Conductor connection terminal

Abstract

A conductor connection terminal with at least one spring-loaded clamping connection for connecting an electrical conductor via a spring-loaded clamping. The spring-loaded clamping connection has at least one clamping point for clamping the electrical conductor which is formed with a clamping leg of a clamping spring. The conductor connection terminal has a manual actuating element which, as a result of manual actuation, can be moved from at least a closed position, in which the clamping point is closed, to an open position, in which the clamping point is open, and vice versa. The conductor connection terminal comprises a movably mounted control element by means of which the manual actuating element is mechanically coupled to the clamping spring, so that, as a result of manual actuation of the manual actuating element, the clamping point can be opened and closed via the control element.

Claims

1. A conductor connection terminal comprising: at least one spring-loaded clamping connection for connecting an electrical conductor via a spring-loaded clamping, the spring-loaded clamping connection comprises at least one clamping point for clamping the electrical conductor which is formed with a clamping leg of a clamping spring; a manual actuating element, which, as a result of manual actuation, is adapted to be moved from at least a closed position, in which the at least one clamping point is closed, to an open position, in which the at least one clamping point is open, and vice versa; a movably mounted control element via which the manual actuating element is mechanically coupled to the clamping spring so that, as a result of manual actuation of the manual actuating element, the at least one clamping point is adapted to be opened and closed via the control element; and a restoring contour arranged on the manual actuating element, the restoring contour, which, at least when moving the manual actuating element from the open position to the closed position, comes into contact with the control element, wherein the control element is movable from the open position to the closed position by the restoring contour, wherein the manual actuating element is coupled to the control element via a connection arrangement that includes at least one connecting pin that protrudes from the control element and a pin receptacle provided in the manual actuating element, wherein the at least one connecting pin of the control element engages in the pin receptacle of the manual actuating element, and wherein the pin receptacle has an elongated groove or an elongated slot, wherein the at least one connecting pin is guided longitudinally in the elongated groove or the elongated slot.

2. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the clamping spring exerts a restoring force on the control element at least in some areas, via which a restoring movement of the control element from the open position to the closed position caused by the restoring contour is at least partially supported.

3. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the control element is completely shielded from the outside environment by components of the conductor connection terminal.

4. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the manual actuating element has a manual actuation section and a connecting section, which projects from the manual actuation section and is coupled with the control element.

5. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the conductor connection terminal has a guide contour for forcibly guiding the movement of the control element.

6. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 5, wherein the guide contour is designed as a linear guide or an arcuate guide.

7. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 5, wherein the conductor connection terminal has a conductor insertion channel through which an electrical conductor to be connected is adapted to be inserted into the conductor connection terminal and guided to the at least one clamping point.

8. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 7, wherein the control element comprises an impingement area which applies a force on the clamping spring, and wherein the impingement area is disposed closer to a center axis of the conductor insertion channel than the guide contour.

9. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 7, wherein the control element is arranged on a side of the conductor insertion channel that opposes the clamping point.

10. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 9, wherein the clamping spring has a contact leg via which the clamping spring is supported against a clamping force of a clamping leg, and wherein the contact leg is fixed on the busbar or with a component coupled with the busbar.

11. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the conductor connection terminal comprises a busbar, on which an electrical conductor is adapted to be clamped at the at least one clamping point via the clamping spring.

12. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the control element is adapted to be moved predominantly in a translatory manner and the manual actuating element is adapted to be moved predominantly in a rotary manner.

13. A conductor connection terminal comprising: at least one spring-loaded clamping connection for connecting an electrical conductor via a spring-loaded clamping, the spring-loaded clamping connection comprises at least one clamping point for clamping the electrical conductor which is formed with a clamping leg of a clamping spring; a manual actuating element, which, as a result of manual actuation, is adapted to be moved from at least a closed position, in which the at least one clamping point is closed, to an open position, in which the at least one clamping point is open, and vice versa; a movably mounted control element via which the manual actuating element is mechanically coupled to the clamping spring so that, as a result of manual actuation of the manual actuating element, the at least one clamping point is adapted to be opened and closed via the control element; and a restoring contour arranged on the manual actuating element, the restoring contour, which, at least when moving the manual actuating element from the open position to the closed position, comes into contact with the control element, wherein the control element is movable from the open position to the closed position via the restoring contour, and wherein the clamping spring has at least one recess through which the control element extends at least in certain positions.

