DE102022119489A1 - Conductor marking element, arrangement formed therewith and method for marking and connecting an electrical conductor - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a conductor marking element for marking at least one electrical conductor, wherein the conductor marking element has at least one holding element for mechanically holding the conductor marking element on at least one electrical conductor. The invention also relates to an arrangement with a conductor connection terminal, at least one such conductor marking element and at least one electrical conductor. The invention also relates to a method for marking and connecting an electrical conductor to a conductor connection terminal.

Description

The invention relates to a conductor marking element for marking at least one electrical conductor, wherein the conductor marking element has at least one holding element for mechanically holding the conductor marking element on at least one electrical conductor. The invention also relates to an arrangement with a conductor connection terminal, at least one such conductor marking element and at least one electrical conductor. The invention also relates to a method for marking and connecting an electrical conductor to a conductor connection terminal.

A conductor marking element is, for example, from the DE 20 2013 102 301 U1 known.

The invention is based on the object of specifying a conductor marking element with improved functionality.

This object is achieved in a conductor marking element of the type mentioned in that the conductor marking element has at least one blocking element with which an actuating element, in particular a pivotable actuating lever, of a conductor connection terminal can be blocked in a predetermined position, in particular in a closed position, if that Conductor marking element is held with the holding element on at least one electrical conductor and the at least one electrical conductor is connected to a conductor terminal connection of the conductor connection terminal. Furthermore, the conductor marking element should be attached to the conductor connection terminal, e.g. plugged onto the conductor connection terminal. The conductor marking element has the advantage that it offers additional functionality for purely marking electrical conductors. Advantageously, the conductor marking element according to the invention makes it possible, in particular in connection with conductor connection terminals that have an actuating element, to lock them in a specific operating state by blocking the actuating element by means of the blocking element. Such a blocked actuating element can no longer be easily, at least not without manipulation of the conductor marking element, undesirably brought into another position again, for example from a closed position to an open position.

In this way, a conductor marking element with an integrated blocking of an actuating element of the conductor connection terminal can be provided. The conductor marking element according to the invention can also be attached very easily and ergonomically to an electrical conductor and allows reliable marking of electrical conductors in a simple manner.

The conductor marking element can be designed in particular for conductor connection terminals with several conductor connection points (multi-pole conductor connection terminals), i.e. with several conductor terminal connections. In this case, the width of the conductor marking element can be adapted to the pitch width of the conductor connection terminal, i.e. the width of the conductor marking element is equal to or smaller than the width of a conductor connection area in which an electrical conductor can be connected to a conductor terminal connection of the conductor connection terminal. This has the advantage that several conductor connection areas or conductor terminal connections of the conductor connection terminal located directly next to one another can also be provided with such conductor marking elements. In other words, each or a certain number of electrical conductors is provided with a separate conductor marking element.

Alternatively, a conductor marking element would also be conceivable, which has two or more holding elements arranged next to one another for two or more electrical conductors. Accordingly, the blocking element can then be designed in such a way that two or more actuating levers can be blocked at the same time.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the holding element has a through opening in at least one wall of the conductor marking element, which is completely surrounded on the circumference by the material of the conductor marking element, wherein the electrical conductor can be passed through the through opening. In this way, the conductor marking element can be threaded over the electrical conductor. The conductor marking element can then no longer detach from the electrical conductor and therefore cannot be lost. In addition, the conductor marking element can then be reliably guided along the electrical conductor to the correct position of the conductor connection terminal in order to block the actuating element.

