CONDUCTOR CONNECTION TERMINAL, CLAMPING SPRING OF A CONDUCTOR CONNECTION TERMINAL AND TERMINAL BLOCK

Abstract

A conductor connection terminal, having an insulating material housing, a busbar, a clamping spring and an operating lever which is pivotably received in the insulating material housing over a pivoting range and can be pivoted between an open position and a closed position, wherein the clamping spring has an operating arm which is deflected via a spring driver of the operating lever at least in the open position, characterized in that the operating lever is supported in the open position at a first and a second support point spaced from the first, and that the operating lever is pulled against the first and the second support point by a tensile force of the clamping spring acting on the spring driver from the operating arm.

Claims

1. A conductor connection terminal comprising: an insulating material housing; a busbar; a clamping spring; and an operating lever which is pivotably received in the insulating material housing and is adapted to be pivoted between an open position and a closed position, wherein the clamping spring has a contact leg, a spring arch adjoining the contact leg, a clamping leg adjoining the spring arch with a clamping tongue and an operating arm projecting from the clamping leg, wherein the operating lever cooperates with the operating arm to move the clamping tongue, wherein the operating lever is supported on the busbar at least over a portion of the pivoting range, wherein the operating lever has a first guide section, wherein the busbar has a recess, and wherein the operating lever dips into the recess in the busbar with the first guide section at least over a portion of the pivoting range.

2. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the operating lever has at least one support projection for supporting the operating lever on the busbar.

3. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 2, wherein the operating lever is guided at least over a portion of the pivoting range through the first guide section in the recess in the busbar during a pivoting movement.

4. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 2, wherein the support projection is arranged adjacent to the first guide section on the operating lever or arranged adjacent to the first guide section on the operating lever.

5. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 2, wherein the recess in the busbar is slot-shaped and in particular is enclosed on the circumference by the material of the busbar.

6. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the contact leg is supported on the busbar.

7. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the operating lever is floatingly mounted in the insulating material housing.

8. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the operating arm has a driver area and the operating lever has a spring driver which cooperates with the driver area to move the clamping tongue.

9. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 8, wherein in the closed position the spring driver does not touch the operating arm.

10. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 8, wherein the spring driver does not extend into the driver region of the clamping spring in the closed position.

11. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 8, wherein in the closed position the spring driver is arranged at least partially or completely within the recess.

12. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the operating lever is supported on the busbar by at least one support projection of the operating lever being supported on a support area of the busbar which faces the operating lever.

13. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the first guide section or an element of the operating lever associated therewith projects through the recess and cooperates with a further element of the conductor connection terminal on the side of the busbar which faces away from the operating lever.

14. A conductor connection terminal comprising: an insulating material housing; a clamping spring; and an operating lever which is received in the insulating material housing such that it is adapted to pivot over a pivoting range and can be pivoted between an open position and a closed position, wherein the clamping spring has at least one clamping leg and one operating arm projecting from the clamping leg, wherein the operating lever cooperates with the operating arm to move the clamping leg, wherein the operating arm has a driver area, and wherein the operating lever has a spring driver which cooperates with the driver area to move the clamping leg, and in the closed position the spring driver does not extend into the driver area of the clamping spring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0147] 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:

[0148] FIG. 1 shows a conductor connection terminal in a sectional side view in the closed position;

[0149] FIG. 2 shows the conductor connection terminal of FIG. 1 in a sectional side view in A further sectional plane;

[0150] FIG. 3 shows the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 1 in a sectional side view with the operating lever partially open;

[0151] FIG. 4 shows the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 1 in a sectional side view in the open position;

[0152] FIG. 4a shows the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 1 in a side view in the open position;

[0153] FIG. 5 shows the conductor connection terminal according to FIGS. 1 to 4 in the cutting plane F labeled in FIG. 4;

[0154] FIG. 6 shows the connection terminal according to FIGS. 1 to 4 in the sectional plane G labeled in FIG. 4;

[0155] FIG. 7 shows an operating lever in a front view;

[0156] FIG. 8 shows the operating lever according to FIG. 7 in a side view;

[0157] FIGS. 9 and 9a show the operating lever according to FIGS. 7 and 8 in a perspective view;

[0158] FIG. 9b shows the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 1 in a perspective view in the open position;

[0159] FIG. 9c shows the operating lever according to FIG. 7 in a side view;

[0160] FIG. 10 shows a clamping spring in a side view;

[0161] FIG. 11 shows the clamping spring according to FIG. 10 in a perspective view;

[0162] FIG. 12 shows an arrangement of the operating lever according to FIGS. 7 to 9 and the clamping spring according to FIGS. 10 to 11 in a perspective view;

[0163] FIG. 13 shows a busbar in a perspective view;

[0164] FIG. 14 shows the busbar according to FIG. 13 in a side view;

[0165] FIG. 15 shows a hybrid terminal block in a perspective view;

[0166] FIG. 16 shows a further embodiment of a clamping spring in a side view;

[0167] FIG. 17 shows the clamping spring according to FIG. 16 in a perspective view;

[0168] FIG. 18 shows a conductor connection terminal in a view comparable to FIG. 1 and a clamping spring according to FIGS. 16 to 17;

[0169] FIG. 19 shows another side view of the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 4;

[0170] FIGS. 20-22 show the sequence of movements when moving the operating lever from the open position in the direction of the closed position and back.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0171] The conductor connection terminal 1 has an insulating material housing 2, a busbar 3, a clamping spring 4 and, as an operating element for operating the clamping spring 4, an operating lever 5.

[0172] The insulating material housing 2 has a conductor insertion opening 20 through which an electrical conductor can be inserted in a conductor insertion direction L1 and guided to a first clamping point 7 of a first conductor connection 6, where the electrical conductor can be clamped by spring force by means of the clamping spring 4 and the busbar 3. The insulating material housing 2 also has a busbar duct 22 through which at least a part of the busbar 3 is guided and is at least partially fixed and/or supported there.

