EP1542317B1 - Device for connecting an electrical wire - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for contacting an electrical conductor, having a base body, with a closing element with a receiving area for receiving the conductor, held with a base body cutting clamp with a contact area, wherein the closing element from an open position to a closed position with respect to the base linearly movable is, wherein the insulation displacement clamp is arranged such that its contact area with respect to the closing element located in the open position outside of the receiving area and with respect to the closure element located in the closed position is within the receiving area.

Such a device for contacting an electrical conductor is known from DE 100 39 963 C2 or from DE-A-198 35 459. The present invention has for its object to provide an improved device for contacting an electrical conductor.

This object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1. According to the invention, a rocker element and an actuating element are provided in a generic device for contacting an electrical conductor, wherein the rocker element is movably mounted in the base body and arranged with respect to closing element and actuating element such that a linear movement of the closing element from the open position to the closed position in an in counteracting direction directed movement of the actuating element is implemented and that a linear movement of the actuating element is converted into an oppositely directed linear movement of the closing element from the closed position to the open position.

Compared to conventional insulation displacement devices, the device according to the invention can be carried out particularly space-saving. As a result, a terminal can be realized in insulation displacement technology, which has no larger dimensions than a conventional clamp in conventional screw or spring technology.

Further advantageous embodiments and preferred developments of the device according to the invention are described in the subclaims.

The contacting of an electrical conductor can be made particularly reliable if the insulation displacement terminal has a steel overspring. This steel over-spring serves to stabilize the cutting and contact areas of the insulation displacement terminal and allows an increase in the pressure exerted by this on the inserted conductor.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the device is provided for 1 to n-row arrangement in a terminal receiving housing (with n = natural number).

To protect the inserted conductor advantageously a storage area upstream of the storage space is provided.

The invention will be described and explained in more detail below with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the figures.

FIG 1

jeweils eine Schneidklemmvorrichtung in geöffnetem bzw. geschlossenem Zustand,

FIG 2

eine weitere Schneidklemmvorrichtung in geschlossenem Zustand und

FIG 3

eine Schneidklemme.

Show it:

FIG. 1

each an insulation displacement device in the open or closed state,

FIG. 2

another insulation displacement device in the closed state and

FIG. 3

a cutting clamp.

FIG. 1 shows two insulation displacement devices in a common basic body 1. The insulation displacement device shown on the right side of FIG. 1 is in the opened state, whereas the insulation displacement device shown on the left side of FIG. 1 is in the closed state. The insulation displacement devices each have a closing element 2, which is linearly movable within the base body 1. This closing element 2 has a receiving area 3 for receiving an electrical conductor 8, 9. In the main body 1 each a cutting clamp 4 is held stationary with a contact area 5. The construction of such a cutting terminal 4, the embodiment of Figure 3. A rocking element 6 is mounted or guided in the base body 1 such that it touches one end of the closing element 2 and on the other hand, an end of an actuating element 7. The rocker element 6 is arranged with respect to closing element 2 and actuating element 7 such that a linear movement of the closing element 2 is converted from the open position to the closed position in a directed in the opposite direction linear movement of the actuating element 7 and that a linear movement of the actuating element 7 in a in opposite direction directed linear movement of the closing element 2 is converted from the closed position to the open position.

For contacting an electrical conductor 8, 9 this is introduced into the receiving area 3 of the closing element 2. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, this receiving region 3 is designed in such a way that the conductor 8, 9 is forced to make a twofold change of direction during insertion. The respective optimum geometry of the receiving region 3 of the closing element 2 is dependent on the design of the conductor to be contacted 8, 9, in particular its flexibility and its structure. The receiving area 3 is spatially clearly defined, so that the electrical conductor 8, 9 on the one hand clearly out and on the other hand can be introduced only up to a certain stop. If an electrical conductor 8, 9 has been completely inserted into the receiving region in the open position of the closing element 2, the closing element 2 together with the inserted conductor 8, 9 can be moved linearly from the open position to the closed position in order to contact the conductor 8, 9. This linear movement of the closing element 2 from an opening to a closed position is caused by corresponding pressure on the upper end of the closing element 2 or the conductor 8, 9, optionally with the aid of a tool. As an operating tool can, for. B. a commercial screwdriver can be used. The closing element 2 is designed such that it touches the rocking element 6 in a lower region. The linear movement of the closing element 2 from top to bottom therefore leads to a movement of the rocker element 6. The rocker element 6 is supported or guided in the base body 1 such that the caused by the closing element 2 linear movement of the contact point between the closing element 2 and an end portion of the Rocker element 6 leads to a linear movement of the contact point between the opposite end portion of the rocker element 6 and actuator 7 in the opposite direction. To the extent that the closing element 2 is moved linearly in one direction, that is, by the implementation of the movement by the rocker element 6, the actuating element 7 is moved linearly in the opposite direction. The linear movements of the closing element 2 and the actuating element 7 are thus coupled in opposite directions via the rocker element 6. The rocker element 6 according to the embodiment of Figure 1 is designed as part of a hollow cylinder and mounted so movable within the body 1 that it can perform a circular movement about the imaginary center of the hollow cylinder. Likewise, other embodiments of the rocker element are possible, for. B. in the form of a rotatably mounted on a pivot rocker with two legs or lever arms, the end of each of which Close the closing element 2 and the actuator 7. In the case of a rocker with unequal length of lever arms, the ratio between distance and force can be optimally adjusted for the closing and opening process.

As a result of the linear movement of the closing element 2 or of the conductor 8, 9, the receiving region 3 of the closing element 2 moves in relation to the stationary cutting clamp 4 such that the contact region 5 of the cutting clamp 4 penetrates into the receiving region 2 and thus into the conductors 8, 9 , The left side of Figure 1 shows a conductor 9 within the receiving area 3 of a closing element 2 in the closed state. The electrical conductor 9 is contacted by the contact region 5 of the closing clamp 4. In order to achieve an electrical contact between the contact region 5 of the insulation displacement terminal 4 and the inner conductor or the inner conductors of the electrical conductor 8, 9, the insulation displacement terminal has a cutting area for penetrating the insulation of the electrical conductor 8, 9 and a contact area 5 for the electrical contacting of the or The inner conductor opens. An embodiment of such a cutting terminal 4 is shown in FIG 3. The electrical conductor 8, 9 is thus electrically contacted in the closed state of the insulation displacement device.

In order to cancel the contacting of the electrical conductor 8, 9 and to be able to remove the electrical conductor 8, 9 from the insulation displacement device, the actuating element 7 is moved linearly in the opposite direction compared to the previously described closing operation during an opening operation. This movement of the actuating element 7 is caused by pressure on the upper end of the actuating element 7, optionally with the aid of a corresponding tool. Analogous to the implementation of the linear movement during the closing operation is again by the rocker element 6 now extending in the opposite direction linear movement of the actuating element 7 in a directed in corresponding opposite direction linear movement of the closing element. 2 implemented from the closed position to the open position. In this case, the contacting of the electrical conductor 8, 9 is released again with the insulation displacement terminal 4 and the electrical conductor 8, 9 can be removed from the receiving area 3 of the closing element 2 at the end of the opening process. At the end of the opening process, the insulation displacement device is again in the open position.

Figure 2 shows another embodiment of an insulation displacement device. The insulation displacement device is shown in Figure 2 in the closed state. Elements of the insulation displacement device in Figure 2 and Figure 1, with the same function, were each denoted by the same reference numerals, even if the respective structural design is different. The closing element 2 has a receiving area 3. The receiving area 3 is designed in this case such that an electrical conductor 10 can be introduced without bending into the receiving area 3. This offers particular advantages in relatively rigid electrical conductors 10. The direction in which the electrical conductor 10 is inserted into the receiving area 3 is in this case perpendicular to the direction in which closing element 2 or actuating element 7 move. The closing element 2 and the actuating element 7 are arranged in the main body 1 of the insulation displacement device such that in each case a linear movement is possible. A linear movement of the closing element 2 is thereby converted by the appropriately arranged and mounted rocker element 6 in a correspondingly opposite linear movement of the actuating element 7 and vice versa. In an open position of the device, not shown in FIG. 2, the conductor 10 can be introduced into the receiving region 3 of the closing element 2. After complete introduction of the electrical conductor 10, the closing element 2 is moved to contact the electrical conductor 10 together with the electrical conductor 10 located in the receiving area 3 linearly downwards. With the movement of the receiving area 3 down the held in the base body 1 penetrates Cutting terminal 4 and their contact area 5 in the receiving area 3 a. A cutting region 11 of the insulation displacement terminal 4 penetrates the insulation of the electrical conductor 10 and thus enables the contacting of the electrical conductor 10 through the contact region 5 of the insulation displacement terminal 4. In the closed state of the device shown in FIG. 2, the electrical conductor 10 is thus reliably electrically contacted. To cancel the contacting of the electrical conductor 10 and to move the electrical conductor 10 from the device, an opening operation is caused by appropriate actuation of the actuating element 7. During the opening process, the parts actuator 7, rocker element 6, and closing element 2 move in the reverse direction compared to the closing operation described above.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a cutting terminal 4. The elements having the same function of the insulation displacement terminals 4 installed in the devices according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference numerals in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The insulation displacement terminal 4 has a cutting region 11 and a contact region 5. The cutting region 11 is used, for example, to cut through an insulation of an electrical conductor, whereas the contact region 5 serves for making electrical contact with the or the inner conductor of an electrical conductor. In order to achieve the required pressure for severing the insulation by means of the cutting region 11 or for contacting the inner conductor (s) by means of the contact region 5, the tongue-shaped parts of the cutting region 11 or of the contact region 5 are pressed against one another by a spring element 12. The spring element 12 is formed in the embodiment of Figure 3 as a steel overspring. The contact region 5 is electrically connected via an intermediate element 13 to contact elements 14 of the insulation displacement terminal 4. The contact elements 14 are arranged in the base body 1 according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 such that in each case a socket is formed for connecting electrical connection means.

