EP3116067B1 - Connecting device with plug-in terminal - Google Patents

Description

The invention is based on a connecting device which has at least one installation switching device with a housing and with at least one screwless terminal and at least one connecting element, the connecting element having at least one connecting conductor with at least one contact lug arranged thereon, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a generic connection device is known in connection with circuit breakers, residual current circuit breakers, motor protection switches, relays or contactors, in particular for use in distributors or switchgear in industrial use, for example in the power supply or control of motors or in low-voltage switchgear. An example of a connecting element that can be used in a generic connecting device is a busbar. A busbar is a device for simultaneously electrically connecting a plurality of lined-up connections of one or more lined-up installation switching devices to one another. The pole rail of the busbar and the contact lugs, which usually protrude from the pole rail in an approximately comb-like manner, are made of a rigid and electrically highly conductive material, for example a rigid guide plate, preferably made of copper or a highly conductive copper alloy. For the purpose of electrical contact safety, the pole rail is housed in an insulating profile from which the contact tabs protrude through openings at the designated locations.

Another example of a connecting element that can be used in a generic connecting device is a plug connector. Plug connectors are used to establish an electrical connection between the connection terminals of, for example, a motor protection switch and a contactor. A connector for connecting two three-phase devices has, for example, three connecting conductors, which can be arranged together in an insulating housing, with two contact tabs protruding from each connecting conductor, one for insertion into the connection terminal of the motor protection switch and one for insertion into the connection terminal of the contactor.

Another example of a connecting element that can be used in a generic connecting device for the electrical connection of a three-pole contactor is a so-called reversible connector. In principle, this is a three-pole connector in which the connecting conductors between the individual poles of the two devices to be connected are arranged in such a way that the running direction of a connected motor is reversed.

Traditionally, screw terminals are used for installation switchgear used in industrial environments. Connecting a connecting element takes place in two steps. First, the connecting element is placed on the open screw terminals, and the contact lugs of the busbar are inserted into the open screw terminals. The clamping screws are then tightened one after the other.

Recently it has been proposed to also use screwless terminals in installation switchgear used in industrial environments. Instead of a clamping screw, an arrangement known as a cage spring clamp is used. An example of this is in the EP 0 928 043 B1 shown. The spring-loaded terminal has a clamping frame and an approximately Q-shaped clamping spring, which has a support wing, a clamping wing with a slot for clamping the connecting conductor and a loop that forms a spring and connects the support wing with the clamping wing. In order to clamp the connecting conductor, you have to press on the loop with a tool and use it to move the clamping wing so that the slot is free for inserting the connecting conductor. When the tool is removed, the restoring spring force of the loop pulls the clamping wing back and the connecting conductor is clamped in the slot. Compared to the screw clamp, this offers a certain amount of work relief, and the clamping force is reproducibly adjusted by the spring force of the spring loop and no longer depends on the torque with which the fitter tightens the clamping screw. To remove the connecting conductor, the tool is needed again to push the clamping wing back into its open position.

However, when connecting a connecting element with a contact lug to one or more installation switching devices arranged side by side with such screwless spring-loaded terminals, the difficulty arises that a plurality of Spring-loaded terminals, as many as the contact lugs are inserted, would have to be opened at the same time. This can be almost impossible for the fitter, since it is hardly possible for one person to operate a number of tools with one hand, and the force that the fitter must apply to open a number of clamps in a row is a multiple of the clamping force of a single spring-loaded clamp, which can easily reach an unmanageable dimension of the opening force to be applied.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to improve a generic connection device in such a way that a tool-free connection or removal of a connecting element to or from a plurality of screwless terminal connections of lined up installation switching devices is made possible.

The DE 20 2014 103 797 U1 shows a spring-loaded terminal designed as a direct plug-in terminal, in particular for connecting a stranded conductor, which has a housing and a busbar arranged therein for contacting an electrical conductor and a clamping spring acting as a compression spring for fixing the electrical conductor in the spring-loaded terminal, the clamping spring rotating around a pivot axis has a pivoting clamping leg which can be adjusted from a locking state in which it is locked to a holding means by moving the electrical conductor into a clamping state in which it is unlocked from the holding means and presses the electrical conductor against the busbar, the spring-loaded clamp has a sliding sleeve that serves as an insertion aid for the conductor.

