Contact insert and switch spring

Abstract

A contact insert for a connecting terminal, wherein the contact insert has a busbar piece and a clamping spring for clamping an electrical conductor in a conductor insertion direction, wherein the busbar piece and the clamping spring form a clamping point for the electrical conductor to be clamped, and wherein the contact insert has a bushing contact for receiving a contact pin. The longitudinal extension direction of the bushing contact runs essentially perpendicular to the conductor insertion direction from the busbar piece. The bushing contact is designed to receive the contact pin perpendicular to the longitudinal extension direction of the bushing contact and to receive the contact pin in the longitudinal extension direction of the bushing contact.

Claims

1. A contact insert for a connecting terminal, the contact insert comprising: a busbar piece; and a clamping spring to clamp an electrical conductor in a conductor insertion direction, wherein the busbar piece and the clamping spring form a clamping point for the electrical conductor to be clamped, wherein the contact insert has a bushing contact for receiving a contact pin, wherein a longitudinal extension direction of the bushing contact runs essentially perpendicular to the conductor insertion direction of the busbar piece, and wherein the bushing contact is adapted to receive the contact pin in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extension direction of the bushing contact and adapted to receive the contact pin in the longitudinal extension direction of the bushing contact, wherein the direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extension direction of the bushing contact is perpendicular to the conductor insertion direction.

2. The contact insert according to claim 1, wherein the bushing contact has two contact arms that project from the busbar piece in the longitudinal extension direction of the bushing contact.

3. The contact insert according to claim 2, wherein the contact arms of the bushing contact are oriented conically with respect to one another in a plane extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extension direction of the bushing contact.

4. The contact insert according to claim 3, wherein the contact arms form a receptacle substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extension direction of the bushing contact and a receptacle in the longitudinal extension direction of the bushing contact for the contact pin.

5. The contact insert according to claim 1, wherein the busbar piece has a contact opening for receiving a bridge and/or a switch spring.

6. The contact insert according to claim 5, wherein the bridge is arranged in the contact opening, and wherein the bridge electrically conductively connects the contact insert and a second contact insert.

7. The contact insert according to claim 1, wherein a conductor insertion contour for guiding the electrical conductor projects from the busbar piece.

8. The contact insert according to claim 1, wherein the busbar piece and the bushing contact are formed in one piece.

9. A connecting terminal comprising: an insulating material housing; and the contact insert according to claim 1, wherein the insulating material housing forms a conductor stop for the electrical conductor to be connected.

10. The switch spring according to claim 1, wherein the clamping spring has a contact leg and a clamping leg with a spring arc connected between the contact leg and the clamping leg, wherein a distal end of the contact leg is inserted into a recess of the busbar piece and wherein a support section of the busbar piece abuts the contact leg at a position between the distal end of the contact leg and the spring arc.

11. The contact insert according to claim 1, wherein in the direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extension direction of the bushing contact, the bushing contact is adapted to receive the contact pin when the contact pin is aligned parallel to the longitudinal extension direction of the bushing contact and when the contact pin extends perpendicular to the longitudinal extension direction of the bushing contact.

12. A switch spring comprising: a connecting web for electrically conductive contacting a first contact insert and a second contact insert; a contacting area for contacting the first contact insert; and a switching arrangement for contacting the second contact insert, the contacting area and the switching arrangement being arranged on the connecting web, wherein the switching arrangement has an actuating section and is arranged to release the contacting between the switching arrangement and the second contact insert by applying force to the actuating section, wherein each of the first contact insert and the second contact insert comprise: a busbar piece, and a clamping spring to clamp an electrical conductor in a conductor insertion direction, wherein the busbar piece and the clamping spring form a clamping point for the electrical conductor to be clamped, wherein the contact insert has a bushing contact for receiving a contact pin, wherein a longitudinal extension direction of the bushing contact runs essentially perpendicular to the conductor insertion direction of the busbar piece, and wherein the bushing contact is adapted to receive the contact pin substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extension direction of the bushing contact and adapted to receive the contact pin in the longitudinal extension direction of the bushing contact.

13. The switch spring according to claim 12, wherein the switching arrangement has a bearing portion for bearing on a housing and/or the first contact insert, wherein the bearing portion extends into an operating portion and wherein a contacting portion for contacting the second contact insert is arranged on the operating portion.

14. The switch spring according to claim 12, wherein at least one tab is arranged on the actuating section, wherein the at least one tab interacts with a contour of a pin strip such that the contact between the switching arrangement and the second contact insert is released.

