Connection apparatus for conductors

A connection device for conductors has at least one double conductor connection for connecting two conductors. The conductor connections are formed as direct plug connections each having a metal clamping cage formed of a highly conductive material such as sheet metal. A clamping spring is mounted on each clamping cage. Each clamping cage serves as a spring support for a clamping spring and as a contact element for each conductor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO EARLIER APPLICATIONS

This application is a § 371 of PCT/EP2016/071923 filed Sep. 16, 2016. PCT/EP2016/071926 claims priority of DE 20 2015 105 023.2 filed Sep. 22, 2015. The entire contents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a connection apparatus for conductors. Arrangements of such apparatus are known in the art but suffer from disadvantages resulting from a generally complicated construction. It is against this background, that the invention was developed to provide a simply constructed connection apparatus of the generic type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a terminal block or plug with a housing and at least one connection apparatus.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connection apparatus includes at least one double conductor connection which includes a pair of clamping cages, designed as spring carriers for two individual clamping springs, respectively, and as contact elements to contact one of the conductors with the respective assistance of one of the clamping springs.

Each clamping cage is easily and quickly manufactured as a single-piece element starting from a sheet metal strip using a punching or bending process. In so doing, the most wide-ranging functional areas are easily integrated in the clamping cage. The clamping cage is constructed in a compact manner and enables a simple assembly with the two clamping springs on a bus bar or a similar device and, in operation, provides simple switching on and off of the conductors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 2shows a connection apparatus1for conductors. This connection apparatus1is designed as a multiple conductor connector and by way of example enables the connection of six conductor ends (not shown).

The connection apparatus furthermore includes by way of example three double conductor connections2,3,4, which each serve for the connection of two of the conductors. Each double conductor connection includes two direct plug connections, often referred to as push-in connections,2a,2b;3a,3b;4a,4bwhich each serve for contacting one of the two conductor ends or similar conductor devices.

Each of the double conductor connections2,3,4includes a metallic clamping cage5. The cage is made of highly conductive material, preferably highly conductive sheet metal. The metallic clamping cage5of the double conductor connections2,3,4is designed with a dual purpose: (1) as spring carrier for two individual clamping springs6,7; and (2) as a contact element. Both of the clamping springs6,7are preferably identical. Insofar as they are preferably designed individually, they are inexpensive to manufacture and are completely independent from one another regarding their function. The clamping springs6,7are preferably manufactured from a spring sheet made of steel for example.

In a plan view, the clamping cage5shown inFIGS. 1a-ehas a U-shape with a base wall51and two side wall assemblies52,53which are designed to be perpendicular to the base wall51. The base wall51is used to fasten the respective clamping cages5on a bus bar8. Furthermore, the base wall51is preferably soldered or welded to the bus bar8as shown in FIG.2. The clamping cages5of the double conductor connections2,3,4are arranged one after the other in a longitudinal direction Y of the bus bar8. Inasmuch as the clamping cages5are not formed as a single piece with the bus bar8, but rather are attached to the busbar, it is possible for the clamping cages5to be arranged very close to one another in the longitudinal direction Y of the bus bar8. In particular, it is possible for the distance between the clamping cages in the Y-direction to be much smaller than the longitudinal length of the clamping cages5in this direction.

The side wall assemblies52,53which extend perpendicular to the base wall51of the bus bar8serve on the one hand to hold the respective clamping springs6,7and on the other hand to contact the two conductor ends that need to be contacted with the help of the clamping springs6,7. The conductor ends push against the side wall assemblies51,52when they are inserted into the conductor connections. Beyond this, the side wall assemblies also serve as lateral conductor guides for the conductor ends that are to be contacted.

The side wall assemblies are designed as being symmetrically identical. They preferably do not touch one another; however, they are connected with one another by the base wall51. They each include a side wall521,531that is designed to be at a right angle to the base wall51. In this manner, a U-shape is defined for each clamping cage. The side wall assemblies52,53furthermore include contact sections522,532for contacting the conductor ends which are positioned on one of the side edges5211,5311of the side walls521,531and extend from the same laterally in sections that are bent at 90°.

The side wall assemblies52,53each include a spring carrying arm523,533on the ends of the side walls521,531facing away from the contact sections522,532. These spring carrying arms523,533are bent inward toward each other at 90° from the side wall521,531.

The side wall assemblies52,53further include a spring support arm524on the ends of the side walls521,531that face away from the contact sections522,532, behind the spring carrying arms523,533when observed in the Y-direction. These spring support arms524are in turn bent inward toward each other at 90° from the side wall521,531. The side wall assemblies52,53on the ends of the side walls521,531that face away from the contact sections522,532in front of the spring carrying arms523,533in the Y-direction include a spring deflection limitation arm525,535. These spring deflection limitation arms525,535are in turn bent inward toward each other at 90° from the side wall521,531. The spring carrying arms523,533and the spring deflection limitation arms525,535are located underneath the spring carrying arms523,533in the Z direction. The side walls521,531, the contact sections522,532and the spring carrying, spring support and spring deflection limitation arms together define a U-shaped geometry in plan view.

The clamping spring6will now be described, it being understood that the other clamping spring7is identical to the clamping spring6. The clamping spring6is substantially designed in a V shape and includes a supporting leg61and a clamping leg62that is arranged at an acute angle of between 10°<α<90° relative to the supporting leg. The supporting leg61and the clamping leg62are connected to one another by a spring return63.

The spring returns63of the two clamping springs6,7rests on the spring carrying arms523,533or alternatively overlap the same. The clamping leg, which is also the contact leg,62is positioned towards the contact sections522,532, and preferably also touches the same in a manner that does not lead to contact with a conductor end and serves to push a conductor end against the contact sections522and532. In this manner, two separate connectable and disconnectable clamping and contact locations are created for the conductor ends.

The spring deflection limitation arms525,535are located underneath the clamping leg62and limit the deflection of the clamping spring leg. On the other hand, the spring support arms524,534serve as a thrust bearing for the clamping spring supporting leg61. The supporting leg61, when mounted on each clamping cage, is preferably positioned obliquely at a spring angle of preferably 0°<β<60° to the direction of insertion Z of the conductor.

During assembly, the two clamping springs6,7are preferably initially placed on the clamping cages5. Then, the clamping cage or cages5with the two clamping springs6,7are placed on the busbar8. Alternatively, the clamping cages5are first placed on the bus bar8and then the springs are positioned on the clamping cages. In this manner, the busbars8are simply pre-fitted with the double conductor connections2,3,4and can be employed as pre-mounted units, for example in a terminal block housing or a plug housing or another type of housing.

The number of double conductor connections in the terminal block can easily be varied. It is also possible to place a plurality of busbars8with conductor connections in the housing, in particular in the terminal block housing.