for example, in the form of one or more recesses and / or in the form of one or more openings on the current bar into which the holding tab or multiple holding tabs can engage. Preferably, each holding tab of the first holding region of the contact spring is assigned a recess or an opening in the fastening region of the current bar. The holding tab can be shaped and designed in different ways. The holding tab can be bent or sheared out of the main extension plane of the contact spring. The holding tab can be tongue-shaped or have other shapes. The holding tab can be in the recess orengage in the opening of the fastening area of ​​the current bar and hook into it to form a snap-in connection between the contact spring and the current bar.

[0016] For example, the at least one retaining tab can also be U-shaped or V-shaped. The retaining tab can then, with its U-shape or V-shape, engage or engage into a recess or opening in the mounting area of ​​the current bar, thus forming a snap-in connection between the contact spring and the current bar.

[0017] The first holding region of the contact spring has more than one holding tab. According to the invention, the first holding region has a first holding tab and at least one second holding tab arranged at a distance from the first holding tab. By providing two or more holding tabs on the first holding region, these can cause mutual clamping at the fastening region of the current bar, so that a secure and firm connection between the contact spring and the current bar can be formed via the first holding region alone. The two or more holding tabs of the first holding region can be arranged one below the other and / or next to one another in the plug-in direction of the contact arrangement.

[0018] The second holding region of the contact spring can be formed at a free end of the at least one contact spring. If the second holding region is formed at a free end of the contact spring, the second holding region can form a snap-in connection with the current bar at a free end of the current bar.

[0019] For example, the second holding area can have a holding tab that at least partially surrounds a free end of the current bar. To form the snap-in connection, the second holding area of ​​the contact spring can thus wrap around the free end of the current bar. The holding tab of the second holding area can be designed as an extension of the contact spring extending in the plug-in direction, which can be bent such that it can surround the free end of the current bar. For this purpose, the holding tab of the second holding area can, for example, be bent in a U-shape.

[0020] The contact spring can have at least one contact area, which can be arranged at a distance from the current bar, at least in a non-contacting state. With its contact area, the contact spring can be clamped or braced against the current bar in an opening of a busbar of the connection terminal when plugged into the connection terminal, in order to brace the current bar, which is also plugged into the opening in the busbar, against an edge area delimiting the opening in the busbar and thus form the electrical contact between the busbar and the current bar. The contact spring is preferably curved at the contact area, so that the contact spring protrudes from the current bar at its contact area. At the contact area, the contact spring can spring in the direction of the current bar when the contact arrangement is plugged into the connection terminal.If two or more busbars arranged one above the other in a terminal are to be bridged, the contact spring can also have a corresponding number of contact areas so that each busbar of a terminal can be assigned a contact area.

[0021] The at least one contact region is preferably arranged between the first holding region and the second holding region of the contact spring. If two or more contact regions are provided, these two or more contact regions are preferably all arranged between the first holding region and the second holding region of the contact spring. The contact regions can be arranged one above the other in the plug-in direction.

[0022] The contact arrangement can further comprise a housing that can at least partially enclose the at least one current bar and the at least one contact spring. The housing is preferably made of an insulating material. The housing can have a gripping surface for gripping the contact arrangement when it is to be inserted into or removed from a terminal. The housing preferably extends so far in the insertion direction around the current bar and the contact spring that the housing encloses the first holding region of the contact spring. The second holding region is preferably positioned outside the housing.

[0023] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings using preferred embodiments.

[0024] It shows Fig. 1A to 1D show a schematic representation of a contact arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention in various views, Fig. 2A show a schematic representation of a contact arrangement according to a further embodiment of the invention with two contact areas on the contact spring, Fig. 2B show a schematic representation of a contact arrangement according to a further embodiment of the invention with two contact springs on a current bar, Fig. 3A to 3D show a schematic representation of a contact arrangement according to a further embodiment of the invention in various views, Fig. 4A to 4C show a schematic representation of a contact arrangement according to a further embodiment of the invention in various views, and Fig. 5A to 5D show a schematic representation of a contact arrangement according to a further embodiment of the invention in various views.

[0025] The Fig. 1A to 1Dshow an embodiment of a contact arrangement 100. The contact arrangement 100 can be, for example, a bridging element or a plug.

[0026] The contact arrangement 100 comprises a current bar 110 and a contact spring 111 arranged on the current bar 110. The contact spring 111 is detachably attached to the current bar 110. The contact spring 111 is attached to the current bar 110 by snapping or clamping the contact spring 111 to the current bar 110 by forming a locking connection. A rivet connection otherwise commonly used between the contact spring 111 and the current bar 110 to secure the contact spring 111 to the current bar 110 is thus no longer necessary.