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 an exemplary embodiment of a contact insert with clamping spring in a perspective view;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a contact insert according to FIG. 1 without clamping spring in a perspective view;

(4) FIGS. 2a-2c show a contact insert according to FIGS. 1 and 2 with a contact pin in a pre-assembly position;

(5) FIG. 3 shows a plurality of contact inserts with a bridge and a switch spring in a bottom view;

(6) FIG. 4 shows a connecting terminal with a housing and a contact insert according to FIGS. 1 and 2;

(7) FIG. 5 shows a terminal element with a contact insert in a sectional plan view; and

(8) FIG. 6 shows—a bottom view of a contact insert in a housing with a switch spring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a contact insert 1 with a busbar piece 2 and a clamping spring 3. FIG. 2 shows the same contact insert 1 without clamping spring. The clamping spring 3 has an abutment leg 3a for abutment against the busbar piece 2, wherein the abutment leg 3a merges into a spring arc 3b which extends into a clamping leg 3c. The clamping leg 3c and the busbar piece 2 thereby form a clamping point for clamping an electrical conductor in a conductor insertion direction L. The contact leg 3a is thereby suspended in a recess 4 of the busbar piece 2, wherein a support section 5 of the busbar piece 2 additionally supports the abutment leg 3a and the clamping spring 3 is thus held on the busbar piece 2 by the spring forces. The abutment leg 3a extends from the support section 5 in an arc to the recess 4, thereby allowing the clamping spring 3 to be mounted on the busbar rail section 2 in a self-supporting manner.

(10) A conductor insertion contour 6 is arranged on the busbar piece 2, which is formed in one piece from the busbar piece 2 and is bent over in the direction of the clamping point area. The conductor insertion contour 6 is designed as a conductor guide bevel, so that an electrical conductor meets the conductor guide bevel in the conductor insertion direction L and is thus guided towards the clamping point. However, it is also conceivable that the conductor insertion contour 6 is formed by a section of a separate housing, for example.

(11) The busbar piece 2 has a contact opening 7, wherein the contact opening 7 is designed to accommodate a bridge and/or a switch spring. The contact opening 7 is arranged on the underside of the busbar piece 2. The underside is the side to which the electrical conductor to be clamped is clamped to the busbar piece 2 by the clamping spring 3. A first side wall 2b and a second side wall 2c are bent laterally from the underside of the bus bar piece, or from a contact wall 2a, on two opposite sides parallel to the conductor insertion direction L. At the first side wall 2b, opposite the contact wall 2a, a ceiling wall 2d with the recess 4 is bent, wherein the support section 5 extends from the ceiling wall 2d against the conductor insertion direction L. In the illustrated embodiment, the conductor insertion contour 6 is connected to the second side wall 2c.

(12) It is clear that a bushing contact 8 for a contact pin to be connected projects from the busbar piece 2. The longitudinal extension direction LE of the bushing contact 8 is essentially perpendicular to the conductor insertion direction L. Essentially perpendicular means in particular that the bushing contact 8 projects from the busbar piece 2 at a 90° angle. However, it is also conceivable that the angle deviates by 10° from a 90° angle.

(13) The bushing contact 8 is formed by two opposing contact arms 8a, 8b. The contact arms 8a, 8b thus form a fork contact. The contact arms 8a, 8b are each bent from the opposing side walls 2b, 2c. The first contact arm 8a is bent from the second side wall 2c and the second contact arm 8b is bent from the first side wall 2b.

(14) It is clear that two of the opposing side edges 9a, 9b of the contact arms 8a, 8b are aligned with each other so that the contact arms 8a, 8b are conically aligned with each other. In this way, it is possible to insert a contact pin into the bushing contact 8 in a first contact pin insertion direction KE1, which is aligned perpendicular to the conductor insertion direction L and perpendicular to the longitudinal extension direction LE of the bushing contact. The contact pin can be aligned parallel to the longitudinal extension direction LE, for example.

(15) In this way, the contact pin can be inserted into the bushing contact 8 from two different directions, namely in the first contact pin insertion direction KE1 and a second contact pin insertion direction KE2. The second contact pin insertion direction KE2 runs in the direction of the longitudinal extension direction LE of the bushing contact 8 and perpendicular to the conductor insertion direction L. This enables flexible use of the contact insert 1. The contact pin insertion direction KE1, KE2 of the contact pin can thus be aligned both horizontally and vertically with respect to the bushing contact 8, wherein the vertical second contact pin insertion direction KE2 is in the opposite direction to the longitudinal extension direction LE of the bushing contact 8 and the horizontal first contact pin insertion direction KE1 is perpendicular to the longitudinal extension direction LE of the bushing contact 8.

(16) It is clear that the dimension of the bushing contact 8 in the longitudinal direction LE is considerably greater than the dimension of the bushing contact 8 in the width direction BE of the bushing contact 8. The width direction BE runs perpendicular to the conductor insertion direction L in this case.

(17) It can further be seen that the contact arms 8a, 8b are integrally formed from the busbar piece 2.

(18) FIGS. 2a to 2c each show a contact insert 1 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 with a contact pin 20 in a pre-assembly position. The pre-assembly position is the position in which the contact pin 20 is located shortly before it is inserted into the bushing contact 8.

(19) FIG. 2a clearly shows that the contact pin 20 can be inserted into the bushing contact 8 in the second contact pin insertion direction KE2 vertically to the longitudinal extension direction LE of the bushing contact 8. The contact pin 20 is aligned parallel to the longitudinal extension direction LE of the bushing contact 8.

