Sprung busbar tapping clip

Abstract

Disclosed is a busbar tapping clamp (10) comprising a clamping member (16) that can be attached to a busbar (12) like a G-clamp, and sprung means (34) for bringing a conductor (32), which extends to the busbar tapping clamp (10), into electroconductive contact with the clamping member (16).

Claims

1. A busbar tapping clamp (10) comprising: a housing, a busbar clamping member (16) that is situated in the housing (14), comprising a hook-shaped extension (18) within the housing, which is a part of a clamping device (18, 22) which electroconductively contacts a busbar (12), and which mechanically fixes the busbar tapping clamp (10) to the busbar (12) using the extension (18) of the busbar clamping member (16) as a stop, a conductor contacting spring member (34) within the housing (14) for electroconductively contacting a conductor (32) inserted into the housing (14), into electroconductive contact with the busbar clamping member (16), using clamping spring technology, and wherein the housing (14) is an at least two-part housing (14) comprising an inner housing part (40) and an outer housing part (42) that accommodates the inner housing part (40), wherein the housing (14) and the busbar clamping member (16) comprise a clamping member retaining structure (44, 46) defined between the inner housing part (40) and the busbar clamping member (16) to engage the inner housing part (40), the conductor contacting spring member (34) and the busbar clamping member (16) so to define a relative position of the housing (14), the busbar clamping member (16), and the, or each, conductor contacting spring member (34) for electroconductively contacting a conductor (32).

2. The busbar tapping clamp (10) according to claim 1 wherein the clamping member retaining structure (44, 46) comprises recesses (46) in the busbar clamping member (16) as well as tabs (44) on the housing (14) intended for engaging in these recesses (46).

3. The busbar tapping clamp (10) according to claim 2, wherein the conductor contacting spring member (34) comprises spring force clamps (34) having a fixed leg and a movable leg for electroconductively contacting a conductor (32), and wherein a free end of each fixed leg engages in the recess (46) in the busbar clamping member (16).

4. The busbar tapping clamp (10) according to claim 1, wherein the busbar clamping member (16) for electroconductively contacting a conductor (32) includes lateral contact surfaces (52), and on each of these surfaces has at least one notch.

5. The busbar tapping clamp (10) according to claim 1, wherein the busbar clamping member (16) is a solid, one-piece component having at least one clamping screw thread hole (20), wherein the clamping device includes at least one clamping screw (22) that is guided in the clamping screw thread hole (20), and wherein by means of the clamping screw (22) the busbar tapping clamp (10) is fixable to the busbar (12) by clamping the busbar (12) via the clamping screw (22), and to a portion of the extension (18) that functions as the stop.

6. A method for manufacturing a busbar tapping clamp (10) according to claim 1, wherein the conductor contacting spring member (34) comprises spring force clamps (34) disposed in the inner housing part (40) in recesses for electroconductively contacting a conductor (32) inserted into the housing (14), wherein the busbar clamping member (16), with engagement of the clamping member retaining structure (44, 46) with one another, is placed in the inner housing part (40), and wherein the inner housing part (40) together with the spring force clamps (34) mounted in/on same and the busbar clamping member (16) are inserted into the outer housing part (42).

7. A method for manufacturing a busbar tapping clamp (10) according to claim 2, wherein the conductor contacting spring member (34) comprises spring force clamps (34) disposed in the inner housing part (40) in recesses for electroconductively contacting a conductor (32) inserted into the housing (14), wherein the busbar clamping member (16), with engagement of the clamping member retaining structure (44, 46) with one another, is placed in the inner housing part (40), and wherein the inner housing part (40) together with the spring force clamps (34) mounted in/on same and the busbar clamping member (16) are inserted into the outer housing part (42).

8. The busbar tapping clamp (10) according to claim 2, wherein the busbar clamping member (16) for electroconductively contacting a conductor (32) includes lateral contact surfaces (52), and on each of these surfaces has at least one notch.

