Conductor Terminal Actuating Element Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing conductor terminals suffer from undesirable interactions between the connection area for electrical conductors and the lever movement area, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage.

Innovation Solution

A conductor terminal design with a pivotably mounted actuating element that separates the connection area and lever movement area, using a clamping spring with a curvature to reduce stress and eliminate the need for additional fixing elements, and incorporating a self-locking mechanism to maintain the open position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If a conventional connector with separate contact and housing is used, then assembly is straightforward, but the connector has large dimensions and poor high-frequency signal transmission characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnector sizeVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the contact and housing into a single integrated connector structure. The contact is directly formed on the housing body, eliminating the need for separate assembly steps. This merging of components reduces the overall connector size while simplifying the manufacturing process by reducing the number of parts and assembly operations required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If shielded cables with connected shields are used, then electromagnetic shielding is improved, but the connector dimensions increase and high-frequency signal transmission deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectromagnetic interferenceVSAvoidsignal transmission speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a ground contact as an intermediary element between the signal contact and the housing. This ground contact provides a dedicated reference potential that improves electromagnetic shielding effectiveness without requiring direct connection of shields that would increase connector dimensions. The intermediary ground contact maintains signal integrity at high frequencies while providing necessary shielding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Volume of moving object

If connector components are tightly fitted to reduce size, then compactness is achieved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnector volumeVSAvoiddimensional tolerance
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the connector into distinct functional regions: the housing body, the ground contact extending from the housing, and the signal contact. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured with standard tolerances and then assembled together, reducing the overall manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining a compact form factor. The modular design enables easier quality control and manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3852198B1Conductor connecting terminal
Publication Date: 2022.11.16 WAGO VERW GMBH
  • EP3852198B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3852198B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3852198B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a conductor terminal (1) with a contact frame (2) and with a clamping spring (3) for clamping an electrical conductor, wherein the contact frame (2) has a busbar section (4), a partition (5) and a wall opening (6), wherein the clamping spring (3) has a clamping leg (7) arranged at least partially in the space between the busbar section (4) and the partition (5) with a clamping edge (8) oriented towards the busbar section (4), a spring arc (9) and a contact leg (10), and the clamping edge (8) and the busbar section (4) form a clamping point for the electrical conductor and an actuating section (17) for opening and closing the clamping point is arranged on the clamping leg (7) of the clamping spring (3), wherein the actuating section (17) projects into the wall opening (6) and extends, at least in the closed state of the clamping point, on a side facing away from the clamping point next to the partition (5).It is provided that the conductor terminal (1) has an actuating element (14) which is pivotably arranged above the busbar section (4) and is in operative connection with the actuating section (17) of the clamping spring (3) with an actuating finger (18) extending next to the partition (5) to the actuating section (17) and is designed to open or close the clamping point.