CONDUCTOR CONNECTION DEVICE

Abstract

A connection device for conductors has one or more single conductor terminals which are formed as direct plug connections. Each conductor terminal has a metal contact element such as a metal clamping cage, a spring support made of a non-conductive material such as plastic, and a clamping spring. Each of the spring supports is placed on at least one corresponding receiving element made of a non-conductive material.

Claims

1-22. (canceled)

23. A connection device for conductors, comprising at least one single-conductor terminal in the form of a direct plug-in terminal including (a) a spring support formed of a non-conductive synthetic plastic material and configured for mounting on a non-conductive receiving element; (b) a clamping spring mounted on said spring support; and (c) a metallic clamping cage connected with said spring support, whereby when a conductor is inserted into said clamping cage, it is retained within said clamping cage by said clamping spring.

24. A connection device as defined in claim 23, wherein each spring support includes a mounting assembly formed of non-conductive material for mounting said spring support on a corresponding receiving element.

25. A connection device as defined in claim 24, wherein the receiving element for at least one spring support comprises a further spring support.

26. A connection device as defined in claim 24, wherein the receiving element for at least one spring carrier comprises one of a terminal block housing and a plug housing.

27. A connection device as defined in claim 24, wherein said spring support mounting assembly comprises an interlocking element which cooperates with an interlocking element on the receiving element.

28. A connection device as defined in claim 27, wherein said interlocking elements comprise a pin and a hole.

29. A connection device as defined in claim 27, wherein said interlocking elements comprise latching devices on said spring support and on said receiving element, respectively.

30. A connection device as defined in claim 23, wherein said clamping cage has a U-shaped configuration and includes a clamping cage rear wall and two clamping cage sidewalls extending perpendicularly thereto, a base wall extending perpendicularly to the clamping cage rear wall and the clamping cage sidewalls and a base socket fastening the clamping cage on a busbar.

31. A connection device as defined in claim 23, wherein said spring support has a U-shaped configuration and includes a base wall and two sidewalk extending perpendicularly thereto.

32. A connection device as defined in claim 23, wherein said spring support and said clamping cage are combined within a body having a rectangular contour.

33. A connection device as defined in claim 31, wherein said spring support has at least one spring-retaining contour extending perpendicularly to the base wall, and wherein said clamping spring has a V-shaped configuration including a support leg and a clamping leg arranged at an acute angle for installation on said spring-retaining contour, said support leg and said clamping leg being connected by a spring back.

34. A connection device as defined in claim 33, wherein said spring back engages the spring-retaining contour of the spring support.

35. A connection device as defined in claim 23, wherein a plurality of said single-conductor terminals are arranged one behind the other on a busbar in an extension direction of the busbar.

36. A connection device as defined in claim 23, wherein two of said single-conductor terminals are combined to form double-conductor terminals on a busbar.

37. A connection device as defined in claim 36, wherein each of said double-conductor terminals include two spring supports, two clamping springs, and two clamping cages combined on a mounting assembly.

38. A connection device as defined in claim 37, wherein said two single-conductor terminals of said double-conductor terminal have clamping points situated at the same location in a main extension direction of the busbar.

39. A connection device as defined in claim 37, wherein said two single-conductor terminals of said double-conductor terminal have clamping points that are offset in a main extension direction of the busbar.

40. A connection device as defined in claim 23, and further comprising a spacer configured for attachment to said spring support, and further comprising one of a further spring support and housing.

41. A connection device as defined in claim 40, wherein said spacer includes a mounting device on either or both sides, said mounting device corresponding to said mounting device for said spring support for mounting said spring support or two of said spring supports on said spacer.

42. A terminal housing as defined in claim 23, wherein said single-conductor terminal includes at least one conductor-terminal mounting device with which said single-conductor connection may be locked in a housing.

43. A connection device as defined in claim 29, wherein said latching devices are formed as one or more projections on one or more of said clamping cages, and further comprising counter-latching edges are formed in a housing upon which one or more projections are latched.

44. At least one of a terminal block and a plug having a housing and at least one terminal device as defined in claim 23.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0015] The invention will be described in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0016] FIG. 1a is a perspective view of a first conductor connection device;

[0017] FIG. 1b is a perspective view of a spring support of the connection device of FIG. 1a in the assembled state;

[0018] FIGS. 1c and 1d are front and rear exploded perspective views, respectively of the spring support of FIG. 1b;

[0019] FIG. 1e is a perspective view of a clamping cage;

[0020] FIG. 1f is a front view of the clamping cage mounted on a busbar; and

[0021] FIG. 1g is a front view of a clamping cage mounted within a housing;

[0022] FIG. 2a is a perspective view of a second conductor connection device;

[0023] FIGS. 2b and 2c are front and side views of a spacer of the connection device of FIG. 2a;

