Space-saving actuator for a connection device and method for electrically connecting and subsequently disconnecting an electrical conductor to / from a busbar with a connection device

Abstract

In order to minimize the horizontal space requirement for releasing a vertically actuable actuator (1) of a connection device (4), it is proposed to design the actuator (1) to be substantially cylindrical. Therefore, by virtue of rotation about the cylinder axis (A) of the actuator, an electrical conductor (6, 61) can be released in a field-terminable manner using a screwdriver (7) by a space-saving rotational movement of the actuator (1), as a result of which a space-consuming lever movement of the screwdriver (7) which is otherwise usual in the prior art is dispensed with.

Description

[0001] Title: Space-saving actuator for a connection device and method for electrically connecting and subsequently disconnecting an electrical conductor from a busbar using a connection device

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention is based on an actuator according to the preamble of independent claim 1.

[0004] Furthermore, the invention is based on a connection device comprising the actuator according to claim 1, as well as a cage tension spring, a busbar and an insulating body.

[0005] Furthermore, the invention is based on a plug connector which has at least one such connection device according to claim 4 and, in addition, has a plug contact for each connection device which is electrically conductively connected to the respective busbar.

[0006] Furthermore, the invention is based on a method for electrically connecting and subsequently disconnecting an electrical conductor, in particular a wire of an electrical cable, to or from a busbar, in particular by means of a connecting device according to claim 4.

[0007] Such actuators and connection devices can be used, for example, to detachably connect electrical conductors, in particular stranded wires of electrical cables, to plug contacts of a connector on the connection side in an electrically conductive manner and to fasten them mechanically thereto.

[0008] State of the art

[0009] A variety of connection devices for electrical conductors, in particular stranded conductors, are known in the prior art. Document DE10 2007 009 082 A1 describes a multi-pole electrical connector with spring contacts. For each conductor to be connected to the connector, this connector has a first, substantially cylindrical opening designed to receive the conductor, and a second opening running parallel to the first opening and designed to receive an actuating pin which, sliding in the second opening, acts on a spring contact of the connector depending on its position in order to lock the conductor to the connector or release it from the connector. When the conductor is locked in the connector by means of the spring contact, the actuating pin is fully inserted into the connector.To release the conductor from the spring contact, it is disclosed that a tool—for example, a screwdriver or other functionally equivalent tool—is inserted laterally into the seat of the actuating pin through a window provided in the upper section of the connector's side wall, and the actuating pin is lifted by levering the tool against the lower edge of the window. The disadvantages of this method are that the said side wall must be accessible, the actuation process requires a lot of space, and the conductor cannot be released if the connector is installed—for example, in a bulkhead housing.

[0010] The publication DE 20 2014 010 620 U1 proposes an arrangement comprising a cage clamp spring, which enables easy connection and disconnection of a conductor to a spring contact element. Connecting and disconnecting conductors to the connector is possible without aids or tools and without significant force through lateral operation. A disadvantage of this is that the insulating body must be accessible from the plug-in side for unlocking.

[0011] The publication DE 20 2014 010 621 U1 proposes arranging a spring-loaded push-push mechanism, similar to a ballpoint pen mechanism, on the actuating means, by means of which the actuating means can be moved linearly between the first end position and the second end position. The disadvantage is that such a push-push mechanism is inherently complex and error-prone, and results in increased space requirements.

[0012] The document DE 10 2014 115 009 B3 shows a connector consisting of an insulating body, at least one electrical contact accommodated in the insulating body, and an actuating mechanism for the electrical contact, which consists of a first actuating pin and a second actuating pin. The electrical contact has a spring contact element for contacting an electrical conductor or cable, which is opened and closed by the first actuating pin. The second actuating pin is provided for opening the spring contact element. As a result, no tool or other aid is required when closing or opening the spring contact element, and unlocking can occur from the cable connection side. However, the corresponding mechanism significantly widens the design, which is extremely undesirable, since the highest possible contact density is usually the goal for connectors.Furthermore, this mechanism is complex and inherently error-prone.