9. The busbar tapping clamp (10) according to claim 2, wherein the busbar clamping member (16) is a solid, one-piece component having at least one clamping screw thread hole (20), wherein the clamping device includes at least one clamping screw (22) that is guided in the clamping screw thread hole (20), and wherein by means of the clamping screw (22) the busbar tapping clamp (10) is fixable to the busbar (12) by clamping the busbar (12) via the clamping screw (22), and to a portion of the extension (18) that functions as the stop.

10. A method for manufacturing a busbar tapping clamp (10) according to claim 3, wherein the conductor contacting spring member (34) comprises spring force clamps (34) disposed in the inner housing part (40) in recesses for electroconductively contacting a conductor (32) inserted into the housing (14), wherein the busbar clamping member (16), with engagement of the clamping member retaining structure (44, 46) with one another, is placed in the inner housing part (40), and wherein the inner housing part (40) together with the spring force clamps (34) mounted in/on same and the busbar clamping member (16) are inserted into the outer housing part (42).

11. The busbar tapping clamp (10) according to claim 3, wherein the busbar clamping member (16) for electroconductively contacting a conductor (32) includes lateral contact surfaces (52), and on each of these surfaces has at least one notch.

12. The busbar tapping clamp (10) according to claim 3, wherein the busbar clamping member (16) is a solid, one-piece component having at least one clamping screw thread hole (20), wherein the clamping device includes at least one clamping screw (22) that is guided in the clamping screw thread hole (20), and wherein by means of the clamping screw (22) the busbar tapping clamp (10) is fixable to the busbar (12) by clamping the busbar (12) via the clamping screw (22), and to a portion of the extension (18) that functions as the stop.

13. A method for manufacturing a busbar tapping clamp (10) according to claim 4, wherein the conductor contacting spring member (34) comprises spring force clamps (34) disposed in the inner housing part (40) in recesses for electroconductively contacting a conductor (32) inserted into the housing (14), wherein the busbar clamping member (16), with engagement of the clamping member retaining structure (44, 46) with one another, is placed in the inner housing part (40), and wherein the inner housing part (40) together with the spring force clamps (34) mounted in/on same and the busbar clamping member (16) are inserted into the outer housing part (42).

14. A method for manufacturing a busbar tapping clamp (10) according to claim 5, wherein the conductor contacting spring member (34) comprises spring force clamps (34) disposed in the inner housing part (40) in recesses (311) for electroconductively contacting a conductor (32) inserted into the housing (14), wherein the busbar clamping member (16), with engagement of the clamping member retaining structure (44, 46) with one another, is placed in the inner housing part (40), and wherein the inner housing part (40) together with the spring force clamps (34) mounted in/on same and the busbar clamping member (16) are inserted into the outer housing part (42).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The figures show the following:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a side view of an embodiment of a busbar tapping clamp that is already known,

(3) FIG. 2 shows the busbar tapping clamp from FIG. 1 in a sectional view, in a state in which it is fixed to a busbar,

(4) FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a busbar tapping clamp of the type proposed herein,

(5) FIG. 4 shows the busbar tapping clamp according to FIG. 3 with attached conductors,

(6) FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show a longitudinal section of the busbar tapping clamp according to FIG. 3,

(7) FIG. 7a and FIG. 7b show a further longitudinal section of the busbar tapping clamp according to FIG. 3 with a different section plane,

(8) FIG. 8 shows the busbar tapping clamp according to FIG. 3 in the longitudinal section as in FIGS. 7a, 7b, with conductors that are inserted and held by spring force clamps, and a tool that is inserted for releasing a spring force clamp,

(9) FIG. 9 shows the busbar tapping clamp according to FIG. 3 in the longitudinal section as in FIGS. 7a, 7b, and in a further section along a section plane perpendicular to the section plane used in FIGS. 7a, 7b, and

(10) FIG. 10 shows snapshots during manufacture of the busbar tapping clamp according to FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

(11) The illustration in FIG. 1 shows an isometric side view of an embodiment of a busbar tapping clamp 10 that is already known (DE 20 2011 000 622 U1, DE 10 2012 203 554 A). The busbar tapping clamp is mounted on a busbar 12.

