A spring-loaded clamping connection for clamping an electrical conductor, having an insulating-material housing, a bus bar and a clamping spring. The clamping spring has a contact limb, a spring bow, a clamping limb and an operating section. The clamping limb has a clamping edge. The clamping edge forms, with the busbar, a clamping point for clamping the electrical conductor between the clamping edge and the busbar. An operating element is movably mounted in the insulating-material housing and designed to apply force to the operating section. The operating element is mounted in the insulating-material housing in a linearly displaceable manner and extends from the operating section of the clamping spring beyond a plane which is spanned by the bearing surface of the contact limb on the bus bar or on the insulating-material housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to spring-loaded terminal/clamping connection, in particular a spring-loaded terminal for connecting an electrical conductor, having an insulating housing, having a busbar, and having a clamping spring that has a contact leg, a spring bend, a clamping leg, and an operating section, wherein the clamping leg has a clamping edge, and the clamping edge forms, together with the busbar, a clamping point for clamping the electrical conductor between the clamping edge and the busbar, and having an operating element that is movably mounted in the insulating housing and is designed to apply a force to the operating section.

Description of the Background Art

Spring-loaded terminals of the initially mentioned type are known in a multitude of forms.

EP 2 400 595 A1, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 8,388,387, which is incorporated herein by reference, and which shows a connecting terminal having an insulating housing and having at least one spring terminal unit with a clamping spring and a busbar section in the insulating housing. An operating lever is provided that is pivotably arranged in the insulating housing and that, when displaced, exerts a tensile force on the clamping spring acting in opposition to the spring force. In an embodiment, a movable lug that is formed as a single piece with the insulating housing is provided that delimits an operating passage for an operating tool, and is suspended in an operating section of a leg spring. The clamping point between the leg spring and a busbar can be opened by tilting the operating tool that rests against the insulating lug about an opposing fulcrum on the insulating housing.

EP 2 234 211 A1 discloses a spring-loaded connection for an electrical conductor, having a slide that is supported so as to be linearly movable in an insulating housing and that can be moved in the longitudinal direction relative to the contact limb of the contact body for opening at the clamping point. For this purpose, the slide has, at its end facing the interior of the housing, a deflecting ramp that works together with the clamping arm of the contact spring. The externally accessible slide can be moved into the interior of the housing by pressing with a finger, and has openings to receive electrical conductors.

A similar embodiment of a spring force terminal having a pusher that can move linearly into the interior of the insulating housing is described in DE 10 2006 018 129 B4. To optimize the ratio between the travel distance of the opener and the pivoting distance of the clamping leg, an operating leg, on which is located the region that the opener acts upon, is arranged on the side of the clamping leg.

DE 10 2013 1 10 789 B3, which corresponds to US 2015/0093925 shows an adapter for contacting busbars. A connecting structure is provided that presses on spring terminals and is moved with the aid of a common lever switch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved spring-loaded terminal/clamping connection.

In an exemplary embodiment, an operating element is mounted in the insulating housing so as to be linearly movable, and extends from the operating section of the clamping spring beyond a plane spanned by the support surface of the contact leg on the busbar or on the insulating housing. The operating element is designed to apply a force to the operating section of the clamping spring on the side of the operating section facing away from the support surface of the contact leg on the busbar.

In this way, a spring-loaded terminal can be created that is very compact and is optimized with regard to the action of the operating force. In this design, opening of the clamping spring can be accomplished by engaging beneath or behind the operating section in the pulling direction of the clamping spring so that the linearly movable operating element moves the clamping leg toward the contact leg upon displacement of the operating lever, for example by pivoting. The linearly movable operating element in this design can be guided past the clamping spring, for example to the side, or also, as appropriate, in front of or behind the clamping spring, and extends from the operating section of the clamping spring beyond a plane spanned by the support surface of the contact leg on the busbar or by the insulating housing. In this way, an operating lever that is, e.g., pivotable, which is positioned on the side of the spring-loaded terminal diametrically opposite the operating leg, can act on the operating element.

The operating element can be guided in a linearly movable fashion by guide contours in the insulating housing and/or the clamping spring. In this design, the guide can be delimited by stops in order to avoid excessive deflection of the clamping leg.

