Modular system for producing a front-facing connector

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular system for producing a front-facing connector (30) for connection to a connecting means (31) of an interconnection assembly (3), comprising a front-facing connector body (302) and a plurality of terminal devices (32A-32C), to each of which at least one electrical conductor (5) is connectable. The front-facing connector body (302) comprises a plurality of receiving chambers (303), each of which is delimited by two transverse walls (305) and two longitudinal walls (304, 306, 307) and each of which is designed for receiving one terminal device (32A-32C) of the plurality of terminal devices (32A-32C), wherein the transverse walls (305) are spaced apart in a longitudinal direction (X) and the longitudinal walls (304, 306, 307) are spaced apart in a transverse direction (Y) that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X).

Description

[0001] Modular system for producing a front connector

[0002] The invention relates to a modular system for producing a front connector for connecting to a connecting device, a front connector produced using a modular system and a wiring assembly for connecting electrical conductors.

[0003] Such a modular system for producing a front connector comprises a front connector body and a plurality of terminal devices, to each of which at least one electrical conductor can be connected.

[0004] Such a front connector enables, for example, the connection of a plurality of electrical conductors, for example, more than 10 electrical conductors, to a wiring assembly. Electrical conductors can be connected to the front connector, for example, in order to then attach the front connector with the already connected electrical conductors to a connecting device of the wiring assembly, thus connecting the electrical conductors to the connecting device in a single step.

[0005] In this way, sensors and / or actuators, for example, can be connected together to the interconnection module. The interconnection module can, for example, be part of a control system that can perform control tasks in an industrial plant and can be mounted in a control cabinet on a support device, such as a mounting rail.

[0006] From the unpublished German patent application DE 102022 118243, a connection arrangement for connecting electrical conductors is known, in which a plurality of connection terminals are accommodated in a common outer housing. The connection terminals are assigned disc-shaped housing parts that can be placed against one another and, in a position adjacent to one another, can be accommodated together in the outer housing.

[0007] Using a front connector, electrical conductors can be connected together to an interconnection module by attaching the front connector to an associated connection device. Individual wiring, in which conductors are connected to a terminal block and then to an interconnection module via the terminal block, is thus eliminated, improving the reliability of connections to an interconnection module and also simplifying the wiring effort required to connect sensors and actuators to an interconnection module.

[0008] There is a need to produce a front connector in a simple manner with the possibility of variable connection of electrical conductors.

[0009] A conventional front connector is usually configured with terminal devices in the form of screw connections. Components for forming the screw connections are enclosed, for example, between a front connector body and a cover part and thus arranged on the front connector. If other terminal devices are to be provided, for example, for implementing spring-loaded connections, a different, modified front connector is used. This results in a considerable variety of variants, which is associated with costs and complicates flexible use.

[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide a modular system for producing a front connector, a front connector and a wiring assembly which enable a variable configuration of a front connector in a simple manner.

[0011] This object is achieved by an article having the features of claim 1.

[0012] Accordingly, the front connector body has a plurality of receiving chambers, each of which is delimited by two transverse walls and two longitudinal walls and is each designed to receive a terminal device of the plurality of terminal devices, wherein the transverse walls are spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal direction and the longitudinal walls are spaced apart from one another along a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0013] Terminal devices, to each of which one or more electrical conductors can be connected, can be accommodated on the contact body. The front connector body can be modularly equipped with the terminal devices by inserting the terminal devices into receiving chambers formed on the front connector body. Each receiving chamber is delimited by two transverse walls and two longitudinal walls. The transverse walls are spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal direction. The longitudinal walls, in contrast, are spaced apart from one another along a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The transverse walls and the longitudinal walls together delimit the receiving chambers in which the terminal devices can be accommodated, thus creating a front connector for connecting electrical conductors.

[0014] The longitudinal walls and the transverse walls can each be closed, so that the longitudinal walls and the transverse walls delimit a respective receiving chamber in a circumferentially closed manner. However, at least one longitudinal wall and / or at least one transverse wall can also have one or more openings through which, for example, a connection between a receiving chamber and an adjacent receiving chamber is established, so that the receiving chamber is not completely closed circumferentially.

