CONDUCTOR TERMINAL

Abstract

A conductor terminal, including an insulating housing having a conductor insertion opening for inserting an electrical conductor in a conductor insertion direction, a busbar and a clamping spring. The clamping spring having a clamping leg, which, together with the busbar, forms a clamping point for the electrical conductor. An actuating element is movably supported in an actuating channel in the insulating housing and having an actuating section interacting with the clamping leg in such a way that the clamping leg is displaceably designed to open the clamping point during a movement of the actuating element in the direction of the clamping leg. The actuating element being transferable from an initial position into an actuating position, and the clamping point being opened in the actuating position. The actuating element being pivotably supported in a locking position in the actuating position, and being lockable in the locking position.

Claims

1. A conductor terminal comprising: an insulating housing having a conductor insertion opening for inserting an electrical conductor in a conductor insertion direction; a busbar; a clamping spring having a clamping leg, which, together with the busbar, forms a clamping point for the electrical conductor; an actuating element movably supported in an actuating channel in the insulating housing and having an actuating section interacting with the clamping leg such that the clamping leg is displaceably designed to open the clamping point during a movement of the actuating element in a direction of the clamping leg; and an elastically deflectable spring lug arranged on the conductor terminal, a spring force of the spring lug acting upon the actuating element at least in a position of the actuating element between the initial position and the actuating position wherein the actuating element is transferable from an initial position into an actuating position, wherein the clamping point is opened in the actuating position, wherein the actuating element is pivotably supported in a locking position in the actuating position, and wherein the actuating element is lockable in the locking position.

2. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein, in the actuating position, the actuating element is pivotably supported in an locking recess of the insulating housing.

3. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the elastically deflectable spring lug is arranged on an actuating head which is situated diametrically opposed to the actuating section, wherein a spring force of the spring lug acts upon the actuating element at least in a position of the actuating element between the initial position and the actuating position.

4. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element is arranged essentially in parallel to the conductor insertion direction, and wherein the actuating element is movably supported in the insulating housing in the actuating channel in parallel to the conductor insertion direction.

5. The conductor terminal according to claim 4, wherein the spring lug protrudes on a side of the actuating head facing the conductor insertion opening.

6. The conductor terminal according to claim 4, wherein the spring lug protrudes from the actuating head in a direction of the conductor insertion opening.

7. The conductor terminal according to claim 4, wherein the locking recess is arranged on the side of the actuating channel facing away from the conductor insertion opening.

8. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein an opening is arranged in the insulating housing, the opening extending from an outside of the insulating housing to the actuating channel.

9. The conductor terminal according to claim 8, wherein the opening extends essentially perpendicularly from the outside of the insulating housing to the actuating channel.

10. The conductor terminal according to claim 8, wherein the opening extends into the area of the locking recess.

11. The conductor terminal according to claim 8, wherein the conductor terminal has a releasing element, via which the locking of the actuating element is adapted to be released in the actuating position.

12. The conductor terminal according to claim 11, wherein at least one portion of the releasing element extends through the opening.

13. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the spring lug protrudes at an angle from the actuating head.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a conductor terminal with an actuating element in an initial position;

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a conductor terminal according to FIG. 1, with an actuating element between an initial position and an actuating position;

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a conductor terminal according to FIG. 1, with an actuating element in an actuating position;

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a conductor terminal with an actuating element in an initial position;

[0040] FIG. 5 shows a conductor terminal with an actuating element in an initial position; an

[0041] FIG. 6 shows a conductor terminal according to FIG. 5, with an actuating element in an actuating position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a conductor terminal 1 according to the invention in a first example, including an insulating housing 2. A conductor insertion opening 3 for inserting an electrical conductor in a conductor insertion direction L is arranged in insulating housing 2. A busbar 4 and a clamping spring 5 are arranged in insulating housing 2, clamping spring 5 having a clamping leg 5a, which, together with busbar 4, forms a clamping point 6 for the electrical conductor to be clamped.

