Connection Terminal with Sliding Current Bar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connection terminals are limited in their ability to reliably connect electrical conductors to busbars with varying thicknesses, as they are primarily designed for cable shields connected to reference potential busbars and lack flexibility to accommodate different busbar thicknesses.
Innovation Solution
A connection terminal with a slidably mounted current bar and a spring element that applies a constant force to ensure contact, combined with a clamping mechanism that compensates for busbar thickness tolerances and includes a self-locking feature to prevent accidental disconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed current bar is used in connection terminals, then the structure is simple, but it cannot compensate for busbar thickness tolerances and ensures reliable contact
Solution Approach 1:
The current bar is made displaceable rather than fixed, allowing it to move dynamically in response to spring element force and busbar thickness variations. This dynamic adjustment ensures consistent electrical contact pressure across different busbar thicknesses while maintaining structural simplicity through minimal moving components.
2Reliability
If a spring element is added to apply constant force to the current bar, then contact force consistency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element automatically adjusts the current bar position and contact pressure based on busbar thickness variations without requiring external control or adjustment mechanisms. The spring's elastic properties provide self-regulating force consistency, eliminating the need for complex control systems while ensuring reliable electrical contact.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the current bar is made displaceable to compensate for thickness tolerances, then adaptability to different busbar thicknesses is improved, but the structural stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element's elastic properties allow the current bar to change its position parameter dynamically in response to busbar thickness variations. The spring force maintains the current bar within an optimal contact range, providing both adaptability to thickness tolerances and positional stability through the spring's restoring force.
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
Ensures reliable and consistent electrical contact across a range of busbar thicknesses and prevents unintentional disconnection, allowing for easy installation and removal while maintaining secure fixation.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element is arranged in the housing in such a way that the spring element applies a force to the current bar in the direction of the busbar receptacle
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention illustrates and describes a connection terminal (1) for connecting an electrical conductor to a busbar (2), said connection terminal having a housing (3), comprising a conductor connection element (4) and comprising a current bar (5), wherein the housing (3) has a conductor insertion opening (6) for inserting the electrical conductor and has a busbar holder (7) for holding the busbar (2), wherein the current bar (5) is mounted in a displaceable manner in the housing (3), and wherein a spring element (8) is arranged in the housing (3) in such a way that the spring element (8) subjects the current bar (5) to the action of a force in the direction of the busbar holder (7), so that a conductor which is connected by means of the conductor connection element (4) is electrically conductively connected to a busbar (2), which is arranged in the busbar holder (7), by means of the current bar (5).