Abstract:
An electric connector for passing a line through a housing wall has a rectangular housing made of an insulating material, at least one connection element and a securing element used to secure the connector to the rectangular wall opening of the housing wall. The securing element includes at least one fixing element and an elastic clamping element which is arranged in an essentially perpendicular manner in relation to the fixing element, such that the clamping element interacts against an inner edge of the narrow side of the wall opening when the connector is in the mounted state.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates to an electrical terminal for routing a line through a housing wall, with a rectangular terminal housing of insulating material, with at least one connecting element and with a mounting element for fixing the terminal in a rectangular wall opening of the housing wall, the mounting element having at least one fixing element. In addition, the invention relates to a mounting element for fixing an electrical terminal in the wall opening of a housing wall, with at least one fixing element. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Electrical terminals or electrical connectors for routing a line through a housing wall are often also called bushing terminals or bushing connectors. Both one-part and also two-part bushing terminals are known. In the two-part bushing terminals one part of the terminal is mounted in the housing wall opening, while the other part is electrically and mechanically connected to the part which has been mounted in the wall opening—the plug part. 
   Electrical connectors are used in electrical terminals together with the corresponding attachment plugs for connecting an electrical conductor to the electronics of a device. Depending on the embodiment, the electrical connector can be made as a socket part or as a plug part. Since the electrical connector is electrically and mechanically connected to the electronics or to the housing of the device, while an electrical line is connected to the corresponding attachment plug, a stationary electrical connector is often called the base body or base housing. Various embodiments of electrical connectors or the corresponding attachment plugs, i.e. different base bodies and different plug parts, are known for example from the Phoenix Contact Catalog “COMBICON 2002”, pages 196 to 203. 
   In this case, the different plug parts differ especially by the different connection possibilities for the conductors to be connected. Thus, plug parts with screw, spring force, crimp and insulation piercing terminals are known. Conversely, the connectors and the base bodies differ especially in whether the contact element as the contact leg has a pin contact or a socket contact, the version with the pin contact constituting the standard version. If the electrical connector has a pin contact as the contact leg, the connector is made as a socket part into which the attachment plug which has a socket contact is inserted. 
   For fixing in the wall opening in the housing, it is immaterial whether an electrical terminal or an electrical connector is involved. For this reason, within the framework of the invention an electrical terminal is always addressed below, this also to be understood as an electrical connector. 
   Various possibilities are known for attaching the electrical terminals in the wall opening of the housing wall. German Patent DE 36 13 681 C1 discloses for example a two-part terminal, the two parts of the electrical terminal having catch elements which correspond to one another and which lock with one another and prevent separation of the two terminal parts opposite the joining direction when the two terminal parts are inserted into one another. Both parts of the terminal are inserted in the direction which is the opposite at the time through the opening in the housing wall so that the housing wall is clamped between the parts of the terminal. 
   A comparable principle is followed by the teaching of German Patent DE 198 01 260 C2 in which the one-part terminal housing is routed through the wall opening. The insertion process is limited by a stop on the terminal housing. Then a catch clip is slipped onto the part of the electrical terminal routed through the wall opening and locks with the two opposing sides of the housing of the terminal so that the housing wall is fixed between the stop on one side and the catch clip on the other side. 
   The disadvantage in the described attachment possibilities under certain circumstances can be major mounting problems which arise solely by the housing wall having to be accessible on both sides, therefore from the inside of the housing and also the outside of the housing. Furthermore, for only poorly accessible mounting sites there is the danger that one component of the terminals which is made in several parts can be lost. 
   German Utility Model DE 202 00 974 U1 discloses a one-piece terminal which is inserted through the wall opening of the housing, when the terminal is inserted through the wall opening spring catches provided on two opposing sides of the terminal each being forced back by the inside edge of the wall opening, the spring catches springing back after passing through the wall and thus locking with the corresponding inside edge of the wall opening. For final fixing of the terminal in the wall opening, the spring catches must be prevented from spring back again by a blocking slide which can only be operated from inside the housing, while the terminal must be inserted first from the outside into the wall opening so that access to the two sides of the housing wall is also necessary here. 
   German Patent Application DE 103 15 661 A1 underlying the invention discloses an electrical terminal which is inserted as a unit into the wall opening of the housing wall up to a stop, whereupon locking elements can be pressed by an actuating element against two opposing inside edges of the wall opening, so that the electrical terminal is fixed securely in the wall opening in the direction of action of the locking elements. 