[0173] The busbar 3 has a first busbar section 30 and a second busbar section 31. The first busbar section 30 is connected to the second busbar section via a bent area 35, so that the busbar 3 as a whole has a bent and/or angled shape. The second busbar section 31 is arranged at least predominantly within the busbar duct 22. The busbar 3 has a conductor lead-through opening 36 in the first busbar section 30, through which an electrical conductor that is to be clamped can be guided. The conductor lead-through opening 36 can be surrounded by side walls formed on the first busbar section 30, which e.g. can be designed in the form of a material passage 32. For example, the conductor lead-through opening 36 can have wall sections projecting on all sides from the busbar plane, which form the material passage 32.

[0174] The clamping spring 4 has a contact leg 40 by means of which the clamping spring 4 is supported against the spring forces introduced by the clamping leg 43. The contact leg 40 can be supported in the first busbar section 30 on the busbar 3. As shown, the support takes place, for example, in that the free end of the contact leg 40 rests against the inside of the conductor lead-through opening 36 and/or the material passage 32. The clamping spring 4 extends from the contact leg 40 further over the spring arch 41 to the clamping leg 43. The operating arm 42 projects from the clamping leg 43, wherein the operating arm 42 is bent at a relatively large angle, for example greater than 45 degrees or greater than or equal to 90 degrees, from the clamping leg 43. The operating arm 42 ends at its free end with a transverse web 48 which, at its end, delimits the driver opening 46, which cannot be seen in FIG. 1. In the free end area of the operating arm 42, a material section of the clamping spring material is bent to form a tab 93 which projects from the remaining course of the operating arm 42 and which has at least part of a bent support area 49 of the operating arm 42. The bent support area 49, together with the socket support 59 of the operating lever 5, forms a type of mounting made up of a cylinder and a cylindrical shell, similar to a ball-and-socket bearing.

[0175] In addition, the clamping leg 43 extends to a clamping tongue 44, which is bent from the clamping leg 43 in the opposite direction than the operating arm 42. The clamping tongue 44 ends at the free end of the clamping leg 43 with a clamping edge 45. The clamping edge 45, together with the busbar 3, i.e. the conductor lead-through opening 36 and/or the material passage 32, forms the first clamping point 7 of the first conductor connection 6 for an electrical conductor to be clamped there. Accordingly, the contact leg 40 and the clamping tongue 44 dip into the conductor lead-through opening 36.

[0176] The conductor connection terminal 1 has an operating lever 5 which is predominantly arranged in the area surrounding the insulating material housing 2 and which essentially extends outward with a manual operating section 50, for example an operating handle, where the operating lever 5 can be actuated manually. The first clamping point 7 can be opened or closed by manually operating the operating lever 5. If the operating lever 5 is in the closed position shown in FIG. 1, the first clamping point 7 is also closed. If the operating lever 5 is moved to the open position (as shown in FIG. 4), the first clamping point 7 is open. In this open position, an electrical conductor can be inserted into or removed from the first clamping point 7 without any effort, since operating the operating lever 5 moves the clamping edge 45 away from its contact point on the busbar 3 or the electrical conductor.

[0177] The conductor insertion direction L1 can be oriented obliquely to the extension direction of the manual operating section 50. Accordingly, an angle can be formed between the extension of the outer surface of the manual operating section 50, which runs approximately flush with the housing surface, and the conductor insertion direction L1. The angle can be relatively small, e.g. in the range of 20 to 60 degrees.

[0178] The operating lever 5 is pivotably mounted in the insulating material housing 2. In this case, no fixed support axis is provided, rather the operating lever 5 can also perform certain displacement movements in the course of a pivoting movement from the closed position to the open position and vice versa.

[0179] The operating lever 5 has a test recess 51 penetrating the operating lever 5, e.g. in the area of the manual operating section 50. In the closed position, the test recess 51 is essentially aligned with the test opening 23 of the insulating material housing 2. The test opening 23 extends as far as the clamping spring 4, e.g. up to the spring arch 41. If a test pin is inserted through the test recess 51 and the test opening 23, the clamping spring 4 can be electrically contacted in this way and an electrical measurement can be carried out. The clamping spring 4 is fixed via an overload protection element 29, so that a counter support is created for the test pin. In addition, excessive movement and stress on the clamping spring 4 is prevented by the overload protection element 29 in the insulating material housing 2. The overload protection element 29 can be designed as an island-shaped material area of the insulating material housing 2, which is arranged within the spring arch 41.

[0180] In the open position, the clamping spring 4 can rest against the overload protection element 29, that is, it can strike against the overload protection element 29 with one or more areas, for example the spring arch 41 and/or the clamping leg 43.

[0181] In several respects, the operating lever 5 is guided, mounted and fixed in certain positions such as the closed position and the open position in the conductor connection terminal 1. For this purpose, the operating lever 5 has a first fixing element 52 in the lower area, i.e. the part of the operating lever 5 remote from the manual operating section 50, and a second fixing element 53 in the rear area, i.e. the area facing away from the spring driver 54. The first and/or the second fixing element 52, 53 can be designed as a latching element, for example. The first and/or the second fixing element 52, 53 can be designed as a material projection or cam. The fixing elements 52, 53 can be molded directly onto the material of the operating lever 5. The operating lever 5 also has a first guide section 57 via which the operating lever 5 is guided in a pivoting movement, in particular in the busbar 3, and is secured against tilting sideways. The first guide section 57 runs through a recess 33 in the busbar 3, for example a recess 33 in the first busbar section 31. The recess can be designed as a longitudinal slot, for example. If the operating lever 5 is pivoted, for example from the closed position to the open position, the first guide section 57 runs through this recess 33. It can also be provided that during a pivoting movement, the operating lever 5 runs along an inner guide contour of the insulating material housing with the second fixing element 53 and is additionally supported and/or guided by this.

