Connection unit, connection arrangement and electronic device

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection unit (100) for connecting at least one connection element (200), comprising: - a housing (110); - a first contact element (114); - a second contact element (115) arranged opposite the first contact element (114), wherein at least one receiving chamber (116, 117) for clamping the at least one connection element (200) between the first contact element (114) and the second contact element (115) is formed between the first contact element (114) and the second contact element (115); and - at least one finger contact protection element (132) which at least partially covers the first contact element (114) and the second contact element (115) in the region of the at least one receiving chamber (116, 117), wherein the first contact element (114), the second contact element (115) and the finger contact protection element (132) are mounted floatingly in the housing (110).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a connection unit for connecting at least one connection element. The invention further relates to a connection arrangement and an electronic device.

[0002] A connection unit for connecting a connection element, such as a busbar, a busbar or a flat contact, is known, for example, from EP 2 846 411 B1. The connection unit comprises a pair of conductive components and a pretensioning element, which is placed between the pair of conductive components and pretensions the pair of conductive components towards each other, wherein the connection unit is adapted to be connected to a connecting object, which is inserted between the pair of conductive components by holding the connecting object between the pair of conductive components.The pair of conductive components each has a base section and a fastening section formed on the base section and connected to the prestressing element, wherein the base section of one of the conductive components and the base section of the other conductive component are arranged such that they are spaced apart from each other. At least one of the pair of conductive components has a support section that is integrally formed with the base section and extends from the side of the base section towards the other conductive component in order to be in contact with and support the other conductive component.Furthermore, each pair of conductive components has a first contact section for contact with the joining object and a second contact section for contact with another contact object, the second contact section being formed on the opposite side of the first contact section, relative to the fastening section located between them. At least one of the pair of conductive components integrally has, at a position opposite the side of the other conductive component, an inelastic contact-side engagement section for engagement with a joining-object-side engagement section formed on the joining object, the contact-side engagement section being formed on the side of the first contact section relative to the fastening section.At least one of the pair of conductive components further comprises an inclination control section, which protrudes at a position opposite the other conductive component and is adapted to limit the relative inclination between the connecting object and the contact. The inclination control section is located on the side of the first contact section with respect to the fastening section and between the support section and the contact-side engagement section.

[0003] EP 2 698 877 A1 also discloses such a connection unit, which additionally includes a floating finger contact protection element.

[0004] However, such a connection unit has a large width, requiring a significant amount of installation space. Furthermore, its manufacture is complex and expensive due to the numerous components and bends in those components.

[0005] DE 29 30 843 A1 relates to a connection unit for the electrical coupling of busbars, comprising opposing conductive plates which are pre-tensioned at their end sections by C-springs which are each located in the same plane, while housings which are mounted on insulating elements arranged between the ends of the busbars and parallel to the busbars ensure the support and insulation of the plates.

[0006] The invention is based on the objective of providing a connection unit, a connection arrangement and an electronic device which are characterized by a simplified design while simultaneously offering high safety for a user.

[0007] The problem is solved according to the invention by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0008] The connection unit according to the invention comprises a housing, a first contact element, and a second contact element arranged opposite the first contact element, wherein at least one receiving space for clamping the at least one connection element is formed between the first and second contact elements. Furthermore, the connection unit comprises at least one finger protection element which at least partially covers the first and second contact elements in the area of ​​the at least one receiving space, wherein the first contact element, the second contact element, and the finger protection element are floatingly mounted in the housing.

