Connection assembly
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2024707552
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-03-10
- Filing Date
- 2024-03-01
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-14
AI Technical Summary
Lever clamps with clamping springs often experience displacement or tilting due to torque from actuating levers, as they are typically supported by insulating housings that cannot absorb these forces.
The clamping spring is secured to a current bar via its holding leg, which is attached to a receiving pocket formed in the current bar, allowing it to be held on a non-yielding metal material, thereby preventing rotation or tilting and enabling absorption of torque forces.
This configuration provides a stable, rotation-proof mounting of the clamping spring, allowing it to absorb torque forces effectively and maintain positional stability during actuation.
Smart Images
Figure EP2024055319_19092024_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Connection arrangement
[0002] The invention relates to a connection arrangement for connecting an electrical conductor, which has a current bar, a clamping spring which has a holding leg and a clamping leg, and a pivotably mounted actuating lever by means of which the clamping leg of the clamping spring can be transferred into an open position and / or a clamping position.
[0003] In lever terminals, where the clamping spring is actuated by an operating lever, a torque is generated when the operating lever acts on the clamping leg of the clamping spring, which can easily cause the clamping spring to shift or tilt. The clamping spring is often supported by its retaining leg against a housing made of an insulating material, which, however, cannot absorb the torque forces acting on the clamping spring.
[0004] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a connection arrangement in which the risk of displacement or tilting of the clamping spring can be avoided.
[0005] The object is achieved according to the invention with the features of the independent claim. Expedient embodiments and advantageous further developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.
[0006] The connection arrangement according to the invention is characterized in that the clamping spring is held on the current bar via its holding leg.
[0007] According to the invention, the clamping spring is no longer held on the housing, but on the current bar. As a result, the clamping spring can now be held on a metal material that does not yield under stress, enabling a twist-proof or tilt-proof mounting of the clamping spring on the current bar and thus of the clamping spring within the connection arrangement. The torques acting on the clamping spring by the actuating lever can thus be absorbed by the current bar. The holding leg can be detachably held or fastened to the current bar. According to the invention, the current bar can have a receiving pocket in which the holding leg of the clamping spring can be held. The holding leg can be inserted at least partially into the receiving pocket so that the holding leg can be held within the receiving pocket. The receiving pocket can be formed by folding the current bar or part of the current bar.The receiving pocket can have a free space forming an interior, into which the clamping spring can be inserted with its retaining leg. The receiving pocket enables the clamping spring to be held securely and non-twist-proof on the current bar by inserting the retaining leg of the clamping spring into the interior of the receiving pocket. The retaining leg can be pushed or inserted into the receiving pocket, which enables simple and quick installation of the clamping spring on the current bar.
[0008] The current bar can be shaped such that the current bar can have a clamping section for clamping the conductor to be connected and a holding section extending at an angle to the clamping section, wherein the receiving pocket can be formed on the holding section. In the region of the clamping section, the conductor to be connected is clamped by means of the clamping leg against the current bar in the clamping position of the clamping leg. Preferably, the conductor to be connected is not clamped at the holding section. The holding section can be formed at an angle to the clamping section. In this case, the holding section can preferably extend at a 90° angle away from the clamping section of the clamping spring. The receiving pocket can be formed by folding the current bar material on the holding section.The holding section can have a first leg and a second leg extending at an angle to the first leg, so that the holding section itself can be angled. The second leg can preferably extend at an angle of between 90° and 120° to the first leg. The first leg of the holding section can directly adjoin the clamping section, so that the first leg of the holding section can extend between the clamping section and the second leg of the holding section. The second leg of the holding section then does not directly adjoin the clamping section, but is arranged at a distance from the clamping section. The receiving pocket can preferably be formed on the second leg of the clamping section.
[0009] The receiving pocket can preferably be U-shaped. A U-shape allows the receiving pocket to encompass the retaining leg inserted into the receiving pocket. The U-shape allows the receiving pocket to have two opposing side walls, between which the retaining leg of the clamping spring is arranged. The retaining leg can thus rest with its top and bottom against the two side walls of the receiving pocket and be supported, reliably preventing twisting or tilting of the retaining leg and thus the clamping spring within the receiving pocket.
[0010] The holding leg can have a fastening section for fastening the holding leg to the receiving pocket, wherein the fastening section can have a U-shape, by means of which the fastening section can clamp around the receiving pocket. In the region of the fastening section, the holding leg can be held on the receiving pocket in order to fasten the clamping spring to the current bar. The fastening section can preferably be formed at a free end of the holding leg of the clamping spring. The U-shape can be formed such that it has two web-shaped projections extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the holding leg, which projections are spaced from one another and run parallel to one another. A connecting web extending in the longitudinal direction extends between the two web-shaped projections. The connecting web is preferably inserted into the receiving pocket or, when the clamping spring is in the mounted position on the current bar.immersed in the free space or the interior of the receiving pocket. The two web-shaped projections preferably rest against the receiving pocket when the clamping spring is mounted on the current bar outside the receiving pocket, so that the receiving pocket is arranged or clamped between the two web-shaped projections. This prevents the clamping spring from shifting in the longitudinal direction of the retaining leg.
