Electrical series terminal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9455509-B2
Application number	US-201314400353-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2013
Priority date	May 11, 2012
Publication date	Sep 27, 2016
Grant date	Sep 27, 2016

Abstract

An electrical series terminal includes a first connecting portion which is connected via a first associate current bar to a first functional contact and a second connection portion being connected via a second associate current bar to a second functional contact. A functional zone is provided between the first connection portion and the second connection portion. The functional zone is configured to selectively and alternately receive and contact a plurality of functional elements such that when at least one functional element is introduced to the functional zone, the at least one functional element can be connected to the first and second functional contact. On the sides of the functional zone, a first and second connecting shaft are provided on the first and second connection sections.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electrical series terminal comprising:
a first connecting portion, the first connecting portion being connected via a first associated current bar to a first functional contact;
a second connecting portion, the second connecting portion being connected via a second associated current bar to a second functional contact; and
a functional zone provided between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion,
wherein the functional zone is configured to selectively and alternately receive and contact a plurality of functional elements such that when at least one of the functional elements is introduced into the functional zone, the at least one functional element can be connected to the first and second functional contact, and wherein at sides of the functional zone a first and second electrical connecting shaft are provided on the first and second connecting portions, respectively.

2. The electrical series terminal recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of functional elements can be received at the functional zone by a longitudinal movement.

3. The electrical series terminal recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second connecting portions has at least a first conductor connection.

4. The electrical series terminal recited in claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first and second connecting portions has at least a second conductor connection.

5. The electrical series terminal recited in claim 3 , wherein the first conductor connection includes at least one of a spring clamp or a screw terminal.

6. The electrical series terminal recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of functional elements includes at least one of a contact blade, a fuse element blocking element, or a test element.

7. The electrical series terminal recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one functional element includes at least one of a light element or a fuse.

8. The electrical series terminal recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one electrical connecting shaft is designed to receive at least one of a cross bridge, a test connector, or a pick-off terminal.

9. The electrical series terminal recited in claim 1 , further comprising an at least partially insulated housing.

10. The electrical series terminal recited in claim 1 , further comprising a mounting rail receptacle.

11. An electrical series terminal block comprising at least two series terminals which are adjacent to one another and are configured to be received on a mounting rail, each of the series terminals comprising:
a first connecting portion, the first connecting portion being connected via a first associated current bar to a first functional contact;
a second connecting portion, the second connecting portion being connected via a second associated current bar to a second functional contact; and
a functional zone provided between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion,
wherein the functional zone is configured to selectively and alternately receive and contact a plurality of functional elements such that when at least one of the functional elements is introduced into the functional zone, the at least one functional element can be connected to the first and second functional contact, and wherein at sides of the functional zone a first and second electrical connecting shaft are provided on the first and second connecting portions, respectively.

12. The electrical series terminal block recited in claim 11 , wherein at least one cross bridge is provided for electrically connecting the electrical connecting shafts of adjacent series terminals.

13. The electrical series terminal recited in claim 5 , wherein the spring clamp is a leg spring clamp or a spring cage terminal.

14. The electrical series terminal block recited in claim 11 , wherein at least one test connector is arranged in another electrical connecting shaft of the same connecting portion.

15. The electrical series terminal block recited in claim 12 , wherein at least one test connector is arranged in another electrical connecting shaft of the same connecting portion.

Assignees

• Phoenix Contact Gmbh & Co

Inventors

• Goerlitzer Dirk
• Brand Juergen
• Reibke Heinz

Classifications

• H01R9/2408 Primary

  Modular blocks (H01R9/26 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F03D7/0224 Primary

  Adjusting blade pitch · CPC title

• H01R31/085

  Short circuiting bus-strips · CPC title

• F05B2260/79

  Bearing, support or actuation arrangements therefor · CPC title

• H01R9/2625 Primary

  with built-in electrical component · CPC title