[0013] Roughly summarized, disadvantages of this state-of-the-art technology can arise from the size of the corresponding design, as this negatively impacts the possible contact density, and also when such insulators are to be installed in grommets or bulkhead housings with specified dimensions. For this to happen, the dimensions of the insulators must ultimately fit within the specified housing dimensions. Furthermore, there is a need to unlock the conductors, particularly from the cable connection side, even after installing such an insulator in a bulkhead housing, without having to remove the entire insulator from the bulkhead housing.Based on this state of the art, the document DE 10 2016 113 974 B1 has therefore set itself the task of taking these aforementioned disadvantages and market needs into account and of specifying a design which, on the one hand, allows the insulating body to be as small as possible and, at the same time, enables manual unlocking of the electrical conductors even when the insulating body is already installed in a housing.

[0014] The above-mentioned document discloses that the actuator has the following:

[0015] An attack bevel and an adjacent attack edge as well as an attack step beginning at the attack edge and directed at an obtuse angle away from the attack bevel for transferring the actuator from the actuated state to the unactuated state, and a tool insertion opening arranged in the actuator with the actuating recess in a common surface for inserting the slotted screwdriver on the cable connection side, wherein the said attack bevel adjoins the tool insertion opening.

[0016] A disadvantage of this design has been found to be that, although the actuator can be unlocked from the cable connection side when installed in a bulkhead housing, the tool, e.g., a screwdriver, still has to be moved at a sufficiently large angle in a lever motion around the aforementioned bevel to pry the actuator out of the insulating body. This is sufficient for most applications, such as use in a bulkhead housing, for example, in a wall opening or similar, since the lever motion of the screwdriver can be applied over the edge of the bulkhead housing.However, in practice, special applications have also arisen where, in confined spaces, for example in an engine compartment, it is necessary to always hold the screwdriver in the cable insertion direction when connecting and disconnecting the electrical conductor, i.e. to avoid having to swivel it sideways or at least only as little as possible to disconnect the electrical conductor, for example in order to lever the actuator out of the insulating body.

[0017] The German Patent and Trademark Office has searched the following prior art in the priority application for the present application: DE 10 2014 115 009 B3, DE 10 2016 113 974 B4, DE 100 37 550 A1 , DE 10 2007 009 082 A1 , DE 94 19 020 U1 , DE 20 2014 010 620 U1 , DE 20 2014 010 621 U1 and EP 1 544 947 A2.

[0018] Task

[0019] The object of the invention is therefore to reduce the space required when detaching an electrical conductor from a connecting device and at the same time to ensure a compact design of the connecting device.

[0020] The problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims.

[0021] An actuator is used to operate a cage clamp spring of a connecting device.

[0022] The actuator can be brought into a first open position in which it tensions the cage tension spring and thus enables an electrical conductor to be guided through a window recess of a tensioning leg of the cage tension spring in a cable insertion direction.

[0023] Furthermore, the actuator can be brought into a closed position in which it relaxes the cage tension spring comparatively compared to the aforementioned open position and thus enables the electrical conductor arranged in the window recess to be electrically contacted by means of the cage tension spring with a busbar that is also guided through the window recess and to be mechanically fixed to the busbar, in particular by pulling the electrical conductor against the busbar by means of the window recess of the clamping leg.

[0024] The actuator can be moved from the first open position to the closed position by a translational movement.

[0025] Furthermore, the actuator can be moved from the closed position into a second open position by a rotational movement, in which it tensions the cage clamp spring again compared to the closed position and thus enables the electrical conductor to be removed from the window recess of the clamping leg of the cage clamp spring against the cable insertion direction.

[0026] The actuator's translational movement can preferably occur in the cable insertion direction. The rotational movement can occur around an axis that runs parallel to the cable insertion direction.

[0027] In particular, the electrical contact and mechanical fixation of the electrical conductor to the busbar is made possible by the cage clamp spring still having a certain preload even in the closed position, which, however, is lower than the tension it experiences in the first open position of the actuator. This preload serves to create a sufficient contact force with which the electrical conductor is pulled against the busbar by the spring force of the cage clamp spring through its window recess in the closed position of the actuator.

[0028] In a first process step, the electrical conductor can be electrically contacted with the busbar and mechanically fixed thereto by the said translational movement of the actuator, and can be released from the busbar again in a second process step by the rotational movement of the actuator.

[0029] The actuator can be actuated with a screwdriver in both the first and the second process steps, whereby the screwdriver can advantageously always be aligned in the direction of the translational movement of the actuator in both process steps.

[0030] In the first method step, the electrical conductor can be pulled against a busbar by a cage clamp spring for electrical contact by inserting a section of a clamping leg of the cage clamp spring, which is thereby at least partially released, into an actuating recess of the actuator, enabled by the aforementioned translational movement of the actuator. In the second method step, the electrical conductor can be separated from the busbar again by displacing the aforementioned section of the clamping leg from the actuating recess by a rotational movement of the actuator in a first direction of rotation, thus re-tensioning the cage clamp spring.

[0031] In order to reconnect an electrical conductor, the actuator can be rotated back to its original orientation in a third process step in a second rotational movement, namely in a second direction of rotation which is opposite to the first direction of rotation.

[0032] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims and the following description.

[0033] An advantage of the invention is that the actuator can be actuated with a conventional tool, in particular a screwdriver, in particular a slotted screwdriver, so that the connection device comprising the actuator can be field-assembled. In particular, in the first method step, the actuator can be pressed into an actuating opening of an insulating body of the connection device using the aforementioned tool in order to electrically connect the electrical conductor to the busbar. In the second method step, the actuator can then be moved into its second open position by rotating the tool, in particular the screwdriver, in order to release the electrical conductor from the busbar again.

[0034] A particular advantage of the invention is that the actuator for releasing the electrical conductor from the busbar can be moved from its closed position into its second open position by means of such a tool, in particular the screwdriver, without the tool, in particular the screwdriver, having to be inclined relative to the cable insertion direction. In other words, the screwdriver for releasing the electrical conductor coming from the cable connection side can always be aligned parallel to the cable insertion direction not only during connection but also during the entire release process. Finally, the release actuation is possible solely by space-saving rotation, i.e. rotational movement, of the actuator, in particular rotation about its cylinder axis, even in very confined spaces.

[0035] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the actuator has a substantially cylindrical basic shape with a cylinder axis and a cylindrical surface, wherein a one-sided actuating recess is formed into the cylindrical surface of the actuator. One-sided means that the recess is not circumferential. In particular, the recess does not extend over the entire length of the actuator in the axial direction, but only over an actuating section of the actuator. Preferably, the recess has at least one engagement bevel for interacting with the clamping leg of the cage tension spring during actuation. Beyond the engagement bevel, the actuator has a clamping shoulder.

[0036] In an advantageous development of the invention, the said rotational movement, by means of which the actuator can be transferred from the closed position into a second open position, takes place in a first direction of rotation and is carried out by the actuator about its cylinder axis running in the cable insertion direction.

[0037] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the actuator can have an actuating surface at its end facing the cable connection side. This actuating surface can preferably have a shape particularly well-suited for actuation. For example, the actuating surface can have an actuating slot for attaching a tool, in particular the aforementioned screwdriver, in particular a slotted screwdriver.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment, a connection device can comprise the actuator, a busbar, a cage clamp spring and an insulating body.

[0039] The insulating body can have an actuating opening for receiving the actuator and a cable insertion opening for inserting an electrical conductor in a cable insertion direction. The cage clamp spring can have a clamping leg with a window recess and a contact leg that extends through the window recess. A contact leg of the cage clamp spring, together with the busbar arranged thereon, can be located in the region of the cable insertion opening of the insulating body. The actuator is arranged in the actuating opening and interacts with the clamping leg of the clamping spring. The actuating opening can also be essentially hollow-cylindrical and the actuator can be rotatably held therein. In a preferred development of the invention, a section of the clamping leg of the cage clamp spring can dip into the actuating recess of the actuator when the actuator is in the closed position, whereby the cage clamp spring is at least partially released.The cage clamp spring can grip the electrical conductor with its window recess and thus pull it against the busbar in order to connect the electrical conductor to the busbar in an electrically conductive manner and to fix it mechanically to it.

[0040] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the insulating body can have a guide pin in a cylindrical inner wall of its actuating opening, and the actuator can have a first and a second guide groove in its outer surface, into which the guide pin selectively engages. The first guide groove runs parallel to the cylinder axis and serves to guide the actuator during said translational displacement. The second guide groove runs perpendicular to the cylinder axis to guide the actuator during its rotational movement. The first and second guide grooves are connected to one another at a common end point. The actuator is in its closed position when the guide pin of the insulating body is at this common end point.

