Assembly with conductor marking element and method for marking and connecting an electrical conductor

Abstract

The invention relates to a conductor marking element for marking at least one electrical conductor, wherein the conductor marking element comprises at least one retaining element for mechanically holding the conductor marking element on the at least one electrical conductor. The invention further relates to an arrangement with a conductor terminal, at least one such conductor marking element, and at least one electrical conductor. The invention also relates to a method for marking and connecting an electrical conductor to a conductor terminal.

Description

[0001] The invention further relates to an arrangement comprising a conductor connection terminal, at least one such conductor marking element for marking at least one electrical conductor, wherein the conductor marking element has at least one holding element for mechanically holding the conductor marking element to the at least one electrical conductor, and at least one electrical conductor. The invention further relates to a method for marking and connecting an electrical conductor to a conductor connection terminal.

[0002] A conductor marking element is known, for example, from DE 20 2013 102 301 U1. Bare terminal blocks for neutral or protective conductor connections are known from DE 24 02 087 A1. A connector for connecting electrical cables is known from KR 101376294 B1.

[0003] The invention is based on the object of specifying an arrangement with a conductor marking element with improved functionality and a method for marking and connecting an electrical conductor to a conductor connection terminal.

[0004] This object is achieved with an arrangement having a conductor connection terminal, at least one electrical conductor, and at least one conductor marking element for marking at least the electrical conductor according to claim 1. This includes the conductor marking element having at least one blocking element with which an actuating element, in particular a pivotable actuating lever, of a conductor connection terminal can be blocked in a predetermined position, in particular in a closed position, when the conductor marking element is held by the holding element on the at least one electrical conductor and the at least one electrical conductor is connected to a conductor terminal connection of the conductor connection terminal. Furthermore, the conductor marking element should be fastened to the conductor connection terminal, e.g. plugged onto the conductor connection terminal.The conductor marking element has the advantage of offering additional functionality beyond the pure marking of electrical conductors. Advantageously, the conductor marking element according to the invention, particularly in conjunction with conductor connection terminals that have an actuating element, enables these to be locked in a specific operating state by blocking the actuating element using the blocking element. Such a blocked actuating element can no longer be easily moved to another position, e.g., from a closed position to an open position, at least not without manipulating the conductor marking element.

[0005] In this way, a conductor marking element with an integrated locking mechanism for an actuating element of the conductor connection terminal can be provided. Furthermore, the conductor marking element according to the invention can be very easily and ergonomically attached to an electrical conductor and allows for reliable marking of electrical conductors in a simple manner.

[0006] The conductor marking element can be designed in particular for conductor connection terminals with multiple conductor connection points (multi-pole conductor connection terminals), i.e. with multiple conductor clamp connections. In this case, the width of the conductor marking element can be adapted to the pitch width of the conductor connection terminal, i.e. the width of the conductor marking element is equal to or smaller than the width of a conductor connection area in which an electrical conductor can be connected to a conductor clamp connection of the conductor connection terminal. This has the advantage that even several directly adjacent conductor connection areas or conductor clamp connections of the conductor connection terminal can be provided with such conductor marking elements. In other words, each or a specific number of electrical conductors is provided with a separate conductor marking element.

[0007] Alternatively, a conductor marking element could also be conceivable, comprising two or more adjacent holding elements for two or more electrical conductors. Accordingly, the blocking element can then be designed such that two or more actuating levers can be blocked simultaneously.

[0008] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the holding element has a through-opening in at least one wall of the conductor marking element, the through-opening being completely surrounded by the material of the conductor marking element, wherein the electrical conductor can be guided through the through-opening. In this way, the conductor marking element can be threaded over the electrical conductor. The conductor marking element can then no longer detach from the electrical conductor and therefore cannot be lost. Furthermore, the conductor marking element can then be reliably guided along the electrical conductor to the correct position on the conductor connection terminal to block the actuating element.

[0009] For example, the conductor marker can be slid "loosely" onto the electrical conductor, holding it in place. It is also possible to clamp the conductor marker firmly to the conductor if a specific conductor insulation cross-section is used.