   However, the disadvantage here can also be that locking takes place only with two opposing edges of the wall opening. This results in that in the presence of a tolerance between the electrical terminal and the wall opening, movement of the terminal in the wall opening cannot be reliably prevented. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The teaching of this invention therefore underlies the object of making available an electrical terminal with improved properties for mounting in the opening of the housing wall. 
   The electrical terminal in accordance with the invention in which this object is achieved is first of all essentially characterized in that the mounting element additionally has an elastic clamping element which is located essentially perpendicular to the fixing element such that the clamping element in the mounted state of the terminal acts against the inside edge of the narrow side of the wall opening. 
   The electrical terminal in accordance with the invention is advantageous in many respects. The elastic clamping element makes it possible to close tolerances between the inside edge of the narrow side of the wall opening and the terminal housing, the comparable play between the terminal and the inside edge of the wall opening being determined by the maximum spring path of the elastic clamping element. In addition to this purely geometrical compensation of play, the elastic clamping element moreover also causes fixing of the terminal in the wall opening of the housing wall in the direction of this inside edge of the wall opening. At the same time the elastic clamping element also fixes the terminal in the wall opening in the joining direction and in the direction opposite the joining direction, i.e. perpendicular to the actual main clamping direction. 
   The terminal in accordance with the invention can be further improved with respect to its fixing in the opening of the housing wall by the elastic clamping element having an arched or oblique clamping surface and the clamping surface for its part having several ribs which run parallel to one another. In the installed state of the terminal then at least one rib forms teeth depending on the thickness of the housing wall with the inside edge of the wall opening. In this way the terminal can be fixed in the wall opening of housings with different wall thickness. The extension of the arched or oblique clamping surface in the joining direction of the terminal defines the maximum thickness of the housing wall with which the elastic clamping element can interact so that the desired catch action with the inside edge of the wall opening is achieved. 
   The terminal in accordance with the invention can be developed especially advantageously with respect to its locking in the opening of the housing wall by the mounting element having an actuating wedge which is located with a swivelling or pivoting capacity on the mounting element such that it can be pivoted into the position in which the elastic clamping element in the mounted state of the terminal is pressed by the actuating wedge against the corresponding inside edge of the wall opening. The actuating wedge can be fixed in this position so that the location of the elastic clamping element in the installed state of the terminal can also be permanently maintained. 
   When the actuating wedge is swivelled into its mounting position the actuating wedge penetrates between the elastic clamping element and the terminal housing so that the elastic clamping element is moved away from the terminal housing toward the opposing inside edge of the housing wall by the wedge action applied by the actuating wedge. The elastic clamping element is thus pressed against the spring force of the actuating wedge which arises by the deflection of the clamping element to the outside against the inside edge of the wall opening. In the described advantageous development of the terminal in accordance with the invention, the clamping element therefore comparatively closely adjoins the terminal housing and is deflected only by the action of the force of the actuating wedge. 
   So that this deflection is permanently maintained in the mounted state, the actuating wedge must remain in the described position. This is advantageously achieved in that teeth are formed on the surface of the actuating wedge and on the side of the fixing element facing the surface of the actuating wedge opposing teeth which correspond thereto are formed. This configuration of the actuating wedge thus provides for reliable fixing of the terminal in the opening of the housing wall by the elastic spring element being pressed against the inside edge of the wall opening and being held at the same time in its installation position. 
   The aforementioned object is furthermore achieved with a mounting element for fixing the electrical terminal in the opening of the housing wall, with at least one fixing element which is characterized in that there is an elastic clamping element which is located essentially perpendicular to the fixing element, the mounting element having an essentially U-shaped base body, with a U-back and two U-legs and a catch tongue which runs essentially parallel to the base body. In this connection the ends of the two U-legs are each made as a fixing element and the elastic clamping element is formed by the free end of the catch tongue. The spring force of the clamping element is pointed essentially perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the fixing element. 
   The mounting element in accordance with the invention can be made especially advantageously when the catch tongue for its part is attached with its base area in the region of the U-back of the mounting element. The advantage of the mounting element in accordance with the invention lies in its simple geometry which is especially unproblematic in production as well as in further application, for example when such a mounting element is attached to an electrical terminal. 
   A further improvement of the mounting element can be achieved in that the free end of the catch tongue has an arched or oblique clamping surface which points to the outside and several ribs which run parallel to one another are formed on the clamping surface. This improved configuration enables the mounting element to interact reliably with the inside edge of the opening in the housing wall and the electrical terminal to be reliably fixed in the wall opening. 
