Electrical terminal

Electrical connection terminal.

The invention relates to an electrical connection terminal.

The electrical connection terminals are known in multiple embodiments. The connection terminals can be configured for the connection of an electrical conductor to a circuit board, such as the so-called print terminal or for the connection with another conductor as a terminal strip.

The so-called loop-shaped pressure springs, the so-called tension spring terminals, as well as U-shaped or V-shaped pressure springs, the so-called pin springs, can be used as pressure springs. insert the rigid conductors or conductors provided with terminal sleeves of the wires directly, that is, without having to previously open the clamping point with a tool. In the known loop-shaped traction springs, the conductor to be connected from the clamp pin against a current bar is pulled - corresponding to its name. In contrast, the conductor to be connected by means of the clamping pin against the current bar or an area of ​​the metal part is pressed into U-shaped or V-shaped pressure springs.

To drive the terminal with traction spring, a drive tool is needed, for example a screwdriver, which is inserted to open the terminal in a drive cavity. Then tension the tip of the screwdriver the tension spring, which opens the clamping point. A conductor to be connected can then be introduced through a recess in the clamp pin and is held after removing the drive tool through the lower edge of the recess against a current bar connected to the traction spring. In this regard, connection terminals are also known in which an actuating element is supported on the housing, to facilitate the opening and closing of the terminal with traction spring. The drive element can be configured in the form of a lever, which is arranged on an outer surface of the housing surrounding the pressure spring, whereby an operator can easily reach the drive element and operate the same. So that the user can easily detect on which connection terminal and with which on which drive element it should operate, it presents the connection terminal on the surface of the drive element, which leaves the housing, usually a badge or label. The badge may be configured, for example, to enable an association of the connection terminal with the conductors to be connected. However, it is an inconvenience in this regard that when the drive element is open the user cannot read the badge, since in this state the operating element is folded up and the surface of the drive element is therefore turned outwardly. the visual area of ​​the operator.

From DE 102 37 701 A1, a connection terminal is also known, in particular for thin-wire electrical conductors. The connection terminal has a pressure spring, arranged in a housing with introduction openings. The housing then has an upper part of the housing with external retention elements. The fixed retention of a conductor can then be accomplished by the movement of a drive lever.

From EP 10 2007 050 936 A1 a connection terminal is known for the electrical connection of conductors with a housing of insulating material. At least one spring terminal block connection is housed in the insulating material housing, in which a conductor to be inserted into an opening for inserting the conductor into the insulating material housing by means of the force of the spring can be trapped. The connection terminal also includes in each case an actuation element that interacts with the force-tightening connection of the spring, which is housed in the insulating material housing such that it can rotate on a rotation axis and has an actuation segment. which relies on the spring force clamp connection, to open or close the spring force clamp connection in rotational movements. A wall segment is also provided in the area of ​​the drive arm of the drive element, which can be used as a labeling surface.

The invention therefore has as a basic task to provide an improved electrical connection terminal such that it allows at all times an easy association of the connection terminal.

The solution to the task is achieved within the framework of the invention by means of the features of claim 1. Advantageous configurations of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims.

The electrical connection terminal corresponding to the invention has a pressure spring with a metal part and with a housing that houses the pressure spring and the metal part and has at least one conductor introduction opening, being provided to open and close the connection terminal a drive element supported by the housing, the drive element presenting a handle by means of which the drive element can be moved to an open state and to a closed state. Within the framework of the invention, a labeling surface is provided for the connection terminal badge, which is arranged such that the labeling surface is visible to a user at all times.

The labeling surface is preferably a flat surface disposed on the connection terminal, which can be labeled by color coding or by one or more characters or symbols. This labeling surface is arranged in the connection terminal such that a user can see and recognize the labeling at all times. At all times it means that the labeling surface is visible to a user even when the connection terminal is arranged for example in a row of several connection terminals and / or the connection terminal is housed inside, for example in a control cabinet In addition, the labeling surface is also visible when the connection terminal is opened or closed by means of the drive element. The labeling surface is not covered at any time by the drive element. Preferably the labeling surface can be labeled directly on the labeling surface, without requiring additional marking plates or receptacles for such marking plates.

