CURRENT BAR FOR A CONNECTION TERMINAL

Abstract

A current bar for a connection terminal comprises a first connection region and a second connection region which is galvanically connected to the first connection region. The current bar comprises a conductor support by which means the first connection region is galvanically connected to the second connection region, a main material constituent of the conductor support being aluminum and an electroconductive covering layer being arranged on the conductor support, an electroconductive intermediate layer being sandwiched between the conductor support and the covering layer.

Claims

1. A current bar for a connection terminal, wherein the current bar comprises a first connection region and a second connection region which is galvanically connected to the latter, wherein: the current bar comprises a conductor support, by means of which the first connection region is galvanically connected to the second connection region, wherein a main material constituent of the conductor support is aluminum, an electrically conductive covering layer is arranged on the conductor support; and an electrically conductive intermediate layer is sandwiched between the conductor support and the covering layer.

2. The current bar as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer incorporates nickel, or is comprised of nickel.

3. The current bar as claimed in claim 1, wherein the covering layer incorporates tin, or is comprised of tin.

4. The current bar as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the conductor support is configured in a sandwiched arrangement between two intermediate layers, the outer side of each of the intermediate layers is covered by a covering layer, such that each intermediate layer is configured in a sandwiched arrangement between the conductor support and a covering layer.

5. The current bar as claimed in claim 1, wherein the covering layer entirely encloses the conductor support, wherein the intermediate layer is arranged between the conductor support and the covering layer throughout.

6. The current bar as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first contacting surface of the first connection region and a second contacting surface of the second connection region are configured with a ribbed structure.

7. The current bar as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the intermediate layer has a dimensional thickness ranging from 1 m to 8 m, preferably from 2 m to 4 m; and the covering layer has a dimensional thickness ranging from 2 m to 16 m, preferably from 4 m to 8 m.

8. A connection terminal having a first conductor locator and a second conductor locator, wherein: the connection terminal comprises a current bar as claimed in claim 1; the first connection region of the current bar is contactable via the first conductor locator of the connection terminal; and the second connection region of the current bar is contactable via the second conductor locator of the connection terminal.

9. The connection terminal as claimed in claim 8, wherein the connection terminal is configured as a bushing terminal.

10. The connection terminal as claimed in claim 9, wherein: the connection terminal comprises an inner part and an outer part which is connectable thereto; and the first conductor locator is arranged in the inner part, and the second conductor locator is arranged in the outer part.

11. The connection terminal as claimed in claim 8, wherein the connection terminal is configured as a terminal block.

Description

[0036] Further advantages, details and characteristics of the invention proceed from the exemplary embodiments which are represented hereinafter. Specifically:

[0037] FIG. 1A: shows a perspective view of a current bar according to the invention;

[0038] FIG. 1B: shows a sectional representation of the current bar represented in FIG. 1A, in which the layered structure of the current bar can be seen;

[0039] FIG. 2A: shows a perspective view of a bushing terminal according to the invention;

[0040] FIG. 2B: shows the bushing terminal represented in FIG. 2A, from a different perspective;

[0041] FIG. 3: shows a side view of the bushing terminal represented in FIGS. 2A and 2B;

[0042] FIG. 4A: shows a frontal view of the bushing terminal represented in FIGS. 2A to 3;

[0043] FIG. 4B: shows a sectional representation of the bushing terminal represented in FIG. 4A;

[0044] FIG. 5A: shows a perspective view of a terminal block according to the invention;

[0045] FIG. 5B: shows a frontal view of the terminal block represented in FIG. 5A; and

[0046] FIG. 5C: shows a sectional representation of the terminal block represented in FIG. 5B.

[0047] In the following description, identical reference numbers identify identical components or identical characteristics, such that a description of a component provided with reference to one figure is also valid for the remaining figures, thereby avoiding any repetitive description. Moreover, individual characteristics which are described with reference to one form of embodiment can also be employed separately in other forms of embodiment.

[0048] FIG. 1A shows a perspective representation of a current bar 10 according to the invention. FIG. 1B shows a section of the current bar 10 represented in FIG. 1A. The current bar 10, which is preferably configured for a connection terminal 100, 200 represented in FIGS. 2A to 5C, comprises a first connection region 11 and a second connection region 13 which is galvanically connected to the latter. In the first connection region 11 of the current bar 10, a first contacting surface 12 is configured and, in the second connection region 13 of the current bar 10, a second contacting surface 14 is configured. Both the first contacting surface 12 and the second contacting surface 14 are configured for the contacting of current conductors, which are not represented in the figures.

[0049] As can be seen from FIG. 1A, both the first contacting surface 12 and the second contacting surface 14 are configured with a ribbed structure such that, between the respective contacting surfaces 12, 14 and the current conductors which are not represented in the figures, an enlarged contact surface is provided between the current bar 10 and the current conductors. Contact resistance between the respective current conductors and the respective contacting surfaces 12, 14 is thus reduced.

