Spring-force connection and round plug-in connector with a large number of spring-force connections

Abstract

A spring-force connection having a housing part, a pivot lever, an electrically conductive connecting device and a contact spring by means of which a conductor (L) can apply force to the connecting device. The contact spring can be pivoted between release and clamping positions and has a pressing and a clamping limb, connected to the pressing limb using a bending joint. The pivot lever has a driver and the pressing limb is arranged between the pressing device and the driver in the closed position of the pivot lever and, by pivoting the pivot lever into its closed position, the pressing device can indirectly apply force to the pressing limb so that the contact spring is pivoted into its clamping position, so that the conductor applies force to the connecting device with the clamping limb and, by pivoting the pivot lever into its open position, the driver can indirectly apply force to the pressing limb so that the contact spring is pivoted into its release position.

Claims

1. A spring-force connection having a housing part; a pivot lever which can be pivoted between an open position and a closed position; an electrically conductive connecting device which is accessible via a conductor insertion opening of the housing part; a contact spring by means of which a conductor (L) which is inserted into the housing part via the conductor insertion opening can be force-loaded onto the connecting device, wherein the following features: the contact spring, which can be pivoted between a release position and a clamping position, has a pressing leg and a clamping leg which is connected to said pressing leg by means of a bending joint; the pivot lever has a pressing device and a driver, wherein the pressing leg is arranged between the pressing device and the driver at least in the closed position of the pivot lever; by pivoting of the pivot lever into its closed position, the pressing device can at least indirectly apply force to the pressing leg such that the contact spring is pivoted into its clamping position, so that a conductor (L) which is inserted into the housing part via the conductor insertion opening is force-loaded onto the connecting device by means of the clamping leg; by pivoting of the pivot lever into its open position, the driver can at least indirectly apply force to the pressing leg such that the contact spring is pivoted into its release position.

2. The spring-force connection as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the contact spring comprises a latching leg which is connected to the pressing leg via a latching joint and is arranged between the pressing device and the driver; the contact spring is formed elastically at least in portions, and an angle enclosed by the pressing leg and the latching leg is variable; on pivoting of the contact spring in the direction of its clamping position, the latching leg comes into contact with a latching device of the spring-force connection, wherein the angle between the latching leg and the pressing leg can be increased by a closing force exerted by means of the pivot lever; in the closed position of the pivot lever, the latching leg engages behind the latching device so that the pivot lever is able to pivot in the direction of its open position only under elastic deformation of the latching joint; and on pivoting of the contact spring in the direction of its release position, the driver applies force to the latching leg such that the angle between the latching leg and the pressing leg is increased by the opening force exerted by means of the pivot lever.

3. The spring-force connection as claimed in claim 2, wherein: the electrically conductive connecting device has a spring basket with two side walls and a conductor rail arranged between the side walls; an electrical conductor (L) can be positioned between the side walls of the spring basket via the conductor insertion opening in an insertion direction (R); an electrical conductor (L) positioned between the side walls can be force-loaded onto the conductor rail by pivoting of the contact spring into its clamping position by means of the clamping leg; and the latching device has at least one latching protrusion formed on an edge of a side wall facing away from the conductor insertion opening.

4. The spring-force connection as claimed in claim 2, wherein the contact spring has two pivot pegs which extend laterally in opposite directions from the bending joint and define a pivot axis of the contact spring, about which the contact spring can pivot between the release position and the clamping position.

5. The spring-force connection as claimed in claim 4, wherein: the contact spring furthermore comprises a latching leg which is connected to the pressing leg via a latching joint and is arranged between the pressing device and the driver; the contact spring is formed elastically at least in portions, and an angle enclosed by the pressing leg and the latching leg is variable; on pivoting of the contact spring in the direction of its clamping position, the latching leg comes into contact with a latching device of the spring-force connection, wherein the angle between the latching leg and the pressing leg can be increased by a closing force exerted by means of the pivot lever; in the closed position of the pivot lever, the latching leg engages behind the latching device so that the pivot lever is able to pivot in the direction of its open position only under elastic deformation of the latching joint; and on pivoting of the contact spring in the direction of its release position, the driver applies force to the latching leg such that the angle between the latching leg and the pressing leg is increased by the opening force exerted by means of the pivot lever, the electrically conductive connecting device has a spring basket with two side walls and a conductor rail arranged between the side walls; an electrical conductor (L) can be positioned between the side walls of the spring basket via the conductor insertion opening in an insertion direction (R); an electrical conductor (L) positioned between the side walls can be force-loaded onto the conductor rail by pivoting of the contact spring into its clamping position by means of the clamping leg; and the latching device has at least one latching protrusion formed on an edge of a side wall facing away from the conductor insertion opening, a groove is formed in each of the two side walls of the spring basket on an edge facing the conductor insertion opening; and the contact spring is suspended in the spring basket such that the pivot pegs are arranged in the grooves of the side walls.