[0043] It is further apparent that clamping leg 5a of clamping spring 5 transitions into a spring bend and subsequently extends into a contact leg 5c. Contact leg 5c is designed for contact with busbar 4. In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1, contact leg 5c adjoins busbar 4 opposite clamping point 6. Contact leg 5c engages with a recess 7 at busbar 4 by its free end, which is angled in this exemplary embodiment, so that clamping spring 5 is fixed in its position. Spring bend 5b is supported around a projection 8 protruding from insulating housing 2.

[0044] It is made clear that conductor terminal 1 has an actuating element 9, actuating element 9 being movably supported in an actuating channel 10 of insulating housing 2. Actuating element 9 has an actuating section 9a on a free end, actuating section 9a interacting with clamping leg 5a in such a way that clamping leg 5a is displaceably designed to open clamping point 6 upon a movement of actuating element 9 in the direction of clamping leg 5a. Actuating section 9a therefore transfers clamping leg 5a from a closed position of clamping point 6 to an opened position of clamping point 6, an electrical conductor being able to be inserted through conductor insertion opening 3 into conductor terminal 1 when clamping point 6 is opened.

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a conductor terminal 1, with an actuating element 9 in an initial position. The initial position is the position of actuating element 9, in which actuating element 9 is situated when clamping point 6 is completely closed.

[0046] FIGS. 2 and 3 show conductor terminal 1 according to FIG. 1 in a position which differs from that of the initial position. FIG. 3 shows actuating element 9 in an actuating position, the actuating position being the position of actuating element 9, in which actuating element 9 is situated when clamping point 6 is open. FIG. 2 shows actuating element 9 in a position between the initial position and the actuating position, clamping point 6 not yet been completely opened.

[0047] It is apparent from FIGS. 1 through 3 that an actuating head 9b is arranged on an end diametrically opposed to actuating section 9a, an elastically deflectable spring lug 11 of actuating element 9 protruding from actuating head 9b. In the initial position according to FIG. 1 and in the actuating position according to FIG. 3, it is made clear that spring lug 11 protrudes at an angle from actuating head 9b.

[0048] It is made clear that spring lug 11 protrudes in the direction of conductor insertion opening 3 in the initial position of actuating element 9, spring lug 11 protruding from actuating head 9b on the side facing conductor insertion opening 3. Spring lug 11 advantageously adjoins a slope 2a of insulating housing 2, slope 2a running at an angle from actuating channel 10 in the direction of conductor insertion opening 3. Slope 2a of insulating housing 2 is, in particular, an incline which differs from the incline of actuating channel 10.

[0049] It is further made clear that actuating channel 10 preferably runs predominantly in parallel to conductor insertion direction L, a locking recess 12 being arranged at actuating channel 10. Locking recess 12 is arranged on the side of actuating channel 10 facing away from the conductor insertion opening. If actuating element 9 is pushed from the initial position into the actuating position, spring lug 11 is elastically deflected against its spring force into at least a position of actuating element 9 between the initial position and the actuating position. A spring force is thus applied by spring lug 11 onto actuating element 9. If actuating element 9 is guided into the actuating position, actuating element 9 is thus pivoted into a locking position in locking recess 12 by the spring force or spring lug 11, actuating element 9 being locked in locking recess 12. Clamping leg 5a is thus held in the actuating position by actuating section 9a of actuating element 9 in such a way that clamping point 6 is opened. Due to spring lug 11, actuating element 9 may thus be transferred into the locking position without any further aids, such as a tool or the spring force of the clamping spring.

[0050] Due to its resilient deflection, spring lug 11 presses actuating element 9 into locking recess 12 once actuating head 9b reaches the area of locking recess 12 during the displacing movement. Actuating element 9 may be held or secured by spring lug 11 in locking recess 12, the holding or securing force of spring lug 11 being able to trend, in principle, toward zero in the actuating position. Spring lug 11 may thus again be completely relaxed in the actuating position of actuating element 9, i.e., the spring force of spring lug 11 trends toward zero.

