Actuating element and connecting terminal

The invention relates to an actuating element (1) for actuating a clamping spring (8) of a connecting terminal, comprising: an actuating finger (2) which has an actuating surface (7) with which the actuating finger (2) presses onto a clamping limb (9) of the clamping spring (8) during actuation of the clamping spring (8); and a cover element (3) which forms an extension of the actuating finger (2) in the longitudinal direction of the actuating finger (2), the cover element (3) being laterally molded on the actuating finger (2).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2014/067702, filed on Aug. 20, 2014, and claims benefit to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2013 108 952.6, filed on Aug. 20, 2013. The International Application was published in German on Feb. 26, 2015 as WO 2015/024954 A1 under PCT Article 21(2).

FIELD

The invention relates to an actuating element for actuating a clamping spring of a connection terminal. The invention further relates to a connection terminal for connecting an electrical conductor which comprises an actuating element for actuating a clamping spring.

BACKGROUND

Connection terminals, also referred to as electrical connection terminals, usually comprise a housing, a busbar arranged in the housing and a clamping spring mounted in the housing. A conductor insertion opening is usually formed in the housing, via which opening a conductor can be inserted into the housing in order to be able to be clamped in the housing against the busbar by means of the clamping spring. If thin conductors, i.e. conductors having a small cross section, are intended to be clamped, an actuating element is usually provided, by means of which the clamping spring can be actuated in that the actuating element which protrudes into the internal space of the housing presses on the clamping leg of the clamping spring such that the clamping leg is swiveled and a conductor connection space inside the housing between the busbar and the clamping spring can thereby be released, into which space the conductor can then be inserted unimpeded. If the conductor is positioned in the desired position in the conductor connection space, the actuating element can release the clamping leg again so that the clamping leg can swivel back until it presses against the conductor and thus clamps the conductor against the busbar.

However, when the conductor to be clamped is inserted into the conductor connection space, incorrect placement of the conductor can easily occur if the thin conductor is guided laterally past the clamping spring and thus is no longer positioned in the conductor connection space between the clamping spring and the busbar. Clamping the conductor and thus forming an electrical contact can in this case only take place in a restricted manner or not at all.

SUMMARY

An actuating element for actuating a clamping spring of a connection terminal includes an actuating finger with an actuation surface that presses on a clamping leg of the clamping spring when the clamping spring is actuated. A cover element forms an extension of the actuating finger in a longitudinal extension of the actuating finger. The cover element is laterally moulded on the actuating finger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The actuating element according to the invention, also referred to as the connection terminal actuating element, is characterised in that the actuating element has a cover element in addition to the actuating finger, which cover element is moulded on the end of the actuating finger and by means of which the actuating finger presses on the clamping leg of the clamping spring in order to actuate said leg. The cover element is laterally moulded on the actuating finger and thus moulded in a manner which is transverse to the actuation surface of the actuating finger, by means of which surface the actuating finger presses on the clamping leg of the clamping spring. The cover element thus increases the width of the actuating element where the cover element is arranged. In the longitudinal extension of the actuating finger, the cover element forms an extension of the actuating finger and thus overlaps the end of the actuating finger by means of which the actuating finger presses on the clamping leg of the clamping spring. The cover element can be laterally guided past the clamping spring, in particular the clamping leg of the clamping spring, due to the overlapping and the lateral formation of the cover element. Inside a connection terminal, the cover element, at least including one region of the cover element, can thereby enter a gap formed between the clamping leg of the clamping spring and a region of the housing of the connection terminal, in particular a housing cover of the housing, and close and/or seal said gap. Since the gap between the clamping leg of the clamping spring and a region of the housing of the connection terminal is now closed by the cover element, in particular if the clamping leg of the clamping spring is actuated by means of the actuating finger of the actuating element, a conductor, in particular a thin conductor, can be prevented from being laterally guided past the clamping leg of the clamping spring when the conductor is inserted into the conductor connection space of the connection terminal, as a result of which no more clamping and/or contact could be produced. Such an incorrect placement of a conductor in a connection terminal thus can be reliably prevented using the actuating element according to the invention.

The cover element is preferably planar, the planar cover element preferably having a thickness which basically corresponds to the width of the gap between the clamping leg of the clamping spring and a region of the housing of the connection terminal. Owing to the planar formation of the cover element, said element requires little space inside the connection terminal, meaning that the dimensions of the connection terminal are preferably not affected by the cover element.

In order to achieve a stable and secure arrangement of the cover element on the actuating finger of the actuating element, the cover element is preferably integrally moulded on the actuating finger. The actuating finger and the cover element are in this case preferably formed of a plastics material so that the actuating finger and the cover element, and thus the entire actuating element, can be produced in one processing step in an injection moulding process.

It is more preferably provided for the cover element to be moulded on a lower end of the actuating finger. The cover element thus preferably does not extend over the entire length of the actuating finger, but rather covers merely a portion of the actuating finger, at the lower, free end of the actuating finger, on which the actuation surface of the actuating finger is also formed. As a result, the amount of material required for producing the cover element can be reduced.

