Conductor terminal

Abstract

The invention relates to a conductor terminal comprising a housing and a busbar which is at least predominantly located in the housing and has at least one clamping point for connecting an electrical conductor.

Description

[0001] conductor connection terminal

[0002] The invention relates to a conductor connection terminal with a housing and with a busbar arranged at least predominantly in the housing, which has at least one clamping point for clamping an electrical conductor.

[0003] A generic conductor connection terminal is known from DE 198 354 59 02.

[0004] The invention is based on the object of providing an improved conductor connection terminal which can be implemented in a particularly highly miniaturized manner.

[0005] This object is achieved with a conductor connection terminal of the type mentioned above in that the busbar is movably mounted in the housing and is spring-mounted at at least two spaced-apart support points, each by means of at least one suspension spring. The invention has the advantage that the conductor connection terminal can provide a multitude of connection options for electrical conductors in the smallest possible space. In particular, the conductor connection terminal can also be implemented with a conductor connection using insulation displacement technology. The conductor connection terminal is particularly suitable for very small conductor cross-sections, e.g., for bell wires or for applications in furniture or model making.

[0006] In the conductor connection terminal according to the invention, the busbar is movably mounted in the housing. The busbar is thus movable to a considerable extent, which significantly exceeds the usual slight movement tolerances for conductor connection terminals with a permanently installed busbar. The busbar can, for example, be spring-suspended at exactly two spaced-apart support points by means of at least one suspension spring each, so that two suspension springs are required for this. Implementations with a larger number of support points and / or a larger number of suspension springs are also possible, with one or more suspension springs being used per support point. The suspension springs can, for example, be designed as compression springs.

[0007] The busbar can also be designed with multiple terminal points, each of which can accommodate an electrical conductor. This allows, for example, a conductor connection terminal in the form of a miniature through-terminal to be realized.

[0008] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the conductor connection terminal has at least two end stops, wherein the mobility of the busbar is limited by a respective end stop in the region of a suspension spring assigned to the end stop. By means of the respective end stop, for example, the movement of the busbar can be limited by the compressive force of the assigned suspension spring. The suspension spring can thus only push the busbar forward as far as the end stop. A suspension spring assigned to an end stop can, for example, be arranged on the side of the busbar facing away from the end stop. Advantageously, for example, a clamping point for clamping an electrical conductor can be formed between a respective end stop and the region of the busbar assigned to this end stop. An electrical conductor can thus be clamped firmly between an end stop and the busbar.

[0009] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one end stop is part of a spring cage, on which the suspension spring assigned to the end stop is supported or formed integrally with the spring cage. Such a spring cage creates a force-enclosed contact spring unit that has self-supporting properties. In this way, spring forces are kept away from the surrounding housing. In this case, the busbar is at least partially arranged within the space surrounded by the spring cage. For example, such a spring cage can be provided only for one end stop, but there can also be a spring cage for each of the at least two end stops. The spring cages can be formed as a one-piece structural unit, e.g. from a sheet metal component, e.g. a stamped and bent component.

[0010] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the conductor connection terminal has at least one insulation displacement connection connected to the busbar or formed integrally therewith for connecting an electrical conductor using insulation displacement technology. Such an insulation displacement connection has the advantage that an electrical conductor can be clamped to it without first having to be stripped. The existing insulation is separated by the sharp-edged cutting edges of the insulation displacement connection, and the inner conductor is then electrically contacted by the cutting edges. The insulation displacement connection can also form a conductor stop for electrical conductors arranged at other clamping points.

[0011] For example, several such insulation displacement connections can be present, for example insulation displacement connections arranged offset from one another on the busbar in order to connect several electrical conductors using insulation displacement technology.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the insulation displacement connection is arranged between the support points, at each of which the busbar is resiliently suspended by at least one suspension spring. In this way, the insulation displacement connection is positioned at a substantially central location within the conductor terminal. For example, an electrical conductor can be inserted into the housing of the conductor terminal from one side and connected to the insulation displacement connection. It is also possible to guide an electrical conductor completely through the housing and connect it to the insulation displacement connection without first separating it.

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, one, several, or all of the suspension springs are designed as spring tongues bent out of a sheet metal part, which are arranged at an oblique angle to the longitudinal direction of the busbar. This allows for a very efficient and cost-effective implementation of the conductor connection terminal. The spring tongues can also be part of the sheet metal component from which the aforementioned spring cage is made. The spring tongues are arranged obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the busbar, at least when the busbar rests against the end stops. For example, the spring tongues can extend away from one another from a central region of the sheet metal component, e.g., an area between the spring cages, so that the spring arrangement has a butterfly shape when viewed from the side.