(12) The following description, at this point, is provided based on this previously known busbar tapping clamp 10; by this reference, DE 20 2011 000 622 U1 and DE 10 2012 203 554 A themselves, strictly as a precaution, are deemed incorporated in full into the present description.

(13) FIG. 2 shows a sectional illustration of the embodiment of the busbar tapping clamp 10 according to FIG. 1. Accordingly, the busbar tapping clamp 10 has a clamping member 16 in a housing 14, the clamping member being characterized by a hook-shaped extension 18. The busbar tapping clamp 10 is fixable to the busbar 12 by means of a clamping device that includes the extension 18 in its function as a stop. In the embodiment shown, this clamping device also includes at least one clamping screw 22 that is guided in a clamping screw thread hole 20 in the clamping member 16. The clamping member 16 is a solid part, for example a brass block, an aluminum block, or in general a block made of an electrically conductive metal.

(14) In the known embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the busbar tapping clamp 10 has conductor insertion openings 26 on oppositely situated connection sides 24.

(15) The hook-shaped extension 18 has a one-piece design and is joined to the clamping member 16 in one piece. The clamping member 16 together with its hook-shaped extension 18 thus forms a formed metal block. The busbar tapping clamp 10 is fixable to the busbar 12 via the clamping screw 22, by clamping the busbar 12 by means of the clamping screw 22 and the portion of the extension 18 that functions as a stop. The busbar 12 is thus situated in a recess 30 (FIG. 3) that is formed by the clamping member 16 and its hook-shaped extension 18, and at that location via the clamping screw 22 is clamped against the hook-shaped extension 18 of the clamping member 16, as in a screw clamp. Contact having exceptional mechanical strength and load capability is established between the busbar tapping clamp 10 and the busbar 12 due to this fixing of the busbar tapping clamp 10 to the busbar 12.

(16) At the same time, however, this fixing also results in contact between the busbar tapping clamp 10 and the clamping member 16 which has exceptional electrical load capability and durability. For an electrically conductive clamping screw 22, electroconductive contact between the clamping member 16 and the busbar 12 likewise results via the mechanical contact of the clamping screw 22 with the busbar 12. The fact that the busbar 12 is clamped by means of the clamping screw 22 and the portion of the extension 18 that functions as a stop results in large-surface electroconductive contact with different surface sections of the busbar 12, namely, between a surface section of the busbar 12 and a surface section of the clamping member 16 in the area of the hook-shaped extension 18, and between a further surface section of the busbar 12 and a surface section of the clamping screw 22, which, due to being led in the clamping screw thread hole 20 formed in the clamping member 16, itself is electroconductively connected to the clamping member 16.

(17) In the embodiment of the busbar tapping clamp 10 illustrated in FIG. 2, a clamping screw is shown as an actuating element 34 in each case for fixing one end of a conductor 32 (not shown in FIG. 2; see FIG. 4) that is inserted through a conductor insertion opening 26 into a borehole in the clamping member 16.

(18) The illustration in FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the busbar tapping clamp 10 according to the invention. Here as well, the busbar tapping clamp has a clamping member 16 (FIG. 5) in a housing, with a hook-shaped extension 18 by means of which the busbar tapping clamp 10 is fixable to a busbar 12 (FIGS. 1, 2) for obtaining electroconductive contact with the busbar 12. The above discussion concerning the clamping member 16 and its extension 18 as well as the fixing of the busbar tapping clamp 10 to a busbar 12 thus applies to the busbar tapping clamp 10, presented for the first time at this point in the description. Combination of the busbar tapping clamp 10 with busbars 12 having different cross sections is possible due to the geometry of the hook-shaped extension 18 and a width of the recess 30 that is thus specified.

