CONDUCTOR CONNECTION TERMINAL

Abstract

A conductor terminal that has an insulating housing, which has a conductor insertion opening for inserting an electrical conductor and a contact element insertion opening for inserting a contact element. A busbar has a clamping section arranged between the inserted electrical conductor and the inserted contact element. A first clamping spring is provided for clamping the electrical conductor, which includes a first clamping leg having a clamping edge oriented in the direction of the clamping section, a first spring bend and a first contact leg, the clamping edge and the clamping section forming a first clamping point for clamping the electrical conductor.

Claims

1. A conductor terminal comprising: a housing that has a conductor insertion opening for inserting an electrical conductor and a contact element insertion opening for inserting a contact element; a busbar that has a clamping section arranged between the inserted electrical conductor and the inserted contact element; a first clamping spring to clamp the electrical conductor, the first clamping spring includes a first clamping leg having a clamping edge oriented in a direction of the clamping section, a first spring bend, and a first contact leg, the clamping edge and the clamping section forming a first clamping point for clamping the electrical conductor; and a second clamping spring that is a separate component from the first clamping spring, the second clamping spring including at least one second clamping leg to clamp the contact element, the second clamping leg being oriented in the direction of a contact section of the busbar so that a second clamping point for the contact element to be clamped is formed between the contact section and the second clamping leg.

2. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the busbar has a first bent section adjoining the clamping section, in which the busbar transitions in an arch-shaped manner directly into the contact section or via at least one further section of the busbar.

3. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the contact section is arranged essentially and/or predominantly in parallel to the clamping section.

4. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the first clamping spring is suspended by its first contact leg on an elongated holding section of the second clamping spring or on an elongated holding section of the busbar.

5. The conductor terminal according to claim 4, wherein the holding section runs orthogonally or predominantly orthogonally to the clamping section.

6. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the second clamping spring and the busbar are coupled with each other in a form-fitting manner.

7. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the second clamping spring includes a second contact leg, and wherein the second clamping leg and the busbar are coupled with each other in a form-fitting manner.

8. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the conductor terminal is a snap-on terminal and/or a luminaire terminal, which may be mounted with the contact element insertion opening on a contact element of an electrical device.

9. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes at least one main housing part and a cover part and a contact insert arranged in the housing, which includes at least the busbar, and wherein the cover part is fixed in the housing in interaction with the main housing part via the first clamping spring and the second clamping spring.

10. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a fixing area, which is configured to fasten a function element to the housing or to fasten the housing to a function element of this type.

11. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein a contact element insertion channel adjoins the contact element insertion opening, which is at least partially formed by housing walls of the housing, the entire or a portion of the contact section and/or a portion of the second clamping spring being arranged behind a recessed area of the housing covered by the housing wall in the longitudinal direction of the contact element insertion channel, viewed from the contact element insertion opening.

12. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the first clamping leg and the second clamping leg are arranged on opposite sides of the busbar.

13. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the first clamping leg points in the direction of the busbar from a side, and the second clamping leg points in the direction of the busbar from another side, and wherein the first clamping leg and the second clamping leg extend toward each other.

14. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the first clamping leg and the second clamping leg are arranged on opposite sides of the busbar.

15. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes at least one main housing part and a cover part, and wherein the busbar extends through an opening, at which the main housing part and the cover part do not adjoin each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] 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:

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a side sectional representation of a conductor terminal; and

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a side sectional representation of an example embodiment of a conductor terminal;

[0042] FIG. 3 shows the contact insert of a conductor terminal according to an example embodiment in a perspective representation;

[0043] FIG. 4 shows a conductor terminal 1 in the form of a plug connector in a side sectional representation; and

[0044] FIG. 5 shows an example embodiment of a conductor terminal in the form of a plug connector in a side sectional representation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] According to FIG. 1, conductor terminal 1 includes a housing 2. A contact insert is arranged in housing 2, which includes a busbar 3, a first clamping spring 4 and a second clamping spring 6. Conductor terminal 1 also includes an actuating element 5 designed as an actuating lever. Actuating element 5 has a manual gripping area 50, at which actuating element 5 may be manually actuated by the user.

[0046] The type of actuation is described by way of example with the actuating lever. Another type of actuation is conceivable, such as using a pushing element for actuating the clamping leg.

[0047] Housing 2 is provided with a multi-part design, for example having two parts 20, 23, which are connected to each other, e.g., via locking connections. Part 20 may be a main housing part of housing 2, which makes up the predominant part of the housing. Part 23 may be a cover part of housing 2, which is designed to close an opening of main housing part 20. The contact insert arranged in housing 2 may be fixed in housing 2 by cover part 23 in interaction with main housing part 20. For example, cover part 23 may fix busbar 3 in housing 2.

