EP3207594B1 - Terminal device having a busbar - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a clamping device.

Such a clamping device may in particular be designed as a so-called jumper terminal, which are used for the wiring of equipment and serve to distribute one or more electrical potentials. Usually, a multiplicity of electrical lines can be connected to a jumper terminal, with different jumper terminal connections lying at one or more potentials.

A clamping device of the present type has a housing which forms at least one slot. At the at least one slot, a contact part is arranged, to which at least one electrical line for electrical contact with the contact part can be infected. On the housing, a bus bar is also arranged, which is electrically connected to the contact part and extends with a busbar section along a contour line.

Rangierklemmen are for example from the EP 2 393 160 A1 , the DE 10 2007 059 640 A1 , the WO 2009/052949 A1 and the WO 2010/091984 A1 known.

At one of the EP 2 393 160 A1 Known terminal device in the form of a jumper terminal each have a plurality of slots are formed on different sides of a housing housing, on each of which a contact part is arranged. The slots on one side of the housing are connected in pairs via busbars with the slots on the other side of the housing, so that the slots are in pairs at the same potential.

In such terminal devices in the form of jumper terminals, the fundamental problem is that the terminal devices are exposed to changing environmental conditions during operation when used, for example, on an industrial plant. Thus, temperature changes can occur at a terminal device, which leads to a spatial expansion of the different components of the clamping device, which can be problematic especially if different components expand in different ways due to different thermal expansion coefficients and thus there is a spatial change in position of the components to each other ,

Due to its elongated extension along a contour line, a busbar usually expands along the contour line. Expands when heated, for example, the housing to which the busbar is arranged in a different way than the busbar, because the coefficient of thermal expansion of the example made of plastic housing differs from the coefficient of thermal expansion of the material of the metallic busbar, the position of the busbar to the contact parts with which the busbar is connected, change, which can lead to a deterioration of the electrical transition between the busbar and the contact parts.

For this reason, for example, in the terminal device of EP 2 393 160 A1 Provided approximately centrally on each busbar, a compensation area with sections of the busbar extending at an angle to one another, which serve as a compensation device for compensating relative changes in length.

At one of the DE 10 2007 059 640 A1 Known terminal device has a busbar perpendicular to a busbar section adjoining end portions which are fixedly connected to contact parts.

At one of the WO 2010/091 984 A1 known clamping device connect to a central busbar section obliquely extending end portions which establish a fixed connection with arranged at the end portions contact parts.

Object of the present invention is to provide a clamping device available that allows a simple, inexpensive, space-saving way compensation for relative changes in position due to different thermal expansion coefficients of components of the terminal device and ensure a secure, reliable electrical connection of a busbar with associated contact parts at slots can.

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

Accordingly, to the bus bar portion includes an end portion which extends along an oblique direction at an oblique angle to the contour line and is movable along the contour line relative to the contact part.

This is based on the idea of compensating for changes in position due to expansion of components of the different thermal expansion coefficient clamping means by moving the end portion of the bus bar to the contact part to which the bus bar is electrically connected. The end portion extends along an oblique angle at an oblique angle to the contour line along which the (middle) bus bar portion of the bus bar is elongate. The busbar section in this case represents the line section of the busbar, which extends, for example, between different slots of the terminal device and thus provides a potential distribution.

Upon a heating of the clamping device, a length change along the contour line will occur, in particular at the busbar section extending along the associated contour line, which results in the end section adjoining the busbar section moving along the contour line relative to the contact part, which owing to the mobility of the End portion to the contact part readily possible and in particular does not lead to a deterioration of the electrical connection between the end portion and the contact part. The fact that the end portion extends obliquely to the contour line, the end portion is pressed in a change in length of the busbar due to expansion when heated along the contour line rather in the direction of the contact part, without the electrical connection between the end portion and the contact part dissolves.

The end portion is extended along an oblique direction at an oblique angle to the contour line and thus obliquely to the busbar section. The oblique angle can in this case, for example, have a value between 20 ° and 70 °, preferably between 30 ° and 45 °, for example between 35 ° and 40 °.