[0010] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the conductor marking element has at least one connecting element with which the conductor marking element can be secured to the conductor connection terminal by means of a positive fit, in particular by latching. This allows simple and quick attachment of the conductor marking element to the conductor connection terminal. The connecting element can be used to secure the conductor marking element, in particular, to the housing and / or to the actuating element of the conductor connection terminal. The connecting element can be designed, for example, as a latching element, e.g., as a latching projection or latching recess, depending on the method required to enable simple and reliable attachment to the conductor connection terminal.

[0011] According to the invention, the conductor marking element has at least one base wall and at least one side leg arranged at an angle to the base wall and protruding from the base wall. The conductor marking element can, for example, be L-shaped if only one side leg is present. The at least one side leg can be arranged at one end of the base wall. If, for example, two side legs are present, these can be arranged at opposite ends of the base wall. The through-opening for passing through the electrical conductor can be arranged in the base wall. The at least one side leg can be arranged substantially at right angles to the base wall.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the conductor marking element is U-shaped with two spaced-apart side legs, each protruding from the base wall. This allows for simple, intuitive, and secure attachment of the conductor marking element to the conductor terminal. The conductor marking element can thus overlap a conductor terminal on the outside like a clamp. The side legs can run essentially parallel to each other, at least when the conductor marking element is attached to the conductor terminal.

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the base wall comprises or forms the retaining element. The base wall can be formed, for example, as a flat plate with the through-opening in the center or at another location. The material of the base wall surrounding the through-opening then forms the retaining element for holding the conductor marking element to the electrical conductor.

[0014] According to the invention, at least one side leg comprises or forms the blocking element. The side leg can, for example, be designed in the manner of a flat plate, with at least a portion of this plate forming the blocking element.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one side leg comprises or forms a connecting element. In this way, the side legs can also comprise integrated connecting elements. Such a connecting element can be arranged, in particular, at the free end of a side leg. If a connecting element is arranged on each of the side legs, the connecting elements can be arranged on the surfaces of the side legs facing each other.

[0016] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the conductor marking element has at least one marking surface for marking the electrical conductor with at least one typographical or other graphic symbol. This allows reliable and easily recognizable marking of the electrical conductor by means of the conductor marking element. The conductor marking element can already be provided with a typographical or other graphic symbol on the marking surface in the manufactured state. Alternatively, the marking surface can also be completely or partially unlabeled, i.e. designed as a free surface so that the user can affix a corresponding marking there. In particular, a respective outward-facing surface of a side limb or both side limbs can be provided as the marking surface.

[0017] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the conductor marking element is designed as a plastic component, e.g., entirely without electrically conductive components. This allows for cost-effective production of the conductor marking element, e.g., in a plastic injection molding process. Furthermore, the conductor marking element is then relatively light, so that the overall weight of an arrangement comprising a conductor connection terminal, electrical conductors, and one or more conductor marking elements is not significantly increased by these conductor marking elements. All mentioned parts of the conductor marking element can be designed as a single-piece unit, i.e., molded in one piece.

[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the conductor marking element is made entirely or predominantly of transparent material. This has the advantage that, even in the final assembly state on the conductor terminal, the conductor marking element does not, or only slightly, obstruct the view of certain underlying components, such as the actuating element.

[0019] Depending on requirements, several conductor marking elements can be arranged on the respective electrical conductors in the arrangement so that several electrical conductors can be provided with corresponding markings by the conductor marking elements.

[0020] The actuating element can, for example, be in a closed position when the conductor marking element is held by the holding element on the at least one electrical conductor and the at least one electrical conductor is connected to a conductor clamp connection of the conductor connection terminal, and cannot be moved into an open position because it is blocked. In the closed position, the electrical conductor is clamped to a conductor clamp connection in the conductor connection terminal, for example by means of a spring-loaded clamp connection of the conductor connection terminal. In the open position, the electrical conductor is not clamped and can therefore be inserted into or removed from the conductor connection terminal without effort. The electrical conductor can be an insulated electrical conductor having an electrically conductive core and an insulating layer enclosing this core.The electrical conductor can in particular be designed as a cable.

[0021] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the conductor marking element overlaps the conductor terminal on opposite sides of the conductor terminal in the manner of a clamp. In this way, the conductor marking element can be easily and reliably attached to the conductor terminal and can also be designed to be relatively narrow, so that its width does not exceed the pitch width of the conductor terminal.

