DE19512371A1 - Screwless electrical terminal for line- or earth-fault protection switch - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical terminal clamp has a main housing (11) within which is a clamping spring (18) produced from strip metal formed into a loop with a projecting arm (21) that has an aperture (23) to receive the end of a wire (51). In the normal condition the wire is subjected to the spring force to hold the wire in place. In order that the wire can be inserted the spring has to be compressed. This is obtained by applying finger pressure to a block (35) that deflects an element (28) in contact with the spring.

Description

The invention relates to a screwless clamp for an elek trical installation device, especially for a line Protection and / or residual current circuit breaker according to the generic term of claim 1.

Screwless clamps of this type are from a range of pressures writings became known. DE 24 51 062 A1 shows one screwless clamp, where between a fixed contact an electrical lead wire and a spring arm gets stuck. DE 32 37 832 A1 describes a screwless one Clamp has become known, the first arm and one around the Second arm bent perpendicular to it has, wherein the first arm is attached to a support member and the carrier element through a recess in the second arm takes hold. The arc is spring loaded so that it free end of the second arm or the edge adjacent to it the recess presses against the carrier element and so the lei tion element between the edge of the recess and the carrier element clamped. Similar clamps are called a cage tension spring terminals of Wago Kontakt GmbH became known.  

With all of these screwless terminals, the actuation of the Clamp a certain problem. Especially when connecting Lei tion on an electrical installation device, in particular with a circuit breaker or a residual current device switch must deform and open the spring clip to simp che way; only a screwdriver may be used be used.

From DE 43 32 969 C1 a screwless clamp is the one gangs mentioned become known in which a manually betä Tigbaren clamping member is provided, which is in the form of a Noc kenwalze is formed, the axis of rotation of the cam roller runs parallel to the direction of insertion of the connecting cable. With a radially protruding cam turns when turning use a screwdriver to roll the screwless clamp or the spring clamp so tensioned that the recess on the second Leg in the area of the insertion hole on the electrical installa tion device is located so that the lead wire through the insertion hole and insert the recess in the clamping area of the spring clip is cash. By turning the roller body or the rotating roller the spring clip is released and the second leg can grasp the end of the ladder and tighten it.

With such arrangements there is the disadvantage that the rotation roller must be rotated so that the spring clip are actuated can. This must be done manually, which is a problem during initial assembly means some effort.

The object of the invention is the screwless clamp of a gangs mentioned in such a way that in particular the Mon days is considerably simplified.

This object is achieved by the characterizing nenden features of claim 1.

The clamping element are accordingly assigned locking means, one Have a link; the locking means hold the Spannor gan in the mounting position and when inserting the An  the tensioning element is thereby released or released ben that the latch is released.

The particularly advantageous embodiments of the locking means with the latching point can be found in the subclaims.

Then two are each around to form the latching point An axis rotatable swivel lever is provided, which two stable Can take positions, namely a tense position and one relaxed position, the tensioned position by a spring washer cher causes or is generated when the latch is released is released. The spring clip is used as a spring accumulator used itself.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, a Return spring provided that the second pivot lever in its Starting position adjusted in which he swings with the first lever can be latched.

A tool or in particular a within the installation device linearly guided Be provided push button on the lever assembly with the acts on both swivel levers.

Another embodiment of the invention, in which the Ausge design according to DE 43 32 969 C1 is further developed Subclaims 7 and following can be found. Here is the Rotary roller provided a pin with a rotatable bearing ten, a U-shaped pivot lever cooperates; of the one leg of the U-shape of the pivot lever acts with the cam together, whereas a tab is bent on the other leg, against which the inserted lead wire strikes and onto it Way pivoted the pivot lever about its axis of rotation. Thereby a pin attached to the rotating roller is released and by the force of the Fe acting on the cam of the rotary drum the terminal twisted.

Based on the drawing, in the two embodiments of the Er are shown invention, the invention and others advantageous refinements and improvements of the invention are explained and described in more detail.

Show it:

Fig. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of the invention in different positions,

Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 4 to 6 different views of an actuating roller and

FIGS. 7 and 8 show different views of the pivot lever.

In the housing 11 of a circuit breaker 10 , the BEFE stigungsebene is represented by the line BB, a Soc kelbereich 12 is provided, which forms a T-shape together with the upper housing part 13 . The base part 12 forms the crosspiece of the T-shape and the side surface 14 of the crosspiece, which is arranged at a distance from the mounting plane BB, is inclined at an angle α to the horizontal, which runs parallel to the mounting plane BB. The angle a is an acute angle and is approximately 20 ° to 30 °.

In the base surface 14 a perpendicular opening Publ 15 is provided through which an electrical connection conductor to a terminal, which has the reference number 17 in its entirety, can be supplied. The terminal 17 comprises a spring clip 18 which is designed as a cage tension spring and is commercially available under this name. This spring clip 18 sits a first leg 19 which is attached to a terminal support 20 made of electrically conductive material. The leg 19 is connected to a second leg 21 via an arc section 22 which, together with the leg 19, forms a closed shape; the second leg 21 extends perpendicular to the first leg 19 and has a recess 23 through which the free end of the leg 19 extends. The recess 23 is delimited by an edge 24 on its side facing the leg end of the leg 21 . The carrier part 20 also extends through the recess 23 .

Fig. 1 shows the spring clamp in a tensioned state, in a state So in which the recess 23 is below the opening 15. This tense state is obtained as follows:

The connecting terminal 17 is assigned a lever system 25 , which is composed of a first pivot lever 26 and a second pivot lever 27 cooperating with it. The first pivot lever 26 has a V-shape with two lever arms 28 and 29 , which form an obtuse angle with one another and is rotatably mounted in the region of its tip 30 on a guide part 31 holding the carrier part 20 . In the area of the tip 30 , an extension 32 is guided which extends through a recess 33 . A pin or a pin-like projection 34 , on which an actuation button 35 is guided, is formed on the guide part 31 . The projection 34 runs parallel to the central axis of the opening 15 and parallel to the direction of insertion of the connecting conductor. The push button 35 has a pressure surface 36 , which cooperates with the free end of the lever arm 28 , such that when the push button is pressed in the direction of the arrow P, the first pivot lever 26 is pivoted clockwise about its axis of rotation in the region of the tip 30 . In this pivoting movement, the spring clip 18 is tensioned and brought into the mounting position shown in Fig. 1.

On the guide part 31 is diametrically opposed to the guide pin 34 , a pivot pin 37 about which the second pivot lever 27 is pivotable. The second pivot lever 27 is also V-shaped and has a first pivot arm 38 and a second pivot arm 39 running at an acute angle thereto. At the free end of the first swivel arm 38 , a surface 40 extending perpendicularly thereto is formed, which extends approximately perpendicular to the central axis of the opening 15 . On the outer longitudinal edge of the second leg 39 is a perpendicular stop wall 41 angeord net or formed, in which there is an opening 42 which has on its side facing the axis of rotation 37 a stop edge 43 against which the free end of the lever arm 29th of the most swivel arm 26 is present because of the force exerted by the spring clamp 18 , which tries to turn the swivel lever 26 counterclockwise. The free end of the swivel arm 29 or lever arm 29 forms a latching point with the stop edge 43 .

An L-shaped pin 44 is formed on the guide part 31 and, in the position shown in FIG. 1, extends approximately perpendicular to the swivel arm 27 ; this projection 44 is used to guide a return spring 45 which seeks to rotate the pivot lever 27 in a clockwise direction around the pivot 37 . The open sides of the two V-shapes of the swivel arms 26 and 27 face each other and the axes of rotation lie in the region of the points of the V-shapes pointing away from one another. While in the swivel arm 26 to form the axes of rotation projecting laterally (perpendicular to the plane formed by the swivel arm 26 ) protrusions are formed which are guided in the guide part 31 , the swivel arm 27 has a fork-like claw 46 with two claw arms 47 in the region of its tip and 48 , which form a recess 49 between them and comprise the pivot pin 37 .

If a connecting conductor piece 50 is now inserted into the opening 15 in the direction of arrow M, then the core 51 of the connecting conductor piece 50 also passes through the recess 23 and strikes against the stop surface 40 . As a result, the pivot lever 27 rotates counterclockwise about the axis of rotation 37 , so that the latching point 29/43 is released and the pivot arm 26 is also pivoted counterclockwise due to the force of the spring clamp 18 , whereby the leg 21 is pulled against the carrier part 20 is and the edge 24 (not shown in Fig. 2) against the core 51 of the lead 50 be moves and the core of the lead 50 jammed with the support member 20 . This position (without the connecting conductor 50 ) is shown in FIG. 2. The swivel arm 26 rotates so far that the outer surface of the lever arm 28 bears against the guide projection 34 and the inside of the swivel arm 29 against the spring clip 18 . Here, the push button against the direction of arrow P has been pushed outwards.