The oblique angle can in this case, for example, depending on a predetermined insertion, in which a line can be inserted into a slot of the housing, be selected. If a slot is configured, for example, such that a line can be inserted into the slot in a plug-in direction that is oblique to the slot assigned to the slot, then the end section is preferably extended to the contact part associated with the slot such that the skew direction is perpendicular facing the insertion direction. Both the Insertion direction and the oblique direction thus describe an oblique angle to the contour line and are arranged at right angles to each other.

In one embodiment, the contact part has two contact pins, between which the end section of the busbar is arranged in an electrically contacting manner. The contact pins protrude, for example along the insertion direction of a bracket of the contact part and form between them a gap in which the end portion is arranged. The end portion of the busbar is in this case movable in the space between the contact pins along the contour line such that at a longitudinal extension of the busbar relative to the housing, the end portion along the contour line can be pressed into the space between the contact pins, without thereby the electrical contact between the end portion and the contact pin is impaired.

The busbar and the contact part, which serve to distribute the potential between connected lines, are expediently made of an electrically conductive material, in particular a metal, for example copper. In contrast, the housing is expediently made of an electrically insulating material, for example plastic.

In a specific embodiment, the busbar has two end sections, which connect to the busbar section on different sides and serve for the electrical connection to two contact parts of two slots. The busbar extends with its busbar section along an associated contour line and is used for potential distribution between both sides of the busbar arranged slots.

In a terminal device in the form of a jumper terminal in multi-level design several busbars at different heights for potential distribution between pairs offset from each other, located on different floors slots are arranged. Each busbar extends here with its busbar section along an associated contour line, wherein the busbars are spaced apart in the vertical direction perpendicular to the contour lines. The busbars may have different lengths depending on the exact design of the terminal device along their associated contour lines.

The housing has, for example, at least one first slot on a first side of the housing of the clamping device and at least one second slot on another, second side of the housing of the clamping device. For example, a plurality of first slots may be provided on the first side of the housing and a plurality of second slots on the second side of the housing, wherein in each case a first slot and a second slot are assigned to a contour line and electrically connected to one another via a busbar for the purpose of potential distribution.

Such a clamping device in the form of a jumper terminal, for example, have a fir-tree-like shape, in which an upper busbar along its associated contour line is shorter than a lower busbar.

The busbar is fixed to the housing, for example, made of an electrically insulating material, for example mechanically latched to the housing. The busbar can be formed for example by a round conductor, which allows a simple, cost-effective production of the busbar with its obliquely angled end portions and allows easy mounting of the busbar to the housing.

Fig. 1

eine Seitenansicht einer Klemmeneinrichtung in Form einer Rangierklemme;

Fig. 2

eine vergrößerte Ansicht eines Ausschnitts der Ansicht gemäß Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine vergrößerte, perspektivische Ansicht der Klemmeneinrichtung im Bereich eines Kontaktteils an einem Steckplatz; und

Fig. 4

eine vergrößerte Ansicht eines Ausschnitts der Ansicht gemäß Fig. 3.

The idea underlying the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the figures. Show it:

Fig. 1

a side view of a clamping device in the form of a jumper terminal;

Fig. 2

an enlarged view of a section of the view according to Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

an enlarged perspective view of the clamping device in the region of a contact part at a slot; and

Fig. 4

an enlarged view of a section of the view according to Fig. 3 ,

Fig. 1 1 shows a side view of a clamping device 1 in the form of a jumper terminal, in which a plurality of first slots 100 are arranged on a first housing side 10 and a plurality of second slots 110 on a second housing side 11. The clamping device 1 has a housing 12 made of an electrically insulating material, in particular plastic, and can for example, be plugged in the manner of a terminal together with other terminal devices to a common DIN rail to create in this way a terminal arrangement with a variety of different terminals.

