Conductor connection terminal

A conductor terminal that has an insulating housing, which has a conductor insertion opening for inserting an electrical conductor and a contact element insertion opening for inserting a contact element. A busbar has a clamping section arranged between the inserted electrical conductor and the inserted contact element. A first clamping spring is provided for clamping the electrical conductor, which includes a first clamping leg having a clamping edge oriented in the direction of the clamping section, a first spring bend and a first contact leg, the clamping edge and the clamping section forming a first clamping point for clamping the electrical conductor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a conductor terminal, which includes a housing, which has a conductor insertion opening for inserting an electrical conductor and a contact element insertion opening for inserting a contact element; a busbar, which has a clamping section arranged between the inserted electrical conductor and the inserted contact element; and a first clamping spring for clamping the electrical conductor, which includes a first clamping leg having a clamping edge oriented in the direction of the clamping section, a first spring bend and a first contact leg, the clamping edge and the clamping section forming a first clamping point for clamping the electrical conductor.

Description of the Background Art

Conductor terminals of this type are used to clamp at least one electrical conductor on a contact insert by clamping with the aid of the clamping spring. A conductor terminal of this type is known, for example, from DE 10 2015 107 853 A1, which corresponds to US 2018/0076536, which is incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved conductor terminal.

This object is achieved for a conductor terminal of the type mentioned at the outset in that the conductor terminal includes a second clamping spring, which is designed as a separate component from the first clamping spring and in that the second clamping spring including at least one second clamping leg for clamping the contact element, the second clamping leg being oriented in the direction of a contact section of the busbar, so that a second clamping point for the contact element to be clamped is formed between the contact section and the second clamping leg.

In this way, a compact conductor terminal may be provided, which permits an electrical contacting of an electrical conductor as well as an electrical contacting of a contact element. The electrical conductor may be an electrical conductor of any type, for example a stripped end of an electrical conductor having an insulating envelope, for example a stranded conductor or a singe-wire conductor. The contact element may be an arbitrary electrical contact element, for example an arbitrary electrical conductor or a conductive element, which has a rigid or predominantly rigid form. This may include contact pins, rigid conductors or any type of a predominantly rigid and electrically conductive elements. The contact element may be, for example, a contact pin or contact blade, for example a contact pin or contact blade of an electrical plug connection.

Due to the invention, a conductor terminal, in particular, may be provided, which may be mounted on a contact element of an electrical device, for example in the form of a snap-on terminal and/or a luminaire terminal. The housing of the conductor terminal may be designed as an insulating housing. The conductor terminal may thus be designed as a snap-on terminal. The portion of the conductor terminal which includes the second clamping spring having the second clamping point is used for mounting.

Due to the fact that the first and second clamping springs are designed as separate components, particular clamping elements may be provided, which are designed in keeping with the corresponding electrical contacting requirements and mechanical fixing requirements of the electrical conductor, on the one hand, and of the contact element, on the other hand. The first and second clamping springs may differ, for example, with respect to the type of material, the material cross-section and/or the clamping force. The first clamping leg of the first clamping spring has a clamping edge for fixedly clamping the electrical conductor at one end in each case. The second clamping leg of the second clamping spring may be designed according to the requirements, for example with a rounded area on the end without a clamping edge, or with a clamping edge on the end of the second clamping leg.

The busbar can have a first bent section adjoining the first clamping section, in which the busbar transitions in an bow-shaped manner directly into the contact section or via at least one further section of the busbar. The clamping section is therefore spaced a distance apart from the contact section by the first bent section adjoining the clamping section. The clamping section and the contact section are thus also not arranged on opposite sides of the same busbar area as in the case of, for example, the prior art, but instead, as mentioned, are spaced a slightly greater distance apart and are thereby separated from each other.

The busbar may have, for example, a first bent section, by means of which the clamping section is directly connected to the contact section. The first bent section may span an angle of 80 degrees to 210 degrees. For example, the first bent section may span an angle of approximately 90 degrees or approximately 180 degrees. A second bent section of the busbar may also adjoin the first bent section, so that the busbar is provided with a multiple arch-shaped design. The second bent section may be bent in the same direction as the first bent section or in the opposite bending direction. For example, the busbar may be provided with a stepped design when viewed from the side as a result of the at least double-arch-shaped design.

