Terminal-block assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a terminal-block assembly for connecting electrical conductors, comprising: a first terminal-block device (3A) having a first housing (5A) and a second terminal-block device (3B) having a second housing (5B), wherein: the first housing (5A) and the second housing (5B) each comprise at least one conductor terminal opening (7A, 9A); the conductor terminal opening (7A) in the first housing (5A) is offset with respect to the conductor terminal opening (9A) in the second housing (5B) relative to a base area (11) of the housings (5A, 5B); and the first housing (5A) and the second housing (5B) can be lined up in a row and have, in a row direction (R) of the first and the second terminal-block device (3A, 3B), the same contour (K) for arranging identical attachment parts on the first housing (5A) and on the second housing (5B).

Description

[0001] Terminal arrangement

[0002] The invention relates to a terminal arrangement for connecting electrical conductors according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] Such a terminal arrangement comprises a first terminal device with a first housing and a second terminal device with a second housing, wherein the first housing and the second housing each have at least one conductor connection opening, wherein the conductor connection opening in the first housing is arranged offset from the conductor connection opening in the second housing relative to a base area of ​​the housing.

[0004] Terminal assemblies have long been known in a wide variety of designs. They are assembled by the user on a mounting base, usually a mounting rail, to form functional blocks, for example, a functional block for supplying power to consumers. The individual terminal devices are therefore often designed as distribution blocks and, depending on the intended application, can be configured with different numbers of poles and mounting types. For example, EP 3743961 A1 describes such a terminal assembly.

[0005] In the prior art, terminal devices of various designs, which for example often have different conductor connection directions, such as horizontal or vertical conductor connection directions, and which are also often all intended for the same nominal cross-section of the conductors, are often arranged in series for a specific application, for example on a mounting rail.

[0006] However, these various terminal devices known from the prior art have the disadvantage that differently designed and dimensioned housings are often used for the various terminal devices. Therefore, special accessories for fastening, marking, strain relief, etc. must be provided for each specific design.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a clamp assembly with various clamping devices that can be used together, while simultaneously reducing the use of specific attachments, often referred to as accessories. This object is achieved by an object having the features of claim 1.

[0008] Accordingly, the first housing and the second housing are designed to be arranged in a row next to one another and have an identical contour in a row direction of the first and second terminal devices for arranging similar attachments on the first housing and on the second housing.

[0009] An electrical conductor can be defined herein as an at least partially insulated, flexible or rigid, wire-like conductor whose stripped end can be inserted into the effective range of a terminal device through a conductor connection opening in the housing of the terminal device. The stripped end portion can be inserted directly into the effective range of the terminal device or can be provided with a wire end sleeve before the end portion is inserted into the effective range of the terminal device.

[0010] The conductor connection opening can be provided as a recess, in particular a circular recess, in the material of the housing and allows the electrical conductor, or the stripped end region of the electrical conductor, to come into contact with a contact element, such as a clamping leg, of the electrical conductor. Each housing has at least one conductor connection opening. In some examples, however, the housings can also have more than one conductor connection opening, and more than two terminal devices with respective housings can be used in the terminal arrangement.

[0011] The conductor connection opening in the first housing is offset from the conductor connection opening in the second housing relative to a base surface of the housing. For example, the conductor connection opening of the first housing can extend vertically relative to the base surface, and the conductor connection opening of the second housing can extend horizontally relative to the base surface. In some examples, the conductor connection openings can also be diagonally offset from one another.

[0012] The base area can be defined as the area of ​​the housing with which the housing can be arranged on a substrate, such as a mounting rail. Therefore, the base area can also be referred to as the bottom area or the base of the housing. According to the invention, the first housing and the second housing are designed to be arranged in series. Such an arrangement can be understood to mean that the housings can be arranged next to one another; for example, surfaces of the housings can be connected to one another for this purpose. Furthermore, the housings have the same contour in a row direction of the terminal devices.

[0013] The row direction can be understood, for example, as a direction in which the terminal devices are arranged in a row along a length of a support rail or other substrate on which the terminal devices are arranged.

[0014] A contour can be understood here as a side view of the housings in the row direction or an outline of the side surfaces of the housings in the row direction.

[0015] The identical contour in a row direction of the first and second terminal devices serves to arrange similar attachments on the first housing and on the second housing. A similar attachment can be understood to mean an attachment that can be arranged on both the first housing and the second housing. Furthermore, the attachment can have connecting means that are suitable for attachment to both the first housing and the second housing. For this purpose, the first and second housings can also have similarly designed, corresponding connecting means due to the identical contour. The use of different connecting means on the attachments or the use of different attachments can thus be eliminated.

[0016] Advantageously, such a housing design, with a similar contour, enables the use of a modular system with common attachments or accessories that can be used for both the first terminal device and the second terminal device. The use of additional attachments, which must be designed specifically for the housing and used exclusively with a specific housing type, can thus be eliminated, saving costs.

