Contact terminal, use thereof and assembly comprising such a contact terminal, an electrical cable and a support structure

Abstract

Described is a contact terminal 1 for fastening and electrically connecting a cable 23 having electrical insulation 22 to an electrically conductive support structure 21, which contact terminal 1 comprises - a base body 2 with a cable receptacle 5 through which a cable 23 to be fastened can be passed, and with at least one clamping contact element 6 which can be placed under pretension against the support structure 21, - at least one insulation penetration member 12 which is in electrical connection with the at least one clamping contact element, comprises at least one penetration body and is adjustable relative to the base body 2,13 for contacting an electrical conductor 24 located beneath the insulation 22 of the cable 23 and - a tensioning device 7 for applying a prestress to the at least one tensioning contact element 6 relative to the supporting structure 21 and for establishing an electrical contact between the at least one insulation penetrating part 12, 13 and the at least one electrical conductor 24 of a cable 23 guided through the cable receptacle 5 by pushing the at least one penetrating body of the insulation penetrating member 12, 13 through the insulation 22 of the cable 23 located on the outside of the electrical conductor 24 to be contacted.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a contact terminal for fastening and electrically connecting a cable to an electrically conductive support structure. The invention further relates to a use of such a contact terminal. The invention further relates to an assembly comprising such a contact terminal, an electrical cable provided with external electrical insulation, and a support structure.

[0002] Such contact terminals are used, for example, to contact the shielding located beneath the outer insulation of shielded electrical cables and to electrically connect it to a supporting structure that represents the earth. Such a shield is made from interwoven strands that surround the actual electrical conductor(s) with the interposition of electrical insulation. The supporting structure used for such purposes is itself electrically conductive, whereby the electrical conductivity of such a supporting structure, in the case of an earth (in the electrical sense), only needs to be of such electrical conductivity in order to be used as an earth. It is sometimes sufficient if only the surface of such a supporting structure is electrically conductive. Such supporting structures are typically made from a steel typically used for this purpose.The surfaces can be galvanized to provide corrosion protection.

[0003] To connect the electrically conductive shielding braid of a shielded electrical cable to earth, the first step is to remove the outer insulation. A terminal is positioned on this stripped section, which can be an end section or a section anywhere along the electrical cable's length, clamped to the shielding braid, and connected to earth.

[0004] Contact clamps are also used to attach grounding cables to a supporting structure and connect them electrically. In some cases, such grounding cables are cables without external insulation. Such a contact clamp then creates the pretension required for sufficient electrical contact between the ground conductor and the supporting structure. Such uninsulated grounding cables or ground conductors are often used in installations for rail vehicles, so-called railway installations. Unfortunately, cable thefts on railway systems are a recurring problem, resulting in the affected lines having to be closed. The uninsulated ground conductors are dismantled and stolen. These cables are sought after due to their lack of insulation, as they can be reused, in particular melted down, without the need for any further treatment.

[0005] Based on the prior art discussed above, the object of the invention is to propose a contact terminal for fastening and electrically connecting an electrical cable to an electrically conductive support structure, which simplifies the electrical connection of a cable having electrical insulation to a support structure with a conductivity at least suitable for grounding purposes. This would then also make it possible to use insulated cables as ground conductors in railway systems without increasing the assembly effort. At the same time, it would be desirable to have a contact terminal available that would also simplify the electrical ground connection of a shield in an insulated electrical cable.

[0006] This object is achieved according to the invention by a contact terminal for fastening and electrically connecting a cable having electrical insulation to an electrically conductive support structure, having the features of claim 1.

[0007] This contacting terminal, which can also be referred to as an earthing terminal if an earth connection is provided, comprises a base body, at least one clamping contact element, at least one insulation piercing member and a clamping device. The base body provides a cable receptacle through which a cable to be fastened can be passed. Such a base body is, for example, U-shaped, as provided in one exemplary embodiment. In such a case, the contacting terminal is designed in the manner of a conventional clamp with which cables are fastened to a supporting structure. Associated with the base body is at least one clamping contact element which can be placed under pretension against the supporting structure with the clamping device. The clamping contact element thus serves to provide the electrical transition between the contacting terminal and the supporting structure.When the contact terminal is designed as a clamp, the anchoring elements, which can have different shapes, typically serve as a clamping contact element or elements.