[0182] As mentioned, the operating lever 5 is used to actuate the clamping spring 4. For this purpose, the operating lever 5 has a spring driver 54, which is shaped like a driver tooth and in the assembled state projects from the operating lever 5 in the direction of the clamping spring 4, in particular in the direction of the operating arm 42. Here, the spring driver 54 is initially not in engagement with the operating arm 42 in the closed position, so that in this closed position no spring load acts on the operating lever 5. The spring driver 54 can be located, for example, in the region of the bent area 35 of the busbar 3, at least in the closed position. The spring driver 54 merges at a bent inner contour of the operating lever 5 into a support area of the operating lever 5, which in this case forms a socket support 59. As will be explained below, this socket support 59 interacts with the bent support area 49 of the clamping spring 4 when the operating lever 5 is pivoted.

[0183] The operating lever 5 is fixed in the closed position shown in FIG. 1 by other means than the first and second fixing element 52, 53. In the closed position, the second fixing element 53 is arranged within a free space in the insulating material housing 2, namely in a receiving pocket 28. The second fixing element 52 is located in the vicinity of a first latching edge 21 of the insulating material housing 2, which, however, has no essential function in the closed position. In the insulating material housing 2, a second latching edge 91 is also formed, which has a function, as will be described below, in the open position of the operating lever 5. Likewise, hereinafter, the structure and operation of the second guide section 55 of the operating lever 5 are explained with reference to further figures. By receiving the second fixing element 53 in the receiving pocket 28, the operating lever 5 can be secured in the closed position against falling out of the insulating material housing 2. Furthermore, receiving the second fixing element 53 in the receiving pocket 28 ensures that the operating lever 5 is unscrewed in the event of a kickback when the operating lever 5 is transferred from the open position to the closed position. A further safeguard against falling out or removal of the operating lever 5 is achieved by the canopy 24, in particular in the open position.

[0184] A guide element 95 is also formed on the insulating material housing 2. The guide element 95 forms, at least in certain operating situations and/or pivoting positions of the operating lever 5, a housing-side guide for the operating arm 42. For example, at least temporarily during a pivoting movement of the operating lever, the operating arm 42 can slide along the guide element 95 into the open position.

[0185] The conductor connection terminal 1 seen in FIG. 1 can be designed as a single connection terminal, as shown, or as part of a conductor connection terminal comprising further conductor connections, e.g. as part of the conductor connection terminal explained below with reference to FIG. 15.

[0186] As a further feature of the insulating material housing 2, FIG. 2 shows a canopy 24 arranged below the manual operating section 50, i.e. a kind of boundary wall of the insulating material housing 2, which ensures that the current-carrying elements within the conductor connection terminal 1 are shielded from the outside environment, so that contact safety (finger safety) of the conductor connection terminal 1 is created in particular in the open position of the operating lever 5. The canopy 24 cooperates with the second guide section 55, as will be explained below on the basis of other cross-sectional drawings.

[0187] It can also be seen that the outer surface 65 of the manual operating section 50 runs essentially parallel to the second busbar section 31 and/or the third busbar section 37, which will be explained below.

[0188] First of all, the mode of operation of the operating lever 5 during a pivoting process will be explained with reference to FIG. 3, starting from the closed position shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 3, the operating lever 5 is not yet completely in the open position, but just in front of it. While the spring driver 54 does not dip into the driver opening 46 in the closed position, the spring driver 54 then engages in the driver opening 46 when the operating lever 5 pivots from the closed position into the open position.

[0189] The enlarged detail A, B and C shown in FIG. 3 is intended to clarify some relevant elements of the operating lever 5 and their interaction with other elements of the conductor connection terminal 1.

[0190] It can be seen from the Illustration A that the first fixing element 52 is shortly before reaching the second latching edge 91. Likewise, as shown in Illustration C, the second fixing element 53 is just before reaching the first latching edge 21. The rear stop 94 of the operating lever 5 on the insulating housing 2 in the area of the outer surface of the insulating material housing now serves as a stop and a pivot point for the operating lever 5 in the further movement of the operating lever 5 so as to reach the open position according to FIG. 4. During this further movement, the spring driver 54 is initially moved essentially in a translatory manner along the second busbar section 31. As soon as the second fixing element 53 crosses the first latching edge 21, the operating lever 5 executes a downward movement by the spring force applied to the spring driver 54 that is essentially vertically oriented for translational movement.

[0191] The Illustration B shows how the operating arm 42 has been gripped at the end by the spring driver 54 and is guided on via the socket support 59. With regard to its shape, i.e. with regard to the concave inner contour, the socket support 59 is adapted to the convex outer contour of the bent support area 49, so that the bent support area 49 can slide within the socket support 59 with little friction. As the overall view of the conductor connection terminal in FIG. 3 shows, the operating arm 42 is deflected and accordingly, the clamping leg 43 is moved along with it, so that the clamping tongue 44 is moved from its original position shown in FIG. 1. It can also be seen that in the described construction, the effective load arm of the operating lever 5 is shortened during an opening movement, since the bent support area 49 slides along the socket support 59 and thereby approaches the virtual pivot axis of the operating lever 5.

[0192] FIG. 4 shows the operating lever 5 now in the open position, i.e. at the end of the pivoting movement. In this open position, the operating lever 5 can still be over-pivoted about a small pivoting angle, e.g. a maximum of 5 degrees or a maximum of 10 degrees, to be resistant to damage, but the actual open position is already reached in the position shown in FIG. 4. If the operating lever 5 is over-pressed, this over-pressing movement is limited by a rear stop 94 on the insulating material housing. In relation to the entire pivoting path or pivoting angle of the operating lever 5, the overbending angle range of the operating lever 5 amounts to a maximum of 5% of the entire pivoting angle range until the rear stop 94 is reached.

