Connection terminal for connecting an electrical wire
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023751036
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-08-18
- Filing Date
- 2023-08-07
- Publication Date
- 2025-06-25
Smart Images
Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
[0001] Terminal for connecting an electrical cable
[0002] The invention relates to a terminal for connecting an electrical line according to the preamble of claim 1.
[0003] Such a terminal comprises a housing part, a contact element arranged on the housing part with a contact section for electrically contacting an electrical line, and a spring element with a clamping leg that can be adjusted relative to the housing part. The clamping leg of the spring element is designed to act on an electrical line in a clamping position for contacting the contact section. An actuating element is arranged on the housing part so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis and can be pivoted from a non-actuated position to an actuated position in order to adjust the clamping leg from the clamping position.
[0004] By using the spring element, the connection terminal realizes a spring force connection in which the electrical line in the connected position is clamped to the contact element under the elastic spring action of the spring element and is thus electrically connected to the contact element.
[0005] A connecting terminal known from DE 10 2019 127 464 B3 features a spring element in the form of a tension spring, which draws a connected electrical cable into contact with an associated contact element through elastic spring action, thus establishing a clamped connection between the electrical cable and the contact element. For this purpose, the electrical cable is pushed through an opening in the clamping leg when applied and clamped between the clamping leg and the contact element in the connected position.
[0006] The terminal of DE 10 2019 127 464 B3 features a locking device by which the clamping leg is locked in a release position relative to the housing. When the electrical cable is inserted, the locking device is triggered, thus releasing the locking, so that the clamping leg is moved out of the release position and the electrical cable is thereby clamped to the contact element. To move the clamping leg into the release position, in particular to enable the electrical cable to be attached or to detach a connected electrical cable from the terminal, a tool, such as a screwdriver, can be placed on the terminal, thereby exerting a force on the clamping leg.
[0007] While in DE 102019 127 464 B3 the clamping leg is adjusted directly using a tool, the connection terminals known from DE 10 2019 135 203 A1 and DE 10 2020 104 140 A1 each have an actuating element in the form of a so-called pusher, which can be pressed into the housing of the connection terminal in order to act on the clamping leg and move the clamping leg into its release position. The actuating element is spring-loaded relative to the housing of the connection terminal by a tension spring in the form of a compression spring. In the connection terminal known from DE 10 2019 135203 A1, an actuating lug is arranged on the actuating element, which, when the actuating element is in the actuated position, is hooked onto a fastening section of a holding element.
[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a terminal block which enables convenient actuation via the actuating element, with smooth, reliable mounting of the actuating element relative to the housing part of the terminal block.
[0009] This object is achieved by an article having the features of claim 1.
[0010] Accordingly, the actuating element has a first sliding surface formed on a body portion of the actuating element and the housing part has a second sliding surface formed on a housing portion for slidingly supporting the first sliding surface when the actuating element pivots about the pivot axis.
[0011] The terminal comprises a housing part on which a spring element is arranged. The spring element has a clamping leg designed to clamp an electrical line connected to the terminal, clamping it to a contact section of a contact element, and thereby electrically connecting the electrical line with a stripped conductor end to the contact element.
[0012] The clamping leg can be elastically adjusted relative to the housing part to move the clamping leg out of the clamping position. In particular, the clamping leg can be moved into a release position to remove the clamping leg from the contact portion of the contact element, thus enabling simple, essentially forceless connection of an electrical cable or simple, forceless removal of a connected electrical cable from the terminal.
[0013] To move the clamping leg relative to the housing part, an actuating element is pivotably mounted on the housing part. The actuating element can be pivoted about a pivot axis relative to the housing part and acts on the clamping leg, in particular to adjust it out of the clamping position and thus move it elastically relative to the housing part.
[0014] In an actuating element pivotally mounted on a housing part for adjusting the clamping leg, loading forces on the actuating element act not only in tension and compression (as is usually the case with an actuating element displaceably mounted on the housing), but also as bending loads, in particular about a bending axis perpendicular to the pivot axis. To provide support for the actuating element for pivotal mounting on the housing part, the actuating element has a first sliding surface formed on a body portion, which is designed to cooperate with a complementary sliding surface on a housing portion of the housing part in order to create support between the actuating element and the housing part upon pivoting of the actuating element.
[0015] The first sliding surface and the second sliding surface are radially spaced from the pivot axis. For example, the first sliding surface can be formed on an outer, radially outwardly facing wall of the actuating element to slidably interact with the sliding surface on the housing portion of the housing part.
[0016] In this case, it can be provided that the first sliding surface and the second sliding surface are always in sliding contact with one another when the actuating element is pivoted, so that a sliding bearing exists between the sliding surfaces.
[0017] In another embodiment, it can also be provided that the first sliding surface only comes into contact with the second sliding surface on the housing section of the housing part when an (excessive) load is applied to the actuating element, for example, when pressure is applied to an actuating section along a direction perpendicular to the pivot axis. Thus, in this embodiment, the sliding surfaces are not always in contact with each other, but only come into sliding contact with each other when an (excessive) load is applied to the actuating element.