   According to another embodiment of the mounting element, an actuating wedge is arranged to be able to pivot on the free end of the U-leg. The actuating wedge can be swivelled into a position such that it presses the elastic clamping element in the mounted state of the terminal against the corresponding inside edge and thus provides for reliable fixing of the terminal in the wall opening. Thus the elastic clamping element can be deflected by the actuating wedge against its spring force, by which the terminal in the mounted state is fixed in the wall opening. 
   In particular, there are various possibilities for embodying and developing the terminal in accordance with the invention and the mounting element in accordance with the invention. In this respect reference is made to the claims and to the description of preferred embodiments in conjunction with the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective representation of one preferred embodiment of the electrical terminal in accordance with the invention and the use of a mounting element in accordance with the invention in an electrical terminal, 
       FIG. 2  shows another perspective of the electrical terminal in accordance with the invention as shown in  FIG. 1  and 
       FIG. 3  shows one preferred embodiment of a mounting element in accordance with the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  shows an electrical terminal  1  for routing a line through the housing wall  2 . The terminal  1  has a rectangular terminal housing  3  of insulating material with—in this specific embodiment — three connecting elements  26 , the connecting elements  26  adjoining and on two ends being bordered by one mounting element  4  at a time for fixing the terminal  1  in a likewise rectangular wall opening  5 . The number of connecting elements of the terminal  1  is completely irrelevant to the teaching underlying the electrical terminal in accordance with the invention; one preferred embodiment has fewer, but also more terminal elements could have been shown equally well. In particular, several disk-shaped terminals  1  with one terminal element each can also be joined into a terminal block, then the terminal block having altogether one mounting element  4  each on two sides. 
   The mounting element  4  which is shown isolated in  FIG. 3  has two fixing elements  6 ,  7  which in the mounted state of the terminal  1  each adjoin one inside edge  8 ,  9  of the wall opening  5  or press lightly against the inside edges  8 ,  9  and thus cause the electrical terminal  1  to be pre-fixed in the wall opening  5 . As seen in the Figures, the fixing elements  6 ,  7  are formed as ledges. The two fixing elements  6 ,  7  are arranged opposite one another so that they also interact with the two opposing inside edges  8 ,  9  of the wall opening  5 . In the embodiment the inside edges  8 ,  9  are the lengthwise sides of the wall opening  5 . In the prior art, especially in the terminal known from DE 103 15 661 A1, the terminal  1  is fixed in the wall opening  5  solely via locking elements which act on the lengthwise sides of the wall opening  5 . 
   In contrast thereto, the terminal  1  which is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  has an elastic clamping element  10  which in the mounted state of the terminal  1  presses against another inside edge  11 —the narrow side—of the wall opening  5 . The inside edge  11  runs perpendicular to the two inside edges  8 ,  9 . Because the mounting element  4  of the terminal  1  acts not only in the known manner against the two inside edges  8 ,  9  of the wall opening  5 , but especially with the elastic clamping element  10  against the inside edge  11  of the narrow side, fixing of the terminal  1  in the direction to this inside edge  11  is ensured, i.e. in the horizontal direction. The elastic clamping element  10  of the mounting element  4  therefore also enables an electrical terminal  1  to be mounted reliably in such a wall opening  5  which would normally surround the electrical terminal  1  only with a certain play and the gaps which have formed. 
   In the preferred embodiment in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the elastic clamping element  10  of the electrical terminal  1  has an oblique, slightly arched clamping surface  12 , with several ribs  13  which run parallel to one another in the clamping surface  12 . The ribs  13  which run parallel to one another are arranged such that at least one rib  13  in the mounted state of the terminal  1  forms teeth with the inside edge  11  of the wall opening  5 . Which of the ribs  13  running parallel to one another interacts with the inside edge  11  depends on the thickness of the housing wall  2  and also on the distance by which the elastic clamping element  10  must be deflected until it interacts with the inside edge  11  of the wall opening  5 . It is apparent from  FIGS. 1 and 2  and from the aforementioned that the electrical terminal  1  can be fixed in the wall opening  5  of the housing walls  2  which have different wall thicknesses. How dramatically the wall thickness of the housing wall  2  can vary depends structurally essentially on the extension of the clamping surface  12  in the joining direction of the electrical terminal  1 . 
