CN117913556A

CN117913556A - Connection terminal for connecting electrical conductors

Info

Publication number: CN117913556A
Application number: CN202311348869.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 凯文·贝格哈恩; 安德烈·赛尔斯; 米夏埃尔·雷纳克; 拉尔夫·霍普曼
Original assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2022-10-19
Filing date: 2023-10-18
Publication date: 2024-04-19
Also published as: LU502926B1; EP4358310A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection terminal (1) for connecting an electrical line (2), comprising a housing (10), a contact element (11) arranged on the housing (10), a spring element (12) arranged on the housing (10), the spring element having a clamping leg (120) for acting on the electrical line (2), and having an actuating element (14) arranged on the housing (10) in a pivotable manner about a pivot axis (D), the actuating element being adjustable in order to adjust the clamping leg (120). The clamping leg (120) can be adjusted elastically to a release position relative to the housing (10) by actuating the actuating element (14). The triggering element (13) which is mounted in an additional manner relative to the spring element (12) and can be adjusted relative to the housing (10) has a triggering section (130), wherein the clamping leg (120) is designed to be snapped into place with the triggering element (13) in the release position, so that the clamping leg (120) is held in the release position. The triggering section (130) is configured to cooperate with the electrical line (2) when the electrical line is inserted into the insertion opening (100) to release the clamping leg (120) from the release position.

Description

Connection terminal for connecting electrical conductors

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a connection terminal for connecting electrical conductors according to the preamble of claim 1.

Background

Such a connection terminal comprises a housing having a plug opening into which an electrical conductor can be inserted for connection to the connection terminal. Contact elements are arranged on the housing for electrical contact with the electrical conductors. Furthermore, a spring element is arranged on the housing, which spring element has a clamping leg which is designed to act on the electrical conductor when the electrical conductor is inserted into the insertion opening, in order to bring the electrical conductor into contact with the contact element. The actuating element is arranged pivotably about a pivot axis at the housing and can be adjusted for adjusting the clamping leg. For this purpose, the actuating element can be moved from the unactuated position into the actuated position, for example, using a tool, in order to adjust the clamping leg in the actuated position, for example, in order to facilitate insertion of the electrical conductor into the insertion opening or in order to remove the electrical conductor from the insertion opening. The clamping leg can be adjusted elastically relative to the housing (10) by actuating the actuating element to a release position, and in the release position the position relative to the housing is maintained.

Such a connection terminal is realized by using a spring element, wherein the electrical conductor is clamped with the contact element and is thus electrically connected with the contact element in the connection position under the elastic spring action of the spring element.

In the connection terminals disclosed in DE 10 2019 127 464 B3, spring elements are provided in the form of tension springs which, by means of an elastic spring action, pull the connected electrical conductor against the corresponding contact element and thus establish a clamping connection between the electrical conductor and the contact element. For this purpose, the electrical conductor is moved through the opening in the clamping leg during placement and is clamped between the clamping leg and the contact element in the connecting position.

A locking device is provided in the connection terminal of DE 10 2019 127 464 B3, by means of which the clamping leg is locked in the release position relative to the housing. When the electrical line is inserted, the latching device is triggered and the latching is therefore released, so that the clamping leg is displaced from the release position and thereby clamps the electrical line with the contact element. In order to transfer the clamping leg into the release position, in particular in order to be able to attach the electrical conductor or to release the connected electrical conductor from the connection terminal, a tool, for example a screwdriver, can be attached to the connection terminal and a force can be applied to the clamping leg thereby.

In DE 10 2019 127 464 B3, the adjustment of the clamping legs takes place directly by means of a tool, whereas in the connection terminals known from DE 10 2019 135 203 A1 and DE 10 2020 104 140 A1, in each case an actuating element in the form of a so-called push button (Pusher) is provided, which can be pushed into the housing of the connection terminal in order to act on the clamping legs in this way and to displace the clamping legs into their release position. The actuating elements are each preloaded against the housing springs of the connection terminals via a tensioning spring in the form of a compression spring. In the connection terminal disclosed in DE 10 2019 135 203 A1, an actuating projection is provided on the actuating element, which actuating projection hooks onto a fastening section of the holding element in the actuating position of the actuating element.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to provide a connecting terminal which can be realized in a simple manner and which, with a spatially advantageous arrangement and comfortable handling, adjusts the clamping leg of a spring element into a release position.

