Conductor terminal

Abstract

A conductor terminal with a busbar piece and a clamping spring. The clamping spring has a clamping limb which is oriented towards the busbar piece in order to form a clamping point for clamping an electric conductor between the clamping limb and the bus bar piece, a spring bracket which adjoins the clamping limb, and a contact limb, a vertical section of which extends transversely to the bus bar piece. The vertical section of the contact limb has a recess with edges which surround the bus bar piece. The bus bar piece has a contact wall which adjoins the wall surface of the contact limb vertical section extending transversely to the busbar piece. The wall surface lying on the vertical section side facing away from the clamping limb, and which is designed to support the vertical section of the contact limb on the contact wall by means of the wall surface facing away from the clamping limb.

Claims

1. A conductor terminal comprising: a busbar piece; and a clamping spring that includes a clamping limb oriented towards the busbar piece to form a clamping point for clamping an electric conductor between the clamping limb and the busbar piece, a spring bend adjoining the clamping limb and a contact limb having a vertical section that extends transversely to the busbar piece, the vertical section of the contact limb having a recess with edges surrounding the busbar piece, wherein the busbar piece has a contact wall, which is disposed on a contact wall surface of the vertical section of the contact limb, the contact wall surface of the vertical section being arranged on a side of the vertical section facing away from the clamping limb, wherein the contact wall of the busbar piece supports the vertical section of the contact limb via the contact wall surface of the vertical section that faces away from the clamping limb.

2. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein a transverse web is formed on the recess of the vertical section of the contact limb, which engages with the busbar piece from below, the busbar piece being inserted into the recess, and wherein one of the edges of the recess of the vertical section, which is opposite the transverse web and which delimits the recess is supported on the busbar piece.

3. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the vertical section of the contact limb has a notch at a distance from the recess, and wherein a finger projects from the contact wall of the busbar piece, the finger being inserted into the notch.

4. The conductor terminal according to claim 3, wherein the finger wraps around a portion of the vertical section of the contact limb, such that an end of the finger abuts a wall surface of the vertical section which opposes the contact wall surface of the vertical section.

5. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein a horizontal section of the contact limb extending in a main extension direction of the busbar piece is bent away from the vertical section, and wherein the horizontal section is disposed at a distance from the busbar piece and transitions into the spring bend.

6. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal section does not have a support on the busbar piece.

7. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the clamping limb has an actuating section designed as a laterally projecting actuating bracket.

8. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the conductor terminal has an insulator housing, which includes a clamping insert formed from the busbar piece and the clamping spring.

9. The conductor terminal according to claim 8, wherein an actuating element is pivotably or movably supported in the insulator housing, wherein the actuating element is configured to strike an actuating section of the clamping limb when the actuating element is pivoted or moved.

10. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the busbar piece includes two fork tines that are disposed at a distance from each other and are oriented to face each other to form a tuning fork contact socket, and wherein the contact wall is formed by a side edge of a connecting web that connects the two fork tines to each other.

11. The conductor terminal according to claim 10, wherein a bracket projects from the connecting web, which abuts the vertical section and faces the clamping limb.

12. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the busbar piece has a wavy cross-sectional profile designed with creases and elevations in an area in which the vertical section of the contact limb is supported.

13. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein a horizontal section of the contact limb, which extends in a main extension direction of the busbar piece and is disposed at a distance from the busbar piece and which transitions into the spring bend, is bent away from the vertical section of the contact limb, and wherein a holding section extends toward the busbar piece projecting away from the horizontal section and is supported on the busbar piece.

14. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the contact wall is formed by an edge of the busbar piece facing the vertical section.

15. The conductor terminal according to claim 14, wherein the contact wall connects fork tines of the busbar piece to each other via an edge of a connecting web facing the vertical section or is formed by an edge of a fork tine situated on the end of the fork tine opposite the clamping end of the fork tine.

16. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the vertical section includes at least one side web, which is inserted into an assigned side recess of the busbar piece.

17. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the contact limb includes a contact section, which adjoins the vertical section and is bent around from the vertical section, wherein a portion of the contact section abuts a clamping section of the busbar piece on a side of the clamping section that faces away from the clamping limb, and wherein another portion of the contact section is spaced apart from the clamping section of the busbar piece, such that a test area is provided.

18. The conductor terminal according to claim 3, wherein the notch and the recess of the vertical section of the contact limb are each open-ended at one side thereof.

19. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein a distal end of the clamping limb faces and is spaced apart from a wall surface of the vertical section that opposes the contact wall surface of the vertical section of the contact limb.

20. The conductor terminal according to claim 11, wherein the bracket solely directly contacts the vertical section of the contact limb.

21. A conductor terminal comprising: a busbar piece; and a clamping spring that includes a clamping limb oriented towards the busbar piece to form a clamping point for clamping an electric conductor between the clamping limb and the busbar piece, a spring bend adjoining the clamping limb and a contact limb having a horizontal section and a vertical section, the vertical section extending transversely to the busbar piece and the vertical section of the contact limb having a recess with edges surrounding the busbar piece, wherein the busbar piece has a contact wall which is disposed on a contact wall surface of the vertical section of the contact limb, the contact wall surface of the vertical section being arranged on a side of the vertical section facing away from the clamping limb, wherein the contact wall of the busbar piece supports the vertical section of the contact limb via the contact wall surface of the vertical section that faces away from the clamping limb, and wherein the spring bend extends between the horizontal section of the contact limb and the clamping limb, and the horizontal section of the contact limb extends between the vertical section of the contact limb and the spring bend.

22. The conductor terminal according to claim 21, wherein the contact limb includes a contact section, which adjoins the vertical section and is bent around from the vertical section, wherein a portion of the contact section abuts a clamping section of the busbar piece on a side of the clamping section that faces away from the clamping limb, wherein another portion of the contact section is spaced apart from the clamping section of the busbar piece, such that a test area is provided, and wherein the contact section extends substantially parallel to the horizontal section, and wherein the horizontal section extends from an upper end of the vertical section and the contact section extends from a lower end of the vertical section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a clamping insert formed from the busbar piece and the clamping spring;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the clamping spring of the clamping insert from FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a side view of the clamping insert from FIG. 1 with section line A-A;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the clamping insert from FIG. 3 in section A-A;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a rear view of the vertical section of the contact limb;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a side view of a conductor terminal, including a contact insert from FIG. 1 and an actuating lever;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a top view of a 2-pole conductor terminal according to FIG. 6;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of the support of the contact limb on the busbar piece, including a wavy profile of the busbar piece;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a perspective exploded view of an embodiment of a conductor terminal, including an additional bracket on the busbar piece;

(11) FIG. 10 shows a perspective rear view of the conductor terminal from FIG. 9;

(12) FIG. 11 shows a perspective exploded view of the conductor terminal from FIGS. 9 and 10, viewed from the opposite side;

(13) FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the conductor terminal from FIGS. 9 through 11 in the assembled state; and

(14) FIG. 13 shows a perspective rear view of the assembled conductor terminal from FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(15) A perspective view of a clamping insert 1 is apparent from FIG. 1, which is formed from a busbar piece 2 and a clamping spring 3. This clamping insert 1 may be used directly as a conductor terminal without an insulator housing. However, a conductor terminal is generally formed by a clamping insert 1 of this type, which is built into an insulator housing.

(16) It is clear that busbar piece 2 is formed as a single piece from a metal sheet and includes a tuning fork contact socket 5, formed from two opposite fork tines 4a, 4b, on its side facing away from clamping spring 3. Fork tines 4a, 4b are oriented to face each other and each have a protrusion 6a, 6b, between which a contact pin may be plug-contacted, on their freely movable end. A trough 7 may be introduced on the opposite sides of each protrusion 6a, 6b to guide the contact pin to be clamped.