According to a preferred configuration of the invention, the labeling surface is arranged on an outer surface of the housing. The outer surface of the housing is the surface of the housing leaving the pressure spring arranged in the housing. Because the labeling surface is arranged on an outer surface of the housing, no additional component is needed for the labeling surface.

Preferably the labeling surface is arranged on the outer surface of the housing on which when the drive element is closed, the handle of the drive element is supported. The handle of the actuating element is preferably arranged on the lateral surface of the housing freely accessible and also visible to the user even when the connection terminal is housed inside. Because the labeling surface is also provided on the outer surface on which the drive element is provided, the user can easily operate the connection terminal and it is possible for the user at a glance to associate the connection terminal with the conductor to connect and operate the connection terminal at the same time using the drive element. An expensive search of the corresponding connection terminal badge can thus be avoided first before the connection terminal can be operated by means of the drive element.

Within the framework of the invention, the actuation element has a recess, which is configured such that when the actuation element is closed, the labeling surface fits into the recess. The recess is configured as a passage opening and is arranged in the handle of the drive element, which rests on the outer surface of the housing. The recess preferably has the shape of the inscription surface, whereby the inscription surface can fit exactly into the recess. With this, the user can see the labeling surface at all times, both when the drive element is closed and when the drive element is open.

The labeling surface can also be labeled, according to another advantageous configuration of the invention, by inkjet printer, plotter or heat transfer procedure. Thus the labeling surface can be labeled easily and quickly.

The invention will now be described in more detail on the basis of a preferred embodiment and with reference to the attached drawings.

It shows in

1 shows a perspective representation of two electrical connection terminals corresponding to the invention

arranged next to each other, representing a connection terminal in the open state and a terminal of

connection in the closed state,

figure 2 a perspective representation of both connection terminals according to figure 1, both in the closed state,

Figure 3 an electrical connection terminal in a fully open state, in side view,

figure 4 the connection terminal of figure 3 when turning to the second closed position,

figure 5 the connection terminal of figure 3 in the closed state,

figure 6 the connection terminal of figure 3 at the beginning of the opening process, and

Figure 7 the connection terminal of Figure 3 in the almost completely open state.

The figures show an electrical connection terminal 1, which basically consists of a pressure spring 2 and a metal part 3. Both the pressure spring 2 and also the metal part 3 can be configured here as simple stamped and folded parts, not it being necessary that the same materials be used for the pressure spring 2 and the metal part 3. The pressure spring 2 and the metal part 3 are arranged together in a housing 5 which has a conduit introduction opening 4 and which is composed of an insulating material, in particular plastic.

The pressure spring 2 has a clamping pin 6, a driving pin 7 and a back 8 that joins together both pins 6, 7, forming the pin 6 with the metal part 3 a fixing point 9 for a conductor 10 to be connected, to which the insulation has been removed and which is only shown in Figure 3. In the housing 5, a support pin 11 is configured, on which the pressure spring 2 is supported such that it can rotate so that the pressure spring 2 can rotate from a first opening position (figures 1 and 3) to a second closing position (figures 2, 5 and 6). In the first position of the pressure spring 2 an electric conductor 10 can be introduced to which the insulation has been removed and introduced through the conductor introduction opening 4 at the fixing point 9, without the clamping pin 6 have to deviate against its spring force or the elastic force of the pressure spring 2. In the second position of the pressure spring 2, the electric conductor 10 is trapped electrically between the end of the clamp pin 6 and the metal part 3, the clamp pin 6 being deviated from its resting state.