[0041] Thus, in a preferred development of the invention, the first guide groove and the second guide groove run perpendicular to each other and together form an L-shape in the cylinder surface of the actuator.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a plug connector comprises the connection device and at least one plug contact arranged in a contact chamber of the insulating body. The contact chamber can be connected to the cable entry opening on the cable connection side and open on the plug side for connecting the plug contact to a mating plug contact of a mating connector. The busbar can be a component of the plug contact or at least electrically connected to the plug contact.

[0043] A particular advantage of such a connector is the possibility of using jumpers on the cable connection side between the individual contact chambers located at the respective cable entry openings in the insulating body. Finally, such jumpers do not need to be removed to remove the respective electrical conductors, since their release can be achieved by a rotational movement, namely the aforementioned first rotational movement of the actuator around its cylinder axis. The electrical conductors, in particular the stranded cables, can therefore be removed and, in particular, replaced without having to dismantle the jumpers.

[0044] Example

[0045] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail below. They show:

[0046] Fig. 1 a, b, c An actuator known from the prior art from different views and in section;

[0047] Fig. 2a, b, c the upper part of the aforementioned actuator in different views and in section;

[0048] Fig. 3 an electrical connection contact with a

[0049] Busbar and a contact pin as well as a cage clamp spring arranged on the busbar;

[0050] Fig. 4a, b a known from the prior art

[0051] Connection device with a view of the cable connection side in an oblique plan view and in section; Fig. 5a, b shows a sectional view of an unlocking process known from the prior art;

[0052] Fig. 6a, b, c a substantially cylindrical actuator from different angles;

[0053] Fig. 7a, b, c the above-mentioned actuator with schematically shown busbar and cage clamp spring in different positions;

[0054] Fig. 8a - e the actuator in different rotational positions / from different viewing angles.

[0055] Some of the figures contain simplified, schematic representations. Identical reference symbols are used for similar, but possibly not identical, elements. Different views of the same elements may be scaled differently. Directional references such as "left," "right," "top," and "bottom" are to be understood with reference to the respective figure and may vary in the individual illustrations relative to the object depicted.

[0056] Fig. 1a shows an actuator 1 known from the prior art with a view of an engagement bevel 11 and an adjacent engagement edge 12. In addition, a tool insertion opening 19 is located in the upper area.

[0057] Fig. 1b shows this actuator 1 in a side view. From this perspective, a special actuating recess 14 can be seen, which has a clamping bevel 15. Adjacent to this, the actuator 1 has a clamping shoulder 16.

[0058] Fig. 1c shows the actuator 1 in a sectional view from the same perspective as the previous illustration. The tool insertion opening 19, as well as the engagement bevel 11, the engagement edge 12, and the engagement step 13, are clearly visible. These are designed to transfer the actuator 1 from its actuated state to its unactuated state.

[0059] Fig. 2a, 2b and 2c show the upper area of ​​the actuator 1 in an oblique top view, a further sectional view and a top view. The shape of the engagement bevels 11 is particularly clearly visible in Fig. 2a. The engagement step 13 is particularly clearly visible in Fig. 2b and the shape and position of the tool insertion opening 19 can be seen very clearly in Fig. 2c. Furthermore, a slot-shaped recess 17 and a cylindrical recess 18 are shown in all three views. These serve to transfer the actuator 1 from the unactuated state to the actuated state. For example, a slot-shaped screwdriver 7 (not shown in this view) can be placed on the slot-shaped recess 17 to press the actuator 1 down. The cylindrical recess 18 would be more suitable for the insertion of a pin or similar.

[0060] Fig. 3 shows an electrical connection contact 2 known from the prior art with a plug-side contact pin 20, a fastening clamp 22 for fastening in or on the insulating body 5 (not shown here), and a cable connection-side busbar 21, against which the cage clamp spring 3 rests over a large area with its flat contact surface 31. Furthermore, the cage clamp spring 3 has a window recess 30, with which it engages around a slightly angled end adjacent to its contact surface 31 and also an angled end of the busbar 21 directed away from the contact pin 20, and thus presses its contact surface 31 against the busbar 21 by means of its spring force.