The operating element can have a bearing section for an operating lever. The bearing section and the support surface are matched to one another such that the operating element can be displaced linearly, for example by pivoting the operating lever that is supported on the support surface of the insulating housing and braced against the bearing section of the operating element. A free space for receiving the operating lever, delimited by a support surface of the insulating housing, may be present between the bearing section and the insulating housing.

The operating lever in this design can be a part that is pivotably connected to the operating element, or can also be a separate operating tool that can be inserted into the spring-loaded terminal as needed.

The bearing that connects the operating lever to the operating element can be designed as a pivot bearing for the operating lever. As a result, the operating lever is provided as a functional component of the spring-loaded terminal. This operating lever can be, for example, a pivoted lever made of an insulating material that is coupled to the operating element by the pivot bearing. The position of this pivot bearing is then matched to the operating lever and operating element such that the operating element is displaced linearly when the operating lever is pivoted. The insulating housing provides a support surface for the operating lever, which surface acts as a counter bearing.

Such an operating lever can have a lever arm section and a pressure arm section, which project out from the pivot bearing in different directions.

The lever arm section and the pressure arm section can project in opposite directions. The pressure arm section can then extend at an obtuse angle (greater than 90°) to the longitudinal axis of the lever arm section, which passes through the pivot bearing. This has the advantage that the pressure arm section, which interacts with the support surface of the insulating housing, is not simply located opposite the free arm of the lever arm section, but instead is directed out of a straight line with the lever arm section toward the support surface. This permits a very compact embodiment with optimized force transmission in which operation is accomplished by exerting a tensile force on the lever arm section.

The lever arm section and the pressure arm section can be located on the same side of the pivot bearing, which is to say they can extend away from the pivot bearing on the same side of the operating element. The pressure arm section is then at an acute angle (less than 90°) to the longitudinal axis of the lever arm section, which passes through the pivot bearing. This permits an even more compact embodiment with force transmission in which operation is accomplished by exerting a compressive force on the lever arm section.

The operating lever can have a plain bearing support contour for forming a plain bearing with the support surface of the insulating housing. This support contour can be, e.g., a rounded/curved contour or an angular contour, with which the contact area is reduced as compared to a full-area support. This ensures that the operating lever that is coupled to the operating element by the pivot bearing slides along the support surface upon pivoting in order to achieve linear displacement of the operating element.

The operating lever can be a (separate) operating tool that can be inserted into the free space. The operating element then has a bearing surface located opposite the support surface of the insulating housing. The support surface and the bearing surface are arranged to be offset from one another in the direction of extent of the operating tool inserted into the free space. For such a separate operating tool, as for example a screwdriver, a bearing is provided for linear displacement of the operating element upon pivoting of the operating tool, on the one hand by the support surface of the insulating housing and on the other hand by a bearing surface on the operating element located opposite the support surface. The free space for receiving an operating tool is then located between this pair of support and bearing surfaces that are offset from one another.

The operating element can have a guide wall located laterally next to the clamping spring and mounted on the insulating housing so as to be linearly movable, and can have a finger projecting under the operating section from the guide wall. The finger is arranged so as to come to rest against the operating section on the side of the operating section facing away from the contact leg, and to move the operating section toward the contact leg of the clamping spring by the application of force.

The term “under” can be understood in this context to mean on a side facing away from the contact leg.

The clamping spring can be a leg spring bent into a U-shape. The operating section of the clamping spring is then located at a distance from the clamping edge on the clamping leg, or is connected to the clamping leg. The operating section thus acts on the clamping leg, moving the clamping leg by the application of force to the operating section such that the clamping point formed by the clamping edge and the busbar for clamping an electrical conductor is opened.

The operating section of the clamping spring can be formed on a lug projecting laterally from the clamping leg. In this way, the operating section forms a part that is integrally connected to the clamping leg and projects laterally from the clamping leg.

The operating section of the clamping spring can also be designed as a frame element, however. The frame element can be composed of a side bar and a crossbar projecting from the side bar. The frame element can also have two side bars connected to the clamping leg and spaced apart from one another, and a crossbar connecting the side bars. A clamping tab equipped with the clamping edge projects from the clamping leg between the side bars in this design. The crossbar is then ahead of and/or behind the clamping edge in the insertion direction. The frame element is thus formed from the clamping leg. The clamping tab, which bears the clamping edge, is then aligned relative to the frame element such that the clamping edge of the clamping tab is not covered by the crossbar, at least when a conductor is inserted and clamped, and can clamp the electrical conductor.

The crossbar can have an additional clamping edge for clamping an electrical conductor, or can form such a clamping edge. Then the crossbar and the clamping tab are aligned with respect to the plane of the busbar and an electrical conductor resting thereon such that the clamping edge of the clamping tab and the clamping edge of the crossbar are located one behind the other in the direction of conductor insertion. In this design, the crossbar can be located ahead of or behind the clamping edge of the clamping tab in the direction of conductor insertion.

The formation of a clamping spring with such a frame element on the clamping leg also has advantages independently of the existence or the embodiment as operating element. In this regard, a spring-loaded terminal for clamping an electrical conductor having an insulating housing, having a busbar, and having a clamping spring that has a contact leg, a spring bend, a clamping leg, and an operating section, offers additional advantages. The clamping leg here has a clamping edge that forms, together with the busbar, a clamping point for clamping the electrical conductor between the clamping edge and the busbar. The operating section of the clamping spring is then formed as a frame element, which has, e.g., two side bars connected to the clamping leg and spaced apart from one another, and optionally has a crossbar connecting the side bars, wherein a clamping tab equipped with the clamping edge projects from the clamping leg between the at least one side bar, or spaced apart therefrom, and the crossbar is located ahead of or behind the clamping edge in the insertion direction.

The crossbar can have an additional clamping edge for clamping an electrical conductor.

In this operating section of the clamping spring implemented as a frame element, the crossbar is optional. The frame element can also be composed only of two side bars connected to the clamping leg and spaced apart from one another. Even though an additional clamping edge is omitted in that case, the advantage remains that the operating section can be stabilized with the aid of the side bars, particularly in the case of loading on one side by the operating element.

Opening of the clamping point is achieved by simple design means through the application of force to the operating section. In this case, the operating lever can be oriented to point toward, e.g., the electrical conductor to be clamped. Handling of the electrical conductor as well as of the operating lever is made easier as a result. However, an embodiment in which the operating arm of the operating lever is oriented to point away from the electrical conductor to be clamped is also possible.

The insulating housing of the spring-loaded terminal can have a recess, wherein the support surface for the operating lever is located in the recess. In this way, the counter bearing for the operating lever provided by the support surface is located at a shorter distance from the operating section of the clamping spring than the bearing section of the operating element. As a result, an even more compact construction of the spring-loaded terminal with good kinematics is made possible.

In order to keep the clamping spring in the open position in which the clamping point is open, the insulating housing can have a surface section that is oriented to hold the operating lever in a position beyond dead center or a rest position.

This surface section can be, for example, a stop surface adjoining the support surface of the insulating housing for the pressure arm section of the operating lever. It is arranged toward the open position in the pivoting direction of the operating lever such that the pressure arm section can be moved past the connecting line between the pivot bearing and the contact of the operating element with the operating section of the clamping spring, and does not contact the stop surface until after this connecting line in the pivoting direction in order to prevent further pivoting and to hold the operating lever in this position beyond dead center.

However, this surface section can also be a step that is located opposite a bearing surface on the operating element for guiding a separate operating tool or opposite a resting surface adjoining the bearing surface. In the open position, the end of the operating tool then rests upon the step, and is held on the step with a force that acts on the operating tool toward the step by means of the operating element.

The above-mentioned object is additionally attained by a spring-loaded terminal for clamping an electrical conductor, wherein the spring-loaded terminal has at least one clamping spring for clamping the electrical conductor onto the spring-loaded terminal and at least one pivotable operating lever for operating the clamping spring, wherein the operating lever can be moved back and forth between an open position, in which a conductor clamping point formed with the clamping spring is open, and a closed position, in which the clamping point is closed, wherein the spring-loaded terminal has an operating element that can be operated by the pivotable operating lever and that is designed as a tension member mounted so as to be essentially linearly movable, through which the clamping point can be opened by means of a tensile force acting on the clamping spring when the operating lever is pivoted into the open position. The advantages explained above can be achieved by this means as well. In contrast to the prior art, the clamping leg of the clamping spring is opened by a tensile force exerted by the tension member, which permits a mechanically favorable force transmission with a compact construction of the spring-loaded terminal. Moreover, the operating lever can be especially ergonomic in design.