The operation of the electrical connection terminal 1 is thus carried out in a particularly favorable way for the user, as an actuation element 12 is supported on the housing 5 on a second conductive journal 13 such that it can rotate. If the drive element 12 is rotated from the open position shown in Figure 1 to its second closed position shown in Figure 2, then the pressure spring 2 rotates due to the rotation of the drive element 12 from its first position until his second position. The electrical connection terminal 1 can thus be closed by pressing down the supported actuating element 12 such that it can rotate, as well as being reopened by a rotation of the actuating element 12 when the actuating element 12 is rotated in the opposite direction. Figures 3 and 5 show the closing process of the pressure spring 2 in three consecutive instants, while Figures 6 and 7 show the opening process in two instants. In the configuration and orientation of the electrical connection terminal 1 shown in Figures 1 to 7, the actuating element 12 must be rotated to close clockwise and to open counterclockwise. of the clock, that is, the actuating element 12 is pressed down to close and turned up to open. To facilitate the opening and closing of the actuating element 12 to a user, the actuating element 12 has a handle 27, configured in the form of a lever.

To mark and indicate the connection terminal 1, a labeling surface 28 is provided, positioned such that the labeling surface 28 is visible to a user at all times. The labeling surface 28 is preferably a flat surface disposed on the connection terminal 1, which by means of a color code or by one or more characters or symbols can be labeled directly on the labeling surface. This labeling surface 28 is arranged on the connection terminal 1 such that a user can see and recognize the labeling surface 28 and with it the sign 29 at all times. An example of such a sign 29 on the marking surface 28 is shown by way of figures 1 and 2.

The labeling surface 28 is arranged on an outer surface of the housing 5. The external surface of the housing 5 is the surface of the housing 5 emerging from the pressure spring 2 disposed in the housing 5. The labeling surface 28 is arranged in this regard, on the outer surface of the housing 5 in which, when the drive element 12 is closed, the handle 27 of the drive element 12 is supported. The actuation element 12 also has a recess 30, which is configured such that when the actuation element 12 is closed, the marking surface 28 fits into the recess 30. The recess 30 is preferably configured as a passage opening and is arranged on the handle 27 of the drive element 12 that rests on the outer surface of the housing 5. The recess 30 preferably has the shape of the inscription surface 28, whereby the inscription surface 28 can fit exactly into the recess 30. Thus the user sees the inscription surface 28 at all times, both when the actuating element 12 is closed as well as when the drive element 12 is open. In the area of ​​the labeling surface 28, the housing 5 is preferably configured in the form of a retention appendix, such that the retention appendix can fit into the recess 30 of the handle 27 of the actuating element 12. The labeling surface 28 It can be labeled by an inkjet printer, a plotter or by the heat transfer procedure. With this, the labeling 29 of the labeling surface 28 can be carried out simply and quickly.

As can be seen in particular in Figures 2 and 5, the pressure spring 2 is locked in its second position, whereby the pressure spring 2 cannot rotate again towards the first position after connecting an electric conductor 10 due to its position such that it can rotate and due to its elastic force. To this end, the actuator pin 7 of the pressure spring 2 has at its end away from the clamp pin 6 a retaining segment 14 folded in the direction towards the clamp pin 6. Correspondingly, it also presents the metal part 3, in addition to a clamping segment 15, a retention segment 16 bent thereon in the direction of the drive pin 7. In the connection terminal 1 shown in the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 7, the interlocking is carried out between the retaining segment 14 of the drive pin 7 and the retaining segment 16 of the metal part 3, two projections 17 protruding laterally outwardly are formed in the retaining segment 14 of the drive pin 7 and the retaining segment 16 of the metal part 3 having two bent ends 18 folded apart. When the pressure spring 2 according to Figure 2 is interlocked, the projections 17 are fitted under the retaining ends 18, such that the pressure spring 2 is held in its closed position and cannot rotate returning to its open position.

As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 1 and 2, there are two retention pins 20 separated from one another by means of a slot 19 in the retention segment 14 of the drive pin 7, being configured in each of both retention pins 20 in each case one of both projections 17. By means of the configuration of two separate clamping pins 20, the deflection of both retention pins 20 is facilitated by fitting the pressure spring 2 in the second position. In addition, the ends of both retention pins 20 are bent inwards, that is, in the direction towards the holding pin 6, with which the retention pins 20, when the drive pin 7 is pressed down by means of the drive element 12 , cannot be tilted at retaining ends 18.