[0018] In one embodiment, the first sliding surface and / or the second sliding surface are curved around the pivot axis. The first sliding surface and / or the second sliding surface can, for example, have a constant radius of curvature around the pivot axis, so that the first sliding surface and / or the second sliding surface extend in an arc around the pivot axis with a constant radius.
[0019] Preferably, both the first sliding surface and the second sliding surface are curved around the pivot axis and have an arcuate shape with a constant radius of curvature relative to the pivot axis. The sliding surfaces are shaped complementarily to each other, with the first sliding surface on the actuating element having a convex shape and the second sliding surface on the housing section having a complementary, concave shape.
[0020] However, it is also conceivable that only one of the sliding surfaces is curved and rests on the other sliding surface at one or more contact points.
[0021] In one embodiment, the actuating element has an actuating section for actuation by a user and an active section for acting on the clamping leg. While the actuating section is accessible from outside the housing part, for example by a user being able to act on the actuating section using a tool, such as a screwdriver, or alternatively manually, the active section is operatively connected to the clamping leg of the spring element. By adjusting the actuating element, an adjusting force is exerted on the clamping leg via the active section, so that, in particular when the actuating element is adjusted from the non-actuated position to the actuated position, the clamping leg is entrained and thus moved towards a release position.
[0022] In one embodiment, the body portion of the actuating element on which the first sliding surface is formed forms the active portion for acting on the clamping leg when the actuating element is pivoted. With the body portion forming the active portion, which also integrally and one-piecely forms the (first) sliding surface on the actuating element, the actuating element acts on the clamping leg of the spring element when pivoting from the non-actuated position to the actuated position and adjusts it towards a release position. The body portion on which the sliding surface of the actuating element is formed is formed by the active portion, such that the actuating element is slidably supported on the housing portion of the housing part via a surface of the active portion when the actuating element is pivoted about the pivot axis relative to the housing part.
[0023] Preferably, the first sliding surface rests against the second sliding surface in the non-actuated position and in the actuated position of the actuating element, and when the actuating element pivots about the pivot axis between the non-actuated position and the actuated position. The first sliding surface and the second sliding surface are thus in supporting contact with one another both in the non-actuated position and in the actuated position, and also during any movement therebetween. In particular, due to the support in the actuated position, forces can be absorbed and supported on the actuating element when the clamping leg is deflected, without the force of the clamping leg causing any (significant) deformation of the actuating element.
[0024] In one embodiment, the actuating element has a further, second body portion. The clamping leg is received, for example, in a receiving slot between the (first) body portion, on which the first sliding surface is formed, and the further, second body portion. The clamping leg is thus supported in a defined position on the actuating element. Upon pivoting of the actuating element about the pivot axis, the clamping leg pivots together with the actuating element relative to the housing and is thus moved toward a release position.
[0025] For example, the first sliding surface is formed on an outer side of the body portion facing radially outward relative to the pivot axis. The first sliding surface is thus formed on an outer surface of the actuating element and faces radially outward to be slidably supported on the second sliding surface of the housing portion of the housing part.
[0026] In one embodiment, the first sliding surface is arranged on a side of the clamping leg facing away from the pivot axis. The clamping leg is thus received on the actuating element in a region spatially between the first sliding surface and the pivot axis. For example, the clamping leg can extend approximately transversely to an (imaginary) line between the first sliding surface and the pivot axis and thus extends between the first sliding surface and the pivot axis. The clamping leg is thus supported on the actuating element radially inside the first sliding surface. The first sliding surface for sliding support relative to the housing during pivoting is thus located at a radially outer position compared to the clamping leg, so that reliable support and dissipation of a bending load on the actuating element can be ensured.
[0027] In one embodiment, the housing section of the housing part forms a plug-in opening for inserting an electrical cable. The second sliding surface is formed on the housing section on the side of the housing part to provide sliding support for the actuating element during pivoting relative to the housing part.
[0028] In addition to the sliding bearing, the actuating element is preferably pivotally mounted on the housing via the first and second sliding surfaces. For example, an axle element can be formed on the actuating element or on the housing part, which is concentric with the pivot axis and via which the actuating element is pivotally mounted on the housing part. The axle element is arranged radially within the first sliding surface.
[0029] For example, the sliding element can be mounted on the housing part only on one side (with respect to the pivot axis) via an axle element.
[0030] The connection terminal can, for example, be part of a connection arrangement with a plurality of connection terminals arranged in a row along a row direction.
[0031] In one embodiment, the spring element of the connection terminal is designed as a tension spring. In this case, the clamping leg of the spring element is designed to pull the electrical line into contact with the contact element using spring force. In this case, an opening can be formed on the clamping leg, for example, through which the electrical line can be passed when plugged into the connection terminal in order to pull the electrical line into clamping contact with the contact element after the clamping leg is released from the release position. Alternatively, the spring element of the connection terminal can be designed as a compression spring. In this case, the clamping leg is designed to press the electrical line into contact with the contact element using spring force.When plugged into the connection terminal, the electrical cable enters a space between the clamping leg and the contact element, whereby after the clamping leg is released from the release position, the clamping leg acts on the electrical cable and presses it into contact with the contact element.