[0061] In an area facing away from the contact surface 31, the cage tension spring 3 has a clamping leg 34, which, in the at least partially relaxed state in which the cage tension spring 3 is shown in this illustration, already reveals the contour of the actuating recess 14 of the actuator 1. Indeed, the cage tension spring 3 is designed to engage with its clamping leg 34 in the actuating recess 14 of the actuator 1 and to interact mechanically with it.

[0062] Fig. 4a shows a connection device 4 known from the prior art in a 3D representation with a view of the connection side 41. Fig. 4b shows the connection device 4 from a slightly different perspective with a section through its plane of symmetry.

[0063] The connecting device 4 comprises an insulating body 5. The insulating body 5 has an actuating opening 51, into which the actuator 1 is inserted in its non-actuated position, and a cable insertion opening 52, in which the window recess 30 of the cage clamp 3 is located. The sectional view only shows the rear area of ​​the window recess 30. Since the section runs through the plane of symmetry of the mirror-symmetrically constructed connecting device 4, this view clearly shows the position of the window recess 30 in the cable insertion opening 52 in the non-actuated state.

[0064] Furthermore, the busbar 21 of the connecting contact 2 is arranged in the cable entry opening 52. It can thus be clearly seen that the cage clamp spring 3 is arranged essentially between the actuating opening 51 and the cable entry opening 52, which means that, on the one hand, its clamping leg 34 can also penetrate into the actuating recess 14 of the actuator 1 and thus into the actuating opening 51 of the insulating body 5 when the actuator 1 is actuated, and that, on the other hand, the cage clamp spring 3 engages with its window recess 30 in the cable entry opening 52 or even penetrates it with its second, free-standing end located at the window recess 30, at least in the non-actuated state.

[0065] Furthermore, the insulating body 5 has an outer wall 53 with a lever contour 531.

[0066] Figs. 5a and 5b represent an unlocking process known from the prior art, in which the actuator 1 is transferred from its actuated state, i.e. its actuated position in the insulating body 5, to its unactuated state, i.e. its unactuated position in the insulating body 5.

[0067] Fig. 5a shows the actuator 1 known from the prior art in its actuated state, i.e., its actuated position. The cage clamp spring 3 is at least partially relaxed, because its clamping leg 34, shown at the bottom of the image, is inserted into the actuating recess 14 of the actuator 1. At the same time, the cage clamp spring 3, with its window recess 30, pulls a stripped portion 61, in this case a stranded wire, of the electrical conductor 6 toward the busbar 21, to which it is thereby electrically connected.

[0068] To unlock, a tool 7, in this case a slotted screwdriver, is inserted through the tool insertion opening 19 of the actuator 1 into the actuation opening 51 and thus between the actuator 1 and an outer wall 35 of the insulating body 5. The slotted screwdriver 7 now engages, on the one hand, the engagement surface 11 of the actuator 1 over its entire length. On the other hand, it is in mechanical contact with a special lever contour 531 of the outer wall 53.

[0069] By levering in the direction of the arrow, the operator pushes the actuator 1 upwards a first distance, i.e., out of the actuating opening. Due to the special lever contour 531, the rotational axis of the lever also changes in the unlocking direction of the actuator 1 during this process, thereby extending the section in which the tool 7 engages the actuating bevel 11 in optimal alignment. It is readily apparent that, with further levering in this direction, the slotted screwdriver 7 engages the engaging edge 12, but, if it had a slightly different shape, it could also engage the engaging step 13.

[0070] Fig. 5b shows the actuator 1 known from the prior art in its unactuated state, i.e., in a non-actuated position. The slotted screwdriver 7 levers over the upper engagement edge 12 of the lever contour 531 and thereby engages the engagement edge 12 of the actuator 1.

[0071] The clamping leg 34 of the cage clamp 3 is fixed by the clamping shoulder 16 of the actuator 1 in the direction of the busbar 21, after it has already been moved in this direction by the clamping bevel 15, and thus releases the electrical conductor 6 at its stripped area 61.

[0072] Figs. 6a-c show the actuator 1 from various angles in a modified design, which is to be regarded as an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this design, the actuator has a substantially cylindrical basic shape and thus has a cylinder axis A, which is shown in the drawing here. In this design, the actuator 1 also has a one-sided, i.e., non-circumferential, actuating recess 14 with a clamping bevel 15 and an adjacent clamping shoulder 16. However, unlike the design shown in Fig. 1, it does not have a tool insertion opening. Instead, as can be seen particularly clearly in Fig. 6c, it has a first 101 and a second 102 guide groove in its cylindrical surface, which together form an L-shape. The first guide groove 101 runs parallel to the cylinder axis A, while the second guide groove 102 runs perpendicular to it. The two guide grooves meet at a common end point 100.