[0193] The operating lever 5 is located in each operating position, predominantly within the area surrounded by the outer contour 27 of the insulating material housing 2. In particular, the operating lever 5 is also in the open position in a substantial area of its longitudinal extent, not less than at least 30% or at least 40%, within the area surrounded by the outer contour 27 of the insulating material housing 2. In this way, the operating lever 5 is mounted in a particularly robust manner and therefore cannot be damaged so easily and/or cannot tilt so easily. A robust support of the operating lever 5 in the insulating material housing 2 is achieved.

[0194] As the enlarged detailed representations in the enlargements D and E show, the first fixing element 52 is now latched behind the second latching edge 91, and the second fixing element 53 is latched behind the first latching edge 21. The operating lever 5 in this case has in this case, i.e. in the transition from the position according to FIG. 3 to the position according to FIG. 4, in addition to the pure pivoting or rotating movement, also executed a sliding movement, that is, it has moved by a certain displacement path oriented along the second busbar section 31 towards the first clamping point 7 in order to lift a fourth fixing element 64 over the bent area 35 of the busbar 3 and then lower it into a dead center position vertically to the displacement movement, so that at least a part of the bent area 35 engages in the fourth fixing element 64 in a form-fitting manner. This displacement movement does not have to be carried out by the user but instead is caused by the stop 94 and the spring tension action with which the operating arm 42 impacts the operating lever 5. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the operating lever 5 is now securely held in this position by the pulling force exerted by the operating arm 42 pulling the operating lever 5 against corresponding support points 84, 85, which are respectively arranged to the left and right of the line of action of the pulling force, namely on the one hand a first support point 84, which is formed between the first fixing element 52 and the second latching edge 91, and on the other hand a second support point 85 in the region of the cutout F. This second support point 85 can be formed between the fourth fixing element 64 and a corresponding bent area 35 of the busbar.

[0195] With the opposite movement of the operating lever 5, i.e. from the open position to the closed position, the contact between the fourth fixing element 64 and the bent area 35 on the busbar 3 is eliminated at the second support point 85 by the second fixing element 53 sliding up over the first latching edge 21 (see also cutout C, FIG. 3). In this case, the operating lever 5 initially rotates about the first support point 84 between the first fixing element 52 and the second latching edge 91. Wear on the fourth fixing element 64 is thus avoided.

[0196] Thus, in the open position, the position of the operating lever 5 can be secured via a two-point support of the operating lever 5 on the insulating material housing 2 and/or the busbar 3 and the essentially central force application of the clamping spring 4 via the operating arm 42. This type of force transmission creates a kind of funnel shape of the force effects, by means of which the operating lever 5 is secured particularly reliably against undesired changes in position, for example due to vibrations.

[0197] FIG. 4a illustrates, in particular through the exploded cutout H, how the fourth fixing element 64 rests on the bent area 35 and is fixed there in a form-fitting manner. The second fixing element 53 projects through the recess 33 of the busbar 3, so that a part of the second fixing element 53 projects below the second busbar section 31 and can be seen there.

[0198] FIG. 4a also illustrates the support of the bent support area 49 of the operating arm 42 on the socket support 59.

[0199] FIG. 4 also shows that an electrical conductor 92 with an area stripped at the end is inserted into the conductor connection terminal 1 and the stripped area is arranged in the area of the first clamping point 7. If the operating lever 5 is now moved back into the closed position, the clamping leg 43 springs back until the clamping edge 45 rests against the stripped area of the electrical conductor 92 and presses it against the busbar 3, e.g. against the inside of the conductor lead-through opening 36 or the material passage 32.

[0200] Between the contact leg 40 and/or the spring arch 41 and an inner area of the insulating material housing 2, in which the second guide section 55 is arranged in the closed position and the spring driver 54 in the open position, there is a partition 26 of the insulating material housing 2, which has the second latching edge 91. This partition 26 provides an additional separation between the operating lever 5 and the electrical components, in particular the clamping spring 4.

[0201] Another positive aspect of this construction is that the partition 26 is in turn supported and counter-supported by the clamping spring 4 against the support force of the operating lever 5 at the first support point 84, since the clamping spring 4 in the area of the contact leg 40 and/or the spring arch 41 presses from the opposite side against the partition 26. In this way, a self-supporting system can advantageously be created. In addition, a plastic component is supported in this way against a metal component, which induces or introduces the force, which is advantageous when exposed to moisture that can lead to a reduction in the stability of the plastic material.

[0202] FIG. 4 illustrates two sectional planes F and G. The corresponding sectional views are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, wherein the operating lever 5 is in the closed position. As the sectional illustration of FIG. 5 in the sectional plane F shows, the operating lever 5 is arranged with its first guide section 57 in the recess 33 in the second busbar section 31 and is guided longitudinally therein. For additional guidance and mounting, the operating lever 5 has laterally projecting support elements 56 which can be designed like support journals. However, via these lateral support elements 56, the operating lever 5 is not fixedly mounted about an unchangeable axis of rotation, but rather can be displaced to a certain extent. In this way, the operating lever is mounted to be floating in the insulating material housing 2.

[0203] It can also be seen that the operating lever 5 is supported by laterally projecting shoulder-shaped support projections 58 on the upper side of the busbar 3, in particular in the second busbar region 31. In particular in the open position, the support projection 58 can form a support point for the operating lever 5 on the busbar 3, wherein the support point can be arranged in the bent area 35.

[0204] The first fixing element 52 can also run along an inner guide contour of the insulating material housing during a pivoting movement of the operating lever 5, for example during a pivoting movement from the open position into the closed position. In this case, the contact between the support projection 58 on the operating lever 5 and the support area 34 can be eliminated, which is used to support the movement of the operating lever 5 in the direction of the open position, wherein the operating lever 5 is lifted from the busbar 3. Among other things, this also serves to reduce wear or abrasion on the operating lever 5.

