Spring Terminal Actuation Geometry for Lower Clamping Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional terminal blocks require high initial force to actuate the clamping spring, with the required force reducing only at the end of the actuation process, leading to inefficient handling.
Innovation Solution
The clamping leg of the clamping spring interacts with a pressure surface on the actuating element, allowing the actuating element to apply force at a constant point, reducing the initial actuation force by incorporating sliding skids that guide the clamping leg along the pressure surface, and the actuating element performs a linear motion perpendicular to the conductor insertion direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the actuating element moves along the longitudinal extent of the clamping arm with a moving point of contact, then the clamping spring can be actuated, but the initial actuation force required is relatively high
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure surface on the actuating element is designed with a curved contour that corresponds to the arc-shaped sliding skid on the clamping leg. This curved geometry ensures that the actuating element always contacts the clamping leg at its outermost point during actuation, maintaining optimal leverage and reducing the initial force required to overcome the clamping spring's resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the contact interface by introducing arc-shaped sliding skids and corresponding curved pressure surfaces. This parameter change transforms the point of contact from a moving location along the clamping arm to a fixed outermost point, optimizing the mechanical advantage throughout the actuation stroke and reducing the required actuation force.
2Ease of operation
If the point of application of the actuating element moves along the surface of the clamping leg, then actuation is achieved, but force consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The arc-shaped sliding skid and corresponding curved pressure surface work together to maintain a fixed point of contact at the outermost point of the clamping leg throughout the actuation process. This curved geometry ensures that the actuating element applies force consistently at the same location, providing uniform mechanical advantage and consistent actuation force throughout the entire stroke.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding skid is segmented into a specific arc-shaped profile that divides the contact surface into distinct functional zones. This segmentation ensures that only the outermost point of the clamping leg contacts the pressure surface during actuation, isolating the force application point and maintaining consistency throughout the actuation process.
3Productivity
If conventional pin-shaped actuating elements are used with point contact, then the structure is simple, but handling efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating element incorporates a curved pressure surface that matches the arc-shaped sliding skid on the clamping leg. This curved geometry transforms the simple point contact of conventional pins into a controlled line contact that maintains optimal force application, significantly improving handling efficiency and reducing actuation force while adding minimal structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding skid design introduces dynamic adaptability to the actuation process. As the actuating element moves through its stroke, the curved pressure surface automatically adjusts the point of contact to maintain the outermost contact position on the clamping leg, providing dynamic optimization of force application throughout the actuation cycle and improving handling efficiency.
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
This design reduces the initial actuation force required, ensuring consistent force application throughout the process, improving handling efficiency and preventing conductor misinsertion.
Implementation Method 1
a clamping spring (13) arranged in the housing for clamping a conductor (200) to be connected against the current bar (12)
Implementation Method 2
at least one sliding skid (22, 23) which interacts with at least one pressure surface (20, 21) formed on the actuating element (14) when moving the clamping leg (17) from the clamping position to the open position
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a terminal (100) for connecting an electrical conductor (200), comprising: a housing (10); a current bar (12) disposed in the housing (10); a clamping spring (13), disposed in the housing (10), for clamping the conductor (200) to be connected against the current bar (12) in a conductor connection chamber (15) formed between the current bar (12) and the clamping spring (13); and an actuation element (14) that is slidably mounted in the housing (10), wherein a clamping leg (17) of the clamping spring (13) can be actuated by means of the actuation element (14) to transfer the clamping leg (17) from a clamped position into an open position, and the clamping leg (17) has at least one glide runner (22, 23) which interacts with at least one pressure surface (20, 21) formed on the actuation element (14) when the clamping leg (17) is being transferred from the clamped position into the open position, such that the at least one glide runner (22, 23) of the clamping leg (17) glides along the at least one pressure surface (20, 21).