   In the illustrated embodiment of the electrical terminal the mounting element  4  has an actuating wedge  14  which is located pivotally on the mounting element  4 . The actuating wedge  14  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , each in the forward position, is pivoted into a mounting position such that it presses the fixing elements  6 ,  7  and especially the elastic clamping element  10  against the corresponding inside edge  8 ,  9  and  11  of the wall opening  5 . So that the fixing of the terminal  1  caused in this way in the wall opening  5  is maintained permanently, the actuating wedge  14  is fixed in its mounting position. 
   The fixing of the actuating wedge  14  in the embodiment is implemented in that on the surface of the actuating wedge  14  teeth  15  are formed. These teeth  15  interact with the corresponding opposing teeth  16  which are made on the side of the first fixing element  6  facing the surface of the actuating wedge  14 . The shaping of the actuating wedge  14  shown in the figures has a double action when the actuating wedge  14  is pivoted into its mounting position. The first, known action consists in that the fixing elements  6 ,  7  are pressed at least slightly against the inside edges  8 ,  9  of the wall opening  5  and the actuating wedge  14  as a result of its teeth  15  locks with the corresponding opposing teeth  16  of the first fixing element  6 . The second action consists in that the actuating wedge  14  when pivoted into its mounting position is shifted between the elastic clamping element  10  and the terminal housing  3 , by which the elastic clamping element  10  based on the wedge shape of the actuating wedge  14  is deflected away from the terminal housing  3  in the direction to the inside edge  11  of the narrow side of the wall opening  5 , so that at least one of the ribs  13  of the clamping surface  12  interacts with the inside edge  11 . The farther the actuating wedge  14  is pivoted in, the farther the clamping element  10  is deflected or pressed against the inside edge  11 . 
   In  FIGS. 1 and 2  one stop  17  is shown which is made on the terminal housing  3 . The illustrated electrical terminal  1  is routed through the wall opening  5  until the stop  17  touches the housing wall  2 , therefore striking it. The fixing element  6 ,  7  and the other clamping element  10  are made such that in the mounted state of the terminal  1  not only do they prevent motion of the terminal  1  in the plane of the housing wall  2 , but also motion of the terminal  1  in the direction opposite the joining direction. 
   The electrical terminal  1  with the stop  17  formed on it is only one possible version of causing the desired clamping action in conjunction with the further elastic clamping element  10  of the mounting element  4 ; the stop  17  however in any case is not functionally critical to the teaching of the invention. In the other embodiment of a terminal in accordance with the invention which is however not shown here, the clamping surface of the fixing element  6 ,  7  and the clamping surface of the elastic clamping element  10  in the direction to the first inside edge  8 ,  9  and the other inside edge  11  are made as a depression bordered on both sides. Housing walls  2  of varied thickness penetrate to varied depths into the described depression in the installed state, the clamping surfaces formed in this way being able to prevent motion of the electrical terminal both in the joining direction and also opposite the joining direction. In another embodiment which likewise is not shown here, the stop and the mounting element in the mounting state of the electrical terminal are accessible from the side of the housing wall. Reference is made to German Patent Application DE 103 15 661 A1 and corresponding U.S. Patent Application Publication 2006/194,473 for the indicated configuration, especially to  FIG. 2  which is shown in this document. 
   In the embodiment in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 , the mounting element  4  is made separately from the terminal  1  and can be attached laterally on the terminal housing  3  by means of a catch, can be slipped into one pocket  18  which has been made on the two sides of the terminal housing  3 , and can be locked there by means of a catch projection  19 . The advantage of an execution of the mounting element  4  separate from the electrical terminal  1  is that the two parts can be produced separately from one another more easily than in a unit. On the other hand, it is then possible to replace a destroyed mounting element  4  by an intact mounting element  4  without having to immediately replace the entire electrical terminal  1 . Finally there is still the advantage that the mounting element  4  can be mounted laterally on a terminal block which is formed from any number of disk-shaped terminals  1  which have been locked together. 
   In another embodiment of an electrical terminal  1  which is however not shown here, the terminal housing  3  is made in one piece with the mounting element  4 . 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a symmetrical clamping action is achieved in that on two opposing sides of the terminal housing  3  there is one mounting element  4  at a time or one mounting element at a time is inserted into the two pockets  18 . This prevents the terminal&#39;s  1  slipping or breaking out of the wall opening  5  on one side in or opposite the joining direction from being structurally preprogrammed when a tensile load is applied to the electrical terminal  1 . 