The contact section can be arranged essentially and/or predominantly in parallel to the clamping section. For this purpose, the contact section may be oriented with respect to the clamping section, for example, in such a way that the center line of the contact section does not intersect the center line of the clamping section in the area of the conductor terminal, e.g., in the area surrounded by the housing of the conductor terminal. This permits a favorable, compact design of the conductor terminal. In particular, a conductor insertion direction, which is used to insert the electrical conductor, may be essentially in parallel to a contact element insertion direction, which is used to insert the contact element.

If the contact section is arranged essentially in parallel to the clamping section, either an exact parallelism or a slight angle deviation may exist, for example a maximum of 15 degrees between the contact section and the clamping section. In this way, the contact section is designed to be at least approximately in parallel to the clamping section. The contact section does not have to be arranged so as to overlap with the clamping section over its entire length and also not over a portion of its length. Instead, the contact section and clamping section may also be arranged offset with respect to each other and nevertheless be arranged essentially in parallel to each other, i.e., corresponding planes defined by the contact section and the clamping section are then essentially in parallel to each other.

If the contact section is arranged predominantly in parallel to the clamping section, this means that the contact section and the clamping section are arranged so as to at least partially overlap (perpendicularly to the plane of the contact section in one viewing direction), the overlapping area comprising at least 50% of the length of the contact section.

The first clamping spring can be suspended by its first contact leg on an elongated holding section of the second clamping spring or on an elongated holding section of the busbar. In this way, no additional components are necessary for fixing the first clamping spring. In the first variant, the second clamping spring has an elongated holding section. In this case, a through-opening limited with a transverse web may be present on this holding section of the second clamping spring, into which the first contact leg is suspended by its free end. In the second variant, the busbar has an elongated holding section. In this case, the holding section of the busbar may have a through-opening limited with a transverse web, into which the first contact leg is suspended by its free end.

The elongated holding section can run orthogonally and/or predominantly orthogonally to the clamping section. An angle of at least approximately 90 degrees is thus formed between the holding section and the clamping section, e.g., an angle in the range from 75 degrees to 105 degrees. This has the advantage that a compact first clamping spring may be used, so that on the whole a compact conductor terminal may be provided. For example, it may be provided that the holding section protrudes toward the first contact leg orthogonally to the contact section of the busbar in the direction of the clamping section.

The second clamping spring and the busbar can be coupled with each other in a form-fitting manner. The busbar and the second clamping spring are fixed to each other in a form-fitting manner thereby. In this way, the parts which form the contact insert of the conductor terminal, namely the first and second clamping springs as well as the busbar, are assembled into a structural unit.

The second clamping spring can include a second contact leg, the second contact leg and the busbar being coupled with each other in a form-fitting manner. This permits a reliable attachment to the busbar, in particular in the case of a second clamping spring without an elongated holding section.

The conductor terminal can have a conductor insertion chamfer arranged in front of the clamping section of the busbar in the conductor insertion direction of the electrical conductor in the conductor insertion opening toward the first clamping point. In this way, an electrical conductor is reliably guided to the first clamping point. The conductor insertion chamfer may be formed, for example, in the material of the housing.

The clamping section of the busbar may have, for example, a rib or a contact projection on the contact side facing the electrical conductor and/or the contact element. In this way, the electrical contacting of the electrical conductor may be further improved.

The conductor terminal may include a manual actuating element for opening and closing the first clamping point. The manual actuating element acts mechanically upon the first clamping spring. In an opened position, the clamping leg of the first clamping spring is deflected by the manual actuating element in such a way that the clamping leg is moved away from the clamping section, so that a distance is present between the clamping leg and the clamping section, even if the electrical conductor is not inserted. In a closed position, the clamping section abuts the electrical conductor with its clamping edge or, if no electrical conductor is clamped, it abuts the clamping section. The conductor terminal may be designed, in particular, without a manual actuating element for actuating the second clamping spring. The second clamping spring may thus be actuating into an opened position or another position by a manual actuating element of the conductor terminal.

It is advantageous if the actuating element is movably built into the housing and coupled with the first clamping spring for opening the first clamping point.

The actuating element can have an actuator, which is arranged at the side of the first clamping spring, an actuating contour of the actuator being operatively connected to the first clamping leg. This permits a reliable actuation of the first clamping spring.

Further, it is possible that the actuator is operatively connected to the first contact leg and/or to the clamping section. For example, an outer semicircular lateral surface of the actuator may be supported against an area of the first contact leg, on the one hand, and against an area of the clamping section, on the other hand, whereby an operative connection is established between the first contact leg and the clamping section. On the whole, the actuator may be supported or clamped between the first contact leg, an elongated holding section of the second clamping spring, to which the first contact leg is fastened, and an actuating section of the first clamping spring, which is situated on the first clamping leg. In this way, a permanent positioning of the actuator within the contact insert of the conductor terminal is ensured.