This object is solved by the subject matter having the features of claim 1.

The connection terminal therefore has an additional trigger element, which is mounted in an adjustable manner relative to the spring element and has a trigger section, wherein the clamping leg is designed to be locked with the trigger element in the release position, so that the clamping leg is held in the release position, wherein the trigger section is designed to interact with an electrical line when inserted into the insertion opening, in order to release the clamping leg from the release position.

In this connection, the electrical conductor is in electrical contact with the electrical contact element in that, when the electrical conductor is inserted into the insertion opening, the clamping leg acts on the electrical conductor and the spring elastically loads the electrical conductor in the direction of contact with the contact element. In order to facilitate the insertion of the electrical conductors, the clamping leg of the spring element can be deflected elastically by actuating the actuating element in order in this way to shift the clamping leg into a release position in which the space in the region of the insertion opening is released and thus the electrical conductors can be inserted into the insertion opening in a substantially weak manner or (alternatively) the connected electrical conductors can be removed from the connection terminal in a simple manner.

It is provided here that the clamping leg is held in a release position relative to the housing. By holding the clamping leg in position relative to the housing in the release position, a simple operation is achieved, wherein the clamping leg can be moved into the release position for connecting the electrical conductor, so that a substantially weak insertion of the electrical conductor onto the connection terminal can be achieved.

In order to hold the clamping leg in the release position, the connection terminal has a trigger element which is separate from the spring element and forms a trigger section. The clamping leg is configured to latch with the trigger element in the release position such that the clamping leg remains in the release position. The trigger section is configured in this case for interaction with an electrical line when inserted into the insertion opening in order to release the clamping leg from the release position.

The triggering element is thus used to lock with the clamping leg in the release position. By actuating the actuating element, the clamping leg can be adjusted relative to the housing and moved into the release position, so that in particular the electrical line can be simply inserted into the insertion opening of the housing to connect the line to the connection terminal. In the release position, the clamping leg is then held in position relative to the housing by the triggering element.

The triggering element is also used to trigger the clamping leg from the release position in order to automatically release the clamping leg from the release position when the electrical conductor is inserted into the insertion opening and thus to transfer the clamping leg into the clamping position in which the electrical conductor inserted into the insertion opening is in electrical contact with the contact element of the connection terminal. For this purpose, the triggering section can be triggered by the interaction with the electrical line, so that the locking of the clamping leg with the triggering element is released and the clamping leg is thus released from the release position.

By deflecting the trigger section of the trigger element when the electrical conductor is inserted, the connection terminal is automatically closed when the electrical conductor is inserted. A simple connection process is obtained at the same time as the electrical conductor is reliably brought into contact with the contact element by the clamping action of the clamping legs.

The triggering element is separate from the spring element and is therefore additionally present as a separate element relative to the spring element. The triggering element is mounted adjustably, for example pivotably or slidably, relative to the housing and is thus adjustable relative to the housing for triggering the clamping leg.

The triggering element can be formed, for example, from metal, for example, as a stamped bent part.

The spring element can be formed, for example, as a stamped and bent part made of a metallic material of the elastic spring, for example spring steel.

In one embodiment, the actuating element has a shaft element which pivotally supports the actuating element on the housing, an actuating section which can be actuated by a user, a lever section which connects the shaft element to the actuating section, and an actuating section which is arranged on the lever section for acting on the clamping leg. For example, the actuating section can be accessible from outside the housing by a user being able to act on the actuating section via a tool, for example a screwdriver, or alternatively manually, while the actuating section is operatively connected to the clamping leg of the spring element. The actuating element is thus adjusted to apply an actuating force to the clamping leg via the actuating section, so that the clamping leg is moved in the direction of the release position, in particular when the actuating element is adjusted from the unactuated position to the actuated position.

The actuating element is pivotally supported on the housing by a shaft element and can thereby be pivoted about a pivot axis relative to the housing. The shaft element is connected to the actuating section via a lever section. An actuating section is provided on the lever section for acting on the clamping leg in order to adjust the clamping leg relative to the housing.