(17) The two opposite fork tines 4a, 4b are connected to each other via a connecting web 8. This connecting web 8 projects from the side edges of fork tines 4a, 4b and is integrally formed with these fork tines 4a, 4b from the same material.

(18) Clamping spring 3 includes a contact limb 9, which is formed from a vertical section 10 and a horizontal section 11 bent away therefrom. A spring bend 12, which transitions into a clamping limb 13, adjoins contact limb 9. Clamping limb 13 has a flexible tongue 15 oriented toward clamping section 14 extending away from lower fork tine 4a, whose free end has a clamping edge for clamping an electric conductor between clamping tongue 15 and clamping section 14 of busbar piece 2. Clamping section 14 has a protrusion or clamping edge 16, which forms a defined and reduced contact surface for the electric conductor clamped between clamping tongue 15 and clamping edge 16.

(19) It is clear that clamping limb 13 has an actuating bracket 17 on at least one side, which projects laterally at least in the direction of clamping tongue 15, It is used as a support for an actuating element to displace clamping limb 13 in the direction of horizontal section 11 of contact limb 9 and away from clamping section 14 of busbar piece 2. This actuating element 17 may thus be used to open the clamping point for clamping an electric conductor.

(20) It is furthermore clear that clamping section 14 of busbar piece 2 has a run-in bevel 18 on a free end, with the aid of which an electric conductor is guided toward clamping edge 16.

(21) Vertical section 10 of contact limb 9 is oriented transversely to clamping section 14 of busbar piece 2 and adjoining first fork tine 4a. The busbar piece is inserted into a recess 19 of vertical section 10. This recess 19 is delimited by a transverse web 20, which rests on the underside of busbar piece 2, which is opposite connecting web 8. The edge of vertical section 10, which is opposite transverse web 20 and which delimits recess 19, is then supported on the upper side of the busbar piece.

(22) Recess 19 is formed as a bay which is open on one side, so that clamping spring 3 may be pushed transversely to the extension direction of busbar piece 2.

(23) A finger 21 is disposed on second fork tine 4b at a distance from recess 19, which is inserted into a notch 22 on vertical section 10 and surrounds vertical section 10. Vertical section 10 is supported on a contact wall, which is provided by the side edge of connecting web 8. Vertical section 10 of contact limb 9 is thus supported by the wall section of connecting web 8 on the side facing away from clamping limb 13 and is fixed in place by finger 21 on the side facing clamping limb 13. Vertical section 10 may also adjoin the end face or side edge of fork tine 4b, which is situated on the end adjoining protrusion 6b.

(24) Clamping section 14 of busbar piece 2 is situated in an angled, elbowed or offset manner with respect to fork tines 4b, in whose extension clamping section 14 is provided, in the direction facing away from clamping spring 3. The elbowing is provided in busbar piece 2 on the side of vertical section 10 facing clamping limb 13. Transverse web 20 of vertical section 10, which is disposed on the underside of fork tine 4b, is bent away from or bent out of the plane of vertical section 10 in the direction of elbowed or offset clamping section 14. Transverse web 20 is supported on busbar piece 2, so that the spring forces caused by the deflection of clamping spring 3 may be captured or compensated for via this support of transverse web 20 in such a way that no elastic deformation or deflection of clamping section 14 takes place when a clamping force acts upon clamping section 14 due to the spring force of deflected clamping spring 3.

(25) A perspective view of clamping spring 3 is apparent from FIG. 2, which is formed from a spring sheet. This is an elastically resilient material, for example a metal sheet made from a chromium-containing alloy.

(26) It is apparent that a spring bend 12 adjoins clamping limb 13, which connects clamping limb 13 to contact limb 9. Clamping limb 13 has a first section, which adjoins spring bend 12 and which transitions into clamping tongue 15 after a curvature. End area 23 of clamping tongue 15, including clamping edge 24, is slightly widened. An actuating bracket 17 projects laterally from the edges of clamping limb 13 on at least one side in the curvature area.