[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least two suspension springs are arranged so as to cross one another. In this case, the suspension springs are arranged such that they point toward one another from their root point, then cross, and the free ends of the spring tongues then point away from one another again. In this way, the spring arrangement has a scissor-like shape in side view. This allows the entire contact unit and thus the conductor connection terminal to be further miniaturized, since the space required in the longitudinal direction of the busbar is reduced.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one clamping point is arranged on the side of the busbar facing away from the suspension springs, in particular between the busbar and an end stop. In this way, a clamping point can advantageously be realized between an end stop and the busbar. If an insulation displacement connection is also located on the busbar between the end stops, this can be designed as an additional clamping point.

[0016] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one clamping point is formed between the busbar and an end section of a suspension spring. In this way, a clamping point can be realized on the opposite side of the busbar. These opposite clamping points can also be used in addition to the clamping points realized between the end stop and the busbar. For example, an end section of a suspension spring, particularly if it is designed as a spring tongue, can have a convexly curved area towards the busbar, similar to a fork contact. An electrical conductor can then be easily inserted into the clamping point without the need for manual actuation of the conductor connection terminal. This provides the possibility of a simple and quickly usable plug-in connection, e.g.For test probes when other terminal points of the conductor connection terminal are already occupied. Due to the outer radius of such a convexly curved area, the terminal point formed is suitable for a given range of conductor cross-sections of the electrical conductors to be connected, regardless of the conductor cross-section.

[0017] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the busbar is designed as a substantially planar, flat sheet metal part. To increase the conductor holding forces at the terminal points, the busbar can additionally have a molded-in bead in the area of ​​each terminal point.

[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the conductor connection terminal is designed to clamp at least one electrical conductor with a nominal diameter, wherein the busbar can be deflected at least by the nominal diameter against the force of the suspension springs. This has the advantage that the electrical conductors specified for the conductor connection terminal can be easily placed at the clamping points and removed there, at least in the open position. For example, the busbar can be deflected against the force of the suspension springs up to the end of the respective spring cage facing away from the end stop.

[0019] The busbar can be adjusted, for example, by a separate tool that is not part of the conductor connection terminal, against the force of the suspension springs into an open position in which at least one clamping point of the conductor connection terminal is open.

[0020] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the conductor terminal has at least one manual actuating element, the manual actuation of which allows the conductor rail to be adjusted into an open position, counter to the force of the suspension springs, in which the at least one clamping point of the conductor terminal is open. This allows for simple and convenient use of the conductor terminal by the user. The electrical conductor can then be pressed between the cutting edges of the insulation displacement contact by the springing back of the conductor rail by means of the suspension springs and a force applied to the electrical conductor by the end stops.

[0021] The actuating element can be designed, for example, as an actuating push button, actuating slide or actuating lever, or as a combination of such types of actuators.

[0022] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the conductor connection terminal has at least one holding element by means of which the conductor connection terminal can be secured in the open position. This has the advantage that the open position does not have to be maintained by constant force from the user. The at least one holding element can, for example, be designed to secure the busbar and / or the manual actuating element, if present, in the open position. Accordingly, the at least one holding element can, for example, be in direct mechanical engagement with the busbar and / or with the manual actuating element. For example, such a holding element can be designed as a latching hook, for example as a latching hook that engages with the busbar in the open position.The at least one holding element can be formed in one piece with the clamping spring device or can be formed as a separate component and the clamping device can be mechanically connected.

[0023] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the fixing by the at least one retaining element can be automatically released by inserting an electrical conductor into the conductor connection terminal, i.e., by inserting the electrical conductor, the fixing in the open position is automatically released. For example, the electrical conductor can displace the retaining element from a fixing position to another position, for example, by pushing it away laterally or in the direction of insertion of the electrical conductor.

[0024] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the manual actuating element is designed as a pivotable actuating lever that is pivotably mounted on the housing and / or the spring cage by means of at least one pivot bearing. This allows for ergonomic and simple actuation of the conductor terminal, particularly in the case of highly miniaturized conductor terminals. The position of the actuating lever can also indicate whether the conductor terminal is in the open or closed position.

[0025] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the actuating lever has at least one actuating cam for applying pressure to the busbar, so that upon manual actuation of the actuating lever by the at least one actuating cam, the busbar can be adjusted into the open position by means of a compressive force acting on the side facing away from the suspension springs. This also promotes simple and efficient actuation of the busbar, i.e., moving the busbar into the open position. If the actuating lever is pivoted back again, the force of the suspension springs forces the busbar back into a closed position, in which the inserted electrical conductors are clamped to the clamping points.In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one actuating cam can act on the busbar at a point which is arranged between the at least two spaced-apart support points at which the busbar is each resiliently suspended by means of a suspension spring.