[0073] Accordingly, the associated insulating body 5 (not shown), in a slightly modified embodiment compared to Fig. 4 a and b, has a substantially cylindrical actuating opening 51 with a guide pin (not shown) arranged therein. In this cylindrical actuating opening 51, the aforementioned actuator 1 is held rotatably about its cylinder axis A when the guide pin engages in the first guide groove 101, and displaceably in the direction of its cylinder axis A when the guide pin engages in the second guide groove 102. When the actuator 1 is in its closed position, the guide pin is located at the common end point 100.

[0074] Otherwise, the insulating body 5 (not shown) essentially corresponds to the embodiment shown in the previous Figures 4a and 4b.

[0075] The insulating body 5 is thus designed with its hollow cylindrical actuating opening 51, more precisely, in the cylindrical inner wall of its actuating opening 51 (not shown) and the guide pin (not shown) arranged thereon to cooperate with the respective guide groove 101, 102 of the actuator during its actuation, namely to guide the actuator 1 during its respective actuation and to limit this movement in each case.

[0076] The actuation of this essentially cylindrical actuator can consist of a translational movement, which can be seen in the schematic principle representations of Figs. 7a and 7b in their common context, or can consist of a rotational movement, which can be seen in the schematic principle representations of Figs. 7b and 7c in their common context. Fig. 7a shows how the actuator 1, in a first open position, engages the clamping leg 34 of the cage clamp spring 3 with its clamping shoulder 16, whereby the cage clamp spring 3 is in a comparatively tensioned state. At the same time, the cage clamp spring 3 rests with its contact leg 31 against the busbar 21, wherein the busbar 21 and the contact leg 31 pass through the window recess 30, as shown in Fig. 3. As a result, the window recess 30 is opened in the direction of the busbar 2, so that the electrical conductor 6 with its stripped area 61, as shown in Fig.4b and 5b, on the busbar side in cable entry direction K into the.

[0077] Window recess 30 can be inserted or removed from it in the opposite direction if necessary.

[0078] In Fig. 7b, however, it is shown that the actuator 1, compared to the previous illustration, is translationally relative to the busbar 21 and cage clamp 3 in the translational actuation direction B Tparallel to the cable insertion direction K and to the cylinder axis A, i.e. from top to bottom in the drawing, is moved into its closed position, as a result of which the clamping leg 34 of the cage clamp spring 3 partially enters the actuating recess 14 of the actuator 1. As a result, the window recess is “closed”, i.e. the electrical conductor 6, with its stripped area 61, as shown in Fig. 5a, is pulled against the busbar 21 by the spring force with the window recess, while the cage clamp spring 3 is at least partially relaxed. During this translational movement along the cylinder axis A, which runs in the cable insertion direction K, the guide pin of the insulating body 5 engages in the first guide groove 101 of the actuator 1 for guidance. In addition, the length of the first guide groove 101 thus limits the translational sliding path of the actuator 1.This translational transfer of the actuator 1 from the first open position to the closed position can be carried out by means of a tool, in particular the slotted screwdriver 7 (not shown here), wherein the tool presses onto the actuator 1 from above in the drawing, can engage, for example, in the slot-shaped recess 17 of the actuator 1 and presses the actuator 1 into the actuation opening 51 of the insulating body 5 (not shown here). The screwdriver 7 is aligned parallel to the cylinder axis A of the actuator 1 - and thus to the cable insertion direction K - during the entire actuation process.

[0079] In Fig. 7c, the actuator 1 is rotated by 90° about its cylinder axis A and is thus shown in its second open position. This rotation serves to transfer the actuator 1 from its closed position to its second open position for releasing the electrical conductor 61 from the busbar 21. This process can also be carried out manually using the slotted screwdriver 7, wherein the slotted screwdriver 7 engages in the slot-shaped recess 17 of the actuator 1 and rotates the actuator 1 about its cylinder axis A. During the entire connection and release process, the slotted screwdriver 7 is aligned parallel to the cylinder axis A. During the rotation, the said guide pin (not shown) of the insulating body 5 engages in the second guide groove 102 of the

[0080] Actuator 1. The length of the second guide groove 102 thus limits this rotary movement.