If the conductor is now to be disconnected, then the push button 35 is pressed in the direction of the arrow P; thereby the spring clamp 18 is tensioned and brought into the release position in FIG. 1, the free end of the lever arm 29 simultaneously moving behind the stop edge 43 and thus restoring the latching between the two pivot levers 26 and 27 . The pivot lever 27 is brought into the latching position by the return spring 45 .

The circuit breaker is delivered in the state as shown in Fig. 1; to clamp the connecting conductor, it is only pushed in through the opening 15 and the recess 23 until the free end of the connecting conductor strikes the stop surface 40 and the pivoting lever 27 is pivoted to unlatch the latching point. At this moment the jam is ensured. To disconnect, only the push button 35 is pressed inward, and as a result, it extends the arrangement to the position shown in FIG. 1.

Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of the invention, just in case with a spring clip designed as a cage clamp spring, where additional individual parts are shown, which are not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Those parts which are also present in FIG. 1 are given the same reference number in FIG. 3. It can be seen in the embodiment of Fig. 3, the attachment of a bimetallic 60th For this purpose, a bent tab 61 attached to the yoke, not shown, is provided, on which a fastening section 62 is formed, to which the bimetal 60 is fastened. This configuration is known per se and is present, for example, in switch S2, sold by ABB Stotz-Kontakt GmbH.

In ih rer entirety of the terminal in the embodiment of Fig. 3 has the reference numeral 63. It comprises a spring clip 64 , which corresponds to the spring clip 18 . The spring clip 64 is fastened to a carrier part 65 ; the carrier part 65 corresponds in shape and function to the carrier part 20 . The support member 65 is integrally formed on a guide member 66 on which an actuating roller 67 (see FIGS . 4 to 6) is rotatably mounted, the actuating roller 67 being aligned parallel to the direction of insertion of the connecting conductor 50 . The housing 10 has the opening 15 which extends perpendicular to the base surface 14 . In the area of the water opening 15 there is the recess 68 of the spring clamp corresponding to the recess 23 , so that the connecting line 50 can be pushed through the opening 15 into the recess 68 .

To actuate the spring clip 64 , as mentioned above, the actuating roller 67 is provided. This actuating roller 67 has a bolt 70 , at one end a bolt head 71 is formed, which contains a receiving slot 72 for a screwdriver; The actuation slot 72 is surrounded by an arrow structure 73 . A cam 74 is formed at a distance from the actuating head 71 and projects radially; in the area of the other end of the bolt 70 , a radial locking projection 75 is provided. If the actuating pin 70 is rotated by means of a screwdriver, then force is exerted by the cam 74 on the spring clip 64 , so that the spring clip 64 is brought into the position 641 shown in FIG. 1, ie can be tensioned. If the actuating roller or the actuating bolt is pivoted in the opposite direction, then the cam 74 releases the spring clamp 64 so that it clamps on the circuit conductor 50 , changing to the position shown in FIG. 3 with 64 _II can.

To the support part 66 is on the side facing away from the spring clip 64 of the center axis of the pivot 67 and on which the Recordin measurement opening 68 the opposite end of the support member 66, a rotational bearing 76 U-shaped for a lever 77 is provided. This lever 77 is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

The shape of the rotary lever 77 is a U-shape with a web 78 and two legs 79 and 80 , the leg 79 being bent toward the web 77 and bent convexly outwards at its free end to the other leg 80 , so that an arcuate Aufla surface 81 is formed.

The other leg 80 is bent away from the web 78 at an acute angle β so that a stop surface 82 is formed ge. As can be seen from Fig. 8, two perpendicular wall sections 83 and 84 are formed on the web 78 , which are spaced from one another and each have a recess or a bore 85 . In the section 86 of the web, which is located between the walls 83 and 84 , a slot 87 is provided which interacts with the projection 75 .