[0008] Furthermore, this contact terminal has at least one insulation piercing element. This insulation piercing element is used to contact an electrical conductor located beneath the outer insulation of a cable. This can be one or more electrical conductors surrounded by a braided shield on the outside, or it can be electrical conductors designed as individual wires (stranded wires). Such an insulation piercing element is in electrically conductive connection with a clamping contact element responsible for the electrical transition to the supporting structure. To electrically contact the electrical conductor located beneath the insulation, such an insulation piercing element has at least one piercing body. This is typically designed like a nail or tooth and therefore has a penetrating tip.When a corresponding clamping force is applied via the clamping device, this at least one penetrating body is pressed into the insulation of the electrical conductor to contact the electrical conductor located beneath the insulation. Such an insulation penetrating element preferably has a plurality of penetrating bodies arranged in a row following the longitudinal extent of a cable to be contacted. These are typically designed as a row of teeth. Such an insulation penetrating element can also have a plurality of such rows of penetrating bodies. These are then arranged at a distance from one another in the direction of the width of the cable receptacle. In such a configuration, one exemplary embodiment provides that the longitudinal axes of the penetrating bodies of the two rows of penetrating bodies are arranged with their free ends inclined towards one another.The tips of the penetrating bodies of the two rows of penetrating bodies then point at least approximately in the direction of the center of an electrical cable located in the cable receptacle.

[0009] Such an insulation penetrating member can serve as an additional clamping contact element if, with the contact terminal connected to a supporting structure, it contacts the supporting structure with its side opposite the at least one penetrating body. With such a configuration, the contact terminal has at least two clamping contact elements that are supported by the different surfaces of the supporting structure of the clamped contact terminal and establish the electrical contacts between the contact terminal and the supporting structure, specifically when the cable passes through the cable receptacle. At least one of these clamping contact elements is part of the base body. An insulation penetrating member then serves as the second clamping contact element.

[0010] A clamping device is also part of the contacting terminal. This serves to clamp the at least one clamping contact element against the supporting structure and at the same time to bring about electrical contact with the electrical conductor by pressing the penetrating body(s) into the insulation of the cable until they contact the electrical conductor located underneath. The clamping device expediently has a single clamping actuator in order to both clamp the at least one clamping contact element against the supporting structure and at the same time electrically contact the electrical conductor of the cable. According to one embodiment, a clamping screw serves as the clamping actuator. With a U-shaped design of the base body, according to one embodiment, the clamping screw penetrates the web connecting the two legs and meshes with an internal thread complementary to its external thread.This can be cut into the opening in the web or provided by a weld nut positioned on or in an opening in the web. It is also entirely possible to create the complementary internal thread by means of a flange extending toward the cable receptacle, which provides the through-hole into which the internal thread is cut.

[0011] With the exception of the clamping device, a contact terminal can be manufactured from stamped and bent parts, thus making it cost-effective. This also applies to the penetrating element(s). If several penetrating elements are arranged in a row, these can easily be provided as rows of teeth through a stamping and bending process, pointing into the cable receptacle. The term "stamped part" used in this context encompasses not only the stamping of the individual parts, but also all other options for creating a base board with the required outer contour, such as laser cutting.

[0012] With such a contact clamp, the clamping process establishes both the electrical contact with the electrical conductor located beneath the outer insulation of an electrical cable and simultaneously secures the contact clamp and cable to the supporting structure. When designed as a clamp, the contact clamp can be handled just as easily as a clamp, despite establishing an electrical connection between an electrical conductor within the cable and a supporting structure.

[0013] Ultimately, any structure that is itself electrically connected to earth can serve as the supporting structure. For example, a rung of a cable ladder can be used as a supporting structure. Such rungs typically have a C-shaped cross-section. With such a design, the contacting terminal can be designed like a U-clamp. The end sections of the legs of the base body are then designed like anchoring hooks that engage in at least one undercut created by the C-shaped profile. With their edge facing the cable receptacle, these then act as tension contact elements against the inside of the undercut(s) when the contacting terminal is attached. Such an anchoring element can be designed as a single- or double-sided hook. It is also entirely possible for the anchoring element to be designed like a hammer head.If the contact terminal has a U-shaped base body, it is preferred that the ends opposite the web carrying the clamping device are both designed as anchoring elements, for example in the form of anchoring hooks.

