Conductor connection terminal

Abstract

A conductor connection terminal having an insulating material housing that includes a conductor insertion opening having a conductor insertion channel attached to the conductor insertion opening and a contact pin insertion opening having a contact pin insertion channel attached to the contact pin insertion opening. The conductor connection terminal also has a busbar and a clamping spring. The busbar includes a first contact portion and a second contact portion and the clamping spring has a first clamping limb having a first clamping edge oriented towards the first contact portion of the busbar, a first spring bow, a bearing limb, a second spring bow and a second clamping limb.

Claims

1. A conductor connection terminal comprising: an insulating material housing having a conductor insertion opening, a conductor insertion channel attached to the conductor insertion opening, and a contact pin insertion opening with a contact pin insertion channel attached to the contact pin insertion opening; a busbar having a first contact portion and a second contact portion; and a clamping spring having a first clamping limb with a first clamping edge oriented towards the first contact portion of the busbar, a first spring bow, a bearing limb, a second spring bow, and a second clamping limb, wherein the first clamping edge of the clamping spring and the first contact portion of the busbar form a first clamping point for an electrical conductor that is to be clamped, wherein the second clamping limb of the clamping spring and the second contact portion of the busbar form a second clamping point for a contact pin that is to be clamped, wherein the first spring bow is connected to the second spring bow via the bearing limb, wherein the first spring bow and the second spring bow are essentially arranged at a common height level of the conductor connector terminal, wherein the common height level is substantially parallel to a direction of longitudinal extent of the conductor insertion channel and/or a direction of longitudinal extent of the contact pin insertion channel, wherein the busbar has a passage opening, wherein at least one recess is arranged at the passage opening and wherein the clamping spring is mounted in the passage opening of the busbar via the at least one recess, wherein the passage opening is a through-hole that is enclosed on all sides by material of the busbar, wherein the second clamping limb has a second clamping edge, wherein the second clamping edge and the second contact portion of the busbar form the second clamping point for the contact pin that is to be clamped, and wherein the first spring bow and the second spring bow are bent in an opposite direction from the bearing limb, such that, in an unstressed state of the first clamping limb and the second clamping limb, the second clamping edge of the second clamping limb and the first clamping edge of the first clamping limb are positioned at different height levels from one another, each of the height levels being different from the common height level of the first spring bow and the second spring bow.

2. A conductor connection terminal comprising: an insulating material housing having a conductor insertion opening, a conductor insertion channel attached to the conductor insertion opening, and a contact pin insertion opening with a contact pin insertion channel attached to the contact pin insertion opening; a busbar having a first contact portion and a second contact portion; and a clamping spring having a first clamping limb with a first clamping edge oriented towards the first contact portion of the busbar, a first spring bow, a bearing limb, a second spring bow, and a second clamping limb, wherein the first clamping edge of the clamping spring and the first contact portion of the busbar form a first clamping point for an electrical conductor that is to be clamped, wherein the second clamping limb of the clamping spring and the second contact portion of the busbar form a second clamping point for a contact pin that is to be clamped, wherein the first spring bow is connected to the second spring bow via the bearing limb, wherein the first spring bow and the second spring bow are essentially arranged at a common height level of the conductor connector terminal, wherein the common height level is substantially parallel to a direction of longitudinal extent of the conductor insertion channel and/or a direction of longitudinal extent of the contact pin insertion channel, wherein the bearing limb directly contacts the busbar so as to be supported on the busbar, wherein the second clamping limb has a second clamping edge, wherein the second clamping edge and the second contact portion of the busbar form the second clamping point for the contact pin that is to be clamped, and wherein the first spring bow and the second spring bow are bent in an opposite direction from the bearing limb, such that, in an unstressed state of the first clamping limb and the second clamping limb, the second clamping edge of the second clamping limb and the first clamping edge of the first clamping limb are positioned at different height levels from one another, each of the height levels being different from the common height level of the first spring bow and the second spring bow.

3. A conductor connection terminal comprising: an insulating material housing having a conductor insertion opening, a conductor insertion channel attached to the conductor insertion opening, and a contact pin insertion opening with a contact pin insertion channel attached to the contact pin insertion opening; a busbar having a first contact portion and a second contact portion; and a clamping spring having a first clamping limb with a first clamping edge oriented towards the first contact portion of the busbar, a first spring bow, a bearing limb, a second spring bow, and a second clamping limb, wherein the first clamping edge of the clamping spring and the first contact portion of the busbar form a first clamping point for an electrical conductor that is to be clamped, wherein the second clamping limb of the clamping spring and the second contact portion of the busbar form a second clamping point for a contact pin that is to be clamped, wherein the first spring bow is connected to the second spring bow via the bearing limb, wherein the first spring bow and the second spring bow are essentially arranged at a common height level of the conductor connector terminal, wherein the common height level is substantially parallel to a direction of longitudinal extent of the conductor insertion channel and/or a direction of longitudinal extent of the contact pin insertion channel, wherein the bearing limb of the clamping spring has two bends in opposite directions in a region where the bearing limb is supported on the busbar, wherein the second clamping limb has a second clamping edge, wherein the second clamping edge and the second contact portion of the busbar form the second clamping point for the contact pin that is to be clamped, and wherein the first spring bow and the second spring bow are bent in an opposite direction from the bearing limb, such that, in an unstressed state of the first clamping limb and the second clamping limb, the second clamping edge of the second clamping limb and the first clamping edge of the first clamping limb are positioned at different height levels from one another, each of the height levels being different from the common height level of the first spring bow and the second spring bow.

4. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 3, wherein the first contact portion and/or the second contact portion of the busbar is T-shaped.

5. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 3, wherein the first contact portion and the second contact portion of the busbar are connected to each other via a connecting portion of the busbar, wherein the first contact portion and/or the second contact portion are formed orthogonally to the connecting portion of the busbar.

6. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 3, wherein the busbar has a passage opening, wherein at least one recess is arranged at the passage opening and wherein the clamping spring is mounted in the passage opening of the busbar via the at least one recess.

7. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 3, wherein the conductor connection terminal has an actuating element, wherein the actuating element interacts with the first clamping limb and is arranged for opening or closing the first clamping point.

8. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 7, wherein the actuating element is an actuating lever, wherein the actuating lever is swiveled via a swivel bearing.

9. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 8, wherein the first clamping point is arranged in a region of the swivel bearing of the actuating lever.

10. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 8, wherein the contact pin insertion channel is arranged on a common plane with the actuating lever.

11. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 8, wherein when the actuating lever is in a closed position in which the first clamping point is closed, a longitudinal extent of the actuating lever is aligned with the longitudinal extent of the contact pin insertion channel.

12. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 3, wherein a length of the clamping spring in the direction of longitudinal extent of the conductor insertion channel is greater than a width of the clamping spring transversely to the direction of longitudinal extent of the conductor insertion channel.

13. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 3, wherein the conductor connection terminal is adapted to contact a contact pin.

14. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 3, wherein the two bends of the bearing limb are provided between, and spaced apart from, the first spring bow and the second spring bow.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) 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:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a conductor connection terminal in a side sectional view;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a conductor connection terminal as shown in FIG. 1 in a sectional view rotated by 90°; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 1 in a cut plan view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) FIG. 1 shows a side view of a conductor connection terminal 1 with a busbar 2, wherein the busbar 2 has a first contact portion 3 and a second contact portion 4. The conductor connecting terminal 1 also has a clamping spring 5, wherein the clamping spring 5 has a first clamping limb 6 with a first clamping edge 7 oriented towards the first contact portion 3. The first clamping edge 7 and the first contact portion 3 of the busbar 2 form a first clamping point for an electrical conductor that is to be clamped.

(6) The first clamping limb 6 merges into a first spring bow 8, which extends into a bearing limb 9. The diametrically opposite end of the bearing limb 9 is followed by a second spring bow 10, which merges into a second clamping limb 11. The second clamping limb 11 and the second contact portion 4 of the busbar 2 form a second clamping point for a contact pin 12 that is to be clamped. It is clear that the second clamping limb 11 has a second clamping edge 13 which holds the contact pin 12 in place. The contact pin 12 can therefore no longer be detached from the conductor connection terminal 1 without additional aids.

(7) The first contact portion 2 and the second contact portion 3 of the busbar 2 are connected to each other via a connecting portion 14. The connecting portion 14 has a passage opening 15, with lateral recesses (not shown in FIG. 1) at the passage opening 15. The clamping spring 5 is passed through the passage opening 15, wherein the bearing limb 9 is held self-supporting in the lateral recesses. The connecting portion 14 of the busbar is thus frame-shaped.

(8) It can be seen that the first contact portion 2 and the second contact portion 3 of the busbar protrude essentially orthogonally from the connecting portion 14. It is also clear that the second contact portion 3 is T-shaped. The contact pin 12 can thus be clamped flat to the second contact portion 3 so that a good electrically conductive connection is created.

