DE102022132567A1 - Socket clamp - Google Patents

Abstract

A box terminal for connecting a plurality of electrical conductors (100, 100A - 100N), comprising:a housing (3) which has at least one plug-in opening (5, 5A - 5N) for each electrical conductor (100, 100A - 100N);a contact element (7) which is arranged in the housing (3) for electrically contacting and connecting the electrical conductors (100, 100A - 100N);a spring element (9) which is introduced into the housing (3), and wherein the spring element (9) has a clamping leg (91, 91A - 91N) for each electrical conductor (100, 100A - 100N), which is adapted to bring the electrical conductor (100, 100A - 100N) into contact with the contact element (7); and an actuating element (11) which is adapted to transfer at least one clamping leg (91, 91A - 91N) from a clamping position into a removal position against a spring force of the spring element (9), wherein the actuating element (11) has at least one key element (111, 111A - 111N) which is arranged on the housing (3) and at least one pressure element (113, 113A - 113N) which is arranged between the at least one key element (111, 111A - 111N) and a clamping region (911, 911A - 911N) of the clamping leg (91, 91A - 91N) with the electrical conductor (100, 100A - 100N) and is adapted to move the clamping leg (91, 91A - 91N) into the removal position.

Description

The invention relates to a box terminal for connecting electrical conductors.

Such a socket terminal has a housing that has at least one plug-in opening for each electrical conductor. A contact element is arranged in the housing for electrically contacting and connecting the electrical conductors. Furthermore, a spring element is introduced into the housing, which has a clamping leg for each electrical conductor, wherein the clamping leg is adapted to bring the electrical conductor into contact with the contact element. Such a socket terminal also has an actuating element that is adapted to move at least one clamping leg from a clamping position to a removal position against a spring force of the spring element.

Box terminals for connecting two or more electrical conductors in a switch box are available in a wide variety of designs in the state of the art.

For example, the DE 203 03 537 U1 a box terminal for connecting several conductors that can be inserted into the box terminal from the same side in order to connect them electrically. The clamping point of the box terminal can be relieved by applying pressure to a defined operating area of the housing.

Also the EP 3 134 942 A1 relates to a box terminal with a conductor clamping element that has a clamping leg, wherein a free clamping end of the clamping leg forms a clamping edge for clamping an electrical conductor. The housing of the box terminal has a test opening for each clamping leg, which can also be used as an actuation opening in order to open the clamping point formed by the conductor clamping element for an electrical conductor by means of a separate object and to enable removal of a clamped electrical conductor.

Unlike the well-known lever terminals, which usually require a larger installation space than box terminals, it is often difficult to insert flexible conductors into the plug-in openings and to remove them again from the plug-in openings with the well-known box terminals.

The object of the present invention is to provide a box terminal in which flexible conductors can be easily inserted into the plug openings in order to be clamped there. Furthermore, the box terminal should be inexpensive to manufacture, require only a minimal installation space and be usable without tools.

This object is solved by an article having the features of claim 1.

Accordingly, the actuating element has at least one button element which is arranged on the housing, and furthermore the actuating element has at least one pressure element which is arranged between the at least one button element and a clamping region of the clamping leg with the electrical conductor and is adapted to transfer the clamping leg into the removal position by actuating the at least one button element.

The socket terminal has a housing that can be designed as an injection-molded part made of an insulating plastic material and has a large number of plug-in openings into which electrical conductors can be inserted. In a 2-pole variant, the socket terminal can have two plug-in openings; in multi-pole variants, the socket terminal can have three, four, five and even more plug-in openings. The plug-in openings can be arranged in one row or in several rows in the housing. A large number of plug-in openings can be understood here as at least two plug-in openings.

A contact element, which can also be referred to as a current bar, is arranged in the housing. In the plugged-in position, the individual electrical conductors, or the insulating material-free or stripped areas of the electrical conductors, contact the contact element and are electrically connected via this.

The spring element can be made from a spring sheet metal strip and have a clamping leg bent out of a plane of the spring sheet metal strip for each plug-in opening. The clamping legs can be formed in the spring sheet metal strip using a punching process, for example. The clamping legs are arranged in such a way that an electrical conductor which is introduced into a plug-in opening between the clamping leg and the contact element deflects the clamping leg against a spring force of the spring element when the electrical conductor is introduced and is then touched by the clamping leg in a clamping area of the clamping leg and pressed or clamped against the contact element in the clamping position. Removal of the inserted electrical conductor against the plug-in direction is prevented by the clamping leg in the clamping position.

The actuating element is adapted to move the clamping leg from the clamping position to the removal position against the spring force of the spring element.