[0026] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least in the unactuated state of the actuating lever, the busbar is arranged in a plane between the at least one actuating cam and the pivot bearing. This allows for a very space-saving integration of the actuating lever or the actuating mechanism implemented by the actuating lever into a compact conductor terminal.

[0027] For the purposes of the present invention, the indefinite term "a" is not to be understood as a numerical term. Therefore, if, for example, a component is mentioned, this is to be interpreted as "at least one component." Angles expressed in degrees refer to a circle of 360 degrees (360°).

[0028] The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments and drawings.

[0029] It shows

[0030] Figure 1 shows a conductor connection terminal in perspective view,

[0031] Figure 2 shows the conductor connection terminal according to Figure 1 in a side sectional view,

[0032] Figure 3 shows a busbar in plan view,

[0033] Figure 4 shows the busbar according to Figure 3 in a sectional view in the section plane

[0034] EE,

[0035] Figure 5 shows a spring device in a lateral sectional view,

[0036] Figure 6 shows the conductor connection terminal according to Figure 1 with the housing open in the closed position,

[0037] Figure 7 shows the conductor connection terminal according to Figure 1 with the housing open in the open position,

[0038] Figure 8 shows an operating lever in plan view,

[0039] Figure 9 shows the operating lever according to Figure 8 in a side sectional view in the section plane DD.

[0040] Figure 1 shows a complete conductor connection terminal 1 with its externally visible components. The conductor connection terminal 1 has a housing 2, which can have, for example, a main housing part 20 and a cover part 21 closing the main housing part 20. Within the housing 2 there is a contact insert for connecting electrical conductors, which is not visible in the illustration in Figure 1. The housing 20 has conductor insertion openings 22 for inserting electrical conductors into the contact insert. To actuate the busbar of the contact insert there is a pivotable actuating lever 5 which is pivotally mounted in the housing 2. As can be seen in Figure 2, the housing 2 can have conductor insertion openings 22 on both opposite ends. The aforementioned contact insert, which has a busbar 3 and a clamping spring device 4, is arranged in the housing 2.The parts of the contact insert are explained in further detail below using additional figures.

[0041] Figure 2 already shows that the busbar 3 is movably mounted in the housing 2. The busbar 3 is supported at spaced-apart support points by a suspension spring 43 each. The suspension springs 43 are arranged in a crisscross pattern. The suspension springs 43 press against the busbar 3 from the underside, so to speak, causing it to be displaced upwards. This movement is limited by end stops 40. Each suspension spring 43 is assigned an end stop, which absorbs the force of this suspension spring 43 and limits the upward movement of the busbar 3 in this area.

[0042] The busbar 3 also has an insulation displacement connection 6, which can be formed integrally with the busbar 3.

[0043] As Figures 3 and 4 illustrate, the busbar 3 can be designed as a substantially flat sheet metal component that may have bulges or indentations, e.g., in the form of beads, only in the region of the clamping points 31. Furthermore, the shape of the busbar 3 deviates from the flat shape in the region of the insulation displacement connection 6. The insulation displacement connection 6 forms a first clamping point 31 of the busbar 3. Furthermore, on the upper side of the busbar 3, which faces the end stops 40, clamping points 31 are formed in the region of the end stops 40. Further clamping points 31 are formed on the underside of the busbar 3 facing away from these, specifically clamping points 31 in the region of the rounded end sections of the suspension springs 43.

[0044] Figure 5 shows the clamping spring device 4 with further details. It can be seen that the end stops 40 are each part of spring cages 42, in the peripheral region of which the busbar 3 is arranged. The clamping cages 42 can be formed integrally from a sheet metal component 41. Furthermore, the suspension springs 43, in the manner of spring tongues, can also be formed integrally from the sheet metal component 41. In an advantageous embodiment, these spring tongues 43 can have rounded end sections 44 towards the free end, which are aligned with a convex curvature towards the underside of the busbar 3. Between these curved end sections 44 and the lower clamping points 31, a further possibility for clamping electrical conductors is then formed.Due to the outer radius of the curved end sections 44, the terminal point formed thereby is independent of the conductor cross-section for a given spectrum of conductor cross-sections of electrical conductors to be connected.

[0045] Figure 6 shows the contact insert 3, 4 together with the cover part 21 and the actuating lever 5 in the so-called closed position, in which the clamping points between the end stops 40 and the busbar 3 are closed because they abut one another. Figure 7 shows the same arrangement in the open position, in which, by actuating the actuating lever 5, which is different from the position in Figure 6, the busbar 3 is deflected downwards against the force of the suspension springs 43, so that a significant clearance is formed between the end stops 40 and the busbar 3.