(19) On a top side 28 facing away from the extension 18, the busbar tapping clamp 10 has one or more conductor insertion openings 26in the example shown, two conductor insertion openings 26, namely, one conductor insertion opening 26 on each side of a center axis in the area of the clamping screw 22. A tool insertion opening 36 is associated with each conductor insertion opening 26. In the exemplary embodiment shown, each tool insertion opening 36 is situated adjoining the respective conductor insertion opening 26, based on the center axis of the busbar tapping clamp 10.

(20) The illustration in FIG. 4 shows the busbar tapping clamp 10 according to FIG. 3 with conductors 32 connected to the busbar tapping clamp 10 and inserted into the conductor insertion openings 26.

(21) The illustrations in FIGS. 5 and 6 show the busbar tapping clamp 10 according to FIG. 3 in a partial sectional view. The illustration in FIG. 5 shows the busbar tapping clamp 10 in an isometric view as in FIG. 3. The illustration in FIG. 6 shows the busbar tapping clamp 10 in a side view. One of the two side walls of the housing 14, parallel to the vertical axis of the busbar tapping clamp 10 (the plane of the drawing in the illustration in FIG. 6), has been removed to obtain the sectional illustration. There is an unobstructed view of the clamping member 16 inside the housing 14, and of the actuating elements 34 of the busbar tapping clamp 10.

(22) As actuating elements 34 for fixing one end of a conductor 32 (FIG. 4) that is connected to the busbar tapping clamp 10, the busbar tapping clamp 10 has actuating elements 34 in clamping spring technology. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a spring force clamp 34 in each case functions as an actuating element 34 in clamping spring technology. Spring force clamps 34 are basically known per se, and, as is known, are sometimes referred to as cage clamp terminals, cage clamps, or spring-loaded terminals. The spring force clamp 34 functions as an actuating element 34, since when a conductor 32 is connected to the busbar tapping clamp 10, its end actuates the spring force clamp 34, and for releasing a conductor 32 connected to the busbar tapping clamp 10, the spring force clamp 34 is actuated by means of a tool 38 (FIG. 8) that is inserted into a tool insertion opening 36 in order to release the conductor end.

(23) It is also apparent in the sectional illustration in FIG. 5 that the housing 14 is a housing 14 composed of at least two parts. This housing includes an inner housing part 40 and an outer housing part 42 that accommodates the inner housing part 40, each preferably having a one-piece design. A releasable connection is suitable for combining the inner housing part 40 with the outer housing part 42. A detent hook that is formed on the inner housing part 40 and a corresponding detent hook receptacle formed in the outer housing part 42 for accommodating the detent hook in question are illustrated as an example of means, arbitrary in principle, for releasably fixing the inner housing part 40 in the outer housing part 42.

(24) The inner housing part 40 supports the, or each, actuating element 34 of the busbar tapping clamp 10 as well as the clamping member 16. A clamp spring seat contour for accommodating and fixing a spring force clamp 34, at least in sections, in a form-fit manner is formed in the inner housing part 40 for accommodating a spring force clamp 34 in each case. In the embodiment shown, for retaining the clamping member 16 the inner housing part 40 has two tabs 44 that engage in corresponding recesses 46 in the clamping member 16 (only one tab 44 and only one recess 46 are depicted in the illustration in FIG. 5). The tabs 44 on the side of the inner housing part 40 and the recesses 46 in the clamping member 16 are examples of clamping member retaining means 44, 46. In the sense of a kinematic reversal, a tab 44 that functions as a clamping member retaining means 44 may also be a part of the clamping member 16 and intended for engagement in a recess 46 in the inner housing part 40 that functions as a clamping member retaining means 46. It is essential that, by means of the clamping member retaining means 44, 46, the clamping member 16 is releasably connected to the inner housing part 40, and that a defined relative position of the inner housing part 40 and the clamping member 16 is ensured by means of the clamping member retaining means 44, 46.

