Patent Publication Number: US-11664609-B2

Title: Conductor terminal

Description:
This nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to German Patent Application No. 20 2020 104 276.9, which was filed in Germany on Jul. 24, 2020 and which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a conductor terminal, including an insulating housing, the insulating housing having a conductor insertion opening for inserting an electrical conductor in a conductor insertion direction, including a busbar and including a clamping spring, the clamping spring having a contact leg for contact with a part of the conductor terminal, the contact leg transitioning into a spring bend, and the spring bend transitioning into a clamping leg, the clamping leg forming a clamping point with the busbar for the electrical conductor, and including an actuating element, the actuating element being configured to open the clamping point, the actuating element being able to be transferred from an initial position into an actuating position, and the clamping point being opened in the actuating position. 
     Description of the Background Art 
     A conductor terminal of this type is known from DE 295 00 614 U1, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,735, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to further improve a conductor terminal of this type with respect to its functionality. 
     This object is achieved in the case of a conductor terminal of the type mentioned at the outset in that a restoring spring element is arranged on the side of the contact leg facing away from the clamping point, the restoring spring element being designed to move the actuating element from a position between the initial position and the actuating position to the initial position or from the actuating position to the initial position. The invention has the advantage that the actuating element is always restored to its initial position, due to the restoring effect of the restoring spring element, when a manual actuating force is no longer applied thereto and a possibly present engagement is released. The return to the initial position is ensured independently of whether an electrical conductor is clamped in the conductor terminal, or what cross section this terminal has. Unlike conductor terminals from the prior art, in which no restoring spring element of this type is present, but instead a restoration of the actuating element takes place at best due to the force of the clamping spring, in the case of the present invention, the restoring function is decoupled from a possible present restoring effect of the clamping spring, due to the additional restoring spring element. For example, if an electrical conductor having a correspondingly large cross section is clamping at the clamping point, the clamping spring may at best effectuate a short restoring travel of the actuating element, which is generally not sufficient to return it to the initial position. Due to the restoring spring element present in addition to the clamping spring, the actuating element may nevertheless be moved all the way back to its initial position. 
     In the case of the conductor terminal according to the invention, however, the actuating element may be loaded by a restoring force of the clamping spring active in the direction of the initial position in certain positions, at least in the actuating position. 
     By arranging the restoring spring element on the side of the contact leg facing away from the clamping point, it may be accommodated in a very space-saving manner, so that it is possible to provide the conductor terminal with an overall highly compact and small-sized design. The restoring spring element may also be particularly easily formed during manufacturing as a single piece with the actuating element. 
     In particular, the conductor terminal may be designed in such a way that the clamping point is formed between the clamping leg and the busbar, e.g. in such a way that the clamping point is the point at which the conductor adjoins the busbar, on the one hand, and adjoins the clamping leg, on the other hand, and is clamped firmly in place. If the clamping leg has a clamping edge on its free end, the clamping edge then adjoins the electrical conductor. The clamping effect of the conductor terminal may be further increased by the clamping edge. 
     The restoring spring element is elastically deformable for generating a restoring spring force. The restoring spring element may be advantageously designed as a pressure spring, which applies a pressure force to the actuating element, which is active in the direction of the initial position. The active direction of the restoring spring force of the restoring spring element does not necessarily have to run exactly in parallel to the direction of movement of the actuating element, but certain angle deviations are also possible, for example in the range of +/−45 degrees. 
     The actuating position is, as mentioned above, the position of the actuating element in which the clamping point is opened (open position of the clamping point). In this open position, the clamping leg is deflected directly or indirectly via the actuating element and moves away from the busbar, so that an electrical conductor may be inserted into the clamping point or removed therefrom without the application of force. 
     The initial position of the actuating element may be, for example, a position in which the clamping spring or the clamping leg is not actuated by the actuating element and is therefore not deflected. In the initial position, the actuating element may touch the clamping spring or the clamping leg but not apply force thereto in such a way that the latter is deflected. The clamping point is then closed (closed position of the clamping point). 
     The actuating element may also assume other positions, for example intermediate positions between the actuating position and the initial position, or positions beyond the actuating position and/or beyond the initial position. 