(27) It is also clear that contact limb 19 is formed from a vertical section 11 and a vertical section 10 bent away therefrom. Horizontal section 11 may, in turn, have curvature areas to form areas situated on at least two planes.

(28) It is apparent that vertical section 10 has a recess 19, which is delimited by a lower transverse web 20 and an edge 25 opposite transverse web 20. This recess 19 has a bay-like design, i.e. open on one side, and is delimited by a side web 26, which connects transverse web 20 to the part of vertical section 10 transitioning into horizontal section 11.

(29) Transverse web 20 may have a lug 27 at a distance from this side web 26, with the aid of which an indentation is formed between lug 27 and side web 26. This lug 27 may be inserted into an indentation or opening of busbar piece 2 to additionally fix clamping spring 3 in place on busbar piece 2 However, it is also conceivable that a sunken part of busbar piece 2 is inserted into this indentation and that busbar piece 2 otherwise rests on lug 27.

(30) It is furthermore clear that notch 22 is provided on vertical section 10 at a distance from recess 19, adjacent to horizontal section 11. This notch 22 is adapted to accommodate finger 21 of busbar piece 2. In this way, the fixing of clamping spring 3 in place on busbar piece 2 is improved.

(31) FIG. 3 shows a side view of contact insert 1 from FIG. 1, including a section line A-A through vertical section 10 of clamping 3.

(32) It is initially apparent that the two fork tines 4a, 4b disposed at a distance from each other and oriented toward each other are connected by connecting web 8 integrally formed herewith into a tuning fork contact socket 5. The narrow side edge of connecting web 8 facing clamping limb 13 forms a contact wall 28, on which vertical section 10 of clamping spring 3 is supported. It is also clear that busbar piece 2, including first fork tine 4a and clamping section 14 adjoined thereto, is inserted into recess 19 of vertical section 10. Transverse web 20 abuts the underside of busbar piece 2. This underside is opposite the upper side of busbar piece 2, including clamping section 14, which has clamping edge 16 for clamping the electric conductor and toward which clamping limb 13 is oriented. It is clear that clamping tongue 15 of clamping limb 13 rests upon this upper side of busbar piece 2 in clamping section 14 in the idle state when the conductor is not clamped thereon.

(33) It is also clear that finger 21 projecting from second fork tine 4b is passed through vertical section 10 and surrounds vertical section 10 with its free end. Vertical section 10 thus abuts finger 21 on the side opposite the contact wall. In this way, vertical section 10 is held on contact wall 28 and rests on first fork tine 4a and the part of clamping section 14 of busbar piece 2 adjacent thereto.

(34) FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of clamping insert 1 in section A-A. It is clear that finger 21 extends through notch 22 in vertical section 10.

(35) It is further apparent that busbar piece 2 is inserted into recess 19 of vertical section 10 in the area of first fork tine 4a in the transition to clamping section 14, so that vertical section 10 rests with its upper edge 25 of recess 19 on busbar piece 2 and engages opposite transverse web 20 of busbar piece 2 from below.

(36) The view in FIG. 4 is shown, seen from tuning fork contact socket 5 in the direction of spring bend 12, which is apparent from section line A-A in FIG. 3.

(37) FIG. 5 shows a rear view of vertical section 10 of clamping spring 3 from FIG. 2. It is even clearer that notch 19 of vertical section 10 facilitates an insertion of busbar piece 2, so that contact limb 9 may come to rest on busbar piece 2 with its upper edge 25 delimiting recess 19, and transverse web 20 delimiting recess 19 engages with busbar piece 2 from below.

(38) It is clear that clamping spring 3 is provided to be laterally pushed onto or mounted on busbar piece 2.