[0024] FIG. 3a is a perspective view of a third conductor connection device;

[0025] FIG. 3b is a top plan view of the connection device of FIG. 3a;

[0026] FIGS. 4a-d are perspective views, respectively, of the four steps of the assembly of a terminal housing with a fourth conductor connection device;

[0027] FIGS. 5a and b are perspective views of a further terminal housing and a fifth conductor connection device, respectively;

[0028] FIG. 6a is an exploded perspective view of a further terminal housing and a sixth conductor connection device; and

[0029] FIG. 6b) is a perspective view of a further spring support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a conductor connection device 1. This connection device 1 is designed as a multi-conductor terminal and allows for the connection of six conductor ends, not shown.

[0031] For this purpose, the connection device has six single-conductor terminals 2a, 2b; 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, which are combined in FIG. 1 to form three primary double-conductor terminals, each serving to connect two of the conductors.

[0032] The single-conductor terminals 2a, 2b; 3a, 3b; 4a, 4b are each designed as direct plug-in (or push-in) connections. Each of the individual conductor terminals 2a, 2b; 3a, 3b; 4a, 4b have a metallic contact element, in particular, a clamping cage 5 or 5, a spring support 6 or 6 made of a non-conductive material such as a non-conductive plastic, as well as a clamping spring 7. Thus, a self-contained, functional single-conductor terminal is formed which may be combined with further single-conductor terminals to form primary assemblies.

[0033] In plan view, each clamping cage 5 or 5 is U-shaped with a clamping-cage rear wall 5a or 5a and two clamping-cage sidewalls 5b, 5c or 5b, 5c extending perpendicularly thereto. Moreover, each clamping cage has a base wall and/or a base socket 5d or 5d extending perpendicularly to the rear wall 5a or 5a and the clamping-cage sidewalls 5b, 5c. The clamping-cage base wall 5d or 5d serves to attach the relevant clamping cage 5 or 5 to a busbar 8. For this reason, the base wall 5d or 5d is preferably soldered or welded to the busbar 8.

[0034] The clamping cages 5 or 5 are arranged one behind the other in a longitudinally extending direction Y of the busbar 8. Since the clamping cages 5 are not formed integrally with the busbar 8, but rather secured thereto, the clamping cages may be arranged in the longitudinally extending direction Y closely behind one another. In particular, their distance in the Y-direction may be a great deal smaller than the longitudinal extension of the clamping cages 5. A conductive contact element or clamping cage 5 may also have only one or two conductive legs, although preferably more than two wails/legs are provided thereon.

[0035] In plan view, the spring supports 6 or 6 are U-shaped as shown in FIG. 4a with a base wall 6a or 6a and two sidewalls 6h, 6c or 6h, 6c extending perpendicularly thereto. At least one spring-retaining contour 6d or 6d extends perpendicularly to the base wall 6a. Moreover, the spring supports 6 have mounting devicesin particular interlocking deviceson their rear walls 6a, 6a, which are designed to interact with corresponding mounting devicesin particular also interlocking deviceson a receiving element. This receiving element, which may be a further spring support 6 or 6 or a housing plug or clamp, is designed to attach and mount the respective spring support 6, 6 or several of the spring supports 6, 6 on a receiving element, and may be shaped in various ways as will be explained in more detail below.

[0036] The clamping spring 7 is substantially V-shaped as shown in FIG. 4a and has a support leg 7a and a clamping leg 7b arranged at an acute angle thereto, i.e., in an angle of 10?<?<90?. The support leg 7a and the clamping leg 7b are interconnected via a spring back 7c.

[0037] The spring supports 6 and 6 are designed such that the clamping springs 7 are attachable thereto. For this purpose, the spring back 7c engages over the spring-retaining contour 6d, 6d of the spring support 6, 6. The support leg 7a is preferably situated between the spring-retaining contour 6d, 6d and either of the two sidewalls 6b, 6b. The spring-retaining contour 6d, 6d is preferably aligned obliquely in a spring angle of preferably 0<?<60? relative to the conductor insertion direction Z.

[0038] Furthermore, the spring-retaining contour 6d, 6d is preferably long enough so that it extends over the entire length of the support leg 7a of the clamping spring 7. This allows for easy pre-assembly of the clamping spring 7. In addition, the spring-retaining contour 6d or 6d may each form an end stop which limits the opening movement of the clamping leg 7b of the clamping spring 7. The spring-retaining contour 6d or 6d may also include several individual sections.

[0039] Each of the double-conductor terminals in FIG. 1a or FIG. 2a composed of the conductor terminals 2a, 2b; 3a, 3b; and 4a, 4h has two spring supports 6, 6 and two clamping springs 7, 7.