The spring terminal 64 is in the 64 _I position for mounting or connecting the connecting conductor 50 . In this case, the pivot lever 77 is located on an area of the cam 74 which is at a greater distance from the central axis than the radius of the pivot pin 70 . As a result, the leg 79 is resiliently loaded and presses the swivel arm 77 into the position 77 _I , in which the swivel arm holds the pivot pin or pivot pin 70 . As soon as a connecting conductor 50 is inserted through the opening 15 , 68 , the connecting conductor hits the flag 82 and in the process pivots the pivot lever 77 about the axis of rotation 76/85 , into a position which is identified by 77 _II in FIG. 3. The pivot pin 70 is released by the projection 75 coming out of the slot 87 ; as a result, the cam 74 pivots and relieves the spring clamp so that it can reach the 64 _II position, that is to say its clamping position. Characterized in that the pivot arm 79 slides into an area whose distance from the central axis of the pivot pin 70 is smaller than its Ra dius, a relief or reduction in the deflection of the leg 79 is achieved, which has the advantage that the unlocking force, so the force to be applied to gene the pivoting lever 77 from position 77 _I to position 77 _II is reduced. In order to be able to remove the conductor 50 again, the pivot pin 70 is rotated by means of a screwdriver; this causes the cam 74 to push the spring clip back into position 64 _I ; by the shape of the cam, the leg 79 ra dial is pressed outwards and the leg 80 can then go back to the position that is indicated by the position 77 _I. The projection locks again in the slot 87 and the spring clip 64 is open so that a conductor 50 can be connected.

Due to the structural design of the two embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 or 3, the switch can be opened with the terminal, ie a terminal that is in the position shown in FIG. 1 or in the position indicated by the reference number 64 _{I is} indicated to be delivered to the construction site to the installer; the connection of a connecting conductor is then simply done by plugging the connecting conductor into the connecting terminal. By pressing a locking or latching element with a latching point, the spring clip is released and can snap to the position in which the conductor is connected. The clamp can be brought into the open position by means of the push button 35 or a screwdriver.

The arrow structure 73 shown in FIG. 6 shows whether the terminal block is open or closed.

Claims (20)