[0009] The connection unit has two contact elements which form at least one, preferably two, receiving spaces between them to electrically clamp one or two connection elements between them. A first receiving space can be formed at a first end region of the two contact elements, and a second receiving space can be formed at a second end region of the two contact elements opposite the first end region. In the area of ​​each receiving space, the housing preferably has an insertion opening for inserting the connection element to be connected. The insertion opening is preferably slot-shaped in the housing. To ensure safe connection of the connection element for a user, the connection unit has at least one finger protection element. The finger protection element is preferably made of a non-conductive insulating material, such as a plastic material.The finger protection element is positioned so that it covers the two contact elements in one of their receiving spaces, preventing a user from coming into contact with either contact element when positioning or inserting a connector into the receiving space. The connector unit is characterized in particular by the fact that the two contact elements and the finger protection element are mounted in a floating manner within the housing. This floating mounting allows the contact elements and the finger protection element to move relative to the housing. Relative movement between the two contact elements is also possible. Furthermore, the finger protection element can also move relative to the two contact elements.This allows for optimal adjustment of the positioning of the contact elements and the finger guard depending on the inserted connection element, particularly depending on the dimensions of the inserted connection element and the angle of insertion of the connection element into the receiving space. Due to the floating mounting, the contact elements and the finger guard do not have a fixed axis of rotation within the housing. This floating mounting allows the contact elements and the finger guard within the housing some play, enabling purely translational movement of the finger guard and contact elements. Furthermore, the contact elements can also perform rotational movement within the housing without a fixed pivot point.The connection unit therefore exhibits a high degree of adaptability to the connection element to be connected, while simultaneously offering high safety for the user and a simple design of the connection unit.

[0010] The housing can be designed in two parts, allowing for easy assembly of the contact elements and the finger protection element within the housing.

[0011] The housing preferably has a disc shape, so that the connection unit can have a small width and thus the required installation space for the connection unit can be reduced.

[0012] The finger protection element is preferably attached directly to the two contact elements, whereby the attachment can be formed by a movable mounting of the finger protection element on the first contact element and on the second contact element. This ensures a secure hold of the finger protection element on the contact elements while simultaneously allowing relative movement of the finger protection element to the contact elements.

[0013] The finger protection element can have a U-shape with a first leg and a second leg extending parallel to the first leg, wherein the first leg can at least partially cover the first contact element and the second leg can at least partially cover the second contact element. The finger protection element can provide finger protection for both the first and second contact elements with its two legs. The two legs preferably extend parallel to the length of the contact elements. The two legs preferably extend parallel to the insertion direction of a connecting element into the receiving space. The two legs of the finger protection element can be connected to each other via a connecting section, which can extend transversely to the insertion direction.The connecting section preferably extends in the insertion direction behind the receiving space for receiving the connecting element.

[0014] To facilitate the assembly of the finger guard, particularly at the two contact elements, the finger guard can be designed in two parts. During assembly, the two contact elements can be inserted into the finger guard before it is closed. The two parts of the finger guard are preferably symmetrical to each other. The two parts can be connected via a plug-in and / or snap-fit ​​connection once the two contact elements are inserted.

[0015] The finger protection element preferably has a smaller thickness, so that the finger protection element can be disc-shaped.

[0016] In order to achieve a bearing of the two contact elements while simultaneously allowing relative movement between the two contact elements, the first contact element and the second contact element are connected to each other via two spring elements.

[0017] According to the invention, the spring elements are bent wire springs. The spring elements can be hooked into openings formed on the two contact elements. The two spring elements are spaced apart from each other on the two contact elements. A first spring element is attached to the first end region of the two contact elements, and the second spring element is attached to the second end region of the two contact elements.

[0018] The spring elements are then preferably attached directly adjacent to the bearing of the finger contact protection element on the contact elements.

[0019] Preferably, the first contact element and the second contact element each have a first bearing point and a second bearing point spaced apart from the first bearing point. The first bearing point can hold the first contact element and the second contact element to the finger guard, and the second bearing point can hold the first contact element and the second contact element to the housing. The two contact elements can thus be supported on both the finger guard and the housing, with each contact element being supported and thus secured at its first end region on the finger guard and at its second end region on the housing. In the area where the contact elements are supported on the finger guard, they are preferably not directly connected to the housing.