(9) The busbar 2 and the clamping spring 5 are arranged as contact insert in an insulating material housing 16. A conductor insertion opening 17 is arranged at the insulating material housing 16, wherein a conductor insertion channel 23 is connected to the conductor insertion opening 17. An electrical conductor can be inserted into the conductor connection terminal via the conductor insertion opening 17 and the attached conductor insertion channel 23. On the opposite side of the conductor insertion opening 17, a contact pin insertion opening 18 with an attached contact pin insertion channel (concealed by the contact pin 12) is arranged in the insulating material housing 16, wherein the contact pin 12 can be inserted into the conductor connection terminal 1 via the contact pin insertion opening 18 and the contact pin insertion channel. The insulating material housing 16 formed of a basic housing 16.1 and a cover part 16.2 which is inserted and locked into the basic housing 16.1.

(10) However, the inventive embodiment is not limited to a single-pole version. Rather, it is conceivable that several busbars and associated clamping springs are arranged in the insulating material housing, wherein in each case a conductor insertion opening that opens out to one of the first clamping points is provided in the insulating material housing and wherein in each case a contact pin insertion opening that opens out to one of the second clamping points is provided in the insulating material housing. Thus, the conductor connection terminal according to the invention is suitable for any conceivable number of poles.

(11) It can be seen that the bearing limb 9 of the clamping spring 5 in the region of the bearing of the bearing limb at the connecting portion 14 of the busbar 2 has an offset due to two successive bows in opposite directions. It becomes clear that due to the offset of the bearing limb 9, the first spring bow 8 and the second spring bow 10 are essentially arranged at a common height level HE.

(12) In this case, the height level HE runs through the vertices of the first spring bow 8 and the second spring bow 10, wherein the height level HE is essentially parallel to the direction of longitudinal extent of the conductor insertion channel 23 and the direction of longitudinal extent of the contact pin insertion channel. A common height level HE of the first spring bow 8 and the second spring bow 10 allows for a particularly compact conductor connection terminal 1 to be achieved which requires only a low overall height.

(13) The conductor connection terminal 1 has an actuating lever 19 that is set up to open or close the first clamping point. The actuating lever 19 can be swiveled via a swivel bearing 20. The swivel bearing 20 is located laterally next to the first clamping point. A contour 23 of the swivel bearing 20 interacts with the first clamping limb 6 in such a way that by swiveling the actuating lever 19, the first clamping limb 6 is raised or lowered and thus the first clamping point can be opened or closed.

(14) It is clear that the first clamping point is located in the region of the swivel bearing 20. Thus, a compact conductor connection terminal 1 can be realized with minimum overall height by arranging the swivel bearing 20 laterally next to the first clamping point.

(15) Furthermore, it can be seen that the contact pin insertion channel is on a common plane with the actuating lever 19 or at least with its grip element. In this way, the overall height of the conductor connection terminal 1 can be kept to a minimum.

(16) FIG. 2 shows a conductor connection terminal 1 according to FIG. 1 in a 90° rotated side view. The conductor connection terminal 1 can be seen with a frontal view of the contact pin insertion opening 18, with the contact pin 12 inserted into the contact pin insertion channel 24. It is clear that the connecting portion 14 of the busbar 2 is frame-shaped, wherein the first contact portion 3 and the second contact portion 4 project orthogonally from the connecting portion 14.

(17) It is also clear that the clamping spring 5 protrudes through the passage opening 15 of the frame-shaped connecting portion 14 of the busbar 2, wherein the clamping spring 5 is hooked into two lateral recesses 21 of the passage opening 15. The clamping spring 5 is supported in a self-supporting manner by two projecting pins 22 in the lateral recesses 21 of the passage opening 15. The pins 22 can, for example, be formed in one piece from the clamping spring 5. However, it is also conceivable that the pins 22 are attached separately to the clamping spring 5.

(18) FIG. 3 shows a conductor connection terminal 1 according to FIG. 1 in a cut plan view. Shown is a contact pin 12, which is inserted via the contact pin insertion opening 18 and the attached contact pin insertion channel into the insulating material housing 16 towards the second clamping point. It is clear that the contact pin insertion channel and thus also the contact pin 12 are arranged on the same plane as the actuating lever 19. The actuating lever 19 is located downstream of the contact pin insertion channel and thus also downstream of the contact pin 12, so that the actuating lever 19 does not require any additional overall height and the conductor connection terminal 1 can thus be designed compactly.

(19) It can also be seen that the actuating lever 19 embraces the second clamping point with two lateral arms 24, so that the contact pin 12 can be held in the second clamping point by the clamping spring 5, between the arms 24 of the actuating lever 19. However, it would also be conceivable to laterally embrace the second clamping point with only one arm 24 on the actuating lever 19. The actuating lever 19 is swiveled via the swivel bearing 20 when the clamping point is opened or closed. The swivel bearing 20 is only partially visible in FIG. 2, since it is covered by the clamping spring 5.

(20) 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.