Terminal block for connecting electrical conductors

• US 20080032566A1
• Filed: 04/03/2007
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MC Technology GmbH (METZ CONNECT GmbH)
• Original Assignee: MC Technology GmbH (METZ CONNECT GmbH)
• Inventors: Walter, Frank, Stadler, Hermann
• Granted Patent: US 7,462,076 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/721
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/05 the connecting locations having different types of direct connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/112 forked sockets having two legs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/4821 Single-blade spring
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/4833 Sliding arrangements, e.g. sliding button
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/485 Single busbar common to multiple springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/24 Terminal blocks

Abstract

This invention concerns a terminal block for connecting electrical conductors with a first clamping spring element (20) and a second clamping spring element (30) for clamping the electrical conductors, with the first and the second clamping spring elements (20, 30) being displaced vertically with respect to each other and with the two clamping spring elements (20, 30) being electrically connected to each other whereby the two clamping spring elements (20, 30) are electrically connected via an essentially S-shaped contact element (10) into which the two clamping spring elements (20, 30) can be inserted from one side.

Claims

1. Terminal block for connecting electrical conductors with a first clamping spring element (20) and a second clamping spring element (30) for clamping the electrical conductors, with the first and the second clamping spring elements (20, 30) being displaced vertically with respect to each other and with the two clamping spring elements (20, 30) being electrically connected to each other, characterized in that the two clamping spring elements (20, 30) are electrically connected to one another via an essentially S-shaped contact element (10) into which the two clamping spring elements (20, 30) can be inserted from one side.

2. Terminal block according to claim 1, characterized in that the S-shaped contact element (10) is made of an electrically conductive metal.

3. Terminal block according to claim 1, characterized in that the S-shaped contact element (10) is made of one piece.

4. Terminal block according to claim 1, characterized in that the S-shaped contact element (10) is produced as punched flexural component.

5. Terminal block according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and the second clamping spring elements (20, 30) are positioned one above the other.

6. Terminal block according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping spring elements (20, 30) are configured as leaf springs.

7. Terminal block according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping spring elements (20, 30) rest against a contact surface (11a, 11b) of the S-shaped contact element (10) with a contact surface (21, 31).

8. Terminal block according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact surface (21, 31) of the clamping spring elements (20, 30) exhibits a structure (23, 33), with which it form-fits into a correspondingly shaped structure (13a, 13b) of the contact surface of the S-shaped contact element (10).

9. Terminal block according to claim 1, characterized in that a plug-in contact (15) or a soldering pin (17) is embodied on the S-shaped contact element (10).

10. Terminal block according to claim 1, characterized in that a test surface (16) is located on the S-shaped contact element (10).

11. Terminal block according to claim 1, characterized in that a first actuator (40) is provided for the first clamping spring element (20) and a second actuator (50) for the second clamping spring element (30), whereby the first and the second actuators (40, 50) can be independently actuated.

12. Terminal block according to claim 11, characterized in that the first and the second actuators (40, 50) are designed as translational latch elements.

13. Terminal block according to claim 11, characterized in that the two actuators (40, 50) are located above the two clamping spring elements (20, 30) and one of the two actuators (50) is guided past the upper clamping spring element (20) so that it can actuate the lower clamping spring element (30).

14. Terminal block according to claim 13, characterized in that the S-shaped contact element (10) has, in its upper region (18a), a recess (12) within which the actuator (50) for the lower clamping spring element (30) is guided.

15. Terminal block according to claim 11, characterized in that the two actuators (40, 50) are arranged parallel to each other.

16. Terminal block according to claim 11, characterized in that each actuator (40, 50) has a contact surface (44, 54), with which it engages a corresponding contact surface (24, 34) of the respective clamping spring element (20, 30).

17. Terminal block according to claim 11, characterized in that each actuator (40, 50) exhibits a pressure surface (45, 55), on which pressure is applied for purposes of actuating the respective clamping spring element (20, 30).

18. Terminal block according to claim 17, characterized in that the pushbutton (45, 55) has a first recess (46a, 56a), into which the working end of a tool, preferably a screwdriver, particularly preferably a flat-bladed screwdriver, can be inserted.

19. Terminal block according to claim 18, characterized in that the first recesses (46a, 56a) in the pressure surfaces (45, 55) of the two actuators (40, 50) run parallel to each other.

20. Terminal block according to claim 17, characterized in that the pressure surfaces (45, 55) have a second recess (46b, 56b), whereby when the pressure surfaces (45, 55) of the two actuators (40, 50) are adjacent, the two second recesses (46b, 56b) of the two actuators (40, 50) are aligned with each other.

21. Terminal block according to claim 20, characterized in that the second recesses (46b, 56b) are perpendicular to the first recesses (46a, 56a).

22. Terminal block according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and the second clamping spring elements (20, 30) are assembled into a common clamp housing (60), which has at least two plug-in openings (61) for inserting the electrical conductors.

23. Terminal block according to claim 22, characterized in that a plurality of first and second clamping spring elements (20, 30) are located in the clamp housing (60).

24. Terminal block according to claim 23, characterized in that the individual pairs of clamping springs consisting of first and a second clamping spring elements (20, 30) are electrically insulated from each other.

25. Terminal block according to claim 22, characterized in that the actuators (40, 50) can be assembled by using insertion openings (62) in the clamp housing (60) and have a detent (47, 57), by means of which they are locked in the clamp housing (60).

26. Terminal block according to claim 22, characterized in that the clamp housing (60) has a test opening (63) through which the test surface (16) of the S-shaped contact element (10) is accessible.

27. Terminal block according to claim 22, characterized in that a graphic symbol (64, 65), which enables the actuator (40, 50) to be correlated with the respective clamping spring element (20, 30), is located on the clamp housing (60) in the proximity of or on the actuator (40, 50) and in the proximity of the plug-in opening (61) of the corresponding clamping spring element (20, 30).