[0022] The object mentioned above is also achieved by a method for marking and connecting an electrical conductor for producing an arrangement of the type explained above according to claim 11. The method includes, among other things, the following steps: a) Attaching a conductor marking element with a holding element to the electrical conductor, b) Electrically connecting this electrical conductor to a conductor clamp connection of a conductor connection terminal, wherein an actuating element of the conductor connection terminal assigned to this conductor clamp connection is in a closed position or is transferred to a closed position, c) Sliding the conductor marking element along the electrical conductor onto the conductor connection terminal until the actuating element of the conductor connection terminal assigned to this conductor clamp connection is blocked by a blocking element.

[0023] This also allows the previously discussed advantages to be realized. At the end of this process, the actuating element cannot be moved into the open position because it is blocked by the locking element. The conductor marking element can be secured to the conductor terminal via its connecting element, e.g., by locking.

[0024] For the purposes of the present invention, the indefinite term "a" is not to be understood as a numerical term. Therefore, if, for example, a component is mentioned, this should be interpreted as "at least one component." Angles expressed in degrees refer to a circle of 360 degrees (360°). The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments and drawings.

[0025] It shows Figures 1, 2 show a conductor marking element in different perspective views, Figure 3 shows electrical conductors and conductor marking elements, Figure 4 shows an arrangement with a conductor connection terminal, a conductor marking element and electrical conductors.

[0026] As the Figures 1 and 2 show, the conductor marking element 1 can be designed as a one-piece or multi-piece unit, which has a base wall 2 and two side legs 3, 4 arranged at mutually facing ends of the base wall 2 and projecting substantially parallel to each other. The side legs 3, 4 can, for example, be arranged at right angles to the base wall 2 or, as in particular the Figure 2As illustrated, at a slightly smaller angle than 90°, so that the side legs 3, 4 extend toward each other toward the free end. A through-opening 5 is provided in the base wall 2, through which an electrical conductor to be marked with the conductor marking element 1 can be passed. This forms a holding element for mechanically holding the conductor marking element 1 to the electrical conductor.

[0027] One or both side legs 3, 4 can have an area on the inner side facing the other side leg, which forms a blocking element 7 for blocking an actuating element of a conductor connection terminal. Additionally, one or more connecting elements 6 can be arranged on one or both side legs 3, 4, in particular at their free ends, e.g., locking elements projecting toward the other side leg 3, 4. With such connecting elements 6, the conductor marking element 1 can be easily and reliably secured to a conductor connection terminal by means of a positive fit.

[0028] On the outer sides of one or both side legs 3, 4, a marking area 8 for the identification of the electrical conductor may be provided. Figure 1 shows an unlabeled and therefore empty marking area 8. In the Figure 2it is shown that the marking area 8 is provided with a marking 9.

[0029] The Figure 3 shows the arrangement of conductor marking elements 1 according to one of the Figures 1, 2on one electrical conductor 10 each. It can be seen that a conductor marking element 1 has already been attached to two electrical conductors 10. A further conductor marking element 1 has not yet been attached to the electrical conductor 10. The conductor marking element 1 is particularly suitable for electrical conductors 10 in the form of insulated electrical conductors, i.e. with an outer conductor insulation layer 12 and an electrically conductive core 11 arranged therein, e.g. a single-wire conductor, a fine-wire conductor or a stranded conductor, i.e. for attachment to a so-called cable. The electrical conductors 10 can be part of a multi-core cable which has an outer insulation layer 13 which encloses a plurality of electrical conductors 10. It can also be seen that the electrical conductor 10 is inserted into the through-opening 5 with the stripped electrically conductive core 11 first from a side facing away from the side legs 3, 4.