[0048] Housing 2 has a conductor insertion opening 21 for inserting an electrical conductor and a contact element insertion opening 24 for inserting a contact element. In addition, housing 2 has a test pin opening 22, through which a test pin may be inserted and be electrically contacted with the contact insert, for example, with first clamping spring 4. Housing 2 includes a conductor insertion chamfer 25. by means of which an electrical conductor may be guided to the first clamping point in a targeted manner. It is also possible to fix two conductors or contact elements next to each other or one above the other at the second clamping point with the aid of the second clamping spring. For this purpose, contact element insertion opening 24 is to be dimensioned with a corresponding size.

[0049] FIG. 1 further shows a fixing area 26 on housing 2, which may be used to fasten a function element to housing 2 or fasten housing 2 to a function element of this type, e.g., to a holder for conductor terminal 1. The fastening may also take place by locking, e.g., by a locking element 27 present in fixing area 26.

[0050] Busbar 3 has a clamping section 30, a first bent section 31 and a contact section 32. Contact section 32 is connected to clamping section 30 via first bent section 31. Clamping section 30 is used to clamp an electrical conductor; contact section 32 is used to clamp the contact element.

[0051] First clamping spring 4 includes a first contact leg 40, a spring bend 41 adjoining first contact leg 40 and a first clamping leg 42 adjoining first spring bend 41. First clamping leg 42 ends at the free end with a clamping edge 43. Clamping edge 43 and clamping section 30 form a first clamping point, which is used for clamping the electrical conductor. Second clamping spring 6 includes a second clamping leg 62. A second clamping point is formed between second clamping leg 62 and contact section 32, which is used for clamping the contact element. Second clamping spring 6 extends from second clamping leg 62 via a connecting section 61 toward an elongated holding section 64. A through-opening limited by a transverse web 65 is present in elongated holding section 64. First contact leg 40 is suspended by its free end in this through-opening. First clamping spring 4 may also be suspended by an elongated contour of busbar 3.

[0052] Second clamping spring 6 crosses at least parts of busbar 3 with its elongated holding section 64. For this purpose, corresponding recesses are present on busbar 3 and/or on second clamping spring 6, so that the desired crossing capability is established. Second clamping spring 6 may also be coupled with busbar 3 in a form-fitting manner with the aid of the recesses.

[0053] Actuating element 5 includes an actuator 52 in its area arranged in the interior of housing 2, with the aid of which first clamping leg 42 may be deflected. Actuator 52 has an actuating contour 53, which includes a circumferentially circular or semicircular pin having a V-shaped cutout. Clamping leg 42 may be actuated and therefore deflected with the aid of this actuating contour 53. First clamping point may be either opened or closed hereby by the actuation of actuating element 5.

[0054] A first housing wall 28, which adjoins contact element insertion opening 24, is also apparent, through which an inserted contact element is guided at least in areas. First housing wall 28 completely or at least predominantly covers contact section 32 in a viewing direction into contact element insertion opening 24. Contact section 32 is thus arranged in the area of an undercut of housing 2, which has the advantage that an inserted contact element is not hindered by contact section 32 during insertion, in particular it is unable to become stuck there.

[0055] It is also apparent that second clamping spring 6 is arranged behind a second housing wall 29 with a root area of second clamping leg 62, whereby a fixing of second clamping spring 6 takes place, on the one hand, and these corresponding areas of second clamping spring 6 are also arranged so as to be concealed in an undercut area of housing 2, on the other hand, so that they also do not hinder the insertion of the contact element. The area, in which clamping leg 62 branches off from a base section 66 of second clamping spring 6, is viewed as the root area of second clamping leg 62.

[0056] FIG. 2 shows one specific embodiment of the conductor terminal, which is provided with the same design as the specific embodiment described on the basis of FIG. 1 with regard to housing 2 of actuating element 5 and first clamping spring 4. In contrast to the specific embodiment in FIG. 1, busbar 3 is designed with an elongated holding section 34, which has a through-opening on the end side, which is limited by a transverse web 35. In this case, the free end of first contact leg 40 is suspended in the opening of holding section 34 of busbar 3.

[0057] In the direction toward contact section 32, busbar 3 has a different design than in the specific embodiment in FIG. 1. While, in the specific embodiment in FIG. 1, the first bent section has an angle of approximately 180 degrees, in the specific embodiment in FIG. 2, not only first bent section 31 but also a second bent section 33 is present, which is bent in the opposite bending direction from first bent section 31. First and second bent sections 31, 33 each have an angle of 90 degrees. Busbar 3 is provided with a stepped design in this area.

