Abstract
A conductor connection terminal having several spring force clamping connections, each of which has at least one clamping spring, which form a clamping point for clamping an electrical conductor with an associated busbar piece. The invention also relates to an electrical connector having at least one such conductor connection terminal.
Claims
1. A conductor connection terminal comprising: at least two spring force clamping connections, each having at least one clamping spring that forms a clamping point for clamping an electrical conductor with an associated busbar piece; and a rotary actuator that is a manual actuating element, the rotary actuator being rotatable about an axis of rotation and which, in the event of a rotation by a first rotation angle, is set up to deflect several or all of the clamping springs and thereby open the clamping points associated therewith, wherein the axis of rotation of the rotary actuator runs at least approximately parallel and/or in alignment with a conductor insertion direction of the several or all of the clamping springs to be actuated by the rotary actuator.
2. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the rotary actuator is rotatably mounted on a first housing part of the conductor connection terminal.
3. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 2, wherein the rotary actuator is a second housing part of the conductor connection terminal.
4. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 3, wherein the second housing part is formed as a cover part, which covers an interior of the first housing part at least partially.
5. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the several or all of the clamping springs to be actuated by the rotary actuator are arranged in a ring arrangement about a center and/or a center axis of the conductor connection terminal.
6. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the several or all of the clamping springs actuated by the rotary actuator in the rotation of the rotary actuator by the first rotation angle exert forces on the rotary actuator, which are in a force equilibrium.
7. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the rotary actuator has several deflection elements by which the respective clamping springs are deflected during the rotation of the rotary actuator by the first rotation angle.
8. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the deflection elements is flexibly coupled with the rotary actuator.
9. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 7, wherein the rotary actuator is rotatably mounted on a first housing part of the conductor connection terminal, and wherein the first housing part has a deflection contour for the deflection of at least one of the deflection elements.
10. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the rotary actuator is infinitely rotatable about the axis of rotation and/or in only one direction of rotation, or has an end stop to limit the rotational movement.
11. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein an outer circumference of the rotary actuator has a grip surface on which the rotary actuator is to be operated manually, and wherein the grip surface extends over the entire outer circumference or one or more sections of the outer circumference.
12. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the rotary actuator is set up to deflect one or more clamping springs in an event of a rotation by a second rotation angle that is greater than the first rotation angle and thereby to open the associated clamping points which are not deflected when rotating by the first rotation angle.
13. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein a conductor insertion side of the conductor connection terminal has conductor insertion openings through which electrical conductors can be led to the clamping points, wherein on a side facing away from the conductor insertion side, the conductor connection terminal has plug openings that lead to electrical plug contacts arranged in the housing of the conductor connection terminal.
14. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein with the rotation of the rotary actuator by the first rotation angle, a total length of the conductor connection terminal does not change.
15. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 2, wherein, in the event of the rotation of the rotary actuator by the first rotation angle, an axial position of the rotary actuator does not change relative to the first housing part.
16. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the rotary actuator is set up to deflect the several or all of the clamping springs in the rotation by the first rotation angle which is less than 360 degrees or less than 180 degrees, and thereby to open the associated clamping points.
17. An electrical connector comprising at least one conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is a circular connector.
18. A conductor connection terminal comprising: at least two spring force clamping connections, each having at least one clamping spring that forms a clamping point for clamping an electrical conductor with an associated busbar piece; and a rotary actuator that is a manual actuating element, the rotary actuator being rotatable about an axis of rotation and which, in the event of a rotation by a first rotation angle, is set up to deflect several or all of the clamping springs and thereby open the clamping points associated therewith, wherein the several or all of the clamping springs to be actuated by the rotary actuator are arranged in a ring arrangement about a center and/or a center axis of the conductor connection terminal, and wherein the axis of rotation of the rotary actuator runs through the ring-shaped arrangement of the clamping springs.
19. A conductor connection terminal comprising: at least two spring force clamping connections, each having at least one clamping spring that forms a clamping point for clamping an electrical conductor with an associated busbar piece; and a rotary actuator that is a manual actuating element, the rotary actuator being rotatable about an axis of rotation and which, in the event of a rotation by a first rotation angle, is set up to deflect several or all of the clamping springs and thereby open the clamping points associated therewith, wherein for each of the several or all of the clamping springs to be actuated by the rotary actuator, the rotary actuator has a respective conductor opening for conducting an electrical conductor to the respective clamping point.