[0027] In the embodiment shown here, the contact spring 111 has a first holding region 112 and a second holding region 113 arranged at a distance from the first holding region 112. The contact spring 111 can be held and thus secured to the current bar 110 via these two holding regions 112, 113. Both holding regions 112, 113 each form a locking connection between the contact spring 111 and the current bar 110. The two holding regions 112, 113 are arranged at a distance from one another along the length of the contact spring 111.

[0028] The first holding region 112 is formed at a first end 114 of the contact spring 111 and the second holding region 113 is formed at a second end 115 of the contact spring 111 opposite the first end 114.

[0029] At the Fig. 1A to 1DIn the embodiment shown, the first holding region 112 has a first holding tab 116 and a second holding tab 117. The two holding tabs 116, 117 are arranged at a distance from one another. The two holding tabs 116, 117 are arranged one below the other in the plugging direction S of the contact arrangement 100.

[0030] The two retaining tabs 116, 117 engage in a fastening area 118 formed on the current bar 110. In the embodiment shown here, the fastening area 118 has a first opening 119 and a second opening 120. Both openings 119, 120 are each formed in the form of a window-like opening. The two openings 119, 120 are arranged one below the other in the plug-in direction S. The first retaining tab 116 engages in the first opening 119, and the second retaining tab 117 engages in the second opening 120.

[0031] The two retaining tabs 116, 117 together form a type of clamp that engages the fastening area 118. The two retaining tabs 116, 117 extend essentially parallel to each other. The first retaining area 112 forms a type of U-shape with the two retaining tabs 116, 117.

[0032] As in the Fig. 1A to 1D illustrated embodiment, here the two retaining tabs 116, 117 each have an S-shape, so that the two retaining tabs 116, 117 are each bent in an S-shape.

[0033] The two retaining tabs 116, 117 are bent out from the main extension plane of the contact spring 111. The two retaining tabs 116, 117 extend essentially at a 90° angle to the main extension plane of the contact spring 111. In particular, the second retaining tab 117 is formed by punching and bending out from the material of the contact spring 111. The first retaining tab 116, 117 is formed on an edge region 121 of the first end 114 of the contact spring 111, which edge region runs transversely to the plugging direction S.

[0034] Due to the two retaining tabs 116, 117, the first holding area 112 has resilient properties.

[0035] The second holding region 113 of the contact spring 111 has a holding tab 122, which at least partially encompasses a free end 123 of the current bar 110. The free end 123 forms a tip of the current bar 110, via which the contact arrangement 100 is first inserted into the connection terminal. The holding tab 122 of the second holding region 113 is also bent out of the main extension plane of the contact spring 111. The holding tab 122 of the second holding region 113 is essentially bent such that the holding tab 122 has a U-shape. The holding tab 122 is thus arranged below the free end 123 of the current bar 110 in the plugging direction S. The holding tab 122 preferably lies flat against the free end 123 of the current bar 110.

[0036] The first holding area 112 is designed as a fixed bearing, and the second holding area 113 is designed as a floating bearing. The first holding area 112, as a fixed bearing, forms a fixed connection, in particular a fixed latching connection, between the contact spring 111 and the current bar 110, both when the contact arrangement 100 is plugged into a terminal and when the contact arrangement 100 is not plugged into a terminal, so that the contact spring 111 cannot accidentally detach from the current bar 110 in the area of ​​the first holding area 112. The second holding area 113, as a floating bearing, can form a fixed connection, in particular a fixed latching connection, between the contact spring 111 and the current bar 110, when the contact arrangement 100 is not plugged into a terminal.If the contact arrangement 100 is plugged into the terminal, the contact spring 111 can detach from the current bar 110 at its second holding area 113, so that when the contact arrangement 100 is plugged into the terminal, the locking connection in the second holding area 113 between the contact spring 111 and the current bar 110 is released, so that in the plugged-in state, there is no longer a fixed connection between the contact spring 111 and the current bar 110. The contact spring 111 can then, for example, only be held and fastened to the current bar 110 via the first holding area 112 in this plugged-in state.

[0037] Between the first holding region 112 and the second holding region 113, the contact spring 111 has a contact region 124. At least in a non-contacting state, the contact region 124 is arranged at a distance from the current bar 110. With its contact region 124, the contact spring 111, when plugged into the terminal, can be clamped or braced against the current bar 200 in an opening 210 of a current rail 200 of the terminal in order to brace the current bar 200, which is also plugged into the opening 210 of the current rail 200, against an edge region 211 delimiting the opening 210 of the current rail 200 and thus form the electrical contact between the current rail 200 and the current bar 110, as shown in Fig. 1D is shown.