     FIG. 3  shows one preferred embodiment of the mounting element  4  in accordance with the invention, as is also used in  FIGS. 1 and 2  in conjunction with the terminal  1 . The mounting element  4  is used to fix the electrical terminal  1  in one wall opening  5  of the housing wall  2 . It has two fixing elements  6 ,  7  which in the mounted state of the terminal  1  act against one first inner edge  8 ,  9  of the wall opening  5  at a time or the stop  17  on the terminal housing  3 . The mounting element  4  furthermore has an elastic clamping element  10  which is arranged essentially perpendicular to the two fixing elements  6 ,  7  such that the spring force of the clamping element  10  is pointed essentially perpendicular to the holding force of the fixing elements  6 ,  7 . This simple construction makes it possible for the holding and clamping forces which can be applied by the fixing elements  6 ,  7  and the elastic clamping element  10  to be directed essentially perpendicular to one another. By using such a mounting element  4  together with an electrical terminal  1  it is consequently possible to jam the terminal  1  not only by means of the fixing elements  6 ,  7  with the opposing inside edges  8 ,  9  of the wall opening  5 , but the electrical terminal  1  can be jammed essentially also with the inside edge  11  of the narrow side of the wall opening  5  in the housing wall  2 . 
   The mounting element  4  which is shown in  FIG. 3  has an essentially U-shaped base body with a U-back  20  and two U-legs  21 ,  22 , and a catch tongue  23  which runs parallel to the base body. The ends of the two U-legs  21 ,  22  are each made as a fixing element  6 ,  7 , and the elastic clamping element  10  is formed by the free end of the catch tongue  23  which is attached with its base area  24  in the region of the U-back  20 . The free end of the catch tongue  23  is made as an oblique and slightly arched clamping surface  12  which points to the outside, on the clamping surface  12  there being several ribs  13  which run parallel to one another. 
   The preferred mounting element  4  shown in  FIG. 3  is made such that it can be used especially well with an electrical terminal  1  which can be located in the wall opening  5  with a first inside edge  8 ,  9  and with the other inside edge  11  located essentially perpendicular on one another. For the generally rectangular wall openings  5  they are the lengthwise sides and the narrow sides which run perpendicularly to them. In this case, in the installed state of the electrical terminal  1  the two U-legs  21 ,  22  can be pressed flat against the first inside edges  8 ,  9  (=lengthwise sides) and the arched clamping surface  12  with its ribs  13  of the catch tongue  23  likewise flat against the other inside edge  11  (=narrow side) of the wall opening  5  in the housing wall  2 . 
   The mounting element  4  as shown in  FIG. 3  furthermore has an actuating wedge  14  which is located pivotally on the free end of the U-leg  22 . The actuating wedge  14  can be pivoted into a position such that in the mounted state of the terminal  1  it presses the fixing elements  6 ,  7  and the elastic clamping element  10  against the corresponding inside edge  8 ,  9 ,  11  of the wall opening  5 . The actuating wedge  14  thus performs the double function of deflecting both the two U-legs  21 ,  22  and also the catch tongue  23  so far that they are pressed tightly against the respective inside edge  8 ,  9 ,  11  of the wall opening  5  in the installed state of the electrical terminal  1  and fix the electrical terminal  1  reliably in the wall opening  5  of the housing wall  2  in this way. 
   The possibility of deflecting the two U-legs  21 ,  22  depends on whether the mounting element  4  is fixed laterally on the terminal housing  3  or is inserted into a corresponding pocket  18  on the terminal housing  3 . If the mounting element  4  is inserted into the corresponding pocket  18  on the terminal housing  3 , the U-legs  21 ,  22  can generally only be deflected to a very limited degree. The terminal  1  is then fixed essentially by the clamping element  10  which is pressed against the inside edge  11  of the narrow side of the wall opening  5 . 
   So that the deflection of the U-legs  21 ,  22  and of the catch tongue  23  which is caused by the actuating wedge  23  is permanently ensured in the mounted state of the terminal  1 , teeth  15  are formed on the surface of the actuating wedge  14  and on the side of the fixing element  6  facing the surface of the actuating wedge  14  corresponding opposing teeth  16  are formed which provide for locking of the actuating wedge  14  in the installed state of the terminal  1 . 
   In the actuating wedge  14  there is a recess  25  into which an unlocking tool which is not shown, for example the blade of a screwdriver, can be inserted for the case in which the locking of the actuating wedge  14  is to be released with the U-leg  21  so that the electrical terminal  1  can be removed again from the wall opening  5  in the housing wall  2 .