The actuating contour can have a circumferentially circular or semicircular pin with a V-shaped cutout, the first clamping leg protruding into the V-shaped cutout with an actuating section. In this way, an actuating element may be provided, by means of which an opening and closing of the first clamping point may be achieved by lifting or lowering the first clamping leg.

The first clamping leg can have at least one side cutaway section, into which the actuator protrudes. In the area of this cutaway section, the width of the first clamping leg is thus reduced with respect to its area adjacent to the spring bend. In this way, an sufficient clearance is provided for the pivoting movement of the semicircular pin of the actuator. In addition, stresses acting upon the housing may be minimized hereby.

The actuating element can be an actuating lever, which may be pivoted via a pivot bearing. The actuating lever may be supported in a floating manner, so that the pivot bearing does not have a fixed rotation axis. Alternatively, the actuating lever may also be supported with a fixed rotation axis, for example, in that at least one bearing journal is arranged on the actuating lever. In this way, the actuating element may be designed as an actuating lever, which is pivotably supported in the housing and protrudes out of the housing.

The first clamping point can be arranged in the area of the pivot bearing of the actuating lever. This is also conducive to a compact design of the conductor terminal. The electrical conductor may be guided, for example, between two side plates of the actuating level through to the first clamping point. An electrical conductor clamped at the first clamping point is then arranged in the area surrounded by the side plates.

The housing can have a height, a width and a length as outer dimensions. The length of the housing is measured in conductor insertion direction L, the height is the largest outer dimension of the housing perpendicular to the conductor insertion direction. The electrical contact insert present in the housing, including the first clamping spring and the second clamping spring as well as the busbar, is arranged in a type of dual-level arrangement in the direction of the height dimension of the housing, i.e., the first and the second clamping springs are arranged one above the other or one below the other in the direction of the height dimension. According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the housing is provided with a relatively compact design with respect to the height, in particular it does not have the double installation height of two individual conductor terminals. The housing may have a ratio of height to length<1 or <0.9 or <0.8.

A contact element insertion channel can adjoin the contact element insertion opening, which is at least partially formed by housing walls of the housing, the contact section and/or a portion of the second clamping spring being entirely or partially arranged behind a recessed area of the housing covered by the particular housing wall in the longitudinal direction of the contact element insertion channel, viewed from the contact element insertion opening. In this way, the insertion of the contact element may be optimized, since the clamping section and/or portions of the second clamping spring do not hinder the insertion of the contact element.

The first clamping leg and the second clamping leg can be arranged on opposite sides of the busbar. The first clamping leg can point in the direction of the busbar from one side, and the second clamping leg can point in the direction of the busbar from another side, whereby the first clamping leg and the second clamping leg extend toward each other.

The housing can include at least one main housing part and a cover part, the busbar extending through an opening, at which the main housing part and the cover part do not abut each other. In this case, busbar may extend through the aforementioned opening from a space which is closed by the cover part, and out into a portion of the housing which is not closed by the cover part.

For example, an electrical conductor having a 4 mm2cross-section may be clamped at the first clamping point on the conductor terminal. For example, two contact sections, each having a 2.5 mm2cross-section, may be clamped at the second clamping point. A multiple connection is therefore also possible. The conductor terminal may, of course, be designed for different cross-sections to be connected of the electric conductor and/or the contact element.

The first and second clamping points may be arranged in different height planes in a height direction of the conductor terminal. i.e., one above the other. The height direction is a direction which extends orthogonally to the conductor insertion direction. An electrical conductor clamped at the first clamping point then overlaps in the height direction with a contact element clamped at the second clamping point.

The conductor insertion opening and the contact element insertion opening may be advantageously arranged on sides of the housing facing away from each other.

With the aid of a cover part, which has a plug-in housing section and a plug contact arranged therein, the conductor terminal may be expanded into an electrical plug connector, in which the electrical conductor may be connected with the aid of spring force clamping technology.

Due to particular designed free ends of the second clamping leg, the snap-on connection may be designed, for example, as a plug contact, e.g., as a female jack connector. A casing of a plug contact may dip, for example, into the housing of the conductor terminal during the insertion into the second clamping point.