(25) In the exemplary embodiment shown, a configuration which in principle is optional is illustrated in which one of the free ends of the clamping spring/spring force clamp 34 in each case also engages in the recess 46 in the clamping member 16. This free end of the spring force clamps 34 adjoins a leg of the spring force clamps 34, which is horizontal in the illustration (FIG. 6). This leg, which is horizontal in the illustration, rests on a supporting surface 48 that is formed in the inner housing part 40 and is likewise horizontal in the illustration. As a result of these free ends of the spring force clamps 34 likewise engaging in the recesses 46 in the clamping member 16, they also function as clamping member retaining means 44, 46, and due to the clamping member 16 conduct tensile and/or pressure forces to the inner housing part 40, in particular as a result of tensile and/or pressure forces due to the clamping member 16 being distributed over the supporting surface 48 of the inner housing part 40. This relieves load on the tabs 44 of the inner housing part, in particular when metallic spring force clamps 34 are used as spring force clamps 34.

(26) The illustration in FIGS. 7a, 7b shows a side view of another sectional illustration of the busbar tapping clamp 10 according to FIG. 3. The section plane, in comparison to the section plane in FIGS. 5 and 6, lies deeper and extends approximately centrally through the busbar tapping clamp 10. It is apparent in this illustration that the conductor insertion openings 26 are adjoined by a connection space 50 inside the busbar tapping clamp 10. The stripped end of a conductor 32 to be connected to the busbar tapping clamp 10 is in each case guided into this area (the illustration in FIG. 8 shows a connected conductor 32). The stripped end of the conductor 32 is guided through an eyelet in one of the two legs of the spring force clamp 34 in a manner basically known per se. This eyelet is part of the retaining profile of the spring force clamp 34, and is intended for guiding the conductor end through. In the embodiment shown, the eyelet is in the leg that is horizontal in the illustration. The conductor end is guided through this eyelet and thereby passes into the connection space 50. In the connection space 50, the conductor end is pressed against a side surface of the clamping member 16, which functions as a contact surface 52, by means of the other leg (the leg without the eyelet). This results in the electroconductive contact between the conductor end and the clamping member 16, and when a busbar tapping clamp 10 is connected to a busbar 12, results in the electroconductive contact between the conductor end and the busbar 12.

(27) In the embodiment shown in the figures, the clamping member 16 optionally has on its contact surface 52 one or more notch means, for example in the form of the ribs shown (not denoted by a reference numeral), for improving the retention of a conductor end. The particular notch means, in particular the, or each, rib, with its surface or edge facing the conductor end notches into the surface of the conductor end. A similar notching effect is associated with the end of the movable leg of the spring force clamp 34. When at least one such rib is provided on the contact surfaces 52 of the clamping member 16, the conductor end is additionally retained by notching on both sides.

(28) It is also pointed out that the clamping screw 22 is shown considerably above the clamping screw thread hole 20. When a clamping screw 22 is screwed into the clamping screw thread hole 20, the head of the clamping screw 22 is considerably below the top side 28 of the busbar tapping clamp 10 defined by the surface of the inner housing part 40. After the clamping screw 22 is tightened for fixing the busbar tapping clamp 10 to a busbar 12, the head of the clamping screw 22 is set back even farther from the top side 28. This acts as protection against contact, and with an appropriate cross section of the opening in the top side 28 of the busbar tapping clamp 10 provided for inserting the clamping screw 22, the busbar tapping clamp is safe to the touch, in particular since the spring force clamps 34 inside the housing 14 are likewise set back far from the top side 28.

(29) By use of the clamping screw 22 for fixing the busbar tapping clamp 10 to the particular busbar 12 on the one hand, and spring force clamps 34 for fixing connected conductor ends on the other hand, the busbar tapping clamp 10 may, for example, be temporarily released from the busbar 12, for example to change a position of the busbar tapping clamp 10 on the busbar 12 without likewise having to release electrical conductors 32 that are possibly already connected to the busbar tapping clamp 10.