The DE 201 01 435 81 shows an electrical device with connections for a single wire and a busbar, in which a connection for a single wire end piece and a connection for a busbar lug are provided on a narrow side of the connection perpendicular to a foot area, in which the connection for the busbar lug is in one The receptacle, which is open towards the narrow side of the connection, has an inclined piece acted upon by a spring, which forms an angle <90 ° with the insertion direction of the busbar lug, is positioned at an angle towards the narrow side of the connection and is in a contact position with the end facing away from the narrow side of the connection along a contact strip on the busbar. Flag rests, with the slanted piece for a simple Insertion of the busbar flag can be pushed back against the force of the spring by means of the flag, the famous tire of the inclined piece acted upon by the spring forming a claw edge against easy pulling of the busbar flag from the receptacle and that the connection for the busbar flag to push away the An actuating lever is assigned to the claw edge of the inclined piece from the contact position, which is rotatably mounted about an axis, forms a pressing arm for pushing away the claw edge and forms a manipulating arm which is accessible on the narrow side of the connection when the claw edge is in the contact position.

WO 2010/015308 A1 describes an installation switching device with a screwless terminal connection.

EP 1 667 286 A2 describes a device for the conductive connection of two connections with busbars.

This task is solved by a connecting device with the features of claim 1.

According to the invention, the clamp is of the type that has at least one clamping spring acting as a compression spring on a clamping point of the contact lug for clamping the contact lug and for pressing a contact point of the contact lug on a busbar, and the connecting element is designed with a manually operable opening member, which When actuated, the clamping spring pushes away from the clamping point and thus enables the contact lug to be removed from the clamp without the use of an additional tool.

According to the invention, the problem is solved by two measures. The first relates to the use of another type of screwless spring clamp, namely the type which has at least one clamping spring acting as a compression spring on a clamping point of the contact lug for clamping a connecting conductor. This type is also known as a spring-loaded clamp, also known as a "push-in" clamp. With the spring-loaded terminal, a rigid connection conductor, for example a contact lug, can be inserted without an opening tool. The spring clamp has one Support wing, a clamping wing for clamping the connecting conductor or the contact lug at the free end of the clamping wing and a loop that forms a spring and connects the support with the clamping wing. When inserted, the rigid connecting conductor or the contact lug pushes the clamping end, the end piece of the clamping wing, aside; the restoring spring force of the loop ensures the necessary contact pressure force. By using this type of screwless spring clamp, a connecting element, for example a busbar with its plurality of juxtaposed rigid contact lugs or a plug connector or a reversible connector, can be easily inserted into a plurality of juxtaposed clamping openings and clamped without the need for a tool.

When pressed, the clamping end of the clamping wing could press into the material of the contact tab, especially if it is made of a highly conductive copper alloy. The clamping end of the clamping wing could then get caught a little in the contact tab. This can mean that it is no longer easy to pull out the busbar and only possible with considerable effort against the snagging resistance, whereby the clamping spring or the contact tab could be damaged if pulled out repeatedly.

The second inventive measure is therefore to design the connecting element with a manually operable opening member which, when actuated, pushes the clamping spring away from the clamping point and thus enables the contact tab to be removed from the clamp without the use of an additional tool. If the connecting element has an insulating profile in which the connecting conductor or conductors is or are embedded with the contact lug or lugs, then in an advantageous further development the insulating profile is designed with the manually operable opening member.

When operating a connecting device according to the invention in an industrial environment, under unfavorable circumstances, for example due to strong vibrations, the pressure force at the clamping point could loosen or the contact tab could "shake out" of the connection terminal. In order to prevent this, according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is proposed to design the connecting element with a latching element, which interacts with a latching element adapted to it on the housing of the installation switching device in a latching manner when the clamping spring touches the contact lug on the Clamps the clamping point and presses it onto the busbar at the contact point. The locking element prevents the connecting element from shaking loose. If the connecting element has an insulating profile in which the connecting conductor or conductors is or are embedded with the contact lug or lugs, then in an advantageous further development the insulating profile is designed with the manually operable opening member. For example, this can be implemented in a busbar with an insulating profile. The locking element also prevents the busbar as a whole from shaking loose. The latching element is designed to form a releasable latching connection with the latching means on the housing, so that the connecting element, for example the busbar or the plug connector or the reversible connector, can also be removed again. An advantageous example of a locking element according to the invention is a locking lug on a locking bar that is resiliently clamped on one side, and the corresponding locking means on the housing can, in an advantageous example, be a corresponding locking lug or a locking opening formed on the housing.

Character description

Figures and description serve to better understand the object. Objects or parts of objects that are essentially the same or similar can be provided with the same reference numerals. The figures are merely a schematic representation of four possible embodiments of the invention.