At the slots 100, 110 of the terminal device 1 one or more electrical lines 3 can be infected in each case. A line 3 can in this case be inserted with a line end 30 in a plug-in direction E1, E2 in a slot 100, 110 and passes when plugged into a slot 100, 110 in electrical contact with a contact part 13 at the respective slot 100, 110th

In the terminal device 1 according to Fig. 1 the contact parts 13 of the slots 100 on the first side of the housing 10 are each connected in pairs via busbars 2 with contact parts 13 of the slots 110 on the second side of the housing 11. The busbars 2 are used for potential distribution between the slots 100 on the first side of the housing 10 and the slots 110 on the second side of the housing 11, extending along different contour lines L1-L8 and are - in the vertical direction Z perpendicular to the contour lines L1-L8 - in pairs spaced a distance H from each other.

In the illustrated embodiment, there are eight pairs of slots 100, 110, each lying on a busbar 2 at the same potential.

A line 3 can be inserted with its line end 30 in a plug-in direction E1 obliquely to the contour lines L1-L8 in a slot 100 on the first side of the housing 10. The insertion of a line 3 in a slot 110 on the second side of the housing 11, however, takes place - mirror-symmetrical to the vertical direction Z - in a plug-in direction E2, which is also directed obliquely to the contour lines L1-L8.

Both the insertion direction E1 for the first housing side 10 and the insertion direction E2 for the second housing side 11 describe an angle α to the contour lines L1-L8.

The busbars 2 extend with a middle busbar section 20 along a respectively associated contour line L1-L8. To the middle busbar section 20, via which the busbar 2 mechanically fixed to the housing 12, for example, is mechanically locked to the housing 12, close on both sides end portions 21, 22, which establish an electrical connection with the contact parts 13 of the respective associated slots 100, 110.

How out Fig. 1 in conjunction with the enlarged view according to Fig. 2 it can be seen, extends each end portion 21, 22 along an associated oblique direction S at an angle β obliquely to the busbar 2 associated contour line L1-L8. The angle β may be, for example, between 20 ° and 70 °, in particular between 30 ° and 45 °. The angle β at which the oblique direction S of an associated end portion 21 extends to an associated contour line L1-L8 and the angle α at which the insertion direction E1, E2 for the respective slot 100, 110 extends to the contour line L1-L8 , add up to 90 °. The insertion direction E1, E2 for a slot 100, 110 is thus perpendicular to the oblique direction S, along which the slot 100, 110 associated end portion 21 22 is directed.

How out Fig. 2 to Fig. 4 can be seen, each end portion 21, 22 in a gap 133 between the contact pin 130 of the contact part 13 a. The contact pins 130 protrude from a bracket 131 along the associated insertion direction E1, E2 and are contacted via the bracket 131 electrically connected to a contact spring 132. When inserting a line 3 into a slot 100, 110, the line end 30 comes in electrical contact with the contact spring 132 and thus electrically contacts the contact part 13th

The contact part 13 is mechanically held on a holding part 14, which surrounds the associated end portion 21, 22 with pin 140 and the contact part 13 mechanically to the associated slot 100, 110 determines. A retaining leg 141 holds the contact spring 132 in position.

Due to the fact that the end sections 21, 22 on both sides of the middle busbar section 20 each extend obliquely at an angle β to the busbar section 20, a reliable electrical connection is provided between the busbar 2 and the respective associated contact members 13. The end sections 21, 22 are in this case arranged in the intermediate space 133 between the pins 130 of the respective associated contact part 13, that each end section 21, 22 along the contour line L1-L8, along which the busbar section 20 extends, at least to some extent in the Interspace 133 is movable.

If, during operation of the clamping device 1, heating occurs on the different components of the clamping device 1, different changes in length may occur at the different components due to different thermal expansion coefficients. Due to the longitudinal extent along the contour lines L1-L8, it is preferable for the busbars 2 to change in length along the contour lines L1-L8. However, such a change in length does not lead to an impairment of the electrical connection of the busbars 2 with the associated contact parts 13, because the end portions 21, 22 can move at least over a certain distance relative to the contact parts 13 and upon expansion of the busbars 2 in the interstices 133rd between the pins 130 of the respective associated contact parts 13 are pressed.

