PROTECTIVE-EARTHING CONTACT AND CONDUCTOR-CONNECTION TERMINAL

Abstract

A protective earthing contact for connecting a protective earth line with an electrically conductive carrier element in an the electrically conducting manner, wherein the protective earthing contact has a base portion, wherein two side elements project from the base portion and a respective side element has an upper region, wherein the upper regions have a latching region for clamping the protective earthing contact onto the carrier element and wherein at least one side element has a protective earth contact element for making contact to the carrier element in an electrically conducting manner. Each of the upper regions has a contact-making region, wherein the latching region and the protective earth contact element are substantially arranged at the same height in relation to the base portion.

Claims

1. A protective earthing contact for connecting a protective earth line to an electrically conductive carrier element in an electrically conducting manner, the protective earthing contact comprising: a base portion; two side elements projecting from the base portion, a respective side element having an upper region that forms a latching region for clamping the protective earthing contact onto the carrier element, and at least one side element having a protective earth contact element adapted to contact the carrier element in an electrically conducting manner; and a contact-making region provided in one of the upper regions, wherein the latching region and the protective earth contact element are arranged substantially at the same height in relation to the base portion.

2. The protective earthing contact according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the upper regions has a chamfer in a region of the latching region, and wherein an end of the chamfer facing the contact-making regions and the protective earth contact element are substantially arranged at the same height in relation to the base portion.

3. The protective earthing contact according to claim 1, wherein the protective earth contact element is formed for a force-locked connection with the carrier element.

4. The protective earthing contact according to claim 1, wherein the protective earthing contact has a retaining element for the form-fitting connection of the protective earthing contact in the assembled state with the carrier element.

5. The protective earthing contact according to claim 4, wherein the retaining element is arranged on the upper region of the side element.

6. The protective earthing contact according to claim 5, wherein the overall height between the latching region and the retaining element is smaller than the height between the latching region and the base portion.

7. The protective earthing contact according to claim 4, wherein in each case a retaining element is arranged on one of the side elements.

8. The protective earthing contact according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the side elements has a guide contour for guiding an electrical conductor.

9. The protective earthing contact according to claim 8, wherein the guide contour is arranged on the upper region of the side element.

10. The protective earthing contact according to claim 1, wherein on the upper regions in each case a contact stop for stabilization of the protective earthing contact is arranged in the assembled state.

11. The protective earthing contact according to claim 10, wherein the contact stops project from the respective upper region such that the contact stops are substantially aligned parallel to each other.

12. A conductor connection terminal comprising: a housing; a busbar; a spring force terminal connection; a clamping point formed by the busbar and the spring force terminal connection for an electrical conductor to be clamped; and a protective earthing contact according to claim 1 for the electrically conductive connection of a protective earth line to the busbar, wherein the protective earthing contact has a base portion, wherein two side elements project from the base portion and a respective side element has an upper region, wherein the upper regions form a latching region for clamping the protective earth contact onto the busbar, wherein at least one side element has a protective earth contact element for making contact with the carrier element in an electrically conducting manner, wherein a respective upper region has a contact-making region, and wherein the latching region and the protective earth contact element are substantially arranged at the same height in relation to the base portion.

13. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the upper regions has a chamfer in the region of the latching region, wherein the end of the chamfer facing the contact-making regions and the protective earth contact element are arranged at the same height in relation to the base portion.

14. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the side elements has a guide contour for guiding the electrical conductor into the housing.

15. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 14, wherein the guide contour is arranged on the upper region of the side element.

16. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 14, wherein the guide contour is in interaction with the housing and/or with a conductor stop for the electrical conductor such that the protective earthing contact is stabilized.

17. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 10, wherein the protective earthing contact has a retaining element, wherein the retaining element in the interior of the conductor connection terminal is arranged in the region of the electrical conductor to be clamped.

18. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 17, wherein the busbar has a recess, wherein the retaining element for the form-fitting connection of the protective earthing contact to the busbar engages in the recess.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] 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:

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a first example of a protective earthing contact;

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a conductor connection terminal with a protective earthing contact according to FIG. 1 in a sectional view;

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 2 in a sectional view;

[0046] FIG. 4 shows a second example of a protective earthing contact;

[0047] FIG. 5 shows a protective earthing contact according to FIG. 4 in a rotated view.

[0048] FIG. 6 shows a conductor connection terminal with a protective earthing contact according to FIGS. 5 and 6;

[0049] FIG. 7 shows a conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 6 in a rotated view; and

[0050] FIG. 8 shows a section of a conductor connection terminal according to FIGS. 6 and 7 in a top view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] FIG. 1 shows a protective earthing contact 1 with a base portion 2, wherein from the base portion two side elements 3a, 3b project in the same direction, substantially orthogonally from the base portion 2, wherein the side elements 3a, 3b are connected to each other via the base portion 2. The side elements 3a, 3b are substantially aligned parallel to each other. The side elements 3a, 3b each have an upper region 4a, 4b, wherein the upper regions 4a, 4b are aligned in such a way that the upper regions 4a, 4b point to each other. It can be seen that the upper regions 4a, 4b together form a latching region 5, wherein an electrically conductive carrier element can be guided into the latching region 5. The electrically conductive carrier element may, for example, be designed as a busbar of a conductor connection terminal. On the upper region 4a of the side element 3a, a protective earth contact element 6 is arranged for electrically conductive contacting of the protective earth conduction with the carrier element.

