Connecting terminal

Abstract

A connecting terminal having a plurality of conductor connection modules, wherein the conductor connection modules each have an insulating material housing with a conductor insertion opening for receiving an electrical conductor. In each case two conductor connection modules arranged next to one another are connected via a web, wherein the web is designed flexibly in such a way that the conductor connection modules can be arranged from an initial position into an arrangement different from the initial position, and vice versa.

Claims

1. A connecting terminal comprising: a plurality of conductor connection modules, the plurality of conductor connection modules each have an insulating material housing with a conductor insertion opening to accommodate an electrical conductor; and webs, wherein adjacent conductor connection modules of the plurality of conductor connection modules are connected via the webs, such that each respective one of the webs connects two of the plurality of conductor connection modules that are arranged next to one another, wherein the webs are flexible such that the plurality of conductor connection modules are adapted to be arranged from an initial position into an arrangement different from the initial position, and vice versa, and wherein a cover element is arranged on the connecting terminal, the cover element being designed in such a way as to fix the plurality of conductor connection modules in the arrangement which differs from the initial position, and the cover element being detachably connected to the conductor connection modules.

2. The connecting terminal according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of conductor connection modules and the webs connecting the plurality of conductor connection modules are formed in one piece.

3. The connecting terminal according to claim 1, wherein a contact insert is arranged in at least one of the plurality of conductor connection modules, wherein the contact insert has a busbar piece and a clamping spring for clamping the electrical conductor, and wherein the busbar piece and the clamping spring form a clamping point for the electrical conductor to be clamped.

4. The connecting terminal according to claim 3, wherein a fork contact for making contact with a contact pin is arranged on the busbar piece.

5. The connecting terminal according to claim 3, wherein the busbar piece has a contact opening for receiving a bridge or a switching spring.

6. The connecting terminal according to claim 3, wherein a conductor insertion contour for guiding the electrical conductor projects from the busbar piece.

7. The connecting terminal according to claim 1, wherein the connecting terminal has at least one mounting tab for mounting the connecting terminal to or in another housing.

8. The connecting terminal according to claim 1, wherein mounting webs project from the cover element, wherein the mounting webs project from the cover element into an intermediate space between two adjacent conductor connection modules.

9. The connecting terminal according to claim 8, wherein the mounting webs are trapezoidal in shape.

10. The connecting terminal according to claim 1, wherein at least one latching element is arranged on the cover element and/or on the connecting terminal, wherein the at least one latching element fixes the cover element to the connecting terminal.

11. The connecting terminal according to claim 10, wherein the latching element is formed as a dovetail connection.

12. The connecting terminal according to claim 1, wherein the cover element has a receiving contour for receiving a pin strip.

13. The connecting terminal according to claim 12, wherein the pin strip has contact pins, and wherein the contact pins are designed for making contact with a fork contact.

14. A connecting terminal comprising: a plurality of conductor connection modules, the plurality of conductor connection modules each have an insulating material housing with a conductor insertion opening to accommodate an electrical conductor; and webs, wherein adjacent conductor connection modules of the plurality of conductor connection modules are connected via the webs, such that each respective one of the webs connects two of the plurality of conductor connection modules that are arranged next to one another, wherein the webs are flexible such that the plurality of conductor connection modules are adapted to be arranged from an initial position into an arrangement different from the initial position, and vice versa, wherein a contact insert is arranged in at least one of the plurality of conductor connection modules, wherein the contact insert has a busbar piece and a clamping spring for clamping the electrical conductor, and wherein the busbar piece and the clamping spring form a clamping point for the electrical conductor to be clamped, and wherein the connecting terminal has an actuating lever, wherein the actuating lever is designed to open and/or close the clamping point.