[0017] In one example, the at least one conductor connection opening of the first housing extends vertically relative to the base surface and the at least one conductor connection opening of the second housing extends horizontally relative to the base surface.

[0018] Advantageously, terminal devices for horizontal and vertical conductor connection directions can thus be used together in a terminal arrangement. In one example, the first housing has a further conductor connection opening, wherein the further conductor connection opening extends vertically relative to the base surface and is arranged on an upper side of the first housing together with the conductor connection opening, and wherein the first terminal device is configured to electrically connect electrical conductors that can be arranged in the conductor connection opening and in the further conductor connection opening of the first housing.

[0019] The top side of the housing can be understood here as a side of the housing that is opposite the base. The conductor connection openings can, for example, be arranged next to one another at a distance from one another on the top side.

[0020] Advantageously, the first terminal device can thus be designed as a series terminal with vertical conductor connection directions.

[0021] In one example, the first housing has a plurality of conductor connection openings extending vertically relative to the base surface, which are arranged together on the top side of the first housing, and the first terminal device is configured to electrically connect electrical conductors arrangeable in the conductor connection openings of the first housing.

[0022] Advantageously, the first terminal device can also be designed as a terminal block and electrically connect a plurality of connected electrical conductors to one another. The conductor connection openings can, for example, be arranged in two rows running in the direction of the row on the top side of the housing.

[0023] In one example, the second housing has a further conductor connection opening, wherein the further conductor connection opening extends horizontally relative to the base surface and is arranged on a side of the second housing opposite the conductor connection opening, and wherein the second terminal device is designed to electrically connect electrical conductors arrangeable in the conductor connection opening and in the further conductor connection opening of the second housing.

[0024] Advantageously, the second terminal device can also be designed as a series terminal with horizontal conductor connection directions. In one example, the second housing has a plurality of conductor connection openings extending horizontally relative to the base area, which are arranged on opposite surfaces of the second housing, and wherein the second terminal device is designed to electrically connect electrical conductors that can be arranged in the conductor connection openings of the second housing.

[0025] Advantageously, the first terminal device can also be designed as a terminal block and connect a plurality of connected electrical conductors to one another.

[0026] In one example, the housings each have corresponding connecting means, in particular corresponding tongue and groove connecting means, on adjacent side surfaces in the row direction.

[0027] Advantageously, the housings can be connected to one another by means of the connecting means, for example plugged together, in order to create a secure mechanical connection of the housings before the terminal device is fastened to the substrate or mounting rail.

[0028] In one example, the first and second terminal devices are each adapted to connect electrical conductors with the same nominal cross-section.

[0029] This advantageously eliminates the need for additional accessories and saves costs. In alternative examples, individual conductor connection openings can also be designed larger or smaller to accommodate individual conductors with smaller or larger nominal cross-sections.

[0030] In one example, the terminal arrangement comprises at least one spring element and at least one actuating element, wherein the spring element is arranged in the first and / or second terminal device for locking and electrically contacting the electrical conductor in the conductor connection opening, and wherein the actuating element is adapted for transferring the spring element between a clamping position and a release position.

[0031] Advantageously, at least one electrical conductor can be inserted into a conductor connection opening according to the push-in principle, locked in the conductor connection opening, and electrically contacted. In one example, the first and / or second terminal device is designed as a screw terminal.

[0032] Advantageously, at least one of the terminal devices can also be designed as screw terminals.

[0033] In one example, the base area of ​​the first and / or second housing is designed to be arranged, in particular snapped, onto a support rail.

[0034] This advantageously enables quick arrangement on a mounting rail.

[0035] In an alternative example, the terminal assembly comprises at least one adhesive arranged on the base surface of the first and / or second housing for adhering to a substrate.

[0036] Advantageously, at least one clamping device can also be simply glued to a substrate using an adhesive.

[0037] In one example, a contact leg extends from the base area of ​​the first and / or second housing for electrically contacting at least one electrical conductor introduced into a conductor connection opening.

[0038] Advantageously, at least one terminal device can also be arranged on a printed circuit board.

[0039] In a further example, the terminal arrangement comprises a bridge element that can be arranged between the first and the second terminal device in order to electrically connect introduced electrical conductors into the respective conductor connection openings of the first terminal device and the second terminal device.

[0040] Advantageously, all electrical conductors introduced into the conductor connection openings of the first and second terminal devices can be electrically connected to one another by means of such a bridge element. In one example, the terminal arrangement comprises at least one attachment part, in particular a fastening element, a marking element, or a strain relief element, wherein the attachment part can be arranged on the first housing and on the second housing.

[0041] For example, similarly designed fastening elements, such as locking feet or fastening flanges, can be used on the first housing as well as on the second housing.