[0014] Such an insulation penetrating member can, for example, be designed as a clamping plate, for example if the cable receptacle of the base body is U-shaped. Such a clamping plate as an insulation penetrating member is adjustable on the legs of the base body in the direction of their longitudinal extent relative to the latter or movable in this direction and is guided on the legs of the base body. The penetrating body(ies) is arranged on its side facing the cable receptacle. On its side opposite the at least one penetrating body, such an insulation penetrating member designed as a clamping plate is connected to the supporting structure with at least one section adjustable under pretension when the contact terminal is attached.If the supporting structure is the rung of a cable ladder, this side of the insulation piercing element acts as a clamping contact element against the top of the rung, specifically in those sections adjacent to the rung mouth. This type of insulation piercing element thus acts against the outside of the mouth-delimiting sections of the rung, against the underside of which the anchoring element(s) of the base body act. This side of the insulation piercing element thus represents a clamping contact element, responsible for the required electrical contact with the supporting structure.

[0015] In an alternative design, or preferably also in addition to such a contacting terminal as described above, it is provided that the insulation penetrating member is designed as a contacting plate. In a U-shaped configuration of the base body, this is held and guided on the legs in the direction of their longitudinal extent and adjustable or movable relative to these. This insulation penetrating member designed as a contacting plate is typically electrically conductively connected to the base body via the clamping device. The base body, in turn, has at least one anchoring element for engaging behind at least a portion of the support structure and via which the electrical contact to the support structure is then established when the contacting terminal is attached to the support structure.

[0016] When designing the contact terminal with such an insulation penetrating element designed as a contact plate, it is expedient for the clamping device to have a pressure plate acting on this insulation penetrating element. The clamping force of the clamping device is then distributed via the pressure plate over a larger surface section of the insulation penetrating element serving as the contact plate. At the same time, this improves the electrical transition. It is also possible to use such a pressure plate itself as an insulation penetrating element. This pressure plate then carries at least one penetrating body on its side facing the cable receptacle.

[0017] If a clamping screw is provided as the clamping actuator of the clamping device, this typically acts on a pressure plate which is connected to the screw shaft in a rotationally decoupled manner.

[0018] The contact terminal according to the invention is equally suitable for AC and DC voltage applications.

[0019] The invention is described below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying figures. They show: Fig. 1: A perspective view of a contact terminal according to the invention, Fig. 2: the contact terminal of the Figure 1 in a different perspective, Fig. 3: the contact terminal of the preceding figures in a side view, Fig. 4: two insulation piercing elements of the contact terminal of the preceding figures in a single representation, Fig. 5: the contact terminal according to the invention, connected to a supporting structure and Fig. 6: a side view of the arrangement of the Figure 5 looking in the longitudinal direction of the supporting structure.

[0020] A contacting terminal 1 is used to fasten and electrically connect a cable having external electrical insulation to an electrically conductive supporting structure. In the illustrated embodiment, the contacting terminal 1 is designed as a grounding terminal to connect an electrically insulated grounding cable to the earth provided by the supporting structure. The contacting terminal 1 is essentially constructed in the manner of a clamp and comprises a U-shaped base body 2. The base body 2 has two legs 3, 3.1, which are connected to one another by a web 4. A cable receptacle 5 is located between the two legs 3, 3.1. A cable to be connected to and fastened to a supporting structure using the contacting terminal 1 passes through the cable receptacle 5. The free end sections of the legs 3, 3.1 are each hook-shaped to form an anchoring structure.With regard to leg 3, the hook structure is identified by reference numeral 6. Due to the perspective, the hook structure of leg 3.1 is not clearly visible. The hook structures 6 of the two legs 3, 3.1 are oriented in the same direction and serve to engage behind a component of a supporting structure. Instead of the hook structures 6 shown in the figures, these can also be realized by other anchoring structures.

[0021] Connected to the base body 2 is a clamping device, designated overall by the reference numeral 7. The clamping device 7 comprises a clamping screw 8, the shaft 9 of which extends through the web 4 of the base body 2. A pressure plate 10 is connected to the base of the clamping screw 8, rotationally decoupled from it. The thread of the screw shaft 9 meshes with a corresponding internal thread through a sleeve-like flange 11 directed towards the cable receptacle 5. By turning the clamping screw 8, the pressure plate 10 can be adjusted in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the legs 3, 3.1. In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure plate 10 has a saddle-shaped cross-section and extends through the cable receptacle 5. The width of the pressure plate 8 holds it between the legs 3, 3.1 of the base body 2, secured against twisting.When the clamping device 7 is actuated, the pressure plate 10 can be actuated in the direction of the cable holder 5 to clamp a cable located thereon and also to release it.

