Terminal

Abstract

The invention relates to a terminal (100) for connecting an electrical conductor (200), comprising: a housing (10); a current bar (12) disposed in the housing (10); a clamping spring (13), disposed in the housing (10), for clamping the conductor (200) to be connected against the current bar (12) in a conductor connection chamber (15) formed between the current bar (12) and the clamping spring (13); and an actuation element (14) that is slidably mounted in the housing (10), wherein a clamping leg (17) of the clamping spring (13) can be actuated by means of the actuation element (14) to transfer the clamping leg (17) from a clamped position into an open position, and the clamping leg (17) has at least one glide runner (22, 23) which interacts with at least one pressure surface (20, 21) formed on the actuation element (14) when the clamping leg (17) is being transferred from the clamped position into the open position, such that the at least one glide runner (22, 23) of the clamping leg (17) glides along the at least one pressure surface (20, 21).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a terminal block for connecting an electrical conductor, comprising a housing, a current bar arranged in the housing, a clamping spring arranged in the housing for clamping the conductor to be connected against the current bar in a conductor connection space formed between the current bar and the clamping spring, and an actuating element which is slidably mounted in the housing, wherein a clamping leg of the clamping spring can be actuated by means of the actuating element to move the clamping leg from a clamping position to an open position.

[0002] Such terminal blocks are known in various designs. The actuating element is usually pin-shaped and presses against the clamping arm of the clamping spring to move the clamping arm from the clamped position, in which it is clamped against the current bar, to the open position, in which it is spaced apart from the current bar. The actuating element has a point of contact with the clamping arm. When the clamping arm is actuated by the actuating element, this point of contact moves along the longitudinal extent of the clamping arm on its surface.The point of application of the actuating element moves along the surface of the clamping leg from a point initially located relatively far inwards, near the bending joint of the clamping spring, away from the bending joint to an outer point on the surface of the clamping leg. Accordingly, releasing a connected, clamped conductor, i.e., actuating the actuating element and moving it along the direction of actuation, initially requires a relatively high force, while the force required is only reduced at the end of this actuating process due to the outward shift of the point of application of the actuating element on the clamping leg. DE 10 2010 025930 A1 describes a terminal block according to the preamble of claim 1, wherein the terminal block comprises a clamping spring and an actuating element.The clamping leg of the clamping spring has a clamping tab and at least one side tab arranged laterally to the clamping tab, wherein a clamping edge for clamping the conductor to be connected against the current bar is formed at a free end of the clamping tab, and wherein at least one sliding skid is formed on the at least one side tab, which interacts with at least one pressure surface formed on the actuating element when moving the clamping leg from the clamping position to the open position.

[0003] The invention is therefore based on the objective of providing a terminal block in which the handling can be improved, in particular in which the force required to actuate the actuating element and thus the actuating force to be applied to the clamping spring by means of the actuating element can be reduced.

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

[0005] The terminal clamp according to the invention is characterized in that the clamping leg has at least one sliding skid which interacts with at least one pressure surface formed on the actuating element when the clamping leg is moved from the clamping position to the open position in such a way that the clamping leg slides with the at least one sliding skid along the at least one pressure surface.

[0006] According to the invention, the point of application of the actuating element no longer moves along the surface of the clamping leg when the clamping spring is actuated, but rather the point of application remains fixed in a constant position on the clamping leg, in particular on the sliding surface of the clamping leg. This ensures that the actuating element applies force to the clamping leg at a constant point of application during an actuation process. This point of application is formed by at least one sliding surface of the clamping leg. As a result, a more consistent force is required during an actuation process, and less force is needed from the very beginning of the actuation process. Furthermore, a significantly lower actuation force is no longer required to initiate the actuation process, as is the case with conventional terminal blocks.During the actuation process, the sliding shoe moves along the pressure surface of the actuating element. This pressure surface thus forms a kind of running contour, or sliding or contact contour, which ensures that the actuating element remains in continuous contact with the same point of contact on the clamping arm, namely with the sliding shoe of the clamping arm. The pressure surface is preferably formed on an end face of the actuating element facing the clamping spring. The resulting reduction in the force required to actuate the clamping spring using the actuating element improves the handling of the terminal block for the user.