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 is a perspective view of an electrical connector with a counter connector,
(3) FIG. 2 shows the connector with the counter connector as well as alternative rotary actuators in a perspective view,
(4) FIG. 3 shows parts of a conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 1 in a perspective view,
(5) FIG. 4 shows a conductor connection terminal in top view on the conductor insertion side,
(6) FIG. 5 shows a sectional view through the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 4,
(7) FIG. 6 shows the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 5 in a different actuation state,
(8) FIG. 7 shows the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 4 in a longitudinal section,
(9) FIG. 8 is a partial representation of the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 7 in a different actuation state,
(10) FIG. 9 shows a housing part with another rotary actuator in a perspective view,
(11) FIG. 10 is the rotary actuator according to FIG. 9 in a perspective view,
(12) FIG. 11 shows a conductor connection terminal in a top view on the conductor insertion side according to FIG. 9,
(13) FIG. 12 shows the conductor connection terminal in the same view as FIG. 11, in a different actuation state,
(14) FIG. 13 shows the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 11 in a longitudinal section,
(15) FIG. 14 shows the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 12 in a longitudinal section,
(16) FIG. 15 shows a housing part with another rotary actuator in a perspective view,
(17) FIG. 16 shows the rotary actuator according to FIG. 15 in a perspective view,
(18) FIG. 17 shows a conductor connection terminal in top view on the conductor insertion side according to FIG. 15,
(19) FIG. 18 shows the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 17 in a different actuation state,
(20) FIG. 19 shows the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 17 in a cut view,
(21) FIG. 20 shows the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 19 in the other actuation state,
(22) FIG. 21 shows a partial view of the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 17 in the longitudinal section, and
(23) FIG. 22 shows a partial view of the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 18 in the longitudinal section.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(24) In different views, FIGS. 1 and 2 show an electrical connector 8 and a counter connector 9 associated with the connector 8 as a counterpart. The connector 8 has a conductor connection terminal 1. The conductor connection terminal 1 has a first housing part 2 and a rotary actuator 5, which at the same time forms a second housing part of the conductor connection terminal 1. The rotary actuator 5 is mounted so as to rotate about a rotary axis D and accordingly rotatable about the rotation axis D with respect to the first housing part 2.
(25) Inside the conductor connection terminal 1 there are spring force clamping connections whose clamping points can be opened or closed again by rotating the rotary actuator 5 by the rotary axis D with respect to the first housing part 2. The conductor connection terminal 1 has a conductor insertion side 10, on which there are conductor insertion openings 20, through which electrical conductors can be led to the clamping points. On the side 80 facing away from the conductor insertion side 10, there are plug openings of the connector 8 that lead to electrical plug contacts arranged in the housing of the connector 8. In the embodiments shown, the connector 8 and accordingly also the conductor connection terminal 1 is designed four-pole, i.e., the connector 8 has four plug contacts. A spring force clamping connection is associated with each of the plug contacts.
(26) FIG. 3 shows the conductor connection terminal 1 with the rotary actuator 5 removed. It can be seen that the conductor connection terminal 1 has several clamping springs 4, which are evenly distributed over a circular circumference about a center axis M of the conductor connection terminal 1. The center axis M is identical to the axis of rotation D of the rotary actuator 5. The conductor insertion openings 20 or subsequent conductor insertion channels 27 are arranged between the clamping springs 4.
(27) FIG. 4 shows the conductor connection terminal 1 according to FIG. 3 with the attached rotary actuator 5 in a view to the conductor insertion side 10. Due to the rotary actuator 5, the clamping springs 4 are now essentially covered and accordingly insulated from the environment. FIG. 4 partially shows several deflection elements 52. Due to the deflection elements 52, the respective clamping springs 4 are deflected by a first angle of rotation, e.g., by 60?, when the rotary actuator 5 is rotated with respect to the first housing part 2. On the rotary actuator 5 there is a label to illustrate the necessary actuation movement, by which the direction of rotation for opening (open) and closing (close) of the clamping points is indicated.
(28) FIG. 5 shows the conductor connection terminal 1 from FIGS. 3 and 4 in a sectional view with a cutting plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation D. The cutting plane is chosen to pass through the deflection elements 52. It can be seen that the respective clamping spring 4 is not yet deflected in this actuation state, i.e., the respective clamping points are closed. The deflection elements 52 are accordingly in an angular position in which they exert no or at least no significant force on the respective clamping springs 4.
