IP Library Granted Patent US 9,209,552
Granted Patent B2
US 9,209,552 · App. 13/922,791 · Granted Dec 8, 2015

Connection module and connection module system

Inventor: Rainer Bröcker (Wülfrath, DE)
Assignee: BECKHOFF AUTOMATION GMBH
H01R13/514H01R4/4845H01R9/2458H01R13/71H01H1/26H01H2001/265H01R9/2675
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,209,552
App. No.
13/922,791
Granted
Dec 8, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A connection module and to a connection module system for supplying a drive module with electrical current, the connection module including a first connecting contact and a second connecting contact, wherein the first and the second connecting contacts each have a contact element, wherein the first contact element of the first connecting contact is arranged in a movable manner and the second contact element of the second connecting contact is arranged in a fixed manner, wherein the second contact element of the second connecting contact is configured to provide a connection to a corresponding first contact element of an adjacent module, wherein the second connecting contact includes a spring terminal configured to press the corresponding first contact element of the adjacent module against the second contact element of the second connecting contact.

Claims (43)

1. A connection module for supplying a drive module with electrical current, the connection module comprising a first connecting contact and a second connecting contact,

wherein the first and the second connecting contacts each comprise a contact element,

wherein the first contact element of the first connecting contact is arranged in a movable manner and the second contact element of the second connecting contact is arranged in a fixed manner,

wherein the second contact element of the second connecting contact is configured to provide a connection to a corresponding first contact element of an adjacent module,

wherein the second connecting contact comprises a spring terminal configured to press the corresponding first contact element of the adjacent module against the second contact element of the second connecting contact,

wherein the second connecting contact comprises an actuating device which is arranged at the spring terminal and provides an actuating force for actuating the spring terminal, and

wherein the actuating device comprises a shaft, a connecting rod eccentrically-attached to the shaft, and a pressure frame connected to the connecting rod, wherein the actuating force is provided by means of the shaft which is configured to transmit the actuating force for actuating the spring terminal to the pressure frame and wherein the pressure frame is configured to actuate the spring terminal.

2. The connection module according to claim 1 , wherein the spring terminal comprises a clamp opening through which the corresponding first contact element of the adjacent module may be guided, wherein the clamp opening comprises a reduceable passage cross-section and is configured to press the first contact element of the adjacent module against the second contact element of the second connecting contact.

3. The connection module according to claim 1 , wherein the spring terminal is configured as a tension-spring terminal and comprises at least one bend section which comprises an externally-arranged actuating surface, wherein when a pressure force is exerted onto the actuating surface of the spring terminal, a clamping of the corresponding first contact element of the adjacent module at the second connecting contact may be loosened.

4. The connection module according to claim 1 , wherein the connection module comprises a housing, wherein the spring terminal is arranged in the housing, wherein the spring terminal is configured as pressure-spring terminal, wherein a first end of a pressure spring of the pressure-spring terminal is supported on the housing of the connection module and a second end of the pressure spring is configured to press the corresponding first contact element of the adjacent module against the second contact element of the second connecting contact.

5. A connection module for supplying a drive module with electrical current, the connection module comprising a first connecting contact and a second connecting contact,

wherein the first and the second connecting contacts each comprise a contact element,

wherein the first contact element of the first connecting contact is arranged in a movable manner and the second contact element of the second connecting contact is arranged in a fixed manner,

wherein the second contact element of the second connecting contact is configured to provide a connection to a corresponding first contact element of an adjacent module,

wherein the second connecting contact comprises a spring terminal which is configured to press the corresponding first contact element of the adjacent module against the second contact element of the second connecting contact, and

wherein the connection module comprises a housing, wherein the first connecting contact comprises a slide guided in a guiding groove of the housing, wherein the slide is connected to the contact element of the first connecting contact and is configured to actuate the contact element of the first connecting contact.

6. The connection module according to claim 1 , wherein the first connecting contact is configured as contact plug which is configured to provide an electrical connection to a corresponding second connecting contact of the adjacent module.

7. The connection module according to claim 1 , wherein the second connecting contact is connected to the first connecting contact via a connection in which the spacing of the first and second connecting contacts varies, the connection being configured as flexible wire.