[0038] At the contact area 124, the contact spring 111 is curved, so that the contact spring 111 protrudes from the current bar 110 at its contact area 124 and thus does not touch the current bar 110. At the contact area 124, the contact spring 111 can spring toward the current bar 110 when the contact arrangement 100 is inserted into the terminal.

[0039] The assembly of the contact spring 111 on the current bar 110 is carried out in the Fig. 1A to 1DThe embodiment shown is such that the contact spring 111 is first fastened with its second holding region 113 to the free end 123 of the current bar 110 via a snap-in connection. The contact spring 111 is then pivoted in the direction of the current bar 110, with the pivot axis lying in the region of the snap-in connection of the second holding region 113, until the contact spring 111 engages with the holding tabs 116, 117 of the first holding region 112 in the fastening region 118 of the current bar 118 by the two holding tabs 116, 117 being guided through the two openings 119, 120 of the fastening region 118 and locking or clamping there.

[0040] The contact arrangement 100 can further comprise a housing 125, which can at least partially enclose the current bar 110 and the contact spring 111. The housing 125 is preferably made of an insulating material, in particular a plastic material. The housing 125 extends around the current bar 110 and the contact spring 111 in the plugging direction S to such an extent that the housing 125 encloses the first holding region 112 of the contact spring 111. The second holding region 113 is positioned outside the housing 125.

[0041] The Fig. 2A and 2B The contact arrangement 100 shown enables electrical bridging between two superimposed busbars 200 of a connection terminal.

[0042] At the Fig. 2AIn the embodiment shown, this is achieved in such a way that the contact spring 111 has two contact regions 124 arranged one above the other in the plug-in direction S. Both contact regions 124 are arranged between the first holding region 112 and the second holding region 113. In the region of both contact regions 124, the contact spring 111 is spaced from the current bar 110 in that the two contact regions 124 are each curved. Between the two contact regions 124, the contact spring 111 has a connecting section 126 which connects the two contact regions 124 to one another. In contrast to the two contact regions 124, this connecting section 126 lies flat against the current bar 110.

[0043] At the Fig. 2B In the embodiment shown, two contact springs 111 are arranged on a current bar 110, wherein these two contact springs 111 each have the configuration of the Fig. 1A to 1Dshown configuration of the contact spring 111. Bridging between two busbars 200 arranged in a connection terminal is also possible via these two contact springs 111. The fastening of the upper contact spring 111 in the plug-in direction S to the current bar 110 is effected with its second holding region 113 by the holding tab 122 engaging in an opening 127, in particular a window-like opening, of the current bar 110 and locking or clamping it there.

[0044] The Fig. 3A to 3D The embodiment of a contact arrangement 100 shown differs from that shown in Fig. 1A to 1D shown configuration in the shape of the retaining tabs 116, 117 of the first holding area 112 of the contact spring 111.

[0045] The two retaining tabs 116, 117 of the first holding area 112 of the contact spring 111 are in the Fig. 3A to 3DIn the embodiment shown, they are each U-shaped or V-shaped. These retaining tabs 116, 117 engage with their U-shape or V-shape into the openings 119, 120 of the fastening area 118 of the current bar 110. The second retaining tab 117 is sheared out of the material of the contact spring 111 and bent into the U-shape or V-shape. The first retaining tab 116 is formed on an edge area 121 of the first end 114 of the contact spring 111, which runs transversely to the plug-in direction S, and is bent into the U-shape or V-shape. The two U-shaped or V-shaped retaining tabs 116, 117 of the contact spring 111 each form a snap-in connection by being clamped in the openings 119, 120 of the fastening area 118 of the current bar 110.

[0046] At the Fig. 3A to 3DIn the embodiment shown, the contact spring 111 can be mounted on the current bar 110 in such a way that the contact spring 111 is first pushed with its second holding region 113 onto the free end 123 of the current bar 110 in order to form the locking connection between the second holding region 113 of the contact spring 111 and the current bar 110. The contact spring 111 is then pivoted in the direction of the current bar 110, with the pivot axis lying in the region of the locking connection of the second holding region 113 with the current bar 110, until the contact spring 111 can engage with the holding tabs 116, 117 of the first holding region 112 in the fastening region 118 of the current bar 110 and can be clamped there in order to form the locking connection between the first holding region 112 of the contact spring 111 and the current bar 110.

[0047] In the Fig. 4A to 4Can embodiment of a contact arrangement 100 is shown, in which the locking connection between the second holding area 113 of the contact spring 111 and the current bar 110 of the Fig. 1A to 1D and Fig. 3A to 3D shown design.