(39) FIG. 6 shows a side view of a conductor terminal 29, which is formed from a clamping insert 3 described above and which is installed in an insulator housing 30. Insulator housing 30 also has an actuating element 31, which is designed in the illustrated exemplary embodiment as a pivotably supported actuating lever. The actuating lever includes an actuating arm 32, which extends above horizontal section 11 of clamping spring 3 and transitions into a bearing section 33 guided laterally past clamping spring 3. Bearing section 33 has an actuating contour 34, which is designed to strike laterally projecting actuating bracket 17 of clamping limb 13. When the actuating lever is pivoted upward, as outlined with actuating arm 32 in FIG. 6, clamping limb 13 is displaced away from clamping section 14 of busbar piece 2 for the purpose of opening the clamping point between clamping limb 13 and clamping section 14 in this way to clamp an electric conductor.

(40) It is clear that insulator housing 30 has a conductor insertion opening 35 for inserting an electric conductor 36 on the side opposite tuning fork contact socket 5. The insulated end of this electric conductor 36 is then electrically conductively clamped between clamping tongue 15 of the clamping limb and clamping section 14 of busbar piece 2. It is clear that, in the flipped down state of actuating lever 31, the latter rests on horizontal section 11 for the purpose of thereby stiffening the spring characteristic of clamping spring 3.

(41) Latching contours, e.g. in the form of latching openings 37 and latching pins, are provided on the side wall of insulator housing 30, with the aid of which multiple conductor terminals 19 may be combined one after the other into a terminal arrangement.

(42) Adjacent to tuning fork contact socket 5, a pin 38 projects from insulator housing 30, which may be used for the purpose of guidance, latching and/or coding.

(43) A contact pin insertion channel is present in insulator housing 30 on the side opposite conductor insertion opening 35 for the purpose of guiding a contact pin to the clamping point between fork tines 4a, 4b.

(44) It is clearly apparent that vertical section 10 abuts contact wall 28, which is provided by the side edge of connecting web 8 between fork tines 4a, 4b.

(45) A top view of a two-pole conductor terminal 29 is apparent in FIG. 7. Two insulator housings 30, including clamping inserts 1 installed therein, are disposed one next to the other and latched to each other. In the opened state, which is outlined with the upper conductor terminal, actuating arm 32 of actuating lever 31 does not cover horizontal section 11 of the clamping spring. The latter is then unable to be flexibly deflected upward, so that the spring force is further reduced during opening.

(46) It is also clear that a pin 38 is present, for example only on one conductor terminal of two-pole conductor terminal 29. A coding may be achieved thereby.

(47) FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a modification of contact insert 1. A recess 19 is introduced on vertical section 10, which is delimited by an upper edge 25 and side webs 26a, 26b projecting from this edge 25. Busbar piece 2 is accommodated in this recess 19 in the area of first fork tine 4a in the transition to holding section 14, in that it is inserted into recess 19 from below in the direction of upper edge 25. These two opposite side webs 26a, 26b then abut the side edges of busbar piece 2 or engage with recesses disposed laterally on busbar piece 2. It is clear that this design of clamping spring 3 is provided for a mounting on busbar piece 2 from above.

(48) It is apparent that busbar piece 2 has a wavy design due to creases 39 and elevations 40 in the area inserted into recess 19. The risk of busbar piece 2 being deformed by vertical section 10 being supported on busbar piece 2 is reduced thereby. The cross section of busbar piece 2 weakened by the side recesses is reinforced by wavy creases 39 and elevations 40 to be able to absorb the forces introduced by clamping spring 3.

(49) FIG. 9 shows a perspective exploded view of an embodiment of conductor terminal 1 formed from clamping spring 3 and busbar piece 2. Reference may essentially be made to the preceding discussions for the principle structure of busbar piece 2 and clamping spring 3.

(50) It is apparent that a bracket 42 projects from connecting web 8 on the side facing clamping tongue 15 of clamping spring 3. A side recess 43 is also present in the transition between lower fork tine 4a and clamping section 14.