     The actuating element may be designed, for example, as an actuating pushbutton, which is actuated by an application of pressure by the user. The actuating element may have a manual actuating section for this purpose. The manual actuating section may protrude, for example, out of the insulating housing in the initial position, so that it may be comfortably actuated manually even without a tool. The actuating element may be movably supported in the insulating material housing, for example movable in a mainly linear manner. When moving from the initial position into the actuating position and back again, the actuating element carries out a mainly linear movement. 
     As mentioned above, the restoring spring element is arranged on the side of the contact leg facing away from the clamping point. This also includes, in particular, areas in the elongation of the contact leg. The restoring spring element may thus be arranged in an entirely or partially overlapping manner with the contact leg, or it may have no overlap. The restoring spring element may thus also be arranged on the side of the imaginary elongation of the contact leg facing away from the clamping point, in particular in a longitudinal extension direction of the contact leg. In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the distance between the clamping point and the restoring spring element is greater than the distance between the clamping point and the contact leg. 
     According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the actuating element has an actuating section, the actuating section interacting with the clamping leg of the clamping spring in such a way that the actuating section is configured to open the clamping point. The actuating section may act upon the clamping leg indirectly or directly via at least one other element. If the actuating element moves into the actuating position, the clamping leg of the clamping spring is deflected by the actuating section, so that the clamping point is ultimately opened. In addition to the actuating section, the actuating element may also have a connecting section and a manual actuating area. The manual actuating area is connected to the actuating section via the connecting section. The actuating element may furthermore have a restoring section, which is connected to the connecting section. The restoring spring element is then coupled with the restoring section, so that the restoring movement of the actuating element takes place by transmitting a pressure force from the restoring spring element into the restoring section. 
     The actuating element can encompass the spring bend of the clamping spring. In this way, the available installation space may be particularly efficiently utilized. The spring bend of the clamping spring may dip into a free space of the actuating element to a greater or lesser degree, depending on the position of the actuating element. The free space of the actuating element may be limited, for example by the restoring section, the connecting section and the actuating section. The actuating element may thus be provided with a U-shaped design in this area. The encompassing involves the fact that, for example, the actuating element is guided around the spring bend. 
     The restoring spring element and the actuating element can be formed from the same material. Alternatively, the restoring spring element and the actuating element may also be formed from different materials. For example, the actuating element may be formed from plastic and the restoring spring element from metal or plastic. 
     The restoring spring element can be formed as a single piece from a free end of the actuating element. This permits a particularly easy and cost-effective manufacturing of the actuating element with the restoring spring element. The assembly of the conductor terminal is also simplified. The restoring spring element may not become lost during assembly. For example, the restoring spring element may be formed as a single piece from a free end of the restoring section of the actuating element. 
     The restoring spring element can be provided with a meandering design. Alternatively, the restoring spring element may also be designed in any other shape of a pressure spring, e.g. in the manner of a spiral spring. 
     At least one engaging element can be arranged on the actuating element, the engaging element being configured to engage the actuating element in the initial position and/or the actuating position. This has the advantage that the actuating element is fixed in a defined manner at least in a defined position, i.e. the initial position and/or the actuating position. If the engagement takes place in the actuating position, the open position of the clamping point is retained even when the user has ended his manual application of pressure force of the actuating element. To return the actuating element from the actuating position into the initial position, the engagement must then be released, for example with the aid of a tool. For example, the engaging element may be deflected with the aid of the tool, and the engagement may be released hereby. 
     The engaging element can be configured to engage the actuating element with an engagement recess of the insulating housing. The engagement may be particularly easily and efficiently implemented in this manner. In addition, the release of the engagement may be easily and comfortably designed for the user, e.g. in that the engagement recess of the insulating housing passes through to the outer surface. The user may then actuating the engaging element through the engagement recess from the outside, using a tool, and thereby deflect it so that the engagement is released. If an engagement is desired in the initial position as well as in the actuating position, a separate engagement recess may be present on the insulating housing for the initial position and for the actuating element. 
     A guide contour can be arranged on the engaging element for guiding the engaging element into the engagement recess and/or out of the engagement recess. This permits an easy engagement and/or disengagement of the engaging element. The guide contour may be designed, for example, as a surface of the engaging element running at an angle with respect to the direction of movement of the actuating element. 