(29) It can also be seen that the rotary actuator 5 on the outer circumference has a grip surface 50, on which the rotary actuator is to be actuated manually. The grip surface is structured with grip enhancing members 53, e.g., with recesses, for example with grooves running longitudinally.
(30) FIG. 6 shows the conductor connection terminal 1 in the same cutting plane as FIG. 5, wherein in FIG. 6 the rotary actuator 5 was now rotated clockwise by the first angle of rotation. Accordingly, the grip enhancing members 53 are now located at different angle positions. The deflection elements 52 are now moved into an area between the respective conductor insertion channel 27 and the clamping spring 4. Each deflection element 52 now exerts a compressive force on the clamping spring 4. The deflection element 52 is supported by the conductor insertion channel 27. The deflection element 52 is elastically deflected radially outwards in the rotated representation according to FIG. 6 as compared to the non-rotated position according to FIG. 5. According to FIG. 6, for example, the section of the rotary actuator 5 protruding inwards in the area of the grip enhancing members 53 rests laterally against the clamping spring 4 and thus acts as a stop or limitation of the rotational movement of the rotary actuator 5. The limitation of the rotational movement of the rotary actuator 5 can be done in both directions of rotation.
(31) FIG. 7 illustrates the state according to FIG. 5 in the longitudinal section, FIG. 8 the state according to FIG. 6 in the longitudinal section. It can be seen that the clamping spring 4 in each case has a contact leg 41, a spring bow 42 adjacent to the contact leg 41 and a clamping leg 43 adjacent to the spring bow 42. In the state shown in FIG. 7, the clamping leg 43 rests on a busbar piece 3 of the conductor connection terminal 1 associated with the clamping spring 4. A conductor clamping area 30 of the busbar piece 3 together with the free end of the clamping leg 43 forms a respective clamping point for clamping an electrical conductor. The contact leg 41 is used to fix the clamping spring 4 in the conductor connection terminal 1 and to absorb the force transmitted by the clamping leg 43. For this purpose, the contact leg 41, e.g., can be connected via an end-side fixing element 40 to a fastening element, e.g., to an area of the first housing part 2 or, as shown here, to a retaining arm 31 connected to the busbar piece 3.
(32) In FIG. 7, the clamping point is closed. In FIG. 8, the clamping point is open. It can be seen that the deflection element 52 is now located between the conductor insertion channel 27 and the clamping leg 43. As a result, the clamping leg 43 is deflected upwards, i.e., moved away from the conductor clamping area 30 of the busbar piece 3. In this state, an electrical conductor can be placed at the clamping point without force or an already clamped electrical conductor can be removed again.
(33) FIGS. 9 and 10 show details of a rotary actuator 5 in an alternative design. FIG. 9 also shows the first housing part 2. The first housing part 2 is in this case not designed with a circular outer contour, as in the embodiments described so far, but instead has a wave-like outer contour. In areas with a larger cross-sectional area of the housing part 2, in each case a receiving chamber 28 for the clamping spring is formed, in recessed areas 29 a recessed grip is formed, through which the first housing part 2 can be better held during the rotational movement of the rotary actuator 5.
(34) In this case, the rotary actuator 5 has conductor openings 51 through which the electrical conductors can be guided through the rotary actuator 5 to the respective clamping point in the first housing part 2. The conductor openings 51 are designed as curved slotted holes, by means of which it is possible that the rotary actuator 5 can still be rotated in the desired manner even with electrical conductors inserted through the conductor openings 51. A middle area of the rotary actuator 5 is covered by a cover cap 57.
(35) As FIG. 10 illustrates, there are deflection elements 52 in the space behind the cover cap 57, which deflect the respective clamping springs 4 when the rotary actuator 5 is rotated by the first angle of rotation. The deflection elements 52 are designed in the form of cams, which are formed in one piece with a basic body of the rotary actuator 5.
(36) On the outer circumference of the rotary actuator 5 in turn is the grip surface 50. In this case, this has grip enhancing members 53 in the form of thickenings, by means of which the manually applied rotary actuation force can be better transmitted.
(37) FIG. 11 shows a conductor connection terminal 1 with a rotary actuator 5, as described above on FIGS. 9 and 10. Only the cover cap 57 is not shown. It can be seen that in the area of the respective conductor openings 51, the conductor insertion openings 20 are located. In FIG. 11, the clamping points are closed, i.e., the clamping springs 4 are not actuated by the deflection elements 52. In FIG. 12, the rotary actuator 5 is rotated by the first angle of rotation, so that the clamping springs 4 are deflected by the deflection elements 52 and the clamping points are open.