In one embodiment, the clamping leg has a clamping section for acting on the electrical conductor and an adjusting edge. The adjusting rib is arranged axially next to the clamping section on one side of the clamping leg as seen along the pivot axis. The actuating element is designed to act only on the adjusting edge on the side of the clamping leg for adjusting the clamping leg by means of the action section. The actuating element is thus designed to act on the clamping leg on one side. In this embodiment, the adjusting edge formed on the clamping leg is therefore arranged axially next to the clamping section on one side of the clamping leg. When the actuating element is moved for adjusting the clamping leg, the actuating element acts via the application section only on the adjusting edge. The adjusting edge is formed on this side of the clamping leg, whereas no adjusting edge is located on a second side of the clamping leg (along the pivot axis) facing away from the (first) side, so that the actuating element acts on the clamping leg only on the first side in order to introduce an adjusting force for adjusting the clamping leg into the spring element.

Since the contact section in this embodiment only acts on the clamping leg on one side, the connecting terminal can be advantageously formed in terms of installation space. The lever section can thus connect the shaft element to the actuating element, for example, on only one side, wherein for this purpose, viewed along the pivot axis, the lever section is arranged, for example, axially next to the clamping leg and here facing the side of the clamping leg on which the adjusting edge is formed. In contrast, on the second side of the clamping leg facing away from the first side, no (further) lever section is present, so that the actuating element encloses the spring element only on one side, in order to support the shaft element in the housing and to make the actuating element accessible from outside the housing.

Preferably, the actuating element is supported on one side on the housing by a shaft element. For example, the shaft element can be supported on the housing axially (as viewed along the pivot axis) next to the contact element, so that the shaft element is arranged on the housing outside a region aligned with the plug opening for the purpose of pivotally supporting the actuating element on the housing, into which region the electrical conductors are introduced when connecting to the connection terminals.

The adjusting edge is formed on the clamping leg in order to introduce the actuating force into the clamping leg via the actuating section of the actuating element. The adjusting edge is here, for example, functionally separated from the clamping section of the clamping leg and is for this purpose arranged axially next to the clamping section. The adjusting edge can be formed, for example, on an edge section that protrudes axially relative to the clamping section. The adjusting edge can be cut out of the clamping section, for example, by a slit, wherein the adjusting edge can protrude with respect to the clamping section, for example, with a free end, as seen in a projection plane perpendicular to the pivot axis. This means that, when the clamping section and the adjusting edge are projected onto the (imaginary) projection plane along a projection direction pointing along the pivot axis, the adjusting edge protrudes in the projection plane relative to the clamping section, so that the free end of the adjusting edge points, for example, in a different direction than the free edge of the clamping section.

In one embodiment, the active section is designed to bear slidingly against the adjusting edge. When the actuating element is adjusted to adjust the clamping leg, the actuating section slides on the adjustment edge, so that the adjusting force is thereby introduced into the clamping leg and the clamping leg is adjusted relative to the housing.

In one embodiment, the housing defines a receiving space into which the electrical line can be introduced by insertion into the insertion opening. The trigger section extends in the receiving space to interact with the electrical conductor. In particular, the electrical line can be inserted into the insertion opening along the insertion direction, wherein the trigger section extends approximately transversely to the insertion direction in the receiving space. The trigger section is resiliently deflectable so that the trigger section is resiliently adjustable when interacting with the electrical conductor.

In one embodiment, the triggering element has a latching section, with which the clamping leg latches in the release position in order to thereby hold the clamping leg in the release position.

In one embodiment, the triggering element has at least one support leg protruding from the triggering section. The triggering element is adjustably supported on the housing by the at least one support leg. For example, the support leg can be bent with respect to the triggering section, for example by an angle of approximately 90 °, so that the triggering section extends transversely to the plugging direction (along which the electrical line can be inserted into the plugging opening) and along the pivot axis (about which the actuating element can pivot relative to the housing) in the receiving space within the housing, but the support leg extends along a plane approximately perpendicular to the pivot axis. By means of the support leg, the triggering element is supported relative to the housing, for example on a contact element which is fixedly secured in position in the housing, so that the triggering element can be adjusted, for example pivoted or slid, relative to the housing.

In one embodiment, a latching section is formed on at least one support leg, which is configured for latching with the clamping leg in the release position. The latching section can be formed, for example, as a projection on at least one support leg and projects relative to the support leg along a surface normal, so that the clamping leg can be latched with the latching section in the release position and thus be held in position relative to the housing via the triggering element in the release position.

In one embodiment, at least one support leg has a support opening for adjustably supporting the triggering element. For example, a bearing element can be formed on the housing or on a contact element that is fixedly secured relative to the housing, said bearing element engaging into a bearing opening of the bearing leg and thus effecting a pivoting bearing of the triggering element relative to the housing.

In one embodiment, the contact element has a contact section for making electrical contact with the electrical line and a support section forming a support element. The at least one support leg is supported on the support element of the support section, for example by engaging the support element into a support opening on the support leg, so that a pivoting support of the triggering element relative to the contact element and thus relative to the housing is achieved.

The contact element may have, for example, a U-shape, wherein the contact section extends in a planar manner and is connected to the support section by a connecting section which is curved relative to the contact section. The support section can extend approximately parallel to the contact section and can be bent relative to the connecting section like the contact section, so that the connecting section forms a base of the U-shape and the contact section is formed at one side leg of the U-shape and the support section is formed at the other side leg of the U-shape.

In one embodiment, the triggering element has two support legs, which are each bent relative to the triggering section and are connected to one another by the triggering section. In this case, the triggering element can be configured, for example, as a U-shape, wherein the support legs extend parallel to one another and provide the legs of the U-shape, while the triggering section connects the support legs to one another and thus provides the base of the U-shape.

The triggering element can be designed, for example, as an integrated sheet metal element, for example as a stamped bent part.

In one embodiment, the triggering element has a tensioning element for pre-tensioning the triggering element relative to the housing. The tensioning element can be formed integrally and monolithically with the triggering element and protrudes from the triggering section, for example as a resilient tab. The tensioning element is designed to generate a tensioning force between the triggering element and the housing, which tensioning force acts in particular in the direction of return to the initial position in which the triggering element latches with the clamping leg in the release position. The triggering element can be deflected from this initial position when the electrical conductor is inserted, in order to release the clamping leg and thus bring the inserted electrical conductor into electrical contact with the contact element.

In one embodiment, the actuating element can be moved independently of the clamping leg relative to the housing when the clamping leg is in the release position. In particular, the actuating element can be pivoted from the unactuated position relative to the housing into the actuated position for the purpose of displacing the clamping leg into the release position. If the clamping leg is moved into the release position, the actuating element can be pivoted back from the actuated position into the unactuated position, wherein the clamping leg is held in position relative to the housing by the locking with the triggering element and is thus not moved, whereby the clamping leg is held in the release position.

In one embodiment, the actuating element has a first latching element and the housing has a second latching element. The first latching element and the second latching element are engaged with each other in the unactuated position of the actuating element, so that the actuating element remains in position relative to the housing in the unactuated position. The actuating element can therefore be returned to the initial position (corresponding to the unactuated position) after the clamping leg has been moved into the release position and can be latched with the housing in the initial position. The actuating element thus occupies a defined position relative to the housing in the unactuated position, from which the actuating element can be moved out (only) by releasing the latch.

In one embodiment, the first latching element is arranged on the actuating section of the actuating element. In the unactuated position, the actuating section of the actuating element is, for example, placed flat in the corresponding receiving opening of the housing, so that the actuating section does not protrude from the housing or at least hardly protrudes from it.

In one embodiment, the spring element is configured as a tension spring. In this case, the clamping leg of the spring element is designed to pull the electrical conductor against the contact element by means of a spring force. In this case, for example, an opening can be formed in the clamping leg, through which the electrical line can be passed when it is inserted into the insertion opening of the housing, in order to pull the electrical line into clamping contact with the contact element after the clamping leg has been triggered from the release position.

Alternatively, the spring element may be configured as a compression spring. In this case, the clamping leg is designed to push the piezoelectric wire against the contact element by means of a spring force. When inserted into the insertion opening, the electrical conductor reaches into the space between the clamping leg and the contact element, wherein, after the clamping leg is triggered from the release position, the clamping leg acts on the electrical conductor and presses the electrical conductor against the contact element.

The spring element can, for example, have a support leg by means of which the spring element is supported on the housing and held in position on the housing. The clamping leg can be elastically deflected relative to the support leg, wherein in the release position the clamping leg is deflected in such a way that the spring element is elastically tensioned and the clamping leg is moved out of the release position in an elastically pretensioned manner after being released from the release position.

Drawings

The idea underlying the invention is explained in detail below with the aid of an embodiment shown in the drawings. The drawings show:

Fig. 1 shows a view of an embodiment of a connection terminal, wherein the actuating element is in an unactuated position;

fig. 2 shows a view of the connection terminal, with the actuating element in the actuating position;

fig. 3A shows a section through the connection terminal along the line I-I according to fig. 1 before the actuating element is actuated;

FIG. 3B shows a sectional view according to FIG. 3A in a perspective view;

Fig. 4A shows a sectional view according to fig. 3A after the actuating element has been moved into the actuating position, in order to shift the clamping leg of the spring element into the release position;

FIG. 4B shows a sectional view according to FIG. 4A in a perspective view;

FIG. 5A shows A cross-sectional view of the connection terminal along line I I-I I of FIG. 1 with the steering element in the non-steering position;

FIG. 5B shows a sectional view according to FIG. 5A, with the actuating element in the actuating position;

Fig. 6A to 6C show separate views of the actuating element; and

Fig. 7 shows a separate view of the spring element together with the triggering element and the contact element.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 to 7 show an exemplary embodiment of a connection terminal 1, which connection terminal 1 is formed as a housing 10 in which a plug opening 100 is formed for inserting an electrical conductor 2 in a plug direction E.

The housing 10 defines a receiving space 101 into which the electrical conductor 2 is introduced with the uninsulated conductor end 20 when the electrical conductor 2 is inserted into the insertion opening 100 in the insertion direction E. In the connection position, the conductor wire 2 is located with the uninsulated conductor end 20 within the receiving space 101 and is in electrical contact with the contact section 110 of the electrical contact element 11 in the form of a current strip via the clamping leg 120 of the spring element 12, so that the electrical conductor wire 2 is electrically connected to the connection terminal 1.

In the embodiment shown, the contact element 11 has a U-shaped configuration. From the contact section 110, a connecting section 112 protrudes, which is bent approximately 90 ° relative to the contact section 110 and on which a support section 111 is formed again by bending.

The spring element 12 has a support leg 121 which is supported inside the housing 10, so that the spring element 12 is fastened to the housing 10 by means of the support leg and is fixed relative to the housing 10. As can be seen from the view according to fig. 7, the support leg 121 rests against the support section 111 of the contact element 11 and is fixedly supported and fixed relative to the housing 10 by its position.

The clamping leg 120 can be deflected elastically relative to the support leg 121, in particular in such a way that the clamping leg 120 is moved away from the contact element 11 in the release position (fig. 4A, 4B) and can be moved from the release position into the clamping position, in which the clamping leg 120 acts clampingly on the electrical conductor 2 on the connection terminal 1 and presses the electrical conductor into contact with the contact element 11 under elastic pretension and thus brings the electrical conductor 2 into electrical contact with the contact element 11 via its conductor end 20.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the actuating element 14 is supported on the housing 10 by means of a shaft element 140 in a pivotable manner about a pivot axis D. The actuating element 14 can pivot about a pivot axis D relative to the housing 10, wherein the actuating section 141 can be accessed from outside the housing 10 and can thus be actuated by a user, for example by hand or with the use of a tool.

The actuating element 14 shown in the individual views in fig. 6A to 6C is configured as a lever which is pivotably mounted on the housing 10 at one end by means of a shaft element 140, so that the actuating element 14 can be moved relative to the housing about a pivot axis D. The shaft element 140 is formed on a lever section 142 which connects the shaft element 140 with the actuating section 141 and passes through the opening 102 in the housing 10, so that the actuating section 141 is located outside the housing 10 and the shaft element 140 is supported inside the housing 10.

The lever section 142 is formed on one side on the actuating element 14. The manipulation section 141 protrudes from the lever section 142 along the pivot axis D. The shaft element 140 is formed on the lever section 142 such that the shaft element 140 protrudes from the lever section 142 on the side facing away from the actuating section 141, as can be seen from the individual views according to fig. 6A to 6C.

The actuating element 14 is mounted on the housing 10 by means of a pivotable mounting of the shaft element 140 in the axial direction (about a pivot axis D) offset from the contact element 11. In particular, as shown in the sectional views according to fig. 5A and 5B, the shaft element 140 is arranged axially beside the contact element 11 and is thus located outside the region of the receiving space 101 aligned with the plug opening 100, into which the electrical conductors 2 for connection to the connection terminals 1 are inserted in the plug direction E.

A guide section 143 is formed on the lever section 142, which defines a curved guide rail, with which the lever section 142 is slidingly guided on a corresponding curved guide edge 104 on the housing 10, as can be seen, for example, from fig. 3A and 4A in conjunction with fig. 6A to 6C.

Formed on the lever section 142 is an actuating section 144 in the form of a projection protruding axially along the pivot axis D from the lever section 142, which projection serves to interact with the clamping leg 120 of the spring element 12, in particular in order to move the clamping leg 120 toward the release position by actuating the actuating element 14 in the actuating direction B, as can be seen in the transition from fig. 3A, 3B to fig. 4A, 4B. The actuating section 144 is arranged eccentrically to the pivot axis D and slides along the adjusting edge 123 formed on the clamping leg 120 on one side when the actuating element 14 is actuated, in order in this way to introduce an adjusting force into the clamping leg 120 and to transfer the clamping leg 120 into the release position according to fig. 4A, 4B.

The connection terminal 1 has a triggering element 13, which forms a triggering section 130, which extends into the region of the receiving space 101, as can be seen from fig. 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B and fig. 7.

In the embodiment shown, the triggering element 13 is formed as an integrated sheet element separate from the spring element 12. The triggering element 13 has two support legs 131 extending parallel to one another, which are connected to one another by a triggering section 130 forming a base, so that a U-shaped configuration of the triggering element 13 is formed. By engaging the bearing elements 113 in the form of projection elements protruding axially relative to the bearing section 111 into corresponding bearing openings 133 on the bearing legs 131 of the triggering element 13, a pivoting support of the triggering element 13 relative to the contact element 11 fixed in position relative to the housing 10 and thus relative to the housing 10 is then achieved, the triggering element 13 being supported on the bearing section 111 of the contact element 11 by the bearing legs 131.

Since the support element 113 is inserted with play into a corresponding support opening 133 on the support leg 131, the triggering element 13 can pivot relative to the housing 10. The deflection path of the triggering element 13 is defined here by the profiling of the bearing element 113 on the bearing section 111 and the profiling of the bearing opening 133 on the bearing leg 131 and is dimensioned such that the triggering element 13 can be deflected from an initial position, in which the clamping leg 120 is latched to the triggering element 13 in the release position, to such an extent that the clamping leg 12 is released from its latching on the triggering element 13.

The triggering element 13 has a tensioning element 134, which is formed as a resilient web on the triggering section 130 and supports the triggering element 13 on the housing 10. The tensioning element 134 causes a pretension of the triggering element 13 in the direction of the initial position.

In order to shift the clamping leg 120 into the release position, the actuating element 14 can be pivoted relative to the housing 10 in the actuating direction B in order to thus pivot the clamping leg 120 relative to the support leg 121, as can be seen in the transition from fig. 3A, 3B to fig. 4A, 4B. In the release position according to fig. 4A, 4B, the clamping leg 120 releases the region of the receiving space 101 aligned with the plug-in opening 100 in the plug-in direction E, so that the electrical conductor 2 can be inserted unhindered from the clamping leg 120 into the plug-in opening 100 and can thus be connected to the connection terminal 1 in a substantially weak manner.

On the support legs 131 of the triggering element 13, latching sections 132 are formed in each case in the form of axially inwardly projecting projections, which in the release position establish a latching with the clamping legs 120. In the release position, the clamping leg 120 is thus latched between the support legs 131 and is thus held in position relative to the housing 10 by the triggering element 13 in the release position, as can be seen from fig. 4A, 4B.

When transferring to the release position, the clamping leg 120 slides with the clamping section 124 formed at the end of the clamping leg 120 onto the latching section 132, and the triggering element 13 is thereby slightly displaced out of the initial position. As a result of the pretensioning by the tensioning element 134, the triggering element 13 returns to its initial position after the clamping section 124 has passed the latching section 132, so that the latching of the triggering element 13 to the clamping leg 120 is established.

The triggering section 130 of the triggering element 13 serves to interact with the electrical line 2 inserted into the insertion opening 100, in particular to automatically connect the electrical line 2 to the connection terminal 1 when the clamping leg 120 is triggered. If the electrical conductor 2 is inserted into the insertion opening 100 in the insertion direction E, the electrical conductor 2 with the inserted conductor end 20 acts on the triggering section 130 within the receiving space 101 of the housing 10 and adjusts the triggering element 13. As a result, the triggering element 13 is moved relative to the clamping leg 120, so that the clamping leg 120 is disengaged from the latching section 132 on the support leg 131 of the triggering element 13 and the clamping leg 120 is thus released from the release position. As a result of the elastic spring pretension on the clamping leg 120, the clamping leg 120 thus springs against the inserted electrical conductor 2 and clamps it against the contact element 11, so that the electrical conductor 2 is pressed with the (uninsulated) conductor end 20 against the contact element 11 and thereby makes electrical contact with the contact element 11.

As can be seen from fig. 7, the clamping leg 120 forms a control edge 123 on the lateral edge section. The adjusting edge 123 protrudes axially relative to the clamping section 124. The clamping section 124 in turn protrudes beyond the adjustment edge 123 (as seen along the elongate extension of the clamping leg 120) and forms the end of the clamping leg 120 for clamping against the inserted electrical conductor 2 and furthermore for latching with a latching section 132 on the support leg 131.

The adjusting edge 123 serves to interact with the contact section 144 of the actuating element 14. When actuating element 14 is moved from the unactuated position (fig. 3A, 3B) into the actuated position (fig. 4A, 4B), actuating section 144 acts on actuating edge 123 and slides along actuating edge 123 in the process, so that clamping leg 120 is moved into the release position, as can be seen in the transition from fig. 3A, 3B to fig. 4A, 4B.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, actuating element 14 acts only on actuating edge 123 and thus on clamping leg 120 on one side, in that actuating section 144 is in operative connection with actuating edge 123. Due to the one-sided arrangement and construction of the actuating element 14, the lever section 142 of the actuating element 14 is arranged outside the region of the receiving space 101 into which the electrical conductor 2 is introduced for connection to the connection terminal 1. This results in a space-efficient arrangement.

The clamping section 124 forms a clamping edge at its free end, with which the clamping leg 120 acts in a clamping manner on the conductor end 20 when the electrical conductor 2 is connected.

For the transfer of the clamping leg 120 into the release position, the actuating element 14 is transferred from the non-actuating position (fig. 3A, 3B) into the actuating position (fig. 4A, 4B) and thereby moves the clamping leg 120 into the release position, in which the clamping leg 120 is locked with the triggering element 13.

After the clamping leg 120 has been moved into the release position, the actuating element 14 can be moved back into the unactuated position in which the actuating section 141 is adjacent to the housing and, for example, is inserted flat into a corresponding receiving opening on the housing 10, as can be seen from fig. 1.

On the actuating section 141, latching elements 145 are formed which, in the unactuated position, engage with corresponding latching elements 103 on the housing 10, as can be seen from fig. 1 and 2. The actuating element 14 is thus held in a position on the housing 10 in the unactuated position and thus occupies a defined, rattle-free position on the housing 10 in the unactuated position.

If the connected electrical conductor 2 should be released again from the connection terminal 2, the actuating element 14 can be pivoted in the actuating direction B, so that the clamping leg 120 is again moved into the release position according to fig. 4A, 4B. The electrical conductor 2 can thus be removed from the connection terminal 1 substantially without force. In the release position, the clamping leg 120 latches again with the triggering section 130, so that when the electrical line 2 is inserted, it again acts on the triggering section 130, and thus the clamping leg 120 is unlatched. The electrical conductor 2 is thus in turn automatically connected to the connection terminal 1 in the event of the clamping leg 120 being triggered automatically.

The idea on which the invention is based is not limited to the embodiments described above but can also be implemented in other ways.

In the embodiment shown, the triggering element is integrally and unitarily formed with the spring element. However, this is not mandatory. The triggering element can also be configured separately from the spring element, for example by a further spring element or by a separate lever.

In the embodiment shown, the actuating element is designed to act on the clamping leg of the spring element on one side. However, this is not mandatory. The actuating element can also act on the clamping legs of the spring element on two sides at adjusting edges facing away from each other.

The actuating element can in principle be mounted pivotably at any desired position and in any desired manner on the housing or on a component which is fixed in position relative to the housing.

Description of the reference numerals

1. Connection terminal

10. Shell body

100. Plug-in opening

101. Accommodation space

102. Engagement opening

103. Latch element

104. Leading edge

11. Contact element (Current strip)

110. Contact section

111. Support section

112. Connection section

113. Support element

12. Clamping spring

120. Clamping leg

121. Supporting leg

122. Connection section

123. Adjusting edges

124. Clamping section

13. Trigger element

130. Trigger section

131. Supporting leg

132. Latch section

133. Support opening

134. Tensioning element

14. Actuating element

140. Shaft element

141. Steering section

142. Lever section

143. Guide section

144. Action section

145. Latch element

2. Conducting wire

20. Conductor end

B steering direction

D pivot axis

E, inserting direction.

Claims

1. Connection terminal (1) for connecting an electrical conductor (2), having a housing (10) with a plug-in opening (100) into which the electrical conductor (2) can be plugged for connection to the connection terminal (1), having a contact element (11) arranged on the housing (10) for electrical contact with the electrical conductor (2), having a spring element (12) arranged on the housing (10) with a clamping leg (120) for acting on the electrical conductor (2) for contacting the electrical conductor (2) and having an actuating element (14) arranged on the housing (10) in a pivotable manner about a pivot axis (D), which actuating element can be adjusted for adjusting the clamping leg (120), wherein the clamping leg (120) can be elastically adjusted to a release position relative to the housing (10) by actuating the actuating element (14) and is held in the release position relative to the housing (10), characterized in that an additional actuating element (13) is provided which can be adjusted relative to the housing (10) relative to the spring element (12), wherein the actuating element (13) is provided, the clamping leg (120) is designed to be snapped into the release position with the triggering element (13) such that the clamping leg (120) is held in the release position, wherein the triggering section (130) is designed to interact with the electrical line (2) when the electrical line is inserted into the insertion opening (100) in order to release the clamping leg (120) from the release position.

2. The connection terminal (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating element (14) has a shaft element (140) which is pivotably mounted on the housing (10), an actuating section (141) which can be actuated by a user, a lever section (142) which connects the shaft element (140) to the actuating section (141), and an actuating section (144) which is arranged on the lever section (142) for acting on the clamping leg (120).

3. The connection terminal (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the lever section (142) is arranged axially beside the clamping leg (120) as seen along the pivot axis (D).

4. A connection terminal (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the clamping leg (120) has a clamping section (124) for acting on the electrical conductor and an adjusting edge (123), wherein, viewed along the pivot axis (D), the adjusting edge (123) is arranged axially beside the clamping section (124) on a side of the clamping leg (120), and the actuating element (14) is designed for acting only on the adjusting edge (123) on the side of the clamping leg (120) for adjusting the clamping leg (120) by means of the acting section (144).

5. The connection terminal (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the active section (144) bears slidingly against the adjustment edge (123).

6. The connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (10) defines a receiving space (101), the electrical conductor (2) being introducible into the receiving space (101) by insertion into a plug opening (100), wherein the triggering section (130) extends in the receiving space (101) for interaction with the electrical conductor (2).

7. The connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the triggering element (13) has a latching section (132), wherein the clamping leg (120) latches with the latching section (132) in the release position.

8. The connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the triggering element (13) has at least one support leg (131) which protrudes from the triggering section (130), wherein the triggering element (13) is supported by the at least one support leg (131) in an adjustable manner relative to the housing (10).

9. The connection terminal (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that a latching section (132) is arranged on the at least one support leg (131) for latching with the clamping leg (120) in the release position.

10. The connection terminal (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the latching section (132) is formed as a projection on the at least one support leg (131).

11. The connection terminal (1) according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the at least one support leg (131) has a support opening (133) for adjustably supporting the triggering element (13).

12. Connection terminal (1) according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the contact element (11) has a contact section (110) for electrical contact with the electrical conductor (2) and a support section (111) constituting a support element (113), wherein the at least one support leg (131) is supported on the support element (113) of the support section (111).

13. The connection terminal (1) according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the triggering element (13) has two supporting legs (131), which are each bent relative to the triggering section (130) and are connected to one another by the triggering section (130).

14. The connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the triggering element (13) has a tensioning element (134) for pre-stressing the triggering element (13) with respect to the housing (10).

15. The connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating element (14) is independently movable relative to the housing (10) relative to the clamping leg (120) when the clamping leg (120) is in the release position.

16. Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating element (14) is pivotable relative to the housing (10) from an unactuated position to an actuated position in order to shift the clamping leg (120) to a release position, wherein the actuating element (14) has a first latching element (145) and the housing (10) has a second latching element (103), wherein the first latching element (145) and the second latching element (103) are in latching engagement with one another in the unactuated position of the actuating element (14).

17. The connection terminal (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that the first latching element (145) is arranged on the actuating section (141).

18. The connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping leg (120) is configured for pushing or pulling the electrical conductor (2) against the contact element (11) by means of a spring force.

19. The connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring element (12) has a support leg (121) which is supported on the housing (10) and with respect to which the clamping leg (120) can be elastically deflected.