[0015] In one embodiment, the front connector body has at least two rows of receiving chambers, each row being formed by receiving chambers arranged in a row along the longitudinal direction, and the rows being arranged side by side along the transverse direction. In particular, the receiving chambers can be aligned with one another in a grid-like manner by forming rows of receiving chambers in which the receiving chambers are arranged in a row along the longitudinal direction, with two or more rows being arranged side by side, so that terminal devices can be accommodated in the grid of receiving chambers.

[0016] Because the receiving chambers are each circumferentially delimited by two transverse walls and two longitudinal walls, each receiving chamber can accommodate a dedicated terminal device in a modular manner. It is conceivable that all receiving chambers are equipped with one terminal device each to configure the front connector. However, it is also conceivable that only individual receiving chambers are equipped with one terminal device each to configure the front connector, while other receiving chambers remain free. The receiving chambers can each be equipped with one terminal device each and are held in one of the receiving chambers when the front connector is configured.Because each receiving chamber is defined by two transverse walls and two longitudinal walls, a terminal device inserted into the receiving chamber can be held in place, for example, by locking the terminal device into the receiving chamber. Additional components, such as a cover additional to the front connector body, are not required to secure the terminal devices to the contact body.

[0017] In one embodiment, each terminal device can be inserted into an associated receiving chamber of the plurality of receiving chambers along an insertion direction perpendicular to the longitudinal and transverse directions. The receiving chambers are formed on the front connector body, distributed along a plane spanned by the longitudinal and transverse directions, and are each delimited by transverse walls and longitudinal walls. Perpendicular to the plane, the terminal devices can be inserted into the receiving chambers along the insertion direction, thereby configuring the front connector and equipping it with terminal devices.

[0018] In one embodiment, the receiving chambers have the same dimensions, measured along the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction. In cross-section along a cross-sectional plane spanned by the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction, the receiving chambers are, for example, rectangular in shape and have the same dimensions, so that the clamping devices can be variably inserted into the receiving chambers and each clamping device can be inserted into each receiving chamber.

[0019] In one embodiment, each terminal device of the plurality of terminal devices has a contact device for plugging into an associated contact blade of the connecting device. The contact device can, for example, be formed by a contact socket with contact blades, between which a contact blade of the connecting device can be inserted, in order to thereby establish electrical contact between the respective terminal device and a contact blade of the connecting device. Each terminal device can thus be plugged into an associated contact blade of the connecting device via the associated contact device if the terminal device is received in a receiving chamber of the front connector body and the front connector is thus configured for attachment to the connecting device.In one embodiment, the front connector body forms a plurality of blade openings, wherein each receiving chamber is assigned a blade opening of the plurality of blade openings, via which the contact device of the terminal device assigned to the receiving chamber can be plugged into an associated contact blade of the connecting device. Each receiving chamber forms a blade opening, for example, at a base. The contact device of a terminal device is arranged in the region of the blade opening when the terminal device is inserted into the respective receiving chamber. The contact device thus comes to lie in the region of the blade opening and, when the front connector is placed on the connecting device, can be plugged into the associated contact blade of the connecting device.

[0020] In one embodiment, each terminal device of the plurality of terminal devices has a module housing that can be inserted into an associated receiving chamber of the plurality of receiving chambers. The module housing can, in particular, enclose components of the respective terminal device, for example, a spring element for forming a spring-loaded connection or a clamping body for providing a screw connection. By enclosing components of the terminal devices in associated module housings, modular terminal devices are created that can be inserted in a modular manner into the receiving chambers of the front connector body to configure the front connector.

[0021] The module housings of the clamping devices are preferably cuboid-shaped and have a complementary shape to the receiving chambers defined by the transverse and longitudinal walls. In particular, the module housings of the clamping devices can have the same dimensions, measured along the longitudinal and transverse directions, so that all module housings of the clamping devices have the same shape in a cross-sectional plane spanned by the longitudinal and transverse directions and can thus be inserted into any receiving chamber. The clamping devices can thus be accommodated in the receiving chambers in a modular manner, with each clamping device and its module housing fundamentally fitting into any receiving chamber.

[0022] In one embodiment, the front connector body has first locking devices, and the module housings of the terminal devices have second locking devices. The first locking devices and the second locking devices are designed to lock with one another when the module housings of the terminal devices are inserted into the receiving chambers, thus establishing a locking connection between the terminal devices and the front connector body. When the terminal devices are inserted into the receiving chambers of the front connector body, the module housings lock into the receiving chambers, so that the module housings, and thus the terminal devices, are locked in the receiving chambers.