(38) FIG. 13 shows the conductor connection terminal in the longitudinal section in the actuation state of FIG. 11; FIG. 14 shows the conductor connection terminal in the longitudinal section in the actuation state of FIG. 12. The clamping springs 4 may be designed similarly as in the embodiment described above, in particular with a contact leg 41, a spring bow 42 and a clamping leg 43. There may in turn be a busbar piece 3 with a conductor clamping area 30 for clamping an electrical conductor and a retaining arm 31 to fix the contact leg 41. As can be seen, in FIG. 14 the clamping leg 43 is deflected radially inwards at the clamping spring 4 in the direction of the axis of rotation D by the deflection element 52 and accordingly moved from the busbar piece 3 located in the radial outer area within the first housing part 2. The clamping point is opened accordingly.
(39) FIGS. 15 and 16 show another embodiment of a rotary actuator 5, wherein FIG. 15 additionally shows the first housing part 2. The rotary actuator 5 according to FIGS. 15 and 16 is designed similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, in particular with the conductor openings 51. The grip enhancing members 53 present on the grip surface 50 of the rotary actuator 5 are in this case formed as recesses, but could also be designed as thickenings, similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10. As FIG. 16 shows, the deflection elements 52 in this case are not rigidly arranged on the rotary actuator 5, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, but connected via elastic material bridges 58 to a basic body of the rotary actuator 5. In this way, the deflection elements 52 are coupled with the rotary actuator 5 in a flexible and radially deflectable manner.
(40) FIG. 17 shows a conductor connection terminal 1 with a rotary actuator 5, as previously described in FIGS. 15 and 16. Only the cover cap 57 is not shown. It can be seen that in the area of the respective conductor openings 51, the conductor insertion openings 20 are located. In FIG. 17, the clamping points are closed, i.e., the clamping springs 4 are not actuated by the deflection elements 52. In FIG. 18, the rotary actuator 5 is rotated by the first angle of rotation, so that the clamping springs 4 are deflected by the deflection elements 52 and the clamping points are open.
(41) FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrate the more precise functioning of the deflection elements 52 in sectional representations in a respective cutting plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation D, which passes through the deflection elements 52. In the illustration of FIG. 19 the clamping points are closed; in the representation of FIG. 20 the clamping points are open, i.e., the rotary actuator 5 was rotated by the first angle of rotation as compared to the representation of FIG. 19.
(42) It can be seen as an additional feature that an end stop 54 is formed on the first housing part 2, by which the rotational movement of the rotary actuator 5 is limited in one direction counterclockwise. The rotational movement can only be carried out until the respective deflection element 52 abuts the end stop 54 associated with it. It can also be seen that the deflection elements 52 can move along a deflection contour 26 of the first housing part 2 adapted to the shape of the deflection element and can support themselves against the force of the clamping spring 4. Accordingly, the support does not have to be done on conductor insertion channels.
(43) FIG. 21 shows the conductor connection terminal in the longitudinal section in the actuation state of FIG. 19, FIG. 22 shows the conductor connection terminal in the longitudinal section in the actuation state of FIG. 20. The clamping springs 4 may be designed similarly as in the embodiment described above, in particular with a contact leg 41, a spring bow 42 and a clamping leg 43. There may in turn be a busbar piece 3 with a conductor connection terminal area 30 for clamping an electrical conductor and a retaining arm 31 to fix the contact leg 41. As can be seen, in FIG. 22 the clamping leg 43 at the clamping spring 4 is deflected downwards by the deflection element 52 and accordingly moved away from the busbar piece 3. The clamping point is opened accordingly.
(44) In the embodiment according to FIGS. 9 to 14 on the one hand and in the embodiment according to FIGS. 15 to 22 on the other hand, the spring force clamping connections with the clamping springs 4 and the busbars 3 are each arranged in a radial outer area of the connector 8 or the first housing part 2 and the clamping legs 41 of the clamping springs are deflected radially inwards in the direction of the axis of rotation D. Thus, the corresponding conductor insertion openings 20 are advantageously provided in a radial outer area.
(45) In contrast, according to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 8, the conductor insertion openings 20 are arranged in a radial central area relatively close to the axis of rotation D and the clamping legs 41 of the clamping springs 4 are deflected by the deflection elements in a direction radially outwards away from the axis of rotation D.
(46) 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.