The conductor marking element can, for example, be pushed “loosely” onto the electrical conductor so that it is held on the conductor. It is also possible to hold the conductor marking element “tightly” on the conductor if a specific insulation cross-section of the conductor is used.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the conductor marking element has at least one connecting element with which the conductor marking element can be connected by means of a positive connection, in particular by latching, can be fixed to the conductor connection terminal. This allows the conductor marking element to be attached quickly and easily to the conductor connection terminal. The connecting element can be used to fix the conductor marking element in particular on the housing and/or on the actuating element of the conductor connection terminal. The connecting element can be designed, for example, as a locking element, for example as a locking projection or locking recess, depending on the manner in which a simple and reliable attachment to the conductor connection terminal is possible.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the conductor marking element has at least one base wall and at least one side leg which is arranged at an angle to the base wall and projects from the base wall. The conductor marking element can, for example, be L-shaped if there is only one side leg. The at least one side leg can be arranged at one end of the base wall. If, for example, two side legs are present, these can be arranged at ends of the base wall facing away from one another. The through opening for passing through the electrical conductor can be arranged in the base wall. The at least one side leg can be arranged essentially at right angles to the base wall.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the conductor marking element is U-shaped with two side legs spaced apart from one another and each projecting from the base wall. This allows a simple, intuitive and secure fixation of the conductor marking element on the conductor connection terminal. In this way, the conductor marking element can engage over a conductor connection terminal on the outside in the manner of a clamp. The side legs can run essentially parallel to one another, at least when the conductor marking element is attached to the conductor connection terminal.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that the base wall has or forms the holding element. The base wall can be designed, for example, as a flat plate which has the through opening in the middle or elsewhere. The material of the base wall surrounding the through opening then forms the holding element for holding the conductor marking element on the electrical conductor.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that at least one side leg has or forms the blocking element. The side leg can, for example, be designed in the manner of a flat plate, with at least a region of this plate forming the blocking element.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that at least one side leg has or forms a connecting element. In this way, the side legs can also have integrated connecting elements. Such a connecting element can be arranged in particular at the free end of a side leg. If a connecting element is arranged on both side legs, the connecting elements can be arranged on the surfaces of the side legs that face one another.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the conductor marking element has at least one marking surface for marking the electrical conductor with at least one typographic or other graphic symbol. This allows reliable and easily recognizable marking of the electrical conductor using the conductor marking element. When manufactured, the conductor marking element can already be provided with a typographical or other graphic symbol on the marking surface. Alternatively, the marking area can also be completely or partially unmarked, i.e. designed as a free area so that the user can attach a corresponding marking there. In particular, a respective outward-facing surface of one side leg or both side legs can be present as a marking surface.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the conductor marking element is designed as a plastic component, for example without any electrically conductive components. This allows cost-effective production of the conductor marking element, for example in a plastic injection molding process. In addition, the conductor marking element is then relatively light, so that the overall weight of an arrangement with a conductor connection terminal, electrical conductors and one or more conductor marking elements is not significantly increased by these conductor marking elements. All mentioned parts of the conductor marking element can be designed as a one-piece unit, i.e. H. be formed in one piece.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the conductor marking element is made entirely or predominantly of transparent material. This has the advantage that the conductor marking element does not or only slightly obstructs the view of certain underlying parts, such as the actuating element, even in the final assembled state on the conductor connection terminal.

The object mentioned at the outset is also achieved by an arrangement with a conductor connection terminal, at least one conductor marking element of the type explained above and at least one electrical conductor, the at least one conductor marking element being held on at least one electrical conductor by means of its holding element, which electrically connects at least one electrical conductor a conductor terminal connection of the conductor connection terminal is connected and the conductor marking element is attached to the conductor connection terminal, so that an actuating element of the conductor connection terminal is blocked by the blocking element of the at least one conductor marking element and cannot be moved into the open position. The previously explained advantages can also be realized in this way. Depending on requirements, several conductor marking elements can be arranged on respective electrical conductors in the arrangement, so that several electrical conductors can be provided with corresponding markings by the conductor marking elements.

The actuating element can be in a closed position, for example, when the conductor marking element is held with the holding element on at least one electrical conductor and the at least one electrical conductor is connected to a conductor terminal connection of the conductor connection terminal, and cannot be in since it is blocked can be moved to an open position. In the closed position, the electrical conductor is clamped to a conductor terminal connection in the conductor connection terminal, for example by means of a spring-loaded terminal connection of the conductor connection terminal. In the open position, the electrical conductor is not clamped and can therefore be inserted into or removed from the conductor connection terminal without any effort. The electrical conductor can be an insulated electrical conductor that has an electrically conductive core and an insulation layer surrounding this core. The electrical conductor can in particular be designed as a cable.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the conductor marking element engages over the conductor connection terminal on sides of the conductor connection terminal facing away from one another in the manner of a clamp. In this way, the conductor marking element can be easily and reliably attached to the conductor connection terminal and can also be designed to be relatively narrow so that its width does not exceed the pitch width of the conductor connection terminal.

1. a) Anbringen eines Leitermarkierelements der zuvor erläuterten Art mit dessen Halteelement an dem elektrischen Leiter,
2. b) elektrisches Anschließen dieses elektrischen Leiters an einem Leiterklemmanschluss der Leiteranschlussklemme, wobei ein diesem Leiterklemmanschluss zugeordnetes Betätigungselement der Leiteranschlussklemme in einer Geschlossen-Stellung ist oder in eine Geschlossen-Stellung überführt wird,
3. c) Aufschieben des Leitermarkierelements entlang des elektrischen Leiters auf die Leiteranschlussklemme, bis durch das Blockierelement das diesem Leiterklemmanschluss zugeordnete Betätigungselement der Leiteranschlussklemme blockiert ist.

The task mentioned at the beginning is also solved by a method for marking and connecting an electrical conductor to a conductor connection terminal with the following steps:

1. a) attaching a conductor marking element of the type explained above with its holding element to the electrical conductor,
2. b) electrically connecting this electrical conductor to a conductor terminal connection of the conductor connection terminal, an actuating element of the conductor connection terminal assigned to this conductor terminal connection being in a closed position or being transferred to a closed position,
3. c) Pushing the conductor marking element along the electrical conductor onto the conductor connection terminal until the actuating element of the conductor connection terminal assigned to this conductor terminal connection is blocked by the blocking element.

The previously explained advantages can also be realized in this way. At the end of this process, the actuating element cannot be moved into the open position because it is blocked by the blocking element. The conductor marking element can be fixed to the conductor connection terminal via its connecting element, for example by latching.

For the purposes of the present invention, the indefinite term “a” is not to be understood as a numeral. For example, if we are talking about a component, this should be interpreted in the sense of “at least one component”. If angle information is given in degrees, these refer to a circular measure of 360 degrees (360°).

The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments using drawings.

• 1, 2 ein Leitermarkierelement in unterschiedlichen perspektivischen Ansichten,
• 3 elektrische Leiter und Leitermarkierelemente,
• 4 eine Anordnung mit einer Leiteranschlussklemme, einem Leitermarkierelement und elektrischen Leitern.

Show it

• 1 , 2 a conductor marking element in different perspective views,
• 3 electrical conductors and conductor marking elements,
• 4 an arrangement with a conductor connection terminal, a conductor marking element and electrical conductors.

As the 1 and 2 show, the conductor marking element 1 can be designed as a one-piece or multi-part unit which has a base wall 2 and two side legs 3, 4 which are arranged at opposite ends of the base wall 2 and project substantially parallel to one another. The side legs 3, 4 can, for example, be arranged at right angles to the base wall 2 or, in particular, 2 clarified, at a slightly smaller angle than 90 °, so that the side legs 3, 4 towards the free end towards each other to get lost. In the base wall 2 there is a through opening 5 through which an electrical conductor to be marked with the conductor marking element 1 can be passed. This forms a holding element for mechanically holding the conductor marking element 1 on the electrical conductor.

One or both side legs 3, 4 can have an area on the inside facing the other side leg, which forms a blocking element 7 for blocking an actuating element of a conductor connection terminal. In addition, one or more connecting elements 6 can be arranged on one or both side legs 3, 4, in particular at their free ends, for example locking elements projecting towards the other side leg 3, 4. With such connecting elements 6, the conductor marking element 1 can be easily and reliably fixed to a conductor connection terminal by positive locking.

On the outer sides of one or both side legs 3, 4 there can be a marking surface 8 for marking the electrical conductor. The 1 shows a not yet labeled and therefore empty marking area 8. In the 2 it is shown that the marking area 8 is provided with a marking 9.

The 3 shows the arrangement of conductor marking elements 1 according to one of 1 , 2 on one electrical conductor 10 in each case. It can be seen that a conductor marking element 1 is already attached to two electrical conductors 10. Another conductor marking element 1 has not yet been attached to the electrical conductor 10. The conductor marking element 1 is particularly suitable for electrical conductors 10 in the form of insulated electrical conductors, ie with an outer conductor insulation layer 12 and an electrically conductive core 11 arranged therein, for example a solid conductor, a fine-wire conductor or a stranded conductor, ie for attachment to a so-called . Cable. The electrical conductors 10 may be part of a multi-core cable that has an outer insulation layer 13 encasing a plurality of electrical conductors 10. It can also be seen that the electrical conductor 10 is first inserted into the through opening 5 with the stripped electrically conductive core 11 from a side facing away from the side legs 3, 4.

The 4 shows an arrangement with a multi-pole conductor connection terminal 20, in this case a five-pole conductor connection terminal. The conductor connection terminal 20 has a housing 21 which has a plurality of conductor insertion openings 22 for inserting respective electrical conductors. For each conductor terminal connection of the conductor connection terminal 20 there is a respective actuating element 23, in this case in the form of a pivotable actuating lever. In the four conductor terminal connections shown on the left, the actuating levers 23 are each in the open position. In the conductor clamp connection shown on the right, the actuating element 23 is in the closed position. There is also an electrical conductor 10 connected to this right conductor terminal connection. It can be seen that a conductor marking element 1 of the type explained above is attached to the conductor connection terminal 20 and engages over the actuating element 23 shown on the right and thus blocks it. The conductor marking element 1 is locked with its connecting elements 6 on the back of the housing 21. It can be seen that the conductor marking element 1 engages over the conductor connection terminal in the manner of a clamp.

Reference symbol list

1

Conductor marking element

2

Base wall

3

side leg

4

side leg

5

Passage opening

6

connecting element

7

Blocking element

8th

Marking area

9

Labelling

10

electrical conductor

11

electrically conductive core

12

Conductor insulation layer

13

External insulation layer

20

Conductor connection terminal

21

Housing

22

Conductor entry opening

23

Actuator

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 202013102301 U1 [0002]

Claims (15)

Conductor marking element (1) for marking at least one electrical conductor (10), the conductor marking element (1) having at least one holding element for mechanically holding the conductor marking element (1) on at least one electrical conductor, characterized in that the conductor marking element (1) has at least one blocking element (7), with which an actuating element (23), in particular a pivotable actuating lever, of a conductor connection terminal (20) can be blocked in a predetermined position, in particular in a closed position, when the conductor marking element (1) is connected to the holding element on at least one electrical conductor is held and the at least one electrical conductor is connected to a conductor terminal connection of the conductor connection terminal (20). Conductor marking element Claim 1 , characterized in that the holding element has a through opening (5) in at least one wall of the conductor marking element (1), which is completely surrounded on the circumference by the material of the conductor marking element (1), wherein the electrical conductor can be passed through the through opening (5). Conductor marking element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductor marking element (1) has at least one connecting element (6) with which the conductor marking element (1) can be fixed to the conductor connection terminal (20) by means of a positive connection. Conductor marking element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductor marking element (1) has at least one base wall (2) and at least one side leg (3, 4) arranged at an angle to the base wall (2) and projecting from the base wall (2). Conductor marking element Claim 4 , characterized in that the conductor marking element (1) is U-shaped with two spaced-apart side legs (3, 4) each projecting from the base wall (2). Conductor marking element Claim 4 or 5 , characterized in that the base wall (2) has or forms the holding element. Conductor marking element according to one of the Claims 4 until 6 , characterized in that at least one side leg (3, 4) has or forms the blocking element (7). Conductor marking element according to one of the Claims 4 until 7 , characterized in that at least one side leg (3, 4) has or forms a connecting element (6). Conductor marking element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductor marking element (1) has at least one marking surface (8) for marking (9) of the electrical conductor (10) with at least one typographic or other graphic symbol. Conductor marking element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductor marking element (1) is designed as a plastic component. Conductor marking element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductor marking element (1) is made entirely or predominantly of transparent material. Arrangement with a conductor connection terminal (20), at least one conductor marking element (1) according to one of the preceding claims and at least one electrical conductor (10), the at least one conductor marking element (1) being held on at least one electrical conductor (10) by means of its holding element, the at least one electrical conductor (10) is electrically connected to a conductor terminal connection of the conductor connection terminal (20) and the conductor marking element (1) is attached to the conductor connection terminal (20), so that an actuating element is formed by the blocking element (7) of the at least one conductor marking element (1). (23) of the conductor connection terminal (20) is blocked and cannot be moved to the open position. Arrangement according to Claim 12 , characterized in that the conductor marking element (1) engages over the conductor connection terminal (20) on opposite sides of the conductor connection terminal (20) in the manner of a clamp. Method for marking and connecting an electrical conductor (10) to a conductor connection terminal (20) with the following steps: a) attaching a conductor marking element (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 11 with its holding element on the electrical conductor, b) electrically connecting this electrical conductor (10) to a conductor clamp connection of the conductor connection terminal (20), an actuating element (23) of the conductor connection terminal (20) assigned to this conductor clamp connection being in a closed position or in a Closed position is transferred, c) pushing the conductor marking element (1) along the electrical conductor (10) onto the conductor terminal (20) until the actuating element (23) of the conductor terminal (20) assigned to this conductor terminal connection is blocked by the blocking element (7). Procedure according to Claim 14 , characterized in that the conductor marking element (1) is fixed to the conductor connection terminal (20) via its connecting element (6).

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