[0023] In one embodiment, each receiving chamber is assigned a first locking device. The module housing of each terminal device, in contrast, has a second locking device. When a respective terminal device is inserted into an associated receiving chamber, the first locking device of the receiving chamber engages with the second locking device on the module housing of the terminal device, thus creating a locking connection between the terminal device and the front connector body in the receiving chamber.

[0024] The first locking devices can be formed, for example, by locking openings on the longitudinal walls and / or the transverse walls of the front connector body. The second locking devices, in contrast, can be formed, for example, by locking projections on the module housing. In another embodiment, the first locking devices can be formed by locking projections, and the second locking devices can be formed by locking openings or locking recesses or additional locking projections.

[0025] In one embodiment, the module housings of the terminal devices are received in the receiving chambers of the front connector body in a configured position of the front connector, and the first locking devices are locked to the second locking devices.

[0026] In one embodiment, first terminal devices of the plurality of terminal devices form a spring-loaded connection of the first type with a spring element for clamping an electrical conductor. The spring-loaded connections of the first type can be designed, for example, as so-called push-in connections, in which a clamping leg of the spring element acts in a clamping manner on a connected electrical line in order to electrically contact the electrical line with an electrical contact section of a current bar. The spring-loaded connection can, for example, have an actuating element, for example in the form of a push-button, via which the clamping leg of the spring element can be moved from a clamped position into a release position, wherein the clamping leg does not latch relative to a module housing of the terminal device in the release position.

[0027] In one embodiment, second terminal devices of the plurality of terminal devices form a spring-loaded connection of the second type with a spring element for clamping an electrical conductor. In a spring-loaded connection of the second type, for example, a clamping leg of the spring element can act in a clamping manner on a connected electrical line in order to electrically contact the electrical line with an electrical contact section of a current bar. The spring-loaded connection can, for example, have an actuating element, for example in the form of a push-button, via which the clamping leg of the spring element can be moved from a clamped position into a release position, wherein the clamping leg latches in the release position relative to a module housing of the terminal device.

[0028] In contrast to the first-type spring-loaded connection, the second-type spring-loaded connection creates a locking connection between the clamping leg in the release position. If the clamping leg is moved into the release position, the clamping leg remains in this release position, in which a space within the module housing is released for the effortless insertion of an electrical conductor or in which a connected electrical conductor can be removed from the terminal device in a substantially effortless manner.

[0029] In one embodiment, the second-type spring-force connection has a release element configured to interact with an electrical conductor when connected to the second-type spring-force connection and to release the spring element from the release position. The second-type spring-force connection thus automatically releases when an electrical conductor is inserted, in that the electrical conductor interacts with the release element, which releases the clamping leg of the spring element from the release position and thus causes the clamping leg to move from the release position to the clamping position.

[0030] In one embodiment, third terminal devices of the plurality of terminal devices form a screw connection. Electrical conductors can be clamped to the terminal devices via the third terminal devices by means of screw elements and thus by screwing. The modular system preferably comprises terminal devices of different types. In particular, in one embodiment, first terminal devices, second terminal devices, and third terminal devices, and optionally also further, different terminal devices, are present, from which a selection can be made for configuring a front connector in order to equip the front connector body with the terminal devices and thus configure it.The different terminal devices preferably have module housings with the same external dimensions so that the terminal devices can be inserted variably and freely into the different receiving chambers of the front connector body.

[0031] A front connector is preferably manufactured using a modular system as described above. The modular system can, for example, be offered by a manufacturer to a customer, who can configure the front connector themselves by equipping the front connector body with a selection of terminal devices.

[0032] A wiring assembly for connecting electrical conductors comprises a connecting device and a front connector that can be connected to the connecting device and is manufactured using a modular system of the type described above. Such a wiring assembly can, for example, be part of a control system of an industrial plant to which sensors and actuators are connected via electrical conductors. The front connector establishes a connection to a control unit that can perform control tasks.

[0033] The interconnection module can, in particular, be designed to be arranged on a support device, in particular a support rail. For example, the interconnection module can be accommodated in a control cabinet via a support device.

[0034] The front connector can be connected (in the configured position) to the connecting device, whereby when the front connector is placed on the connecting device, a connection is established between the terminal devices of the front connector and the associated contact blades of the connecting device.

[0035] In one embodiment, the front connector can be pivoted about a pivot axis relative to the connecting device for connection to the connecting device in order to electrically connect contact devices of the terminal devices with contact blades of the connecting device. By pivoting the front connector onto the connecting device, the contact devices of the terminal devices are thus electrically connected to the contact blades of the connecting device in a single operation. When the front connector is attached to the connecting device, electrical conductors are preferably already connected to the terminal devices of the front connector, so that by pivoting the front connector onto the connecting device, electrical conductors are connected to the connecting device and, via the connecting device, to the interconnection module.

[0036] The concept underlying the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures. They show:

[0037] Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a control system comprising a control unit and at least one interconnection module;

[0038] Fig. 2 is a view of a front connector and a connection device of a wiring module;

[0039] Fig. 3 a view of the front connector when attached to the connecting device;

[0040] Fig. 4 is a view of an embodiment of a front connector body of a

[0041] front connector;

[0042] Fig. 5 is a plan view of the front connector body according to Fig. 4;

[0043] Fig. 6A shows a first clamping device for attachment to the front connector body;

[0044] Fig. 6B a second clamping device for attachment to the front connector body;

[0045] Fig. 60 a third terminal device for attachment to the front connector body;

[0046] Fig. 7 is a view of an embodiment of a front connector body with terminal devices accommodated in receiving chambers;

[0047] Fig. 8 is a side view of the arrangement according to Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a plan view of the arrangement according to Fig. 7;

[0048] Fig. 10A is a sectional view along the line AA of Fig. 9; and

[0049] Fig. 10B is a sectional view taken along line BB of Fig. 9.

[0050] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a control system 1, which can be formed, for example, by a control unit 2 and one or more interconnection modules 3 combined with the control unit 2, to which electrical conductors 5 are connected. The control unit 2 has, for example, a display 20 and an input device 21, for example in the form of a keyboard or other control keys.

[0051] The control unit 2 can be used in particular to perform control tasks in an industrial plant, for example for processing signals from sensors and for controlling actuators that are connected to the control unit 2 via the conductors 5 and the interconnection module 3.

[0052] The control system 1 can be arranged on a support device 4, in particular in the form of a support rail, and can be enclosed, for example, in a control cabinet.

[0053] In the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the interconnection assembly 3 is formed by a front connector 30 and a connecting device 31, which can be placed against one another and electrically connected to one another for connecting the conductors 5. Via the front connector 30, conductors 5 can be connected to the connecting device 31 in a preconfigured manner by connecting the front connector 30 with already connected conductors 5 to the connecting device 31, thereby connecting the conductors 5 to the connecting device 31. For this purpose, the front connector 30 has terminal devices 32A, 32B, 32C, to which conductors 5 can be connected and which can be connected to associated contact blades 310 of the connecting device 31 via contact devices 300, for example in the form of contact sockets formed by lamellae, as can be seen from Fig. 3.

[0054] In the illustrated embodiment, the front connector 30 is connected to the connecting device 31 by attaching the front connector 30 to the connecting device 31 using axle elements 301 formed on a front connector body 302, such that the axle elements 301 create an articulated connection between the front connector 30 and the connecting device 31, and the front connector 30 can be pivoted about a pivot axis S relative to the connecting device 31. The front connector 30 can thus be pivoted onto the connecting device 31 about the pivot axis S, such that the contact devices 300 of the terminal devices 32A, 32B, 32C on the front connector 30 side come into contact with associated contact blades 310 on the connecting device 31 side, and the terminal devices 32A, 32B, 32C are thus electrically connected to associated electrical components on the connecting device 31 side.

[0055] This results in a simple wiring of the conductors 5, which in particular do not have to be connected individually to the connecting device 31, but can be connected to the connecting device 31 in a single operation in a preconfigured position connected to the front connector 30.

[0056] Fig. 4 and 5 show an embodiment of a front connector body 302, to which clamping devices 32A, 32B, 32C of different types shown in Fig. 6A, 6B and 6C can be attached along an insertion direction E for configuring the front connector 30.

[0057] In the illustrated embodiment, the front connector body 302 has a plurality of receiving chambers 303, which are delimited by longitudinal walls 304, 306, 307 and transverse walls 305. The front connector body 302 forms two outer longitudinal walls 306, 307 and a central, middle longitudinal wall 304, which extend longitudinally along a longitudinal direction X and are spaced from one another along a transverse direction Y perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X. The front connector body 302 also forms a plurality of transverse walls 305, which extend along the transverse direction Y and are arranged at a distance from one another along the longitudinal direction X.

[0058] In this way, two rows of receiving chambers 303 are created on the front connector body 302, each row of which has a plurality of receiving chambers 303 arranged one after the other along the longitudinal direction X and which are arranged adjacent to one another along the transverse direction Y.

[0059] In the illustrated embodiment, the receiving chambers 303 are each delimited by two transverse walls 305 and two longitudinal walls 306, 304, 307, so that each receiving chamber 303 is circumferentially delimited by four walls. In the illustrated embodiment, the transverse walls 305 and the longitudinal walls 306, 304, 307 are closed, so that each receiving chamber 303 is circumferentially enclosed by the delimiting walls.

[0060] In the illustrated embodiment, the receiving chambers 303 have the same dimensions measured along the longitudinal direction X and measured along the transverse direction Y. In cross-section along a cross-sectional plane spanned by the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y, the receiving chambers 303 are rectangular in shape and have the same dimensions.

[0061] Each receiving chamber 303 can accommodate a terminal device 32A (Fig. 6A), 32B (Fig. 6B), 32C (Fig. 6C). Each terminal device 32A, 32B, 32C comprises a module housing 320 and an electrical contact device 300. By inserting it into a receiving chamber 303, the module housing 320 is received in the respective receiving chamber 303, and the contact device 300 comes to rest in a region of a blade opening 309 at the bottom of the respective receiving chamber 303, as can also be seen from the sectional views according to Figs. 10A and 10B.

[0062] In the illustrated embodiment, first locking devices 308 in the form of locking openings are formed on the outer longitudinal walls 306, 307, with each receiving chamber 303 being assigned (exactly) one locking device 308 in the form of a locking opening. A second locking device 322 in the form of a locking projection is formed on each module housing 320 of a clamping device 32A, 32B, 32C. When a clamping device 32A, 32B, 32C is inserted in the insertion direction E, the locking devices 308, 322 of the receiving chambers 303 and of the module housing 320 engage one another in a locking manner, so that the clamping device 32A, 32B, 32C is locked in the receiving chamber 303 and is thus fixed in the receiving chamber 303 opposite the insertion direction E.

[0063] The module housings 320 of the different clamping devices 32A, 32B, 32C have the same dimensions measured along the longitudinal direction X and along the transverse direction Y, so that each clamping device 32A, 32B, 32C can be inserted into any of the receiving chambers 303.

[0064] The module housing 320 of each terminal device 32A, 32B, 32C forms a plug-in opening 321 into which an electrical conductor 5 can be inserted in order to connect the conductor 5 to the respective terminal device 32A, 32B, 32C. The terminal device 32A shown in Fig. 6A forms a spring-loaded connection and, for this purpose, has a spring element 323 and an actuating element 324. The terminal device 32A implements a so-called push-in connection, to which a conductor 5 can be connected by inserting the conductor 5 into the plug-in opening 321 and engaging a clamping leg of the spring element 323, so that the conductor 5 is clamped to a current bar in the terminal device 32A and thus electrically connected to the contact device 300. The clamping leg can be deflected via the actuating element 324 in order to release the conductor 5 from the clamping device 32A.

[0065] Such a clamping device 32A is shown in the sectional view according to Fig. 10A on the left.

[0066] The terminal device 32B according to Fig. 6B, like the terminal device 32A according to Fig. 6A, implements a spring-loaded connection, but is designed as a self-releasing connection terminal (so-called Push-X connection). As can be seen from the sectional view according to Fig. 10A with reference to the terminal device 32B arranged on the right, the terminal device 32B has a release element 327, which is designed to interact with the conductor 5 upon insertion of a conductor 5 in order to trigger the terminal device 32B.

