IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,083,463
Granted Patent B2
US 7,083,463 · App. 11/226,441 · Granted Aug 1, 2006

Electrical supply or connecting terminal

Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,083,463
App. No.
11/226,441
Granted
Aug 1, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrical supply or connecting terminal with a clamping spring and a metal part, the clamping spring having a clamping leg and a contact leg, and the metal part having a conductor bar piece. The clamping leg and the conductor bar piece form a spring force clamp connection for the electrical conductor. The contact leg of the clamping spring has a recess for insertion of the electrical conductor, and an end of the clamping leg extends through the recess. The clamping spring has a retaining section which runs essentially parallel to the insertion direction of the electrical conductor and parallel to the conductor bar piece and the conductor bar piece has been inserted though the recess in a direction opposite the insertion direction of the electrical conductor, the conductor bar piece being clamped securely between the end of the clamping leg and the retaining section.

Claims (20)

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

wherein a recess is formed in the contact leg of the clamping spring 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 such that a free end of the clamping leg extends through the recess,

wherein the clamping spring has a retaining section which runs essentially parallel to an insertion direction of the electrical conductor which is to be connected and parallel to the conductor bar piece, and

wherein an end of the conductor bar piece has been inserted though the recess in a direction opposite the insertion direction of the electrical conductor to be connected, the conductor bar piece being clamped securely between the free end of the clamping leg and the retaining section,

wherein the retaining section of the clamping spring has been punched out of the contact leg and bent down, an area of the contact leg from which the retaining section has been removed defining said recess.

2. Electrical supply or connecting terminal as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the end of the conductor bar piece is bent down so that the end of the conductor bar piece together with the free end of the clamping leg forms an inlet funnel for guiding the electrical conductor to be connected.

3. Electrical supply or connecting terminal as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the contact leg runs essentially perpendicular to the insertion direction of the electrical conductor to be connected, wherein the conductor bar piece rests on the retaining section and the end of the conductor bar piece rests on a free end of the contact leg.

4. Electrical supply or connecting terminal as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the conductor bar piece is connected to one of a plug part and socket part.

5. Electrical supply or connecting terminal as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a mounting bridge is punched out of the contact leg and bent down at an end of the recess opposite an end of the recess at which the retaining section is located.

6. Electrical supply or connecting terminal as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the metal part further comprises a socket part which has two opposing legs and a bridge which connects the legs, wherein the socket part is surrounded by an over-spring, the over-spring being matched essentially to the geometry of the socket part.

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 the clamping leg has a kink which is aligned in the direction of the spring force of the clamping leg for enabling a tip of the actuating tool for opening the clamping spring to act on the kink.

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

9. Electrical supply or connecting terminal as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the end of the conductor bar piece is bent down so that the end of the conductor bar piece together with the free end of the clamping leg forms an inlet funnel for guiding the electrical conductor to be connected.

10. Electrical supply or connecting terminal as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the contact leg runs essentially perpendicular to the insertion direction of the electrical conductor to be connected, wherein the conductor bar piece rests on the retaining section and the end of the conductor bar piece rests on a free end of the contact leg.

11. Electrical supply or connecting terminal as claimed in claim 10 , wherein a mounting bridge is punched out of the contact leg and bent down at an end of the recess opposite an end of the recess at which the retaining section is located.

12. Electrical supply or connecting terminal as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the conductor bar piece is connected to one of a plug part and socket part.

13. Electrical supply or connecting terminal as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the metal part further comprises a socket part which has two opposing legs and a bridge which connects the legs, wherein the socket part is surrounded by an over-spring, the over-spring being matched essentially to the geometry of the socket part.

14. Electrical supply or connecting terminal as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the insulating housing has an actuating opening for insertion of an actuating tool, and wherein the clamping leg has a kink which is aligned in the direction of the spring force of the clamping leg so that the tip of the actuating tool for opening the clamping spring can act on the kink.

15. Electrical supply or connecting terminal as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the metal part is made of a copper alloy.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 8, 2005
From: STEINKEMPER, ANKE; HOPPE, UDO; GESKE, RALF; HOLSTE, DIETER; BEIER, THOMAS; LANGE, RALF; KETTERN, MARKUS; SCHAEFER, SEBASTIAN
To: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 017338/0989 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2004 045 025 · Sep 15, 2004 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20060063419A1 · Mar 23, 2006