Figur 1

schematisch und exemplarisch einen Querschnitt durch eine erfindungsgemäße Verbindungsanordnung gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform, exemplarisch gezeigt mit einer Sammelschiene, vor dem Einstecken der Sammelschiene,

Figur 2

schematisch und exemplarisch einen Querschnitt durch die Verbindungsanordnung nach Figur 1, mit eingesteckter Sammelschiene,

Figur 3

schematisch und exemplarisch einen Querschnitt durch die Verbindungsanordnung nach Figur 1, vor dem Herausziehen der Sammelschiene,

Figur 4

schematisch und exemplarisch einen Querschnitt durch eine erfindungsgemäße Verbindungsanordnung gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform, vor dem Einstecken der Sammelschiene,

Figur 5

schematisch und exemplarisch einen Querschnitt durch die Verbindungsanordnung nach Figur 4, mit eingesteckter Sammelschiene,

Figur 6

schematisch und exemplarisch einen Querschnitt durch die Verbindungsanordnung nach Figur 4, vor dem Herausziehen der Sammelschiene,

Figur 7

eine erfindungsgemäße Verbindungsanordnung mit zwei aneinandergereihten Motorschutzschaltern und einer Sammelschiene,

Figur 8

eine Detailansicht von schräg oben auf eine erfindungsgemäße Verbindungsanordnung nach Figur 7, kurz bevor die Kontaktfahnen der Sammelschiene in die Steckfederklemme eingesteckt werden.

This shows:

Figure 1

schematically and as an example a cross section through a connection arrangement according to the invention according to a first embodiment, shown as an example with a busbar, before inserting the busbar,

Figure 2

schematically and as an example a cross section through the connection arrangement Figure 1 , with inserted busbar,

Figure 3

schematically and as an example a cross section through the connection arrangement Figure 1 , before pulling out the busbar,

Figure 4

schematically and exemplarily a cross section through an inventive Connection arrangement according to a second embodiment, before inserting the busbar,

Figure 5

schematically and as an example a cross section through the connection arrangement Figure 4 , with inserted busbar,

Figure 6

schematically and as an example a cross section through the connection arrangement Figure 4 , before pulling out the busbar,

Figure 7

a connection arrangement according to the invention with two motor protection switches arranged in a row and a busbar,

Figure 8

a detailed view obliquely from above of a connection arrangement according to the invention Figure 7 , just before the contact lugs of the busbar are inserted into the plug-in spring terminal.

In the figures, identical, similar and identical or similar elements are designated with the same reference numbers.

The inventive idea described using the example of the busbar can easily be transferred to other connecting elements, in particular to plug connectors and reversible connectors, without the need for further figurative explanations.

It will be the first Figure 7 and 8th considered. The Figure 7 shows a connection device 100 according to the invention. In the example, this has two three-phase motor protection switches 1, 1' lined up on their broad sides. Each of the two motor protection switches 1, 1' has three access terminals 3, 4, 5, 3', 4', 5' and three outlet terminals opposite each other, only two can be seen in the figure, with the reference numbers 6, 7. On the access side A busbar 8 should be connected. The busbar 8 has an insulating profile 9, in which a pole rail 10 (see Figure 8 ) is arranged, on which six contact tabs 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 are formed like a comb and protrude perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the pole rail. Like the arrow P in Figure 7 indicates, the busbar 8 with the contact lugs 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 in front is plugged vertically onto the front 17 of the motor protection switch, the contact lugs then engage in the terminal openings a.

Figure 8 shows a detailed view of one of the connection terminals from diagonally above. The insulating profile is removed from the busbar here, you can see the pole rail 10 and two of the contact lugs 12, 13. The connection terminal is a spring plug-in terminal as a clamping spring 40. You can see the upper part of the loop 18 and part of the clamping wing 19. The contact tabs 12 and 13 are located shortly before being inserted into the respective terminal openings.

They will now be Figures 1 , 2 and 3 considered. Figure 1 shows schematically and by way of example a cross section through a part of the connecting device 100 as in Figure 7 and 8th shown. One can see part of the housing of the motor protection switch 1: the front front side 20, the rear front side 21, the front narrow side 22, the rear narrow side 23. An insertion opening 28 is formed on the rear narrow side 21 for inserting the contact lug 11 of the busbar 8 into the Clamping point in the direction of arrow P.