8. A connection module system having at least one first connection module and one second connection module,

wherein each connection module comprises a first connecting contact and a second connecting contact,

wherein the first and the second connecting contacts each comprise a contact element,

wherein a first contact element of the first connecting contact is arranged in a movable manner and the second contact element of the second connecting contact is arranged in a fixed manner,

wherein the first connecting contact of the first or, respectively, of the second connection module is configured to be inserted into the second connecting contact of the second or, respectively, of the first connection module and to provide an electrical contact between the first and the second connection module, wherein each second connecting contact comprises a spring terminal,

wherein the spring terminal of the first or, respectively, of the second connection module is configured to press the first contact element of the first connecting contact of the second or, respectively, of the first connection module against the second contact element of the second connecting contact of the first or, respectively, of the second connection module,

wherein the second connecting contact of the first or, respectively, of the second connection module comprises an actuating device which is arranged at the spring terminal and provides an actuating force for actuating the spring terminal, and

wherein the actuating device comprises a shaft, a connecting rod eccentrically-attached to the shaft, and a pressure frame connected to the connecting rod, wherein the actuating force is provided by means of the shaft which is configured to transmit the actuating force for actuating the spring terminal to the pressure frame and wherein the pressure frame is configured to actuate the spring terminal.

9. The connection module system according to claim 8 , wherein the spring terminal of the first or, respectively, of the second connection module comprises a clamp opening through which the corresponding first contact element of the second or, respectively, of the first connection module is guided, wherein the clamp opening comprises a reduceable passage cross-section and is configured to press the first contact element of the second or, respectively, of the first connection module against the second contact element of the second connecting contact.

10. The connection module system according to claim 8 , wherein the spring terminal of the first or, respectively, of the second connection module is configured as a tension-spring terminal and comprises at least one bend section which comprises an externally-arranged actuating surface, wherein when a pressure force is exerted onto the actuating surface of the spring terminal, a clamping of the corresponding first contact element of the second or, respectively, of the first connection module at the second connecting contact may be loosened.

11. The connection module system according to claim 8 , wherein the second connecting contact of the first or, respectively, of the second connection module comprises an actuating device which is arranged at the spring terminal and provides an actuating force for actuating the spring terminal.

12. A connection module system having a supply module and a connection module,

wherein the supply module provides a connection to at least one of a control unit and a power source,

wherein the connection module comprises a first connecting contact,

wherein the first connecting contact comprises a first contact element,

wherein the first contact element is arranged in a movable manner,

wherein the supply module comprises a second connecting contact,

wherein a second contact element of the second connecting contact is arranged in a fixed manner,

wherein the second connecting contact comprises a spring terminal,

wherein the first connecting contact is configured to be inserted into the second connecting contact and to provide an electrical contact between the supply module and the connection module,

wherein the spring terminal is configured to press the first contact element against the second contact element,

wherein the second connecting contact comprises an actuating device which is arranged at the spring terminal and provides an actuating force for actuating the spring terminal, and

wherein the actuating device comprises a shaft, a connecting rod eccentrically-attached to the shaft, and a pressure frame connected to the connecting rod, wherein the actuating force is provided by means of the shaft which is configured to transmit the actuating force for actuating the spring terminal to the pressure frame and wherein the pressure frame is configured to actuate the spring terminal.

13. The connection module system according to claim 12 , wherein the spring terminal comprises a clamp opening through which the corresponding first contact element of the second or, respectively, of the first connection module is guided, wherein the clamp opening comprises a reduceable passage cross-section and is configured to press the first contact element against the second contact element of the second connecting contact.

14. The connection module system according to claim 12 , wherein the spring terminal is configured as a tension-spring terminal and comprises at least one bend section which comprises an externally-arranged actuating surface, wherein when a pressure force is exerted onto the actuating surface of the spring terminal, a clamping of the corresponding first contact element of the connection module at the second connecting contact of the supply module may be loosened.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF ASSIGNEE ADDRESS Recorded Nov 19, 2019
From: BECKHOFF AUTOMATION GMBH
To: BECKHOFF AUTOMATION GMBH
Reel/Frame 051057/0632 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 17, 2014
From: BROCKER, RAINER
To: BECKHOFF AUTOMATION GMBH
Reel/Frame 032450/0566 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2010 063 978 · Dec 22, 2010 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTEP2011070971 · Nov 24, 2011
Related Publication 20130344750A1 · Dec 26, 2013