     The engaging element can be arranged on the actuating element on the side of the contact leg facing away from the clamping point. The engaging element is arranged hereby at an easily accessible point, so that the release of the engagement may be made easy and comfortable for the user. 
     According to an example of the invention, which, in combination with the conductor terminal mentioned at the outset, is also to be viewed as an independent invention, the actuating element is elastically deflectable at least in the area of the engaging element. In this way, the engagement may be easily released again by elastic deformation and therefore defection of the actuating element. For this purpose, the conductor terminal may have a free space on the side of the actuating element opposite the engaging element, into which the actuating element may be deflected. 
     The invention thus also relates to a conductor terminal, including an insulating housing, the insulating housing having a conductor insertion opening for inserting an electrical conductor in a conductor insertion direction, including a busbar and including a clamping spring, the clamping spring having a contact leg for contact with a part of the conductor terminal, the contact leg transitioning into a spring bend, and the spring bend transitioning into a clamping leg, the clamping leg forming a clamping point with the busbar for the electrical conductor, and including an actuating element, the actuating element being configured to open the clamping point, the actuating element being able to be transferred from an initial position into an actuating position, and the clamping point being opened in the actuating position, at least one engaging element being arranged on the actuating element, the engaging element being configured to engage the actuating element in the initial position and/or the actuating position, the actuating element being elastically deflectable at least in the area of the engaging element. 
     A securing clip can be arranged at the actuating element and/or at the contact leg, the securing clip holding the engaging element in the engagement recess at least in the actuating position of the actuating element. A holding force may thus be applied to the actuating element by the securing clip, at least in the area of the engaging element, by means of which the engaging element is pressed sufficiently far into the engagement recess. 
     A force may therefore be applied to the engaging element by the securing clip in a direction which faces away from the clamping point. The securing clip may be arranged on the side of the actuating element opposite the engaging element. The securing clip may extend into a free space between the engaging element and the contact leg. 
     At least one guide pin can be arranged on the conductor terminal for guiding the actuating element in the insulating housing. This permits a secure guidance of the movement of the actuating element. In particular, a tilting or catching is avoided. 
     At least two guide pins can be arranged on the actuating element, the guide pins being arranged on sides of the actuating element opposite each other, and the guide pins each being movably supported in a recess of the insulating housing. 
     The clamping spring can be provided with a V-shaped design. The clamping spring is fixed on a part of the conductor terminal by its contact leg and is thus immovably arranged in the insulating housing, at least in the area of the contact leg. The busbar may also be immovably arranged in the insulating housing. For example, the busbar may be part of a holding frame, in which the clamping spring is clamped. In this case, it is advantageous if the entire holding frame is immovably arranged in the insulating housing, i.e. fixed accordingly. 
     The actuating element can have an actuating section, the actuating section adjoining the clamping leg for opening the clamping point, and the actuating section protruding into the area of the clamping point, and the electrical conductor to be clamped being able to be guided to the clamping point next to the actuating section. This also permits a particularly compact structure of the conductor terminal. In addition, the actuating section may be reliably supported, and the forces necessary to deflect the clamping leg may be absorbed in this manner. The area of the clamping point may be, in particular, the side area next to the clamping point. However, the area of the clamping point also includes the area above the clamping point. An electrical conductor would thus be able to be guided through to the clamping point beneath the actuating section. The actuating section may thus have a U-shaped recess for the through-passage of the electrical conductor. It is conceivable that the actuating section has two oppositely situated side sections, the electrical conductor being able to be guided to the clamping point between the oppositely situated side sections. 
     Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes, combinations, and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein: 
         FIG.  1    shows an example of a conductor terminal in a side sectional view with an actuating element in the initial position; and 
         FIG.  2    shows the conductor terminal according to  FIG.  1   , with the actuating element in the actuating position; and 
         FIG.  3    shows the conductor terminal according to  FIG.  1    with the electrical conductor clamped in; and 
         FIG.  4    shows an example of a conductor terminal in a side sectional view; and 
         FIG.  5    shows an example of a conductor terminal in a side sectional view; and 
         FIG.  6    shows the conductor terminal according to  FIG.  1    in a in a perspective view with the housing open on the side. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG.  1    shows a conductor terminal  1 , including an insulating housing  2 . Insulating housing  2  may be have a two-part design, including a main housing part  20  and a closure part  21  insertable into main housing part  20 . Such an at least two-part design of insulating housing  2  makes it easier to install the contact insert and further components into insulating housing  2 . 
