Conductor Terminal Actuation Surface for Lower Release Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conductor terminals require high initial force to actuate the release of an electrical conductor, with force exertion becoming lower towards the end of the process, leading to inefficient handling and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A conductor terminal design featuring a housing with a non-parallel actuation direction to the conductor insertion direction, incorporating a clamping spring with a runner that slides along a pressure surface of the actuation element, ensuring a constant point of contact and reduced initial force requirement for actuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the actuation element engages the spring clamping leg close to the bending joint initially, then the actuation mechanism can be compact, but a relatively high actuating force is required to release the conductor
Solution Approach 1:
The actuation direction is changed from parallel to the conductor insertion direction to an angled direction (greater than 0°). This dimensional change allows the actuation element to engage the spring clamping leg at an optimized location that reduces the required actuating force while maintaining compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a pressure surface with a specific contour shape on the actuation element and a corresponding runner on the spring clamping leg. By changing the geometric parameters of the contact interface, the force distribution is optimized to reduce peak forces while maintaining effective actuation throughout the movement.
2Ease of operation
If the point of contact moves from inside close to bending joint to outer point during actuation, then the spring can be released, but the force exertion is non-uniform with lower force at the end
Solution Approach 1:
By angling the actuation direction relative to the conductor insertion direction, the actuation element follows an optimized path that maintains more uniform force application. The angled approach allows the contact point to traverse the spring clamping leg in a manner that distributes force more evenly throughout the actuation stroke.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamic contact interface where the actuation element's pressure surface contours are specifically designed to adapt to the spring clamping leg's movement. The runner and pressure surface geometry ensures continuous optimal contact, maintaining uniform force exertion as the spring transitions from clamped to released state.
3Device complexity
If a linear actuation path parallel to conductor insertion is used, then the mechanism is simple, but high initial force is required and handling is less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The actuation path is changed from a linear path parallel to the conductor insertion direction to an angled path. This dimensional change in the actuation trajectory enables more efficient force application and improves handling characteristics while maintaining mechanical simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A conductor terminal includes: a housing having a conductor receiving chamber accessible via a conductor insertion opening for receiving an electrical conductor, the electrical conductor being insertable into the conductor receiving chamber in a conductor insertion direction; a current bar arranged in the conductor receiving chamber for contacting the electrical conductor inserted into the conductor receiving chamber via the conductor insertion opening; and a clamping spring, which is arranged in the housing and has a spring clamping leg, the clamping spring being actuatable between a clamping spring release position and a clamping spring clamping position such that in the clamping spring release position, the electrical conductor is guidable into and/or out of the conductor receiving chamber, and in the clamping spring clamping position, the spring clamping leg applies force in a direction of the current bar to the electrical conductor inserted into the conductor receiving chamber.