6. The spring-force connection as claimed in claim 2, wherein a pivot axis of the contact spring, about which the contact spring can pivot between the release position and the clamping position, is arranged between the conductor insertion opening and the pressing device and/or the driver of the pivot lever.

7. The spring-force connection as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pressing device and the driver of the pivot lever are arranged between the conductor insertion opening and a pivot lever axis, about which the pivot lever can pivot between the open position and the closed position.

8. The spring-force connection as claimed in claim 2, wherein the contact spring is configured elastically at least in portions, and an angle enclosed between the pressing leg and the clamping leg is variable so that, when the contact spring is in the clamping position, a conductor can be introduced into the housing part via the conductor insertion opening and positioned between the clamping leg and the conductor rail under elastic deformation of the contact spring.

9. The spring-force connection as claimed in claim 8, wherein the connecting device has a conductor rail with which a conductor, introduced into the housing part via the conductor insertion opening, can be brought into contact, wherein when the contact spring (40) is in the clamping position, the clamping leg and the conductor rail enclose an angle, open towards the conductor insertion opening, of less than or equal to 90°.

10. A round plug-in connector including a plurality of spring-force connections as claimed in claim 2, wherein a housing of the round plug-in connector forms the housing parts of the spring-force connections, and wherein the respective conductor insertion openings of the spring-force connections are arranged on an end face of the housing.

11. The round plug-in connector as claimed in claim 10, wherein the respective spring-force connections are arranged relative to each other such that the respective pivot levers of the spring-force connections are arranged with an angular offset to each other on a circumference of the housing.

12. The spring-force connection as claimed in claim 3 wherein the contact spring has two pivot pegs which extend laterally in opposite directions from the bending joint and define a pivot axis of the contact spring, about which the contact spring can pivot between the release position and the clamping position.

13. The spring-force connection as claimed in claim 3, wherein a pivot axis of the contact spring, about which the contact spring can pivot between the release position and the clamping position, is arranged between the conductor insertion opening and the pressing device and/or the driver of the pivot lever.

14. The spring-force connection as claimed in claim 4, wherein a pivot axis of the contact spring, about which the contact spring can pivot between the release position and the clamping position, is arranged between the conductor insertion opening and the pressing device and/or the driver of the pivot lever.

15. The spring-force connection as claimed in claim 5, wherein a pivot axis of the contact spring, about which the contact spring can pivot between the release position and the clamping position, is arranged between the conductor insertion opening and the pressing device and/or the driver of the pivot lever.

16. The spring-force connection as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pressing device and the driver of the pivot lever are arranged between the conductor insertion opening and a pivot lever axis, about which the pivot lever can pivot between the open position and the closed position.

17. The spring-force connection as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pressing device and the driver of the pivot lever are arranged between the conductor insertion opening and a pivot lever axis, about which the pivot lever can pivot between the open position and the closed position.

18. The spring-force connection as claimed in claim 3, wherein the contact spring is configured elastically at least in portions, and an angle enclosed between the pressing leg and the clamping leg is variable so that, when the contact spring is in the clamping position, a conductor can be introduced into the housing part via the conductor insertion opening and positioned between the clamping leg and the conductor rail under elastic deformation of the contact spring.

19. A round plug-in connector with a large number of spring-force connections as claimed in claim 3, wherein a housing of the round plug-in connector forms the housing parts of the spring-force connections, and wherein the respective conductor insertion openings of the spring-force connections are arranged on an end face of the housing.

20. A round plug-in connector with a plurality of spring-force connections as claimed in claim 4, wherein a housing of the round plug-in connector forms the housing parts of the spring-force connections, and wherein the respective conductor insertion openings of the spring-force connections are arranged on an end face of the housing.