[0032] The spring element of the terminal can, for example, have a support leg, via which the spring element is supported on the housing part and held in position on the housing part. The clamping leg is elastically deflectable relative to the support leg. In the release position, the clamping leg is deflected such that the spring element is elastically tensioned and, after being released from the release position, the clamping leg is moved out of the release position in an elastically pretensioned manner.
[0033] The support leg can, for example, rest against a support section of the housing part and is supported by the housing part. The spring element is thus attached to the housing part independently of the contact element and, if the housing part is made of an electrically insulating material, in particular a plastic material, is not directly electrically connected to the contact element.
[0034] In one embodiment, the spring element has a curved connecting section arranged between the clamping leg and the support leg, which extends around the pivot axis. The support leg and the clamping leg preferably protrude from the actuating element and are arranged at an (acute) angle to one another, wherein the clamping leg can be elastically adjusted relative to the support leg. Because the connecting section extends around the pivot axis, a pivot point can be defined for the clamping leg, which is preferably concentric with the pivot axis of the actuating element, so that when the actuating element is pivoted, the clamping leg is supported in a fixed position on the actuating element and pivots together with the actuating element about the pivot axis assigned to the actuating element and is thereby deflected relative to the support leg.In one embodiment, the support leg of the spring element is supported on the housing part assigned to the terminal and the housing part of a terminal adjacent along the alignment direction. The support leg is thus supported on the housing part of the assigned terminal and, for example, rests on a support section on a wall of the housing part. In addition, the support leg is also supported on the housing part of an adjacent terminal and, for example, rests on a support section on a wall of the adjacent housing part. The support leg is thus jointly supported on two housing parts of adjacent terminals.
[0035] With the connection terminal, the electrical cable is electrically contacted with the electrical contact element in that, when the electrical cable is plugged into the connection terminal, the clamping leg acts on the electrical cable and exerts a spring-elastic load on it in the direction of contact with the contact element. To make it easier to plug in the electrical cable, the clamping leg of the spring element can be elastically deflected, for example by a tool or by actuating an actuating element, in order to move the clamping leg into a release position in which a space in the area of a plug-in opening is released. Thus, the electrical cable can be plugged into the plug-in opening with essentially no force, or a connected electrical cable can be easily removed from the connection terminal.
[0036] Once the clamping leg has been moved into the release position, in one embodiment, the clamping leg is held in the release position relative to the housing part. This can be achieved by directly locking the clamping leg relative to the housing part or by indirectly locking it, for example, via an actuating element.
[0037] In one embodiment, the connection terminal has a release element that is designed to interact with the electrical cable when plugged into the connection terminal to release the clamping leg from the release position. The release element serves to release the clamping leg from the release position in order to automatically release the clamping leg from the release position when the electrical cable is plugged in and thus transfer it into a clamped position in which the electrical cable plugged into the connection terminal is electrically contacted with the contact element of the connection terminal. Because the release element is deflected when the electrical cable is plugged in, the connection terminal closes automatically when the electrical cable is plugged in. This results in a simple connection process with reliable contact between the cable and the contact element.
[0038] Such a connection terminal, in which the clamping leg of the spring element is held in position relative to the housing part in the release position and which can be automatically triggered by a trigger element when an electrical cable is inserted, can be delivered by a manufacturer, for example, with the clamping leg in the release position.
[0039] In one embodiment, the triggering element has a triggering leg which is designed to interact with the electrical line when plugged into the connection terminal. By interacting with the electrical line, the triggering leg is triggered, so that the clamping leg is released from the release position. The housing part defines a receiving space into which the electrical line can be inserted by being inserted into a plug-in opening. The triggering leg extends into the receiving space to interact with the electrical line. In particular, the electrical line can be plugged into the plug-in opening along a plug-in direction, wherein the triggering leg extends with at least one end section (approximately) transverse to the plug-in direction in the receiving space.
[0040] The trigger element can, for example, be designed as an integral, elastically springy element.
[0041] In one embodiment, the trigger element has a support end relative to which the trigger arm is elastically adjustable through interaction with the cable connected to the terminal. The trigger element is supported on the housing part via the support end, for example, by the support end being attached to an associated connecting device of the housing part of the terminal. The trigger element is thus attached to the housing part via the support end, in that the support end is operatively connected to a connecting device of the housing part and is thereby held to the housing part in a torque-resistant manner.
[0042] The support end is preferably fixed in a torque-resistant manner to the connecting device of the housing part of the terminal. The support end can be flat, which has the advantage that a contour can be easily formed on the support end, for example by punching, via which contour a reliable, for example form-fitting, attachment to the connecting device of the housing part can be achieved. While the support end is supported in a torque-resistant manner relative to the housing part, the release arm can be elastically adjusted in the receiving space and extends in the receiving space such that an electrical cable plugged into the terminal strikes the release arm when inserted into the receiving space, thus deflecting it.
[0043] In one embodiment, the support end of the trigger element of the terminal is supported on the housing part assigned to the terminal and the housing part of a terminal adjacent along the array direction. The support end is thus supported on the housing part of the assigned terminal and, for example, engages in an engagement opening in a wall of the housing part. In addition, the support end is also supported on the housing part of an adjacent terminal and, for example, engages in an engagement opening in a wall of the adjacent housing part. The support end is thus jointly supported on two housing parts of adjacent terminals.