To facilitate the opening of the pressure spring 2 and thereby the rotation of the pressure spring 2 from the second position to the first position, the actuation element 2 has an actuation wall 21 and two unlocking segments 22, configured laterally together with the drive wall 21. The drive wall 21 then extends in the plane of the groove 19 configured in the retaining segment 14 of the drive pin 7, such that the drive wall 21, by turning the pressure spring 2 from the closed position to The open position can be inserted in slot 19. By rotating the pressure spring 2 from the closed position to the open position, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, both drive segments 22 are pressed first against both retention pins 20 of the retention segment 14, with what the interlocking between the projections 17 and the retention ends 18 is released.

When a conductor 10 is inserted into the electrical connection terminal 1, whereby the clamping pin 6 is deflected against the elastic force of the pressure spring 2, the pressure spring 2 rotates after the interlocking is released, due to its elastic force, first by itself to a partially open position, as shown in Figure 7. To rotate the pressure spring to the fully open position shown in Figures 1 and 3, the drive element 12 must be turned upward, that is, in the orientation of the connection terminal 1 represented in Figures 3 a 7 counterclockwise. Then, the drive wall 21 of the drive element 12 slides through the groove 19 in the retaining segment 14 of the drive pin 7 until the end of the drive wall 21 collides internally in the drive pin 7, with which, by turning the actuator 12 further, also rotates the pressure spring 2 further to the fully open position. The fully open position of the pressure spring 2 is reached when the pressure spring 2 abuts its drive pin 7 in a stop 23 configured in the housing 5. In this way the fully open position of the pressure spring is easily recognizable. 2, even by the assembler.

The connection terminal 1 corresponding to the invention of the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures is a print terminal (for printed circuit) for connecting a conductor 10 to a circuit board. To this end, the metallic part 3 has several welding connection prints 24, in the exemplary embodiment shown four, which are joined together forming a single piece with the metal part 3. The metal piece 3 can thus be manufactured as a single piece generated by stamping and bending from a conductive flat material. Likewise, the pressure spring 2 can be carried from a flat material by stamping and bending to the shape represented in the figures.

For a simple and convenient operation of the actuating element 12, it has a handle segment 26 protruding from the front surface 25 of the housing 5. The actuating element 12 can thus be simply rotated with one or two fingers - according to the Figures 3 to 5 - from the first position to the second position, that is, it can be closed, as well as opened with one or two fingers - according to Figures 6 and 7 - from

<dl><dt>the second position to the first position. </dt><dd /></dl>

<dl><dt>Reference List </dt><dd /></dl>

<dl><dt>Connection terminal </dt><dd> 1 </dd></dl>

<dl><dt>pressure spring </dt><dd> 2 </dd></dl>

<dl><dt>metallic piece</dt><dd> 3 </dd></dl>

<dl><dt>driver introduction opening </dt><dd> 4 </dd></dl>

<dl><dt>Case</dt><dd> 5 </dd></dl>

<dl><dt>clamp pin </dt><dd> 6 </dd></dl>

<dl><dt>drive pin </dt><dd> 7 </dd></dl>

<dl><dt>back</dt><dd> 8 </dd></dl>

<dl><dt>set point</dt><dd> 9 </dd></dl>

<dl><dt>electric conductor </dt><dd> 10 </dd></dl>

support journal 11 drive element 12 driver journal 13 drive pin retaining segment 14 5 clamping segment 15 metal part retention segment 16 protrusion 17 interlocking ends 18 groove 19 10 retaining pin 20 drive wall 21 unlocking segment 22 stop 23 welding connection print 24 15 front surface 25 handle segment 26 handle 27 labeling surface 28 labeling 29 20 recess 30