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 is an embodiment of a connecting terminal in an initial position;

(3) FIG. 2 is a connecting terminal according to FIG. 1 in an arrangement different from the initial position;

(4) FIG. 3 is an embodiment of a cover element in a perspective plan view;

(5) FIG. 4 is a cover element according to FIG. 3 in a perspective bottom view;

(6) FIG. 5 is a connecting terminal according to FIG. 2 with a cover element plugged according to FIGS. 3 and 4;

(7) FIG. 6 is a connecting terminal according to FIG. 5 with plugged pin strip; and

(8) FIG. 7 is an exemplary embodiment of a connecting terminal in a fire detector housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a connecting terminal 1 according to the invention in an initial position. The connecting terminal 1 has, for example, six conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, wherein in each case one of the conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f has an insulating material housing 3 and a conductor insertion opening 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f for receiving an electrical conductor. In each case, two conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f arranged next to one another are integrally connected to one another via a web 5. In particular, the insulating material housings 3 of the conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f and the webs 5 are formed in one piece from an electrically insulating plastic, for example by plastic injection molding.

(10) It is clear that the conductor insertion openings 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f are arranged at the same position of the respective conductor connection module 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f. That is, electrical conductors can be inserted into the conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f from the same side of the connecting terminal 1.

(11) The conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f arranged next to each other form a conductor connection strand with the connected webs 5. It can be seen that the conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f are arranged linearly to one another, i.e. in a row. Linear means in particular that conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f are aligned parallel to one another in such a way that the conductor insertion directions L also run parallel to one another. The entire conductor connection strand thus has no bends. This linear arrangement is the initial position of the conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f. The initial position can, for example, be the position that arises after the connecting terminal 1 has been manufactured. Preferably, the distances between the conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f are equal in each case. In particular, the webs 5 can be arranged between the conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f disposed next to each other in such a way that the webs 5 run on a common straight and/or curved line. However, it is also conceivable that the webs 5 are aligned offset from one another, i.e. do not run on a common line.

(12) However, other initial positions are also conceivable. For example, the conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f of the terminal 1 can also already have an arc-shaped initial position or have a partly linear and partly arc-shaped initial position.

(13) FIG. 2 shows a connecting terminal 1 according to FIG. 1 in an arrangement different from the initial position. It is clear that the conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f can be brought into an arrangement different from the initial position in FIG. 1. The position of the conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f has changed from a linear arrangement to an arc-shaped arrangement. The arc-shaped arrangement means in particular that the conductor connection modules are preferably arranged on a common circular arc, the circular arc having an inner radius (IR) and an outer radius (AR).

(14) The displacement of the conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f from an initial position to an arrangement different from the initial position is achieved by the flexibility of the webs 5. The webs 5 are designed to be flexible in such a way that the angle of two adjacent conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f can be changed. However, flexible also means in particular that the conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f can also be returned from the arc-shaped arrangement to the initial position according to FIG. 1 without the webs 5 or the conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f undergoing plastic deformation.

(15) The flexibility of the webs 5 can be achieved, for example, by a suitable selection of materials and/or an appropriate design of the webs 5, for example, by selecting a suitable cross-sectional profile of the webs 5. The webs 5 have a sufficiently high modulus of elasticity so that the conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f can be brought from the initial position according to FIG. 1 into the arc-shaped arrangement according to FIG. 2 with the application of force, wherein after removal of this force the conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f return to their initial position according to FIG. 1.

(16) To ensure that the conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f remain in the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, which differs from the initial position, a mounting tab 6 is arranged on each of the outer conductor connection modules 2a, 2f. The mounting tab 6 can be used to fix the terminal in the desired position at the mounting location, for example by means of a screw connection.

(17) It is clear that the conductor insertion directions L of the conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f are aligned in a star shape with respect to each other in the arc-shaped arrangement of the conductor connection line according to FIG. 2. Star-shaped means in particular that the conductor insertion directions L have a common alignment, although it is not absolutely necessary that the conductor insertion directions L end exactly in a common alignment.

(18) It can also be seen that an actuating lever 7 is arranged on each conductor connection module 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f. The actuating lever 7 interacts with a clamping spring arranged in the interior of the respective conductor connection module 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, which, for example, forms a contact insert with a busbar piece, wherein the clamping spring and the busbar piece form a clamping point for the electrical conductor to be connected. The actuating lever 7 is configured to open and/or close the corresponding clamping point. The contact insert is not shown in this design.