[0044] In one embodiment, the actuating element locks in the actuated position with the release element of the terminal. In the actuated position, the actuating element is thus held in position by the release element, so that the clamping leg of the spring element is also held in its release position, in which an electrical cable can be easily connected to the terminal or a connected cable can be removed from the terminal in a substantially forceless manner. After the locking is released, the actuating element can, in particular, automatically return to the non-actuated position, preferably under spring preload.A spring preload on the actuating element can be effected, for example, via the clamping leg, which is elastically deflected in the actuated position and, after release of the actuating element, acts spring-mechanically on the actuating element to transfer the actuating element from the actuated position towards the non-actuated position.
[0045] In one embodiment, the actuating element has a latching section for latching with a latching device of the trigger element of the connection terminal in the actuated position. The latching section can, for example, be arranged on a side of the actuating element facing away from the actuating section (with respect to the pivot axis of the pivotable mounting of the actuating element on the housing part), preferably approximately diametrically opposite the actuating section with respect to the pivot axis. Via the latching section, the actuating element is latched in the actuated position with an associated latching device of the trigger element, so that the actuating element is held in the actuated position, but can be released from the actuated position in a simple, reliable manner by triggering the trigger arm when the electrical cable is inserted.
[0046] The locking device of the trigger element can be formed, for example, by an opening into which the locking portion of the actuating element, for example formed by a projection, engages in the actuated position of the actuating element. The actuating element is thus held in position in its actuated position by the positive engagement of the locking portion in the opening of the trigger element. Adjusting the trigger arm can release the engagement, allowing the actuating element to be released from the actuated position to transfer the clamping arm into the release position.
[0047] In one embodiment, the actuating element of the terminal is mounted on the housing part associated with the terminal and the housing part of a terminal adjacent along the alignment direction. Housing parts of adjacent terminals thus jointly support the actuating element between them. For example, each housing part can have an axle stub that engages a bearing opening on the actuating element, thereby providing a pivot bearing for the actuating element between the housing parts.
[0048] In one embodiment, a connection arrangement has a plurality of connection terminals configured as described above. The housing parts of the connection terminals are arranged in a row along a row direction. The connection arrangement has an outer housing into which the housing parts of the connection terminals arranged in a row along the row direction can be inserted in an assembly direction. The connection arrangement is created by placing the housing parts of the connection terminals next to one another along the row direction. In a rowed position, the housing parts can be inserted into the outer housing of the connection arrangement, so that in an assembled position the housing parts are received in the outer housing and thus enclosed by the outer housing.The outer housing can, for example, have a box shape that is open on one side, so that the adjacent housing parts can be inserted into the box-shaped outer housing. In another embodiment, the outer housing can, for example, have the shape of a frame that is open on two sides, into which the adjacent housing parts can be inserted.
[0049] By providing the outer housing, the advantages of a disc design of the connection terminals and a so-called monoblock are combined.
[0050] Because the terminal blocks are designed with individual housing sections and can be joined together along the alignment direction to create the connection arrangement, the housing sections can be designed in such a way that the components of the terminal blocks, for example, the spring element and the contact element, can be easily mounted on the respective housing section. For example, the housing section of each terminal block is not closed on the outside; rather, the housing of the terminal blocks is only completed by joining the housing sections of the terminal blocks together. This results in simple assembly of the individual terminal blocks and flexible combination with other terminal blocks.
[0051] The fact that the connecting terminals arranged in a row are enclosed in the outer housing in the assembled position also creates a mechanically stable arrangement in which the housing parts of the connecting terminals are accommodated in the housing in a defined manner in the housing and fixed to the housing in the arranged position.
[0052] The alignment direction and the mounting direction are preferably perpendicular to each other. The (disk-shaped) terminal blocks are aligned along the alignment direction by aligning the housing parts along the alignment direction. In the aligned position, the housing parts are inserted into the outer housing in the mounting direction perpendicular to the alignment direction, so that in the assembled position, the housing parts are enclosed in the outer housing.
[0053] The idea underlying the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. They show: a view of a connection arrangement with a plurality of
[0054] Outer housing accommodated connection terminals;
[0055] Fig. 2 is a side view of the connection arrangement;
[0056] Fig. 3 shows the connection arrangement according to Fig. 1, in an actuated position of actuating elements of the connection terminals;
[0057] Fig. 4 is a side view of the connection arrangement according to Fig. 3;
[0058] Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through a terminal, in a non-actuated position of an actuating element;
[0059] Fig. 6 a side view of the connection terminal;
[0060] Fig. 7A-7C separate views of a trigger element of the terminal;
[0061] Fig. 8A is a view of a housing part of the terminal;
[0062] Fig. 8B shows another view of the housing part;
[0063] Fig. 9A-9D separate views of the actuating element;
[0064] Fig. 10 is a front view of a housing part; and
[0065] Fig. 11 is a sectional view along the line 11 of Fig. 2.