The above-mentioned object is additionally attained by a spring-loaded terminal for clamping an electrical conductor, wherein the spring-loaded terminal has at least one clamping spring for clamping the electrical conductor onto the spring-loaded terminal and at least one pivotable operating lever for operating the clamping spring, wherein the operating lever can be moved back and forth between an open position, in which a conductor clamping point formed with the clamping spring is open, and a closed position, in which the clamping point is closed, wherein the open position and the closed position constitute end positions of the pivoting motion of the operating lever at which the operating lever comes to rest against a mechanical stop, wherein the operating lever can be pivoted beyond at least one of the end positions into an overpressure position without parts of the spring-loaded terminal being damaged or the operating lever detaching from the spring-loaded terminal in the process. In this way, the spring-loaded terminal, and in particular the bearing of the operating lever, can be protected from damage, even under the action of excessive force. The operating lever can thus avoid the action of excessive force to a certain extent, since it has a certain idle movement or idle travel.

The operating element can be linearly movable by the motion of the operating lever into the at least one overpressure position. During this overpressure motion of the operating lever, the operating element can thus continue its linear motion, at least partially. If the operating lever has arrived at the overpressure position, the operating element can also once again be located in the same linear position as previously, at the end position near the overpressure position, which is to say the open position.

The operating lever can be rotatably mounted on the linearly movable operating element, wherein the operating lever participates in the linear motion of the operating element when the operating lever is moved into the at least one overpressure position. In this way, the operating lever can avoid the excessive operating force that is being applied without damage occurring to the operating lever or its bearing.

The spring-loaded terminal can have an overpressure contour formed on the insulating housing or another part of the spring-loaded terminal, along which the support contour slides when the operating lever is moved into the overpressure position. In this way, the operating lever can be reliably guided into the overpressure position.

According to an advantageous improvement of the invention, provision is made that at least sections of the overpressure contour run at an angle to the direction of linear motion of the operating element. In this way, the overpressure contour can form a kind of temporary stop at the end position of the operating lever, and at the same time accomplish appropriate guidance of the operating lever into the overpressure position.

The operating force of the operating lever can rise when the operating lever is moved from the end position into the overpressure position. This has the advantage that the user haptically obtains the information that the end position per se has been reached.

The operating lever, as already mentioned, is pivotably mounted on the spring-loaded terminal by a pivot bearing. The operating lever in this design can be attached to any retaining part of the spring-loaded terminal, which is to say this retaining part then contains bearing elements on the retaining part side to form a part of the pivot bearing. This retaining part of the spring-loaded terminal can be a region of the insulating housing or the operating element, for example. The operating lever in this design has lever-side bearing elements of the pivot bearing. In this design, the bearing elements on one side, which is to say either the bearing elements on the lever side or the bearing elements on the retaining part side, can be designed as a journal and the mating part of the bearing element can be designed as a bearing bore, for example as a through hole or as a blind hole.

The operating lever can be attached to a retaining part of the spring-loaded terminal, in particular is attached to the operating element, namely in such a way that the operating lever cannot be nondestructively detached from the retaining part. The spring-loaded terminal thus has an indivisible, prefabricated subassembly that has at least the operating lever and the retaining part. In this way, assembly time can be saved when assembling the individual parts of the spring-loaded terminal.

The operating lever can be attached to a retaining part of the spring-loaded terminal by a pivot bearing, wherein the operating lever has bearing elements of the pivot bearing on the lever side, and the retaining part has bearing elements of the pivot bearing on the retaining part side, wherein the retaining-part-side bearing elements are molded directly in a positive-locking manner around the lever-side bearing elements or onto the lever-side bearing elements during manufacture. This can be accomplished, for example, by the means that the lever-side bearing elements are molded-in by the retaining-part-side bearing elements in a plastics injection molding process.

The material of the lever-side bearing elements can have a different melting temperature than the material of the retaining-part-side bearing elements. Thus, the melting temperature of the lever-side bearing elements, in particular, can be higher than the melting temperature of the material of the retaining-part-side bearing elements. In this way, damage to the lever-side bearing elements is avoided during the process of molding the retaining-part-side bearing elements onto the lever-side bearing elements.