[0058] Second clamping spring 6 does not have an elongated holding section in this case. Only a second contact leg 60 of second clamping spring 6 adjoins connecting section 61 in this case. Second contact leg 60 is arranged on the side of contact section 32 facing away from second clamping leg 62 and is fastened to busbar 3 in this location.

[0059] FIG. 3 shows a contact insert, including an actuating element 5, which is configured for insertion into a housing, which may correspond to the specific embodiment in FIG. 1. For the sake of better clarity, however, the elements of housing 2 are not shown in FIG. 3. Actuating element 5 illustrated on the basis of FIG. 3 is also suitable for use in the conductor terminals according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0060] As is apparent in FIG. 3, first contact leg 40 is suspended in the recess of elongated holding section 64 of second clamping spring 6, so that it is held by transverse web 65.

[0061] It is further apparent that busbar 3 may have a contact rib 39 in the area of clamping section 30. The electrical contacting and clamping of the electrical conductor at the first clamping point may be further improved hereby.

[0062] It is further apparent that actuating element 5, which is also illustrated in FIG. 3 in a cutaway representation and, in the complete embodiment, is designed so as to be mirror-symmetrical to the part illustrated in FIG. 3, includes a side plate 51 in each case, which adjoins manual gripping area 50. Actuating element 5 overlaps parts of the contact insert with the two side plates 51, in particular first clamping spring 4, which may be arranged in this way largely in the area surrounded by actuating element 5 or its side plates 51. For example, actuating element 5 may be supported loosely (in a floating manner) on other parts of the conductor terminal, e.g., on busbar 3, via its side plates 51.

[0063] It is further apparent that actuator 52 protrudes from particular side plate 51 on the side of the area surrounded by side plates 51 and thus projects toward first clamping spring 4. Actuator 52 this protrudes in the direction of the conductor receiving area or in the direction of the terminal interior. First clamping spring 4 may be formed in the area of first clamping leg 42 in such a way that the material of first clamping spring 4 is reduced to a smaller width in the area of actuating contour 53, so that first clamping leg 42 is narrower in its end-side area, in particular in the area of clamping edge 43, than in other areas, where it may have the width of first spring bend 41. A side actuating section 44 of clamping leg 42 is created hereby, on which actuating contour 53 may engage and deflect clamping leg 42 upon a pivoting of actuating element 5. An electrical conductor guided to first clamping point is guided between actuators 52.

[0064] FIG. 4 shows a first specific embodiment of a conductor terminal 1, in which the conductor terminal is expanded into a plug connector by modifying cover part 23 of housing 2. Conductor terminal 1 may first be implemented with the aid of the features explained on the basis of FIGS. 1 through 3, FIG. 4 being oriented toward the specific embodiment in FIG. 2 by way of example. In contrast to FIG. 2, cover part 23 is now designed with a plug-in housing section 71 formed thereon. An electrical plug contact is situated in plug-in housing section 71, for example in the form of a blade contact 70. The plug contact is electrically connected to a contact element 7 or is formed therewith in a structural unit, e.g., as a metal part. Contact element 7 is clamped at the second clamping point, i.e. between second clamping leg 62 of second clamping spring 6 and contact section 32 of busbar 3. Contact element 7 extends through contact element insertion opening 24 of housing 2, which is adapted in this case with respect to its shaping in such a way that contact element 7 is held therein in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner. Conductor terminal 1 expanded into a plug connector in this way may be mounted together with plug-in housing section 71 and plug contact 70 onto a plug connector designed as a mating piece for the purpose of forming an electrical plug connection in this manner.

[0065] FIG. 5 shows a further specific embodiment of an expansion of conductor terminal 1 into a plug connector by correspondingly modifying cover part 23. In the specific embodiment in FIG. 5, the plug contact is designed as a bifurcated contact 72. The plug contact is again electrically connected to a contact element 7 or is formed therewith in a structural unit, e.g., as a metal part. Contact element 7 is again clamped at the second clamping point, i.e. between second clamping leg 62 and contact section 32. Plug contact 72 is arranged in plug-in housing section 71, which in this case is adapted to the different shaping of plug contact 72 as a bifurcated contact.

[0066] In this way, conductor terminal 1 may be used in an even more variable manner, either as a snap-on terminal for mounting on a contact element of an electrical device or as an electrical plug connector, which may also be mounted either on an electrical device or on another mating plug connector.

[0067] 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.