[0067] A clamping leg of the spring element 323 can be moved into a release position via the actuating element 324, in which the clamping leg of the spring element 323 is held in position relative to the module housing 320 of the terminal device 32B, for example by locking the clamping leg relative to the module housing 320 or by locking the actuating element 324 in an actuated position. If the triggering element 327 is triggered upon insertion of a conductor 5, the clamping leg of the spring element 323 is released from the release position, and the spring element 323 is thus moved from the release position into a clamping position, in which the plugged-in conductor 5 is clamped to the terminal device 32B and electrically contacted with a current bar and, via this, with the contact device 300.

[0068] The terminal device 32C according to Fig. 6C, on the other hand, implements a screw connection in which a conductor 5 inserted into the plug-in opening 321 is clamped to the terminal device 32C via a screw element 326 and is connected thereto to the contact device 300. As can be seen from the sectional view according to Fig. 10B, the screw connection has a clamping element 325, which can be adjusted by the screw element 326 to clamp an inserted conductor 5.

[0069] The terminal devices 32A, 32B, 32C can be configured in a functional manner like conventional terminal devices. Other terminal devices than the terminal devices 32A, 32B, 32C explained with reference to Figs. 6A, 6B, and 6C are also conceivable and possible.

[0070] Because the terminal devices 32A, 32B, 32C have module housings 320 with the same dimensions, the terminal devices 32A, 32B, 32C can be inserted modularly into the receiving chambers 303 of the front connector body 302 in order to configure the front connector 30.

[0071] In an embodiment of a front connector 30 shown in Figs. 7 to 9, terminal devices 32A, 32B, 32C of different types are inserted into receiving chambers 303 of a front connector body 302 to configure the front connector 30. Terminal devices 32A, 32B, 32C can be combined with one another in a variable, arbitrary manner. Each terminal device 32A, 32B, 32C is inserted into one of the receiving chambers 303 and locked in the receiving chamber 303.

[0072] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7 to 9, openings are created in the central longitudinal wall 304 between individual receiving chambers 303 (for example the receiving chambers shown on the far right in Fig. 7), via which openings adjacent receiving chambers 303 are connected to one another.

[0073] As can be seen from Fig. 7, it is not necessary for all receiving chambers 303 to be filled for the operation of the front connector 30, but some receiving chambers 303 can also remain free without this impairing the functionality of the front connector 30.

[0074] 10A and 10B show sectional views along lines AA and BB according to Fig. 9. The sectional view according to Fig. 10A shows terminal devices 32A, 32B for forming spring-loaded connections in associated receiving chambers 303. The terminal device 32C according to Fig. 10B, in contrast, forms a screw connection. Each terminal device 32A, 32B, 32C lies with an associated contact device 300 in an associated blade opening 309 of the respective receiving chamber 303 and can thus be brought into contact with a contact blade 310 of a connecting device 31 when the front connector 30 is inserted, as shown schematically in Fig. 3. The concept underlying the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, but can also be implemented in other ways.

[0075] The modular design of the terminal devices in the receiving chambers of a contact body results in a simple, variably configurable front connector design. The terminal devices are inserted modularly into the receiving chambers and are locked in place in the inserted position, without the need for additional components, such as a cover or the like, to complete the front connector.

[0076] List of reference symbols

[0077] 1 control system

[0078] 2 control unit

[0079] 20 Display device

[0080] 21 Input device

[0081] 3 interconnection module

[0082] 30 front connectors

[0083] 300 contact devices (contact sockets)

[0084] 301 axle element

[0085] 302 front connector body

[0086] 303 recording chambers

[0087] 304 Longitudinal wall

[0088] 305 Cross wall

[0089] 306, 307 Longitudinal wall (outer wall)

[0090] 308 locking device (locking opening)

[0091] 309 knife opening

[0092] 31 connecting device

[0093] 310 contact blade

[0094] 32A, 32B, 32C terminal device

[0095] 320 module housings

[0096] 321 plug-in opening

[0097] 322 locking device (locking element)

[0098] 323 spring element

[0099] 324 Actuator

[0100] 325 clamping element

[0101] 326 screw element

[0102] 327 trigger element

[0103] 4 Carrying device

[0104] 5 ladders

[0105] S swivel axis

[0106] E Insertion direction

[0107] X Longitudinal direction

[0108] Y transverse direction

Claims

Patent claims 1. Modular system for producing a front connector (30) for connecting to a connection device (31) of a wiring assembly (3), comprising a front connector body (302) and a plurality of terminal devices (32A-32C), to each of which at least one electrical conductor (5) can be connected, characterized in that the front connector body (302) has a plurality of receiving chambers (303), each delimited by two transverse walls (305) and two longitudinal walls (304, 306, 307) and each designed to receive a terminal device (32A-32C) of the plurality of terminal devices (32A-32C), wherein the transverse walls (305) are spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal direction (X) and the longitudinal walls (304, 306, 307) are spaced apart from one another along a transverse direction (Y) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X).