     Insulating housing  2  has a conductor insertion opening  22  for inserting an electrical conductor in a conductor insertion direction L. Conductor insertion opening  22  may be, for example, part of closure part  21 . Insulating housing  2  further has an actuating opening  23 , through which an actuation of an actuating element  5  may take place or through which actuating element  5  may extend. Actuating opening  23  may be, for example, part of closure part  21 . 
     An electrical contact insert is installed in the interior of insulating housing  2 , which includes a busbar  3  and a clamping spring  4 . Busbar  3  has a contact section  30 , on which an electrical conductor is to be clamped. Busbar  3  may be provided, for example, with a frame-shaped design in the manner of a holding frame, e.g. in that busbar  3  has a vertical section  31  and a support section  32  in addition to contact section  30 . Vertical section  31  connects contact section  30  to support section  32 . Vertical section  31  may be arranged essentially at right angles with respect to contact section  30 . Support section  32  may be arranged essentially at right angles with respect to vertical section  31 . A busbar  3  having a U-shaped cross-sectional contour thus results in cross section. Busbar  3  may be formed as a one-part metal component with contact section  30 , vertical section  31  and support section  32 . 
     Clamping spring  4  includes a contact leg  41 , which is adjoined by a spring bend  42 . A clamping leg  43  of clamping spring  4  adjoins spring bend  42 . Clamping leg  43  ends at the free end with a clamping edge  44 . Contact leg  41  is used to fix clamping spring  4  in insulating housing  2 . For example, contact leg  41  may have a fixing clip  40 , bent essentially at right angles, on the free end or at another point, with the aid of which contact leg  41  is suspended in a recess of busbar  3 , e.g. a recess in support section  32 . 
     Actuating element  5  has a manual actuating area  50 , at which actuating element  5  may be actuated by the user applying manual pressure force. Actuating element  5  further has a connecting section  51 , which connects manual actuating area  50  to a restoring section  52  of actuating element  5  on one side and to an actuating section  53  of actuating element  5  on the other side. A free space  54  is formed on actuating element  5  between restoring section  52 , connecting section  51  and actuating section  53 , in which at least a part of clamping spring  4 , in particular spring bend  42 , may be accommodated. 
     Restoring section  52  is used to restore actuating element  5  in the direction of the initial position. Restoring section  52  is connected to a restoring spring element  6  for this purpose. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, restoring spring element  6  is formed as a single piece with restoring section  52 . In this exemplary embodiment, restoring spring element  6  is designed as a wavy or meandering spring element. Restoring spring element  6  is supported on insulating housing  2  at its free end. 
     Actuating element  5  further includes a engaging element  55 , by means of which actuating element  5  may be engaged in the initial position and/or the actuating position. Engaging element  55  may engage with one of two engagement recesses  24 ,  25  formed on insulating housing  2 , depending on the position. In  FIG.  1   , engaging element  55  is engaged with a first engagement recess  24 , which effectuates an engagement in the initial position of actuating element  5 . 
     A securing clip  7  is further present, by means of which the engagement of engaging element  55  with one of engagement recesses  24 ,  25  is supported. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, securing clip  7  is formed as a single piece with actuating element  5  or restoring spring element  6 . Securing clip  7  may be in a pretensioned state permanently or at least in certain positions of actuating element  5 , e.g. in the actuating position. A force is transmitted by securing clip  7  to restoring section  52  and thus to engaging element  55 , which faces away from the clamping point. Securing clip  7  may be supported, for example, on contact leg  41 , but other possibilities for support are also conceivable, such as in a part of the insulating housing. 