[0205] FIG. 5 shows that, in the closed position, the operating lever 5 does not project or substantially does not project beyond the outer contour 27 of the insulating material housing 2.

[0206] FIG. 6, with the sectional illustration in the sectional plane G, illustrates the fixing of the operating lever 5 in the closed position. The operating lever 5 has the second guide section 55 projecting downward on the manual operating section 50, which at least in this position of the operating lever 5 extends through the lever lead-through slot 25 in the canopy 24. On the second guide section 55, laterally projecting third fixing elements 60 are arranged, for example, formed integrally on the second guide section 55, which in the closed position engage behind the underside of the edge portions of the canopy 24 and in this way fix the operating lever 5. The canopy 24 can be formed by projections inwardly projecting from opposite side walls of the insulating material housing 2.

[0207] In the open position, the lever lead-through slot 25 is largely closed by the area of the operating lever 5 that has the spring driver 54, so that protection against contact is also ensured in this position.

[0208] Generally speaking, there is an opening in the insulating material housing 2, such as the lever lead-through slot 25, which is covered by the operating lever 5 in the closed position of the operating lever 5 and is thus shielded from the outside environment, wherein the opening leads to electrically active components arranged in the insulating material housing 2 such as the clamping spring 4 or busbar 3, and the spring driver 54 in the open position of the operating lever 5 at least partially closes this opening, at least to the extent that contact protection is provided.

[0209] The previously explained elements of the operating lever 5 are also illustrated by the various representations in FIGS. 7 to 9, which show the operating lever 5 in a separate representation. What can be seen in particular is that the operating lever 5 does not have to be formed exactly symmetrical to a pivoting plane of the operating lever 5. Instead, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the spring driver 54 and the first guide section 57 connected thereto can be arranged eccentrically, for example slightly offset to the side. In order to optimize the assembly of the individual parts, in particular the operating lever 5 in the conductor connection terminal 1, the spring driver 54 itself can also be asymmetrical, e.g. taper asymmetrically towards the end on one side.

[0210] FIG. 9a shows the operating lever 5 in a view in which the support projection 58 can be clearly seen. The support surface formed by the support projection 58 is shown hatched for clarity in FIG. 9a.

[0211] As is also made clear, the operating lever 5 can be designed as a material and weight-optimized component with a series of recesses that are interrupted by reinforcing walls and in this way ensure the necessary robustness and rigidity of the operating lever for the operating movements. The operating lever 5 can, for example, be made in one piece as a plastic component, e.g. as an injection-molded part.

[0212] FIG. 9a also shows that the operating lever 5 can have lateral recesses 89. The lateral recesses 89 can be arranged, for example, in the area of the second guide section 55 and/or the third fixing element 60. In the closed position, the canopy 24 can be at least partially received in these lateral recesses 89.

[0213] FIG. 9b shows the conductor connection terminal 1 in the open position of the operating lever 5. As already mentioned, the lever lead-through slot 25 in the canopy 24 is at least largely closed in this open position.

[0214] FIG. 9b also shows that the insulating material housing 2 can have a lever opening 88, which allows for installation of the operating lever 5 in the final assembled insulating material housing 2. With the insulating material housing 2 fully assembled, the operating lever can be mounted, so to speak, from above through the lever opening 88.

[0215] The lever opening 88 can be completely surrounded on the circumference by the material of the insulating material housing 2, i.e. by corresponding walls or other sections of the insulating material housing 2.

[0216] FIG. 9c illustrates the particular proportions that the operating lever 5 can have according to the invention. In the longitudinal direction of the operating lever 5, i.e. in the direction a, the operating lever 5 has the length a. In the rear area, the operating lever 5 has its support area, which includes the third area 63, for example. The operating lever 5 is mounted in the insulating material housing 2 in this support area. The mounting area has a length c in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, FIG. 9c shows the length b of the spring driver 54, which extends from the root region of the spring driver 54, which is adjacent to the third area 63, to the free end in the longitudinal direction of the operating lever 5. The ratio b/c can be, for example, at least 0.2 or at least 0.25 or at least 0.3. The ratio b/a can, for example, be at least 0.07 or at least 0.08 or at least 0.09.

[0217] FIGS. 10 and 11 show the clamping spring 4 in a separate illustration. This also makes it clear that the clamping spring 4 has a root region 96 on the clamping leg 43, on which the clamping leg 43 branches into the clamping tongue 44 and the operating arm 42. As can be seen, the operating arm 42 is designed with a relatively large recess which forms the driver opening 46. Starting from the clamping leg 43, only two relatively thin side webs 47 extend to the left and right of the contact leg 40. The side webs 47 can be made very thin, since they transmit a pure tensile force. The contact leg 40 also extends through the recess. The operating arm 42 can be produced from the same material together with the clamping tongue 44 by separating the clamping tongue 44 from the material of the operating arm 42, for example by means of a punching process. Since the side webs 47 can be so narrow, this leaves a relatively wide central material section for forming the clamping tongue 44 so that a relatively wide clamping edge 45 can be provided. This is beneficial for good electrical contact and secure clamping of an electrical conductor. In addition, high elasticity of the operating arm 42 is achieved by such narrow side webs 47. In this way, the operating arm 42 is connected to the clamping leg 43 in a relatively pliable manner.

[0218] Since the side webs 47 can be designed like thin legs, they act like a type of flexible connecting element, i.e. like a thread or rope connection when subjected to tensile load. A relatively small bending radius R3 at the transition from the operating arm 42 to the clamping leg 43 or the narrow bend formed thereby causes a stiffening in this area, so that the side webs 47 are quasi stretched under the tensile load that occurs and experience almost no elastic deformation in the form of a deflection.