In the removal position, the electrical conductor can be inserted into the plug opening and removed again without any force or with very little effort.

The actuating element has at least one button element that is arranged on the housing. The button element can be arranged in the form of a plate or strip on an upper or lower side of the housing and can be held elastically on the housing so that it can pivot about a pivot axis. As a result, an end region of the button element that is opposite the pivot axis can be pressed by the user, for example with a finger, in the direction of the housing.

The pressure element is arranged between the at least one key element and the clamping area of the clamping leg with the electrical conductor. For example, the pressure element can be designed in one piece or in multiple pieces and in the form of a pin or peg and can be directly or indirectly mechanically connected to the key element in order to be moved with the key element, so that a movement of the key element in the direction of the housing also causes a movement of the pressure element in the direction of the clamping area of the clamping leg in order to move the clamping area away against the spring force of the spring element. The term clamping area of the clamping leg can be understood here as an area or section of the clamping leg which, in the clamping position, rests on at least one section of the electrical conductor in order to bring the electrical conductor into contact with the contact element.

By directly acting on the clamping area of the clamping leg, the pressure element can be reliably moved into the removal position. Furthermore, a box terminal constructed in this way can be very compact and used without tools.

In one embodiment, the at least one key element is arranged on the housing so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis.

The button element can be designed like a rocker and can be elastically connected to the housing with a side surface, or can be molded onto the housing. For example, the button element can extend at least partially over a top or bottom of the housing. In embodiments, a button element is assigned to each insertion opening and in alternative embodiments, a common button element is arranged in order to move a plurality of pressure elements simultaneously in order to simultaneously transfer the respective clamping legs into the removal position.

By means of pushbutton elements, the fitter can move the clamping legs from the clamping position to the removal position and back to the clamping position particularly easily and reliably without the use of separate tools.

In one embodiment, the key element is connected to the housing via a film hinge.

The film hinge can be manufactured cost-effectively in one piece together with the housing and the key element.

In one embodiment, the spring element has a support leg which is supported relative to the housing and to which the clamping legs can be elastically deflected.

The spring element can be supported on the housing via the support leg and held in position in the housing. The clamping legs can be elastically deflected relative to the support leg. In the removal position, the clamping leg is elastically pre-tensioned and after the button element is released, the clamping leg is elastically moved into the clamping position.

In one embodiment, the pressure element is designed in a pin-like manner and is arranged perpendicular to a plug-in direction of the electrical conductor between the at least one key element and the clamping region of the at least one clamping leg.

By means of such a design, the pressure element can be pressed directly against the clamping area of the clamping leg by actuating the button element in order to transfer the clamping leg into the removal position.

In one embodiment, the pressure element is U-shaped and has at least two pressure legs, in particular two pressure legs arranged parallel to one another.

The two pressure legs can be arranged perpendicular to the plug-in direction of the electrical conductor on the button element, or can be formed with the button element and press independently of each other on the clamping area of the clamping leg to transfer it to the removal position.

Due to the U-shaped design of the pressure element, the clamping leg can be evenly transferred into the removal position.

In one embodiment, the pressure legs are arranged at a distance from one another and form a gap between the pressure legs for the electrical conductor.

The electrical conductor can extend at least partially in the plug-in direction between the pressure legs. This allows adjacent slots of the socket terminal to be electrically insulated from one another.

In one embodiment, the pressure legs are adapted to simultaneously press on different sections of the clamping area of the clamping leg when the button element is actuated.

This allows the pressure element to directly engage the clamping area of the clamping leg when an electrical conductor is plugged in, in order to reliably move the clamping leg into the removal position, away from the plugged-in electrical conductor. Furthermore, even if a pressure leg is damaged, for example if a pressure leg is bent, the clamping leg can be reliably moved into the removal position.

In one embodiment, the pressure element is formed as one piece or integrally with the key element.

For example, the housing together with the pressure and button element can be manufactured cost-effectively using an injection molding process.

In one embodiment, the housing has a plurality of plug-in openings, each for an electrical conductor, and the actuating element has at least one button element and at least one pressure element for each plug-in opening in order to transfer a respective clamping leg from the clamping position into the removal position against the spring force of the spring element.

In this design, the clamped electrical conductors in the plug openings can be individually released and removed.

In one embodiment, the housing has a plurality of plug-in openings, each for an electrical conductor, and the actuating element has at least one pressure element for each plug-in opening, which is arranged between the button element and the respective clamping leg in order to transfer the clamping legs from the clamping position into the removal position against the spring force of the spring element.

In this design, all pressure elements are moved simultaneously via a common key element. This makes it possible for all inserted electrical conductors to be removed at the same time.