[0050] From FIG. 1B, it can be seen that the current bar 10 according to the invention comprises a conductor support 16, by means of which the first connection region 11 is galvanically connected to the second connection region 13. In the current bar 10 according to the invention, a main material constituent of the conductor support 16 is aluminum. As a material for the current bar 10, pure aluminum or an aluminum alloy can be employed. For example, the conductor support 16 can be constituted of EN AW 6060 aluminum. Naturally, in the context of the present invention, other aluminum alloys can also be employed as a material for the conductor support 16.

[0051] The current bar 10 according to the invention further comprises at least an electrically conductive covering layer 18. The covering layer 18 delimits the current bar 10 to the exterior. In the exemplary embodiment represented, the covering layer 18 entirely encloses the conductor support 16. It can further be seen from FIG. 1B that the current bar 10 also comprises an intermediate layer 17, which is sandwiched between the conductor support 16 and the covering layer 18. As can be seen from FIG. 1B, the intermediate layer 17 entirely encloses the conductor support 16, wherein the current bar 10 and the intermediate layer 17 are entirely enclosed by the covering layer 18.

[0052] The intermediate layer 17 preferably incorporates nickel, or is entirely comprised of nickel. The covering layer 18 preferably incorporates tin, or is entirely comprised of tin. As a result of the high ductility of the covering layer 18, which is configured as a tin layer 18, the surface of the current bar 10, upon the compression thereon of a current conductor which is not represented in the figures, adapts to the external geometry of said current conductor, such that a contacting surface area between the respective contact surfaces 12, 14 and the current conductors connected thereto is enlarged. Contact resistance between the connected current conductors and the current bar 10 is reduced accordingly.

[0053] The inventors have established that, with a thickness of the intermediate layer 17 preferably ranging from 1 m to 8 m, wherein a thickness of 2 m to 4 m is further preferred, particularly good results are achieved with respect to the corrosion protection of the conductor support 16. The inventors have further established that, with a thickness of the covering layer 18 preferably ranging from 2 m to 16 m, wherein a thickness of 4 m to 8 m is further preferred, particularly good results are achieved with respect to the adaptation of the current bar 10 to the shape of a conductor which is to be connected thereto.

[0054] In FIGS. 2A to 4B, a connection terminal 100 according to the invention is represented, configured in the form of a bushing terminal 100. The bushing terminal 100 comprises an inner part 110 and an outer part 120 which is connectable to the latter. As can specifically be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4B, an intermediate region 130 or a clear space 130 is constituted between the inner part 110 and the outer part 120. In an assembled state of the bushing terminal 100 on a housing wall of an electrical device, which is not represented in the figures, the housing wall is arranged in the intermediate region 130. A first conductor locator 111 of the bushing terminal 100 is arranged in the inner part 110, and a second conductor locator 121 is arranged in the outer part 120.

[0055] As can specifically be seen from FIG. 4B, the bushing terminal 100 according to the invention comprises a current bar 10, which is described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B. The first connection region 11 of the current bar 10 is contactable via the first conductor locator 111 of the bushing terminal 100, and the second connection region 13 of the current bar 10 is contactable via the second conductor locator 121 of the bushing terminal 100.

[0056] FIGS. 5A to 5C represent a connection terminal 200 according to the invention, which is configured in the form of a terminal block 200. The terminal block 200 comprises a first conductor locator 211 and a second conductor locator 221. As can specifically be seen from FIG. 5C, the terminal block 200 according to the invention comprises a current bar 10, which is described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B. The first connection region 11 of the current bar 10 is contactable via a first conductor locator 211 of the terminal block 200, and the second connection region 13 of the current bar 10 is contactable via a second conductor locator 221 of the terminal block 200. From FIG. 5C, it can further be seen that the terminal block 200 according to the invention comprises a latching device 230, by means of which the terminal block 200 can be latched onto a bar, which is not represented in the figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0057] 10 Current bar/current rail

[0058] 11 First connection region (of current bar)

[0059] 12 First contacting surface (of current bar/first connection region)

[0060] 13 Second connection region (of current bar)

[0061] 14 Second contacting surface (of current bar/second connection region)

[0062] 16 Conductor support (of current bar)

[0063] 17 Intermediate layer/nickel layer (of current bar)

[0064] 18 Covering layer/tin layer (of current bar)

[0065] 100 Connection terminal/bushing terminal

[0066] 110 Inner part (of bushing terminal)

[0067] 111 First conductor locator (of bushing terminal)

[0068] 112 First tool opening (of bushing terminal)

[0069] 120 Outer part (of bushing terminal)

[0070] 121 Second conductor locator (of bushing terminal)

[0071] 122 Second tool opening (of bushing terminal)

[0072] 200 Connection terminal/terminal block

[0073] 211 First conductor locator (of terminal block)

[0074] 212 First tool opening (of terminal block)

[0075] 221 Second conductor locator (of terminal block)

[0076] 222 Second tool opening (of terminal block)

[0077] 230 Latching device (of terminal block)