Conductor terminal

Abstract

A conductor terminal, including an insulating housing, the insulating housing having a conductor insertion opening for inserting an electrical conductor in a conductor insertion direction, including a busbar and including a clamping spring, the clamping spring having a contact leg for contact with a part of the conductor terminal, the contact leg transitioning into a spring bend, and the spring bend transitioning into a clamping leg, the clamping leg forming a clamping point with the busbar for the electrical conductor, and including an actuating element, the actuating element being configured to open the clamping point, the actuating element being able to be transferred from an initial position into an actuating position, and the clamping point being opened in the actuating position.

Claims

1. A conductor terminal comprising: an insulating housing having a conductor insertion opening for inserting an electrical conductor in a conductor insertion direction; a busbar; a clamping spring having a contact leg for contact with a part of the conductor terminal, the contact leg transitioning into a spring bend, and the spring bend transitioning into a clamping leg, the clamping leg forming a clamping point with the busbar for the electrical conductor; an actuating element configured to open the clamping point, the actuating element adapted to be transferred from an initial position into an actuating position, and the clamping point being opened in the actuating position; and a restoring spring element arranged on a side of the contact leg facing away from the clamping point, the restoring spring element configured to move the actuating element from a position between the initial position and the actuating position to the initial position or from the actuating position to the initial position.

2. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the restoring spring element is configured to displace the actuating element.

3. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element has an actuating section, the actuating section interacting with the clamping leg of the clamping spring such that the actuating section is configured to open the clamping point.

4. The conductor terminal according to claim 3, wherein the actuating element encompasses the spring bend of the clamping spring.

5. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the restoring spring element and the actuating element are formed from the same material.

6. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the restoring spring element is formed as a single piece from a free end of the actuating element.

7. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the restoring spring element is provided with a meandering design.

8. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein at least one engaging element is arranged on the actuating element, the engaging element being configured to engage the actuating element in the initial position and/or the actuating position.

9. The conductor terminal according to claim 8, wherein the engaging element is configured to engage the actuating element with an engagement recess of the insulating housing.

10. The conductor terminal according to claim 9, wherein a securing clip is arranged on the actuating element and/or on the contact leg, the securing clip holding the engaging element in the engagement recess at least in the actuating position of the actuating element.

11. The conductor terminal according to claim 10, wherein a force is adapted to be applied to the engaging element by the securing clip in a direction which faces away from the clamping point.

12. The conductor terminal according to claim 10, wherein the securing clip is arranged on a side of the actuating element opposite the engaging element.

13. The conductor terminal according to claim 10, wherein the securing clip extends into a free space between the engaging element and the contact leg.

14. The conductor terminal according to claim 8, wherein a guide contour is arranged on the engaging element for guiding the engaging element into the engagement recess and/or out of the engagement recess.

15. The conductor terminal according to claim 8, wherein the engaging element is arranged on the actuating element on a side that faces away from the clamping point.

16. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein at least one guide pin is arranged on the conductor terminal for guiding the actuating element in the insulating housing.

17. The conductor terminal according to claim 16, wherein at least two guide pins are arranged on the actuating element, the guide pins being arranged on sides of the actuating element situated opposite each other, and the guide pins each being movably supported in a recess of the insulating housing.

18. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the clamping spring is provided with a V-shaped design.

19. The conductor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element has an actuating section, the actuating section adjoining the clamping leg for opening the clamping point, and the actuating section protruding into the area of the clamping point, and the electrical conductor to be clamped being able to be guided to the clamping point next to the actuating section.

20. A conductor terminal comprising: an insulating housing having a conductor insertion opening for inserting an electrical conductor in a conductor insertion direction; a busbar; a clamping spring having a contact leg for contact with a part of the conductor terminal, the contact leg transitioning into a spring bend, and the spring bend transitioning into a clamping leg, the clamping leg forming a clamping point with the busbar for the electrical conductor; an actuating element configured to open the clamping point, the actuating element adapted to be transferred from an initial position into an actuating position, and the clamping point being opened in the actuating position; and a restoring spring element arranged on a side of the contact leg facing away from the clamping point, the restoring spring element configured to move the actuating element from a position between the initial position and the actuating position to the initial position or from the actuating position to the initial position, wherein at least one engaging element is arranged on the actuating element, the engaging element being configured to engage the actuating element in the initial position and/or the actuating position, and wherein the engaging element is movable to engage with a first engagement recess of the insulating housing in the initial position and engage with a second engagement recess of the insulating housing in the actuating position.

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 an example of a conductor terminal in a side sectional view with an actuating element in the initial position; and

(3) FIG. 2 shows the conductor terminal according to FIG. 1, with the actuating element in the actuating position; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows the conductor terminal according to FIG. 1 with the electrical conductor clamped in; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows an example of a conductor terminal in a side sectional view; and

(6) FIG. 5 shows an example of a conductor terminal in a side sectional view; and

(7) FIG. 6 shows the conductor terminal according to FIG. 1 in a in a perspective view with the housing open on the side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) FIG. 1 shows a conductor terminal 1, including an insulating housing 2. Insulating housing 2 may be have a two-part design, including a main housing part 20 and a closure part 21 insertable into main housing part 20. Such an at least two-part design of insulating housing 2 makes it easier to install the contact insert and further components into insulating housing 2.

(9) Insulating housing 2 has a conductor insertion opening 22 for inserting an electrical conductor in a conductor insertion direction L. Conductor insertion opening 22 may be, for example, part of closure part 21. Insulating housing 2 further has an actuating opening 23, through which an actuation of an actuating element 5 may take place or through which actuating element 5 may extend. Actuating opening 23 may be, for example, part of closure part 21.

(10) An electrical contact insert is installed in the interior of insulating housing 2, which includes a busbar 3 and a clamping spring 4. Busbar 3 has a contact section 30, on which an electrical conductor is to be clamped. Busbar 3 may be provided, for example, with a frame-shaped design in the manner of a holding frame, e.g. in that busbar 3 has a vertical section 31 and a support section 32 in addition to contact section 30. Vertical section 31 connects contact section 30 to support section 32. Vertical section 31 may be arranged essentially at right angles with respect to contact section 30. Support section 32 may be arranged essentially at right angles with respect to vertical section 31. A busbar 3 having a U-shaped cross-sectional contour thus results in cross section. Busbar 3 may be formed as a one-part metal component with contact section 30, vertical section 31 and support section 32.

(11) Clamping spring 4 includes a contact leg 41, which is adjoined by a spring bend 42. A clamping leg 43 of clamping spring 4 adjoins spring bend 42. Clamping leg 43 ends at the free end with a clamping edge 44. Contact leg 41 is used to fix clamping spring 4 in insulating housing 2. For example, contact leg 41 may have a fixing clip 40, bent essentially at right angles, on the free end or at another point, with the aid of which contact leg 41 is suspended in a recess of busbar 3, e.g. a recess in support section 32.

(12) Actuating element 5 has a manual actuating area 50, at which actuating element 5 may be actuated by the user applying manual pressure force. Actuating element 5 further has a connecting section 51, which connects manual actuating area 50 to a restoring section 52 of actuating element 5 on one side and to an actuating section 53 of actuating element 5 on the other side. A free space 54 is formed on actuating element 5 between restoring section 52, connecting section 51 and actuating section 53, in which at least a part of clamping spring 4, in particular spring bend 42, may be accommodated.

(13) Restoring section 52 is used to restore actuating element 5 in the direction of the initial position. Restoring section 52 is connected to a restoring spring element 6 for this purpose. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, restoring spring element 6 is formed as a single piece with restoring section 52. In this exemplary embodiment, restoring spring element 6 is designed as a wavy or meandering spring element. Restoring spring element 6 is supported on insulating housing 2 at its free end.

(14) Actuating element 5 further includes a engaging element 55, by means of which actuating element 5 may be engaged in the initial position and/or the actuating position. Engaging element 55 may engage with one of two engagement recesses 24, 25 formed on insulating housing 2, depending on the position. In FIG. 1, engaging element 55 is engaged with a first engagement recess 24, which effectuates an engagement in the initial position of actuating element 5.

(15) A securing clip 7 is further present, by means of which the engagement of engaging element 55 with one of engagement recesses 24, 25 is supported. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, securing clip 7 is formed as a single piece with actuating element 5 or restoring spring element 6. Securing clip 7 may be in a pretensioned state permanently or at least in certain positions of actuating element 5, e.g. in the actuating position. A force is transmitted by securing clip 7 to restoring section 52 and thus to engaging element 55, which faces away from the clamping point. Securing clip 7 may be supported, for example, on contact leg 41, but other possibilities for support are also conceivable, such as in a part of the insulating housing.

(16) In the state illustrated in FIG. 1, in which no electrical conductor is clamped and actuating element 5 is in its initial position, clamping leg 43 adjoins contact section 30 of busbar 3. If actuating element 5 is pushed to the right by manually pressing on manual actuating area 50, actuating section 53 comes in contact with clamping leg 43 and deflects it, i.e. the free end of clamping leg 43 is moved away from contact section 30. If this movement continues until engaging element 55 reaches second engagement recess 25, engaging element 55 engages with second engagement recess 25. In this way, actuating element 5 is fixed in the actuating position by the engagement. Clamping leg 43 is thus permanently deflected in this actuating position. An engagement in the actuating position between second engagement recess 25 and engaging element 55 is optional and not absolutely mandatory.

(17) If actuating element 5 is actuated in this way, the user must not only overcome the spring force of clamping spring 4 but also the restoring spring force of restoring spring element 6.

(18) If the actuating position is now reached, in which engaging element 55 engages with second engagement recess 25, the state illustrated in FIG. 2 results. In contrast to the representation in FIG. 1, it is apparent that restoring spring element 6 is compressed. Clamping leg 43 of clamping spring 4 is greatly deflected. An electrical conductor 8 is inserted up to the clamping point. Since actuating element 5 has not yet been released from its actuating position, clamping leg 43 does not yet touch electrical conductor 8.

(19) As is apparent, securing clip 7 reaches a pretensioning element 9 in the area of the actuating position, which may have, for example a ramp-shaped contour. Due to pretensioning element 9, on which securing clip 7 is supported in the actuating position, securing clip 7 is additionally pretensioned, so that it transmits a greater force onto engaging element 55. Engaging element 55 is particularly securely engaged hereby in actuating position. Pretensioning element 9 may be formed, for example as a single piece, on closure element 21.

(20) FIG. 3 shows conductor terminal 1, including clamped-on electrical conductor 8, the engagement of actuating element 5 in the actuating position being released. The release of the actuating position preferably takes place by an application of force onto the engaging element from outside conductor terminal 1. Actuating element 5 is moved back into its initial position by the restoring spring force of restoring spring element 6. Engaging element 55 is now again engaged with first engagement recess 24. Actuating section 53 now no longer touches clamping leg 43. Clamping leg 43 now adjoins electrical conductor 8 with its free end and clamps the latter firmly against the clamping point.

(21) FIG. 4 shows a conductor terminal, which corresponds to the specific embodiment described above, except for the design of securing clip 7. In contrast to the specific embodiment in FIGS. 1 through 3, securing clip 7 is now designed not as an element arranged on actuating element 5 or on restoring spring element 6 but instead as an element formed on contact leg 41 of clamping spring 4. For example, securing clip 7 may be designed as a clip formed out of the material of contact leg 41. Securing clip 7 in this case is always fixedly situated at a position below second engagement recess 25. If actuating element 5 is moved into the actuating position, restoring section 52 comes into contact with securing clip 7 and is pressed upward in the area of engaging element 55, i.e. in a direction which faces away from the clamping point. Otherwise, the functionality of conductor terminal 1 according to FIG. 4 is comparable to the functionality described above.

(22) FIG. 5 shows a further specific embodiment of a conductor terminal 1, in which restoring spring element 6 is designed as a separate component, e.g. as a spiral spring. Conductor terminal 1 according to FIG. 5 otherwise corresponds to the design in FIGS. 1 through 3, but could also be combined with the specific embodiment in FIG. 4 (other arrangement of securing clip 7). Restoring section 52 of actuating element 5 now has an elongated extension 56, to which restoring spring element 6 is fastened. Extension 56 is used to guide and stabilize restoring spring element 6 as the spring force increases when actuating element 5 is moved into the actuating position.

(23) FIG. 6 shows the design of actuating section 53 of actuating element 5 as an example, applicable to all specific embodiments described above. Actuating section 53 may be provided with a U-shaped design in the direction of its free end and have particular oppositely situated side sections 57. A free space is formed between side sections 57, through which electrical conductor 8 may be inserted up to the clamping point. Side sections 57 are simultaneously used to bear and support actuating section 53 on busbar 3, in particular on contact section 30. Side sections 57 slide along contact section 30 during an actuation of actuating element 5.

(24) As is further apparent, clamping leg 43 may be provided with a widened design on one side or on both sides in the area in which it is in contact with actuating section 53. These widened sections 45 come into contact with actuating section 53 when actuating element 5 is moved into the actuating position.

(25) 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.