Connecting Terminal with Nested U-Profile Clamping Spring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connecting terminals for electrical conductors require significant space due to the arrangement of contact springs and are prone to overstretching when releasing conductors.
Innovation Solution
A compact connecting terminal design where the clamping spring is accommodated within the U-profile of the contact element, featuring an arrester bar with a U-profiled cross-section that serves as a dead stop for the clamping limb, and a latching mechanism to prevent overstretching, along with a snap action mechanism for housing assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the clamping spring is arranged externally to the contact element, then the releasing operation is simple, but the terminal requires significant space and the spring is prone to overstretching
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping spring is nested within the U-profile of the contact element, with the spring's U-shape accommodating the contact element's U-shape. This nested arrangement significantly reduces the terminal's overall volume while maintaining the spring's clamping function and providing inherent overstretching protection through the geometric constraints of the nested structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The arrester bar is positioned beforehand within the nested U-profiles to serve as a mechanical stop. When the clamping spring expands during conductor release, the arrester bar prevents overstretching by providing a predetermined mechanical limit, cushioning against excessive expansion before it can occur.
2Volume of moving object
If the clamping spring is accommodated within the contact element's U-profile, then the terminal becomes compact, but the spring needs protection against overstretching
Solution Approach 1:
The nested U-profile structure of the contact element and clamping spring serves dual purposes: it provides the compact form factor while simultaneously providing geometric constraints that inherently limit spring expansion. The structure serves itself by using its own geometry to prevent overstretching, eliminating the need for separate complex protection mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The arrester bar acts as an intermediary element within the nested U-profiles. It mediates between the clamping spring's expansion force and the geometric constraints, providing a simple mechanical stop that prevents overstretching without adding significant complexity to the overall compact structure.
3Ease of operation
If the arrester bar extends freely for conductor release, then the releasing operation is simple, but the spring can be overstretched beyond safe limits
Solution Approach 1:
The arrester bar is preliminarily positioned within the nested U-profiles to create a mechanical stop before the spring can overstretch. This preliminary anti-action prevents the harmful effect of overstretching while maintaining ease of operation, as the spring still expands freely until it contacts the arrester bar's predetermined stop position.
Solution Approach 2:
The nested U-profile structure and arrester bar provide beforehand cushioning by establishing geometric and mechanical limits on spring expansion. These constraints are built into the structure before operation, cushioning against overstretching while allowing full范围的正常 clamping and releasing operations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design achieves a compact form factor while protecting the clamping spring from overstretching and ensuring secure electrical and mechanical connections, enhancing the terminal's reliability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a substantially U-shaped clamping spring, in the form of a leaf spring, which keeps the conductor in electrical and mechanical connection with the contact element
Implementation Method 2
a second limb of the arrester bar extends in the open space between the support limb and the clamping limb of the clamping spring to serve as a dead stop for the bending movement of the clamping limb when releasing the conductor
Implementation Method 3
a latching mechanism to prevent overstretching
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention is about a connecting terminal (3) for electrical conductors, having a contact element (40) substantially in the form of a U-profile, provided for the purpose of electrically contacting the conductor, having a substantially U-shaped clamping spring (41), in the form of a leaf spring, which keeps the conductor in electrical and mechanical connection with the contact element (40), and having an insulating housing (4) which accommodates the contact element (40) and the clamping spring (41), said housing (4) having an insertion side (60), a mounting side (61), a top side (62), a bottom side (63), and at the insertion side (60) at least one insertion opening (42) for the conductor, said contact element (40) having a first profile section (43) possessing substantially a L-shape with a first and a second limb (46, 47) and with a plug-in opening (44) which is aligned with respect to the insertion opening (42), and with a second, substantially flat profile section (45), whereby the clamping spring (41) has a support limb (48) abutting on the second profile section (45) of the contact element (40), and a clamping limb (49) which is configured to be positioned with its free end against a conductor inserted into the plug-in opening (44) to press it against the first limb (46) of the contact element (40) and to be pushed towards the support limb (48) for releasing the conductor from the first limb (46), whereby the clamping spring (41) is accommodated within the U-profile of the contact element (40), whereby the U-shapes of both the clamping spring (41) and the contact element (40) open towards the mounting side of the housing (4), that an arrester bar with a substantially U-profiled cross-section is accommodated within the U-profile of the clamping spring, whereby the U-shape of the arrester bar opens towards the mounting side (61) of the housing (4), and whereby a first limb of the arrester bar abuts on the support limb (48) of the contact spring (49), and whereby a second limb of the arrester bar extends in the open space between the support limb (48) and the clamping limb (49) of the clamping spring (41) to serve as a dead stop for the bending movement of the clamping limb (49) when releasing the conductor from the first limb (46) of the contact element (40).