Description

(1) Further advantages, details and features of the invention arise from the exemplary embodiments explained below. The drawings show in detail:

(2) FIGS. 1A to 4A: a side cross-sectional depiction of a spring-force connection according to the invention in various phases of transfer of a pivot lever from its open position to its closed position, wherein a housing part of the spring-force connection is not shown;

(3) FIGS. 1B to 4B: a side cross-sectional depiction of a round plug-in connector with an integrated spring-force connection in various phases of transfer of a pivot lever from its open position to its closed position;

(4) FIGS. 5a to 8A: a side cross-sectional depiction of the spring-force connection according to the invention in various phases of transfer of a pivot lever from its closed position to its open position, wherein a housing part of the spring-force connection is not shown;

(5) FIGS. 5B to 8B: a side cross-sectional depiction of a round plug-in connector with an integrated spring-force connection in various phases of transfer of a pivot lever from its closed position to its open position;

(6) FIG. 9: a perspective view of the spring-force connection according to the invention as shown in FIGS. 1A to 8A, without its housing part and without its pivot lever;

(7) FIG. 10A: a side view of a contact spring of the spring-force connection according to the invention;

(8) FIG. 10B: the contact spring shown in FIG. 10A in perspective depiction;

(9) FIG. 11A: a perspective depiction of the round plug-in connector shown in FIGS. 1B to 8B with five integrated spring-force connections according to the invention, wherein all pivot levers are in their open position; and

(10) FIG. 11B: the round plug-in connector shown in FIG. 11A, wherein all pivot levers are in their closed position.

(11) In the description which follows, the same reference signs designate the same components or the same features, so that a description given with reference to one figure relative to one component also applies to the other figures, so as to avoid repetition. Furthermore, individual features which have been described in connection with one embodiment may also be applied separately in other embodiments.

(12) FIGS. 1A to 4A show, in side cross-sectional depiction, a spring-force connection 10 according to the invention in various phases of a transfer of a pivot lever 20 of the spring-force connection 10 from its open position into its closed position, wherein the pivot lever 20 is in its open position in FIG. 1A and in its closed position in FIG. 4A. In FIGS. 1A to 4A, a housing part 11 of the spring-force connection is not shown. FIGS. 1B to 4B show, in a side sectional depiction, a round plug-in connector 1 according to the present invention, wherein the round plug-in connector has a plurality—in the present case five—of spring-force connections 10. The respective pivot levers 20 are in the same positions as the positions shown in FIGS. 1A to 4A.

(13) FIGS. 5A to 8A show, in side cross-sectional depiction, the spring-force connection 10 according to the invention in various phases of a transfer of a pivot lever 20 of the spring-force connection 10 from its closed position into its open position, wherein the pivot lever 20 is in its closed position in FIG. 5A and in its open position in FIG. 8A. In FIGS. 5A to 8A again, the housing part 11 of the spring-force connection 10 is not shown. FIGS. 5B to 8B show, in a side sectional depiction, a round plug-in connector 1 according to the present invention, wherein the respective pivot levers 20 are in the same positions as the positions shown in FIGS. 5A to 8A.

(14) FIG. 9 shows the spring-force connection 10 according to the invention alone, in perspective depiction, wherein neither the housing part 11 nor the pivot lever 20 are shown. In FIGS. 10A and 10B, a contact spring 40 of the spring-force connection 10 according to the invention is shown, wherein in FIG. 10A, the contact spring 40 is shown in a top view from the side and in FIG. 10B in a spatial view. The round plug-in connector 1 according to the invention is shown in a spatial depiction in FIGS. 11A and 11B, wherein in the depiction in FIG. 11A, the respective pivot levers 20 of the respective spring-force connections 10 are in the open position, whereas in FIG. 11B, the respective pivot levers 20 are shown in their closed position.

(15) The spring-force connection 10 according to the invention has a housing part 11 which, in the exemplary embodiment shown, is configured as a housing 11 of the round plug-in connector 1. Thus the housing 11 of the round plug-in connector 1 shown in FIGS. 1B to 8B and 11A and 11B forms the respective housing parts 11 of the five spring-force connections 10.