The above-mentioned advantages can be achieved, moreover, by a method for producing a spring-loaded terminal for clamping an electrical conductor, wherein the spring-loaded terminal has at least one clamping spring for clamping the electrical conductor onto the spring-loaded terminal and at least one pivotable operating lever for operating the clamping spring that is attached to a retaining part of the spring-loaded terminal by a pivot bearing, having the steps: producing the operating lever with lever-side elements of the pivot bearing; producing the retaining part of the spring-loaded terminal on which the operating lever is mounted, by the means that the retaining part with retaining-part-side bearing elements of the pivot bearing is formed around the lever-side bearing elements of the pivot bearing so that the lever-side bearing elements of the pivot bearing are supported by the retaining-part-side bearing elements of the pivot bearing during the process of producing the retaining part; and/or completing the spring-loaded terminal with the subassembly formed of the operating lever and the retaining part of the spring-loaded terminal to which the operating lever is attached, and also the remaining elements of the spring-loaded terminal, including the clamping spring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1a) shows a drawing of a spring-loaded terminal1, which has an insulating housing2, a clamping spring3supported in the insulating housing2, and a busbar4. The clamping spring3is supported on the busbar4with a contact leg5. For this purpose, a retaining frame6, for example, can extend away from a support section7of the busbar4. As a result, the clamping spring3is arranged to be self-supporting on the busbar4without exerting significant force on the insulating housing2.

An electrical conductor8is inserted into the insulating housing2in a conductor entry passage in the insulating housing2in the direction of conductor insertion L. In the open position shown, it can then be passed between a clamping leg9of the clamping spring3and the support section7of the busbar4(contact section) so that a clamping edge10on the free end of the clamping leg9, together with the busbar4, forms a clamping point for clamping the electrical conductor8. It is made evident that the stripped end11of the electrical conductor8is positioned between the support section7and the clamping edge10, and is passed through a conductor feedthrough opening12in a bearing section designed as retaining frame6. On the support section7of the busbar4, a projecting contact edge can be present on which the contact force of the clamping spring3is concentrated when an electrical conductor8is clamped.

The clamping spring3is designed as a U-shaped leg spring with the contact leg5adjoined by a spring bend13, which is adjoined by the clamping leg9.

Now, in order to open the clamping point to remove the electrical conductor8, an operating element14is present, which is built into the insulating housing2so as to be linearly movable. The operating element14engages beneath an operating section15located on the clamping leg9in order to move the clamping leg9toward the contact leg5by linear displacement of the operating element14. The operating element14acts on the operating section15of the clamping spring3, and thus on the side of the operating section15facing away from the contact leg. In this way, a compressive force is exerted on the operating section15to open the clamping point.

It is made evident that the operating element14has a guide wall16guided laterally past the clamping spring3, with a finger17that is arranged on the guide wall16and that rests on the operating section15in the open position shown.

For the purpose of moving the operating element14, an operating lever18is pivotably arranged on the operating element14. To this end, a pivot bearing19is present on the operating lever18and operating element14. The pivot bearing19can be implemented as, for example, a journal bearing in which a journal projects into a bearing opening. The journal can be present on the operating lever18or the operating element14, and the corresponding bearing opening can then be present on another element, i.e., the operating element14or the operating lever18.

FIG. 1b) shows the spring-loaded terminal1fromFIG. 1a) in the closed position. It is made evident that the operating lever18is now pivoted down, with its lever arm section20downward toward the conductor entry opening or toward the clamping spring3. It can additionally be seen that the operating lever18has a pressure arm section21opposite the lever arm section20. This pressure arm section21interacts with a support surface22of the insulating housing2, and, at least when pivoted into the open position, rests on this support surface22of the insulating housing2. During pivoting, the rounded support contour23of the pressure arm section21then slides along the surface of the support surface22, forming a plain bearing. The counter bearing is formed by the pivot bearing19, by means of which the operating element14is then displaced linearly in the operating direction B.

When the operating lever18is now pivoted counterclockwise into the open position as inFIG. 1, the finger17of the operating element14then travels upward in the operating direction B in order to move the clamping leg9toward the contact leg5against the spring force of the clamping spring3. In this process, the operating element14is guided in a linearly movable manner on the insulating housing2.

In this embodiment of the spring-loaded terminal1, the presence of just one operating element14on one side of the clamping spring3is not the only possibility. An embodiment is also possible in which two operating elements14are located opposite one another, next to the clamping spring3on both sides, forming a free space to accommodate the clamping spring3. The narrow edges of the contact leg5and of the clamping leg9are then each adjacent to an operating element14.