[0066] 1 to 4 show an embodiment of a connection arrangement 3 having a plurality of connection terminals 1, 1A, 1B, which are jointly enclosed in an outer housing 30. The connection terminals 1, 1A, 1B are arranged in a row along a row direction A and jointly enclosed in the outer housing 30, wherein each connection terminal 1, 1A, 1B is assigned a plug-in opening 100 on a respectively associated housing part 10, 10A, 10B, into which plug-in opening an electrical line 2 with a (stripped) conductor end 20 can be inserted along a plug-in direction E in order to connect the electrical line 2 to the connection terminal 1, 1A, 1B. 5 and 6 show an embodiment of a single connection terminal 1 which has a housing part 10 with a plug-in opening 100 formed on a housing section 160 for plugging in an electrical line 2 along a plug-in direction E.The other connection terminals 1A, 1B can be identical in design and function to connection terminal 1, so that the following explanations apply to all connection terminals 1, 1A, 1B.
[0067] However, it is also conceivable that the connection terminals 1, 1A, 1B differ in their functionality and, in particular, do not have all of the components described below.
[0068] The housing part 10 of (each) connection terminal 1, 1A, 1B, shown in separate views in Fig. 8A and 8B, defines a receiving space 101 into which the electrical line 2 with a stripped conductor end 20 is inserted when it is inserted into the plug-in opening 100 along the plug-in direction E. In a connected position, the line 2 with the stripped conductor end 20 is located within the receiving space 101 and is electrically contacted via a clamping leg 120 of a spring element 12 with a contact element 11 in the form of a current bar, so that the electrical line 2 is electrically connected to the connection terminal 1.
[0069] The spring element 12 has a support leg 121, which is supported on a wall 106 of the housing 10. The clamping leg 120 can be elastically deflected relative to the support leg 121, in particular such that the clamping leg 120, in a clamping position, acts in a clamping manner on an electrical line 2 connected to the connection terminal 1 and presses it, under elastic prestress, into contact with the contact element 11, thus electrically contacting the line 2 with the contact element 11 via its conductor end 20.
[0070] The contact element 11 has a contact section 110, which extends flatly in the housing part 10 and against which the electrical line 2 with the conductor end 20 is pressed by spring preload of the clamping leg 120 when the electrical line 2 is connected to the connection terminal 1. Adjoining the contact section 110 is a contacting device 111 arranged in a plug-in connector section 15, via which the connection terminal 1 can be plugged into an associated electrical mating connector. In the illustrated embodiment, an actuating element 14, shown in separate views in Figs. 9A-9D, is pivotably mounted about a pivot axis S on the housing part 10 of the connection terminal 1.The actuating element 14 can be pivoted about the pivot axis S relative to the housing part 10, wherein an actuating section 141 is accessible via an actuating opening 102 from outside the housing part 10 and can thus be actuated by a user, for example using a tool.
[0071] The actuating element 14, as can be seen from the separate views according to Figs. 9A-9D, has a body portion 144 forming an active portion for acting on the clamping leg 120. The body portion 144, together with a body portion 145, forms a receiving slot 149 in which the clamping leg 120 is inserted such that the spring element 12 extends around the pivot axis S with a curved intermediate portion 122 arranged between the clamping leg 120 and the support leg 121, so that a pivot point for deflecting the clamping leg 120 is concentric with the pivot axis S.
[0072] The body sections 144, 145 are raised relative to a rear wall 146 of the actuating element 14. The support leg 122 protrudes from the actuating element 14 in the region of an opening 142 and, as can be seen from the sectional view according to Fig. 5, is supported on the housing part 10. Because the clamping leg 120 is received in the receiving slot 149, when the actuating element 14 is pivoted, an actuating force is introduced into the clamping leg 120 via the active section 144, so that the clamping leg 120 is elastically deflected relative to the support leg 121 about the pivot point concentric with the pivot axis S and moved toward a release position.
[0073] The actuating element 14 has an axle element 140 formed on the body portion 145, which engages in a bearing opening 109 on a wall 105 of the housing part 10, as can be seen in Fig. 9A in conjunction with Figs. 8A and 8B. The actuating element 14 is pivotally mounted relative to the housing part 10 about the pivot axis S via the axle element 140.
[0074] In the illustrated embodiment of the actuating element 14, a recess 148 is formed on a rear side of the rear wall 146, into which an axle element 109' of an adjacent housing part engages, as can be seen from the end view of the housing part 10 according to Fig. 10. A first sliding surface 147 is formed on the outside of the body section 144 forming the active section. This first sliding surface 147 is curved about the pivot axis S and has a constant radius of curvature R with respect to the pivot axis S, as can be seen from Fig. 9D. The sliding surface 147 faces an associated second sliding surface 16 on the housing section 160 of the housing part 10, which is shaped complementarily to the first sliding surface 147 and has a constant radius of curvature R with respect to the pivot axis S, as can be seen from Fig. 8A.
[0075] When the actuating element 14 pivots, the sliding surfaces 147, 16 are slidably supported against one another. The sliding surface 16 is located on the housing section 160 of the housing part 10, on which the plug-in opening 100 is also formed. The sliding surface 16 is formed above the plug-in opening 100 on a side of the housing section 160 facing the actuating element 14.