14. A conductor connection terminal comprising: at least one spring-loaded clamping connection for connecting an electrical conductor via a spring-loaded clamping, the spring-loaded clamping connection comprises at least one clamping point for clamping the electrical conductor which is formed with a clamping leg of a clamping spring; a manual actuating element, which, as a result of manual actuation, is adapted to be moved from at least a closed position, in which the at least one clamping point is closed, to an open position, in which the at least one clamping point is open, and vice versa; a movably mounted control element via which the manual actuating element is mechanically coupled to the clamping spring so that, as a result of manual actuation of the manual actuating element, the at least one clamping point is adapted to be opened and closed via the control element; and a restoring contour arranged on the manual actuating element, the restoring contour, which, at least when moving the manual actuating element from the open position to the closed position, comes into contact with the control element, wherein the control element is movable from the open position to the closed position by the restoring contour, wherein the manual actuating element is coupled to the control element via a connection arrangement that includes at least one connecting pin that protrudes from the control element and a pin receptacle provided in the manual actuating element, wherein the at least one connecting pin of the control element engages in the pin receptacle of the manual actuating element, wherein the manual actuating element has a manual actuation section and a connecting section, which projects from the manual actuation section and is coupled with the control element, and wherein the connecting section runs laterally along the clamping spring.

15. A conductor connection terminal comprising: at least one spring-loaded clamping connection for connecting an electrical conductor via a spring-loaded clamping, the spring-loaded clamping connection comprises at least one clamping point for clamping the electrical conductor which is formed with a clamping leg of a clamping spring; a manual actuating element, which, as a result of manual actuation, is adapted to be moved from at least a closed position, in which the at least one clamping point is closed, to an open position, in which the at least one clamping point is open, and vice versa; a movably mounted control element via which the manual actuating element is mechanically coupled to the clamping spring so that, as a result of manual actuation of the manual actuating element, the at least one clamping point is adapted to be opened and closed via the control element; and a restoring contour arranged on the manual actuating element, the restoring contour, which, at least when moving the manual actuating element from the open position to the closed position, comes into contact with the control element, wherein the control element is movable from the open position to the closed position by the restoring contour, and wherein the control element is completely shielded from the outside environment by components of the conductor connection terminal.

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 perspective view;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 1 in sections in a side view;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the conductor connection terminal according to the sectional plane J-J shown in FIG. 2;

(5) FIGS. 4 to 6 show sectional side views of the section of the conductor connection terminal shown in FIG. 2;

(6) FIGS. 7 to 8 show side views of parts of the conductor connection terminal;

(7) FIG. 9 shows a sectional side view of a further embodiment of a conductor connection terminal;

(8) FIG. 10 shows a longitudinal section through a conductor connection terminal in a perspective view; and

(9) FIG. 11 shows the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 10 in a plan view of the conductor connection side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) FIG. 1 shows a conductor connection terminal 1, which has a housing part 2, a busbar 3, a spring-loaded clamping connection with a clamping spring 4, a manual actuating element 5 and a movably mounted control element 6. The housing part 2 can be part of a multi-part housing of the conductor connection terminal 1, e.g. a cover part or a closure part that is connected to a further housing part to form the housing of the conductor connection terminal 1. This is explained by way of example with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.

(11) The busbar 3 has a busbar section 30 at which a clamping point is formed with a clamping leg 43 of the clamping spring 4, at which an electrical conductor can be clamped by means of the spring force of the clamping spring 4. The busbar 3 extends from the busbar section 30 to a plug-in connection formed in one piece with the busbar section 30, which can be formed, for example, by two contact tongues 33, 34 in the manner of a fork contact. A not-shown mating contact, for example in the formation of a pin contact or a blade contact, can be inserted in the plug-in connection from a mating side S. As can be better seen in FIG. 2, the contact tongues 33, 34 are connected to one another via a vertical section 31 of the busbar 3. An extension 35 angled with respect to the vertical section 31 also protrudes from the vertical section 31, which extends transversely to the vertical section 31 and which forms a conductor stop for the electrical conductor to be inserted into the conductor connection terminal 1.