[0052] The carrier element can be held in position in the latching region 5 between contact-making regions 5a, 5b. For additional securing, in each case a contact stop 5c, 5d projects directly adjacent to the contact-making regions 5a, 5b from the upper regions 4a, 4b of the side elements 3a, 3b.

[0053] It becomes clear that the latching region 5 and the protective earth contact element 6 are substantially arranged at the same height H in relation to the base portion 2 and are also spatially separated from each other. If the carrier element is guided into the latching region 5, the side elements 3a, 3b in the region of the upper regions 4a, 4b widens so that the carrier element can be held between the contact-making regions 5a, 5b. Due to the arrangement of the latching region 5 at the same height as the protective earth contact element 6, the protective earth contact element 6 also widens by the same amount. A widening can be done, for example, by the fact that the side elements 3a, 3b are spring-loaded. Once the carrier element reaches its end position between the contact-making regions 5a, 5b, the side elements 3a, 3b in the region of the upper regions 4a, 4b and thus also the protective earth contact element 6 jump back to the starting position, by which the carrier element is held between the contact-making regions 5a, 5b. It is thus possible that a tin-plated protective earth contact element 6, for example, can be guided past the contact surface of the carrier element without contact, so that wear of the tinned protective earth contact element 6 is reduced. The contact surface of the carrier element is the surface with which the protective earth contact element 6 is to come into contact.

[0054] It can be seen that at each of the upper regions 4a, 4b a chamfer 7a, 7b is arranged in the region of the latching region 5. The end of the chamfers 7a, 7b facing the contact-making regions 5a, 5b is arranged at the same height as the protective earth contact element 6 in relation to the base portion 2. The chamfers 7a, 7b make it easier to guide the carrier element to the latching region 5. In addition, the side elements 3a, 3b in the region of the upper regions 4a, 4b continuously widen without having to use a correspondingly large force to guide the carrier element between the contact-making regions 5a, 5b.

[0055] The protective earth contact element 6 should be exactly at a height with the latching region 5 and the ends of the chamfers 7a, 7b. However, a deviation from this is possible without restricting the function of the protective earthing contact according to the invention. Deviations of 15% are conceivable with regard to the height H of the latching region 5 and to the height H of the protective earthing contact element 6 to the base portion 2.

[0056] At the upper end of the side element 3a, a retaining element 8a is arranged on the upper region 4a, wherein the retaining element 8a is set up in the assembled state for the form-fitting connection of the protective earthing contact 1 with the carrier element. The form fit can be achieved, for example, by appropriate recesses on the carrier element. However, recesses on a housing are also conceivable. Due to the form fit, the protective earthing contact 1 is secured against tilting in the assembled state. In order to provide an additional electrically conductive connection, the retaining element 8a can be formed as a protective earth contact element 6.

[0057] It becomes clear that the upper regions 4a, 4b, the protective earth contact element 6 and the retaining element 8 are formed in one-piece from the respective side element 3a, 3b.

[0058] It is also clear that the overall height BH between the latching region 5 and the retaining element 8a is smaller than the height H between the latching region and the base portion. This has the advantage that the protective earthing contact can be installed in conductor connection terminals without them having to be designed larger.

[0059] It can be seen that the protective earthing contact 1 has a contact tongue 16, wherein the contact tongue 16 is designed to connect the protective earthing contact 1 directly or indirectly with a protective earthing line in an electrically conducting manner.

[0060] FIG. 2 shows a conductor connection terminal 9, in particular a power supply connector for the lighting industry. The conductor connection terminal 9 has a busbar 11 and three spring force terminal connections 12 for clamping three electrical conductors. The protective earthing contact 1 according to FIG. 1 is mounted in the conductor connection terminal 9.

[0061] It becomes clear that the contact region of the protective earth contact element 6 to the busbar 11 is arranged separately from the latching region 5, so that the protective earth contact element 6 can be guided contact-free through a recess in the busbar 11. When mounted, a force-locked connection between the protective earth contact element 6 and the busbar 11 is provided. This can be achieved, for example, by designing the dimensions of the recess of the busbar 11 in such a way that the protective earth contact element 6 in the widened state of the side elements 3a, 3b can be passed by the busbar 11 without contact.

[0062] It can also be seen that the retaining element 8a in the interior of the conductor connection terminal 9 is arranged in the region of the electrical conductors to be clamped, wherein the busbar 11 is not arranged between the spring force terminal connection 12 and the retaining element 8a. The electrical conductors can therefore be plugged in in the same space of the conductor connection terminal 9 in which the retaining element 8a is in the mounted state. In this way, the available space of the conductor connection terminal 1 is utilized without having to make it larger. The retaining element 8a engages in a recess of the busbar 11 and stabilizes the protective earthing contact 1 against tilting by a form-fitting connection with the busbar 11 in the mounted state. In this way, safe operation can be ensured.