1.Screwless terminal, in particular for an electrical installation device, preferably for a line protection and / or residual current circuit breaker, with a spring terminal, which is developed by a manually operable clamping element from a first position (clamping position) in which an electrical conductor is clamped second position can be moved, in which the conductor can be removed or inserted into the terminal, characterized in that the clamping element ( 35 , 26 , 27 ; 70 , 77 ) is assigned latching means with a latching point ( 43 , 29 ; 75 , 87 ) which, when the latching point is unlatched, adjust the tensioning element ( 35 , 26 , 27 ; 70 , 77 ) from the second to the first position without additional action. 2. Screwless clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping member ( 35 , 26 , 27 ; 70 , 77 ) a Verklin kungsstelle ( 43 , 29 ) forming pivoting lever ( 26 , 27 ) are assigned, which by a spring ( 18th ) are held in a first stable position (latching position) and that the tilting point is unlatched by means of the conductor in such a way that the two pivot levers ( 26 , 27 ) can be moved from the first stable position (latching position) to a second stable position in which the tensioning element releases the spring clip ( 18 ) and this reaches its clamping position. 3. Screwless clamp according to claim 2, characterized in that the spring is formed by the spring clamp and presses the first pivot lever ( 26 ) against a stop ( 43 ) on the other pivot lever ( 27 ). 4. Screwless clamp according to claim 3, characterized in that the other pivot lever ( 27 ) by means of a return spring ( 45 ) is acted upon in the latching position, so that the other pivoting lever comes into the latching position again after tripping. 5. Screwless clamp according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping member has a linearly displaceably guided push button ( 35 ) which, when pressed in, presses the first pivot lever ( 26 ) against the spring clamp ( 18 ) and opens it. 6. Screwless clamp according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first pivot lever ( 26 ) is an L-shaped or V-shaped curved lever which is rotatably mounted in the knee, against the first lever arm ( 28 ) of the push button ( 35 ) and their second lever arm ( 29 ) presses with the free end against the stop or the stop edge ( 43 ) on the other swivel lever ( 27 ). 7. Screwless clamp according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the other pivot lever ( 27 ) is also V-shaped, with a pivot arm ( 39 ) on which the stop edge ( 43 ) is formed, and with another pivot arm ( 38 ), on which a stop tab ( 40 ) is formed, against which it abuts when the connecting conductor is inserted and the pivot lever ( 27 ) is pivoted in such a way that the latching point is released. 8. Screwless clamp according to claim 7, characterized in that on one pivot arm ( 39 ) of the pivot lever ( 27 ) a wall ( 41 ) is formed in which a recess is provided which is limited by the stop edge ( 43 ). 9. Screwless clamp according to claim 8, characterized in that the return spring ( 45 ) engages on the wall. 10. Screwless clamp according to claim 2 to 9, characterized in that the two pivot levers ( 26 , 27 ), the spring clamp ( 18 ), the push button ( 35 ) and the return spring ( 45 ) are mounted on a guide element ( 31 ) . 11. Screwless clamp according to claim 10, characterized in that the guide element ( 31 ) is a carrier part ( 20 ) for holding the spring clip ( 18 ), a parallel guide projection ( 34 ) for linear guidance of the push button, each an axis of rotation for rotatable Storage of the pivot lever ( 26 , 27 ) and an extension ( 44 ) for guiding the return spring ( 45 ) on. 12. Screwless clamp according to claim 11, characterized in that the pivot levers ( 26 , 27 ) with their V-shape are open to each other so that the axes of rotation in the region of their knees are each arranged on the outside of the V-shape. 13. Screwless clamp according to claim 12, characterized records that the direction of actuation of the push button and the The direction of insertion of the connecting conductor is parallel to one another fen. 14. Screwless terminal according to claim 1, with a pivot pin ( 70 ) with a cam ( 74 ) whose direction of rotation is parallel to the insertion direction of a connecting conductor ( 50 ), and with egg spring clip ( 64 ) by the cam ( 74 ) when turning the pivot pin ( 70 ) in the open position and brought back from this, characterized in that a fixed pivot lever ( 77 ) is provided which holds the pivot pin ( 70 ) in the connected position and is pivoted when connected so that the pivot pin makes a rotation so that the cam ( 74 ) releases the spring clip ( 64 ). 15. Screwless clamp according to claim 14, characterized in that the pivot lever ( 77 ) has a slot ( 87 ) in which in the connected position a radial projection ( 75 ) on the rotary bolt ( 70 ) engages. 16. Screwless clamp according to one of claims 13 to 14, characterized in that the axis of rotation ( 76 , 85 ) beyond the axis of rotation of the pivot pin ( 70 ) from the spring clamp ( 64 ) is arranged to see that the pivot arm ( 77 ) covered with a web ( 78 ), the spring clip ( 64 ) and at the end facing the recess of the spring clip ( 64 ) has a tab ( 82 ) against which abuts when connecting the connecting conductor ( 50 ), pivots the pivot lever ( 77 ) and thereby releases the projection ( 75 ). 17. Screwless clamp according to claim 16, characterized in that an arm ( 79 ) is formed on the axis of rotation end of the pivot lever, which engages in the region of the cam ( 74 ) of the pivot pin ( 70 ) and in the connected position of the cam in the connection position is applied. 18. Screwless clamp according to one of claims 13 to 17, characterized in that a carrier element ( 66 ) is provided on which the pivot pin ( 70 ), the pivot lever ( 77 ) and the spring clamp ( 64 ) are mounted. 19. Screwless clamp according to claim 18, characterized in that on the carrier element ( 66 ) a support member ( 65 ) is provided for the spring clip and that the support member ( 65 ) runs parallel to the pivot pin ( 70 ) and that the spring clamp ( 64 ) between rule the pivot pin ( 70 ) and the carrier part ( 65 ) arranged. 20. Screwless clamp according to claim 19, characterized in that the pivot lever is U-shaped and the area between the pivot pin ( 70 ) and the carrier part ( 65 ) is arranged on the opposite side of the point of attack by turning the pivot pin and has a U-shape, the web in the connected position overlap the area between the rotary bolt ( 70 ) and the carrier part ( 65 ) that the leg ( 80 ) with the tab ( 82 ) related to the spring clip outside of the half of the carrier part ( 65 ) and the other leg ( 79 ) with respect to the spring clip ( 64 ) outside the pivot pin and the axis of rotation ( 76 , 85 ) are.