[0076] Because the sliding surface 147 is formed on an outer side of the body portion 144, which forms the active portion for acting on the clamping leg 120, the sliding support via the sliding surfaces 147, 16 takes place on a comparatively large radius R with respect to the pivot axis S and thus at a position radially removed from the pivot axis S. Bending loads that act upon pressure on the actuating portion 141 for actuating the actuating element 14 can thus be absorbed by the sliding support of the sliding surfaces 147, 16 against one another, so that excessive stress on the actuating element 14, in particular on the axle element 140, is avoided.
[0077] The connecting terminal 1 has a trigger element 13, which is attached to the housing part 10 via a support end 132 and is thereby supported in a torque-resistant manner relative to the housing part 10. Extending from the support end 132 is a trigger leg 130, which projects into the receiving space 101 essentially transversely to the plug-in direction E and thus extends in an area aligned with the plug-in opening 100.
[0078] As can be seen from the separate view of the trigger element 13 according to Fig. 7A-7C, the detailed views of the housing part 10 according to Fig. 8A, 8B and the sectional view according to Fig. 11, the support end 132 of the trigger element 13 is connected in a form-fitting manner to connecting devices 103, 103' of adjacent housing parts 10, 10A. The support end 132 of the trigger element 13, which is formed by a band-shaped spring element, has recesses 134, 135 on its opposite lateral edges, which, in the mounted position of the trigger element 13, engage with form-fitting elements 104, 104' on the connecting devices 103, 103'.
[0079] The connecting devices 103, 103' are each formed by an engagement opening 107 into which the support end 132 engages, so that the support end 132 is positively received on the housing part 10. The positive connection between the support end 132 and the housing part 10 is such that the support end 132 cannot slide out of the connecting devices 103, 103' and, moreover, the support end 132 is supported on the housing part 10 such that, upon elastic deflection of the release arm 130, torques can be absorbed at the support end 132 and diverted into the housing part 10, while the support end 132 remains in position relative to the housing part 10.
[0080] The engagement opening 107 is formed on a wall section 106 of the respective housing part 10, 10A, which protrudes from the flat side wall 105 of the housing part 10, 10A, as can be seen from Figs. 5, 6 and 8A, 8B.
[0081] The release leg 130 serves to interact with an electrical line 2 inserted into the plug-in opening 100, in particular to automatically connect the electrical line 2 to the connection terminal 1 by releasing the clamping leg 120.
[0082] The trigger element 13 has an opening 131 with which the actuating element 14 engages via a locking portion 143 in the form of a projection when the actuating element 14 has been transferred into an actuated position in an actuating direction B. In the actuated position, the actuating element 14 engages with the locking portion 143 in the opening 131 and is held by the trigger arm 130 in a locking manner, so that the actuating element 14 is locked in the actuated position.
[0083] In the illustrated embodiment, the triggering leg 130 is bent inward. An intermediate section 136 extends between a free end 138 of the triggering leg 130, remote from the support end 132, and a leg portion 137 of the triggering leg 130, which is aligned with the support end 132 and on which the opening 131 is formed. This intermediate section 136 extends transversely between the free end 138 of the triggering leg 130 and the leg portion 137 of the triggering leg 130, which carries the opening 131. By appropriately shaping the triggering element 13, the triggering element 13 can be adapted to the available space within the receiving space 101 of the housing 10.
[0084] If the actuating element 14 is actuated in the actuating direction B and thereby pivoted about the pivot axis 140 relative to the housing part 10 into the actuated position, the actuating element 14 entrains the clamping leg 120 of the spring element 12 via the active section 144 and thereby adjusts the clamping leg 120 into a release position. In the release position, the clamping leg 120 is removed with its free end from the contact section 110 of the contact element 11 and thus exposes an area within the receiving space 101 that is aligned with the plug-in opening 100 along the plug-in direction E, so that an electrical line 2 can be inserted into the plug-in opening 100 without hindrance from the clamping leg 120 and thus connected to the connection terminal 1 in a substantially forceless manner.
[0085] If an electrical cable 2 with a stripped conductor end 20 is inserted into the plug-in opening 100 and thereby introduced in the plug-in direction E into the receiving space 101, while the actuating element 14 is in the actuated position and thus the clamping leg 120 is in the release position, the cable 2 comes into contact with the end section 138 of the triggering leg 130 of the triggering element 13 and deflects it elastically relative to the support end 132 and thus to the housing part 10. As a result, the triggering leg 130 is adjusted in the plug-in direction E relative to the locking section 143 of the actuating element 14, so that the locking section 143 is disengaged from the opening 131 and thus the actuating element 14 is released from the actuated position.
[0086] On a side of the opening 131 facing the free end 138 of the trigger arm 130, a run-up element 133 is formed by a bent section of the trigger element 13 formed as a sheet metal element, against which the locking section 143 rests in the locked position and onto which the locking section 143 runs upon release from the locking position.
[0087] Because the electrical line 2 acts on the release arm 130 with a lever arm that is greater than the lever arm acting on the locking section 143, the release arm 130 can be deflected with little force applied by the electrical line 2 and thus the locking can be released easily and reliably when the electrical line 2 is inserted.
[0088] After the locking mechanism is released when an electrical cable 2 is inserted, the actuating element 14 moves out of the actuated position due to the elastic pretension on the clamping leg 120 and is returned opposite to the actuation direction B. The clamping leg 120 thereby comes into clamping contact with the electrical cable 2 and thereby presses the conductor end 20 into contact with the contact element 11, so that the cable 2 is electrically connected to the connection terminal 1 and is also mechanically locked.
[0089] Because the actuating element 14 is moved out of the actuated position after the locking mechanism is released, a user can safely and reliably detect that the connecting terminal 1 has been triggered and that the electrical line 2 is thus connected to the connecting terminal 1. The risk of incorrect operation is thus reduced.
[0090] If the electrical cable 2 is to be released from the connected position and removed from the terminal 1, the actuating element 14 can be moved back into the actuated position, so that the clamping leg 120 is moved out of contact with the cable 2. The cable 2 can thus be removed from the terminal 1 in a substantially forceless manner.
[0091] The connecting terminal 1 or the connecting arrangement 3 of all connecting terminals 1, 1A, 1B can, for example, be delivered with the actuating element 14 (in each case) actuated. In the actuated position, the actuating element 14 is locked to the release element 13 of the connecting terminal 1, 1A, 1B, whereby the actuating element 14 is held under tension due to the tension on the spring element 12. Bending loads are absorbed and supported by the support of the sliding surfaces 147, 16, thus avoiding excessive bending stress in the area of the axle element 140.
[0092] In addition, even when force is applied to the actuating section 141, for example, manually or by a tool for actuating the actuating element 14, a bending load is supported against one another via the sliding support of the sliding surfaces 147, 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing parts 10, 10A, 10B of the connecting terminals 1, 1A, 1B are attached to one another along the alignment direction A. The housing part 10, 10A, 10B of a connecting terminal 1, 1A, 1B is completed by the housing part 10, 10A, 10B of the adjacent connecting terminal, so that the housing parts 10, 10A, 10B together form a housing for the connecting terminals 1, 1A, 1B.
[0093] To assemble the connection arrangement 3, the housing parts 10, 10A, 10B are inserted into the outer housing 3 in a row in a mounting direction M in order to enclose the connection terminals 1, 1A, 1B in the outer housing 30, as can be seen from Figs. 1 and 3.
[0094] On the wall 105 of the housing parts 10, 10A, 10B, locking lugs 170, 171 are formed on an upper edge and a lower edge and protrude from the wall 105. In the assembled position, the locking lugs 170, 171 engage in associated locking openings on the outer housing 30, as can be seen in Fig. 1 for the locking lug 170.
[0095] On the rear wall 105 of the housing parts 10, 10A, a locking element 108' in the form of a spring tongue is formed, which engages with an associated locking opening 108 on an adjacent housing part 10, 10A, 10B when the housing parts 10, 10A, 10B are attached, so that the housing parts 10, 10A, 10B are pre-assembled and held together in a locking manner when attached along the alignment direction A. After inserting the thus created, pre-assembled arrangement into the outer housing 30, the connection arrangement 3 is assembled and mechanically stable due to the enclosure of the outer housing 30.
[0096] In the illustrated embodiment, each connection terminal 1, 1A, 1B is assigned a connector section 15 which is formed on the outer housing 30 and in which a contacting device 111 of the respectively assigned contact element 11 is located.
[0097] The idea underlying the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but can also be implemented in other ways.
[0098] While in the previously described embodiment, all terminals of the connection arrangement are implemented using a functionally identical spring-loaded connection, this is not mandatory. Thus, the terminals of the connection arrangement may differ from one another in terms of their function and design.