[0020] Both the first and second bearing points of the two contact elements can be designed as elongated holes. For example, pins can be formed on the housing that protrude through the respective elongated hole at the second bearing point to movably mount the contact elements to the housing. Similarly, pins can be formed on the finger guard element that protrude through the respective elongated hole at the first bearing point to movably mount the two contact elements to the finger guard element. The elongated holes create a defined range of motion within which the relative movement of the contact elements to the housing or the finger guard element can occur.

[0021] The finger protection element can be suspended within the housing by means of a cam guide. The cam guide can be formed by the housing itself or by a wall of the housing, whereby a wall of the housing defines and limits the movement range of the finger protection element. The cam guide allows free movement of the finger protection element in several axes within defined limits. In particular, the cam guide enables movement of the finger protection element transversely to the insertion direction.

[0022] The contact elements are preferably not bent parts; rather, the first and second contact elements can each be designed as elongated metal sheets extending in a single plane. This results in a very compact and flat design, which reduces the overall size of the connection unit. Furthermore, the contact elements can be manufactured simply by stamping, eliminating the need for a subsequent, complex bending process. The two contact elements are preferably contour-identical to each other. They are preferably arranged symmetrically to each other along a longitudinal axis of the connection unit.

[0023] To ensure good and defined contact between the contact elements and the connecting element, the first and second contact elements can each have a contact area within the at least one receiving space. These contact areas can be rounded, at least in part. In the connected state, the contact elements rest directly against the connecting elements, so that a connected connecting element is clamped between a contact area of ​​the first contact element and a contact area of ​​the second connecting element. The rounding of the contact areas also facilitates the insertion of the connecting element into the receiving space between the two contact elements, as the connecting elements can be guided along the rounded surface into the desired position within the receiving space.The contact areas of the two contact elements can be curved towards each other, so that the receiving space can taper in the insertion direction.

[0024] The problem according to the invention is further solved by means of a connection arrangement which has several connection units arranged in a row, which are designed and further developed as described above.

[0025] The particularly narrow design of the connection units allows several units to be arranged side by side in a space-saving manner. To further reduce the required installation space, connection units arranged in a row can overlap each other, so that the interior of one connection unit can be covered and sealed by the housing of an adjacent connection unit. Only the housing of the last connection unit in the row would then be two-part, as it could have a cover for closing the housing.

[0026] The connection assembly can include a retaining frame, in which the multiple connection units arranged in series can be held. The retaining frame can have an opening through which the connection units arranged in a bundle can protrude. The retaining frame can thus enclose or encompass the connection units arranged in series. The retaining frame can, for example, be mounted in a wall opening, so that the connection units can be guided through the wall opening via the retaining frame and held in place therein. The wall can, for example, be the wall of an electronic device.

[0027] Furthermore, the problem according to the invention is solved with an electronic device which has at least one connection unit as described above, further developed and enhanced, and / or at least one connection arrangement as described above, further developed and enhanced.

[0028] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments.

[0029] They show Fig. 1 a schematic exploded view of a connection arrangement according to the invention, Fig. 2 a schematic representation of the in Fig. 1 The connection arrangement shown is partially assembled, Fig. 3 shows a further schematic representation of the connection arrangement shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 1 The connection arrangement shown is partially assembled, Fig. 4 a schematic representation of the Fig. 3 The connection arrangement shown with the finger protection element shifted downwards, Fig. 5 a schematic representation of the in Fig. 3 The connection arrangement shown with the finger protection element shifted upwards, Fig. 6 a schematic representation of the in Fig. 4 The connection arrangement shown with the inserted connection element, Fig. 7, is a schematic representation of the connection arrangement shown in Fig. 7 with the connection element inserted. Fig. 5 shown connection arrangement with inserted connection element, and Fig. 8 a schematic representation of the in Fig. 1 The connection arrangement shown is mounted in a wall opening.

[0030] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a connection arrangement 300. The connection arrangement 300 comprises several connection units 100 arranged in series. In the embodiment shown here, two connection elements 200 can be received on the connection units 100 and electrically connected by clamping them on opposite sides of the connection units 100. The connection elements 200 are designed in the form of busbars.

