DE-102024133122-A1 - Terminal block for connecting at least one electrical conductor

Abstract

The invention relates to a terminal block (100) for connecting at least one electrical conductor (L), comprising a housing (110) in which at least one connection point (111A, 111B, 111C) for the at least one electrical conductor (L) is formed, wherein the at least one connection point (111A, 111B, 111C) has a current bar (112A) arranged in the housing (110) and a clamping spring (113A) arranged in the housing (110) for clamping the conductor to be connected against the current bar (112A), wherein the housing (110) has a conductor entry opening (116A, 116B, 116C) at each connection point (111A, 111B, 111C) for inserting the conductor (L) to be connected into a conductor connection space (117A) of the at least one connection point (111A, 111B, 111C). 111C), and wherein the housing (110) has an actuating opening (118A, 111B, 118C) at each connection point (111A, 111B, 111C) for inserting an actuating tool (B) into the conductor connection space (117A) of the at least one connection point (111A, 111B, 111C), wherein the actuating opening (118A, 111B, 118C) is limited by a first side wall (119A) arranged adjacent to the conductor entry opening (116A, 116B, 111C), which extends obliquely to a longitudinal axis (120A) of the conductor entry opening (116A, 116B, 116C) such that the distance between the first side wall (119A) of the actuating opening (118A, 1118B, 118C) and the longitudinal axis (120A) of the conductor entry opening (116A, 116B, 116C) in the direction of the conductor connection space (117A) is reduced, so that in an open position of the clamping spring (113A) the actuating tool (B) is clamped against the first side wall (119A) of the actuating opening (118A, 1118B, 118C) by means of a clamping leg (115A) of the clamping spring (113A).

Inventors

• Andreas Schrader

Assignees

• PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20241113

Claims (6)

1. Terminal block (100) for connecting at least one electrical conductor (L), comprising a housing (110) in which at least one connection point (111A, 111B, 111C) is formed for the at least one electrical conductor (L), wherein the at least one connection point (111A, 111B, 111C) has a current bar (112A) arranged in the housing (110) and a clamping spring (113A) arranged in the housing (110) for clamping the conductor (L) to be connected against the current bar (112A), wherein the housing (110) has a conductor entry opening (116A, 116B, 116C) at each connection point (111A, 111B, 111C) for inserting the conductor (L) to be connected into a conductor connection compartment (117A) at each connection point (111A, 111B, 111C). 111C) of the at least one connection point (111A, 111B, 111C), and wherein the housing (110) has an actuating opening (118A, 1118B, 118C) for inserting an actuating tool (B) into the conductor connection space (117A) of the at least one connection point (111A, 111B, 111C), characterized in that the actuating opening (118A, 1118B, 118C) is limited by a first side wall (119A) arranged adjacent to the conductor entry opening (116A, 116B, 111C), which extends obliquely to a longitudinal axis (120A) of the conductor entry opening (116A, 116B, 116C) such that the distance between the first side wall (119A) of the actuating opening (118A, 1118B, 118C) and the longitudinal axis (120A) of the conductor entry opening (116A, 116B, 116C) in the direction of the conductor connection space (117A) is reduced, so that in an open position of the clamping spring (113A) the actuating tool (B) is clamped against the first side wall (119A) of the actuating opening (118A, 1118B, 118C) by means of a clamping leg (115A) of the clamping spring (113A).
2. Terminal block (100) to Claim 1 , characterized in that the actuating opening (118A, 1118B, 118C) is limited by a second side wall (121A) arranged at a distance from the conductor entry opening (116A, 116B, 116C), wherein the second side wall (121A) of the actuating opening (118A, 1118B, 118C) extends obliquely to the longitudinal axis (120A) of the conductor entry opening (116A, 116B, 116C) such that the distance between the second side wall (121A) of the actuating opening (118A, 1118B, 118C) and the longitudinal axis (120A) of the conductor entry opening (116A, 116B, 116C) decreases in the direction of the conductor connection space (117A).
3. Terminal block (100) to Claim 2 , characterized in that an angle α formed between the first side wall (119A) of the actuating opening (118A, 1118B, 118C) and the longitudinal axis (120A) of the conductor entry opening (116A, 116B, 116C) is smaller than an angle β formed between the second side wall (121A) of the actuating opening (118A, 1118B, 118C) and the longitudinal axis (120A) of the conductor entry opening (116A, 116B, 116C).
4. Terminal block (100) to Claim 2 or 3 , characterized in that the first side wall (119A) of the actuating opening (118A, 1118B, 118C) and the second side wall (121A) of the actuating opening (118A, 1118B, 118C) extend at an angle 8° ≤ γ ≤ 15° to each other.
5. Terminal block (100) according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the conductor entry opening (116A, 116B, 116C) is limited by a first side wall (122A) arranged adjacent to the actuating opening (118A, 1118B, 118C), wherein the first side wall (122A) of the conductor entry opening (116A, 116B, 116C) extends parallel to the first side wall (119A) of the actuating opening (118A, 1118B, 118C).
6. Terminal block (100) according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the current bar (112A) is formed on a receiving pocket (124A), wherein the receiving pocket (124A) has a stop (126A) to limit a deflection of the clamping leg (115A) of the clamping spring (113A).