In the described device for contacting an electrical conductor is in particular a so-called stripping-free terminal. At present, a stripping-free connection terminal with the same connection principle requires approx. 60% more installation height than a screw or spring terminal. If a standard screw or spring terminal has a typical height of 12.2 mm, an insulation displacement terminal usually has a typical height of 19.9 mm, which is significantly higher than a screw or spring terminal. The proposed insulation displacement device, however, can be realized with a height of 12.2 mm. As a result, the device can be accommodated in such a space-saving manner that it can be accommodated in terms of installation height and width, with the same connectable conductor cross-sections, in the dimensions of a top clamp (screw or spring technology). By the inserted under the insulation displacement terminal 4 rocker element 6, the actuation path of the closing element 2 is performed for connecting or disconnecting the conductor in the vertical direction. This makes it possible to bring the height of the insulation displacement device to the dimensions of a conventional screw or spring clamp. The proposed device for contacting an electrical conductor is particularly suitable for 1 to n-row arrangement in a terminal receiving housing because of their compact design. Such an arrangement may, for. B. can be used as a front connector for modules of industrial automation technology.

The insulation displacement technology offers time savings of up to 66% in wiring compared to conventional connection technology (using a screw or spring terminal). Since it is a stripping-free connection technology, no special tool (eg stripping tool) is required for connecting electrical conductors.

In summary, the invention relates to a device for contacting an electrical conductor, with a base body 1, with a closing element 2 with a receiving area 3 for receiving the conductor, with a held in the base body 1 insulation displacement terminal 4 with a contact area 5, wherein the closing element 2 is linearly movable from an open position to a closed position with respect to the base body 1, wherein the insulation displacement terminal 4 is arranged such that its contact area 5 with respect of the closing element 2 located in the open position is located outside of the receiving area 3 and with respect to the closing element 2 located in the closed position within the receiving area 3. To improve the device, it is proposed that a rocking element 6 and an actuating element 7 are provided, the rocking element 6 being movably mounted in the base body 1 and arranged with respect to the closing element 2 and the actuating element 7 such that a linear movement of the closing element 2 from the open position in FIG the closed position can be converted into a linear movement of the actuating element 7 directed in the opposite direction, and that a linear movement of the actuating element 7 can be converted from the closed position into the open position in a linear movement of the closing element 2 directed in the opposite direction.

Claims (4)

1. A device for contacting an electrical conductor, having a base body (1), having a closing element (2) with a receptacle area (3) for receiving the conductor, having an insulation piercing connector (4) held in the base body (1) with a contact region (5), wherein the closing element (2) is movable in a linear direction from an open position to a closed position relative to the base body (1), with the insulation piercing connector (4) being disposed such that its contact region (5) is located outside of the receptacle area (3) relative to the closing element (2) in the open position and inside the receptacle area (3) relative to the closing element (2) in the closed position, characterised in that a rocker element (6) and an actuating element (7) are provided, with the rocker element (6) being movably mounted in the base body (1) and disposed relative to the closing element (2) and actuating element (7) in such a way that a linear movement of the closing element (2) from the open position to the closed position can be converted into a linear movement of the actuating element (7) in the opposite direction and that a linear movement of the actuating element (7) can be converted into a linear movement of the closing element (2) from the closed position to the open position in the opposite direction.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the insulation piercing connector (4) has a spring-loaded element (12).
3. The device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the device is provided for a 1- to n-row arrangement in a connector receptacle housing.
4. The device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a cable storage space is provided ahead of the receptacle area (3).

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