[0022] The contact terminal 1 of the illustrated embodiment also includes two insulation penetration elements 12, 13. The two insulation penetration elements 12, 13 are guided on the legs 3, 3.1 and are adjustable in the longitudinal extension of the legs 3, 3.1. The insulation penetration element 12 delimits the cable receptacle 5 in the perspective view of the Figure 1 The insulation penetration element 13 limits the cable receptacle 5 on the top side.

[0023] The insulation piercing member 12 is designed like a clamping plate and carries two rows of piercing elements 14, 14.1 on its side facing the cable receptacle 5. The piercing elements of the rows of piercing elements 14, 14.1 are tooth-shaped and each have a tip directed towards the cable receptacle 5. The rows of piercing elements 14, 14.1 are inclined relative to one another with respect to the tips of their respective piercing elements. Thus, the longitudinal axes of the piercing elements of the rows of piercing elements 14, 14.1 point towards the center of a cable to be fastened to the contact terminal 1 and electrically connected to a supporting structure. The insulation piercing member 12 is a stamped and bent part, from whose base plate 15 the rows of piercing elements 14, 14.1 are bent out in the direction of the cable receptacle 5.The openings in the base plate 15 created in this way each represent a passage 16 for a leg 3, 3.1. The passages 16 are delimited on the outside with respect to the respective leg 3, 3.1 by a web 17. In the illustrated embodiment, the webs 17 are not parallel to the surface of the respective leg 3, 3.1, but rather form an angle of approximately 10° - 20° with it. The distance between the two webs 17 of the insulation penetration member 12 is thus defined by the upper inner edges facing each other. This distance is designed so that the insulation penetrating member 12 is held frictionally on the legs 3, 3.1, whereby this frictional engagement only acts to the extent that when the contacting terminal 1 is handled to connect it to a supporting structure, the insulation penetrating member 12 does not slip off the base body 2 or its legs 3, 3.1 by itself.The pressure plate 10, whose width is designed only with a clearance between the inner sides of the legs 3, 3.1, ensures that essentially only the ends of the legs 3, 3.1 are responsible for applying the prestress for holding the insulation penetrating element 12 to the base body 2.

[0024] The contacting terminal 1 shown in the figures is designed in the manner of a clamp to be connected to a rung of a cable ladder as an exemplary support structure. For this reason, the longitudinal extent of the insulation penetrating member 12 (extension in the direction of the cable receptacle 5) is designed so that the insulation penetrating member 12 rests on the two surface sections of such a rung that border a mounting groove. The webs 17 also carry an extension 18 pointing in the direction of the respective hook structure 6, which engages in the mouth of the mounting groove of such a rung and thereby defines the positioning of the contacting terminal 1 on such a rung. The width of the extension 18 corresponds, minus a certain amount of play, to the clear width of the mounting groove of such a rung.

[0025] The insulation penetration member 13 limits the cable receptacle 5 on the upper side and has a saddle-shaped cross-sectional geometry (see Figure 2 ). The insulation penetrating member 13 also carries two rows of penetrating bodies 19, 19.1 on its underside and thus on its side facing the cable receptacle 5. These are designed in the same way as the rows of penetrating bodies 14, 14.1 described above for the insulation penetrating member 12. The insulation penetrating member 13 is also guided along the legs 3, 3.1 of the base body in the longitudinal extension thereof and is adjustable relative to them in the direction of their longitudinal extension. The ends of the insulation penetrating member 13 facing in the longitudinal extension of a cable inserted into the cable receptacle 5 are bent upwards in a manner known per se. The insulation penetrating member 13 is also a stamped and bent part in the illustrated embodiment.

[0026] The hook structure 6 of the contact terminal 1 is shown in the side view of the contact terminal 1 in the Figure 3 clearly visible.

[0027] The base body 2 and the clamping device 7 with its clamping screw 8 and its pressure plate 10 can be a standard clamp that has been upgraded with the two insulation penetration elements 12, 13.