[0007] The pressure surface formed on the actuating element preferably has an arc shape. During actuation, the sliding shoe can slide along this arc. The arc shape allows the sliding shoe to perform a rolling motion along the pressure surface during actuation, enabling the clamping arm to pivot while the actuating element executes a purely linear or translational movement when the clamping arm is actuated. The purely linear or translational actuation direction of the actuating element is preferably perpendicular to the insertion direction of the conductor to be connected into the terminal housing.

[0008] The actuating element preferably has at least one actuating arm, wherein the at least one actuating arm can delimit the conductor connection space transversely to the insertion direction of the conductor into the conductor connection space, and wherein the at least one pressure surface can be formed on a side surface of the at least one actuating arm facing the clamping spring. By laterally delimiting the conductor connection space, which is formed between the current bar and the clamping spring and into which the conductor to be connected is inserted, incorrect insertion of the conductor into this conductor connection space can be prevented, since the actuating arm of the actuating element forms a kind of lateral boundary wall of the conductor connection space.The conductor connection space can thus be bounded above by the current bar, below by the clamping leg of the clamping spring, and laterally by the actuating arm, ensuring secure insertion of the conductor into the connection space. Even during the clamping process, the actuating arm prevents individual strands of the conductor from shifting laterally due to settling. The actuating arm allows the actuating element to overlap the current bar and at least the clamping leg of the clamping spring laterally. Even when the clamping spring is not actuated, i.e., when the clamping leg rests against the current bar, at least one actuating arm of the actuating element extends beyond the conductor connection space and thus the current bar, preventing any lateral movement of the conductor being connected.

[0009] The actuating arm can have a first longitudinal side surface which may be longer than a second longitudinal side surface opposite the first, with the at least one pressure surface extending from the first longitudinal side surface to the second longitudinal side surface. If one longitudinal side surface is longer than the other longitudinal side surface of the actuating arm, the actuating arm can form or shape a kind of extension nose in the area of ​​the longer longitudinal side surface. The longer longitudinal side surface, and thus the extension nose, is preferably formed on the actuating arm where the actuating arm laterally projects beyond the clamping edge of the clamping leg. This ensures that, particularly in the area of ​​the clamping edge, lateral misinsertion of the conductor to be connected can be reliably prevented.If the pressure surface extends from the first longitudinal side surface to the second longitudinal side surface, it can extend across the entire width of the actuating arm. This allows the area along which the sliding shoe can move or slide during the actuating process to be particularly long, thus utilizing the entire width of the actuating arm. This also makes it possible, in particular, to connect conductors with a large cross-section.

[0010] The at least one sliding shoe preferably has an arc shape. The sliding shoe is thus preferably curved. Preferably, the sliding shoe is convex in the direction of the pressure surface. The point of contact of the sliding shoe on the pressure surface of the actuating element is preferably located at the apex of the convexity or at the apex of the arc shape of the sliding shoe. By forming the point of contact at the apex, the point of contact can be particularly well defined on the sliding shoe.

[0011] The clamping leg has a clamping tab and at least one side tab arranged laterally to the clamping tab, wherein a clamping edge for clamping the conductor to be connected against the current bar is formed at a free end of the clamping tab, and wherein at least one sliding skid is formed on the at least one side tab. The sliding skid is thus formed on a side tab of the clamping leg that is arranged separately from the clamping tab on which the clamping edge is formed.

[0012] This allows the function of actuating the clamping arm by means of the actuating element to be separated from the clamping of the conductor to be connected via the clamping tab. The side tab preferably runs parallel to the clamping tab. The side tab preferably forms an outer edge of the clamping arm. A clearance is preferably formed between the side tab and the clamping tab, so that the side tab is preferably spaced apart from the clamping tab.

[0013] The clamping tab is designed in relation to the side tab such that it projects beyond at least one side tab in the longitudinal direction of the clamping leg. This allows the sliding skid to be set back relative to the clamping edge of the clamping leg in the direction of the bending joint of the clamping spring. This setback arrangement of the at least one side tab, and thus the at least one sliding skid, relative to the clamping edge ensures that even when the clamping spring is not actuated and the clamping leg rests against the current bar, the at least one actuating arm can project laterally beyond the current bar and thus the conductor connection space. This reliably prevents lateral displacement of the conductor to be connected when it is inserted into the conductor connection space.