(51) A contact section 44 projects from vertical section 10 of clamping spring 3 opposite horizontal section 11. This contact section 44 transition together with a side web 45 into vertical section 10. In addition to this side web 45, recess 19, with its edges surrounding busbar piece 2 in the installed state, is present in this transition area.

(52) It is furthermore apparent that the free end of contact section 44 bent around from the vertical section is again bent obliquely away from clamping limb 13. A trough-like indentation 46 is also introduced on the side of run-in bevel 18 of clamping section 14, which faces away from clamping limb 13. Run-in bevel 18 is furthermore narrower in the front end area than the adjoining area of clamping section 14. Tongue-like sections 47 are present on the side next to the run-in bevel.

(53) A perspective rear view of conductor terminal 1 from FIG. 9 is apparent in FIG. 10. It is again clear that the free end of clamping section 14 ends with a run-in bevel 18 in the central area. Tongue-like sections 47, which have a shorter length than run-in bevel 18 and extend at a slightly different angle than run-in bevel 18, are present on both sides of this run-in bevel 18. The upper sides of tongue-like sections 47 are also arched in a different manner than run-in bevel 18.

(54) It is furthermore clear that side recess 43 is positioned in such a way that it is situated upstream from bracket 42. viewed from the direction of fork tines 4a, 4b. On its side facing clamping limb 13, vertical section 10, which is inserted laterally into busbar piece 2, thus abuts bracket 42, and on its side facing away from clamping limb 13, it abuts busbar piece 2 on contact wall 28 formed by the edge of upper fork tine 4b and side recess 43.

(55) A perspective view of conductor terminal 1 according to FIG. 9 is apparent in FIG. 11 from the opposite side. Connecting section 8 is clearly shown, which connects fork tines 4a, 4b to each other. It is furthermore apparent that a bracket 42, formed as a single piece with connecting section 8, projects therefrom.

(56) It is furthermore apparent that a trough-like recess 46 is introduced on the underside of run-in bevel 18.

(57) It is also apparent that clamping spring 3 may be pushed laterally onto busbar piece 2. Side web 45 is disposed on the side opposite connecting web 8. Vertical section 10 is inserted into an intermediate space between bracket 42 and contact wall 28 formed by the edge.

(58) This is clearly apparent in FIG. 12, which now shows conductor terminal 1 in the assembled state. It is clear that side web 45 is now inserted into side recess 43 of clamping section 14. Vertical section 10 abuts bracket 42. Bracket 42 has a surface, such that it essentially covers vertical section 10 and forms a conductor stop for an electric conductor inserted into conductor insertion device L.

(59) It is furthermore apparent that contact section 44 of contact limb 9 bent away from vertical section 10 abuts clamping section 14 on the side of clamping section 14 opposite clamping limb 13. Contact section 44 extends up to run-in bevel 18, so that a clearance for accommodating a test pin is present between trough-like recess 46 and the free end of contact section 44. Contact section 44 is thus situated at a distance from clamping section 14 in this location.

(60) An intermediate space, which may also be used as a test area for accommodating a test pin, is furthermore provided on the side next to introduction section 18 between shortened fingers 47 and contact section 44 situated obliquely at a distance therefrom for the purpose of measuring the voltage potential present at conductor terminal 1 or signals present in this location.

(61) For this purpose, a test opening is present in an insulator housing beneath the conductor introduction opening.

(62) A perspective rear view of conductor terminal 1 from FIG. 12 is apparent in FIG. 13. It is once again clear that side web 45 of vertical section 10 is inserted into side recess 43 of busbar piece 2. It is clear that vertical section 10 abuts the edge of upper fork tine 4b facing clamping limb 15 between contact wall 28 on one side and bracket 42 on the opposite side, and an edge 25 thereof rests on clamping section 14 in the lower area. Edge 25 delimits recess 19.

(63) 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: