CN115275667A

CN115275667A - Connecting assembly, connecting terminal and electronic equipment

Info

Publication number: CN115275667A
Application number: CN202210460181.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 拉尔夫·霍普曼; 马丁·格布哈特; 凯文·贝格哈恩; 亨宁·菲尔埃格
Original assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2021-04-29
Filing date: 2022-04-28
Publication date: 2022-11-01
Also published as: EP4084226A1; DE102021111072A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a connecting assembly (100) for connecting electrical conductors (300), comprising: a current bar (110); a clamping spring (112) which can be moved into a clamping position and into an open position, wherein in the clamping position of the clamping spring (112) the electrical conductor (300) to be connected is clamped in relation to the clamping section (111) of the current bar (110); a first actuating element (119) which can be guided in a first actuating direction (B1) and by means of which the clamping spring (112) can be transferred from the clamping position into the open position; and a second actuating element (128) which can be guided in a second actuating direction (B2) and by means of which the clamping spring (112) can be released from the open position.

Description

Connecting assembly, connecting terminal and electronic equipment

Technical Field

The invention relates to a connecting assembly for connecting electrical conductors, having a current bar, a clamping spring and a first actuating element which can be moved in a first actuating direction, the clamping spring being able to be moved into a clamping position and an open position, wherein in the clamping position of the clamping spring the electrical conductor to be connected is clamped against a clamping section of the current bar, by means of which first actuating element the clamping spring can be moved from the clamping position into the open position. The invention also relates to a connecting terminal and an electronic device.

Background

Such a connecting assembly usually has a clamping spring, which is designed as a clamping arm spring and which has a holding leg and a clamping leg, wherein a conductor introduced into the connecting assembly can be clamped to the current bar by means of the clamping leg of the clamping spring. In order to be able to release the connected conductor from the clamping position again, an actuating element is usually provided, which can displace the clamping spring from the clamping position into the open position. In the open position, the clamping spring can be held in its position, wherein the clamping spring can be released from the open position only by the conductor by inserting the conductor into the connection chamber of the connection assembly, so that the clamping spring can be automatically returned from the open position into the clamping position. However, this is only possible for conductors which have a sufficiently large conductor cross section so that the conductor can exert sufficient force to be able to release the latching of the clamping spring in the open position.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide a connecting component, a connecting terminal and an electronic device, which can realize simplified connection of a flexible conductor.

According to the invention, this object is solved with the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and advantageous refinements of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

The connecting assembly according to the invention is characterized by a second actuating element which can be guided in a second actuating direction and by means of which the clamping spring can be released from the open position.

Thus, according to the invention, the connecting assembly does not have only one actuating element, but two actuating elements. The two actuating elements are designed as two separate elements. Furthermore, the two actuating elements have two different functions. In particular, the first actuating element can be used to move the clamping spring from the clamping position into the open position when the connected conductor is to be released again from the clamping position. While the second actuating element enables a release of the clamping spring from the open position, so that the clamping spring can be pivoted or moved back from the open position into the clamping position. In particular, when connecting flexible conductors or conductors with a small conductor cross section or a small conductor diameter, the actuation of the clamping spring for connecting the conductors can be facilitated by means of the second actuating element. The release of the clamping spring from the open position can thus be effected by the second actuating element and does not have to be effected by the pressure exerted by the conductor on the clamping spring. The second actuating element can thus be actuated by the user if necessary, depending on the conductor to be connected. Therefore, the operation particularly when connecting the flexible conductors can be made significantly easier for the user.

Preferably, the first actuating element and the second actuating element are arranged relative to one another such that a first actuating direction of the first actuating element is oriented parallel to a second actuating direction of the second actuating element. The first actuating element and the second actuating element can thus be actuated by the user from the same side. The second actuating element can be guided parallel to the first actuating element. The second actuating element is preferably arranged directly adjacent to the first actuating element.

The clamping spring can have a holding leg and a clamping leg for clamping the conductor to be connected relative to the clamping section of the current bar in the clamping position of the clamping spring. Furthermore, the clamping spring can have latching legs which preferably extend into the conductor connection chamber and which can be held in a fixed position in the open position of the clamping spring, wherein the clamping legs can be actuated by means of the first actuating element and the latching legs can be actuated by means of the second actuating element. The latching legs can be arranged on the retaining legs on the ends of the retaining legs remote from the clamping legs. The retaining leg can thus be arranged between the clamping leg and the latching leg. The latching legs can be formed integrally with the retaining legs or can be connected to the latching legs as a separate component, in particular form-fittingly and/or non-fittingly. The latching legs are preferably connected to the retaining legs in such a way that they are configured in a resilient or pivotable manner relative to the retaining legs. The latching legs can hold, in particular latch, the clamping spring in the open position of the clamping spring on the first actuating element. In the open position of the clamping spring, the latching legs can exert a pressure force on the first actuating element, which can act on the first actuating element in opposition to the pressure force exerted by the clamping legs on the actuating element in the open position of the clamping spring.

In order to be able to connect, in particular without tools, conductors, in particular flexible conductors, having a small conductor cross section, the latching legs can have pressure surfaces, wherein the pressure surfaces can be actuated by the conductor to be connected in order to transfer the clamping spring from the open position into the clamping position, and the latching legs can be disengaged from the actuating element by actuating the pressure surfaces. The latching legs can have pressure faces which can be arranged in the connecting assembly in alignment with the insertion regions of the conductors and thus in the extension of the conductor insertion openings of the housing of the connecting terminal, so that the conductors can strike the pressure faces of the latching legs when inserted into the connecting assembly or into the conductor connection chamber. By applying a pressure force to the pressure surface by means of the conductor, the latching leg can be pivoted or tilted in the direction of the conductor insertion direction, so that the latching leg can be pivoted or tilted away from the first actuating element in the conductor insertion direction. By means of the pivoting movement of the latching legs, the latching legs can be disengaged from the actuating element and thus released from the actuating element, so that the actuating element and thus the clamping spring can be transferred from the open position into the clamping position without manual assistance. By means of this special mechanism, it is possible to connect the conductor particularly simply by an insertion movement of the conductor in order to release the clamping spring and transfer it from the clamping position into the open position. The latching legs can be released from the latching position with the first actuating element by means of the second actuating element if the conductor to be connected has a high flexibility or a very small conductor cross section, so that the latching legs cannot be released from the actuating element in the open position of the clamping spring by the conductor itself exerting a sufficient force on the latching legs or on the pressure faces of the latching legs. The second actuating element can therefore be used as an aid depending on the conductor cross section to be connected, in order to simplify the connection of the conductors.

The region of the clamping spring different from the first actuating element can therefore be actuated by means of the second actuating element, since the first actuating element preferably interacts with the clamping leg and the second actuating element preferably interacts with the latching leg.

In order to hold the latching legs on the actuating element in the open position of the clamping spring, the first actuating element can have a holding contour. The retaining contour makes it possible to reliably and positively retain the latching leg on the first actuating element in the open position of the clamping spring. In the region of the retaining contour, the latching legs can exert a pressure force on the first actuating element in the open position of the clamping spring. The retaining contour is preferably formed on the first actuating element itself in the form of a special surface contour.

The cross section of the first actuating element can have a U-shape. The first actuating element may have a first actuating arm and a second actuating arm arranged at a distance from the first actuating arm, wherein the retaining contour may then be formed on the first actuating arm and the second actuating arm. The two actuating arms are preferably oriented parallel to one another. A free space is formed between the two actuating arms, into which free space the conductor to be connected can be introduced and through which the conductor to be connected can be guided in the direction of the latching legs. The conductor connection chamber formed between the current bar and the clamping spring can be delimited laterally by the first actuating arm and the second actuating arm, so that these two actuating arms can guide the conductor to be connected and can prevent lateral deflection of the conductor. The retaining contour on the first actuating arm is preferably designed symmetrically with respect to the retaining contour arranged on the second actuating arm. In the open position of the clamping spring, the latching legs can be held, in particular latched, on both actuating arms or on both holding contours of both actuating arms.

The latching leg can have a free end, on which at least one retaining arm can be formed, by means of which the latching leg can be retained on the retaining contour of the first actuating element when the clamping spring is in the open position, wherein the second actuating element can interact with the at least one retaining arm when the second actuating element is transferred from the clamping position into the open position. The at least one retaining arm preferably extends transversely to the longitudinal extent of the latching leg. In the latched position, the latching legs can overlap the first actuating element with their at least one holding arm in the region of the retaining contour, so that in this latched position the at least one holding arm can rest on the first actuating element and thus a pressure force can be exerted on the first actuating element by its at least one holding arm.

It is also possible that the latching legs can have a T-shape at their free ends, by means of which the latching legs can be held on both actuating arms. The latching legs can have a laterally projecting first retaining arm and a laterally projecting second retaining arm by means of the T-shape, wherein the latching legs can be held on the retaining contour of the first actuating arm by means of the first retaining arm and the latching legs can be held on the retaining contour of the second actuating arm by means of the second retaining arm. The two retaining arms are then preferably formed on the latching legs in such a way that they extend away from one another.

The second actuating element can have at least one actuating finger which can interact with the at least one retaining arm when the clamping spring is transferred from the open position into the clamping position. The actuation of the clamping spring by means of the second actuating element can thus be effected by means of at least one retaining arm of the latching leg. The actuating finger preferably extends in the longitudinal direction of the second actuating element. In order to actuate the clamping spring and thus to release the clamping spring from the open position, the second actuating element can come into contact with its actuating finger on the at least one retaining arm, so that by means of the actuating finger the second actuating element releases or pushes the at least one retaining arm from the first actuating element. The second actuating element can be guided by means of its at least one actuating finger along the at least one retaining arm of the latching leg and can be pressed against the at least one retaining arm in such a way that the at least one retaining arm can be pressed away or pushed away from the first actuating element. A sliding surface can be formed on the second actuating element, in particular on at least one actuating finger of the second actuating element, which sliding surface can be slid along the latching leg or along at least one retaining arm of the latching leg in order to release the latching leg from the first actuating element. The sliding surface is preferably designed as a ramp.

If the first actuating element has two actuating arms and the latching leg has two holding arms which interact with the two actuating arms, the second actuating element can preferably also have two actuating fingers, so that the first actuating finger can interact with the first holding arm and the second actuating finger can interact with the second holding arm. The two actuating fingers are preferably constructed symmetrically to one another. The two actuating fingers can be used to actuate the two holding arms of the latching legs simultaneously. The two actuating fingers preferably extend parallel to one another in the longitudinal direction of the second actuating element.

The length of the at least one actuating finger can be configured, for example, such that, when the second actuating element is guided in the second actuating direction, the at least one actuating finger can pass laterally next to the clamping section of the current bar for actuating the latching leg. If the second actuating element has two actuating fingers, the two actuating fingers are preferably of equal length, so that the two actuating fingers can pass laterally next to the clamping section of the current bar for actuating the latching legs. The second actuating element can therefore enclose the clamping section of the current bar with its two actuating fingers, in particular in a U-shaped manner, when actuating the clamping spring or the latching legs of the clamping spring. The two actuating fingers are preferably spaced apart from one another so far that, in particular when actuating the clamping spring or the latching legs of the clamping spring, they can pass by the clamping section of the current bar on two opposite sides of the clamping section of the current bar.

In order to be able to achieve a construction which is as small as possible at the same time, at least one recess can be formed on the clamping section of the current bar, in which recess at least one actuating finger can be guided during the guiding pass. The at least one actuating finger can thus pass directly through the clamping section of the current bar. If the second actuating element has two actuating fingers, the clamping section of the current bar can have two recesses, so that the two actuating fingers can each pass through one of the two recesses in order to actuate the clamping spring or the latching leg of the clamping spring. In the region of one or both recesses, the width of the current bar is preferably reduced.

Alternatively, it is possible that the length of the at least one holding arm can be configured such that it can overlap laterally with the clamping section of the current bar. In this embodiment, the at least one actuating finger of the second actuating element is preferably designed so short that it does not pass laterally next to the clamping section of the current bar. Alternatively, the at least one holding arm can be configured to be longer and to overlap the current bar laterally. At least one retaining arm may then extend from the conductor connection chamber. No recesses are then required on the current bar, so that the cross section of the current bar for current-carrying capacity is not reduced. The at least one laterally projecting holding arm can then have an extension in the second actuating direction of the second actuating element. The at least one retaining arm may then have an L-shape. In this embodiment, two holding arms can also be provided, which can be designed mirror-symmetrically with respect to one another. The two holding arms can be designed to be so long that they overlap laterally with the clamping section of the current bar, in particular on two opposite sides of the current bar.

The first actuating element can have a spring element, by means of which the first actuating element can be spring-biased in the open position of the clamping spring. The spring element can cause the first actuating element to be returned to a defined, reproducible position, in particular an initial position, when the clamping spring is transferred from the open position into the clamping position. The first actuating element can be prestressed by means of a spring element, for example, against a current bar spring. The spring element may be configured in the form of a helical spring.

The first actuating direction of the first actuating element and/or the second actuating direction of the second actuating element can be designed transversely to the conductor insertion direction of the conductor to be connected into the conductor connection chamber formed between the clamping section of the current bar and the clamping spring.

The object is also achieved according to the invention by means of a connecting terminal, in particular a junction box (Reihenklemme), having a housing and at least one connecting assembly arranged in the housing and having the above-described configuration and improvements. A conductor insertion opening can be formed on the housing, which conductor insertion opening is formed in alignment with the conductor connection chamber of the connection assembly, and through which the conductor to be connected can be inserted into the housing and into the connection assembly. In particular in the case of a terminal box which is designed to be snapped onto a support rail, two such connecting assemblies can also be arranged in the housing.

The object is also achieved according to the invention by an electronic device having at least one connecting assembly and/or at least one connecting terminal. The electronic device can be, for example, a switch cabinet, in which one or more support rails or mounting plates can be arranged, on which a plurality of connection terminals, in particular terminal blocks, with corresponding connection assemblies can be snapped.

Drawings

The invention is explained in detail below according to preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings.

Therein is shown

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a connection terminal according to the invention with a clamping spring in the open position,

figure 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the connection terminal shown in figure 1 with the clamping spring in the open position,

figure 3 shows a further schematic cross-sectional view of the connection terminal shown in figure 1 with the clamping spring in the open position,

figure 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the connection terminal shown in figure 1 with the clamping spring in the clamping position,

figure 5 shows a further schematic cross-sectional view of the connection terminal shown in figure 1 with the clamping spring in the clamping position,

fig. 6 shows a schematic view of a connecting assembly according to the invention, with a clamping spring and a second actuating element according to the first embodiment,

fig. 7 shows a diagrammatic representation of a connecting assembly according to the invention, with a clamping spring and a second actuating element according to a further embodiment,

fig. 8 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a connection terminal according to a further embodiment of the invention, with the clamping spring in the open position,

FIG. 9 shows a further schematic cross-sectional view of the connection terminal shown in FIG. 8 with the clamping spring in the open position, and

fig. 10 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the connection terminal shown in fig. 8 with the clamping spring in the clamping position.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a connecting terminal 200 or a part of a connecting terminal 200 with a housing 210 in which a connecting assembly 100 is arranged. The housing 210 is made of an insulating material, in particular a plastic material. The connection assembly 100 is disposed in the inner space of the housing 210.

The connecting assembly 100 has a current bar 110, which, as can be seen in fig. 2, for example, has a clamping section 111, onto which a conductor 300 to be connected can be clamped and thereby connected.

Furthermore, the connecting assembly 100 has a clamping spring 112, wherein the conductor 300 to be connected can be clamped in an electrically conductive manner by means of the clamping spring 112 relative to the current bar 110 or relative to the clamping section 111 of the current bar 110, as shown, for example, in fig. 4.

The clamping spring 112 is configured as a clamping arm spring. The clamping spring 112 has a holding leg 113 and a clamping leg 114. The holding leg 113 and the clamping leg 114 are connected to one another by an arc-shaped section 115. The retaining legs 113 are arranged in a fixed position in the housing 210. The clamping leg 114 can be moved pivotally relative to the holding leg 113, so that the clamping spring 112 can be transferred and positioned, depending on the position of the clamping leg 114, into an open position, as shown for example in fig. 1 and 2, and a clamping position, as shown for example in fig. 3 and 4.

Furthermore, the clamping spring 112 has a latching leg 116, so that the clamping spring 112 has three

legs

113, 114, 116. Latching legs 116 are connected to retaining legs 113 such that retaining legs 113 are disposed between clamping legs 114 and latching legs 116. In the embodiment shown here, the latching legs 116 extend substantially at right angles away from the retaining legs 113. The length of the latching legs 116 is configured such that they project beyond the clamping legs 114, at least in the open position of the clamping spring 112, starting from the retaining legs 113. The latch legs 116 are used to assist in holding the clamp spring 112 in the open position.

The latching legs 116 extend from the holding legs 113 in the direction of the conductor connection chamber 117, which is formed between the current bar 110 or the clamping section 111 of the current bar 110 and the clamping spring 112, or into the conductor connection chamber 117, wherein the conductor 300 to be connected is inserted into the conductor connection chamber 117 in order to connect the conductor 300 and clamp it against the clamping section 111 of the current bar 110. The length of the latching leg 116 is configured such that it delimits the conductor connection chamber 117 in the conductor insertion direction E. If the conductor 300 is inserted into the conductor connection chamber 117 via a conductor insertion opening 211 formed in the housing 210, the conductor 300 strikes against the latching leg 116, whereby the latching leg 116 can be deflected or pivoted in the conductor insertion direction E. The latching legs 116 have pressure surfaces 118 pointing in the direction of the conductor connection chambers 117, against which the conductors 300 can be brought into contact when inserted into the conductor connection chambers 117. In order to enable the latching legs 116 to be deflected, the latching legs 116 are spring-mounted on the retaining legs 113.

In order to transfer the clamping spring 112 from the clamping position into the open position, the connecting assembly 100 furthermore has a first actuating element 119. The first actuating element 119 is guided purely linearly in the housing 210. When actuating the clamping spring 112 in order to transfer it from the clamping position into the open position, the first actuating element 119 is moved in a first actuating direction B1, wherein the first actuating element 119 is moved in the direction of the clamping spring 112. The first actuating element 119 interacts with the clamping leg 114 of the clamping spring 112 in such a way that the first actuating element 119 exerts a force on the clamping leg 114 in the first actuating direction B1, so that it pivots in the direction of the retaining leg 113 in order to release the conductor connection chamber 117.

The first actuating element 119 has a U-shaped cross section in the embodiment shown here. The first actuating element 119 has two actuating

arms

120a, 120b extending parallel to one another. Between the two actuating

arms

120a, 120b, a free space is formed through which the conductor 300 to be connected can be guided to be clamped relative to the clamping section 111 of the current bar 110. The length of the two actuating

arms

120a, 120b is configured such that they laterally delimit the conductor connection chamber 117 and can thus form a lateral guide for the conductor 300 to be connected.

Actuating surfaces

121a,121b, which interact with the clamping spring 112 for actuating the clamping spring 112, are formed on the edge surfaces of the actuating

arms

120a, 120b facing in the direction of the clamping spring 114. When the clamping leg is transferred from the clamping position into the open position, the first actuating element 119 rests with its two

actuating surfaces

121a,121b on the clamping leg 114 of the clamping spring 112.

The clamping leg 114 has a clamping web 122 and two

lateral webs

123a, 123b arranged laterally to the clamping web 122. The clamping lug 122 has a clamping edge 124 at its free end, by means of which the conductor 300 to be connected is clamped to the current bar 110 or to the clamping section 111 of the current bar 110.

The clamping tab 122 is arranged between the two

side tabs

123a, 123b. The clamping tab 122 is configured to be longer than the two

side tabs

123a, 123b, so that the clamping tab 122 extends beyond the two

side tabs

123a, 123b. The two

side tabs

123a, 123b each have an arc shape. The two

side lugs

123a, 123b can thus each form a slide, which can slide along the

actuating surfaces

121a,121b when interacting with the first actuating element 119. For actuating the clamping spring 112, the first actuating element 119 is therefore in direct contact with the two

side webs

123a, 123b of the clamping spring 112, whereas the clamping web 122 is not in direct contact with the first actuating element 119. The clamping web 122 is arranged in a free space formed between the two actuating

arms

120a, 120b.

Fig. 1 and 2 show the clamping spring 112 in an open position, in which the conductor connection chamber 117 is released so that the conductor 300 to be connected can be inserted into it and can also be removed again. In this open position, the clamping spring 112 and the first actuating element 119 are tensioned relative to one another, so that the clamping spring 112 and the first actuating element 119 form a closed force system, wherein the first actuating element 119 is held in position by the clamping spring 112 without additional aids and the clamping spring 112 is held in position again by the first actuating element 119.

The tensioning of the first actuating element 119 with the clamping spring 112 takes place in that, in the open position, the clamping spring 112 exerts two oppositely acting pressing forces D1, D2 on the first actuating element 119. By means of these two oppositely acting pressure forces D1, D2, the first actuating element 119 and thus also the clamping spring 112 can be held in a stable, fixed position in the open position of the clamping spring 112.

The first pressure force D1 acts on the first actuating element 119 counter to the first actuating direction B1. A first pressure force D1 is exerted on the first actuating element 119 by the clamping leg 114, in particular by the

side webs

123a, 123b of the clamping leg 114. The

side webs

123a, 123b are pressed against the

actuating surfaces

121a,121b of the first actuating element 119 with a first pressure D1 exerted by the spring action of the clamping leg 114.

The second pressure D2 acts on the first actuating element 119 in the first actuating direction B1. A second pressure D2 is exerted by the catch leg 116 of the clamping spring 112 on the first actuating element 119. The latching legs 116 are held with their free ends 125 on the first actuating element 119, in particular on the two actuating

arms

120a, 120b of the first actuating element 119, in particular on the first actuating element 119. The free end 125 of the latch leg 116 has a T-shape, since the free end 125 has two laterally outwardly projecting retaining

arms

126a, 126b. In the open position, the latching leg 116 is held with its first holding arm 126a on the first actuating arm 120a and with its second holding arm 126b on the second actuating arm 120b.

In order to be able to ensure a secure and thus defined retention of the latching legs 116 on the first actuating element 118 in the open position, a retaining contour 127 is formed on each of the two actuating

arms

120a, 120b. The retaining contour 127 is formed at a distance from the

actuating surfaces

121a,121b on the first actuating element 119. In the open position, the two retaining

arms

126a, 126b of the latching leg 116 bear against the retaining contours 127 of the actuating

arms

120a, 120b in order to hold the latching leg 116 in a positionally fixed position.

If, in the open position of the clamping spring 112, the conductor 300 to be connected is introduced into the conductor connection chamber 117 via the conductor insertion opening 211 of the housing 210 in the conductor insertion direction E, the conductor 300 strikes against the pressure surface 118 of the latching leg 116 of the clamping spring 112, which is arranged in alignment with the conductor insertion opening 211, as can be seen in fig. 2. By the conductor 300 hitting the pressure surface 118, the latching legs 116 can be pivoted in the conductor insertion direction E, so that the latching legs 116 can be disengaged from the retaining contour 127 of the first actuating element 119.

As soon as the latching leg 116 is released from the first actuating element 119, the tensioning of the clamping spring 112 and the first actuating element 119 is released, since the latching leg 116 no longer exerts the second pressure D2 on the first actuating element 119. Therefore, the first pressure force D1 exerted exclusively by the clamping leg 114 on the first actuating element 119 also acts on the first actuating element 119, so that, by means of the spring force of the clamping leg 114, the clamping leg 114 can push the first actuating element 119 upward against the first actuating direction B1, so that the clamping leg 114 is also moved in the direction of the conductor 300 introduced into the conductor connection chamber 117, in order to press this conductor against the clamping section 111 of the current bar 110 via the clamping web 122 of the clamping leg 114 and thus clamp and connect the conductor 300 to the current bar 110. The clamping position of the clamping spring 112 is shown in fig. 3 and 4.

In the case of very thin or very flexible conductors 300, it is possible that the conductors, when inserted into the conductor connection chamber 117, cannot exert sufficient force on the latching legs 116 via the pressure faces 118 in order to release the latching legs from latching with the retaining profile 127. In order to nevertheless be able to connect such a conductor 300 with a very small conductor cross section, the connecting assembly 100 has a second actuating element 128. The second actuating element 128 can release the clamping spring 112 from its open position in order to move into the clamping position. For this purpose, the second actuating element 128 interacts with the latching legs 116, in particular with the retaining

arms

126a, 126b of the latching legs 116. The second actuating element 128 therefore does not interact with the clamping leg 114 of the clamping spring 112. The first actuating element 119 and the second actuating element 128 therefore interact with the clamping spring 112 at different regions of the clamping spring 112.

The second actuating element 128 can be actuated independently of the first actuating element 119. The second actuating element 128 can be guided in the second actuating direction B2 in order to release the clamping spring 112 from the open position. The second actuating direction B2 extends parallel to the first actuating direction B1, so that the second actuating element 128 is guided in a direction parallel to the first actuating element 119. The second actuating element 128 is therefore guided linearly as the first actuating element 119.

The second actuating element 128 is arranged directly adjacent to the first actuating element 119. In the embodiment shown here, the housing 210 has a guide shaft 212, wherein the first actuating element 119 and the second actuating element 128 are arranged and guided in this guide shaft 212. In the embodiment shown here, the first actuating element 119 has a recess 129 on its outer circumference, in which recess 129 a beam 130 formed on the second actuating element 128 engages. The two

actuating elements

119, 128 engage in one another in a form-fitting manner by means of the recess 129 and the beam 130. By positively engaging and positively guiding the two actuating

elements

119, 128 with one another, tilting or tilting of the

actuating elements

119, 128 relative to one another can be avoided. It is also possible that the recess 129 is formed on the second operating element 128 and the beam 130 is formed on the first operating element 119. Two or more grooves 129 and two or more beams 130 may also be provided.

In the embodiment shown here, the second actuating element 128 has a first actuating finger 131a and a second actuating finger 132b, as can be seen in particular also in fig. 6. Fig. 6 shows the connecting assembly 100 shown in fig. 1 to 5, which has only the current bar 110, the clamping spring 112 and the second actuating element 128. The two actuating

fingers

131a,131b interact with the two holding arms 126 of the latching legs 126 of the clamping spring 112 in order to release the clamping spring 112 from its open position. The two actuating

fingers

131a,131b extend parallel to one another. Two actuating

fingers

131a,131b are molded onto a base body 132 of the second actuating element 128. Preferably, the two actuating

fingers

131a,131b can be formed integrally with the base body 132. The entire actuating element 128 can therefore be made of an insulating material, in particular a plastic material. The base body 132 has a control surface 133, by means of which control surface 133 a user can actuate the second actuating element 128.

The two actuating

fingers

131a,131b each have a sliding

surface

134a, 134b, by means of which the

actuating fingers

131a,131b can slide along the retaining

arms

126a, 126b in order to be able to push the retaining

arms

126a, 126b and thus the latching legs 116 out of latching engagement with the first actuating element 119 and thus release them, so that the latching legs 116 can be pivoted in the conductor insertion direction E via the second actuating element 128. The two sliding

surfaces

134a, 134b are each formed as a bevel. The actuating

fingers

131a,131b are tapered toward their free ends by the sliding

surfaces

134a, 134b, which are designed as ramps. The two actuating

fingers

131a,131b are designed symmetrically to one another, so that the two holding

arms

126a, 126b of the latching leg 116 can be actuated simultaneously by means of the two actuating

fingers

131a,131 b.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 6, the lengths of the two retaining

arms

126a, 126b of the latching legs 116 are configured such that they laterally overlap the current bar 110 or the clamping section 111 of the current bar 110. The clamping section 111 is U-shaped surrounded by the latching leg 116, in particular by a free end 125 of the latching leg 116 having two retaining

arms

126a, 126b. The two holding

arms

126a, 126b each have an L-shape here, so that the two holding

arms

126a, 126b extend in the direction of the second actuating element 128. The two holding

arms

126a, 126b are guided from the region of the conductor connection chamber 117 in the direction of the second actuating element 128. The interaction of the second actuating element 128 with the two holding

arms

126a, 126b and thus with the latching legs 116 takes place here outside the conductor connection chamber 117.

The clamping section 111 of the current bar 110 has a clamping surface 135 which points in the direction of the conductor connection chamber 117 and with respect to which clamping of the conductor 300 to be connected is effected. The two retaining

arms

126a, 126b extend beyond the clamping surface 135 above an upper side 136 of the clamping section 111, which is opposite the clamping surface 135. The actuation of the holding

arms

126a, 126b and thus of the latching legs 116 by means of the second actuating element 128 takes place above the upper side 136.

Fig. 7 shows a further possible embodiment, in which the two actuating fingers 131a, 132a are longer in this case than in the embodiment shown in fig. 6. In the embodiment shown in fig. 7, when actuating the detent leg 116 by means of the second actuating element 128, the two actuating

fingers

131a, 132 of the second actuating element 128 can pass laterally past the clamping section 111 of the current bar 110 in order to interact with the retaining

arms

126a, 126b of the detent leg 116. For this purpose, in contrast to the embodiment shown in fig. 6, the two retaining

arms

126a, 126b of the latching legs 116 are of a significantly shorter design.

The two actuating

fingers

131a,131b are of identical length, so that the two actuating

fingers

131a,131b pass laterally past the clamping section 111 of the current bar 110 for actuating the latching legs 116. The second actuating element 128 encloses the clamping section 111 of the current bar 110 in this case in a U-shaped manner. The two actuating

fingers

131a,131b are spaced apart from one another by such a distance that, in particular when actuating the clamping spring 112 or the catch leg 116 of the clamping spring 112, the two actuating

fingers

131a,131b are guided through the clamping section 111 of the current bar 110 on two opposite sides of the clamping section 111 of the current bar 110. The actuation of the holding

arms

126a, 126b and thus of the latching legs 116 takes place here in the region of the conductor connection chamber 117. Below the clamping surface 135 of the clamping section 111, two actuating

fingers

131a,131b can act on the retaining

arms

126a, 126b in order to release them from latching with the first actuating element 119.

In this case, two opposing

recesses

137a, 137b are formed in the clamping section 111 of the current bar 110, in which one of the two actuating

fingers

131a,131b is guided when passing by the clamping section 111 of the current bar 110. The actuating

fingers

131a,131b can therefore pass directly through the clamping section 111 of the current bar 110, as shown in fig. 7.

Fig. 8 to 10 show the connection terminal 200 having the connection assembly 100 shown in fig. 7. The clamping spring 112 and the first actuating element 119 correspond to the embodiments shown in fig. 1 to 6. Fig. 8 and 9 show the clamp spring 112 in an open position, and fig. 10 shows the clamp spring 112 in a clamped position with a conductor 300 attached.

In the two embodiments shown here in fig. 1 to 10, the conductor 300 is introduced into the conductor connection chamber 117 and thus into the connection assembly 100 or the connection terminal 200 transversely to the actuating directions B1 and B2 of the two actuating

elements

119, 128.

In both of the embodiments shown here, the first actuating element 119 is also spring-biased by means of a spring element 138 in the open position of the clamping spring 112. The spring element 138 can cause the first actuating element 119 to be moved back into a defined, reproducible position, in particular an initial position, when the clamping spring 112 is transferred from the open position into the clamping position. By means of the spring element 138, the first actuating element 119 can be spring-biased, for example, against the current bar 110 or the clamping section 111 of the current bar 110, as shown in the drawing. The spring element 138 is designed here in the form of a helical spring.

Description of the reference numerals

100. Connecting assembly

110. Current bar

111. Clamping section

112. Clamping spring

113. Retaining leg

114. Clamping leg

115. Arc segment

116. Lock leg

117. Conductor connection chamber

118. Pressure surface

119. First operating element

120a, 120b manipulator arm

121a,121b control surfaces

122. Clamping web

123a, 123b side tab

124. Clamping edge

125. Free end portion

126a, 126b retaining arms

127. Retention profile

128. Second operating element

129. Groove

130. Beam

131a,131b operating finger

132. Base body

133. Control surface

134a, 134b sliding surface

135. Clamping surface

136. Upper side surface

137a, 137b

138. Spring element

200. Connecting terminal

210. Shell body

211. Conductor insertion opening

212. Guide well

300. Conductor

B1 A first operating direction

B2 The second operating direction

D1 First pressure

D2 Second pressure

E conductor insertion direction

Claims

1. Connecting assembly (100) for connecting an electrical conductor (300), having

A current bar (110) for supplying current,

a clamping spring (112) which can be transferred into a clamping position and into an open position, wherein in the clamping position of the clamping spring (112) the electrical conductor (300) to be connected is clamped relative to the clamping section (111) of the current bar (110), and

a first actuating element (119) which can be guided in a first actuating direction (B1) and by means of which the clamping spring (112) can be transferred from the clamping position into the open position,

characterized in that a second actuating element (128) is provided, which can be guided in a second actuating direction (B2) and by means of which the clamping spring (112) can be released from the open position.

2. The connecting assembly (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first actuating element (119) and the second actuating element (128) are arranged relative to one another in such a way that a first actuating direction (B1) of the first actuating element (119) is oriented parallel to a second actuating direction (B2) of the second actuating element (128).

3. The connecting assembly (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the clamping spring (112) has a holding leg (113) and a clamping leg (114) for clamping a conductor (300) to be connected relative to the clamping section (111) of the current bar (110) in a clamping position of the clamping spring (112), and a latching leg (116) which is held in a fixed position in an open position of the clamping spring (112), wherein the clamping leg (112) can be actuated by means of the first actuating element (119) and the latching leg (116) can be actuated by means of the second actuating element (128).

4. The connecting assembly (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that the first operating element (119) has a retaining profile (127) on which the latching legs (116) are retained in the open position of the clamping spring (112).

5. The connecting assembly (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that the first actuating element (128) has a first actuating arm (120 a) and a second actuating arm (120 b) arranged at a distance from the first actuating arm (120 a), wherein the retaining contour (126) is formed on the first actuating arm (120 a) and the second actuating arm (120 b).

6. A connecting assembly (100) according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the latching leg (116) has a free end (125) on which at least one retaining arm (126 a, 126 b) is formed, by means of which the latching leg (116) is retained in the open position of the clamping spring (112) on a retaining contour (127) of the first actuating element (119), wherein the second actuating element (128) interacts with the at least one retaining arm (126 a, 126 b) when switching from the clamping position into the open position.

7. A connecting assembly (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that the second operating element (128) has at least one operating finger (131 a,131 b) which interacts with the at least one retaining arm (126 a, 126 b) when the clamping spring (112) is transferred from the open position into the clamping position.

8. The connecting assembly (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that the length of the at least one actuating finger (131a, 131b) is configured such that, when the second actuating element (128) is guided in the second actuating direction (B2), the at least one actuating finger (131a, 131b) passes laterally next to the clamping section (111) of the current bar (110) for actuating the latching leg (116).

9. The connecting assembly (100) according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one recess (137 a, 137 b) is formed on the clamping section (111) of the current bar (110), in which recess the at least one actuating finger (131 a,131 b) is guided during a lateral passage.

10. The connection assembly (100) according to claim 7, wherein the length of the at least one retaining arm (126 a, 126 b) is configured such that the at least one retaining arm (126 a, 126 b) overlaps laterally with the clamping section (111) of the current bar (110).

11. A connecting assembly (100) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the first actuating element (119) has a spring element (138) by means of which the first actuating element (119) is spring-pretensioned in the open position.

12. The connecting assembly (100) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the first actuating direction (B1) of the first actuating element (119) and/or the second actuating direction (B2) of the second actuating element (128) is designed transversely to a conductor insertion direction (E) of a conductor (300) to be connected into a conductor connection chamber (117) formed between the clamping section (111) of the current bar (100) and the clamping spring (112).

13. Connection terminal (200), in particular a terminal box, having a housing (210) and having at least one connection assembly (100) according to one of claims 1 to 12 arranged in the housing (210).

14. Electronic device with at least one connection assembly (100) according to one of claims 1 to 12 and/or with at least one connection terminal (200) according to claim 13.