(16) Each spring-force connection 10 has a pivot lever 20 which can be pivoted between an open position and a closed position. In FIGS. 1A and 8A, the pivot lever 20 is shown in its open position, and in FIGS. 4A and 5A, the pivot lever 20 is shown in its closed position. In FIGS. 2A, 3A, 6A and 7A, the pivot lever 20 is shown in intermediate positions between the open position and the closed position.

(17) The spring-force connection 10 according to the invention furthermore comprises an electrically conductive connecting device 30, which is accessible via a conductor insertion opening 13 of the housing 11. The electrically conductive connecting device 30 has a spring basket 31 which in turn has two side walls 32 and a conductor rail 37 arranged between the side walls 32. An electrical conductor L can be positioned between the side walls 32 of the spring basket 31 via the conductor insertion opening 13 in an insertion direction R shown in FIG. 1A.

(18) The spring-force connection 10 furthermore comprises a contact spring 40 by means of which a conductor L, introduced into the housing 11 and between the two side walls 32 via the conductor insertion opening 13, can be force-loaded onto the connecting device 30, or more precisely onto a conductor rail 37 of the connecting device 30.

(19) FIGS. 10A and 10B show that the contact spring 40 has a pressing leg 41 and a clamping leg 45 connected thereto via a bending joint 44. The contact spring 40 furthermore has a latching leg 43 connected to the pressing leg 41 via a latching joint 42. It is evident that the bend of the bending joint 44 is in the same direction as the bend of the latching joint 42. FIGS. 10A and 10B furthermore show that the clamping leg 45 is bent and has a clamping edge 46 at its end.

(20) The contact spring 40 may be pivoted between a release position shown in FIGS. 1A and 8A, and a clamping position shown in FIGS. 4A and 5A. As evident in particular from FIG. 9, the contact spring 40 has two pivot pegs 47 which extend laterally in opposite directions from the bending joint 44, and define a pivot axis 48 of the contact spring 40 about which the contact spring 40 can pivot between the release position and the clamping position. FIG. 9 also shows that a groove 36 is formed in each of the two side walls 32 of the spring basket 31, in the edges 34 facing the conductor insertion opening 13. The contact spring 40 is here suspended in the spring basket 31 such that the pivot pegs 47 are arranged in the grooves 36 of the side walls 32.

(21) As evident in particular from FIG. 1A, the pivot lever 20 has a pressing device 21 which, in the exemplary embodiment shown, is formed as a pressing face 21 of the pivot lever 20. The pressing face 21 or pressing device 21 is here formed as the inner face 21 of the pivot lever 20. The pivot lever 20 furthermore comprises a driver 22 which, in the exemplary embodiment shown, is formed as a bent pin 22 which is connected to the inner face 21 so as to form an intermediate space. As evident in particular from FIG. 4A, when the pivot lever 20 is in the closed position, the pressing leg 41 is arranged between the pressing device 21 and the driver 22 and hence in the intermediate space between the inner face 21 and the driver 22. It is evident from FIGS. 1A to 8A that the latching leg 43 is arranged between the pressing device 21 and the driver 22.

(22) In the exemplary embodiment shown, the contact spring 40 is formed elastically and made for example from a spring steel. Accordingly, an angle between the pressing leg 41 and the clamping leg 45 is variable. Furthermore, an angle between the pressing leg 41 and the latching leg 43 is also variable. When the pivot lever 20 is pivoted into its closed position, the pressing device 21 applies force to the pressing leg 41 via the latching leg 43 such that the contact spring 40 is pivoted into its clamping position, so that the conductor L, introduced into the housing 11 via the conductor insertion opening 13, is force-loaded onto the conductor rail 37 by means of the clamping leg 45. When however the pivot lever 20 is pivoted from its closed position to its open position, wherein a corresponding pivot movement of the pivot lever 20 is shown in FIGS. 5A to 8A, the driver 22 applies force to the pressing leg 41 via the latching leg 43 such that the contact spring 40 is pivoted into its release position.

(23) It is evident from the figures, in particular from FIG. 9, that the spring-force connection 10 has a latching device 35 which, in the exemplary embodiment shown, is formed as two latching protrusions 35 of the edges 34 of the side walls 32 facing away from the conductor insertion opening 13.