In one embodiment, the spring element has a Z-shaped cross-section. For example, the clamping legs can form one leg of the Z and the opposite leg of the Z can rest in the housing as a support leg. The Z-shaped cross-section allows the spring element to be constructed compactly and at the same time have a high spring force.

In one embodiment, the spring element is formed in one piece. For example, the spring element can be formed in one piece from a spring sheet, for example punched out.

In one embodiment, the contact element is designed like a comb and has a contact tooth for each electrical conductor for contacting the respective electrical conductor. For this purpose, the contact element can have a bar- or rail-shaped base body from which the contact teeth extend in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the base body. The contact teeth can be spaced the same or differently from one another and have a width that corresponds to a width of the electrical conductors. This allows the electrical conductors to be contacted reliably and the pressure element and/or individual components of the pressure element can extend through the gaps between adjacent contact elements.

In one embodiment, at least one plug-in opening is funnel-shaped. Flexible conductors, in particular, which consist of several individual wires, can be easily inserted into the funnel-shaped plug-in openings.

• 1 eine schematische Ansicht einer Dosenklemme mit eingesteckten elektrischen Leitern gemäß einer Ausführungsform; und
• 2A - 2D eine schematische Ansicht und Schnittansichten durch die Dosenklemme gemäß der zuvor gezeigten Ausführungsform.

The idea underlying the invention will be explained in more detail below using the embodiments shown in the figures. They show:

• 1 a schematic view of a box terminal with inserted electrical conductors according to an embodiment; and
• 2A - 2D a schematic view and sectional views through the box terminal according to the previously shown embodiment.

The 1 shows a schematic view of a box terminal 1 with inserted electrical conductors 100A - 100N according to an embodiment.

In the embodiment shown, the socket terminal 1 is designed to be four-pole. Accordingly, the housing 3 has four plug-in openings 5A - 5N for inserting four electrical conductors 100A - 100N. In further embodiments, the socket terminal can also have fewer than four plug-in openings, such as two or three plug-in openings. In alternative embodiments, however, the socket terminal can also have more than four plug-in openings, such as five or six plug-in openings. As in the 1 As shown, the plug openings 5A - 5N are each adapted to receive an end region of an electrical conductor 100A - 100N. The ends of the electrical conductors 100A - 100N, which are located in the housing 3, are free of insulating material, or are stripped, so that the conductive material in the electrical conductors 100A - 100N, such as a copper material, is electrically conductively connected to the contact element 7.

In the embodiment shown, the contact element 7 is shown as a busbar-like element which runs at least in regions between side surfaces of the housing 3 in the housing 3, perpendicular to a plug-in direction S of the electrical conductors 100A - 100N. The contact element 7 comprises an electrically conductive material and is arranged in the housing 3 in such a way that all plugged-in electrical conductors 100A - 100N can electrically contact the contact element 7.

In the embodiment shown, the housing 3 is constructed in several parts from an electrically insulating material and has a transparent area in an end region of the housing 3, where the contact element 7 runs, so that the fitter can visually check the correct clamping of the electrical conductors 100A - 100N.

In the embodiment shown, a spring element 9 is introduced into the housing 3 and has a clamping leg 91A - 91N for each electrical conductor 100A - 100N in order to bring the respective electrical conductor 100A - 100N into contact with the contact element 7, or to press an electrical conductor 100A - 100N against the contact element 7.

The spring element 9 shown is made of a spring sheet metal strip and has a clamping leg 91A - 91N bent out of a plane of the spring sheet metal strip for each plug-in opening 5A - 5N, or for each plugged-in electrical conductor 100A - 100N. The clamping legs 91A - 91N are arranged in such a way that the electrical conductor 100A - 100N, which is introduced into one of the plug-in openings 5A - 5N between the clamping leg 91A - 91N and the contact element 7, deflects the clamping leg 91A - 91N against a spring force of the spring element 9 when it is introduced and is then touched by the clamping leg 91A - 91N in a clamping area 911A - 911N of the clamping leg 91A - 91N and is pressed by the clamping leg 91A - 91N against the contact element 7 in the 1 shown clamping position. Removal of the inserted electrical conductors 100A - 100N against the plugging direction S is prevented by the clamping legs 91A - 91N. The clamping areas 911A - 911N of the clamping legs 91A - 91N are the areas or sections of the clamping legs 91A - 91N which, in the clamping position, rest on at least a section of the respective electrical conductors 100A - 100N in order to bring the respective electrical conductor 100A - 100N into electrical contact with the contact element 7. In the embodiment shown, the clamping areas 911A - 911N of the clamping legs 91A - 91N are designed as areas on an underside of the clamping legs 91A - 91N shown, which face the electrical conductors 100A - 100N.