[0028] The two insulation penetrating bodies 12, 13 are in Figure 4 shown in a perspective view. The previously described design of these two insulation penetrating elements 12, 13 is more clearly visible therein. Regarding the insulation penetrating element 13, the central part of the saddle-shaped design, which was not visible in the previous figures, is visible. This is formed by a curved pressure web 20. The pressure plate 10 of the clamping device 7 acts flatly on its convexly curved upper side.

[0029] The individual components of the contact terminal 1, namely the base body 2 and the two insulation piercing elements 12, 13, are made as stamped and bent parts from stainless steel.

[0030] The rows of penetrators 19, 19.1 of the insulation penetrator 13, like those of the insulation penetrator 12, serve to contact an electrical conductor of an electrical cable located beneath the insulation. The length of the penetrators of the rows of penetrators 14, 14.1; 19, 19.1 is designed so that they can penetrate the cable insulation and be pressed sufficiently far into or between the strands of the electrical conductor. The insulation penetrator 13 is electrically connected to the base body 2 via the clamping device 7 through the flat contact between the pressure web 20 and the pressure plate 10. Additionally, contact can be provided between the insulation penetrator 13 and one or both legs 3 or 3.1. However, the defined electrical connection is established via the clamping device 8 acting on the pressure web 20.

[0031] The insulation penetrating element 12 is designed to be directly supported on a supporting structure with its side opposite the rows of penetrating elements 14, 14.1. This allows an electrical conductor located beneath an insulation of a cable inserted into the cable receptacle 5 to be contacted with the supporting structure directly via the insulation penetrating element 12 itself.

[0032] Figure 5 shows the contact terminal 1 mounted and attached to a rung 21 of a cable ladder (not shown in detail) as an exemplary support structure. It is understood that the rung 21 can also be a component of another support structure. A cable 23 provided with electrical insulation 22 is inserted into the cable receptacle 5 of the contact terminal 1, which cable is a grounding cable in the illustrated embodiment. Figure 5In the arrangement shown, the contacting terminal 1 is tensioned and thus fastened to the rung 21. The penetrating body rows 14, 14.1 of the insulation penetrating element 12 and those of the insulation penetrating element 13 are pressed through the insulation 22 of the cable 23 and contact with their tip sections the cable strands 24 located below the insulation 22. The hook structures 6 of the legs 3, 3.1 engage behind the mounting groove 25 of the C-shaped profiled rung 21. The clamping and the connection are better seen in the side view of the Figure 6 the arrangement of the Figure 5 The hook structures 6 of the legs 3, 3.1 engage under and behind the Figure 6shown left section of rung 21, which delimits the mounting groove 25. Due to the tension applied by the tensioning device 7, the hook structure 6 acts under pretension against the leg 26, which delimits the mounting groove 25 and is bent into the interior of rung 21. The sections of the hook structure 6 which contact the free edge of the leg 26 thus serve as a clamping contact element. In this way, a secure electrical contact is established between the base body 2 and thus the insulation penetrating body 13 and the rung 21 as the supporting structure. The insulation penetrating member 12 rests with its outer side facing away from the cable 23 on the upper side of the rung 21, thereby ensuring the electrical transition into the rung 21 as the supporting structure. In the insulation penetrating body 13, the sections which lie against the surface of the rung 22 are therefore the clamping contact element.The engagement of the extension 18 of the web 17 for positioning the contact terminal 1 in the mouth of the mounting groove 25 of the rung 21 can be clearly seen.

[0033] A special feature of the contact clamp 1 is that a single process, namely the tensioning of the tensioning device 7, simultaneously establishes electrical contact with the electrical conductor of a cable located beneath the insulation and simultaneously clamps the cable to a supporting structure. The assembly effort required to create an electrically conductive connection, for example, a grounding connection between an insulated grounding cable or a ground conductor and a supporting structure, is therefore no greater than the already required fastening or fixing of such a cable to a supporting structure using a clamp.

[0034] Although a clamping screw is described in the figures as an exemplary embodiment of such a clamping device, it can also be designed differently, for example, as a locking clamping device. Such a clamping device can be advantageous for a contact terminal 1 that is intended to be non-removable. The clamping itself can then be performed, for example, using a separate collet chuck as a clamping actuator.

