Contact insert for a conductor connection terminal, and conductor connection terminal produced therewith

Abstract

A contact insert for a conductor connection terminal, including spring force clamping technology, wherein the contact insert has a clamping spring and a manual actuation element, wherein the clamping spring has a clamping arm which is designed to clamp an electrical conductor to a clamping point, wherein the clamping point can be opened by means of the manual actuation element. The invention additionally relates to a conductor connection terminal comprising an insulating-material housing and at least one such contact insert which is arranged completely or partially in the insulating-material housing.

Claims

1. A contact insert for a conductor connection terminal comprising spring force clamping technology, the contact insert comprising: a clamping spring; and a manual actuation element, wherein the clamping spring has a clamping arm which is designed to clamp an electrical conductor to a clamping point, wherein the clamping point is adapted to be opened by the manual actuation element, wherein the contact insert has at least one metal part, wherein the clamping spring is formed in one piece on the at least one metal part, wherein the at least one metal part has an engagement arm which is arranged opposite the clamping arm, so that the clamping point for the electrical conductor is arranged between the clamping arm and the engagement arm, wherein the actuation element is movably mounted between the clamping arm and the engagement arm, and wherein the actuation element has a bearing pin which rests against the engagement arm.

2. The contact insert according to claim 1, wherein the contact insert is designed as a self-supporting contact insert.

3. The contact insert claim 1, wherein the at least one metal part has a connecting section via which the clamping arm is connected to the engagement arm.

4. The contact insert according to claim 3, wherein the connecting section forms a guide surface for the electrical conductor to be clamped.

5. The contact insert according to claim 1, wherein the engagement arm has a bulge at or near a free end thereof, which is opposite the clamping arm and forms a receptacle for the bearing pin of the actuation element.

6. The contact insert according to claim 5, wherein the engagement arm extends beyond the bulge with an end section up to the free end, wherein the end section forms an insertion aid for the bearing pin during the mounting of the actuation element on the at least one metal part.

7. The contact insert according to claim 1, wherein the actuation element has a manual actuation area at which the actuation element is to be acted upon manually in order to open the clamping point, wherein two spaced apart side cheeks of the actuation element protrude from the manual actuation area, and wherein the engagement arm is arranged between the two side cheeks.

8. The contact insert according to claim 7, wherein a bearing pin of the actuation element extends from one of the two side cheeks to the other of the two side cheeks.

9. The contact insert according to claim 7, wherein the contact insert has a conductor insertion area into which the electrical conductor to be clamped is to be inserted, wherein the conductor insertion area extends through the area enclosed by the two side cheeks.

10. The contact insert according to claim 5, wherein the clamping arm has a clamping tongue on which a clamping edge for clamping the electrical conductor is arranged, wherein the clamping arm has at least one or two actuating tabs which are arranged laterally next to the clamping tongue, wherein the at least one or two actuating tabs each form contact surfaces for mechanical action by the actuation element to open the clamping point.

11. The contact insert according to claim 10, wherein the at least one or two actuating tabs simultaneously form a counter bearing with respect to a mounting of the actuation element on the engagement arm.

12. The contact insert according to claim 10, wherein the at least one or two actuating tabs are bent in the same direction as the bulge of the engagement arm.

13. The contact insert according to claim 10, wherein the actuation element has a manual actuation area at which the actuation element is to be acted upon manually in order to open the clamping point, wherein two spaced apart side cheeks of the actuation element protrude from the manual actuation area, wherein the engagement arm is arranged between the two side cheeks, wherein the actuation element has a mounting recess on one or both of the two side cheeks, wherein the actuation element in the closed position is mounted on a respective actuating tab via a respective mounting recess, and wherein a shape of the mounting recess is adapted to a shape of the respective actuating tab.

14. The contact insert according to claim 13, wherein the actuation element has an actuation contour on one or both of the two side cheeks for actuating the respective actuating tab and accordingly for deflecting the clamping arm, wherein the actuation contour comes into contact with the respective actuating tab when the actuation element is in the open position or is moved from the closed position into the open position.

15. The contact insert according to claim 1, wherein the contact insert has a busbar as a further component, which extends between the engagement arm and the clamping arm, wherein the busbar rests with a bearing side against the engagement arm and with a contact side, opposite the bearing side, together with the clamping arm forms the clamping point for the electrical conductor.

16. A conductor connection terminal comprising an insulating-material housing and at least of the one contact insert according to claim 1, which is arranged completely or partially in the insulating-material housing.

17. The conductor connection terminal according to claim 16, wherein a busbar is inserted into the contact insert through a cutout present in the insulating-material housing.

18. A contact insert for a conductor connection terminal comprising spring force clamping technology, the contact insert comprising: a clamping spring; and a manual actuation element, wherein the clamping spring has a clamping arm which is designed to clamp an electrical conductor to a clamping point, wherein the clamping point is adapted to be opened by the manual actuation element, wherein the contact insert has at least one metal part, wherein the clamping spring is formed in one piece on the at least one metal part, wherein the at least one metal part has an engagement arm which is arranged opposite the clamping arm, so that the clamping point for the electrical conductor is arranged between the clamping arm and the engagement arm, wherein the manual actuation element is movably mounted between the clamping arm and the engagement arm, such that the actuation element is held under a pretension between the clamping arm and the engagement arm.

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 actuation element in a perspective illustration;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a metal part formed as one piece in a perspective illustration;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a contact insert in a perspective illustration;

(5) FIG. 4 shows the contact insert according to FIG. 3 in a partially cutaway side view;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a step of mounting the actuation element on the metal part in a side view;

(7) FIG. 6 shows the contact insert according to FIG. 4 in a non-cutaway side view;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a conductor connection terminal in a perspective view;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a step of mounting a busbar in a conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 7 in a perspective view;

(10) FIG. 9 shows the conductor connection terminal with a mounted busbar in a perspective illustration;

(11) FIG. 10 shows the step of mounting the busbar in the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 8 in a partially cutaway side view;

(12) FIG. 11 shows the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 9 in a partially cutaway side view; and

(13) FIG. 12 shows a further embodiment of a contact insert in a perspective illustration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(14) In the explained exemplary embodiments, the actuation element is shown by way of example as a pivotable actuation lever. The explanations also apply analogously to the embodiment of the actuation element as a pusher.

(15) Actuation element 5 shown in FIG. 1 has a manual actuation area 50, e.g., in the form of a lever arm. The manual actuation area is used to manually act on the actuation element in order to pivot it. Two spaced apart side cheeks 51 protrude from manual actuation area 50. A bearing pin 53 extends between side cheeks 51. A stub axle 55 is arranged on one or both side cheeks 51 on the outside in each case, i.e., on the side of the respective side cheek 51, said side facing away from bearing pin 53. Bearing pin 53 and stub axle 55 are arranged coaxially to one another. Side cheeks 51 each have, on a side directed towards the clamping arm, a substantially concave mounting recess 52 and an actuation contour 54 formed eccentrically with respect to bearing pin 53. A clamping arm can be deflected with actuation contour 54, as will still be described below.

(16) If actuation element 5 were to be designed as a pusher, it could be designed in a comparable manner with regard to side cheeks 51, bearing pin 53, mounting recess 52, and stub axle 55. A manual actuation area 50 would then be located, for example, in the form of a pusher surface above side cheeks 51 or also on the side facing conductor insertion direction L.

(17) FIG. 2 shows an integrally formed metal part 4 on which a clamping spring 40, 41, 42, an engagement arm 44, and a connecting section 43, connecting engagement arm 44 to clamping spring 40, 41, 42, is formed in one piece. Clamping spring 40, 41, 42 has a clamping arm 40, a spring bend 41, adjoining the clamping arm, and a contact arm 42, which adjoins spring bend 41 and extends over an angled area up to connecting section 43. Clamping arm 40 at the end divides into a clamping tongue 47 and two actuating tabs 49 located laterally from clamping tongue 47. Clamping tongue 47 ends with a clamping edge 48 which comes into contact with an electrical conductor when the latter is clamped to a clamping point of the contact insert. The clamping point can be formed, for example, between clamping edge 48 and a surface of engagement arm 44, said surface facing clamping edge 48. The area of metal part 4 denoted by reference numeral 60 can optionally be included with contact arm 42 or connecting section 43.

(18) Clamping tongue 47 can be bent, for example, in the opposite direction of curvature to actuating tabs 49. Actuating tabs 49 can laterally overlap, for example, clamping tongue 47 and can be moved forward, for example, in the direction of engagement arm 44.

(19) Engagement arm 44 extends beyond a bulge 45 to an end section 46. Bulge 45 serves to receive and support bearing pin 53 of actuation element 5.

(20) Whereas FIGS. 1 and 2 each show the components of the contact insert, i.e., actuation element 5 and metal part 4, separately, FIG. 3 shows these components in the state assembled to form the contact insert. FIG. 4 shows the contact insert according to FIG. 3 in a side view, wherein actuation element 5 is shown cut away in the middle in the longitudinal direction, so that the elements located behind upper side cheek 51 can be seen.

(21) As can be seen, actuation element 5 is now clamped between clamping arm 40 and engagement arm 44. Here, bearing pin 53 comes to rest on the inside of bulge 45. Actuating tabs 49, which come into contact with mounting recesses 52 on side cheeks 51 of actuation element 5, are used as counter bearings. Actuation element 5 is securely fixed in metal part 4 in this way but can nevertheless execute a pivoting movement about bearing pin 53.

(22) It can be seen further that an electrical conductor, which is inserted into the contact insert to the clamping point in the conductor insertion direction L, is to be inserted into a conductor insertion area E which is located at least partially between side cheeks 51. In this way, the electrical conductor can be pushed through between side cheeks 51, which also form a guide for the electrical conductor, and uses the installation space located therebetween. The conductor insertion area E can extend relatively far backwards in the conductor insertion direction, because it is not limited by connecting section 43 in the conductor insertion direction. This is due to the fact that connecting section 43 laterally establishes the connection between engagement arm 44 and the clamping spring.

(23) FIG. 5 shows the procedure during the insertion of actuation element 5 into metal part 4. If actuation element 5 is inserted in the shown direction of the arrow, actuation element 5 pushes the springy areas of metal part 4 slightly apart due to the contact of bearing pin 53 with end section 46, which serves as an insertion aid, and the contact between actuation contour 54 and actuating tabs 49. In particular, clamping arm 40 is deflected downwards hereby. Finally, actuation element 5 arrives at the desired position at which bearing pin 53 lies in bulge 45 and mounting recess 52 engages over actuating tab 49 in a positive manner, as FIG. 6 shows.

(24) FIG. 7 shows a conductor connection terminal 1 in which a contact insert of the type explained above is arranged in an insulating-material housing 2. Because insulating-material housing 2 largely surrounds the parts of the contact insert, only manual actuation area 50 of actuation element 5 and parts of side cheeks 51 are visible, for example.

(25) The insulating-material housing can be constructed, for example, in a number of parts, e.g., with a main housing part 20 and a cover part 21. Cover part 21 is mounted on main housing part 20 after the contact insert has been mounted in main housing part 20, e.g., by being snapped into place there.

(26) As FIG. 7 already shows, cover part 21 can have a cutout 23. Cutout 23 can be used to pass a busbar 3 through cover part 21. FIG. 8 shows that busbar 3 can be subsequently inserted into the already assembled conductor connection terminal 1, as shown in FIG. 7. For this purpose, actuation element 5 is pivoted into the open position in which the manual actuation area projects, for example, vertically upwards from insulating-material housing 2. If busbar 3 has been placed in the desired position, manual actuation element 5 can be moved back into the closed position, as FIG. 9 shows. Busbar 3 can protrude from insulating-material housing 2 in order to provide an electrical contacting option for further electrical elements.

(27) FIG. 10 shows the step of mounting busbar 3 in conductor connection terminal 1 in a side view, wherein parts of the conductor connection terminal are again shown cut away. Busbar 3 can also have a protrusion 30 which projects from the rest of the surface of busbar 3 in the direction of clamping arm 40. In this way, the clamping of an electrical conductor can be further improved in mechanical and electrical terms.

(28) It can be seen that insulating-material housing 2 can have a conductor insertion opening 24 in addition to the elements already explained. The electrical conductor can be inserted through conductor insertion opening 24 in the conductor insertion direction L into insulating-material housing 2 at least up to the clamping point.

(29) It can also be seen in FIG. 10 that actuation element 5 in the open position deflects clamping arm 40 downwards via actuation contour 54 and accordingly opens the clamping point. This takes place in that actuating tabs 49 are acted upon mechanically via actuation contour 54. In this state, mounting recess 52 is not in contact with the clamping spring.

(30) FIG. 11 shows conductor connection terminal 1 according to FIG. 10 when actuation element 5 is again in the closed position. It can be seen that the clamping tongue with clamping edge 48 now comes to rest against protrusion 30 of the busbar.

(31) FIG. 12 shows a further embodiment of a contact insert which, apart from the differences described below, corresponds to the embodiment described above. FIG. 12 in this case shows a view comparable to FIG. 3.

(32) In contrast to the embodiment described above, there is no integrally formed metal part 4 in FIG. 12. Instead, metal part 4 is designed in the form of two individual metal parts which are connected to one another in area 60. For this purpose, the metal part having clamping spring 40, 41, 42 has a securing tab 61. The metal part having engagement arm 44 has a securing tab 62. Securing tabs 61, 62 overlap one another. The two individual metal parts are connected to form a single structural unit via this overlap area of securing tabs 61, 62, e.g., by a detachable or nondetachable connection.

(33) The embodiment shown in FIG. 12 with multiple metal parts connected to one another can also be designed differently. Thus, e.g., the described overlap between securing tabs 61, 62 can also be realized in the area of contact arm 42, connecting section 43, or engagement arm 44. There can also be a number of such overlapping points, so that the metal part assembled as a result can consist of more than two individual metal parts.

(34) 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.