[0219] The clamping spring 4 can be designed in one piece with all the features described, that is to say made integrally from a flat sheet of metal, e.g. punched from a sheet metal with a predetermined thickness and bent.

[0220] It can also be seen in FIG. 11 that the material width of the side webs 47 can vary over their longitudinal extent. For example, there may be a gradation or a transition from an initially narrower region starting from the clamping leg 43 to a region of the side webs 47 that is wider towards the transverse web 48. The wider area of the side webs 47 is particularly effective with a higher spring load. In this case, the inner distance between the side webs 47 in the area of the driver opening 46, in which the contact leg 40 projects through the driver opening 46, can be greater than in the area of the driver opening 46, which is used to receive the spring driver 54.

[0221] The clamping tongue 44 can in particular be trapezoidal or can become narrower towards the free end. This has the advantage that if the clamping spring 4 is positioned at an angle, the clamping spring 4 does not block on the inner side surfaces of the material passage 32.

[0222] The operating arm 42 has the transverse web 48 at the end. A bent tab 93 projects from the transverse web 48. On the underside, i.e. on the side facing the driver opening 46, the tab 93 forms the bent support area 49 for resting on the socket support 59 of the operating lever 5. The operating arm 42 can be produced in the end area in such a way that the area with the transverse web 48 is bent in a first bending direction from the side webs 47 and the tab 93 is bent from the transverse web 48 in another, opposite bending direction. In this way, while avoiding excessive degrees of deformation, a relatively large angle exceeding 90 degrees can be achieved between the tab 93 and the side webs 47.

[0223] Accordingly, the operating arm 42 has two side webs 47, which are spaced apart from one another and which are connected to one another at their free end via the transverse web 48. The side webs 47 and the transverse web 48 enclose the driver opening 46, which is used to engage the spring driver 54. The tab 93, which points into the driver opening 46 and has a bend, adjoins the transverse web 48 so that this bend forms a bent support area 49 on its convex surface, which is designed for contact with the socket support 59 of the operating lever 5.

[0224] Accordingly, the free end of the operating arm 42 is bent away from the spring arch 41 with the transverse web 48. The curvature or rounding of the bent support area 49 is adapted to the shape of the socket support 59 in terms of shape.

[0225] It can also be seen that the operating arm 42 branches off from the clamping leg 43 relatively far at the end of the clamping leg 43, but at the very least closer to the clamping edge 45 than on the spring arch 41. The operating arm 42 thus runs at a minimal distance from the busbar 3 (also see FIG. 1) in the assembled and non-actuated state. The operating arm 42 accordingly runs predominantly essentially parallel to the surface of the first busbar section 30. In this way, a relatively large lever arm for operating the clamping leg 43 is realized. As a result, the operating force of the operating lever 5 can be reduced. The operating arm 42 can extend along the first busbar section 30 to beyond the bent area 35. The operating arm 42 can in particular project with its driver opening 46 beyond the first busbar section 30, so that the spring driver 54 can engage in the driver opening 46 through the busbar 3 without hindrance.

[0226] The clamping spring 4 can be designed to be particularly elastic. This configuration also prevents the clamping spring from tilting significantly in the event of a diagonal pull.

[0227] The operating arm 42 can also be guided by guide means in the insulating material housing, for example, an inner housing wall or housing edge, in the longitudinal direction of the operating arm 42. Such an inner housing edge is formed, for example, by the free end of the intermediate wall 26 extending into the interior of the insulating material housing 2 (see also FIGS. 3 and 4). In this way, a bending load at the transition from the operating arm 42 to the clamping leg 43 can be further minimized. In addition, this allows for the bent support area 49 in the socket support 59 to be advantageously guided during a pivoting movement of the operating lever 5 by guiding the bent support area 46 in the socket support 59 in the direction of a pivoting axis of the operating lever 5. In this way, a clamping spring 4 with a shortened buckling length can be realized. Such a clamping spring 4 is better protected against undesired bending or kinking of the clamping leg 43 when a clamped electrical conductor is pulled from the outside. The risk of the clamping leg 43 buckling when mechanically pulling on a jammed electrical conductor is minimized.

[0228] The distance, that is to say the gap between the operating arm 42 and the busbar 3, can for example be less than 1 mm, or less than 0.5 mm. An exemplary advantageous value is 0.3 mm. In this way, the operating arm 42 does not yet touch the busbar, so that wear due to friction is avoided.

[0229] According to an advantageous embodiment, the effective length of the operating arm 42 with regard to the actuation, measured from the junction of the operating arm 42 from the clamping leg 43 to the bent support area 49, is greater than the length of the clamping leg, measured from the junction of the operating arm 42 from the clamping leg 43 to the vertex of the spring arch 41. In this way, a spring with a short buckling length and favorable operating forces can be realized.

[0230] FIG. 12 shows the interaction between the clamping spring 4 and the operating lever 5 when the operating lever 5 is in the open position. The spring driver 54 projects through the driver opening 46. The advantageous interaction of the bent support area 49 with the socket support 59 can again be seen.

[0231] As FIGS. 7 to 9 also show, the spring driver 54 has a width that changes over its extension. This can, e.g., be realized in that the spring driver 54 is narrower towards its free end, for example by a one-sided or two-sided bevel. A first area 61 and a second area 62 adjoining the first area 61 can thus be formed on the spring driver 54. The first area 61 is narrower in the direction of the width of the spring driver 54 than the second area 62. The spring driver 54 can then merge into a third area 63 which is wider than the second area 62. In this way, the spring driver 54 can easily be inserted into the driver opening 46. If the spring driver 54 is inserted with its first area 61 into the driver opening 46, a guide for the side webs 47 of the operating arm 42 can be formed by the second area 62 and/or the third area 63 that follows when the operating lever 5 is pivoted further. The guide can in particular be designed as a guide on both sides for both side webs 47. This embodiment of a spring driver 54 is suitable not only for an operating lever 5 with the pivotability described, but also for operating elements of different types that are mounted displaceably, i.e. that are designed in the form of a sliding element.