[0081] This illustration further shows that the clamping leg 34 of the cage clamp spring 3 is displaced from its actuating recess 14 by the rotation of the actuator 1 in the direction of the arrow, i.e., in a first direction of rotation / in a first rotary actuation direction. The cage clamp spring 30 is thus tensioned more strongly again, and the window recess 30 is opened, so that the electrical conductor 6 is released from the busbar 21 and can be removed from the connection device opposite to the cable insertion direction (i.e., upwards in the drawing).

[0082] To reconnect an electrical conductor 6, such as a different wire of the cable or another cable, the actuator 1 can, if necessary, also be rotated back in the opposite direction of the arrow to return to its closed position, which - as already mentioned - is shown in Fig. 7b. If the insulating body 5 is not installed in a mounting housing or in a confined engine compartment or similar, or if it has been removed from it, the actuator 1 can of course also be returned to its first open position, although the tool will then no longer be aligned parallel to the cable insertion direction / cylinder axis. This merely serves to recreate the initial situation.

[0083] Although the slotted screwdriver 7 is not explicitly shown as a tool in Figs. 6a to 7e, it is clear to a person skilled in the art based on these illustrations and / or the preceding description that such a slotted screwdriver, or a similarly acting tool, is aligned parallel to the cylinder axis A and thus in the cable insertion direction for all actuations explained in connection with Figs. 7a to 7c. As a result, the space required during actuation - horizontal in the drawing - i.e. the space required perpendicular to the cylinder axis A, is minimized compared to the arrangement shown in Fig. 5a.

[0084] For the sake of completeness, Figs. 8a - 8e show the essentially cylindrical actuator 1 in several rotation stages or - viewed differently - from different angles.

[0085] List of reference symbols

[0086] 1 actuator

[0087] 11 Attack angle

[0088] 12 Attack edge

[0089] 13 Attack Level

[0090] 14 Operating recess

[0091] 15 clamping bevel

[0092] 16 clamping shoulder

[0093] 17 slot-shaped recess

[0094] 18 cylindrical recess

[0095] 19 Tool insertion opening

[0096] 101 , 102 first, second guide groove 100 common end point of the two guide grooves

[0097] 2 electrical connection contact

[0098] 20 contact pin, plug contact

[0099] 21 Busbar

[0100] 22 Mounting clamp

[0101] 3 cage clamp spring

[0102] 30 window recess

[0103] 31 investment legs

[0104] 34 clamping legs

[0105] 4 Connection device

[0106] 41 Cable connection side of the connection device 5 Insulating body

[0107] 51 Operating opening

[0108] 52 Cable entry opening

[0109] 53 Outer wall of the insulating body 531 Lever contour

[0110] 6 Electrical conductor

[0111] 61 stripped area / stranded wire / electrical conductor 7 tool / flat-blade screwdriver

[0112] A cylinder axis

[0113] K Cable entry direction

[0114] B T Actuating direction translational BR Actuating direction rotational / first direction of rotation