(20) FIG. 2b clearly shows that the contact pin 20 can be inserted into the bushing contact 8 in the first contact pin insertion direction KE1 horizontally to the longitudinal extension direction LE of the bushing contact 8. The contact pin 20 is aligned parallel to the longitudinal extension direction LE of the bushing contact 8 and can be inserted laterally into the bushing contact 8.

(21) FIG. 2c clearly shows that the contact pin 20 can be inserted into the bushing contact 8 in the first contact pin insertion direction KE1 horizontally to the longitudinal extension direction LE of the bushing contact 8, as in FIG. 2b. However, in contrast to FIG. 2b, the contact pin 20 is not aligned parallel to the longitudinal extension direction LE of the bushing contact 8. The contact pin 20 runs perpendicular to the longitudinal extension direction of the bushing contact 8.

(22) FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of a plurality of contact inserts 1 with a bridge 10 and a switch spring 11. The bridge 10 is designed to electrically connect two contact inserts 1 to each other. The contact inserts 1 to be connected do not have to be arranged directly next to each other. This is also possible if another contact insert 1 or another component is arranged between the contact inserts 1 to be connected. The bridge 10 engages with its free ends 10a, 10b in the contact openings 7 of the respective contact inserts 1 so that the contact inserts 1 are electrically conductively connected to each other.

(23) The switch spring 11 has a connecting web 12, wherein a contacting area 13 for contacting a first contact insert 1 is disposed at one end of the connecting web 12, wherein the contacting area 13 is mounted in the contact opening 7 of the respective contact insert 1. A switching arrangement 14 is disposed at the end of the connecting web 12 opposite the contacting area.

(24) The switching arrangement 14 has a bearing section 14a which extends into an actuating section 14b, wherein a contacting section 14c projects from the actuating section in the direction of the contact insert 1 to be contacted. The contacting section 14c thereby abuts against the contact insert 1 to be contacted and establishes an electrically conductive connection between two contact inserts 1. It is clear that when force is applied to the actuating section 14b, the switching arrangement is moved about a pivot point 15 in such a way that the contacting section 14c is guided away from the contact insert 1 so that the electrically conductive connection is released.

(25) It is further clear that a tab 23 is arranged on the actuating section 14b of the switch spring 11, wherein the tab 23 interacts with a contour of a pin strip in such a way that the contact between the switching arrangement 14 and the second contact insert 1 is released.

(26) This allows for the electrically conductive connection of two contact inserts 1, which are connected by the switch spring 11, to be released when the pin strip with contact pins is plugged onto the contact insert 1. Thus, a switch spring 11 is provided which automatically releases the contacting of the switching arrangement 14 as soon as a pin strip is plugged onto the contact insert 1. It is also conceivable that a plurality of tabs 23 may be arranged on the actuating section 14b of the switch spring 11.

(27) FIG. 4 shows a connecting terminal 16 which is formed from a plurality of conductor connection modules 17, wherein the conductor connection modules 17 each have an insulating material housing 18. A contact insert 1 according to the invention is mounted in each insulating material housing 18. A pin strip 19 is plugged into the conductor connection modules 17, wherein the pin strip has contact pins 20. The contact pins 20 engage in the bushing contacts 8 of the contact insert and are aligned predominantly parallel to the longitudinal extension direction LE of the bushing contact 8. An operating lever 21 is arranged on the insulating material housing 18, which interacts with the clamping leg 3c to open and/or close the clamping point for the electrical conductor to be clamped.

(28) FIG. 5 shows a conductor connection module 17 of a connecting terminal 16 in a sectional plan view. It is clear that the contact arms 8a, 8b of the bushing contact 8 are conically aligned with each other. They form a trapezoidal shape in the plan view. It can be seen that a contact pin 20 can be received in the bushing contact both horizontally, by pivoting in from the side, and vertically, by insertion from above.

(29) In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the contact pin 20 is arranged in an arc-shaped receiving space 24 in front of the bushing contact 8. The contact pin 20 is in a pre-assembly position. The pre-assembly position is the position in which the contact pin is located shortly before insertion into the bushing contact 8. In the pre-assembly position shown, the contact pin can be inserted horizontally in the first contact pin insertion direction KE1, i.e. laterally to the bushing contact 8.

(30) FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of a contact insert 1 in an insulating material housing 18 of a conductor connection module 17 of a connecting terminal 16 with a switch spring 11, which is of the same design as the switch spring in FIG. 3.

(31) It is clear that the switching arrangement 14 is fixedly supported by the bearing section 14a on the insulating material housing 18 and on the housing 22 of the connecting terminal, so that when force is applied to the actuating section 14b, the switching arrangement is moved about the pivot point 15 so that the contacting section 14c is guided away from the contact insert 1, thereby releasing the electrically conductive connection. Thus, after the transition, i.e. at the pivot point 15, of the bearing section 14a into the actuating section 14b, the switching arrangement 14 is free in space so that the switching arrangement 14 can be moved about the pivot point 15. The switching arrangement can be electrically conductively connected to a further contact insert 1 via the connecting web 12.

(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.