[0232] It can also be seen that the operating arm 42 essentially does not change its position with respect to the clamping leg 43 in the course of the operating movement of the operating lever 5. This has the advantage that the transition point between the operating arm 42 and the clamping leg 43 is only exposed to slightly changing bending loads during use. This is further supported by a comparatively small bending radius at the transition from the operating arm 42 to the clamping leg 43. For example, a mean bending radius R3 of this bending area, which is at most three times the thickness of the sheet metal, is favorable. This enables the force of the operating lever 5 to be optimally introduced into the clamping spring 4 via the operating arm 42. This results in direct transmission, a short stroke and, as a result, essentially no stretching in the operating arm 42. In addition, such a construction allows for the components used and the entire conductor connection terminal 1 to be manufactured easily.

[0233] The clamping spring 4 can thus be arranged with its predominant parts and in particular with the operating arm 42 on one and the same side of the busbar 3, in particular on the side from which an electrical conductor is inserted into the conductor lead-through opening 36.

[0234] FIGS. 13 and 14 show the busbar 3 in a separate representation. In this case, the busbar 3 is also shown with a third busbar section 37 adjoining the second busbar section 31. In the third busbar section 37, the busbar 3 has further conductor lead-through openings at which further clamping points can be formed.

[0235] The first and second busbar sections 30, 31 have the elements already described. In particular, the recess 33 for guiding the first guide section 57 and the support areas 34 for supporting the support projections 58 of the operating lever 5 can be seen. The recess 33 can be arranged only in the second busbar section 31 or, as shown, also extend into the bent area 35 or even as far as the first busbar section 30. The recess 33 is enclosed on all sides by the material of the busbar 3. It can be designed as a recess that only partially penetrates the material of the busbar from the side of the support area 34 or as a completely continuous recess (without a bottom).

[0236] The busbar 3 is angled and/or bent by the bent area 35, i.e. in such a way that an angle is formed between the first busbar section 30 and the second busbar section 31. The bent area 35 can form an interior angle between the first busbar section 30 and the second busbar section 31 in a range from 105 to 165 degrees or 120 degrees to 150 degrees. The bent area 35 can be designed, for example, in such a way that the busbar 3, starting from the second busbar section 31, is initially bent concavely with a first radius R1 and then merges into a convex bent section with a radius of curvature R2, in each case in one viewing direction onto the support area 34. It is advantageous if the radius R1 is larger than the radius R2, for example, at least twice as large.

[0237] In this way, the operating lever 5 can at least partially also be supported on the bent area of the busbar 3, i.e. in the bent area 35, and can run along it during a pivoting movement.

[0238] As an alternative to the one-piece design exemplified thus far, the busbar 3 described can also be designed as a multi-piece design, e.g. with two or more separate busbar sections. In particular, the third busbar section 37 can be designed as a separate busbar section from the first and second busbar sections 30, 31. This is, e.g., advantageous for use in a disconnect terminal.

[0239] FIG. 15 shows a further embodiment of a conductor connection terminal 1, in this case in the form of a terminal block, wherein four conductor connection terminals 1 lined up next to one another are shown as an example. The conductor connection terminals 1 have the structure described above in the area visible on the left, i.e. the arrangement with the busbar 3, the clamping spring 4 and the operating lever 5 in the insulating material housing 2. In this case, the busbar 3 is designed in accordance with the embodiments of FIGS. 13 and 14, i.e. it has the third busbar section 37. The third busbar section extends into an area of the respective conductor connection terminal 1 shown on the right, in which at least one second conductor connection 8 with a second clamping point 9 is arranged in each case. In the exemplary embodiment shown, each conductor connection terminal 1 has two second conductor connections 8 and, accordingly, two second clamping points 9. The respective second conductor connection 8 is accessible via further conductor insertion openings formed in the insulating material housing 2. An electrical conductor can be inserted into the second conductor connection 8 in a conductor insertion direction L2. The conductor insertion direction L1 can be different from the conductor insertion direction L2.

[0240] The conductor connection terminals 1 have support rail fastening elements 82 with which the respective conductor connection terminal 1 can be fastened to a support rail, for example by snapping it onto the support rail. Relative to a fastening plane of the conductor connection terminal 1 defined by the support rail, the conductor insertion direction L1 can be arranged, for example, in a range of 30 degrees to 60 degrees to the fastening plane, and the conductor insertion direction L2 in an angular range of 75 to 105 degrees.

[0241] The support rail fastening elements 82 are arranged on a support rail fastening side of the insulating material housing 2. The operating levers 5 can be seen on the housing side of the insulating material housing facing away from the support rail fastening side, which is also referred to as the housing upper side 83. Here, the outer surface 65 of the manual operating section of the operating lever 5 in the closed position has the same course as the adjacent surface contour of the insulating material housing, i.e. the adjacent parts of the housing top side 83.

[0242] The conductor connection terminal 1 in the area of the second conductor connection 8 can be actuated by a further operating element 81, which can be arranged either as part of the conductor connection terminal 1, e.g. in the form of a pusher, in an operating opening 80 of the insulating material housing 2, or can be implemented by a separate operating tool that can be guided as needed through the operating opening 80 to the second conductor connection 8, but which is not part of the conductor connection terminal 1.

