Terminal Release Lever Segmentation for Compact Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing terminals with release levers for opening conductor terminal points face challenges in achieving a compact and stable design, often requiring thick-walled housings to withstand lever forces, which compromises either width or height, leading to inefficient space utilization.
Innovation Solution
The terminal design incorporates a release lever with two lever arm portions that are immersed on both sides of the conductor introduction channel, forming or delimiting the channel, and connected by a pivot axis connection portion, allowing for deep immersion into the housing while maintaining stability and preventing lateral migration of conductors, along with a gap between guide portions and wall portions to reduce friction and actuation forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the insulating material housing is made thick-walled to bear lever forces, then the terminal becomes stable, but the terminal size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The release lever is segmented into two separate lever arm portions that are immersed on both sides of the conductor introduction channel. This segmentation allows the lever arms to be distributed on opposite sides, creating balanced force distribution that reduces the stabilizing requirement for the housing, thereby enabling a more compact terminal design without compromising stability.
2Area of stationary object
If the terminal is made narrow with tightly arranged conductor terminal points, then space is saved, but the release levers must be positioned higher increasing the terminal height
Solution Approach 1:
The lever arm portions are extended in the width direction (transverse to conductor introduction direction) rather than only in the height direction. By immersing the lever arm portions on both sides of the conductor introduction channel, the design utilizes the width dimension more effectively, allowing the release levers to be positioned lower and enabling a narrower overall terminal width without increasing height.
3Shape
If the lever arm portions are immersed deep into the housing, then the terminal can be flatter, but the housing structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The lever arm portions serve multiple functions: they provide the lever arm for actuating the release mechanism, they form or delimit the conductor introduction channel through their guide portions, and they provide structural support within the housing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, simplifying the overall housing structure while enabling deep immersion of the lever arms for a flatter terminal profile.
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 enables an overall flat and narrow terminal with stable lever operation, ensuring secure conductor introduction and reliable opening of conductor terminal points with minimal actuation force, maintaining mechanical stability and efficient space use.
Implementation Method 1
a release lever which is mounted in the insulating material housing pivotably about a pivot axis extending transverse to the conductor introduction direction, in order to interact with an actuating portion by pivoting of the release lever with spring force terminal connection for optional opening of the conductor terminal point
Implementation Method 2
Certain lever forces are required in order to open the conductor terminal point. In this regard, the levers are provided with a corresponding lever arm.
Implementation Method 3
a spring force terminal connection with at least one conductor terminal point for electrical connection of at least one conductor
Data Source
AI summary
Terminal (1), in particular screw or connecting terminal, having a spring force terminal connection (2) with at least one conductor terminal point (K) for electrical connection of at least one conductor, an insulating material housing (6) which at least partially accommodates the spring force terminal connection (2), for each conductor terminal point (K) a conductor introduction channel (60) which extends in a conductor introduction direction (E) from the outside toward the conductor terminal point (K), and for each conductor terminal point (K) a release lever (5) which is mounted in the insulating material housing (6) pivotably about a pivot axis (A) extending transverse to the conductor introduction direction (E), in order to interact with an actuating portion (52) by pivoting of the release lever (5) with the spring force terminal connection (2) for optional opening of the conductor terminal point (K). The release lever (5) has two lever arm portions (50) which are spaced apart from one another and which are immersed on both sides of the conductor introduction channel (60) at least partially into the insulating material housing (6). The lever arm portions (50) have in each case a guide portion (53) which at least partially delimit the conductor introduction channel (60) on both sides at least in the case of a conductor terminal point (K) opened by the release lever (5). According to a first aspect, the release lever (5) has a connection portion (56) which extends along the pivot axis (A) between the lever arm portions (50) and connects these to one another. According to an alternative or additional second aspect, the insulating material housing (6) has guide wall portions (63) which, together with the guide portions (53), at least partially delimit the conductor introduction channel (60), wherein the guide portions (53) are separated from the guide wall portions (63) by a gap (S).