[0042] The housings can advantageously be used with a modular system of attachments or accessories. The attachments can be used for both the first terminal device and the second terminal device.

[0043] The concept underlying the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the figures. They show:

[0044] Figure 1 is a view of a terminal arrangement for connecting electrical conductors with terminal devices arranged in series according to one embodiment;

[0045] Figure 2 is a view of a terminal arrangement for connecting electrical conductors with terminal devices shown separately from one another; and

[0046] Figures 3A-3C show a top view and side views of the terminal assembly.

[0047] Figure 1 shows a view of a terminal assembly 1 with terminal devices 3A, 3B arranged in a row according to one embodiment. Both terminal devices 3A, 3B have housings 5A, 5B, which in the embodiment shown are designed as injection-molded plastic housings.

[0048] The first housing 5A of the first terminal device 3A shown has six conductor connection openings 7A-7N, which run vertically relative to the base surface 11 and are arranged on an upper side 13 of the first housing 5A. As shown, the conductor connection openings 7A-7N run in two rows extending in the row direction R on the upper side 13 of the first housing 5A. In embodiments not shown, more or fewer conductor connection openings than those shown 7A-7N can be arranged on the upper side 13. The first terminal device 3A is designed as a clamping block and connects a plurality of connected electrical conductors (not shown) to one another.

[0049] The second housing 5B of the second terminal device 3B shown also has six conductor connection openings 9A-9N, which extend horizontally relative to the base 11 and are arranged on opposite surfaces 15A, 15B of the second housing 5B. In embodiments not shown, more or fewer conductor connection openings 9A-9N than those shown can be arranged on opposite surfaces 15A, 15B of the second housing 5B. The second terminal device 3B is also designed as a clamping block and connects a plurality of connected electrical conductors to one another.

[0050] The row direction R is shown in Figure 1 as a double-headed arrow, since the housings 5A, 5B used in the embodiment shown can be arranged in both directions along the arrow. For this purpose, the housings 5A, 5B each have corresponding recesses on adjacent side surfaces 17A, 17B in the row direction R.

[0051] Connecting means 19A, 19B, which are shown as corresponding tongue and groove connecting means, in order to connect the housings 5A, 5B to one another, in which the housings 5A, 5B can be easily plugged together.

[0052] Furthermore, it is shown that the first housing 5A and the second housing 5B have an identical contour K in the row direction R of the first and second terminal devices 3A, 3B.

[0053] In the embodiment shown, the first and second terminal devices 3A, 3B are each adapted to connect electrical conductors with the same nominal cross-section. In alternative embodiments (not shown), individual conductor connection openings can also be designed larger or smaller in order to accommodate individual electrical conductors with smaller or larger nominal cross-sections.

[0054] Furthermore, the terminal devices 3A, 3B shown are shown as push-in terminals. For this purpose, the terminal devices 3A, 3B shown each have a spring element (not shown) in each of the conductor connection openings 7A-7N, 9A-9N shown, for locking and electrically contacting the electrical conductors in the conductor connection openings 7A-7N, 9A-9N. The spring elements can be moved between a clamping position and a release position by means of actuating elements. In alternative embodiments (not shown), the terminal devices can also be designed as screw terminals.

[0055] Figure 2 shows a view of the terminal arrangement 1 previously shown in Figure 1 for connecting electrical conductors, wherein in Figure 2 the terminal devices 3A, 3B are shown separately from one another in order to be able to show the corresponding connecting means 19A, 19B more clearly. As shown, the housings 5A, 5B each have corresponding side surfaces 17A, 17B adjacent in the row direction R.

[0056] Connecting means 19A, 19B, which are shown as corresponding tongue and groove connecting means, in order to connect the housings 5A, 5B to one another by simply plugging the housings 5A, 5B together.

[0057] Figure 3A shows a top view of the terminal assembly 1 previously shown in Figure 1. Figure 3A illustrates that the conductor connection openings 7A-7N in the first housing 5A are offset from the conductor connection openings in the second housing 5B. The vertically extending conductor connection openings 7A-7N of the first terminal device 3A are visible in the top view shown.

[0058] Figure 3B shows a side view of the terminal arrangement 1 previously shown in Figure 1. In the side view shown, the conductor connection openings 9A-9N of the second terminal device 3B, which run horizontally relative to the base surface 11, can be seen.

[0059] Figure 3C shows a further side view of the terminal arrangement 1 previously shown in Figure 1. In the side view shown, the housings are arranged one behind the other, the row direction runs in the viewing direction, so that only the side surface 17A of a terminal device can be seen and the same contours K of the terminal devices.