2. Modular system according to claim 1, characterized in that the front connector body (302) has at least two rows of receiving chambers (303), each row being formed by receiving chambers (303) arranged one after the other along the longitudinal direction (X), and the rows being arranged next to one another along the transverse direction (Y).

3. Modular system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each clamping device (32A-32C) can be inserted into an associated receiving chamber (303) of the plurality of receiving chambers (303) along an insertion direction (E) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X) and to the transverse direction (Y).

4. Modular system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the receiving chambers (303), measured along the longitudinal direction (X) and measured along the transverse direction (Y), have the same dimensions.

5. Modular system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each terminal device (32A-32C) of the plurality of terminal devices (32A-32C) has a contact device (300) for plugging into an associated contact blade (310) of the connecting device (31).

6. Modular system according to claim 5, characterized in that the front connector body (302) forms a plurality of blade openings (309), wherein each receiving chamber (303) is assigned a blade opening (309) of the plurality of blade openings (309), via which the contact device (300) of the terminal device (32A-32C) assigned to the receiving chamber (303) can be connected in a plug-in manner to an assigned contact blade (310) of the connecting device (31).

7. Modular system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each clamping device (32A-32C) of the plurality of clamping devices (32A-32C) has a module housing (320) which can be inserted into an associated receiving chamber (303) of the plurality of receiving chambers (303).

8. Modular system according to claim 7, characterized in that the module housing (320) is cuboid-shaped for insertion into an associated receiving chamber (303) of the plurality of receiving chambers (303).

9. Modular system according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the module housings (320) of the clamping devices (32A-32C) have the same dimensions as measured along the longitudinal direction (X) and as measured along the transverse direction (Y).

10. Modular system according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the front connector body (302) has first locking devices (308) and the module housings (320) of the terminal devices (32A-32C) have second locking devices (322), wherein the first locking devices (308) and the second locking devices (322) are designed to lock together when the module housings (320) are inserted into the receiving chambers (303).

11. Modular system according to claim 10, characterized in that each receiving chamber (303) is assigned a first locking device (308) and the module housing (320) has a second locking device (322) for each clamping device (32A-32C).

12. Modular system according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that in a configured position the module housings (320) in the receiving chambers (303) are received and the first locking devices (308) are locked to the second locking devices (322).

13. Modular system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that first terminal devices (32A) of the plurality of terminal devices (32A-32C) form a spring force connection of the first type with a spring element (323) for clamping an electrical conductor (5).

14. Modular system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that second terminal devices (32B) of the plurality of terminal devices (32A-32C) form a spring force connection of a second type with a spring element (323) for clamping an electrical conductor (5).

15. Modular system according to claim 14, characterized in that the spring element (323) of the spring force connection of the second type is adjustable between a clamping position and a release position and is locked in the release position, wherein the spring force connection of the second type has a release element (327) which is designed to cooperate with an electrical conductor (5) when connected to the spring force connection of the second type and to release the spring element (323) from the release position.

16. Modular system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that third terminal devices (32C) of the plurality of terminal devices (32A-32C) form a screw connection.

17. Front connector (3), manufactured using a modular system according to one of the preceding claims.

18. Wiring assembly (3) for connecting electrical conductors (5), with a connecting device (31) and a front connector (30) connectable to the connecting device (31), which is manufactured using a modular system according to one of claims 1 to 16.

19. Connection module (3) according to claim 18, characterized in that the front connector (30) for connecting to the connecting device (31) is pivotable about a pivot axis (S) relative to the connecting device (31) in order to Contact devices (300) of the terminal devices (32A-32C) with to electrically connect the contact blades (310) of the connecting device (31).

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