The actuating element 11 shown is adapted to transfer at least one clamping leg 91A - 91N from the clamping position shown into a removal position against the spring force of the spring element 9, or the spring force resulting from the connection of the clamping leg 91A - 91N to the material of the spring element 9.

For this purpose, the actuating element 11 in the embodiment shown has a plurality of key elements 111A - 111N, which, as shown, are arranged on the housing 3 so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis which is designed as a film hinge 13. Furthermore, the actuating element 11 in the embodiment shown has a plurality of pressure elements 113A - 113N, each of which is arranged between a key element 111A - 111N and a clamping region 911A - 911N of a respective clamping leg 91A - 91N. By operating one of the button elements 111A - 111N, i.e. manually moving or pressing the button element 111A-111N in the direction of the housing 3, the clamping area 911A - 911N of the clamping leg 91A - 91N is moved away from the electrical conductor 100A - 100N so that the electrical conductor 100A - 100N can be removed. In the removal position, the electrical conductor 100A - 100N can be removed from the plug opening 5A - 5N without force or with very little effort and can also be inserted again.

The 2A shows a schematic plan view of a key element 111 arranged on the housing 3 of the socket terminal 1. In 2A is, for better illustration, only a part of the 1 shown box terminal 1. The button element 111 shown can be one of the similarly designed button elements 111A- 111N of the box terminal 1 in 1 As shown, a structure or ribbing is introduced on the top of the key element 111 to make it easier for the user to operate it. Furthermore, the pivot axis designed as a film hinge 13 is shown, on which the key elements 111 are individually pivotably mounted on the housing 3.

In the 2 B is a sectional view of a slot, or a sectional view along the 2A shown in section line AA. In the plug-in direction of the box terminal 1, a stripped electrical conductor 100 is introduced into a plug-in opening 5. For this purpose, the plug-in opening 5 is designed to correspond to the electrical conductor 100, with a larger diameter than the area of the electrical conductor 5 provided with insulation. Further in the plug-in direction S, in the direction of the housing interior, a shoulder is shown through which the stripped conductor area extends.

In the embodiment shown, the pressure element 113, or a pressure leg 113AA of the pressure element 113, as described below in 2C shown, and is arranged perpendicular to the plugging direction S of the electrical conductor 100 between the key element 111 and the clamping region 911 of the at least one clamping leg 91. In the embodiment shown, the key element 111 and the pressure element 113 are designed as a single piece as a substantially I-shaped element. In the embodiment shown, the end of the pressure leg 113AA, which is adapted to interact with the clamping region 911, is rounded. In further embodiments, the end of the pressure leg 113AA can also be designed to be flat or planar.

By actuating the button element 111, the end of the pressure leg 113AA is pressed directly against the clamping area 911 of the clamping leg 91, to transfer the clamping leg 91 into the removal position in order to be able to remove the inserted electrical conductor 100, opposite to the plugging direction S, from the socket terminal.

Furthermore, it is shown that the spring element 9 has a support leg 93 which supports the spring element 9 in the housing 3 relative to the housing 3 and to which the clamping leg 91 can be elastically deflected.

In the 2C is a sectional view of a slot, or a sectional view along the 2 B shown cutting line BB.

Shown in the 2C a view of the front side of the housing 3. The end of the conductor 100 rests against an inner wall of the housing 3. Furthermore, the U-shaped design of the pressure element 113 is shown, wherein two opposing pressure legs 113AA, 113AB are arranged on both sides of the electrical conductor 100 and simultaneously press against the clamping area 911 when the key element 11 is actuated. As can be seen from the 2C As can be seen, the two pressure legs 113AA, 113AB are arranged perpendicular to the plug-in direction of the electrical conductor 100 on the button element 111 and press independently of one another, in the viewing direction left and right, on the clamping area 911 of the clamping leg 91, when transferred to the removal position.

In the 2D is a sectional view along the 2 B shown cutting line CC.

In the embodiment shown, the contact element 7 is designed like a comb and has a contact tooth 71A, 71B for each electrical conductor. The contact element 7 shown is designed in one piece and can thus be designed as a stamped part. As shown, the individual contact teeth 71A, 71B have a greater width than the diameter of the associated insertion openings 5A, 5B. It is also shown that the contact teeth 71A, 71B extend in the insertion direction of the electrical conductors in order to electrically contact one of the electrical conductors when the electrical conductor is clamped onto the respective contact tooth 71A, 71B by the spring element.

Furthermore, the previously published 2C shown pressure legs 113AA, 113AB, which are arranged opposite one another and spaced apart from one another. An electrical conductor is introduced into the space formed by a pair of pressure legs 113AA, 113AB and 113BA, 113BB.