[0051] It is further apparent that an opening 13 is arranged in insulating housing 2, opening 13 being designed as a releasing or resetting channel. Opening 13 extends essentially perpendicularly from an outside of insulating housing 2 to actuating channel 10, opening 13 extending into the area of locking recess 12. Opening 13 runs in a conical manner, i.e., the cross section of opening 13 tapers from the outside of insulating housing 2 in the direction of actuating channel 10.

[0052] Actuating element 9 may be easily released from being locked in locking recess 12 via an opening 13 designed as a releasing or resetting channel. This may take place, for example, with the aid of an actuating tool or via a separate releasing element, which is movably arranged in opening 13, the releasing element being configured to pivot actuating element 9 out of locking recess 12 into actuating channel 10. Actuating element 9 may thus be guided back into the initial position under the effect of the restoring force of clamping spring 5.

[0053] However, it is also conceivable that actuating element 9 may be pivoted out of locking recess 12 via a tool slot 14 on actuating head 9b. An actuating tool may be placed into tool slot 14 to pivot actuating element 9 out of locking recess 12.

[0054] It is made clear that opening 13 is arranged between the area of locking recess 12 and a pivot point 15 of actuating element 9, pivot point 15 being the point around which actuating element 9 may be pivoted into locking recess 12 and back again. If a releasing element or an actuating tool is placed on locked actuating element 9, actuating element 9 may be easily pivoted out of locking recess 12 around pivot point 15 by a sufficiently high force of the releasing element or the actuating tool onto actuating element 9.

[0055] To form pivot point 15, actuating channel 10 is designed in such a way that chamfers 16 are formed on the end of actuating channel 10 facing clamping spring 5. If actuating element 9 is transferred from the initial position into the actuating position, actuating element 9 is pivoted around pivot point 15 by the spring force of spring lug 11, so that it also adjoins chamfers 16 in the area of actuating section 9a in the locking position in locking recess 12.

[0056] FIG. 4 shows a conductor terminal 1 in a second specific embodiment, with an actuating element 9 in an initial position. It is made clear that locking recess 12 is arranged on actuating element 9, actuating element 9 being pivotable into the actuating position, i.e., when clamping point 6 is opened, by the spring force of spring lug 11 in such a way that locking recess 12 on actuating element 9 locks with insulating housing 2, and actuating element 9 is held in the locking position.

[0057] The example in FIG. 4 differs from FIGS. 1 through 3 only with respect to locking recess 12. In this regard, the designs of the first specific embodiment are transferable to the second specific embodiment.

[0058] Based on FIGS. 5 and 6, an example of a conductor terminal 1 is explained, in which a releasing element 19 for releasing the locking of actuating element 9 is present in the area of opening 13. Releasing element 19 may be designed as a further component of conductor terminal 1 or as a separate releasing element. If releasing element 19 is designed as a component of conductor terminal 1, it is fixedly arranged there, so that it is always available for the user.

[0059] Releasing element 19 includes a gripping element 17, which is used for a manual actuation by the user and may protrude, for example, from insulating housing 2 or at least be exposed to the extent that it may be easily operated by the user, even if it is arranged within the space surrounded by insulating housing 2. Gripping element 17 is connected to actuating element 9 via a connecting section 18. Connecting section 18 extends through opening 13.

[0060] FIGS. 5 and 6 show an example, in which gripping element 17 is designed as a component forming a single piece with connecting section 18 and actuating element 9. However, gripping element 17 and/or connecting section 18 may also be designed as a separate component, which is coupled with the particular other component, for example via a form-fitting and/or force-fitting connection, e.g., with the aid of a locking connection.

[0061] FIG. 5 shows conductor terminal 1 in the initial position, i.e. without actuation of actuating element 9. With the exception of additional releasing element 19, this corresponds to the specific embodiment in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 shows the conductor terminal according to FIG. 5 in the actuating position. Actuating element 9 is locked in the actuating position. The locking may be released by manual actuation of gripping element 17. For example, if a pressure force is applied to gripping element 17, this force is transmitted via connecting section 18 to actuating element 9, so that the latter is pivoted downward again and may move back into the initial position, due to the restoring force of clamping spring 5.

[0062] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.