If there is an extension A along the contour line L1-L8 on a busbar 2 (see Fig. 4 ), so an end portion 21, 22 moves at least slightly in the gap 133 between the pin 130 of the associated contact part 13 and is pressed into the gap 133 in the extension direction A, so that the electrical connection between the end portion 21, 22 and the contact part Reinforced, it comes in any case, but not to a deterioration of the electrical transition between the contact part 13 and the busbar 2.

How out 3 and 4 can be seen, the busbar 2 is integrally formed with their different sections 20-22 by a circular conductor. The busbar 2 is, as well as the associated contact parts 13, made of a metallic, electrically good conductive material, such as copper.

The idea underlying the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can in principle be realized even in completely different types of embodiments. In particular, busbars of the type described here can also be used in other terminal devices as jumper terminals.

The construction of such a clamping device is not necessarily mirror-symmetrical.

In addition, not necessarily multiple busbars are available. In principle, a clamping device can also use only a single busbar with one or more end sections.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

jumper terminal

10, 11

case side

100, 110

slot

12

casing

13

contact part

130

spigot

131

hanger

132

contact spring

133

gap

14

holding part

140

spigot

141

holding leg

2

conductor rail

20

Busbar section

21, 22

end

3

management

30

cable end

α, β

corner

A

extension direction

E1, E2

insertion

H

distance

L1-L8

contour

S

oblique direction

X

Horizontal direction

Z

vertical direction

Claims (10)

1. Terminal device comprising

   - a housing which has at least one insertion slot,

   - a contact part which is arranged at the at least one insertion slot and to which at least one electrical line for making electrical contact with the contact part can be plug-connected, and

   - at least one busbar which is arranged on the housing, is electrically connected to the contact part and extends, by way of one busbar section, along a vertical line, wherein an end section (21, 22) adjoins the busbar section (20), which end section extends along an oblique direction (S) at an oblique angle (β) in relation to the vertical line (L1-L8),
   characterized in that the end section (21, 22) can be moved relative to the contact part (13) along the vertical line (L1-L8),
   in that each end section (21, 22) is situated in an intermediate space (133) between contact pins (130) of the contact part (13), wherein the end sections (21, 22) are arranged in the intermediate space (133) between the contact pins (130) of the respectively associated contact part (13) in such a way that each end section (21, 22) can be moved at least to a certain extent in the intermediate space (133) along the vertical line (L1-L8) along which the busbar section (20) extends, and
   in that the contact part (13) is mechanically held on a holding part (14) which engages around the associated end section (21, 22) by way of pins (140) and mechanically secures the contact part (13) to the associated insertion slot (100, 110).
2. Terminal device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the oblique angle (β) is between 20° and 70°.
3. Terminal device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one line (3) can be inserted into the at least one insertion slot (100, 110) along an insertion direction (E1, E2) which points obliquely in relation to the vertical line (L1-L8) which is associated with the at least one insertion slot (100, 110).
4. Terminal device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the end section (21, 22) with the oblique direction (S) extends perpendicular to the insertion direction (E1, E2).
5. Terminal device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact pins (130) project perpendicularly in relation to the oblique direction (S) from a clip (131) of the contact part (13) and between them form an intermediate space (133) in which the end section (21, 22) is arranged.
6. Terminal device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the busbar (2) has two end sections (21, 22) which adjoin the busbar section (20) on different sides.
7. Terminal device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the terminal device (1) has a plurality of busbars (2) which each have a busbar section (20) which extends along a vertical line (L1-L8) and are spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction (Z) perpendicularly in relation to the vertical lines (L1-L8).
8. Terminal device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (12) has at least one first insertion slot (100) on a first housing side (10) of the terminal device (1) and at least one second insertion slot (110) on another, second housing side (11) of the terminal device (1).
9. Terminal device according to Claim 8, characterized in that the housing (12) has a plurality of first insertion slots (100) on the first housing side (10) and a plurality of second insertion slots (110) on the second housing side (11), wherein a first insertion slot (100) and a second insertion slot (110) are associated with one vertical line (L1-L8) in each case and are electrically connected to one another by means of a busbar (2).
10. Terminal device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the busbar (2) is formed by a round conductor.

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