It is also possible, however, that the operating element14is not located laterally next to the clamping spring3. It can also be arranged adjacent to the clamping spring3in different ways, as for example ahead of or behind the clamping spring3in the direction of conductor insertion L.

In any case, it is then designed such that the clamping leg9is movable by linear displacement of the operating element14. The linear displacement of the operating element14is accomplished by means of the operating lever18that is pivotably connected to the operating element14.

It can further be seen in this exemplary embodiment that the support surface22transitions into a surface section in the form of a stop surface24that projects from the support surface22. This stop surface24is arranged toward the open position in the pivoting direction of the operating lever18such that the pressure arm section21can be moved at least past the connecting line between the pivot bearing19and the contact of the operating element14with the operating section15of the clamping spring3, and does not contact the stop surface24until after this connecting line in the pivoting direction in order to prevent further pivoting and to hold the operating lever18in this position beyond dead center. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a position beyond dead center is guaranteed in any case when the pressure arm section21has crossed the connecting line that passes through the pivot bearing19and is oriented in the operating direction B, and the stop surface24is located behind this connecting line in the pivoting direction toward the open position. This connecting line is parallel to the direction of linear motion of the operating element14and thus is parallel to guide bearings for the operating element14. With the stop surface24, a further pivoting of the operating lever18is prevented and the operating lever18is held in a position beyond dead center with the clamping point open, wherein a force of the clamping spring3acts on the operating element14.

In the first embodiment shown, the pressure arm section21and the lever arm section20project from the common pivot bearing19in opposite directions from one another. The pressure arm section21and the lever arm section20are oriented with their primary directions of extent (e.g., central axes) at an obtuse angle (greater than 90°) to one another. The interior angle between the pressure arm section21and the lever arm section20can be limited to a range of 180° to 120°, for example.

FIG. 2a) shows a drawing of a second embodiment of the spring-loaded terminal1. The above remarks can essentially be referenced here. The difference from the first embodiment resides in the implementation of the operating lever18. The pressure arm section21is located on the same side of the pivot bearing19as the lever arm section20. The pressure arm section21and the lever arm section20are oriented with their primary directions of extent (e.g., central axes) at an acute angle (less than 90°) to one another. The interior angle between the pressure arm section21and the lever arm section20can be limited to a range of 10° to 90°, for example.

In the open position shown inFIG. 2a), the pressure arm section21is then oriented toward the support surface22from the pivot bearing19, and rests on the support surface22. The pressure arm section21is then positioned to the side next to the operating element14. This corresponds to the orientation in the first exemplary embodiment, and leads to opening of the clamping spring3.

FIG. 2b) shows a drawing of the second embodiment of the spring-loaded terminal1in the closed position. Pivoting the operating lever18causes the pressure arm section21to be oriented opposite the direction of conductor insertion L, pointing toward the electrical conductor8to be inserted. The lever arm section20projects upward, away from the insulating housing2, as is the case in the first exemplary embodiment in the open position (FIG. 1a).

A stop surface24can optionally be provided as in the first exemplary embodiment, which then projects from the support surface22, only spatially offset on the opposite side of the pivot bearing19, approximately in space above the finger17.

Operation of the clamping spring3by pivoting of the operating lever18is accomplished in the first exemplary embodiment by exerting a tensile force on the lever arm section20, and in the second exemplary embodiment by exerting a compressive force on the lever arm section20.

FIG. 3a) shows a modification of the first exemplary embodiment of the spring-loaded terminal1shown inFIGS. 1a) and1b). It is made evident that the operating lever18is mirror-imaged in its arrangement so that the lever arm section is oriented to point in the direction of conductor insertion L in the closed position. Here, too, operation is accomplished by exerting a tensile force on the operating lever18. As in the first exemplary embodiment, a stop surface24can optionally be provided, which then correspondingly projects from the support surface22on the opposite side, approximately in space above the finger17.

FIG. 3b) shows a modification of the second exemplary embodiment of the spring-loaded terminal1shown inFIGS. 2a) and2b). It is made evident that the operating lever18is mirror-imaged in its arrangement so that the lever arm section is oriented to point in the direction of conductor insertion L in the open position. Here, too, operation is accomplished by exerting a tensile force on the operating lever18. A stop surface24can optionally be provided, as in the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4shows a perspective view of a clamping spring3, suitable for the above-described spring-loaded terminal1, which is suspended by its contact leg5in the busbar4. For this purpose, a retaining frame6with a retaining opening25projects from the support section7of the busbar4. The free end of the contact leg5projects into this retaining opening25in order to thus fix the clamping spring3in its position on the busbar4.