The cover part may have a variable design and/or be replaceable. In this way, the connection used as a plug connection may be variably held with the second clamping point, e.g., with respect to the ratio of diameter of the casing to the contact element cross-section. The cover part may be designed as a pin strip, it being possible to use the locking engagement. A pin strip may also be fastenable to the cover part. The cover part may have guide slots, by means of which flat contacts may be guided. The cover part may have, for example, a molded-on plug-in housing section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According toFIG.1, conductor terminal1includes a housing2. A contact insert is arranged in housing2, which includes a busbar3, a first clamping spring4and a second clamping spring6. Conductor terminal1also includes an actuating element5designed as an actuating lever. Actuating element5has a manual gripping area50, at which actuating element5may be manually actuated by the user.

The type of actuation is described by way of example with the actuating lever. Another type of actuation is conceivable, such as using a pushing element for actuating the clamping leg.

Housing2is provided with a multi-part design, for example having two parts20,23, which are connected to each other, e.g., via locking connections. Part20may be a main housing part of housing2, which makes up the predominant part of the housing. Part23may be a cover part of housing2, which is designed to close an opening of main housing part20. The contact insert arranged in housing2may be fixed in housing2by cover part23in interaction with main housing part20. For example, cover part23may fix busbar3in housing2.

Housing2has a conductor insertion opening21for inserting an electrical conductor and a contact element insertion opening24for inserting a contact element. In addition, housing2has a test pin opening22, through which a test pin may be inserted and be electrically contacted with the contact insert, for example, with first clamping spring4. Housing2includes a conductor insertion chamfer25. by means of which an electrical conductor may be guided to the first clamping point in a targeted manner. It is also possible to fix two conductors or contact elements next to each other or one above the other at the second clamping point with the aid of the second clamping spring. For this purpose, contact element insertion opening24is to be dimensioned with a corresponding size.

FIG.1further shows a fixing area26on housing2, which may be used to fasten a function element to housing2or fasten housing2to a function element of this type, e.g., to a holder for conductor terminal1. The fastening may also take place by locking, e.g., by a locking element27present in fixing area26.

Busbar3has a clamping section30, a first bent section31and a contact section32. Contact section32is connected to clamping section30via first bent section31. Clamping section30is used to clamp an electrical conductor; contact section32is used to clamp the contact element.

First clamping spring4includes a first contact leg40, a spring bend41adjoining first contact leg40and a first clamping leg42adjoining first spring bend41. First clamping leg42ends at the free end with a clamping edge43. Clamping edge43and clamping section30form a first clamping point, which is used for clamping the electrical conductor. Second clamping spring6includes a second clamping leg62. A second clamping point is formed between second clamping leg62and contact section32, which is used for clamping the contact element. Second clamping spring6extends from second clamping leg62via a connecting section61toward an elongated holding section64. A through-opening limited by a transverse web65is present in elongated holding section64. First contact leg40is suspended by its free end in this through-opening. First clamping spring4may also be suspended by an elongated contour of busbar3.

Second clamping spring6crosses at least parts of busbar3with its elongated holding section64. For this purpose, corresponding recesses are present on busbar3and/or on second clamping spring6, so that the desired crossing capability is established. Second clamping spring6may also be coupled with busbar3in a form-fitting manner with the aid of the recesses.

Actuating element5includes an actuator52in its area arranged in the interior of housing2, with the aid of which first clamping leg42may be deflected. Actuator52has an actuating contour53, which includes a circumferentially circular or semicircular pin having a V-shaped cutout. Clamping leg42may be actuated and therefore deflected with the aid of this actuating contour53. First clamping point may be either opened or closed hereby by the actuation of actuating element5.

A first housing wall28, which adjoins contact element insertion opening24, is also apparent, through which an inserted contact element is guided at least in areas. First housing wall28completely or at least predominantly covers contact section32in a viewing direction into contact element insertion opening24. Contact section32is thus arranged in the area of an undercut of housing2, which has the advantage that an inserted contact element is not hindered by contact section32during insertion, in particular it is unable to become stuck there.

It is also apparent that second clamping spring6is arranged behind a second housing wall29with a root area of second clamping leg62, whereby a fixing of second clamping spring6takes place, on the one hand, and these corresponding areas of second clamping spring6are also arranged so as to be concealed in an undercut area of housing2, on the other hand, so that they also do not hinder the insertion of the contact element. The area, in which clamping leg62branches off from a base section66of second clamping spring6, is viewed as the root area of second clamping leg62.

FIG.2shows one specific embodiment of the conductor terminal, which is provided with the same design as the specific embodiment described on the basis ofFIG.1with regard to housing2of actuating element5and first clamping spring4. In contrast to the specific embodiment inFIG.1, busbar3is designed with an elongated holding section34, which has a through-opening on the end side, which is limited by a transverse web35. In this case, the free end of first contact leg40is suspended in the opening of holding section34of busbar3.