[0011] In order to further improve the positional stability of the clamping spring within the connection arrangement when actuated by means of the actuating lever, a recess can be formed on the current bar which interacts with a clamping edge of the clamping leg of the clamping spring. The clamping leg of the clamping spring can then be hooked into the recess of the current bar in an initial position and in particular during assembly of the connection arrangement with its clamping edge. This also allows torques acting on the clamping spring to be absorbed. The recess forms a depression in the clamping section of the current bar. The recess can be provided in the form of a notch formed on the clamping section of the current bar. The recess preferably extends across the entire width of the clamping section of the current bar.
[0012] To actuate the clamping leg of the clamping spring using the actuating lever, the clamping spring can have an actuating arm integrally formed on the clamping leg, which can interact with the actuating lever. The actuating arm preferably extends at an angle, in particular at a 90° angle, from the clamping leg toward the retaining leg of the clamping spring. The actuating arm is preferably designed to be long enough that, starting from the clamping leg, it overlaps the retaining leg. The actuating lever therefore preferably does not act directly on the clamping leg to actuate it, but rather indirectly.
[0013] Furthermore, it can be provided that a contact element can be molded onto the current bar. The contact element can be, for example, a contact tulip, a contact pin, a contact socket, or the like. The contact element is preferably formed from the material of the current bar, so that the contact element is preferably formed integrally with the current bar. The contact element can preferably be molded onto the holding section of the current bar, in particular onto the first leg of the holding section of the current bar.
[0014] The connection arrangement may further comprise a housing. The actuating lever may be pivotally mounted on the housing. The housing may preferably be made of an insulating material.
[0015] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a preferred embodiment of the invention and the accompanying drawings.
[0016] Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a connection arrangement according to the invention,
[0017] Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the current bar shown in Fig. 1,
[0018] Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of the clamping spring shown in Fig. 1, and
[0019] Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of the clamping spring shown in Fig. 3, which is held on the current bar shown in Fig. 2.
[0020] The connection arrangement 100 shown in Fig. 1 comprises a housing 110 formed from an insulating material. A current bar 111 and a clamping spring 112 are arranged within the housing 110. A conductor (not shown here) can be connected by clamping it against the current bar 111 by means of the clamping spring 112. To actuate the clamping spring 112, the connection arrangement 100 further comprises an actuating lever 113 pivotably mounted in the housing 110.
[0021] The clamping spring 112 is designed as a leg spring. The clamping spring 112 has a holding leg 115 and a clamping leg 116. The holding leg 115 is connected to the clamping leg 116 via an arcuate section 117. The clamping leg 116 serves to clamp the conductor to be connected against the current bar 111. The clamping spring 112 is held or fastened to the current bar 111 via the holding leg 115.
[0022] In Fig. 2, the current bar 111 is shown alone. The current bar 111 has a clamping section 118 against which the conductor to be connected can be clamped by means of the clamping leg 116 of the clamping spring 112.
[0023] A recess 119 is formed on the clamping section 118, into which the clamping leg 118 can hook with its clamping edge 120 when the clamping leg 118 is in a starting position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The recess 119 is formed in the form of a notch on the clamping section 118. The recess 119 extends across the entire width of the clamping section 118. Furthermore, corrugations 121 or grooves are formed on the clamping section 118, by means of which oxide layers on the connected conductor can be broken up. The corrugations 121 or grooves extend at an angle and thus not parallel to the recess 119.
[0024] The current bar 111 further has a holding section 122, which extends at an angle away from the clamping section 118. A receiving pocket 123 is formed on the clamping section 118, into which the clamping spring 112 can be inserted or pushed with its holding leg 115 in order to be held on the current bar 111. The receiving pocket 123 is folded from the material of the current bar 111. The receiving pocket 123 has a U-shape.
[0025] The holding section 122 has a first leg 124 and a second leg 125 extending at an angle from the first leg 124. The second leg 125 of the holding section 122 is arranged at a distance from the clamping section 118, so that the first leg 124 of the holding section 122 is arranged between the clamping section 118 and the second leg 125 of the holding section 122. In the embodiment shown here, the second leg 125 extends away from the first leg 124 at an angle of approximately 110°. The first leg 124 of the holding section 122 extends away from the clamping section 118 at a 90° angle.
[0026] A contact element 114 is formed on the first leg 124. The contact element 114 is designed here as a contact tulip.
[0027] The receiving pocket 123 is integrally formed on the second leg 125. The receiving pocket 123 is formed by a first side wall 126 and a second side wall 127 arranged opposite the first side wall 126. Between the two side walls 126, 127, a free space 128 in the form of a gap is formed, into which the clamping spring 112 can be inserted or pushed with its holding leg 126. The free space 128 forms the interior of the receiving pocket 123 for receiving the holding leg 115 of the clamping spring 112. The two side walls 126, 127 are connected to one another via a bend 129. The bend 129 is formed on a longitudinal edge 130 of the second leg 125 of the holding section 122, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the second leg 125.