The clamping point is formed by a spring clip. This has a clamping spring 40 with a support wing 25, a clamping wing 19 and a loop 18 which connects the clamping wing 19 to the support wing 25 and which forms a spring and effects the restoring spring force on the clamping wing 19. The clamping wing 19 has a slight bend, its clamping end 24 is bent slightly upwards towards the front 21. With the support wing 25, the clamping spring 40 is supported on a support rail 26 inside the installation switching device 1. With the clamping end 24, the clamping spring 40 presses an inserted connecting conductor, for example the contact lug 11, against a busbar 27. The electrical contact takes place between the busbar 27 and the contact lug 11, see Figure 2 and 3 . The busbar 27 and the support rail 26 can be parts of a common terminal frame, but they can also be designed as individual parts. The support rail 26 could also be designed as a housing projection. Further conductor pieces are then connected to the busbar 27 inside the installation switching device, which continue the current path from the terminal point inside the installation switching device 1.

In the representation Figure 1 the busbar 8 and the motor protection switch 1 are still separated from each other. The bus bar 8 can be inserted into the insertion opening 28 in the direction of arrow P, with the contact tab 11 in front become.

Figure 2 shows the state in which the busbar 8 is inserted into the insertion opening 28 with the contact tab 11 first. The contact tab 11 pushes the clamping end 24 of the clamping spring 40 away. The free end of the contact tab 11 has a flat side that slides along the busbar 27, which is also designed with a flat surface. When inserted, see Figure 2 , presses the clamping end 24 of the clamping wing 19 against the side of the end piece of the contact lug 11 facing the clamping wing 19. The area in which the clamping end 24 rests on the contact lug 11 is referred to as the clamping point 29. Due to the pressure effect of the clamping end 24 of the clamping wing 19 on the contact lug 11, the side of the contact lug 11 opposite the clamping point 29 is pressed flat against the busbar 27. The area in which the side of the contact tab 11 opposite the clamping point 29 lies flat against the busbar 27 is referred to as the contact point 30.

The electrical contact between the contact lug 11 and the busbar 27 takes place at the contact point 30. There the current flows from the contact lug 11 into the installation switching device 1 or out of the installation switching device 1 into the contact lug 11. There should therefore be a low electrical contact resistance at the contact point 30. If the pole rail with the contact lugs 11 is made of a highly conductive material, for example copper or a copper alloy, this can be achieved with a sufficiently large contact pressure from the clamping spring 40 and its clamping end 24 on the clamping point 29.

There is no current flow at the clamping point 29; the clamping point 29 has no electrical contact function, only a mechanical function. A spring steel used to produce the clamping spring 40 is usually not a good electrical conductor; it is specifically optimized with regard to its spring-elastic properties.

When the clamping end 24 is pressed against the contact lug 11, the clamping end 24 of the clamping spring 40 can cut into the contact lug 11, which is made of a highly conductive but less hard material, in the area of the clamping point 29. The clamping end 24 of the clamping wing 19 of the clamping spring 40 then becomes clamped. The busbar could then only be pulled out of the insertion opening 28 with increased effort; if pulled out several times, the clamping spring 40 or the Contact flag 11 takes damage. To prevent this, the insulating profile 9 is designed with a manually operable opening member 35, which, when actuated, pushes the clamping end 24 of the clamping spring away from the clamping point 29 and thus enables the contact tab 11 to be removed from the clamp without using an additional tool. In order to always be able to easily remove the busbar 8 without additional tools, the insulating profile 9 is designed with a manually operable opening member, as shown in FIG Figures 1 - 3 is shown.

The opening member 35 is in the form of a double arm lever 35. Its pivot axis 36 is located on a molding 37 on the insulating profile 9, which protrudes a little from the insulating profile 9. This creates a pivot point for the double arm lever 35 that is spaced from the insulating profile 9 and is firmly connected to the insulating profile 9 and allows pivoting towards the insulating profile 9 and away from the insulating profile 9. A first arm 38 of the double arm lever 35 extends approximately parallel to the contact tab 11 in the direction of the clamping wing 19 of the clamping spring 40. A second arm 39 of the double arm lever 35 extends into the space outside the insulating profile 9 and can be operated by hand from the outside when the busbar 8 is inserted. In the embodiment shown here, which is only shown as an example, the second arm 39 is slightly angled so that it is easier to reach with a finger for actuation.

Figure 1 shows the busbar separated from the installation switching device 1. Figure 2 shows the busbar 8 plugged onto the insertion opening 28 of the installation switching device 1. The free end of the first arm 38 of the opening member 35 ends here shortly before the clamping wing 19 of the clamping spring 40.

Figure 3 shows the situation when the opening member 35 is actuated. Pressure on the second arm 39 in the direction of arrow D pivots the first arm 38 clockwise, which pushes the clamping end 24 of the clamping wing 19 away from the clamping point 29, indicated by the arrow F, and The contact tab 11 can be pulled out upwards, see arrow E.