(12) The vertical section 31 or the contact tongue 34 also extends into a holding section 32 of the busbar 3, wherein the holding section 32 is arranged on the side of the plug-in connection facing away from the plug-in side S, preferably predominantly opposite the busbar section 30. A contact leg 40 of the clamping spring 4 can be fixed on the holding section 32.

(13) The manual actuating element 5 is designed, for example, in the manner of an actuating lever. The actuation element 5 has a manual actuation section 50 on which the actuation element 5 can be actuated manually by the user, for example an actuation handle. A connecting section 51 protrudes from the manual actuating section 50, for example in the form of two side walls which are spaced apart from one another and which extend laterally along the clamping spring 4.

(14) On the actuating element 5, in particular in the area of the connecting section 51, there is an actuating contour 53 and a restoring contour 52. The actuating contour 53 and the restoring contour 52 run at least in sections next to one another, for example at least substantially parallel to one another. As a result, a slot open on one side is formed in this exemplary embodiment. Alternatively, however, the slot can be designed to be closed. A connecting pin 63 of the control element 6 is located in this slot between the actuating contour 53 and the restoring contour 52. The connecting pin 63 protrudes laterally from the control element 6 and is arranged between the actuating contour 53 and the restoring contour 52. In this way, the actuating contour 53 and the restoring contour 52 together form a pin receptacle 54. The actuating element 5 and the control element 6 are thus coupled to one another, in particular mechanically coupled to one another via the pin receptacle 54 and the connecting pin 63.

(15) The actuating contour 53 serves to apply force to the control element 6 via the connecting pin 63 when the actuating element 5 is moved from the closed position to an open position, which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and in this way to press said control element against the clamping leg 43 of the clamping spring 4. In the return movement, i.e. when the actuating element 5 moves from the open position to the closed position, the control element 6 is acted upon with force via the connecting pin 63 by means of the restoring contour 52, wherein part of the restoring force can also be applied by the clamping spring 4.

(16) On the basis of the sectional plane J-J, FIG. 3 shows that the control element 6 extends with a guide extension 60 into a guide contour 21, which can be formed, for example, in the material of the housing part 2. By means of the guide contour 21, the control element 6 with its guide extension 60 is guided in a defined manner in the direction of movement from the open position into the closed position, and vice versa.

(17) FIG. 4 further clarifies the guidance of the control element 6 by means of the guide extension 60 and the guide contour 21 using the sectional illustration.

(18) It is also clear that the control element 6 may have a stepped shape, in which a section 61 of the control element 6 facing the clamping leg 43 of the clamp spring 4, at whose free end an impingement area 62 is provided for applying force to the clamping spring 4, is arranged closer to a conductor insertion channel 20 than the guide extension 60. In this way, the area of the housing part 2, which is further spaced from the conductor insertion channel 20, can be used for guiding the control element 6, whereas the force applied to the clamping spring 4 by the impingement area 62 takes place further down in a kinematically more favorable manner, i.e. closer to the free end of the clamping leg 43, so that there is a greater leverage effect.

(19) As can be seen, the housing part 2 also has a conductor insertion channel 20 which extends from a conductor insertion opening into the interior of the housing part 2 towards the clamping point. An electrical conductor can thus be introduced from a conductor connection side L through the conductor insertion channel 20 and clamped at the clamping point between the free end of the clamping leg 43 and the busbar section 30. The electrical conductor is then located between the busbar section 30, which has the clamping point, and the control element 6.

(20) It can also be seen that the clamping spring extends from the contact leg 40, which, as mentioned, is fastened to the holding section 32 of the busbar 3 via a spring arc 42 to the clamping leg 43.

