Spring force terminal

US 20050245143A1
Filed: 02/18/2005
Published: 11/03/2005
Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2004
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1. Spring force terminal for connecting electrical conductors, having a contact frame, in which an electrical conductor can be clamped against the contact frame by means of a clamping spring extending in the form of an arc over the contact frame, wherein the contact frame has two or more plug openings and a retaining opening, in that the clamping spring is held at a first free end in the retaining opening on the contact frame, in that, at its second free end, the clamping spring is divided into a number of finger-like projections which corresponds to the number of plug openings by means of one or more slot-like cutouts and in that each of the projections is passed through in each case one of the plug openings and a conductor can be clamped tightly in each of the plug openings by in each case one of the projections.

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Abstract

The invention describes a spring force terminal (1) for connecting electrical conductors (128), having a contact frame (3, 125), in which an electrical conductor (128) can be clamped against the contact frame (3, 125) by means of a clamping spring (7, 121) extending in the form of an arc over the contact frame (3, 125), and which is characterized in that the contact frame (3, 125) has two or more plug openings (9, 11, 124) and a retaining opening (13, 133), in that the clamping spring (7, 121) is held at a first free end in the retaining opening (13, 133) on the contact frame (3, 125), in that, at its second free end, the clamping spring (7, 121) is divided into a number of finger-like projections (23, 25, 122) which corresponds to the number of plug openings (9, 11, 124) by means of one or more slot-like cutouts (17), and in that each of the projections (23, 25, 122) is passed through in each case one of the plug openings (9, 11, 124), and a conductor (128) can be clamped tightly in each of the plug openings (9, 11, 124) by in each case one of the projections (23, 25, 122).

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16 Claims

1. Spring force terminal for connecting electrical conductors, having a contact frame, in which an electrical conductor can be clamped against the contact frame by means of a clamping spring extending in the form of an arc over the contact frame, wherein the contact frame has two or more plug openings and a retaining opening, in that the clamping spring is held at a first free end in the retaining opening on the contact frame, in that, at its second free end, the clamping spring is divided into a number of finger-like projections which corresponds to the number of plug openings by means of one or more slot-like cutouts and in that each of the projections is passed through in each case one of the plug openings and a conductor can be clamped tightly in each of the plug openings by in each case one of the projections.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- - 2. Spring force terminal according to claim 1, wherein the contact frame has two plug openings and a retaining opening, in that the clamping spring is held at a first free end in the retaining opening on the contact frame, in that, at its second free end, the clamping spring is divided into two finger-like projections by means of a slot-like cutout, and in that each of the two projections is passed through in each case one of the plug openings, and a conductor can be clamped tightly in each of the two plug openings by in each case one of the projections.
  - 3. Spring force terminal according to claim 1, wherein the contact frame is divided into plug openings and a retaining opening by means of webs.
  - 4. Spring force terminal according to claim 3, wherein one of the webs is a means for protecting the spring projections from being overextended.
  - 5. Spring force terminal according to claim 4, wherein two webs are arranged in the contact frame as the transverse web and the longitudinal web in the form of a T so as to produce two plug openings and a retaining opening.
  - 6. Spring force terminal according to claim 5, wherein the retaining opening is arranged above the transverse web, and the plug openings are arranged below the transverse web and on both sides of the longitudinal web in the contact frame such that the transverse web acts as a means for protecting the spring projections from being overextended.
  - 7. Spring force terminal according to claim 1, wherein the clamping spring is bent in the form of a U.
  - 8. Spring force terminal according to claim 7, wherein the clamping spring is provided with a slot in the longitudinal direction on a subsection starting from the branch of the spring projections in the direction of the first free end of said clamping spring.
  - 9. Spring force terminal according to claim 1, wherein the contact frame has a rectangular outer contour.
  - 10. Spring force terminal claim 1, wherein the plug openings and the retaining opening are rectangular.
  - 11. Spring force terminal claim 1, wherein one free end of the contact frame is in the form of a connecting part for fixing an electrical outgoing conductor and is oriented in the insertion direction E of the conductor.
  - 12. Spring force terminal claim 1, wherein an adjustment contact part is integrally formed on the contact frame.
  - 13. Spring force terminal according to claim 12, wherein the adjustment contact part is a bent metal sheet which is integrally formed on that end of the contact frame which lies opposite the connecting part.
  - 14. Spring force terminal according to claim 13, wherein the adjustment contact part forms such an angle with each of the spring projections that, as a result, a funnel function is realized in order to make it easier to insert the conductor end pieces in the plug openings.
  - 15. Service switching device having at least one spring force terminal according to claim 1, wherein the terminal housing is integrated in the switching device housing.
  - 16. Service switching device according to claim 15, wherein the spring force terminal is held in the region of the terminal accommodating area of the service switching device on the insides of the housing shells.

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Current Assignee
ABB Patent GmbH (ABB Limited)
Original Assignee
ABB Patent GmbH (ABB Limited)
Inventors
Le Grand, Maarten, Eppe, Klaus-Peter, Orban, Alexander

Granted Patent

US 7,234,981 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

439/834
CPC Class Codes

H01R 4/48185 adapted for axial insertion...

Spring force terminal

First Claim

2 Assignments

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Abstract

5 Citations

16 Claims

Specification

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Spring force terminal

First Claim

2 Assignments

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0 Petitions

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Accused Products

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Abstract

5 Citations

16 Claims

Specification

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Solutions

Use Cases

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