IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,238,043
Granted Patent B2
US 7,238,043 · App. 11/232,130 · Granted Jul 3, 2007

Spring clamp electrical terminal

Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,238,043
App. No.
11/232,130
Granted
Jul 3, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrical supply or connecting terminal with a clamping spring and a metal part located in an insulating housing having a conductor inlet opening for an electrical conductor. The clamping spring has a clamping leg and a contact leg, and the clamping leg and the metal part form a spring force clamp connection for the electrical conductor. The contact leg of the clamping spring is arranged essentially perpendicular to the insertion direction of the electrical conductor and a recess is formed in the contact leg for insertion of the electrical conductor. The clamping leg and the contact leg of the clamping spring are bent toward one another with the end of the clamping leg extending through the recess. The metal part has at least one mounting section inserted through the recess of the clamping spring in a direction opposite the insertion direction of the electrical conductor.

Claims (20)

1. Electrical supply or connecting terminal, comprising a clamping spring and a metal part, the clamping spring and the metal part being located in an insulating housing which has a conductor inlet opening for entry of an electrical conductor which is to be connected, the clamping spring having a clamping leg and a contact leg, and the clamping leg and the metal part forming a spring force clamp connection for the electrical conductor to be connected,

wherein the contact leg of the clamping spring is arranged essentially perpendicular to the insertion direction of the electrical conductor to be connected, and a recess is located in the contact leg for insertion of the electrical conductor to be connected,

wherein the clamping leg and the contact leg of the clamping spring are bent toward one another with the end of the clamping leg extending through the recess,

wherein the metal part has two opposing resilient legs and a bridge which connects the legs, the legs running essentially parallel to the insertion direction of the electrical conductor to be connected and the ends of the legs each being made as mounting sections, wherein the distance between the mounting sections in an unstressed state is slightly larger than the length of the recess in the contact leg; and

the clamping spring with its recess is mounted on the mounting sections of the metal part, wherein the mounting sections extend through the recess in a direction opposite the insertion direction of the electrical conductor to be connected.

2. Electrical supply or connecting terminal as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the metal part is connected to one of a socket or plug part.

3. Electrical supply or connecting terminal as claimed in one of claim 1 , wherein on an end of the recess away from the end of the clamping leg, a retaining section has been punched out of the contact leg and bent down in the insertion direction of the electrical conductor to be connected.

4. Electrical supply or connecting terminal as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mounting section of the metal part is bent down such that the mounting section together with a free end of the clamping leg forms an inlet funnel for the electrical conductor to be connected.

5. Electrical supply or connecting terminal as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the insulating housing has an actuating opening for insertion of an actuating tool, and wherein on the clamping leg a kink is aligned in the direction of the spring force of the clamping leg so that a tip of an actuating tool for opening the clamping spring inserted in the actuating opening will act on the kink.

6. Electrical supply or connecting terminal as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the metal part is made of a copper alloy.

7. Electrical supply or connecting terminal as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the insulating housing has an actuating opening for insertion of an actuating tool, and wherein on the clamping leg a kink is aligned in the direction of the spring force of the clamping leg so that a tip of an actuating tool for opening the clamping spring inserted in the actuating opening will act on the kink.

8. Electrical supply or connecting terminal, comprising a clamping spring and a metal part, the clamping spring and the metal part being located in an insulating housing which has a conductor inlet opening for entry of an electrical conductor which is to be connected, the clamping spring having a clamping leg and a contact leg, and the clamping leg and the metal part forming a spring force clamp connection for the electrical conductor to be connected,

wherein the contact leg of the clamping spring is arranged essentially perpendicular to the insertion direction of the electrical conductor to be connected, and a recess is located in the contact leg for insertion of the electrical conductor to be connected,

wherein the clamping leg and the contact leg of the clamping spring are bent toward one another with the end of the clamping leg extending through the recess, on an end of the recess, away from the end of the clamping leg, a retaining section has been punched out of the contact leg and bent down in the insertion direction of the electrical conductor to be connected; and

wherein the clamping spring with its recess is mounted on the metal part, the metal part having at least one mounting section which extends through the recess in a direction opposite the insertion direction of the electrical conductor to be connected,

wherein the metal part is a flat current bar, within the current bar a recess is located for inserting the electrical conductor to be connected, wherein the mounting section has been punched out of the current bar and bent down in a direction opposite the insertion direction of the electrical conductor to be connected,

wherein the retaining section fits into the recess of the current bar.

9. Electrical supply or connecting terminal as claimed in claim 8 , wherein on an end of the recess opposite the mounting section, a second mounting section has been punched out of the current bar and bent down opposite the insertion direction of the electrical conductor to be connected.

10. Electrical supply or connecting terminal as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the mounting section of the metal part is bent down such that the mounting section together with a free end of the clamping leg forms an inlet funnel for the electrical conductor to be connected.

11. Electrical supply or connecting terminal as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the metal part is made of a copper alloy.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2005
From: REIBKE, HEINZ; FEYE-HOHMANN, JUERGEN
To: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 017324/0467 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2004 046 471 · Sep 23, 2004 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20060063420A1 · Mar 23, 2006