Spring Clamp Conductor Terminal Pivoting Leg
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spring-loaded terminals face challenges in releasing electrical conductors with minimal damage, particularly when dealing with stranded conductors, as they often subject the conductors to mechanical stress and risk damage during insertion and removal.
Innovation Solution
A spring-loaded terminal design featuring a pivoting clamping leg and a retaining spring with a pressure surface arranged transversely to the sliding direction, allowing for gentle release and retraction of the conductor, along with a restoring mechanism for easy disengagement, ensures minimal mechanical stress and damage-free operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional spring-loaded terminal with a compression spring is used to contact the conductor, then the conductor can be securely held, but the conductor is subjected to mechanical stress and risk of damage during insertion and removal
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping leg is designed to pivot between a locked position (during insertion) and a releasing position (during removal). This dynamic movement allows the terminal to adapt its clamping force - applying minimal stress during insertion/removal while maintaining secure contact during operation, thus resolving the contradiction between reliable contact and mechanical stress prevention
2Reliability
If the clamping spring continuously presses the conductor against the busbar, then electrical contact is maintained, but the conductor cannot be easily released or removed
Solution Approach 1:
The restoring spring is pre-loaded to automatically return the clamping leg to its locked position after the conductor is inserted. This preliminary action ensures that the conductor is securely clamped without requiring continuous external force, while the manual release mechanism allows easy removal when needed, resolving the contradiction between maintaining contact and enabling release
3Reliability
If the holding means is designed to firmly lock the clamping spring, then the conductor is securely retained, but the clamping spring cannot be released for conductor removal
Solution Approach 1:
The holding means is designed with a pivotable clamping leg that can transition between locked and released states. The restoring spring provides automatic relocking after insertion, while a simple manual actuation mechanism enables release when needed. This dynamic design resolves the contradiction between secure retention and ease of release
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 enables damage-free insertion and removal of electrical conductors, including stranded types, by minimizing mechanical stress and allowing for easy access and handling, while maintaining secure contact with the busbar.
Implementation Method 1
The holding means is arranged on a retaining spring (4) which can be pivoted about a second pivot axis (9) in and against a second pivot direction (91)
Implementation Method 2
a clamping spring (3) for fixing the electrical conductor (6) in the spring-loaded terminal (1)
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c
AI summary
The terminal (1) has a conductor rail (2) for contacting an electrical conductor (6), and a clamp spring (3) i.e. compression spring, for fixing the electrical conductor in the terminal. The spring includes clamping limbs pivotable around a pivot axis (8) in a pivot direction (81). The limbs are adjustable in a locking condition (R) in which the limbs are locked at a holding unit, by displacing the electrical conductor in a clamping condition. A reset unit (5) realigns the limbs by displacing the reset unit against the pivot direction from the clamping condition into the locking condition. The reset unit is protruded out from a clamp housing in the clamping condition. The clamp spring, a conductor rail and/or a holding spring are formed as blank-bending parts made of sheet metal.