They will now be Figures 4 - 6 considered. The embodiment shown therein differs from that in the Figures 1 -3 shown embodiment in that here the insulating profile 9 is additionally formed with a locking element 31, which has a locking element 32 adapted to it on the housing of the installation switching device 1, here in the example on the rear narrow side 23, interacts in a latching manner when the clamping spring 40 clamps the contact tab 11 with the clamping end 24 at the clamping point 29 and presses it against the busbar 27 at the contact point 30. The latching element 31 is a latching lug 33 on a latching bar 34 which is resiliently clamped on one side. The latching element 32 corresponding to it on the housing is a corresponding latching lug or a latching opening formed on the housing (not shown here in the figure). The locking element 31 in locking with the locking element 32 prevents the insulating profile 9 from shaking loose and thus also the busbar from shaking loose in an industrial environment, and thus supports the clamping effect of the clamping end 24 of the clamping spring 40 on the contact tab 11. The locking element can be used to remove the busbar 8 31 can be bent away without tools with one or more fingers so that the locking lug 33 releases the locking element 32, and the bus bar 8 can then be pulled out of the insertion opening 28 with the same hand or the other hand.

Reference symbol list

1

Motor protection switch

1'

Motor protection switch

3

Access terminal

3'

Access terminal

4

Access terminal

4'

Access terminal

5

Access terminal

5`

Access terminal

6

Outgoing terminal

7

Outgoing terminal

8th

bus bar

9

Insulating profile

10

Pole rail

11

Contact flag

12

Contact flag

13

Contact flag

14

Contact flag

15

Contact flag

16

Contact flag

17

Front

18

Ribbon

19

Clamp wings

20

front front

21

rear front

22

front narrow side

23

rear narrow side

24

Clamping end

25

Support wing

26

Support rail

27

busbar

28

Introductory opening

29

Terminal point

30

Contact point

31

locking organ

32

Locking element

33

detent nose

34

Rest bars

35

opening organ

36

Pivot axis

37

Formation

38

first arm

39

second arm

40

Clamping spring

100

Connection device

P

Arrow

D

Arrow

E

Arrow

F

Arrow

Claims (6)

1. Connecting apparatus (100) which has at least one installation switching device (1) with a housing and with at least one screwless terminal, and has at least one connecting element (8), wherein the connecting element (8) has an insulating profile (9) and, arranged in the said insulating profile, at least one connecting conductor (10) with at least one contact lug (11) arranged on the said connecting conductor, wherein the terminal is of the type that has at least one clamping spring (40), which acts as a compression spring on a clamping point (29) of the contact lug (11), for fixedly clamping the contact lug (11) and for pressing a contact point (30) of the contact lug (11) against a conductor rail (27), and wherein the connecting element (8) is designed with an opening member (35) which can be operated by hand and which, when it is operated, pushes the clamping spring (40) away from the clamping point (29) and therefore allows the contact lug (11) to be removed from the terminal without using an additional tool, characterized in that the opening member (35) is designed in the form of a double-armed lever, the pivot axis (36) of which is located on an integrally formed portion (37) on the insulating profile (9), wherein the integrally formed portion (37) projects slightly away from the insulating profile (9), wherein a first arm (38) of the double-armed lever extends approximately parallel to the contact lug (11) in the direction of the clamping wing (19) of the clamping spring (40), wherein a second arm (39) of the double-armed lever (35) extends into the area outside the insulating profile (9) and can be operated by hand from outside when the connecting element (8) is inserted.
2. Connecting apparatus (100) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the connecting element (8) is designed with a latching member (31) which interacts in a latching manner with a latching element (32), which is matched to the said latching member, on the housing of the installation switching device (1) when the clamping spring (40) fixedly clamps the contact lug (11) to the clamping point (29) and presses against the conductor rail (27) at the contact point (30).
3. Connecting apparatus (100) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the latching member (31) is a latching tab (33) on a latching bar (34) which is clamped with a spring action at one end, and in that the corresponding latching element (32) on the housing is a corresponding latching tab which is integrally formed on the housing or is a latching opening.
4. Connecting apparatus (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element (8) is a busbar which has an insulating profile (9), and wherein the connecting conductor is a pole rail which is arranged in the insulating profile (9), and in that the opening member (35) which can be operated by hand is formed on the insulating profile (9).
5. Connecting apparatus (100) according to any of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the connecting element is a plug connector for establishing an electrical connection between the connection terminals of a motor circuit breaker and a contactor.
6. Connecting apparatus (100) according to any of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the connecting element is a reversing connector.

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