[0040] Preferably, some interlocking devices are formed as pins 6e and the corresponding interlocking devices as corresponding holes 6e which serve as clamping receptacles for the pins 6e as shown in FIGS. 1c and 1d. Alternatively, the pins and holes serve as latching devices and latching receptacles. These interlocking devices are preferably formed on the sides of the rear walls 6a, 6a facing away from the spring-retaining contours. Thus, the rear walls 6a and 6a may be placed adjacent and fastened to one another, thereby forming a type of double-spring support, upon which one of the clamping springs 7, 7 may be arranged on two sides facing away from one another or arranged in a mounted state.

[0041] The spring supports 6 and 6 are preferably formed symmetrically, except with respect to the mounting devices, relative to a plane X-Y, which extends between the adjacent rear walls. The mounting devices for the spring support 6 and 6 thus interact. Here, the mounting devices for the spring support 6 are formed as one or more pins 6e on the rear of the base wall 6a on the side facing away from the clamping spring 7. In contrast, the mounting devices for the spring support 6 are formed as one or more of the corresponding holes 6e. Thus, spring supports 6 and 6 may be combined into a type of double-spring support as shown in FIGS. 1b, 1c, and 1d such that their rear walls are adjacent to one another and their mounting devices hold them together.

[0042] In the manner described above, the single-spring support may easily be combinable into a double-spring support.

[0043] On the spring support 6, 6 or the assembled double-spring support including the spring supports 6 and 6, two of the clamping springs 7 are attachable or pre-assembled. The double-spring support including the two spring supports 6, 6 with the two clamping springs 7, 7 may be attached from above onto the busbar 8 with the clamping cages 5 fastened thereon. This busbar 8 may then be arranged in a primary housing and again locked in position to further mounting devices suitable for these purposes, such as latching edges or the like, which will be explained further below.

[0044] According to FIGS. 1-6, one of the clamping-cage sidewalls 5b or 5b of the clamping cages 5 or 5 preferably engages between the clamping legs 7b of the respective clamping spring 7 and one sidewall 6b or 6b of the spring support 6 or 6 and preferably the sidewall 5c or 5c of the clamping cages 5 or 5 between the support legs 7a of the respective clamping spring 7 and the other sidewall 6c or 6c of the spring support 6 or 6. The support leg 7a is thus preferably supported on a metallic element.

[0045] Altogether, the respective spring support 6, 6 and the clamping cage 5, 5 form a rectangular closed geometry with both rear walls 5a, 5a; 6a, 6a or sidewalls 5b, 6b and 5c, 6c; 5b, 6b or 5c, 6c40. The spring support 6 and the clamping cages 5 engage each other and form a rectangular body. Thus, the clamping spring 7 and a conductor to be connected are well protected. In particular, fine-wire conductors are easily connected due to the advantageous conductor-routing feature.

[0046] Optionally, the clamping cage 5 may be further reduced, e.g., it may be limited to a single contact leg on, which clamping leg 7a is supported and which is connected to the busbar 8 integrally or via a connection such as a soldering or welding joint.

[0047] Between the spring support 6 and 6, which would form a dual spring support in the combined state according to FIG. 1b, spacers may also be placed in a manner similar to partitions 9. Such a spacer or partition 9 is shown in a side view in FIG. 2b and in a rear view in FIG. 2c.

[0048] The spacer has a base wall 9a and mounting devices, preferably on both main sides of the base wall 9a, which are similar to the mounting devices for spring supports 6 and 6 and/or correspond to these supports. Thus, the spacer 9 on one side of the base wall 9a has as mounting devices, in particular interlocking devices, one or more pins 9b, and as mounting devices on the other side, holes 9c corresponding in particular to interlocking devices. These interact with the mounting devices which are the pins and holes of the spring support 6 and 6. Thus, spacer 9 may be placed between the base walls 6a and 6a of the spring supports 6 and 6 of the double-spring supports as shown in FIG. 1a. In this way, it is possible to provide a double-spring support with a modified (greater) width. The width of the partition wall 9 is variable, such that a double-spring support of different width may be formed in a simple way. Also, the partition wall 9 could form a spring support even with a corresponding contour presentation, such that a clamping spring and at least one center connection for conductors may be formed thereon.

[0049] The advantage of parallel mounting both individual conductor terminals 2a, 2b to 4a, 4b of the double-conductor terminals from either side (right and left) should also be mentioned. There is no need for turning the elements, which makes for easy assembly as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0050] Altogether, the connection device of FIG. 1 or that of FIG. 2 is formed in a simple way with several double-conductor terminals that are accommodated within a small space on a busbar 8. This connection device, as a whole, may he placed in a housing, e.g., a terminal-block housing as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 with at least one corresponding clearance.