[0028] The first side wall 127 of the receiving pocket 123 extends in the plane of the second leg 125 of the holding section 122. The second side wall 128 of the receiving pocket 123 extends in a second plane, which is spaced apart and parallel to the plane of the second leg 125 of the holding section 122. The holding leg 115 is supported with its upper side 135 and its lower side 136 on the two side walls 126, 127 of the receiving pocket 123, whereby twisting or tilting of the holding leg 115 and thus of the clamping spring 112 within the receiving pocket 123 can be reliably prevented.
[0029] Fig. 4 shows the clamping spring 112 on its own. As can be seen here, the holding leg 115 has a fastening section 131 for fastening the holding leg 115 to the receiving pocket 123. The fastening section 131 has a U-shape, by means of which the fastening section 131 clamps the receiving pocket 123. The fastening section 131 is formed at a free end of the holding leg 115 of the clamping spring 112, so that the fastening section 131 is arranged at a distance from the arcuate section 117 of the clamping spring 112.
[0030] The U-shape of the fastening section 131 is designed such that it has two web-shaped projections 132, 133 extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the holding leg 115, which are spaced apart from one another and run parallel to one another. A connecting web 134 extends between the two web-shaped projections 132, 133 and extends in the longitudinal direction of the holding leg 115.
[0031] As can be seen in Fig. 4, the connecting web 134 is immersed in the receiving pocket 123 when the clamping spring 112 is mounted on the current bar 111. When the clamping spring 112 is mounted on the current bar 111, the two web-shaped projections 132, 133 rest on the receiving pocket 123 outside the receiving pocket 123, in particular outside the free space 128 of the receiving pocket 123, so that the receiving pocket 123 is arranged or clamped between the two web-shaped projections 132, 133. This prevents the clamping spring 112 from shifting in the longitudinal direction of the retaining leg 115. The two web-shaped projections 132, 133 thus each form a stop surface for the receiving pocket 123.To actuate the clamping leg 116 of the clamping spring 112 in order to move it into the clamping position and / or into the open position, the actuating lever 113 does not act directly on the clamping leg 116 of the clamping spring 112, but rather the actuating lever 113 acts indirectly on the clamping leg 116 of the clamping spring 112. For this purpose, an actuating arm 137 is formed on the clamping leg 116 of the clamping spring 112, which interacts with the actuating lever 113. The actuating arm 137 extends at an angle, in particular at a 90° angle, from the clamping leg 116 in the direction of the holding leg 115 of the clamping spring 112. The actuating arm 137 is designed to be so long that, starting from the clamping leg 116, it overlaps the holding leg 115.
[0032] List of reference symbols
[0033] 100 connection arrangement
[0034] 110 housings
[0035] 111 current bars
[0036] 112 clamping spring
[0037] 113 Operating lever
[0038] 114 Contact element
[0039] 115 holding legs
[0040] 116 clamping legs
[0041] 117 Arched section
[0042] 118 clamping section
[0043] 119 recess
[0044] 120 clamping edge
[0045] 121 ribbing
[0046] 122 stopping section
[0047] 123 Recording pocket
[0048] 124 First leg
[0049] 125 Second leg
[0050] 126 side wall
[0051] 127 side wall
[0052] 128 open space
[0053] 129 Bend
[0054] 130 Longitudinal edge
[0055] 131 fastening section
[0056] 132 Bar-shaped projection
[0057] 133 Bar-shaped projection
[0058] 134 connecting bridge
[0059] 135 Top
[0060] 136 subpage
[0061] 137 Actuating arm
Claims
Claims 1. Connection arrangement (100) for connecting an electrical conductor, with a current bar (111), a clamping spring (112) which has a holding leg (115) and a clamping leg (116), and a pivotably mounted actuating lever (113) by means of which the clamping leg (116) of the clamping spring (112) can be transferred into an open position and / or a clamping position, characterized in that the clamping spring (112) is held on the current bar (111) via its holding leg (115).
2. Connection arrangement (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the current bar (111) has a receiving pocket (123) in which the holding leg (115) of the clamping spring (112) is held.
3. Connection arrangement (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the current bar (111) has a clamping section (118) for clamping the conductor to be connected and a holding section (122) extending at an angle to the clamping section (118), wherein the receiving pocket (123) is formed on the holding section (122).
4. Connection arrangement (100) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the receiving pocket (123) has a U-shape.
5. Connection arrangement (100) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the holding leg (115) has a fastening section (131) for fastening the holding leg (115) to the receiving pocket (123), wherein the fastening section (131) has a U-shape, by means of which the fastening section (131) clamps around the receiving pocket (123).
6. Connection arrangement (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a recess (119) cooperating with a clamping edge (120) of the clamping leg (116) of the clamping spring (112) is formed on the current bar (111).
7. Connection arrangement (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the clamping spring (112) has an actuating arm (137) formed on the clamping leg (116) which cooperates with the actuating lever (113).
8. Connection arrangement (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a contact element (114) is formed on the current bar (111).
9. Connection arrangement (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by a housing (110) on which the actuating lever (113) is pivotally mounted.