Terminal Clamp With Narrowing Guide Channel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connection terminals for conductors with large cross-sectional areas often experience undesirable conductor displacement, leading to insecure clamping due to the use of screw or combined screw-spring connections that press conductors against flat busbars.
Innovation Solution
A connection terminal design featuring a housing with a clamping pocket and a clamping spring, where the conductor guide channel has a continuously narrowing cross-section, preventing lateral displacement and ensuring secure clamping through a centering mechanism, and allowing for compact connection of conductors with varying cross-sections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flat busbar with screw or combined screw-spring connections is used, then the connection terminal can accommodate large conductor cross-sections, but conductor displacement occurs leading to insecure clamping
Solution Approach 1:
The busbar is designed with locally differentiated surfaces: a flat clamping surface for large conductor accommodation and a continuously narrowing guide channel section for conductor centering and displacement prevention. This local quality variation resolves the contradiction by providing both versatility for different conductor sizes and reliability through precise geometric guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuously narrowing guide channel acts as an intermediary geometric feature between the flat busbar surface and the conductor. It mediates the conductor's position during insertion and clamping, preventing lateral displacement while maintaining compatibility with large conductor cross-sections.
2Reliability
If a continuously narrowing cross-section guide channel is implemented, then conductor alignment and prevention of lateral displacement is achieved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The guide channel is merged with the busbar as an integrated geometric feature rather than a separate component. The continuously narrowing cross-section is formed directly as part of the busbar structure through impressions or inclined surfaces, combining the guidance function with the electrical connection function in a single element, thus reducing overall device complexity while maintaining alignment reliability.
3Reliability
If the guide channel cross-section narrows continuously, then conductor slippage is prevented, but the clamping spring movement may be restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The guide channel exhibits local quality variation with a continuously narrowing cross-section in specific regions for conductor grip, while other regions maintain sufficient width for clamping spring movement. This spatial differentiation of geometric properties resolves the contradiction by providing both secure conductor grip where needed and adequate clearance for spring operation where required.
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 effectively prevents conductor slippage and ensures secure clamping by maintaining conductor alignment within the guide channel, accommodating different conductor sizes and preventing displacement, thus ensuring reliable electrical connections.
Implementation Method 1
at least one clamping spring projecting into the clamping pocket for clamping the inserted conductor in the clamping pocket
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a terminal clamp having a housing (16), a clamp pocket (1) arranged in the housing (16) into which a conductor (19, 20) to be clamped can be inserted and at least one clamping spring (10) protruding into the clamp pocket (1) for clamping the inserted conductor (19, 20) in the clamp pocket (1), wherein the clamp pocket (1) has a floor (3) and two side walls (4a, 4b) opposite each other and extending away from the floor (3) which form a conductor guide channel (5), wherein the conductor guide channel (5) has, at least in sections along the longitudinal direction thereof, a cross-section which continually narrows in the direction of the floor (3).