[0014] To improve the interaction between the actuating element and the clamping spring or its clamping leg, and to achieve a more even force distribution on the clamping leg during actuation, the clamping leg can have a second sliding shoe and the actuating element a second pressure surface. When the clamping leg moves from the clamping position to the open position, the second sliding shoe and the second pressure surface interact in such a way that the clamping leg can slide along the second pressure surface. During actuation, the actuating element can then simultaneously apply force to both sliding shoes of the clamping leg with its two pressure surfaces, allowing the two sliding shoes to slide symmetrically along their respective pressure surfaces on the actuating element.By guiding the actuating element over two pressure surfaces on two sliding skids, tilting of the actuating element during the actuation process can be prevented, thus also achieving more uniform guidance of the clamping leg during the actuation process.

[0015] The actuating element can then have a second actuating arm, on which a second pressure surface can be formed on a side surface facing the clamping spring. The first and second actuating arms can be arranged opposite each other and each can laterally define an opening in the actuating element through which the current conductor can be guided and the conductor to be connected can be routed. The actuating element can have a U-shape due to the two actuating arms, with an opening within the actuating element formed by the two actuating arms, which are spaced apart from each other. The conductor connection compartment can be formed in this opening, so that the conductor connection compartment can be bounded on two sides by the actuating element.The two actuating arms prevent the conductor being inserted incorrectly to the side, both to the right and to the left. The two actuating arms are preferably symmetrical to each other.

[0016] The clamping leg can have a second side tab arranged laterally to the clamping lug, with the second sliding skid being formed on the second side tab, and the clamping lug being arranged between the first and second side tabs. This allows the clamping leg of the clamping spring to be symmetrical. The clamping leg can thus be subjected to force from the actuating element on both sides of the clamping lug during an actuation process, resulting in a particularly even force distribution on the clamping leg of the clamping spring.

[0017] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments.

[0018] They show: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a terminal block according to the invention in a clamping position of the clamping leg of the clamping spring, Fig. 2 a schematic representation of the in Fig. 1 The terminal block shown with the clamping leg of the clamping spring in an open position, Fig. 3 a schematic representation of the in Fig. 1 The terminal block shown with a connected conductor, Fig. 4 a schematic representation of the actuating element, the clamping spring and the current bar of the in Fig. 1 The terminal shown is in the clamping position of the clamping leg of the clamping spring, Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of the actuating element, the clamping spring and the current bar of the Fig. 1The terminal shown is in the open position of the clamping leg of the clamping spring, Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of the actuating element, the clamping spring and the current bar of the Fig. 1 Fig. 7 shows a terminal block with a connected conductor, Fig. 7 a schematic representation of an actuating element, a clamping spring and a current bar according to a further terminal block according to the invention with the clamping leg of the clamping spring in the clamping position, and Fig. 8 a schematic representation of the actuating element, the clamping spring and the current bar according to the one shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 7 The illustrated design includes an attached conductor.

[0019] Figs. 1 to 6 They show a terminal block 100 for connecting an electrical conductor 200, such as that found in Fig. 3 shown.

[0020] The terminal block 100 has a housing 10, which can be designed as an insulating housing. The housing 10 has a conductor entry opening 11 through which the conductor 200 to be connected can be inserted into the housing 10. A current bar 12, a clamping spring 13, and an actuating element 14 for actuating the clamping spring 13 are arranged in the housing 10.

[0021] As in Fig. 5 As can be seen in which the terminal block 100 is shown without the housing 10, a conductor connection space 15 is formed between the current bar 12 and the clamping spring 13, within which the conductor 200 is connected and thus clamped.

[0022] The clamping spring 13 is designed as a torsion spring. It has a retaining leg 16, a clamping leg 17 and a bending joint 18 formed between the retaining leg 16 and the clamping leg 17, as shown in particular in Fig. 4The diagram shows the terminal block 100 without its housing 10. The retaining arm 16 hooks the clamping spring 13 onto the current bar 12 and secures it. The clamping arm 17 is movable relative to the retaining arm 16, in particular pivotable. The clamping arm 17 allows the conductor 200 to be clamped against the current bar 12.

[0023] The actuating element 14 is slidably mounted in the housing 10. Moving the clamping leg 17 of the clamping spring 13 from a clamping position, such as that found, for example, in Fig. 1 and 4 as shown, into an open position, such as that shown, for example, in Fig. 2 and 5 As shown, this is done by means of a displacement movement of the actuating element 14, whereby the actuating element 14 is moved purely linearly along the actuating direction B.

[0024] The actuation direction B of the actuating element 14 extends transversely or perpendicularly to an insertion direction E of the conductor 200 into the housing 10.

[0025] The actuating element 14 is elongated. On one end face, the actuating element 14 has an actuating surface 19, via which the actuating element 14 can be actuated, for example, by means of a tool such as a screwdriver. On an end face opposite this end face, where the actuating surface 19 is formed, the actuating element 14 has a pressure surface 20, 21, which interacts with the clamping leg 17 of the clamping spring 13 to apply a force from the actuating element 14 to the clamping leg 17 of the clamping spring 13 and thus move the clamping leg 17 from the clamping position to the open position.

[0026] For this purpose, a sliding shoe 22, 23 is formed on the clamping leg 17, which interacts with the pressure surface 20, 21 of the actuating element 14 in such a way that during an actuation process the clamping leg 17 with the sliding shoe 22, 23 slides along the pressure surface 20, 21.

[0027] At the in Figs. 1 to 6 In the embodiment shown, the actuating element 14 has two pressure surfaces 20, 21 which run parallel to each other. The clamping leg 17 also has two sliding skids 22, 23 which run parallel to each other.

[0028] The pressure surface 20, 21 has an arc shape, so that the sliding skids 22, 23 describe a curve shape when sliding along the pressure surfaces 20, 21.

[0029] The actuating element 14 has two parallel actuating arms 24, 25, each with a pressure surface 20, 21. The two actuating arms 24, 25 are spaced apart from each other, so that an opening 26 is formed between them. The current bar 12 passes through this opening, and the conductor 200 to be connected passes through this opening. The opening 26 forms the conductor connection space 15, which is laterally bounded by the two actuating arms 24, 25. The conductor connection space 15 is bounded above by the current bar 12 and below by the clamping leg 17 of the clamping spring 13.

[0030] Each of the two actuating arms 24, 25 has a first longitudinal side surface 27 and a second longitudinal side surface 28 opposite the first longitudinal side surface 27. The first longitudinal side surface 27 is longer than the second longitudinal side surface 28, so that in the area of ​​the first longitudinal side surface 27, the respective actuating arm 24, 25 has a kind of extension nose 29. The longer first longitudinal side surface 27, and thus the extension nose 29, is formed in the area of ​​the clamping edge 30 of the clamping leg 17.

[0031] The pressure surfaces 20, 21 each extend between the first longitudinal side surface 27 and the second longitudinal side surface 28, so that the pressure surfaces 20, 21 extend over the entire width of the actuating arms 24, 25.

[0032] The clamping leg 17 of the clamping spring 13 exhibits, in the Figs. 1 to 6The embodiment shown comprises a clamping tab 31 and two side tabs 32, 33 formed laterally to the clamping tab 31. Each of the two sliding skids 22, 23 is formed on one of the two side tabs 32, 33. The clamping edge 30 is formed on the clamping tab 31, by means of which the conductor 200 to be connected is clamped against the current bar 12.

[0033] The clamping tab 31 is longer than the two side tabs 32, 33, so that the clamping tab 31 extends beyond the two side tabs 32, 33. The two side tabs 32, 33, and thus the two sliding skids 22, 23, are therefore set back from the clamping edge 30 in the direction of the bending joint 18 of the clamping spring 13.

[0034] The clamping tab 31 is essentially straight. The two side tabs 32, 33, however, are curved, so that the sliding skids 22, 23 have an arc shape. The sliding skids 22, 23 are each curved in the direction of the pressure surfaces 20, 21. The point of contact of the sliding skids 22, 23 with the pressure surfaces 20, 21 of the actuating element 14 is located at the apex of the curve or at the apex of the arc shape of the sliding skids 22, 23.

[0035] If a conductor 200 is inserted into the terminal block 100 and clamped to the current bar 12 by means of the clamping spring 13, the sliding skids 22, 23 are arranged spaced apart from the pressure surfaces 20, 21, as shown in Fig. 3 and 6 It can be seen that during clamping of a conductor 200, no contact is formed between the actuating element 14 and the clamping spring 13.

[0036] In Figs. 7 and 8An embodiment is shown in which only one sliding shoe 22 is formed on the clamping leg 17 of the clamping spring 13, and only one pressure surface 20 is formed on the actuating element 14. The actuating element 14 has only one actuating arm 24, on which the pressure surface 20 is formed. The clamping spring 13 has a clamping tab 31 on its clamping leg 17, on which the clamping edge 30 is formed, and a side tab 32, on which the sliding shoe 22 is formed.

