Abstract
A conductor connection terminal with a conductor insertion channel is disclosed, which includes an insulating housing, a busbar, a clamping spring, and an actuating unit. The clamping spring has a contact leg, a spring bend, and a clamping leg. The clamping leg, together with the busbar, forms a clamping point for an electrical conductor insertable into the conductor insertion channel. The clamping leg is movable between an open position and a closed position for the purpose of opening and closing the clamping point. The actuating unit is designed to move the clamping leg into the open position. The clamping point is formed, in particular, by a clamping edge on the clamping leg, which is generally situated on the free end of the clamping leg.
Claims
1. A conductor connection terminal comprising: a conductor insertion channel; an insulating housing; a busbar; a clamping spring having a contact leg, a spring bend, and a clamping leg, the clamping leg, together with the busbar, forms a clamping point for an electrical conductor that is insertable into the conductor insertion channel, the clamping leg being movable between an open position and a closed position for opening and closing the clamping point; and an actuating unit adapted to move the clamping leg into the open position, the actuating unit having an operating element and an actuating element, the actuating element having a bearing base, an actuating section for actuating the actuating element via the operating element, and a pivot arm for mechanically contacting the clamping leg, the clamping leg having an entrainer section, and the actuating element being configured to pivot around the bearing base during actuation and to move the clamping leg into the open position via the pivot arm engaging with the entrainer section.
2. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element has two pivot arms extending substantially in parallel to each other.
3. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the actuating section has two actuating arms extending substantially in parallel to each other and has a connecting web connecting the actuating arms.
4. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 3, wherein the connecting web has an actuating surface for being mechanically contacted by the operating element.
5. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein a bent spring tongue is formed on the actuating section.
6. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the pivot arm is provided with an L-shaped design.
7. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the entrainer section is formed by a projection protruding laterally from the clamping leg.
8. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the busbar has a busbar frame with two frame legs extending substantially in parallel to each other, and wherein the clamping spring is arranged between the frame legs.
9. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the busbar has a bearing receptacle to support and guide the actuating element.
10. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the bearing base of the actuating element extends on a side of the busbar facing away from the spring bend of the clamping spring, and wherein the actuating section and/or the pivot arm of the actuating element extends on a side of the busbar facing the spring bend of the clamping spring.
11. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the busbar forms a stop for the actuating section and/or for the pivot arm.
12. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the bearing base has a base leg.
13. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the base leg is supported on the busbar, and the pivot arm contacts the clamping leg on the diametrically opposed side of the busbar for resting the base leg on the busbar.
14. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 12, wherein the bearing base has two base legs arranged at a distance from each other.
15. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 14, wherein the two base legs extend in parallel to each other.
16. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 12, wherein the busbar has a bearing for guiding a pivot region of the base leg of the bearing base.
17. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the clamping leg and the contact leg of the clamping spring extend between the actuating section and the pivot arm of the actuating element, the pivot arm facing the clamping leg, and the actuating section facing the contact leg.
18. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the clamping leg is designed to be latched on a retaining contour of the contact leg of the clamping spring in the open position.
19. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the conductor connection terminal automatically moves the clamping leg into the closed position when the electrical conductor is inserted into the conductor connection terminal.
20. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 19, wherein the contact leg has a release section to release the clamping leg held in the open position when an electrical conductor strikes the release section.
21. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 20, wherein the release section has a V-shaped bend.
22. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element is a flat stamped-bent part.
23. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the operating element is a pressing element.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] 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:
[0037] FIGS. 1a and 1b schematically show a conductor connection terminal with a clamping leg of a clamping spring illustrated in a closed position in a cutaway view and a perspective front view of a spring-force clamping connection, with a faded-out insulating housing;
[0038] FIGS. 2a and 2b schematically show the conductor connection terminal with the clamping leg of the clamping spring illustrated in an open position in a cutaway view and a perspective front view of a spring-force clamping connection, with a faded-out insulating housing;
[0039] FIGS. 3a and 3b schematically show the conductor connection terminal with the clamping leg of the clamping spring illustrated in the clamped position when an electrical conductor is inserted, in a cutaway view and a perspective front view of a force clamping connection, with a faded-out insulating housing;
[0040] FIGS. 4a and 4b schematically show an isolated representation of the clamping spring of the conductor connection terminal in the closed position, in a side view and a perspective view;
[0041] FIGS. 5a and 5b schematically show an isolated representation of the clamping spring of the conductor connection terminal in the open position, in a side view and a perspective view;
[0042] FIGS. 6a and 6c schematically show an isolated representation of a busbar of the conductor connection terminal in a side view, a perspective view from above, and a perspective view from below; and
[0043] FIGS. 7a and 7b schematically show an isolated representation of an actuating element of the conductor connection terminal in a side view and a perspective view.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0044] FIGS. 1a through 3b show a conductor connection terminal 1 according to an example in different views and states. FIGS. 4a through 7b show isolated representations of individual components of conductor connection terminal 1 for clarifying structural details of the example.
[0045] As is apparent in FIGS. 1a, 2a, and 3a, conductor connection terminal 1 has an insulating housing 3 with a conductor insertion channel 2, into which an electrical conductor 11 illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b may be inserted. Conductor connection terminal 1 furthermore has a busbar 4, which is shown in FIGS. 1a through 3b and additionally illustrated in an isolated manner in FIGS. 6a through 6c and described in greater detail below. Conductor connection terminal 1 also has a clamping spring 5, which is shown in FIGS. 1a through 3b and additionally illustrated in an isolated manner in FIGS. 4a through 5b. Clamping spring 5 has a contact leg 7, a spring bend 8, and a clamping leg 9. Due to spring bend 8, clamping spring 5 undergoes a deflection in such a way that clamping leg 9 runs opposite contact leg 7, at least in sections. Clamping leg 9, together with a busbar 4, is designed to form a clamping point 10 for an electrical conductor 11 illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b, which is insertable into conductor insertion channel 2. Clamping leg 9 is movable between an open position O, illustrated in FIGS. 2a through 3b as well as FIGS. 5a and 5b, and a closed position S, illustrated in FIGS. 1a and 1b as well as FIGS. 4a and 4b, for the purpose of opening and closing clamping point 10. During a movement into its open position O, clamping leg 9 may be moved onto contact leg 7, as illustrated in FIGS. 1a through 3b. In open position O, electrical conductor 11 may be positioned in the region of clamping point 10, as illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b. In closed position S, clamping leg 9 is moved in the direction of electrical conductor 11 and applies a contact force to electrical conductor 11 in the direction of busbar 4. Conductor connection terminal 1 is designed to automatically move clamping leg 9 into closed position S when electrical conductor 11 is inserted into conductor connection terminal 1. For this purpose, a retaining section 38 abuts contact leg 7, which has a retaining contour 28 and, following a bend, transitions into a (vertical) connecting section 37, which is abutted by a release section 29 after a further bend. The clamping position of conductor connection terminal 1 is illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b. Clamping leg 9 abuts electrical conductor 11, and release section 29 is deflected. This is also clear due to the movement of spring bend 8 and the markedly displaced retaining tab 35, compared to FIG. 2a.
[0046] It is further apparent in FIGS. 1a through 3b that conductor connection terminal 1 has an actuating unit 6. Actuating unit 6 is designed to move clamping leg 9 into open position O. It is apparent in FIGS. 1a through 3b that actuating unit 6 has an operating element 12 designed as a pressing element and an actuating element 13, which is separate therefrom. Operating element 12 is used to transfer an operating force to actuating element 13. Actuating element 13 is additionally illustrated in an isolated manner in FIGS. 7a and 7b. Actuating element 13 has a bearing base 14 with a base leg 15. Actuating element 13 furthermore has an actuating section 16 to actuate actuating element 13 via operating element 12. Actuating element 13 also has a pivot arm 17 for mechanically contacting clamping leg 9. Clamping leg 9 has an entrainer section 18. Actuating element 13 is designed to pivot around bearing base 14 during actuation. Actuating element 13 may move clamping leg 9 into its open position O via pivot art 17, which engages with entrainer section 18. As may be understood on the basis of the position of actuating element 13 in FIGS. 1a through 3b, actuating element 13 may act as a two-armed lever and transfer a pivoting movement of actuating element 13 around its bearing base 14 to entrainer sections 18 of clamping leg 9 via pivot arm 17. A reliably effective positioning movement of clamping leg 9 into its open position O is made possible hereby, only a slight operating force onto operating element 12 being necessary, due to the lever effect of actuating element 13. At the same time, conductor connection terminal 1 is provided with a compact design, due to the compact rocking mechanism.
[0047] According to example illustrated in FIGS. 1a through 3b as well as FIGS. 7a and 7b, the actuating element has two pivot arms 17, which extend in parallel to each other on both sides of clamping leg 9, and two base legs 15, which extend in parallel to each other. Pivot arms 17 are provided with an L-shaped design according to the illustrated example. As illustrated in FIG. 7a, pivot arms 17 may have a first L leg 17a, with the aid of which pivot arms 17 may be supported on busbar 4, and a second L leg 17b, which is used to mechanically contact entrainer section 18. As is apparent, for example, in FIGS. 4b and 5b, clamping leg 9 has two entrainer sections 18 on opposite sides of clamping leg 9, with which pivot arms 17 may engage, entrainer sections 18 being formed by projections protruding laterally from clamping leg 9, which may each be seen as a lateral step of clamping leg 9, and in whose region clamping leg 9 is made wider than adjacent clamping leg regions. Clamping leg 9 and contact leg 7 of clamping spring 5 extend between actuating element 16 and pivot arms 17 of actuating element 13, pivot arms 17 facing clamping leg 9, and actuating section 16 facing contact leg 7.
[0048] Actuating section 16 furthermore has two actuating arms 19, which extend in parallel to each other, as is apparent, for example, in FIG. 7b, and a connecting web 20, which extends transversely to actuating arms 19 and connects actuating arms 19, so that a compact and stable actuating element 13 is formed. As indicated in FIG. 7b, connecting web 20 has an actuating surface 21 for mechanically contacting via the operating element 12. It is moreover apparent, for example in FIGS. 7a and 7b, that a bent spring tongue 22 is formed on actuating section 16. Actuating surface 21 and spring tongue 22 face an actuator surface 32 of operating element 12. Bent spring tongue 22 permits a smooth approach and a gradual pivoting movement of actuating element 13.
[0049] According to the example of conductor connection terminal 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1a through 3b, base legs 15 of actuating element 13 extend on a side of busbar 4 facing away from spring bend 8 of clamping spring 5, i.e., below busbar 4, while actuating section 16 and pivot arms 17 of actuating element 13 extend on a side of busbar 4 facing spring bend 8 of clamping spring 5, i.e., above busbar 4.
[0050] As is apparent, for example, in FIG. 6b, busbar 4 has a busbar frame 23, which includes frame legs 24 extending in parallel to each other. As illustrated, busbar 4 may be a predominantly flat contact element having an inner recess 33, which is limited by frame legs 24. The recess may be produced by a passage and thereby have a perforated collar 31, on which clamping spring 5 may be supported. FIGS. 1b, 2b, and 3b show that clamping spring 5 is arranged between frame legs 24, i.e., they extend through recess 33. A stable contact insert is formed hereby. As illustrated in FIGS. 6a through 6c, a supporting surface 34 may abut busbar frame 23, on which actuating section 16, in particular actuating arms 19, may be supported during an actuation of actuating element 13. Supporting surface 34 may also form a stop surface for actuating section 16. Frame legs 24 may furthermore form a stop for pivot arms 17. This makes it possible for the rocking movement of actuating element 13 to be limited by busbar 4.
[0051] It is also apparent, for example in FIG. 6b, that busbar 4 has an actuating element receptacle 25 designed as a notch on sides opposite each other for supporting and guiding actuating element 13, so that a compact arrangement and a defined mobility of actuating element 13 is achieved. As is apparent in FIGS. 6a through 6c, busbar 4 also has in each case a bearing 26 with a, for example, concavely curved region for guiding a convex pivot region 27 of particular base leg 15 of bearing base 14.
[0052] As may be understood on the basis of FIGS. 2a through 3b as well as FIGS. 4a through 5b, clamping leg 9 is designed to latch onto retaining contours 28 of contact leg 7 of clamping spring 5 in open position O. Clamping leg 9 may be temporarily fixed hereby on contact leg 7 in its open position O. As illustrated, retaining contours 28 may be lateral retaining edges, which are able to engage behind retaining tabs 35 of clamping leg 9 illustrated in FIGS. 4a through 5b in a latching manner. For an automatic conductor connection with automatic movement of clamping leg 9 into closed position S, conductor connection terminal 1 has a release mechanism, which is implemented according to the illustrated example by a release section 29 on contact leg 7 facing a free end of contact leg 7. Release section 29 is used to release clamping leg 9 held in open position O when an electrical conductor 11 strikes release section 29. Contact leg 7 is deflected by striking conductor 11 in such a way that retaining tabs 35 of clamping leg 9 are released from retaining contours 28, and the latching is released. Release section 29 has a V-shaped bend 30, via which electrical conductors having small conductor cross-sections may be centered, so that a sufficient release force may be generated.
[0053] With the aid of conductor connection terminal 1 described on the basis of the above example, a conductor connection terminal 1 may be provided, which has an automatic conductor connection and a compact and yet reliably effective actuating mechanism for returning clamping leg 9 into its open position O.
[0054] 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.