In the direction toward contact section32, busbar3has a different design than in the specific embodiment inFIG.1. While, in the specific embodiment inFIG.1, the first bent section has an angle of approximately 180 degrees, in the specific embodiment inFIG.2, not only first bent section31but also a second bent section33is present, which is bent in the opposite bending direction from first bent section31. First and second bent sections31,33each have an angle of 90 degrees. Busbar3is provided with a stepped design in this area.

Second clamping spring6does not have an elongated holding section in this case. Only a second contact leg60of second clamping spring6adjoins connecting section61in this case. Second contact leg60is arranged on the side of contact section32facing away from second clamping leg62and is fastened to busbar3in this location.

FIG.3shows a contact insert, including an actuating element5, which is configured for insertion into a housing, which may correspond to the specific embodiment inFIG.1. For the sake of better clarity, however, the elements of housing2are not shown inFIG.3. Actuating element5illustrated on the basis ofFIG.3is also suitable for use in the conductor terminals according toFIGS.1and2.

As is apparent inFIG.3, first contact leg40is suspended in the recess of elongated holding section64of second clamping spring6, so that it is held by transverse web65.

It is further apparent that busbar3may have a contact rib39in the area of clamping section30. The electrical contacting and clamping of the electrical conductor at the first clamping point may be further improved hereby.

It is further apparent that actuating element5, which is also illustrated inFIG.3in a cutaway representation and, in the complete embodiment, is designed so as to be mirror-symmetrical to the part illustrated inFIG.3, includes a side plate51in each case, which adjoins manual gripping area50. Actuating element5overlaps parts of the contact insert with the two side plates51, in particular first clamping spring4, which may be arranged in this way largely in the area surrounded by actuating element5or its side plates51. For example, actuating element5may be supported loosely (in a floating manner) on other parts of the conductor terminal, e.g., on busbar3, via its side plates51.

It is further apparent that actuator52protrudes from particular side plate51on the side of the area surrounded by side plates51and thus projects toward first clamping spring4. Actuator52this protrudes in the direction of the conductor receiving area or in the direction of the terminal interior. First clamping spring4may be formed in the area of first clamping leg42in such a way that the material of first clamping spring4is reduced to a smaller width in the area of actuating contour53, so that first clamping leg42is narrower in its end-side area, in particular in the area of clamping edge43, than in other areas, where it may have the width of first spring bend41. A side actuating section44of clamping leg42is created hereby, on which actuating contour53may engage and deflect clamping leg42upon a pivoting of actuating element5. An electrical conductor guided to first clamping point is guided between actuators52.

FIG.4shows a first specific embodiment of a conductor terminal1, in which the conductor terminal is expanded into a plug connector by modifying cover part23of housing2. Conductor terminal1may first be implemented with the aid of the features explained on the basis ofFIGS.1through3,FIG.4being oriented toward the specific embodiment inFIG.2by way of example. In contrast toFIG.2, cover part23is now designed with a plug-in housing section71formed thereon. An electrical plug contact is situated in plug-in housing section71, for example in the form of a blade contact70. The plug contact is electrically connected to a contact element7or is formed therewith in a structural unit, e.g., as a metal part. Contact element7is clamped at the second clamping point, i.e. between second clamping leg62of second clamping spring6and contact section32of busbar3. Contact element7extends through contact element insertion opening24of housing2, which is adapted in this case with respect to its shaping in such a way that contact element7is held therein in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner. Conductor terminal1expanded into a plug connector in this way may be mounted together with plug-in housing section71and plug contact70onto a plug connector designed as a mating piece for the purpose of forming an electrical plug connection in this manner.

FIG.5shows a further specific embodiment of an expansion of conductor terminal1into a plug connector by correspondingly modifying cover part23. In the specific embodiment inFIG.5, the plug contact is designed as a bifurcated contact72. The plug contact is again electrically connected to a contact element7or is formed therewith in a structural unit, e.g., as a metal part. Contact element7is again clamped at the second clamping point, i.e. between second clamping leg62and contact section32. Plug contact72is arranged in plug-in housing section71, which in this case is adapted to the different shaping of plug contact72as a bifurcated contact.

In this way, conductor terminal1may be used in an even more variable manner, either as a snap-on terminal for mounting on a contact element of an electrical device or as an electrical plug connector, which may also be mounted either on an electrical device or on another mating plug connector.