[0048] The difference, especially compared to Fig. 1A to 1DThe advantage of the embodiment shown in Fig. 4A to 4D is that the first holding region 112 of the contact spring 111 has more than two holding tabs. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4A to 4D, the first holding region 112 of the contact spring 111 has a first holding tab 116, a second holding tab 117 and a third holding tab 128. The three holding tabs 116, 117, 128 are arranged such that they form a triangular shape. The first holding tab 116 is arranged above the other two, the second holding tab 117 and the third holding tab 128, as seen in the plugging direction S. The second holding tab 117 and the third holding tab 128 are arranged next to one another at the same height. All three holding tabs 116, 117, 128 are bent in an S-shape here.

[0049] The fastening region 118 of the current bar 110 has three openings 119, 120, 129, with each of the three retaining tabs 116, 117, 128 engaging in one of the three openings 119, 120, 129. The first opening 119 is arranged above the other two openings 120, 129, as viewed in the plugging direction S. The second opening 120 and the third opening 129 are arranged at the same height next to one another. The first opening 119 is designed in the form of a window-like opening. The second opening 120 and the third opening 129 are each designed in the form of a U-shaped cutout on two opposite edge regions 130, 131 of the current bar 110.

[0050] The Fig. 5A to 5D The design shown essentially corresponds to that shown in the Fig. 1A to 1D shown embodiment, the only difference being the shape of the first retaining tab 116 of the first holding area 112 of the contact spring 111. In the Fig. 5A to 5DIn the embodiment shown, the first retaining tab 116 is not bent in an S-shape, but rather has a U-shaped or C-shaped bend. The second retaining tab 117, on the other hand, is bent in an S-shape.

[0051] Due to this shape of the first retaining tab 116, Fig. 5A to 5DIn the embodiment shown, the assembly process is carried out in such a way that the contact spring 111 is first snapped onto the current bar 110 with its first holding area 112 and thus secured. For this purpose, the contact spring 111 is snapped onto the current bar 110 with its two retaining tabs 116, 117 of the first holding area 112 in order to form a snap-in connection between the contact spring 111 and the current bar 110. Due to the resilient properties of the first retaining tab 116 and the second retaining tab 117, a firm connection is created between the current bar 110 and the contact spring 111. The contact spring 111 is then pivoted around the current bar 110 in such a way that the contact spring 111 forms a snap-in connection with its second retaining region 113 at the free end 123 of the current bar 110, in that the retaining tab 122 of the second retaining region 113 engages around the free end 123 of the current bar 110. List of reference symbols

[0052] 100Contact arrangement 110Current bar 111Clamping spring 112First holding area 113Second holding area 114First end 115Second end 116First retaining tab 117Second retaining tab 118Fastening area 119First opening 120Second opening 121Edge area 122Retaining tab 123Free end 124Contact area 125Housing 126Connecting section 127Opening 128Third retaining tab 129Third opening 130Edge area 131Edge area 200Busbar 210Opening 211Edge area SSocket direction

Claims

1. Contact arrangement (100) to be received in a connection terminal, comprising at least one current bar (110) and comprising at least one contact spring (111) arranged on the at least one current bar (110), wherein the at least one contact spring (111) has at least one holding region (112, 113) for holding the contact spring (111) on the at least one current bar (110), wherein the at least one holding region (112, 113) is formed in such a way that it forms a latching connection with the current bar (110), wherein the at least one contact spring (111) has a first holding region (112) and second holding region (113) arranged spaced apart from the first holding region (112), wherein the first holding region (112) has at least one holding tab (116, 117, 128), which engages into a fastening region (118) formed on the current bar (110), characterized in that the first holding region (112) has a first holding tab (116) and at least a second holding tab (117) arranged spaced apart from the first holding tab (116).

2. Contact arrangement (100) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the first holding region (112) is formed in such a way that it forms a fixed bearing.

3. Contact arrangement (100) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second holding region (113) is formed in such a way that it forms a floating bearing.

4. Contact arrangement (100) according to any of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the holding tabs (116, 117, 128) are bent in a U-shape or V-shape.

5. Contact arrangement (100) according to any of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second holding region (113) is formed at a free end (115) of the at least one contact spring (111).

6. Contact arrangement (100) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the second holding region (113) has a holding tab (122), which engages around a free end (123) of the current bar (110) at least in regions.

7. Contact arrangement (100) according to any of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the at least one contact spring (111) has at least one contact region (124), which at least in a non-contacting state is arranged spaced apart from the current bar (110).

8. Contact arrangement (100) according to Claim 7, characterized in that the at least one contact region (124) is arranged between the first holding region (112) and the second holding region (113).

9. Contact arrangement (100) according to any of Claims 1 to 8, characterized by a housing (125), which encloses the at least one current bar (110) and the at least one contact spring (111) at least in regions.