[0060] Figure 3C also shows that the base surfaces 11 of the housings are designed to be arranged on a mounting rail. In alternative embodiments, the terminal assembly may include at least one adhesive that can be arranged on the base surface of the first and / or second housing for adhering the terminal assembly to a substrate. List of Reference Symbols

[0061] 1 Terminal arrangement 3A, 3B terminal device

[0062] 5A, 5B First housing, Second housing

[0063] 7A-7N, 9A-9N conductor connection opening

[0064] 11 Floor area

[0065] 13 Top 15A, 15B Opposing surfaces

[0066] 17A, 17B Adjacent side surfaces

[0067] 19A, 19B Corresponding connecting means

[0068] R Row direction K Contour

Claims

Patent claims 1. Terminal arrangement for connecting electrical conductors, comprising: a first terminal device (3A) with a first housing (5A) and a second terminal device (3B) with a second housing (5B), wherein the first housing (5A) and the second housing (5B) each have at least one conductor connection opening (7A, 9A), wherein the conductor connection opening (7A) in the first housing (5A) is arranged offset from the conductor connection opening (9A) in the second housing (5B) relative to a base surface (11) of the housings (5A, 5B), characterized in that the first housing (5A) and the second housing (5B) are designed to be arranged in series, and in a series direction (R) of the first and second terminal devices (3A, 3B) have the same contour (K) for arranging similar attachment parts on the first housing (5A) and on the second housing (5B).

2. Terminal arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one conductor connection opening (7A) of the first housing (5A) extends vertically relative to the base surface (11) and the at least one conductor connection opening (9A) of the second housing (5B) extends horizontally relative to the base surface (11).

3. Terminal arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the first housing (5A) has a further conductor connection opening (7B), wherein the further conductor connection opening (7B) extends vertically relative to the base surface (11) and is arranged on a top surface (13) of the first housing (5A) together with the conductor connection opening (7A), and wherein the first terminal device (3A) is configured to electrically connect electrical conductors arranged in the conductor connection opening (7A) and in the further conductor connection opening (7B) of the first housing (5A).

4. Terminal arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the first housing (5A) has a plurality of conductor connection openings (7A-7N) extending vertically relative to the base surface (11), which are arranged together on the top surface (13) of the first housing (5A), and wherein the first The terminal device (3A) is designed to allow electrical conductors to be arranged in the conductor connection openings (7A-7N) of the first housing (5A) to be electrically connected to each other.

5. Terminal arrangement according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the second housing (5B) has a further conductor connection opening (9B), wherein the further conductor connection opening (9B) extends horizontally relative to the base (11) and is arranged on one side of the second housing (5B) opposite the conductor connection opening (9A), and wherein the second terminal arrangement (3B) is designed to electrically connect electrical conductors arranged in the conductor connection opening (9A) and in the further conductor connection opening (9B) of the second housing (5B).

6. Terminal arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the second housing (5B) has a plurality of conductor connection openings (9A-9N) extending horizontally relative to the base surface (11), which are arranged on opposite surfaces (15A, 15B) of the second housing (5B), and wherein the second terminal arrangement (3B) is configured to electrically connect electrical conductors arranged in the conductor connection openings (9A-9N) of the second housing (5B).

7. Terminal arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housings (5A, 5B) each have corresponding connecting means (19A, 19B), in particular corresponding tongue and groove connecting means, on adjacent side surfaces (17A, 17B) in the direction of row (R).

8. Terminal arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and second terminal arrangement (3A, 3B) are each adapted to connect electrical conductors with the same nominal cross-section.

9. Terminal arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one spring element and at least one actuating element, wherein the spring element is arranged in the first and / or second terminal device (3A, 3B) and is adapted for locking and electrically contacting the electrical conductor in the conductor connection opening (7A-7N, 9A- 9N), and wherein the actuating element is adapted for transferring the spring element between a clamping position and a release position. Terminal arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first and / or second terminal assembly is designed as a screw terminal. Terminal arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base surface (11) of the first and / or second housing (5A, 5B) is designed to be arranged on a mounting rail, in particular to be snapped onto it. Terminal arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by an adhesive arranged on the base surface (11) of the first and / or second housing (5A, 5B) for bonding to a substrate.A terminal arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by a contact leg, wherein the contact leg extends from the base (11) of the first and / or second housing (5A, 5B) for electrically contacting at least one electrical conductor that can be arranged in a conductor connection opening (7A-7N, 9A-9N). A terminal arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a bridge element, wherein the bridge element can be arranged between the first and the second terminal assembly (3A, 3B) to electrically connect electrical conductors that can be arranged in the respective conductor connection openings (7A-7N, 9A-9N) of the first terminal assembly (3A) and the second terminal assembly (3B). A terminal arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by an attachment, in particular a fastening element, a marking element, or a strain relief element, that can be arranged on the first housing (5A) and on the second housing (5B).

Images