Adjoining the contact leg5is a spring bend13, which transitions into the clamping leg9. The clamping leg9has a clamping tab26, which has the clamping edge10at its free end. In addition, a frame element27is connected to the clamping leg9. This frame element27has two side bars28a,28bprojecting from the clamping leg9and integrally implemented therewith, which optionally can be connected to one another at their ends by a crossbar29. The frame element27provides an operating section on which an operating element14can exert an operating force. The crossbar29can be omitted if the side bars28a,28bare suitably dimensioned. It is made evident that the crossbar29is behind the clamping edge10in the direction of conductor insertion L. In the rest position shown, the crossbar29in this design can rest on the busbar4in the same way as the clamping edge10of the clamping tab26.

It is additionally evident that a contact edge30is formed on the busbar4. The clamping edge10of the clamping tab26is oriented such that it, together with this contact edge30, forms a clamping point for clamping an electrical conductor8so that the clamping force of the clamping spring3is concentrated at the contact edge30.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, a contact jack32is formed on the busbar4by two prongs31a,31b.

FIG. 5a) shows a third embodiment of a spring-loaded terminal1with an insulating housing2.

In this exemplary embodiment, a separate operating tool, as for example a screwdriver, which can be inserted into a free space34in the insertion direction E, is provided as operating lever33. Pivoting the operating lever33implemented as an operating tool, as is indicated by the operating lever33drawn in two positions and also by the arrow, causes the operating element35in the insulating housing2to move linearly in order to thus open the clamping point.

Visible in the insulating housing2is the conductor entry passage36, through which an electrical conductor8can be inserted into the interior of the insulating housing2in the direction of conductor insertion L. This passage is still relatively large, but can be given a reduced cross-section by snapping in a cover part with a conductor guide opening introduced therein.

FIG. 5b) shows a perspective rear view of the spring-loaded terminal1fromFIG. 5a). A rear contact opening37—for receiving a connector—that leads to the contact jack32is now visible.

The construction of the spring-loaded terminal1is more clearly evident from the cross-sectional representations,FIG. 6a) being in a side view andFIG. 6b) being in a perspective view. It can be seen that the operating element35has a bearing surface38, which is located in the free space34opposite a support surface39of the insulating housing2. The support surface39forms a fulcrum D, which is indicated by the arrow, for the operating tool (which is to say the operating lever33) that is supported there on the insulating housing2. The opposing bearing surface38of the operating element35forms a counter bearing, along which the operating tool slides when pivoted toward the insulating housing2. In this process, the operating element35is moved linearly upward in the operating direction B in order to thus move the clamping leg9of the clamping spring3and open the clamping point for clamping an electrical conductor8or for removing a clamped electrical conductor8.

It can be seen that the operating element35projects into the interior of the insulating housing2, and has a finger40at its end. This finger engages beneath an operating section of a clamping spring.

This operating section can be a tab projecting laterally from the clamping leg9, for example.

It is also made evident that the bearing surface38of the operating element35has a curved path shape pointing toward the opposite support surface39. It is also made evident that the effectively active bearing surface38is arranged to be offset from the support surface39of the insulating housing2in the direction of extent of the operating tool (which is to say the operating lever33) or in its insertion direction E.

FIG. 7a) shows the spring-loaded terminal1fromFIGS. 5a),5b),6a), and6b) in the open position in sectional side view, andFIG. 7b) shows it in a perspective sectional view. It is made evident that the operating tool (operating lever33) has now been pivoted downward toward the insulating housing2. In this process, the operating element35is now moved linearly out of the insulating housing2far enough that the operating tool rests on a resting surface41that follows the bearing surface38.

It is also made evident that the operating tool (operating lever33) is inserted into the free space34delimited by the support surface39and the bearing surface38. The free space34becomes larger in the height direction (which is to say in the operating direction B), the further the operating lever33is inserted between the operating element35and the insulating housing2. It is further made evident that the operating element35has two guide walls42that are spaced apart to accommodate the operating lever33between them, and are mounted in the insulating housing2so as to be linearly movable. At least one of the guide walls42has, at its free end, a finger39that engages beneath the operating section15of the clamping leg9. This operating section15can also be provided by the side bars28a,28bof the exemplary embodiment fromFIG. 4or by the clamping tab26.