[0063] FIG. 2 also shows an actuation arrangement 17, with which on the one hand the upper spring force terminal connection 12 of the arrangement of the two spring force terminal connections 12 (left region) and on the other hand the individual spring force terminal connection 12 (right region) can be manually operated independently of each other in order to deflect the assigned clamping leg and thereby open the clamping point. It can be seen that the actuation arrangement 6 has an actuation section 18a for the one spring force clamp connection 12 and an actuation section 18b for the other, opposite spring force terminal connection 12.

[0064] The actuation sections 18a, 18b are connected to each other via a connecting section 19 arranged approximately in the middle between the actuation sections 18a, 18b. At the connecting section 19, between the actuation sections 18a, 18b, e.g., in the middle or slightly off-center between the actuation sections 18a, 18b, a T-shaped projecting material section 20 is present. The T-shaped projecting material section 20 is movable on the busbar 11. Due to the geometric design of the actuation arrangement 6, it is possible to operate the spring force terminal connections 12 independently of each other.

[0065] FIG. 3 shows the conductor connection terminal 9 according to FIG. 2 in a different sectional view. Here it becomes clear that the busbar has 11 recesses 13 through which the protective earth contact element 6 can be passed for assembly, wherein the protective earth contact element 6 is connected in a force-locked manner and the retaining element 8a is connected in a form-fitting manner to the busbar 11. However, it is also conceivable that the retaining element 8a can be force-locked and the protective earth contact element 6 can be form-fitted to the busbar 11.

[0066] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a protective earthing contact 1, wherein the protective earthing contact is shown in FIG. 4 in a front view and in FIG. 5 in a rotated view. The protective earthing contact 1 has a base portion 2, with two side elements 3a, 3b projecting in the same direction from the base portion. The side elements 3a, 3b each have an upper region 4a, 4b.

[0067] The protective earthing contact has two protective earth contact elements 6, which are arranged at the same height H in relation to the base portion 2 with the latching region 5, so that the protective earth contact elements 6 are widened when installing the protective earthing contact 1 and can thus be inserted contactlessly into a corresponding conductor connection terminal.

[0068] It can be seen that the ends of the side elements 3a, 3b are formed as a guide contour 14a, 14b. Such guide contours 14a, 14b have the advantage that these can guide an electrical conductor to the corresponding clamping point in the installed state without the electrical conductor touching the protective earthing contact elements 6.

[0069] It can be seen that the protective earthing contact 1 has a contact tongue 16, wherein the contact tongue 16 is designed to connect the protective earthing contact 1 directly or indirectly to a protective earth line in an electrically conducting manner.

[0070] FIG. 6 shows a conductor connection terminal 9, in particular a power supply connector for the lighting industry in a sectional view. The conductor connection terminal 9 has a busbar 11 and four spring force terminal connections 12 for clamping four electrical conductors. The protective earthing contact 1 according to FIGS. 4 and 5 is mounted in the conductor connection terminal 9.

[0071] FIG. 7 shows the conductor connection terminal 9 according to FIG. 6 in a rotated view. It becomes clear that the conductor connection terminal has 9 conductor stops 15 for electrical conductors to be clamped. It is also clear that the protective earthing contact 1 uses the existing contours and the available space of the busbar 11 of the conductor connection terminal 9, so that the interior of the conductor connection terminal does not have to be designed larger to accommodate the protective earthing contact 1.

[0072] The guide contours 14a, 14b are attached to the conductor stops 15 in such a way that the entire protective earthing contact 1 is stabilized so that it is secured against tilting. The possibility of the protective earthing contact 1 moving is thus limited in the direction of the conductor stops 15.

[0073] FIG. 8 shows a section of the conductor connection terminal 9 according to FIGS. 6 and 7 in a top view. The side elements 3a, 3b with the guide contours 14a, 14b of the protective earthing contact 1 can be seen. It becomes clear that the guide contours 14a, 14b can guide electrical conductors to the conductor stops 15 without the electrical conductors touching the protective earth contact elements 6, since the protective earth contact elements 6 are arranged on a side facing away from the conductor stops 15.

[0074] The protective earthing contact 1 can therefore be designed in such a way that the electrical conductors do not collide with the protective earthing contact elements 6 when connected. However, such a design is also conceivable without guide contours 14a, 14b, for example by one or more protective earth contact elements 6 projecting at right angles from the side element 3a and/or from the side element 3b. There does not have to be an exact right angle of 90°. A deviation of 25° in the positive or negative direction is conceivable.

[0075] Furthermore, it becomes clear that the guide contours 14a, 14b interact with the contour of a housing 10, so that the protective earthing contact 1 is additionally stabilized. The protective earthing contact 1 is thus stabilized by the conductor stops 15 and the housing 10 and secured against tilting by limiting it in its degrees of freedom by the housing 10 and by the conductor stops 15.

[0076] 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.