(19) FIG. 3 shows a cover element 8 in a perspective plan view and FIG. 4 shows the cover element according to FIG. 3 in a perspective bottom view. The cover element 8 is designed to be fitted on the terminal 1 according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

(20) The cover element 8 has a base body 9, wherein mounting webs 10 project from the base body 9. It is clear that the mounting webs 10 are trapezoidal in shape. This means that the mounting webs 10 can be inserted with a precise fit into the intermediate spaces between two adjacent conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f.

(21) Different types of latching elements 11a, 11b are arranged on the mounting webs 10. The latching elements 11a are arranged at the free end of the mounting webs 10 and are designed in such a way that the latching elements 11a interact with the webs 5 of the connecting terminal according to FIGS. 1 and 2 and latch with these after the cover element 8 has been fitted onto the connecting terminal 1.

(22) The latching elements 11b, on the other hand, are designed in such a way that they engage in a corresponding dovetail connection 12 of the connecting terminal 1 as shown in FIG. 2, where they ensure a positive connection to the connecting terminal 1.

(23) It is also clear that the cover element 8 has receiving contours 13 for receiving a pin strip. These receiving contours 13 are designed as a groove 14a or as a lateral recess 14b into which corresponding guide bars of a pin strip can be inserted. Furthermore, the cover element 8 has openings 15 for receiving the pin strip, wherein a contact pin of the pin strip can be guided through each of the openings 15 to a conductor connection module, wherein the contact pin can, for example, make electrically conductive contact with a contact fork of the conductor connection module.

(24) The base body 9 of the cover element 8 is designed on the underside in such a way that bridges for contacting second conductor connection modules or switching springs can be arranged there. These can be arranged in free spaces 16 in such a way that no additional installation space needs to be provided.

(25) FIG. 5 shows a connecting terminal 1 according to FIG. 2 with a mounted cover element 8 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. It is clear that the cover element 8 is plugged onto the connecting terminal 1 at the ends of the conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f opposite the conductor insertion openings 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, with the latching elements 11a, 11b fixing the cover element 8 to the connecting terminal 1.

(26) Furthermore, it is clear that the cover element 8 fixes the conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f in the arc-shaped arrangement different from the initial position. The conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f can no longer be returned to their initial position by the cover element 8, since the fixing webs 10 are arranged between the conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, as can be seen.

(27) The positional fixing of the conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f by the cover element 8 can be achieved, for example, by the cover element 8 being of rigid design, in contrast to the elastic connection of the conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f to one another via the flexible design of the webs 5. It is thus conceivable that different cover elements 8 are also designed for different applications in order to be able to fix the conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f in desired different end positions.

(28) FIG. 6 shows a connecting terminal 1 according to FIG. 5 with a plugged pin strip 17. The pin strip 17 has several contact pins 18, wherein the contact pins 18 project into the openings 15 of the cover element 8.

(29) It is clear that the pin strip 17 is U-shaped when viewed in cross section, or when looking at the shell end face, wherein two guide webs 20a, 20b project from a base plate 19. The guide web 20a engages in the corresponding groove 14a of the cover element 8 and the guide web 20b engages in the corresponding recess 14b of the cover element 8, so that the pin strip 17 can be reliably mounted on the cover element 8. The sections of the contact pins 18 arranged between the guide webs 20a, 20b thereby engage in the openings 15 of the cover element 8.

(30) FIG. 7 shows an application example of a connecting terminal 1 according to the invention in a fire detector housing 21. It is clear that the conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f are arranged in an arc-shaped arrangement in the fire detector housing 21, wherein the connecting terminal 1 is fastened via mounting tabs 6 to the outer conductor connection modules 2a, 2f in the fire detector housing 21 by mounting means 22. The mounting means 22 may, for example, be a screw or a rivet. The arc-shaped arrangement of the conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f is thereby adapted to the contour of the fire detector housing 21.

(31) The conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f are fixed via the mounting tabs 6 and the cover element 8 in the arc-shaped arrangement different from the initial position. An electrical conductor is inserted into each of the conductor connection modules 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, wherein the electrical conductors converge in one area and continue as a common

(32) 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.