[0099] List of reference symbols
[0100] 1 , 1A, 1 B, 1 B connection terminal
[0101] 10, 10A, 10B housing part
[0102] 100 plug-in opening
[0103] 101 Recording Room
[0104] 102 Operating opening
[0105] 103, 103' connecting device
[0106] 104, 104' form-locking element
[0107] 105 wall
[0108] 106 wall section
[0109] 107 Access opening
[0110] 108, 108' locking element
[0111] 109 Warehouse opening
[0112] 109' axle element
[0113] 11 Contact element (current bar)
[0114] 110 Contact section
[0115] 111 Contacting device
[0116] 12 clamping spring
[0117] 120 clamping legs
[0118] 121 support legs
[0119] 122 Intermediate section
[0120] 13 Trigger element
[0121] 130 trigger arms
[0122] 131 locking device (locking opening)
[0123] 132 supporting
[0124] 133 Casserole element
[0125] 134, 135 Form-locking element (recess)
[0126] 136 Intermediate section
[0127] 137 thigh section
[0128] 138 End
[0129] 14 Actuating element
[0130] 140 axle element
[0131] 141 operating section
[0132] 142 Opening
[0133] 143 Rest section
[0134] 144 Body section (active section) 145 Body section (storage section)
[0135] 146 rear wall
[0136] 147 sliding surface
[0137] 148 recess
[0138] 149 Recording slot
[0139] 15 Connector section
[0140] 16 Sliding surface
[0141] 160 housing section
[0142] 170, 171 locking element
[0143] 3 Connection arrangement
[0144] 30 outer casings
[0145] A Arranging direction
[0146] B Actuating direction
[0147] E Plug-in direction
[0148] M Mounting direction
[0149] R Radius
[0150] S swivel axis
[0151] V Vertical direction
Claims
Patent claims 1. A connecting terminal (1, 1A, 1B) for connecting an electrical line (2), comprising a housing part (10, 10A, 10B), a contact element (11) arranged on the housing part (10, 10A, 10B), which contact element has a contact section (110) for making electrical contact with an electrical line (2), a spring element (12) having a clamping leg (120) which is adjustable relative to the housing part (10, 10A, 10B) and which is designed to act on an electrical line (2) in a clamping position for making contact with the contact section (110), and an actuating element (14) arranged on the housing part (10, 10A, 10B) so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis (S), which actuating element can be pivoted from a non-actuated position into an actuated position in order to adjust the clamping leg (120) from the clamping position, characterized in that Actuating element (14) has a first sliding surface (147) formed on a body portion (144) of the actuating element (14) and the housing part (10,10A, 10b) have a second sliding surface (16) formed on a housing section (160) for slidingly supporting the first sliding surface (147) when the actuating element (14) pivots about the pivot axis (S).
2. Connection terminal (1, 1A, 1B) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first sliding surface (147) and / or the second sliding surface (16) are curved about the pivot axis (S).
3. Connection terminal (1, 1A, 1B) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first sliding surface (147) and / or the second sliding surface (16) have a constant radius of curvature (R) around the pivot axis (S).
4. Connection terminal (1, 1A, 1B) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the body portion (144) of the actuating element (14) forms an active portion for acting on the clamping leg (120) when the actuating element (14) is pivoted.
5. Connection terminal (1, 1A, 1B) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first sliding surface (147) in the non-actuated position and in the actuated position of the actuating element (14) and when the actuating element (14) pivots about the pivot axis (S) between the non-actuated position and the actuated position rests on the second sliding surface (16). Connection terminal (1, 1A, 1B) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating element (14) has a further, second body section (145), wherein the clamping leg (120) is received in a receiving slot (149) between the body section (144) and the further, second body section (145). Connection terminal (1, 1A, 1B) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first sliding surface (147) is formed on an outer side of the body section (144) facing outwards radially to the pivot axis (S). Connection terminal (1, 1A, 1B) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first sliding surface (147) is arranged on a side of the clamping leg (120) facing away from the pivot axis (S).Connection terminal (1, 1A, 1B) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing section (160) of the housing part (10, 10A, 10B) forms a plug-in opening (100) for inserting an electrical line (2). Connection terminal (1, 1A, 1b) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping leg (120) is designed to push or pull the electrical line (2) into contact with the contact element (11) by spring force. Connection terminal (1, 1A, 1b) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring element (12) has a support leg (121) via which the spring element (12) is supported on the housing part (10, 10A, 10B). Connecting terminal (1, 1A, 1b) according to claim 11, characterized in that the spring element (12) has a curved connecting section (122) arranged between the clamping leg (120) and the supporting leg (121) and extending around the pivot axis (S).Connecting terminal (1, 1A, 1b) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping leg (120) is in a release position in. Compared to the clamping position, it is removed from the contact section (110), wherein the clamping leg (120) is held in position relative to the housing part (10, 10A, 10B) in the release position.
14. Connection terminal (1, 1A, 1B) according to claim 13, characterized in that the connection terminal (1, 1A, 1B) has a release element (13) which is designed to cooperate with the electrical line (2) when plugged into the connection terminal (1, 1A, 1B) to release the clamping leg (120) from the release position.
15. Connection terminal (1, 1A, 1B) according to claim 14, characterized in that the triggering element (13) has a triggering leg (130), wherein the housing part (10, 10A, 10B) of the connection terminal (1, 1A, 1B) defines a receiving space (101) into which the electrical line (2) can be inserted by plugging it onto the connection terminal (1, 1A, 1B), wherein the triggering leg (130) extends in the receiving space (101) for cooperation with the electrical line (2).
16. Connection terminal (1, 1A, 1b) according to claim 15, characterized in that the trigger element (13) has a support end (132) which is supported on the housing part (10, 10A, 10B), wherein the trigger leg (130) is elastically adjustable relative to the support end (132) by cooperation with the line (2) plugged onto the connection terminal (1, 1A, 1B).
17. Connection arrangement (3) with a plurality of connection terminals (1, 1A, 1B) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing parts (10, 10A, 10B) of the connection terminals (1, 1A, 1B) are arranged in a row along a row direction (A), characterized by an outer housing (30) into which the housing parts (10, 10A, 10B) of the connection terminals (1, 1A, 1B) arranged in a row along the row direction (A) can be inserted in a mounting direction (M) and in which the housing parts (10, 10A, 10B) of the connection terminals (1, 1A, 1B) arranged in a row along the row direction (A) are received in an assembled position.