[0046] As Figures 8 and 9 also illustrate, the operating lever 5 can have a manual operating section 50. Operating cams 52 are also formed on the operating lever 5 on both sides of the busbar 3. The operating cams 52 are connected to the manual operating section 50 via connecting arms 53. The operating lever 5 thus forms a U-shape due to the manual operating section 50 running transversely and the connecting arms 53 projecting therefrom. A section of the cover part 21 can be arranged in the inner free space of the U-shape, i.e. between the connecting arms 53. The operating lever 5 extends from the operating cams 52 on each side via a mounting arm 54 to a pivot bearing 51, by means of which the operating lever 5 is pivotally mounted. The pivot bearing 51 can be supported, for example, on the cover part 21 or on a part of the spring device 4, for example a spring cage 42.

[0047] The bearing arms 54 extend, for example, at an oblique angle to the connecting arms 53, for example at an angle between 30 degrees and 60 degrees.

[0048] The individual parts of the conductor terminal 1 can be assembled, for example, by inserting the contact insert into the spring device 4, i.e., the spring cages 42, and then clamping it there by the suspension springs 43. This contact insert can then be inserted into the main housing part 21. The cover part 21, together with the actuating lever 5, can then be placed onto the main housing part 21 from above and, for example, rusted thereon. List of reference symbols:

[0049] 1 conductor connection terminal

[0050] 2 housings

[0051] 3 busbar

[0052] 4 clamping spring device

[0053] 5 operating levers

[0054] 6 insulation displacement connection

[0055] 20 Main housing part

[0056] 21 Lid part

[0057] 22 Conductor entry opening

[0058] 31 terminal point

[0059] 40 End stop

[0060] 41 Sheet metal component

[0061] 42 spring cage

[0062] 43 Suspension spring

[0063] 44 final section

[0064] 50 operating section

[0065] 51 swivel bearings

[0066] 52 actuating cam

[0067] 53 Connecting arm

[0068] 54 Storage arm

[0069] L Longitudinal direction of the busbar

Claims

Patent claims:

1. Conductor connection terminal (1) with a housing (2) and with a busbar (3) arranged at least predominantly in the housing, which has at least one clamping point (31) for clamping an electrical conductor, characterized in that the busbar (3) is movably mounted in the housing (2) and is resiliently suspended at at least two spaced-apart support points by means of at least one suspension spring (43).

2. Conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that the conductor connection terminal (1) has at least two end stops (40), wherein the mobility of the busbar (3) is limited by a respective end stop (40) in the region of a suspension spring (43) associated with the end stop (40).

3. Conductor connection terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one end stop (40) is part of a spring cage (42) on which the suspension spring (43) associated with the end stop (40) is supported or formed integrally with the spring cage (42).

4. Conductor connection terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductor connection terminal (1) has at least one insulation displacement connection (6) connected to the busbar (3) or formed integrally therewith for connecting an electrical conductor by means of insulation displacement technology.

5. Conductor connection terminal according to claim 4, characterized in that the insulation displacement connection (6) is arranged between the support points at which the busbar (3) is resiliently suspended by means of at least one suspension spring (43).

6. Conductor connection terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one, several or all of the suspension springs (43) are designed as spring tongues bent out of a sheet metal part (41) which are arranged at an oblique angle to the longitudinal direction (L) of the busbar (3).

7. Conductor connection terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least two suspension springs (43) are arranged crossing one another.

8. Conductor connection terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one clamping point (31) is arranged on the side of the busbar (3) facing away from the suspension springs (43), in particular between the busbar (3) and an end stop (40).

9. Conductor connection terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one clamping point (31) is formed between the busbar (3) and an end portion (44) of a suspension spring (43).

10. Conductor connection terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the busbar (3) is designed as a substantially planar, flat sheet metal part.

11. Conductor connection terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductor connection terminal (1) is designed to clamp at least one electrical conductor with a nominal diameter, wherein the busbar (3) can be deflected against the force of the suspension springs (43) at least by the nominal diameter.

12. Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductor terminal (1) has at least one manual actuating element, by the manual actuation of which the busbar is moved against the force of the suspension springs (43) can be adjusted into an open position in which the at least one clamping point (31) of the conductor connection terminal (1) is open.

13. Conductor connection terminal according to claim 12, characterized in that the manual actuating element is designed as a pivotable actuating lever (5) which is pivotably mounted on the housing (2) and / or on the spring cage (42) by means of at least one pivot bearing (51).

14. Conductor connection terminal according to claim 13, characterized in that the actuating lever (5) has at least one actuating cam (52) for applying pressure to the busbar (3), so that upon manual actuation of the actuating lever (5) by the at least one actuating cam (52), the busbar (3) can be adjusted into the open position by means of a compressive force acting on the side facing away from the suspension springs (43).

15. Conductor connection terminal according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that at least in the unactuated state of the actuating lever (5) the busbar (3) is arranged in a plane between the at least one actuating cam (52) and the pivot bearing (51). *****

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