Claims

Claims: Actuator (1) for actuating a cage tension spring (3) of a connection device (4), wherein the actuator (1) can be moved into a first open position in which it tensions the cage tension spring (3) and thus enables an electrical conductor (61) to be guided through a window recess (30) of a clamping leg (14) of the cage tension spring (3) in a cable insertion direction (K), and which can further be moved into a closed position in which the actuator (1) relaxes the cage tension spring (3) relative to the aforementioned open position and thus enables the electrical conductor (61) arranged in the window recess (30) to be electrically contacted with a busbar (21) also guided through the window recess (30) by means of the cage tension spring (3) and mechanically fixed to the busbar (21), wherein the actuator (1) can be moved from the first open position to the closed position by a translational movement.characterized in that the actuator (1) can be moved from the closed position to a second open position by a rotational movement, in which it re-tensions the cage tension spring (3) relative to the closed position and thus enables the electrical conductor (6, 61) to be removed from the window recess (30) of the tensioning leg (14) of the cage tension spring (3) in the opposite direction to the cable insertion direction (K). Actuator according to claim 1, wherein the actuator (1) has a substantially cylindrical basic shape with a cylinder axis (A) and a cylindrical surface, wherein a one-sided actuating recess (14) is formed in the cylindrical surface of the actuator (1). Actuator according to claim 2, characterized in that the actuator (1) performs the said rotational movement, by means of which it can be moved from the closed position to a second open position, in a first direction of rotation (B). R) about its cylinder axis (A) extending in the cable insertion direction (K). Actuator (1 ) according to claim 3, characterized in that the actuator (1 ) is subjected to a second rotational movement about its cylinder axis (A) in a second direction of rotation, which is opposite to the first direction of rotation (B). R) opposite, can be transferred from the second open position to the closed position. Connection device (4), comprising the actuator (1) according to one of the preceding claims, a busbar (21), a cage spring (3), and an insulating body (5), wherein the insulating body (5) has a hollow cylindrical actuating opening (51) for receiving the actuator (1) and a cable entry opening (52) for introducing an electrical conductor (6, 61) in a cable entry direction (K), and wherein the cage spring (3) has a clamping leg (34) with a window recess (30) and a contact leg (31) extending through the window recess (30), and wherein the contact leg (31) together with the busbar (21) held thereon is located in the region of the cable entry opening (52), and wherein the actuator (1) is arranged in the actuating opening (51). is and interacts with the clamping leg (34) of the clamping spring (3).

6. Connection device (4) according to claim 5, characterized in that - the clamping leg (34) of the cage tension spring (3) in the closed position of the actuator (1) is in mechanical contact with its actuating recess (14) and - that the cage tension spring (3), which with its window recess (30) encompasses the electrical conductor (6, 61 ), pulls it against the busbar (21 ) in order to connect the electrical conductor (6, 61 ) to the busbar in an electrically conductive manner.

7. Connection device (4) according to one of claims 5 to 6, wherein the insulating body (5) has a guide pin in a cylindrical inner wall of its actuating opening (51) and wherein the actuator (1) has a first (101) and a second (102) guide groove in its lateral surface, into which the guide pin engages, wherein the first guide groove (101) extends perpendicular to the cylinder axis (A) to guide the actuator (1) during said rotational movement and wherein the second guide groove (102), which serves to guide the actuator (1) during said translational displacement, extends parallel to the cylinder axis (A), wherein the first (101) and the second (102) guide groove are connected to each other at a common endpoint (100), and wherein the actuator (1) is in its closed position when the guide pin is in the common endpoint (100).

8. Connection device (4) according to claim 7, wherein the first guide groove (101 ) and the second guide groove (102) run perpendicular to each other and together form an L-shape in the cylindrical surface of the actuator (1 ). Connectors comprising the connection device (4) according to one of claims 5 to 8 and at least one plug contact (20) which is arranged in a contact chamber of the insulating body (5), wherein the contact chamber is connected to the cable entry opening (52) on the cable connection side and is open on the plug side for connecting the plug contact (20) to a mating plug contact of a mating plug, and wherein the busbar (21) is part of the plug contact (20) or at least electrically connected to the plug contact (20). Method for electrically connecting and subsequently disconnecting an electrical conductor (6, 61) to afrom a busbar (21), in particular with a connection device (4) according to one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the electrical conductor (6, 61) is electrically contacted and mechanically fixed to the busbar (21) in a first process step by a translational movement of an actuator (1), and wherein the electrical conductor (6, 61) is released from the busbar (21) in a second process step by a rotational movement of the actuator (1). Method according to claim 10, wherein the actuator (1) is actuated with a screwdriver (7) in both the first and second process steps, the screwdriver (7) always moving in the direction of the translational movement (B. T) is aligned. Method according to one of claims 10 to 11, wherein in the first method step the electrical conductor (6, 61) is pulled against a busbar (21) for electrical contact by means of a cage spring (3) by means of a section of a clamping leg (34) of the cage spring (3) through the translational movement of the actuator (1 ) into an actuating recess (14) of the actuator (1 ), and wherein the electrical conductor (6, 61 ) is separated from the busbar (21 ) in the second process step by displacing the aforementioned section of the clamping leg (34) of the cage tension spring (3) from the actuating recess (14) again by the rotational movement of the actuator (1 ).

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