[0031] Each connection unit 100 has a housing 110, which is preferably made of an insulating material, such as a plastic material. Each housing 110 has two opposing insertion openings 111 through which a connection element 200 can be inserted.

[0032] The housings 110 are open on one side, so that during assembly the other parts of the connection unit 100 can be inserted into the interior 112 of the housing 110 and mounted therein. A housing 110 of a connection unit 100 can be closed by the housing 110 of the adjacent connection unit 100. The housing 110 of the last connection unit 100 in the series is closed by a housing cover 113.

[0033] Two contact elements 114 and 115 are arranged in the interior 112 of the housing 110 of a terminal unit 100. The contact elements 114 and 115 are identical in contour to each other. Each contact element 114 and 115 is designed as an elongated metal sheet extending in only one plane. The contact elements 114 and 115 are positioned in the housing 110 such that they are in at least one initial state, such as that described, for example, in Fig. 3 shown, essentially parallel to the insertion direction E of the connection elements 200 into the connection unit 100.

[0034] Between the two contact elements 114, 115, two receiving spaces 116, 117 are formed, into each of which a connecting element 200 can be inserted. A first receiving space 116 is formed at a first end region 118, 119 of the two contact elements 114, 115, and a second receiving space 117 is formed at a second end region 120, 121 of the two contact elements 114, 115, which is arranged opposite the first end region 118, 119.

[0035] In the area of ​​the receiving chambers 116, 117, the two contact elements 114, 115 each have a contact area 122, 123, 124, 125. The contact areas 122, 123, 124, 125 are each formed at the end regions 118, 118, 120, 121 of the contact elements 114, 115. The contact areas 122, 123, 124, 125 each extend along an edge surface of the contact elements 114, 115. The contact areas 122, 123, 124, 125 are partially rounded. The contact areas 122, 123, 124, 125 of the two contact elements 114, 115 are curved towards each other, so that the receiving space 116, 117 can taper in the insertion direction E.

[0036] The two contact elements 114, 115 are connected to each other via two spring elements 126, 127. The two spring elements 126, 127 are designed as bent wire springs. The spring elements 126, 127 are each bent into a U-shape. Openings 128, 129, 130, 131 are formed on the contact elements 114, 115, into which the spring elements 126, 127 are hooked and thereby attached to the contact elements 114, 115. The two spring elements 126, 127 are arranged at a distance from each other.

[0037] When a connecting element 200 is inserted or plugged into one of the connection areas 116, 117, the contact elements 114, 115 can be forced apart against the spring force of the respective spring element 126, 127 by means of the connecting element 200. Once the connecting element 200 is inserted into the respective receiving space 116, 117, the contact elements 114, 115 can be pressed against the inserted connecting element 200 by the spring force of the spring elements 126, 127 with their contact areas 122, 123, 124, 125, in order to clamp the connecting element 200 in a contacting manner. The mobility of the contact elements 114, 115 relative to each other and the floating mounting of the contact elements 114, 115 without a fixed axis of rotation enables the connection of differently designed, and in particular differently thick, connecting elements 200.

[0038] The connection units 100 each have a finger protection element 132. The finger protection element 132 is arranged here only in the area of ​​the first receiving space 116. However, it would also be possible for another finger protection element 132 to be arranged in the area of ​​the second receiving space 117. The finger protection element 132 covers the two contact elements 114, 115 in the area of ​​the receiving space 116, at least partially.

[0039] The finger protection element 132 has a U-shape, comprising two parallel legs 133, 134 and a connecting section 135 that joins the two legs 133, 134. The two legs 133, 134 extend parallel to the insertion direction E. The connecting section 135 extends transversely to the insertion direction E. The first leg 133 encompasses the first contact element 114, and the second leg 134 encompasses the second contact element 115. Each leg 133, 134 has a slot-shaped opening through which the contact elements 114, 115 can protrude with their contact areas 122, 123, 124, 125. The legs 133, 134 have insertion ramps 136, 137 at their free ends, which facilitate the insertion of the connecting element 200 into the receiving space 116, 117.

