Spring-loaded clamping element and connecting terminal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9525217-B2
Application number	US-201414767510-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 12, 2014
Priority date	Feb 13, 2013
Publication date	Dec 20, 2016
Grant date	Dec 20, 2016

Abstract

A resilient force clamping element ( 1 ) is described, said resilient force clamping element having a current rail ( 2 ) and a resilient clamping element ( 3 ) that comprises a contacting limb ( 4 ), a resilient bend ( 5 ) that adjoins the contacting limb ( 4 ), and a clamping limb ( 6 ) that adjoins the resilient bend ( 5 ) and comprises a main section ( 8 ) that extends from the resilient bend ( 5 ), and a clamping section ( 7 ) that is arranged in the direction of the current rail ( 2 ). The clamping section ( 7 ) comprises a clamping edge ( 11 ) on a free end of the clamping section ( 7 ) so as to form a clamping site between the clamping edge ( 11 ) and the current rail ( 2 ) for clamping an electrical conductor. The clamping section ( 7 ) comprises a first section ( 9 ) that is bent from the main section ( 8 ) in the direction of the current rail ( 2 ), and a second section ( 10 ) that adjoins the first section ( 9 ) and is bent back in the direction in which the main section ( 8 ) extends, said second section comprising the clamping edge ( 11 ). In an idle position of the resilient clamping element ( 3 ) without an electrical conductor having been inserted, wherein the clamping edge ( 11 ) rests on the current rail ( 2 ), the first section ( 9 ) when viewed in the direction in which the resilient clamping element ( 3 ) extends from the resilient bend ( 5 ) is at an obtuse angle α with respect to the current rail ( 2 ) and the second section ( 10 ) is at an acute angle β with respect to the current rail ( 2 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A resilient force clamping element, comprising:
a current rail; and
a resilient clamping element that comprises a contacting limb, a resilient bend that adjoins the contacting limb, and a clamping limb that adjoins the resilient bend,
the clamping limb comprising
a main section that extends away from the resilient bend, and
a clamping section that is arranged in the direction of the current rail,

the clamping section comprising
a clamping edge on a free end of the clamping section so as to form a clamping site between the clamping edge and the current rail for clamping an electrical conductor,
a first section that is bent from the main section in the direction of the current rail,
a second section that adjoins the first section and is bent back in the direction in which the main section extends, said second section comprising the clamping edge,

wherein the first section is at an obtuse angle α greater than 90 degrees with respect to the current rail when viewed in the direction in which the resilient clamping element extends from the resilient bend and the second section is at an acute angle β less than 90 degrees with respect to the current rail in an idle position of the resilient clamping element without an electrical conductor having been inserted in which idle position the clamping edge rests on the current rail.

2. The resilient force clamping element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in the idle position the first section is at an angle α of 90 to 120 degrees with respect to the current rail.

3. The resilient force clamping element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in the idle position the second section is at an angle β of 10 to 60 degrees with respect to the current rail.

4. The resilient force clamping element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inner angle (δ) between the first section and second section of the clamping section amounts to 70 to 170 degrees.

5. The resilient force clamping element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the clamping section is narrower than the main section.

6. The resilient force clamping element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the current rail comprises a contact edge that together with the clamping edge of the resilient clamping element forms the clamping site.

7. The resilient force clamping element as claimed in claim 6 , wherein in the idle position the clamping edge of the resilient clamping element lies upstream of the contact edge when viewed in the direction in which the resilient clamping element extends from the resilient bend.

8. The resilient force clamping element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the current rail comprises a frame element having two lateral connecting pieces that are spaced apart from one another and a transverse connecting piece that connects the lateral connecting pieces one to the other and a conductor feedthrough opening that is limited by means of the lateral connecting pieces and the transverse connecting piece, wherein the frame element extends away from the current rail in the direction of the contacting limb of the resilient clamping element and the contacting limb is mounted on the transverse connecting piece.

9. The resilient force clamping element as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the frame element is formed as one piece with the current rail or is a part that is separate from the current rail.

10. A connecting clamp having a housing that is embodied from an insulating material and at least one resilient force clamping element as claimed in claim 1 in the housing that is embodied from an insulating material.

11. The connecting clamp as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the housing that is embodied from an insulating material comprises at least one conductor insertion opening that extends in a direction in which the conductor is inserted and said conductor insertion opening issues in a conductor receiving chamber between the main section and the current rail, wherein the bent first section of the clamping section is at an angle of 70 to 120 degrees with respect to the direction in which the conductor is inserted in a transverse manner with respect to the direction in which the conductor is inserted.

Assignees

• Wago Verwaltungs Gmbh

Inventors

• Köllmann Hans-Josef
• Gerberding Wolfgang

Classifications

• H01R13/50

  formed as an integral body (H01R13/514 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01R4/4818 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01R4/4836

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01R4/485

  Single busbar common to multiple springs · CPC title

• H01R4/483

  Pivoting arrangements, e.g. lever pushing on the spring · CPC title