[0243] A further embodiment of the clamping spring 4 and a conductor connection terminal 1 formed therewith are shown using FIGS. 16 to 18. In contrast to the previously outlined embodiments, the clamping spring 4 has an additional arcuate area in the area of the clamping leg 43, which is referred to as the clamping leg arch 90. In the area of the clamping leg arch 90, the clamping leg 43 is bent towards the inner area of the space enclosed by the clamping spring 4. The overload protection element 29 of the insulating material housing 2 is adapted to the clamping leg bend 90. By means of the clamping leg arch 90, a shortened buckling length of the clamping leg 43 is achieved when the area of the clamping leg 43 between the clamping leg arch 90 and the spring arch 41 rests against the overload protection element 29. Thus, when the operating lever moves from the closed position into the open position, the clamping leg arch 90 strikes the overload protection element 29.

[0244] It can also be seen that the clamping spring 4 according to FIGS. 16 and 17 can have a different design of the clamping tongue 44, e.g. with an initially decreasing width towards the clamping edge 45, which becomes larger again in the end section so that a relatively wide clamping edge 45 can be provided with little material. Alternatively, the clamping spring 4 can also have a clamping tongue 44, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

[0245] FIG. 19 shows the conductor connection terminal 1, which was already explained above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, in a representation similar to FIG. 4, but with different sectional planes. In the conductor connection terminal 1 shown in FIG. 19, the operating lever 5 is again in the open position. The operating lever 5 is supported on the first support point 84 and the second support point 85. The first support point 84 is formed between the first fixing element 52 of the operating lever 5 and the second latching edge 91; the second support point 85 is formed between the fourth fixing element 64 of the operating lever 5 and the bent area 35 of the busbar 3.

[0246] A straight connecting line 86 is shown in FIG. 19, which runs through the first support point 84 and the second support point 85. A straight line 87 also shows the effective direction of the tensile force acting on the operating lever 5 by the clamping spring 4, which is transmitted via the operating arm 42. The direction of the line of action 87 corresponds to the direction of the operating arm 42 or the direction of the side webs 47 of the operating arm 42. It can be seen that an angle is formed by the operating arm 42 or the line of action 87 to the straight connecting line 86. The angle is thus defined in a mathematically positive direction from the line of action 87 or the direction of the operating arm 42 to the straight connecting line 86. The angle is advantageously less than 90 degrees. This results in an advantageous funnel shape of the line of action 87 of the tensile force or the direction of the operating arm 42 as compared to the support plane that is formed by the first support point 84 and the second support point 85 (shown by the connecting line 86).

[0247] Based on the sequence of movements of the operating lever 5 illustrated by FIGS. 19 to 21, the advantageous force-reducing mechanism, which is effective at least when the operating lever 5 is moved from the open position towards the closed position, will now be explained. The operating lever 5 is supported at a main contact point K1, K2, K3, K4, K5 in the conductor connection terminal 1. Via the main contact point K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, the largest force of the clamping spring that acts on the operating lever is transmitted to at least one other element of the conductor connection terminal. The main contact point K1, K2, K3, K4, K5 can experience a discontinuous (abrupt) change of location several times when the operating lever 5 is pivoted over its pivoting range.

[0248] First of all, it is assumed that the operating lever 5 is completely in the open position and is supported on the first support point 84 and the second support point 85, as shown in FIG. 19. In this state, a first location of the main contact point K1 can be formed between the busbar 3 and the area of the operating lever 5 supported on the busbar 3, e.g. at the second support point 85. The first location of the main contact point K1 can alternatively also be formed at the first support point 84.

[0249] If the operating lever 5 is now subjected to force by the action of a manual operating force on the operating section 50 in the direction of the closed position, the pivoting process of the operating lever 5 begins with a first instantaneous center M1 of the pivoting movement being formed at the first support point 84, i.e. between the second latching edge 91 and the first fixing element 52. A second location of the main contact point K2 can now be formed at the first support point 84. At the same time, the latching at the second support point 85 is released, i.e. the operating lever 5 is slightly raised in this area so that the fourth fixing element 64 and its adjoining material areas are not stressed by friction on the busbar 3 and are accordingly not worn. As a result of this movement phase of the operating lever 5, the second fixing element 53 can concurrently be lifted over the first latching edge 21, so to speak, wherein a certain distance can arise between the second fixing element 53 and the first latching edge 21.

[0250] FIG. 21 shows the further course of the movement of the operating lever 5 when it is moved into the closed position. If the operating lever 5 is moved further in the direction of the closed position, the lateral support element 56 of the operating lever 5 comes into contact with an edge of the insulating material housing 2. At this point in time, the instantaneous center of the pivoting movement of the operating lever 5 changes to point M2, as shown in FIG. 21, that is to say to the contact point between the lateral support element 56 and the insulating material housing 2. At this point, a third location of the main contact point K3 of the operating lever 5 can now be formed for a further movement phase of the operating lever 5.

[0251] The contact between the lateral support element 56 and the insulating material housing 2 is again broken. The operating lever 5 can now slide along a guide track of the insulating material housing with the second fixing element 53 or the underside of the first guide section 57, so that a fourth location of the main contact point of the operating lever 5 is now formed at this location.

[0252] Furthermore, in the further course of movement, the support projection 58 of the operating lever 5 comes into contact with the support area 34 of the busbar 3, so that a fifth location of the main contact point of the operating lever can be formed between the support area 58 of the operating lever 5 and the support area 34 of the busbar.

[0253] FIG. 22 now shows the position of the operating lever 5 when moving from the closed position into the open position, shortly before reaching the open position. The underside of the first guide section 57 or the second fixing element 53 slide along a guideway of the insulating material housing 2 or rest on this guideway shortly before reaching the open position, so that the fourth fixing element 64 and the support projection 58 of the operating lever 5 opposite the busbar 3 are lifted or at least slightly spaced. In the further course of movement of the operating lever 5 into the closed position, the second fixing element 53 moves behind the first latching edge 21 of the insulating material housing 2, so that the operating lever 5 is pulled under the action of the spring force in the direction of the busbar 3 and the fourth fixing element 64 rests on the bent area 35 (second support point 85) and thus reaches its end position in the open position according to FIG. 19.

[0254] 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.