     In the state illustrated in  FIG.  1   , in which no electrical conductor is clamped and actuating element  5  is in its initial position, clamping leg  43  adjoins contact section  30  of busbar  3 . If actuating element  5  is pushed to the right by manually pressing on manual actuating area  50 , actuating section  53  comes in contact with clamping leg  43  and deflects it, i.e. the free end of clamping leg  43  is moved away from contact section  30 . If this movement continues until engaging element  55  reaches second engagement recess  25 , engaging element  55  engages with second engagement recess  25 . In this way, actuating element  5  is fixed in the actuating position by the engagement. Clamping leg  43  is thus permanently deflected in this actuating position. An engagement in the actuating position between second engagement recess  25  and engaging element  55  is optional and not absolutely mandatory. 
     If actuating element  5  is actuated in this way, the user must not only overcome the spring force of clamping spring  4  but also the restoring spring force of restoring spring element  6 . 
     If the actuating position is now reached, in which engaging element  55  engages with second engagement recess  25 , the state illustrated in  FIG.  2    results. In contrast to the representation in  FIG.  1   , it is apparent that restoring spring element  6  is compressed. Clamping leg  43  of clamping spring  4  is greatly deflected. An electrical conductor  8  is inserted up to the clamping point. Since actuating element  5  has not yet been released from its actuating position, clamping leg  43  does not yet touch electrical conductor  8 . 
     As is apparent, securing clip  7  reaches a pretensioning element  9  in the area of the actuating position, which may have, for example a ramp-shaped contour. Due to pretensioning element  9 , on which securing clip  7  is supported in the actuating position, securing clip  7  is additionally pretensioned, so that it transmits a greater force onto engaging element  55 . Engaging element  55  is particularly securely engaged hereby in actuating position. Pretensioning element  9  may be formed, for example as a single piece, on closure element  21 . 
       FIG.  3    shows conductor terminal  1 , including clamped-on electrical conductor  8 , the engagement of actuating element  5  in the actuating position being released. The release of the actuating position preferably takes place by an application of force onto the engaging element from outside conductor terminal  1 . Actuating element  5  is moved back into its initial position by the restoring spring force of restoring spring element  6 . Engaging element  55  is now again engaged with first engagement recess  24 . Actuating section  53  now no longer touches clamping leg  43 . Clamping leg  43  now adjoins electrical conductor  8  with its free end and clamps the latter firmly against the clamping point. 
       FIG.  4    shows a conductor terminal, which corresponds to the specific embodiment described above, except for the design of securing clip  7 . In contrast to the specific embodiment in  FIGS.  1  through  3   , securing clip  7  is now designed not as an element arranged on actuating element  5  or on restoring spring element  6  but instead as an element formed on contact leg  41  of clamping spring  4 . For example, securing clip  7  may be designed as a clip formed out of the material of contact leg  41 . Securing clip  7  in this case is always fixedly situated at a position below second engagement recess  25 . If actuating element  5  is moved into the actuating position, restoring section  52  comes into contact with securing clip  7  and is pressed upward in the area of engaging element  55 , i.e. in a direction which faces away from the clamping point. Otherwise, the functionality of conductor terminal  1  according to  FIG.  4    is comparable to the functionality described above. 
       FIG.  5    shows a further specific embodiment of a conductor terminal  1 , in which restoring spring element  6  is designed as a separate component, e.g. as a spiral spring. Conductor terminal  1  according to  FIG.  5    otherwise corresponds to the design in  FIGS.  1  through  3   , but could also be combined with the specific embodiment in  FIG.  4    (other arrangement of securing clip  7 ). Restoring section  52  of actuating element  5  now has an elongated extension  56 , to which restoring spring element  6  is fastened. Extension  56  is used to guide and stabilize restoring spring element  6  as the spring force increases when actuating element  5  is moved into the actuating position. 
       FIG.  6    shows the design of actuating section  53  of actuating element  5  as an example, applicable to all specific embodiments described above. Actuating section  53  may be provided with a U-shaped design in the direction of its free end and have particular oppositely situated side sections  57 . A free space is formed between side sections  57 , through which electrical conductor  8  may be inserted up to the clamping point. Side sections  57  are simultaneously used to bear and support actuating section  53  on busbar  3 , in particular on contact section  30 . Side sections  57  slide along contact section  30  during an actuation of actuating element  5 . 
     As is further apparent, clamping leg  43  may be provided with a widened design on one side or on both sides in the area in which it is in contact with actuating section  53 . These widened sections  45  come into contact with actuating section  53  when actuating element  5  is moved into the actuating position. 
     The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.