[0037] The actuating element 14 and the clamping leg 17 of the clamping spring 13 are, in contrast to the one in Figs. 1 to 6 The design shown is asymmetrically formed. The functionality of the Fig. 6 and 7 The terminal block 100 shown is nevertheless the same as the one in Figs. 1 to 6 terminal block 100 shown. Reference symbol list

[0038] 100 Terminal block 10 Housing 11 Conductor entry opening 12 Current bar 13 Clamping spring 14 Actuating element 15 Conductor connection compartment 16 Retaining leg 17 Clamping leg 18 Bending joint 19 Actuating surface 20 Pressure surface 21 Pressure surface 22 Sliding shoe 23 Sliding shoe 24 Actuating arm 25 Actuating arm 26 Opening 27 First longitudinal side surface 28 Second longitudinal side surface 29 Extension nose 30 Clamping edge 31 Clamping tab 32 Side tab 33 Side tab 200 ladders B Actuation direction E Insertion direction

Claims

1. Terminal (100) for connecting an electrical conductor (200), having a housing (10), a current bar (12) disposed in the housing (10), a clamping spring (13), which is disposed in the housing (10), for clamping the conductor (200) to be connected against the current bar (12) in a conductor connection chamber (15) formed between the current bar (12) and the clamping spring (13), and an activating element (14) which is mounted so as to be displaceable in the housing (10), wherein a clamping leg (17) of the clamping spring (13), for transferring the clamping leg (17) from a clamping position to an open position, is activatable by means of the activating element (14), wherein the clamping leg (17) has at least one sliding skid (22, 23) which, when transferring the clamping leg (17) from the clamping position to the open position, interacts with at least one pressure surface (20, 21) formed on the activating element (14) in such a manner that the clamping leg (17) slides by way of the at least one sliding skid (22, 23) along the at least one pressure surface (20, 21), wherein the clamping leg (17) has a clamping tab (31) and at least one lateral tab (32, 33) disposed laterally to the clamping tab (31), wherein formed at a free end of the clamping tab (31) is a clamping edge (30) for clamping the conductor (200) to be connected against the current bar (12), and wherein the at least one sliding skid (22, 23) is formed on the at least one lateral tab (32, 33), characterized in that the clamping tab (31) protrudes beyond the at least one lateral tab (32, 33) in the longitudinal direction of the clamping leg (17).

2. Terminal (100) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the at least one pressure surface (20, 21) has an arcuate shape.

3. Terminal (100) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the activating element (14) has at least one activation arm (24, 25), wherein the at least one activation arm (24, 25) delimits the conductor connection chamber (15) transversely to the insertion direction (E) of the conductor (200) into the conductor connection chamber (15), and wherein the at least one pressure surface (20, 21) is formed on a lateral surface of the at least one activation arm (24, 25) that faces the clamping spring (13).

4. Terminal (100) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the at least one activation arm (24, 25) has a first longitudinal lateral surface (27) which is longer than a second longitudinal lateral surface (28) that lies opposite the first longitudinal lateral surface (27), wherein the at least one pressure surface (20, 21) extends from the first longitudinal lateral surface (27) to the second longitudinal lateral surface (28).

5. Terminal (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one sliding skid (22, 23) has an arcuate shape.

6. Terminal (100) according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the clamping leg (17) has a second sliding skid (22, 23) and the activating element (14) has a second pressure surface (20, 21), wherein the second sliding skid (22, 23) and the second pressure surface (20, 21), when transferring the clamping leg (17) from the clamping position to the open position, interact in such a manner that the clamping leg (17) slides by way of the second sliding skid (22, 23) along the second pressure surface (20, 21).

7. Terminal (100) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the activating element (14) has a second activation arm (24, 25) on which the second pressure surface (20, 21) is formed on a lateral surface that faces the clamping spring (13), wherein the first activation arm (24, 25) and the second activation arm (24, 25) are disposed opposite one another and each laterally delimit an opening (26) of the activating element (14) through which the current bar (12) is guided and the conductor (200) to be connected is able to be guided.

8. Terminal (100) according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the clamping leg (17) has a second lateral tab (32, 33) disposed laterally to the clamping tab (31), wherein the second sliding skid (22, 23) is formed on the second lateral tab (32, 33), wherein the clamping tab (31) is disposed between the first lateral tab (32, 33) and the second lateral tab (32, 33).

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