(24) As evident in particular from FIGS. 3A and 4A, when the contact spring 40 is pivoted in the direction of its clamping position, the latching leg 43 is in contact with the latching protrusions 35, wherein the angle between the latching leg 43 and the pressing leg 41 is increased by the closing force exerted by means of the pivot lever 20. As evident in particular from FIGS. 4A and 5A, in the closed position of the pivot lever 20, the latching leg 43 engages behind the latching protrusions 35 so that the pivot lever 20 can only pivot in the direction of its open position under elastic deformation of the latching joint 42. As evident in particular from FIG. 6A, when the contact spring 40 pivots in the direction of its release position, the driver 22 applies force to the latching leg 43 such that the angle between the latching leg 43 and the pressing leg 41 is increased by the opening force exerted by means of the pivot lever 20.

(25) The spring-force connection 10 according to the invention is accordingly configured such that, when the pivot lever 20 is transferred from its open position to its closed position, the pressing leg 41 is force-loaded at least indirectly by means of the inner face 21 of the pivot lever 20. When the pivot lever 20 is pivoted from its closed position to its open position however, the pressing leg 41 is force-loaded by the driver 22 by means of the latching leg 43. Accordingly, a forced coupling exists between the position of the pivot lever 20 and the position of the contact spring 40.

(26) It is clear from FIGS. 1A to 8B that the pivot axis 48 of the contact spring 40, about which the contact spring 40 can pivot between the release position and the clamping position, is arranged between the conductor insertion opening 13 and the pressing device 21 and the driver 22 of the pivot lever 20. It is also evident from these figures that the pressing device 21 and the driver 22 of the pivot lever 20 are arranged between the conductor insertion opening 13 and a pivot lever axis 23, about which the pivot lever 20 can pivot between its open position and its closed position. By a corresponding positioning of the pivot axis 48 and the pivot lever axis 23, an opposing rotation of the pivot lever 20 and contact spring 40 always occurs. If for example the pivot lever 20 is pivoted counterclockwise from its open position to its closed position, the contact spring 40 pivots clockwise from its release position to its clamping position. If, however, for example the clamping lever 20 is pivoted clockwise from its closed position to its open position, the clamping spring 40 pivots counterclockwise from its clamping position to its release position.

(27) Because of the elastic design of the contact spring 40, the angle between the pressing leg 41 and the clamping leg 45 is variable so that when the contact spring 40 is in the clamping position, a conductor L can be introduced into the housing 11 via the conductor insertion opening 13, and positioned between the clamping leg 45 and conductor rail 37 under elastic deformation of the contact spring 40. It is evident in particular from FIGS. 4A and 5A that, when the contact spring 40 is in the clamping position, the clamping leg 45 and the conductor rail 37 enclose an angle, open towards the conductor insertion opening 13, of less than 90°. This facilitates insertion of the electrical conductor L into the spring-force connection 10. In addition however, an unintentional extraction of the electrical conductor L from the spring-force connection 10 is countered, since the clamping edge 46 digs into the electrical conductor L and hence counters the extraction of the electrical conductor L when the contact spring 40 is in the clamping position.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(28) 1 Round plug-in connector 10 Spring-force connection/spring force plug 11 Housing part of spring-force connection/housing of round plug-in connector 12 End face (of housing) 13 Conductor insertion opening (of housing) 20 Pivot lever 21 Pressing device/pressing face (of pivot lever) 22 Driver (of pivot lever) 23 Pivot lever axis 30 Connecting device 31 Spring basket (of connecting device) 32 Side wall (of spring basket) 33 (First) edge (of side wall, facing away from conductor insertion opening) 34 (Second) edge (of side wall, facing towards conductor insertion opening) 35 Latching device/latching protrusion (of connecting device/spring basket/side wall) 36 Groove (of side wall) 37 Conductor rail (of connecting device/spring basket) Plug-in connector (of connecting device) 38 Connecting pin 40 Contact spring/clamping spring 41 Pressing leg (of contact spring) 42 Latching joint (of contact spring) 43 Latching leg (of contact spring) 44 Bending joint (of contact spring) 45 Clamping leg (of contact spring) 46 Clamping edge (of clamping leg) 47 Pivot peg (of contact spring) 48 Pivot axis (of contact spring) L Electrical conductor R Insertion direction (of electrical conductor into spring-force connection)