(30) It is apparent from a comparison of the illustration in FIG. 1 and the busbar 12 shown there with the illustrations starting with FIG. 3, in particular the illustration in FIG. 3, that the busbar tapping clamp 10 with its housing 14, in a state mounted on a busbar 12, covers a portion of a surface of the busbar 12. The conductor insertion openings 26 begin considerably above the busbar 12 (or in a different orientation, considerably in front of the busbar 12), so that the risk of unintentional contact with the surface of the busbar 12 is already greatly reduced in this way. The width of the busbar tapping clamp 10 (measured transversely with respect to a busbar 12) and the resulting lateral coverage of the particular busbar 12 ensure additional safety.

(31) The illustration in FIG. 8 shows the sectional view of the busbar tapping clamp 10 according to FIG. 7 with conductor ends inserted into the conductor insertion openings 26 and into the connection spaces 50. It is apparent that the conductor ends are pressed against one of the contact surfaces 52 of the clamping member 16 in order to obtain electroconductive contact with the clamping member 16 by means of the movable leg of the particular spring force clamp 34. It is also apparent that a conductor 32 that is connected to the busbar tapping clamp 10 may be released from the busbar tapping clamp 10 by means of a tool 38, for example the blade of a screwdriver (not shown true to scale). For this purpose, the movable leg of the particular spring force clamp 34 is deflected even further (further than through the conductor end itself) by means of the tool 38, so that the free end of the movable leg of the spring force clamp 34 is disengaged from the surface of the conductor end. The conductor end may then be pulled out of the connection space 50 and the conductor insertion opening 26.

(32) The illustration in FIG. 9 shows on the one hand the busbar tapping clamp 10 in an illustration as in FIG. 7, and on the other hand, a sectional illustration along the section line denoted by reference character AB. The section along the section line AB extends just above the leg, which is horizontal in the illustration, of the spring force clamps 34. In the sectional illustration, the view of this leg of the spring force clamps 34 and the eyelet therein, as well as the adjoining connection space 50 beneath same, is unobstructed. The cross section of the movable leg of the spring force clamps 34 is also apparent.

(33) The illustration in FIG. 10 shows snapshots during manufacture/installation of a busbar tapping clamp 10 in a schematically simplified manner. It is shown that in a first step, the spring force clamps 34 are initially placed in the inner housing part 40, namely, in each case in a clamp spring seat contour provided for this purpose. The clamping member 16 is placed in the inner housing part 40 in a subsequent second step. The tabs 44 of the inner housing part 40 and the recesses 46 in the clamping member, or in general, the particular clamping member retaining means 44, 46, thus engage with one another. This results in a part having three different components, namely, the inner housing part 40, the clamping member 16, and the spring force clamps 34. The sequence of steps 1 and 2 may also be interchanged for manufacture of the part. This part 40, 16, 34 as a whole is combined with the outer housing part 42, and for this purpose is pushed into the outer housing part 42. The inner housing part 40 may thus be connected to the outer housing part 42 in a locking manner. The manufacture/installation of the busbar tapping clamp 10 is thus concluded, without tools.

(34) Individual primary aspects of the description submitted herein may be briefly summarized as follows: A busbar tapping clamp 10 according to DE 20 2011 000 622 U1 or DE 10 2012 203 554 A is provided, comprising a clamping member 16 that is fixable to a busbar 12 in the manner of a screw clamp, or optionally according to DE 20 2011 000 622 U1 or DE 10 2012 203 554 A, comprising means 34 for bringing a conductor 32, led to the busbar tapping clip 10, into electroconductive contact with the clamping member 16, using clamping spring technology, i.e., a busbar tapping clamp 10 using clamping spring technology.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(35) 10 busbar tapping clamp 12 busbar 14 housing 16 clamping member 18 (hook-shaped) extension (on the clamping member) 20 clamping screw thread hole 22 clamping screw 24 connection side 26 conductor insertion opening 28 top side 30 recess (enclosed by the clamping member and its extension) 32 conductor 34 actuating element/spring force clamp 36 tool insertion opening 38 tool 40 inner housing part 42 outer housing part 44 clamping member retaining means/tab 46 clamping member retaining means/recess 48 supporting surface 50 connection space 52 contact surface (of the clamping member)