List of reference symbols

1

Socket clamp

3

Housing

5, 5A - 5N

Plug opening

7

Contact element

71A, 71B

Contact tooth

9

Spring element

91, 91A - 91N

Clamping leg

911, 911A - 911N

Clamping range

93

Support leg

11

Actuator

111, 111A-111N

Key element

113, 113A-113N

Pressure element

113AA - 113NB

Pressure leg

13

Film hinge

100, 100A - 100N

Electrical conductor

S

Plug direction

A-A, B-B, C-C

Cutting line

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 accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 20303537 U1 [0004]
• EP 3134942 A1 [0005]

Claims (15)

Box terminal (1) for connecting a plurality of electrical conductors (100, 100A - 100N), comprising: a housing (3) which has at least one plug-in opening (5, 5A - 5N) for each electrical conductor (100, 100A - 100N); a contact element (7) which is arranged in the housing (3) for electrically contacting and connecting the electrical conductors (100, 100A - 100N); a spring element (9) which is introduced into the housing (3), and wherein the spring element (9) has a clamping leg (91, 91A - 91N) for each electrical conductor (100, 100A - 100N), which is adapted to bring the electrical conductor (100, 100A - 100N) into contact with the contact element (7); and an actuating element (11) which is adapted to transfer at least one clamping leg (91, 91A - 91N) against a spring force of the spring element (9) from a clamping position into a removal position, characterized in that the actuating element (11) has at least one key element (111, 111A - 111N) which is arranged on the housing (3), and at least one pressure element (113, 113A - 113N) which is arranged between the at least one key element (111, 111A - 111N) and a clamping region (911, 911A - 911N) of the clamping leg (91, 91A - 91N) with the electrical conductor (100, 100A- 100N) and is adapted to move the clamping leg (91, 91A - 91N) into the removal position. Socket terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one button element (111, 111A - 111N) is arranged on the housing (3) so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis. Socket terminal (1) after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the at least one key element (111, 111A- 111N) is connected to the housing (3) via a film hinge (13). Can clamp (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring element (9) has a support leg (93) which is supported relative to the housing (3) and to which the clamping legs (91, 91A - 91N) can be elastically deflected. Box terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure element (113, 113A - 113N) is designed in a pin-like manner and is arranged perpendicular to a plug-in direction, S, of the electrical conductor (100, 100A - 100N) between the at least one button element (111, 111A - 111N) and the clamping region (911, 911A - 911N) of the at least one clamping leg (91, 91A - 91N). Can terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure element (113, 113A - 113N) is U-shaped and has at least two pressure legs (113AA - 113NB), in particular two pressure legs (113AA - 113NB) arranged parallel to one another. Socket terminal (1) after Claim 6 , characterized in that the pressure legs (113AA - 113NB) are arranged at a distance from one another and form a gap for the electrical conductor (100, 100A - 100N) between the pressure legs (113AA - 113NB). Socket terminal (1) after Claim 7 , characterized in that the pressure legs (113AA - 113NB) are adapted to press simultaneously on different sections of the clamping area (911, 911A- 911N) of the clamping leg (91, 91A - 91N) when the button element (111, 111A - 111N) is actuated. Can terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure element (113, 113A - 113N) is formed in one piece or integrally with the button element (111, 111A- 111N). Box terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (3) has a plurality of plug-in openings (5, 5A - 5N), each for an electrical conductor (100, 100A - 100N), and the actuating element (11) has at least one button element (111, 111A - 111N) and at least one pressure element (113, 113A - 113N) for each plug-in opening (5, 5A - 5N) in order to transfer a respective clamping leg (91, 91A - 91N) from the clamping position into the removal position against the spring force of the spring element (9). Socket terminal (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 9 , characterized in that the housing (3) has a plurality of plug openings (5, 5A - 5N) each for an electrical conductor (100, 100A - 100N) and the actuating element (11) has at least one pressure element (113, 113A - 113N) for each plug opening (5, 5A - 5N), which is arranged between the button element (111, 111A - 111N) and the respective clamping leg (91, 91A - 91N) in order to press the clamping legs (91, 91A - 91N) against the spring force of the spring element (9) from the clamping position to the removal position. Can terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring element (9) has a Z-shaped cross-section. Can terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring element (9) is formed in one piece. Box terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact element (7) is designed like a comb and has a contact tooth (71A, 71B) for each electrical conductor (100, 100A - 100N) for contacting the respective electrical conductor (100, 100A - 100N). Can terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one plug opening (5, 5A - 5N) is funnel-shaped.

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