(21) FIGS. 1 to 4 show the conductor connection terminal with an actuating element 5 in each case in the closed position. FIG. 5 shows the conductor connection terminal 1 with the actuating element in the open position. As can be seen, the actuating element 5 has been pivoted counterclockwise in the drawing. Via the connection arrangement formed by means of the connecting pin 63 and the pin receptacle 54, the control element 6 was displaced via the actuating contour 53 in a linear movement to the left into an actuating position. Here, the impingement area 62 has applied force to the clamping leg 43 and deflected it into the position shown in FIG. 5, in which the clamping leg 43 is no longer in contact with the busbar section 30, but is spaced from it so that an electrical conductor 7 can be led to the clamping point. As can be seen, the electrical conductor has an insulation 70 in which an electrically conductive core 71 is located. This core 71 is free from insulation 70 at the free end, so that electrical contact can be established between the core 71 and the busbar section 30.

(22) FIG. 6 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 5, wherein the actuating element 5 has now been moved back to the closed position. As a result, the control element 6 has also been moved back to the original starting position, as shown in FIG. 4. It can be seen that the clamping spring 4 or the clamping leg 43 no longer rests against the impingement area 62, but rests against the core 71 of the electrical conductor 7 via its free end and presses the latter against the busbar section 30. Due to the restoring contour 52, the control element 6 has nevertheless been completely moved to its closed position.

(23) The aim of FIGS. 7 and 8 is to illustrate the kinematics of the actuating element 5, the control element 6 and the clamping spring 4. Compared to the figures explained so far, the housing part 2 has been removed. It becomes clear that the control element 6 must necessarily follow a movement of the actuating element 5 via the connection arrangement with the connecting pin 63 and the pin receptacle 54. During the movement from the closed position of the clamping spring 4 to the open position of the clamping spring 4, the control element 6 is moved over the actuating contour 53 of the actuating element 5, in the case of the return movement over the restoring contour 52.

(24) FIG. 9 shows, on the basis of a representation that is comparable to FIG. 4, wherein the housing part 2 is not shown, an embodiment of the conductor connection terminal 1 with a different design of the clamping spring 4. In this case, the loop-shaped clamping spring 4 has a contact leg 40, which is held 43 on the busbar section 30 on the side of the busbar section 30 facing away from the clamping leg.

(25) The clamping spring 4 extends from the contact section 40 via a connecting section 41 to the spring arc 42, to which the clamping leg 43 is connected. Since with such a construction of the clamping spring 4, the connecting leg 41 is technically in the way of the insertion of the electrical conductor 7, the connecting section 41 has a recess 44 through which the electrical conductor 7 can extend. In addition, the control element 6 is also passed through the recess 44 so that the control element 6 can actuate the clamping leg 43 via its impingement area 62 in the manner already explained.

(26) As already mentioned, the housing of the conductor connection terminal 1 can be designed as a multi-part housing in which the housing part 2 represents only one part. As is shown by way of example with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, the housing can, for example, have a further housing part 23, which can also be referred to as the main housing part of the housing. The housing part 2 is connected to the further housing part 23, for example by inserting the housing part 2, together with the busbar 3, the spring-loaded clamping connection 4 and the control element 6, into a receiving chamber of the further housing part 23. In this case, the actuating element 5 can already be connected to the assembly formed from the parts 2, 3, 4 and 6 or can be inserted subsequently. The housing part 2 can, for example, have locking elements 22, which lock the housing part 2 with corresponding locking recesses of the other housing part 23 that are formed as counterparts.

(27) The housing of the conductor connection terminal 1, in particular housing part 2 and further housing part 23, can for example be formed from an insulating material. The housing of the conductor connection terminal 1 is then an insulating material housing.

(28) As can be seen from FIG. 10, the housing or the further housing part 23 can have a plug-in section 24 in which the contact tongues 33, 34 are received. The further housing part 23 can also have a cover wall 25, which covers parts of the clamping spring 4 and/or the busbar 3 in an insulating manner. The cover wall 25 can extend, for example, into an area between an upper wall of the housing part 2 and the actuating section 50 of the actuating element 5. The actuating element 5 then extends laterally past this cover wall 25 with its connecting sections 51.

(29) 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.