Description

The invention relates to a terminal block for connecting at least one electrical conductor, which has a housing in which at least one connection point for the at least one electrical conductor is formed, wherein the at least one connection point has a current bar arranged in the housing and a clamping spring arranged in the housing for clamping the conductor to be connected against the current bar, wherein the housing has a conductor entry opening at each connection point for inserting the conductor to be connected into a conductor connection space of the at least one connection point, and wherein the housing has an actuating opening at each connection point for inserting an actuating tool into the conductor connection space of the at least one connection point. From the DE 299 15 512 U1 A terminal block is known in which the conductor entry opening is cylindrical with a small chamfer. In one embodiment, the actuating opening for the actuating tool is rectangular, with both side walls of the actuating opening aligned parallel to each other. Furthermore, the side walls are also aligned parallel to the central axis of the conductor entry opening. In another embodiment, the inner wall of the actuating opening is inclined to the longitudinal axis of the conductor entry opening. In this case, the distance between the conductor entry opening and the inner wall of the actuating opening, and thus to the conductor connection space, increases progressively. The invention is based on the objective of providing a terminal block which is characterized by simple handling while simultaneously having the smallest possible design of the terminal block. The problem is solved according to the invention by the features of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. The terminal block according to the invention is characterized in that the actuating opening is limited by a first side wall arranged adjacent to the conductor entry opening, which extends obliquely to a longitudinal axis of the conductor entry opening in such a way that the distance between the first side wall of the actuating opening and the longitudinal axis of the conductor entry opening decreases in the direction of the conductor connection space, so that in an open position of the clamping spring the actuating tool is clamped against the first side wall of the actuating opening by means of a clamping leg of the clamping spring. In the terminal block according to the invention, the clamping spring can be moved into an open position by means of an actuating tool, such as a screwdriver. The open position is the position in which the clamping leg is pivoted away from the current bar towards the retaining leg of the clamping spring, so that a conductor to be connected can be inserted into the conductor connection compartment and, in particular, into the area between the clamping leg and the current bar. The special design of the actuating opening according to the invention, in relation to the conductor entry opening, allows the actuating tool to be inserted particularly far into the housing and, in particular, into the conductor connection compartment. This makes it possible to design the terminal block in a particularly compact form. Furthermore, this design allows the actuating tool, when inserted into the actuating opening, to be pressed against the first side wall of the actuating opening by the spring force of the clamping leg and thus clamped against it. By clamping the actuating tool in the actuating opening, the actuating tool automatically holds the clamping spring in the open position. The actuating opening is designed in the housing such that its longitudinal axis extends obliquely or at an angle of less than 90° to the longitudinal axis of the conductor entry opening. In particular, a first side wall of the actuating opening, which is located closest to the conductor entry opening, extends obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the conductor entry opening. Obliquely here means that the first side wall of the actuating opening and the longitudinal axis of the conductor entry opening extend at an angle of less than 90° to each other. The first side wall of the actuating opening is designed obliquely such that the distance between the first side wall of the actuating opening and the longitudinal axis of the conductor entry opening decreases in the direction of the conductor connection compartment. Preferably, the actuating opening is limited by a second side wall arranged at a distance from the conductor entry opening, wherein the second side wall of the actuating opening preferably extends obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the conductor entry opening such that the distance between the second side wall of the actuating opening and the longitudinal axis of the conductor entry opening decreases in the direction of the conductor connection space. The second side wall of th