[0040] The finger protection element 132 is very narrow transverse to the insertion direction, so that the finger protection element 132 forms a disc shape.

[0041] To facilitate the assembly of the finger protection element 132 onto the two contact elements 114, 115, the finger protection element 132 is formed in two parts, consisting of a first part 138 and a second part 139. The two parts 138, 139 are essentially identical in contour to each other and each form part of the two legs 133, 134 and part of the connecting section 135. During assembly, the two contact elements 114, 115 can be inserted into the first part 138, and then the second part 139 can be mounted onto the first part 138. In the assembled state, the two contact elements 114, 115 extend between the two parts 138, 139 of the finger protection element 132.

[0042] As in the Fig. 2 bis 7 As can be seen, the two contact elements 114, 115 and the finger protection element 132 are floatingly mounted in the housing 110, so that the contact elements 114, 115 and the finger protection element 132 are movable relative to each other.

[0043] The two contact elements 114, 115 each have a first bearing point 140, 141 and a second bearing point 142, 143.

[0044] The first contact element 114 and the second contact element 115 are held on the finger protection element 132 by their first bearing point 140. The first bearing point 140, 141 of both contact elements 114 and 115 is designed as an elongated hole. Each of the two legs 133, 134 of the finger protection element 132 has a pin 144, 145, which projects into the elongated holes designed as first bearing points 140, 141, as shown, for example, in Fig. 3 This can be seen. The elongated holes allow the finger protection element 132 to be movably mounted on the two contact elements 114, 115, so that relative movement between the finger protection element 132 and the contact elements 114, 115 is possible. The elongated holes extend transversely to the insertion direction E. With their first end regions 118, 119, the two contact elements 114, 115 are thus only held on the finger protection element 132, and there is no connection between the housing 110 and the contact elements 114, 115.

[0045] At their second end regions 120, 121, the contact elements 114, 115 are held directly against the housing 110. The second bearing point 142, 143 formed at the second end regions 120, 121 thus serves to hold the contact elements 114, 115 against the housing 110. The second bearing point 142, 143 is also formed as an elongated hole for both contact elements 114, 115. Pins 146, 147 formed on the housing 110 project into the elongated holes, so that the contact elements 114, 115 are movably mounted on the housing 110. These elongated holes also extend transversely to the insertion direction E.

[0046] The finger protection element 132 is floatingly mounted in the housing 110 by means of a cam guide. The cam guide is formed by a wall 148 of the housing 110, which limits the movement of the finger protection element 132 within the interior 112 of the housing 110. The wall 148 is formed by an outer wall of the housing 110 as well as by an inner wall of the housing 110 extending transversely to the insertion direction E. The wall 148 is designed such that it allows movement of the finger protection element 132 transversely to the insertion direction E, and thus upwards and downwards, whereas movement of the finger protection element 132 in the insertion direction E is not possible.

[0047] At the in Fig. 4 In the position shown, a connecting element 200 is already inserted into the second receiving chamber 117 and clamped in contact. The connecting element 200 is not inserted into the first receiving chamber 116, so that the contact elements 114 and 115 are slightly angled relative to each other. The finger protection element 132 is shifted downwards here. Fig. 6 The connection element 200 is also plugged into the first recording room 116.

[0048] In the Fig. 5 and 7 In the illustrated embodiments, the finger contact protection element 132 is shifted upwards.