It is made evident that the free space34is implemented as a passage pointing at an angle into the insulating housing2and matched to the width of an operating lever33implemented as operating tool. This passage now expands when the operating element35is moved linearly. The free space34has at its bottom a step43that is opposite the resting surface41. In the open position shown inFIGS. 7a) and7b), the operating tool can then be inserted as shown into the free space34far enough that the free end of the operating tool rests on the step43, and on the opposite side the resting surface41acts on the operating tool. In this process, the clamping spring3exerts a spring force on the operating element35through the support on the finger40of the operating section15of the clamping spring3, with which force the operating tool (which is to say the operating lever33) is clamped in the position shown.

A modification of the third embodiment shown inFIGS. 5a) to7b) is also possible to the effect that the operating lever33shown is not a separate part, but instead is implemented as a lever arm pivotably mounted on the insulating housing.

In the embodiments described above, the lever arm section20or the operating lever33implemented as operating tool can point toward the conductor8that is to be clamped, or away from it. Both variants can be realized equally well, since the linear guidance of the operating element14,35is independent therefrom.

The spring-loaded terminal1shown inFIG. 8has an insulating housing2in which the other elements, including the busbar4and the clamping spring3, are located, and thus are not visible in the illustrations inFIG. 8. The spring-loaded terminal1has an operating lever18that is mounted on an operating element14by means of a pivot bearing19. The operating element14can, in particular, be shaped similarly to the operating element35described on the basis ofFIGS. 5a),5b). The operating lever18again has the lever arm section20through which it can be manually operated. The insulating housing2has a conductor entry passage36into which an electrical conductor can be inserted.

FIG. 8shows the spring-loaded terminal with the operating lever18in the closed position (illustration a), which constitutes one end position of the pivoting motion of the operating lever18. In illustration b, the operating lever is pivoted into the open position, which constitutes the other end position of the pivoting motion of the operating lever18. Illustration c shows that the operating lever18is pivoted into an overpressure position by continuing to pivot the operating lever past the end position that corresponds to the open position.

FIG. 9shows the spring-loaded terminal fromFIG. 8in a sectional side view, with the operating lever18being in the open position. Visible, in particular, is the clamping spring3—located in the insulating housing2—with the clamping leg9, the spring bend13, and the contact leg5. The contact leg5is attached to a retaining frame6of the busbar4. Since the operating lever18is in the open position, the clamping leg9is deflected upward by means of the support surface39of the operating element14so that the clamping edge of the clamping leg9is not resting on the support section7of the busbar4.

The operating lever18has a support surface that extends over a first section44to a second section45that runs at an angle thereto. When the operating lever18is in the closed position, the first section44of the support surface rests on the insulating housing2. As can be seen, the lever18in the open position is supported on the insulating housing2by the second section45of the support surface, and in this position is loaded against the insulating housing2by the force of the clamping spring3.

It can also be seen inFIG. 9that an overpressure contour46extending at an angle on the insulating housing2adjoins the region in which the operating lever18rests on the insulating housing2in the open position. When the operating lever18is in the open position (FIG. 9), the overpressure contour46forms a mechanical stop through which a user perceives that the operating lever is located at its end position per se. In the embodiment of the spring-loaded terminal shown here, overpressure is possible, however.

FIG. 10shows the spring-loaded terminal with the operating lever18in the overpressure position. As can be seen, the second section45of the support surface of the operating lever18has also gone past the overpressure section46and rests on a point on the insulating housing2that is behind this section. From this overpressure position, the operating lever18can readily be moved back into the open position or the closed position, without damage or detachment of the operating lever18occurring.

FIG. 11shows another embodiment of the spring-loaded terminal that corresponds to the embodiment explained above with regard to the operating lever18and its overpressure capability. For better clarity, the clamping spring3and most of the busbar4are not shown in this representation in order to make evident the position of the support surface39of the operating element14, in particular, which forms a carrier for the clamping section9or an operating section of the clamping spring3formed thereon, corresponding to the operating section15.

It can also be seen that the spring-loaded terminal can be designed with a contact jack32that projects from the insulating housing2and has prongs31a,31bthat can be formed on the retaining frame6of the busbar4. A contact pin47can be inserted into this contact jack32.