[0030] The Figure 4shows an arrangement with a multi-pole conductor connection terminal 20, in this case a five-pole conductor connection terminal. The conductor connection terminal 20 has a housing 21 which has a plurality of conductor insertion openings 22 for inserting respective electrical conductors. For each conductor terminal connection of the conductor connection terminal 20, a respective actuating element 23 is provided, in this case in the form of a pivotable actuating lever. In the four conductor terminal connections shown on the left, the actuating levers 23 are each in the open position. In the conductor terminal connection shown on the right, the actuating element 23 is in the closed position. An electrical conductor 10 is also connected to this right-hand conductor terminal connection. It can be seen that a conductor marking element 1 of the type explained above is attached to the conductor connection terminal 20 and engages over the actuating element 23 shown on the right, thus blocking it.The conductor marking element 1 is latched with its connecting elements 6 to the rear of the housing 21. It can be seen that the conductor marking element 1 overlaps the conductor connection terminal like a clamp. List of reference symbols

[0031] 1 Conductor marking element 2 Base wall 3 Side leg 4 Side leg 5 Through opening 6 Connecting element 7 Blocking element 8 Marking surface 9 Marking 10 Electrical conductor 11 Electrically conductive core 12 Conductor insulation layer 13 Outer insulation layer 20 Conductor connection terminal 21 Housing 22 Conductor entry opening 23 Actuating element

Claims

1. Arrangement having a conductor connection terminal (20), at least one electrical conductor (10) and at least one conductor marking element (1) for marking at least the electrical conductor (10), the conductor marking element (1) having at least one retaining element for mechanically retaining the conductor marking element (1) on the at least one electrical conductor, the conductor marking element (1) having at least one blocking element (7), with which an actuating element (23), in particular a pivotable actuating lever, of the conductor connection terminal (20) can be blocked in a predetermined position, in particular in a closed position, when the conductor marking element (1) is held with the retaining element on the at least one electrical conductor and the at least one electrical conductor is connected to a conductor clamping connection of the conductor connection terminal (20), wherein the at least one conductor marking element (1) is held on the at least one electrical conductor (10) by means of its retaining element, the at least one electrical conductor (10) is electrically connected to a conductor clamping connection of the conductor connection terminal (20) and the conductor marking element (1) is attached to the conductor connection terminal (20), so that the actuating element (23) of the conductor connection terminal (20) is blocked by the blocking element (7) of the at least one conductor marking element (1) and cannot be moved into the open position, characterized in that the conductor marking element (1) has at least one base wall (2) and at least one side leg (3, 4) arranged at an angle to the base wall (2) and projecting from the base wall (2), at least one side leg (3, 4) having or forming the blocking element (7).

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining element has a through-opening (5) in at least one wall of the conductor marking element (1) which is completely surrounded on the circumference by the material of the conductor marking element (1), it being possible to pass the electrical conductor through the through-opening (5).

3. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductor marking element (1) has at least one connecting element (6), with which the conductor marking element (1) can be fixed to the conductor connection terminal (20) by means of positive locking.

4. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductor marking element (1) is U-shaped with two side legs (3, 4) spaced apart from one another and each projecting from the base wall (2).

5. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base wall (2) has or forms the retaining element.

6. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one side leg (3, 4) has or forms a connecting element (6).

7. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductor marking element (1) has at least one marking surface (8) for marking (9) the electrical conductor (10) with at least one typographic or other graphic symbol.

8. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductor marking element (1) is designed as a plastic component.

9. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductor marking element (1) is made entirely or predominantly of transparent material.

10. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductor marking element (1) engages over the conductor connection terminal (20) on opposite sides of the conductor connection terminal (20) in the manner of a clamp.

11. A method of marking and connecting an electrical conductor (10) to a conductor connection terminal (20) for producing an arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps: a) arrangement of a conductor marking element (1) with a retaining element to the electrical conductor (10), the retaining element serving to mechanically hold the conductor marking element (1) on the electrical conductor (10), b) electrical connection of this electrical conductor (10) to a conductor clamping connection of the conductor connection terminal (20), an actuating element (23) of the conductor connection terminal (20) assigned to this conductor clamping connection being in a closed position or being transferred to a closed position, c) pushing the conductor marking element (1) along the electrical conductor (10) onto the conductor connection terminal (20) until the actuating element (23) of the conductor connection terminal (20) assigned to this conductor clamping connection is blocked by a blocking element (7), wherein the conductor marking element (1) has at least one base wall (2) and at least one side leg (3, 4) arranged at an angle to the base wall (2) and projecting from the base wall (2), wherein at least one side leg (3, 4) has or forms the blocking element (7).

12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the conductor marking element (1) is fixed to the conductor connection terminal (20) via a connecting element (6).

Images