In order to achieve reliable sealing of the gap between the clamping leg of the clamping spring and a region of the housing, in particular a housing cover of the housing, it is preferably provided that the cover rests against a first side face on a region of the housing, in particular a housing cover of the housing, and rests against a second side face opposite the first side face on a transverse side face of the clamping leg of the clamping spring.

The cover element preferably has an edge face extending transversely to the two opposing side faces, which edge face is directed toward the conductor connection space, the cover element preferably resting, by means of an edge face, against a housing wall which delimits the conductor connection space of the connection terminal. Since an edge face of the cover element also rests flat on a housing wall of the housing, the sealing of the gap can be further improved. When the actuating element is moved, the cover element can be guided, by means of its edge face, along the housing wall which forms the conductor connection space, such that there can thus be additional, tilt-free guiding of the actuating element.

InFIG. 1-3, an actuating element1according to the invention is shown from different perspectives, the actuating element1comprising an actuating finger2and a cover element3arranged on the actuating finger2.

The actuating finger2is elongate and has, on its upper end4, an engagement face5for a tool, for example a screwdriver, by means of which the actuating element1can be moved inside the connection terminal.

At this upper end4, the actuating finger2has a substantially square cross sectional area. The actuating finger2tapers off toward the lower end6of the actuating finger2, which lower end is opposite the upper end4, such that the cross sectional area of the actuating finger2is reduced toward the lower end6.

Toward the lower end6, the actuating finger2has an actuation surface7which extends over the width of the actuating finger2and by means of which the actuating finger2presses on a clamping leg9of the clamping spring8when a clamping spring8is actuated, as shown inFIG. 4.

The cover element3is moulded on a side face10of the actuation finger2, which face is transverse to the actuation surface7of the actuation finger2. In the embodiment shown, the cover element3is integrally moulded on the actuating finger2. The cover element3is planar and projects beyond the lower end6of the actuating finger2such that the cover element3forms an extension of the actuating finger2in the longitudinal extension of the actuating finger2, as can also be seen in particular inFIG. 3. The planar cover element3thus extends transversely to the actuation surface7and thus transversely to the width of the actuating finger2.

When the clamping leg9of the clamping spring8is actuated, the cover element3is guided laterally past the clamping leg9and thus overlaps the clamping leg9, as can also be seen in particular inFIG. 4.

In the embodiment shown, a cover element3of this kind is only arranged on one side face10of the actuating finger2. However, it is also possible for one cover element3to be arranged on each of two opposing side faces10,11of the actuating finger2, such that, in the connection terminal, the clamping leg9of the clamping spring8is overlapped by a cover element3at two opposing transverse side faces.

FIG. 4shows the arrangement of an actuating element1as shown inFIG. 1-3in a connection terminal, the connection terminal shown inFIG. 4having two connection regions12,13, which each have a clamping spring8, an actuating element1and a busbar14. The connection terminal has a housing15which is open on one side and can be closed using a housing cover, the housing cover being part of the housing15and thus forming a region of the housing15. One conductor insertion opening16is arranged in the housing15for each connection region12,13, via which opening a conductor can be inserted into the connection terminal. One conductor connection space adjoins each of the conductor insertion openings16respectively inside the connection terminal, inside which space the inserted conductor can be clamped against the busbar14by means of the clamping leg9of the clamping spring8. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 4, the conductor connection space is delimited on one side by a housing wall17of the housing15, the housing wall17being arranged so as to be laterally offset relative to the clamping leg9of the clamping spring8and the busbar14.

The cover element3has an edge face18, by means of which the cover element3rests flat on the housing wall17, the cover element3being able to be guided, by means of its edge face18, along a side face19of the housing wall17facing the clamping spring8, when the actuating element1is moved.

The actuating element1is shown in different positions in the two connection regions12,13. In the case of the connection region12shown on the left, the actuating element1is in a non-actuated initial position. If a conductor, in particular a thin conductor having a small cross sectional area, is now to be inserted into the conductor connection space and clamped, the actuating element1, as can be seen in the connection region13shown on the right, is moved down such that the actuating finger2presses on the clamping leg9of the clamping spring8and thus swivels said leg down away from the busbar14, in order to release the conductor connection space so that the conductor can be introduced into the conductor connection space. In both positions, the cover element3overlaps a transverse side face20of the clamping leg9, which forms the thickness of the clamping leg9, in that the cover element3protrudes beyond said transverse side face20. Owing to the overlapping of the transverse side face20of the clamping leg9by the cover element3, the cover element3is arranged, at least in regions, in a gap formed between the clamping leg9and the housing cover of the housing15in such a way that said gap is sealed by the cover element3and thus the conductor can be prevented from being guided laterally past the clamping leg9when inserted into the conductor connection space.

The cover element3thus rests with a first side face21against the housing cover of the housing15and rests with a second side22face opposite the first side face21against the transverse side face20of the clamping leg9, the clamping leg9preferably pressing, by means of its transverse side face20, on the second side face22of the cover element3and thus the cover element3being pressed, by means of its first side face21, against the housing cover of the housing15in such a way that a particularly good sealing effect is achieved.

By means of the above-described embodiment of the actuating element1, the actuation surface7, by means of which the actuating finger2rests against the clamping leg9, can also be increased.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS