EP2324533B1 - Electrical connection terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention illustrates and describes an electrical connection terminal having a clamping spring (2), having a metal part (3) and having a housing (5) which accommodates the clamping spring (2) and the metal part (3) and has at least one conductor insertion opening (4), wherein the clamping spring (2) has a clamping limb (6), an operating limb (7) and a back (8) which connects the two limbs to one another, wherein the clamping limb (6), together with the metal part (3), forms a clamping point () for a stripped conductor (10) which is to be connected, wherein the clamping spring (2) is pivotably mounted in the housing (5) or on the metal part (3) in such a way that the clamping spring (2) can be moved from a first (open) position to a second (closed) position, and wherein a stripped electrical conductor (10) which is inserted through the conductor insertion opening (4) can be inserted into the clamping point (9) in the first position of the clamping spring (2), without the clamping limb (6) having to be deflected against its spring force, and is electrically conductively clamped in the second position of the clamping spring (2) between the end of the clamping limb (6) and the metal part (3). In the electrical connection terminal (1) according to the invention, a simple yet secure connection of an electrical conductor is made possible by an operating element (12) being pivotably mounted in the housing (5) in such a way that the operating element (12) can be moved from a first position to a second position, and that the clamping spring (2) is pivoted out of its first position to its second position when the operating element (12) is pivoted from the first position to the second position.

Description

The invention relates to an electrical terminal with a clamping spring, with a metal part and with a clamping spring and the metal part receiving and at least one conductor insertion opening housing, wherein the clamping spring has a clamping leg, an actuating leg and the two legs connecting back, wherein the clamping leg formed with the metal part a terminal point for an exclusionary stripped conductor, wherein the clamping spring is pivotally mounted in the housing or on the metal part, that the clamping spring from a first (open) position in a second (closed) position can be brought, wherein a through the conductor insertion opening introduced stripped electrical conductor in the first position of the clamping spring is inserted into the nip without the clamping leg must be deflected against its spring force and in the second position of the clamping spring between the end of the Kl Emmschenkels and the metal part is electrically conductively clamped, wherein an actuating element is pivotally mounted in the housing such that the actuating element can be moved from a first position to a second position and wherein the clamping spring during pivoting of the actuating element from the first position to the second position of their first position is pivoted to its second position.

Electrical terminals are known in a variety of embodiments. The terminals may be formed as a so-called print terminal, for example, for connecting an electrical conductor to a printed circuit board or as a terminal block for connection to another conductor. As clamping springs both loop-shaped clamping springs, so-called tension spring terminals, as well as U-shaped or V-shaped clamping springs, so-called torsion springs used in the rigid conductor or provided with a wire end conductor directly, ie without the clamping point must be opened with a tool before, can be inserted. In the known loop-shaped tension springs - according to their name - the conductor to be connected pulled by the clamping leg against a busbar. In contrast, U-shaped or V-shaped Clamping springs of the conductors to be connected from the clamping leg pressed against the busbar or a portion of the metal part.

To actuate the tension spring clamp requires an operating tool, such as a screwdriver, which is inserted to open the terminal in an operating shaft. The tip of the screwdriver tensions the tension spring, which opens the clamping point. A conductor to be connected can then be inserted through a recess in the clamping leg and is clamped after pulling out of the actuating tool by the lower edge of the recess against a busbar connected to the tension spring. In this case, connection terminals are also known in which an actuating element is arranged in the housing in order to facilitate the opening of the tension spring clamp. Such a terminal, with an actuating push-button is for example from the DE 10 2007 009 082 A1 known.

From the DE 203 13 041 U1 is an electrical terminal, known with a substantially U-shaped clamping spring and a metal part. In this terminal, the clamping spring, which may also be referred to as a leg spring acts as a compression spring which presses a conductor to be connected by the spring force of the clamping spring against a contact element or a current bar and thereby the electrically conductive contact between the conductor and the contact element or the current bar manufactures.

Such terminals are also referred to as direct plug-in terminals, as they allow the insertion of a rigid conductor or provided with a wire end conductor into the nip without the nip must be opened with an operating tool (see. Brochure "Terminal Blocks CLIPLINE 2005", page 20 of Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG ). Here, the clamping leg is deflected by the insertion of the conductor against its spring force; the insertion of the conductor is thus associated with a certain amount of force. It must always be found a compromise between a desired for a good electrical contact high spring force on the one hand and the insertion of the conductor facilitating low spring force of the clamping leg on the other.

An electrical terminal described above is known from DE 196 13 557 A1 known. In this terminal, the clamping spring in the U-shaped metal part is rotatably arranged, for which purpose the clamping spring in the region of the back has two lateral projections which are mounted in corresponding receptacles in the U-legs of the metal part. The from the DE 196 13 557 A1 known terminal has the advantage that acting as a clamping leg shorter first leg of the clamping spring during insertion of the connected stripped conductor does not have to be deflected against its spring force, so that even a flexible conductor can be inserted without the aid of a tool in the electrical terminal. A disadvantage of this electrical terminal, however, that the operation of the clamping spring is relatively cumbersome, especially when the terminal has relatively small dimensions.

Since it is also necessary to open the nip that the end of the actuating leg is freely accessible, so that the end can be operated by hand, there is a risk that an installer injured at the protruding from the housing end of the clamping spring. This danger exists in particular if the clamping spring consists of metal, since then the end of the actuating leg projecting out of the housing is connected in an electrically conductive manner to a connected conductor.

The EP 0 837 526 A1 discloses a terminal described above and an electrical device that is equipped with such a terminal. The terminal comprises an insulating housing in which a contact element is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis. The contact element in this case has a tension element, in the upper region of which a pivotable actuating member can engage, so that the contact element with the actuating member can be pivoted from the open position into the closed position. In the closed position of the contact element, a conductor between the portion of the contact element and a second contact element can be clamped. A disadvantage of this terminal that it has relatively large dimensions by the use and arrangement of the actuator, the actuator always protrudes significantly over the insulating housing.

The present invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide an electrical terminal described above, which allows a simple, yet safe connection of an electrical conductor, in particular, the operation of the clamping spring is particularly user-friendly and a compact design of the terminal to be achieved ,

This object is achieved in the electrical terminal described above with the features of claim 1, characterized in that the clamping spring and the actuating element are arranged and mounted in the housing such that the rotational or pivoting direction of the clamping spring and the rotational or pivoting direction of the actuating element are opposite to each other.

If the actuator is pivoted to close in a clockwise direction, so that the clamping spring is pivoted counterclockwise. By such an arrangement of clamping spring and actuating element, in which the two components interlock, a compact design of the terminal can be achieved. If the actuator consists of an electrically non-conductive material, in particular of plastic, it can thereby reliably prevent accidental contact with live parts, in particular the clamping spring made of metal, since the actuating leg of the clamping spring does not have to be directly accessible from the outside.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the actuating element is also pivotable from the second position to the first position, wherein the clamping spring is pivoted back from its second position to its first position during pivoting of the actuating element from the second position to the first position. By pivoting the actuating slide thus the electrical terminal or the terminal point can be both closed and opened, so that a connected electrical conductor can also be pulled out of the electrical terminal again.

The clamping force required for the clamping and thus for the electrically conductive contacting of the conductor to be connected is realized in the terminal according to the invention that is deflected in the second position of the clamping spring of the clamping leg, at least for an inserted electrical conductor against the spring force of the clamping spring, so that the Clamp the inserted electrical conductor against a corresponding Contact point, which is formed by a corresponding portion of the metal part, is pressed.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the terminal according to the invention, the clamping spring can be locked in its second position. This prevents the clamping spring from pivoting back into its first position after swiveling into the second position due to its freely pivotable arrangement in the housing or in the metal part, so that the electrical connection of an inserted conductor would be released again.

To lock the clamping spring in the second position, a holding section bent in the direction of the clamping leg is preferably formed at the free end of the actuating leg. In addition, the metal part in addition to a clamping portion, which forms the terminal point for the conductor with the clamping leg, nor a holding portion, which is angled from the clamping portion. In this case, the holding portion of the clamping spring and the holding portion of the metal part are formed so that they lock together in the second position of the clamping spring. For this purpose, at least one locking element and at the holding portion of the metal part at least one corresponding counter-locking element is preferably formed on the holding portion of the actuating leg.

When the clamping spring is pivoted from its first position to its second position, the holding section on the actuating limb of the clamping spring is deflected in such a way that the latching element formed on the holding section engages with the counter-latching element formed on the holding section of the metal part. In order to deflect the holding section of the actuating leg accordingly, a corresponding guide edge is advantageously formed in the housing or on the actuating element, on which the holding section slides during pivoting of the clamping spring from the first position to the second position.

In order to be able to pull out a connected electrical conductor from the connection terminal in the previously described preferred embodiment of the electrical connection terminal according to the invention, it is necessary first of all the locking of the clamping spring are released in the second position. For this purpose, the actuating element is preferably designed so that it deflects the holding portion of the actuating leg during pivoting from the second position to the first position such that the locking between the holding portion of the clamping spring and the holding portion of the metal part is released. If the latching is released, the clamping spring pivots by itself in the direction of its first (open) position due to its spring force.

In a preferred embodiment of the terminal according to the invention, the holding portion of the actuating leg has two holding legs separated by a slot. In addition, the actuating element has an actuating wall arranged in the plane of the slot and two unlocking sections arranged laterally next to the actuating wall. As a result, during the pivoting of the actuating element from the second position into the first position, the two unlocking sections initially deflect the latching elements formed, for example, as laterally protruding projections on the holding section of the actuating leg, so that the latching is released. Subsequently, the actuating wall can enter into the slot in the holding portion of the actuating leg and press with its free end up the actuating leg, so that the clamping spring is pivoted from its second position to its first position.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the terminal according to the invention, a stop for the actuating limb of the clamping spring is formed in the housing, against which the actuating limb rests in the first position of the clamping spring. As a result, damage to the clamping spring is prevented by a too wide pivoting of the actuating element. In addition, it can be seen by the formation of the attack for the fitter, when the clamping spring is pivoted to its first, fully open position, in which the nip is fully open, so that an electrical conductor to be connected easily through the conductor insertion opening in the housing in the Clamping point can be inserted.

With regard to the configuration of the metal part, there are basically different possibilities, in particular the geometry of the metal part to the respective use of the terminal, for example, in a terminal or as a print terminal on a circuit board can be adjusted. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the electrical terminal is designed as a print terminal, the metal part is electrically conductively connected to at least one Lötanschlusspin. Preferably, the metal part is produced as a punched and bent part of a conductive sheet, wherein the one or more Lötanschlusspins are integrally connected to the metal part.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung zweier nebeneinander angeordneter erfindungsgemäßer elektrischer Anschlussklemmen, wobei eine Anschlussklemme im geöffneten und eine Anschlussklemme im geschlossenen Zustand dargestellt ist,

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Darstellung der beiden Anschlussklemmen gemäß Fig. 1, beide im geschlossenen Zustand,

Fig. 3

eine elektrische Anschlussklemme im vollständig geöffneten Zustand, in Seitenansicht,

Fig. 4

die Anschlussklemme gemäß Fig. 3 beim Verschwenken in die zweite, geschlossene Position,

Fig. 5

die Anschlussklemme gemäß Fig. 3, im geschlossenen Zustand,

Fig. 6

die Anschlussklemme gemäß Fig. 3, zu Beginn des Öffnungsvorgangs und

Fig. 7

die Anschlussklemme gemäß Fig. 3, im fast vollständig geöffneten Zustand.

In particular, there are a variety of ways to design and develop the electrical terminal according to the invention. Reference is made to both the claims subordinate to claim 1 and to the following description of a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the drawings. In the drawing show

Fig. 1

a perspective view of two juxtaposed inventive electrical terminals, wherein a terminal in the open and a terminal is shown in the closed state,

Fig. 2

a perspective view of the two terminals according to Fig. 1 , both when closed,

Fig. 3

an electrical terminal in the fully open state, in side view,

Fig. 4

the terminal according to Fig. 3 when pivoting in the second, closed position,

Fig. 5

the terminal according to Fig. 3 when closed,

Fig. 6

the terminal according to Fig. 3 , at the beginning of the opening process and

Fig. 7

the terminal according to Fig. 3 , almost completely open.

The figures show an electrical connection terminal 1, which initially consists of a clamping spring 2 and a metal part 3. Both the clamping spring 2 and the metal part 3 may be formed as a simple stamped and bent parts, but it is not necessary that the same materials are used for the clamping spring 2 and the metal part 3. The clamping spring 2 and the metal part 3 are arranged together in a conductor insertion opening 4 having a housing 5, which consists of an insulating material, in particular of plastic.

The clamping spring 2 has a clamping leg 6, an actuating leg 7 and the two legs 6, 7 interconnecting back 8, wherein the clamping leg 6 with the metal part 3 a nip 9 for a - only in Fig. 3 shown - to be connected stripped conductor 10. In the housing 5, a bearing pin 11 is formed, on which the clamping spring 2 is mounted pivotably such that the clamping spring 2 from a first (open) position ( Fig. 1 and 3 ) to a second (closed) position ( Fig. 2 . 5 and 6 ) can be pivoted. In the first position of the clamping spring 2, a stripped electrical conductor 10 introduced through the conductor insertion opening 4 can be introduced into the clamping point 9 without the clamping leg 6 having to be deflected against its spring force or the spring force of the clamping spring 2. In the second position of the clamping spring 2, the electrical conductor 10 is electrically conductively clamped between the end of the clamping leg 6 and the metal part 3, wherein the clamping leg 6 is deflected from its rest state.

The actuation of the electrical terminal 1 is effected in a particularly user-friendly manner that in the housing 5, an actuating element 12 is pivotally mounted on a second bearing pin 13. If the actuator 12 from the in Fig. 1 shown first (opened) position in his in Fig. 2 shown pivoted second (closed) position, the clamping spring 2 is pivoted by the pivoting of the actuating element 12 from its first position to its second position. The electrical terminal 1 can thus by pushing down the pivotally mounted Actuator 12 is closed and by pivoting the actuator 12 in the opposite direction - again - be opened.

The FIGS. 3 to 5 show the closing operation of the clamping spring 2 at three consecutive times during the FIGS. 6 and 7 show the opening process at two times. In the arrangement and orientation of the electrical terminal 1 shown in the figures, the actuator 12 must be pivoted to close in a clockwise direction and to open counterclockwise, ie the actuator 12 is pressed down to close and pivoted up to open. As can be seen from the figures, when closing the actuating element 12, the clamping spring 2 is pivoted counterclockwise and when opening the actuating element 12 in the clockwise direction, ie the rotational or pivoting direction of the clamping spring 2 and the rotational or pivoting direction of the actuating element 12 opposite each other.

Due to the illustrated arrangement of clamping spring 2 and actuator 12 and their storage on the bearing pins 11 and 13, the clamping spring 2 and the actuating element 12 engage with each other, so that the terminal 1 has small dimensions. Due to the fact that the pivot pin 13 of the actuating element 12 is arranged near the end of the actuating arm 7, only a slight torque acts on the actuating element 12 in the closed position of the actuating element 12.

As in particular from the Fig. 2 and 5 It can be seen, the clamping spring 2 is locked in its second position, so that the clamping spring 2 does not swing back after connecting an electrical conductor 10 due to their pivotal arrangement and due to their spring force in the direction of the first position. For this purpose, the actuating leg 7 of the clamping spring 2 at its end remote from the clamping leg 6 has a holding portion 14 which is bent in the direction of the clamping leg 6. Corresponding to this, the metal part 3 has, in addition to a clamping section 15, a holding section 16 which is bent in the direction of the actuating limb 7. In the illustrated in the figures preferred embodiment of the terminal 1, the latching between the holding portion 14 of the actuating leg 7 and the holding portion 16 of the metal part 3 is realized in that on the holding portion 14 of the actuating arm 7 two laterally outwardly projecting projections 17 are formed and the holding portion 16 of the metal part 3 two separate bent detents 18 has. In the locked state of the clamping spring 2 according to Fig. 2 are the projections 17 engaged under the locking ends 18, so that the clamping spring 2 is held in its closed position and can not swing back into its open position.

As in particular from the Fig. 1 and 2 it can be seen, the holding portion 14 of the actuating arm 7 has two holding legs 20 separated from each other by a slot 19, one of the two projections 17 being formed on each of the two holding legs 20. Due to the formation of two separate holding legs 20, the deflection of the two holding legs 20 is facilitated when locking the clamping spring 2 in the second position. In addition, the ends of the two holding legs 20 are inwardly, ie bent in the direction of the clamping leg 6, so that the holding legs 20 do not tilt on depression of the actuating leg 7 by the actuating element 12 at the locking ends 18.

In order to facilitate the opening of the clamping spring 2 and thus the pivoting of the clamping spring 2 from the second position to the first position, the actuating element 12 has an actuating wall 21 and two unlocking sections 22 formed laterally next to the actuating wall 21. In this case, the actuating wall 21 extends in the plane of the slot 19 formed in the holding section 14 of the actuating limb 7, so that the actuating wall 21 can dip into the slot 19 when the clamping spring 2 is pivoted from the closed position into the open position. When pivoting the clamping spring 2 from the closed position to the open position, as shown in the Fig. 6 and 7 is shown, first press the two actuating portions 22 against the two holding legs 20 of the holding portion 14, whereby the locking between the projections 17 and the locking ends 18 is released.

Is in the electrical terminal 1, a conductor 10 is inserted, so that the clamping leg 6 is deflected against the spring force of the clamping spring 2, the clamping spring 2 pivots after loosening the latch due to their spring force initially in a partially open position, as in Fig. 7 is shown. To the clamping spring 2 in the in the Fig. 1 and 3 shown, fully open position to pivot, the actuator 12 must be pivoted further upwards, ie in the orientation of the terminal 1 shown in the figures counterclockwise. In this case, the actuating wall 21 of the actuating element 12 slides through the slot 19 in the holding portion 14 of the actuating leg 7 until the end of the actuating wall 21 abuts from the inside on the actuating arm 7, so that upon further pivoting of the actuating element 12 and the clamping spring 2 pivots further into the fully open position becomes. The fully open position of the clamping spring 2 is then reached when the clamping spring 2 abuts with its actuating limb 7 on a stop 5 formed in the housing 5. As a result, the fully open position of the clamping spring 2 is easily recognizable even for the fitter.

In the embodiment of the terminal 1 according to the invention shown in the figures is a print terminal for connecting a conductor 10 to a circuit board. For this purpose, the metal part 3 a plurality of, in the illustrated embodiment, four Lötanschlussprints 24, which are integrally connected to the metal part 3. The metal part 3 can thus be made as a simple stamped and bent part of a conductive sheet. Likewise, the clamping spring 2 can be made of a flat material by punching and bending in their shape shown in the figures.

For easy and convenient handling of the actuating element 12, this has a over the end face 25 of the housing 5 projecting handle portion 26. The actuator 12 can thus easily with one or two fingers - according to the Fig. 3 to 5 - pivoted from the first position to the second position, ie closed and with one or two fingers - according to the Fig. 6 and 7 - pivoted from the second position to the first position, that is opened.

Claims (12)

1. Electrical terminal with a clamping spring (2), with a metal part (3) and with a housing (5) which holds the clamping spring (2) and the metal part (3) and which has at least one conductor insertion opening (4),
   wherein the clamping spring (2) having a clamping leg (6), an actuating leg (7), and a back (8) which connects the two legs (6, 7) to each other,
   wherein the clamping leg (6) forms with the metal part (3) a clamping site (9) for a stripped conductor (10) which is to be connected,
   wherein the clamping spring (2) is pivotably mounted to one of the housing (5) and the metal part (3) so as to be movable out of a first (opened) position into a second (closed) position,
   wherein a stripped electrical conductor (10) which is inserted through the conductor insertion opening (4) in the first position of the clamping spring (2) being insertable into the clamping site (9), without the clamping leg (6) having to be deflected against its spring force, and in the second position of the clamping spring (2) being clamped in an electrically conductive manner between the end of the clamping leg (6) and the metal part (3), and
   wherein an actuating element (12) is pivotably supported in the housing (5) such that the actuating element (12) being movable out of a first position into a second position,
   wherein the clamping spring (2) is pivoted out of its first position into its second position when the actuating element (12) is pivoted out of its first position into its second position,
   characterized in
   that the clamping spring (2) and the actuating element (12) are arranged and supported in the housing (5) such that the direction in which the clamping spring (2) turns and pivots and the direction in which the actuating element (12) turns and pivots are opposite one another.
2. Electrical terminal according to claim 1, charcterized in that the actuating element (12) can be pivoted out of the second position into the first position, wherein the clamping spring (2) being pivoted back out of its the second position into its first position when the that the actuating element (12) is pivoted out of the second position into the first position.
3. Electrical terminal according to claim 1 or 2, charcterized in that the clamping spring (2) is lockable in its second position.
4. Electrical terminal according to claim 3, charcterized in that the actuating leg (7) on its end which is away from the clamping leg (6) has a retaining section (14) which is bent in the direction of the clamping leg (6) and wherein the metal part (3) has a clamping section (15) and a retaining section (16) which is bent away from the clamping section (15), the clamping leg (6) and the clamping section (15) forming the clamping site (9), and wherein the retaining section (14) of the actuating leg (7) and the retaining section (16) of the metal part (3) being made such that they lock with one another in the second position of the clamping spring (2).
5. Electrical terminal according to claim 4, charcterized in that at least one catch element (17) is made on the retaining section (14) of the actuating leg (7) and at least one corresponding mating catch element (18) is made on the retaining section (16) of the metal part (3), especially on its free end.
6. Electrical terminal according to claim 5, charcterized in that two outwardly directed projections (17) are formed on the retaining section (14) of the actuating leg (7) and wherein the retaining section (16) of the metal part (3) has two separate bent catch ends (18), so that the clamping spring (2) is fixable in the second position by the projections (17) locking under the catch ends (18).
7. Electrical terminal according to one of claims 4 to 6, charcterized in that when the actuating element (12) is pivoted out of the second position into the first position, the retaining section (14) of the actuating leg (7) is deflected by the actuating element (12) such that the locking between the retaining section (14) of the actuating leg (7) and the retaining section (16) of the metal part (3) is released.
8. Electrical terminal according to claim 7, charcterized in that the retaining section (14) of the actuating leg (7) has two retaining legs (20) which are separated from one another by a slot (19).
9. Electrical terminal according to claim 8, charcterized in that the actuating element (12) has an actuating wall (21) which is located in a plane of the slot (19) and two unlocking sections (22) which are located laterally next to the actuating wall (21), wherein when the actuating element (12) is pivoted out of the second position into the first position, first the unlocking sections (22) of the actuating element (12) release the locking between the retaining section (14) of the actuating leg (7) and the retaining section (16) of the metal part (3) and then the actuating wall (21) presses against the actuating leg (7) so that the clamping spring (2) is pivoted out of its second position into its first position.
10. Electrical terminal according to one of claims 1 to 9, charecterized in that in the housing (4) a stop (23) is provided against which the clamping spring (2), especially the actuating leg (7), lies in the first position of the clamping spring (2),
11. Electrical terminal according to one of claims 1 to 10, charcterized in that the metal part (3) is connected in an electrically conductive manner, especially in one piece, to at least one solder terminal pin (24).
12. Electrical terminal according to one of claims 1 to 11, charecterized in that the actuating element (12) has a grip section (26) which projects over the end surface (25) of the housing (5).

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