[0049] Fig. 8Figure 319 shows the connection assembly 300 mounted in a wall opening 410 of a wall 400. The connection assembly 300 has a retaining frame 310, which is frame-shaped. The retaining frame 319 has an opening 311 through which the connection units 100, arranged in series, are passed and held. The opening 311 is window-like. The retaining frame 310 has fastening elements 312, by means of which the retaining frame 310 can be attached to the wall 400, for example, by means of screw connections. Reference symbol list

[0050] 100 Connection unit 110 Housing 111 Insertion opening 112 Interior 113 Housing cover 114 Contact element 115 Contact element 116 Receiving space 117 Receiving space 118 End area 119 End area 120 End area 121 End area 122 Contact area 123 Contact area 124 Contact area 125 Contact area 126 Spring element 127 Spring element 128 Opening 129 Opening 130 Opening 131 Opening 132 Finger contact protection element 133 Leg 134 Leg 135 Connecting section 136 Insertion ramp 137 Insertion ramp 138 First part 139 Second part 140 First bearing point 141 First bearing point 142 Second bearing point 143 Second bearing point 144 tenons 145 tenons 146 tenons 147 tenons 148 wall 200 connection element 300 Connection arrangement 310 Mounting frame 311 Opening 312 Fastening element 400 wall 410 wall opening Insertion direction

Claims

1. Connection unit (100) for connecting at least one connection element (200), comprising - a housing (110), - a first contact element (114), - a second contact element (115) arranged opposite the first contact element (114), - wherein at least one receiving space (116, 117) is formed between the first contact element (114) and the second contact element (115) for clamping the at least one connection element (200) between the first contact element (114) and the second contact element (115), and - at least one finger touch protection element (132), which at least partially covers the first contact element (114) and the second contact element (115) in the region of the at least one receiving space (116, 117), - wherein the first contact element (114), the second contact element (115) and the finger touch protection element (132) are mounted in a floating manner in the housing (110), - wherein the first contact element (114) and the second contact element (115) are connected to one another via two spring elements (126, 127) that are arranged in a manner spaced apart from one another on the two contact elements (114, 115), wherein the first spring element (126) is attached to the first end region (118, 119) of the two contact elements (114, 115) and the second spring element (127) is attached to the second end region (120, 121) of the two contact elements (114, 115), wherein the two spring elements (126, 127) are each in the form of a bent wire spring and are each bent in a U shape.

2. Connection unit (100) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the finger touch protection element (132) is mounted movably on the first contact element (114) and on the second contact element (115).

3. Connection unit (100) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the finger touch protection element (132) has a U shape with a first limb (133) and a second limb (134) formed parallel to the first limb (133), wherein the first limb (133) covers the first contact element (114) at least in certain regions and the second limb (134) covers the second contact element (115) at least in certain regions.

4. Connection unit (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the finger touch protection element (132) is formed in two parts.

5. Connection unit (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first contact element (114) and the second contact element (115) each have a first bearing point (140, 141) and a second bearing point (142, 143) arranged in a manner spaced apart from the first bearing point (140, 141), wherein the first bearing point (140, 141) is used to hold the first contact element (114) and the second contact element (115) on the finger touch protection element (132) and the second bearing point (142, 143) is used to hold the first contact element (114) and the second contact element (115) on the housing (110).

6. Connection unit (100) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the first bearing point (140, 141) and the second bearing point (142, 143) of the two contact elements (114, 115) are each in the form of a slot.

7. Connection unit (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the finger touch protection element (132) is mounted in a floating manner in the housing (110) by means of a slotted guide.

8. Connection unit (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the first contact element (114) and the second contact element (115) are each in the form of an elongate metal sheet extending in a plane.

9. Connection unit (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, in the region of the at least one receiving space (116, 117), the first contact element (114) and the second contact element (115) each have a contact region (122, 123, 124, 125), at least sections of which are rounded.

10. Connection arrangement (300), comprising a plurality of connection units (100) that are arranged next to one another in a row and are formed according to one of Claims 1 to 9.

11. Connection arrangement (300) according to Claim 10, characterized by a holding frame (310), wherein the plurality of connection units (100) that are arranged next to one another in a row are held in the holding frame (310).

12. Electronic device, comprising at least one connection unit (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 9 and / or comprising at least one connection arrangement (300) according to Claim 10 or 11.

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