[0035] The invention has been described using exemplary embodiments. Without departing from the scope of protection described by the applicable claims, numerous further embodiments for implementing the inventive concept will become apparent to those skilled in the art without the need for further explanation within the scope of these statements. List of reference symbols

[0036] 1Contact terminal 2Base body 3, 3.1Leg 4Bridge 5Cable receptacle 6Hook structure 7Clamping device 8Clamping screw 9Shaft 10Pressure plate 11Flanging 12Insulation piercing element 13Insulation piercing element 14, 14.1Row of piercing elements 15Base plate 16Pass-through 17Bridge 18Extension 19, 19.1Row of piercing elements 20Pressure ridge 21Rung 22Insulation 23Cable 24Cable strand 25Mounting groove 26Leg

Claims

1. Contacting terminal for fastening and electrically connecting a cable (23) having electrical insulation (22) to an electrically conductive support structure (21), which contacting terminal (1) - a base body (2) with a cable receptacle (5) through which a cable (23) to be fastened can be passed, and with at least one clamping contact element (6) which can be placed under pretension against the support structure (21), - at least one insulation penetrating member (12) which is in electrical connection with the at least one clamping contact element, comprises at least one penetrating body and is adjustable relative to the base body (2),13) for contacting an electrical conductor (24) located beneath the insulation (22) of the cable (23), and - a tensioning device (7) for applying a prestress to the at least one tensioning contact element (6) relative to the supporting structure (21) and for establishing an electrical contact between the at least one insulation penetrating member (12, 13) and the at least one electrical conductor (24) of a cable (23) guided through the cable receptacle (5) by pushing the at least one penetrating body of the insulation penetrating member (12, 13) through the insulation (22) of the cable (23) located on the outside of the electrical conductor (24) to be contacted.

2. Contact terminal according to claim 1 characterized in thatthe base body (2) is U-shaped and an insulation penetrating member (12) is provided on the legs (3, 3.1) in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the legs (3, 3.1) which is adjustable relative to these, delimiting the cable receptacle (5), which carries the at least one insulation penetrating body on its side facing the cable receptacle (5) and with at least a section of its side opposite the at least one penetrating body when the contacting terminal (1) is fastened to a support structure (21) and can be adjusted under pretension against the support structure (21), serves as a further clamping contact element.

3. Contact terminal according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in thatthe base body is U-shaped and an insulation penetrating member (13) is provided on the legs (3, 3.1) in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the legs (3, 3.1) which is adjustable relative to these, delimiting the cable receptacle (5), which carries at least one penetrating body on its side facing the cable receptacle (5) and is electrically conductively connected to the base body (2) by means of the clamping device (7).

4. Contact terminal according to claim 3, characterized in that each leg (3, 3.1) of the base body (2) is designed as a clamping contact element at the end in the manner of an anchoring hook (6).

5. Contact terminal according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the clamping device (7) has a pressure plate (10) acting on an insulation penetrating member (13).

6. Contact terminal according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the clamping device (7) comprises a clamping screw (8) acting on a pressure plate (10).

7. Contact terminal according to claim 6, characterized in that the base body (2) is U-shaped, the clamping screw (8) passes through the web (4) connecting the two legs (3, 3.1) of the base body (2) and, in conjunction with the passage, meshes with an internal thread complementary to the thread of the clamping screw (8).

8. Contact terminal according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the insulation penetrating member(s) (12, 13) comprise(s) a plurality of penetrating bodies arranged in a row and designed in the manner of teeth.

9. Contact terminal according to claim 8, characterized in that an insulation penetrating member (12, 13) via at least two rows of penetrating bodies (4, 14.1; 19, 19.1) arranged at a distance from one another, wherein the penetrating bodies of the two rows of penetrating bodies (4, 14.1; 19, 19.1) are inclined towards one another with their longitudinal axes towards their free ends.

10. Contact terminal according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the base body (2) and the at least one insulation penetrating member (12, 13) are stamped and bent parts.

11. Use of a contact terminal (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the contact terminal (1) is used as an earthing terminal for connection to a component of a cable routing system as a supporting structure (21).

12. Arrangement comprising a contact terminal (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, an electrical cable (23) with an outer insulation and a support structure (21), characterized in thatthe contacting terminal (1) is fixed to the support structure (21) with an electrical cable (23) passing through its cable receptacle (5) after actuation of the tensioning device (7), by means of which tensioning device (7) the at least one penetrating body of the at least one insulation penetrating member (12, 13) is pressed through the outer insulation (22) of the electrical cable (23) and contacts at least one electrical conductor (24) located underneath.

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