[0051] Alternatively, it is possible to arrange the mounting devices, in particular the interlocking devices, of the spring support at such different positions of the rear walls of the spring supports 6, 6 that overall, an offset arrangement of both single-conductor terminals 2a, 2b to 4a, 4b of the primary double-conductor terminals in the main extension direction Y of the busbar 8 is provided as shown in FIG. 3. A spacer 9 may be used to vary the width. If an individual conductor terminal 2a, 2b is offset in the busbar direction Y against its adjoining conductor terminal, not only a conductor may be connected, but also a wider test plug or the like may be connected in each of the two conductor terminals, 2a, 2b. The term conductor terminal should therefore not be interpreted as limited to the connection of conductors, but rather indicates that in principle suitability for connecting a conductor exists.

[0052] According to FIGS. 1 and 2, two of the single-conductor terminals are combined with two double-wire terminals at the same clamping points as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 or at clamping points that are offset on the busbar 8 in the main extension direction as shown in FIG. 3.

[0053] According to another embodiment of the invention, the spring supports 6 or 6 are not combined to form double-spring supports or even triple-or quadruple-spring supports. Single-conductor terminals are formed and installed in this way. FIG. 4 shows such an embodiment. Accordingly, a terminal-block housing 10 with one or more clearances 11 is provided.

[0054] The clearance or clearances 11 in the terminal-block housing are dimensioned such that a busbar 8 in the housing 10 is replaceable and upon which busbar, one or more individual conductor terminals 2a, 2b, 2c are arranged in a row, one behind the other, each having one of the spring supports 6, one of the clamping cages 5 and one of the clamping springs 7.

[0055] It would also be possible to use the double-conductor connections in FIGS. 1 to 3 in a suitably dimensioned housing.

[0056] Perpendicular to a housing rear wall 15, the housing 10 has wall sections 16, which separate the clearances 11 from one another and limit them laterally. The spring support 6 and the clamp cage 5 thus form a circumferentially closed geometry in the clearance 11. This ensures that the clamping spring 7 and a conductor to be connected are well protected.

[0057] In the terminal block housing 10, one or more conductor terminal mounting devices may be provided in the area of the clearances 11 and interact with corresponding conductor terminal mounting devices at the conductor terminals.

[0058] For this purpose, holes 18 are provided in the terminal block housing 10, e.g., in the area of the clearances 11, as conductor terminal mounting devices, e.g., in the housing rear wall 15 as shown in FIG. 5a. The holes interact with the corresponding conductor-terminal mounting devices at the conductor terminals such as pin 19 as shown in FIG. 5b. Alternatively , latching edges or latching pin 20 may be provided in the clearance 11 in front of the housing rear wall 15 as shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b which interact with corresponding latch recesses 21 on the spring supports 6.

[0059] It is also conceivable to integrally connect spring support 6 for several individual conductor terminals in a row to form a single part. In this case, the base wall passes through several of the spring supports 6 as shown in FIGS. 6a-6c such that a plurality of clamping springs may be arranged thereon. Alternatively, it is also possible to provide the spring supports 6 for only a single clamping spring 7 individually with latching pins.

[0060] In the terminal-block or plug housing 10, conductor insertion openings 12 and openings 13 for push buttons or turnscrews or the like may be provided in order to open the clamping point between the respective clamping leg 7b and the respective clamping-cage sidewall 5b.

[0061] According to another embodiment, some of the mounting devices are designed as latching devices as one or more projections 17 on one or more of the clamping cages 5. In the housing 10, one or more corresponding counter-latching devices, e.g., one or more latching edges are then formed, upon which one or more projections 17 on the clamping cages 5 are latchable. This is illustrated in FIG. 1g.

[0062] According to a preferred embodiment, during mounting, one or more clamping springs 7 are first installed on the spring supports 6 as shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b. Then one or more spring supports 6 are installed with the clamping springs 7 on the busbar 8, upon which the clamping cages 5 were previously fastened. Thus, the busbars 8 are simply pre-mountable with the conductor terminals and may be inserted as a pre-mountable unit in the terminal block housing 10, in which one or more mounting devices interact on this housing and on the spring supports 6.

[0063] The number of single-conductor terminals of the terminal block is easily variable. It is also possible to insert several of the busbars 8, 8 with conductor terminals into the housing, in particular the terminal block housing 10.

[0064] FIGS. 1 and 4 illustrate that it is possible to use the plastic part, i.e. spring carrier 6 or 6, for the double-conductor terminal as well as the single-conductor terminal.

[0065] It should also be mentioned that the spring-receiving contour 6d or another contour on the spring support 6 may also be designed such that a latching engagement in a latching hole 14 or the like is realized on the clamping cage 5. This facilitates pre-assembly of the spring support on the clamping cage 5 and thus on the busbar 8.