U.S. patent number 3,596,229 [Application Number 04/819,575] was granted by the patent office on 1971-07-27 for electrical connector.
This patent grant is currently assigned to WAGO Kontakttechnik G.m.b.H.. Invention is credited to Wolfgang Hohorst.
United States Patent |
3,596,229 |
Hohorst |
July 27, 1971 |
ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR
Abstract
A screwless connecting terminal for electric leads comprising at
least one bent clamping spring defining an aperture at one end, a
terminal housing in which said clamping spring is located, and a
contact plate associated with said clamping spring, characterized
by the feature that said clamping spring engages by said aperture
round a reduced part of said contact plate and is kept under
tension thereby.
Inventors: |
Hohorst; Wolfgang (Minden,
Westphalia, DT) |
Assignee: |
WAGO Kontakttechnik G.m.b.H.
(Minden, Westphalia, DT)
|
Family
ID: |
25228518 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/819,575 |
Filed: |
April 28, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/592; 24/115G;
439/787; 439/268 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
4/4845 (20130101); H01R 11/01 (20130101); Y10T
24/3984 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
11/01 (20060101); H01R 4/48 (20060101); H01r
013/4B () |
Field of
Search: |
;339/59--61,95,260,261,248 ;24/115,129,255,257,259,81 ;287/64 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Leppink; James A.
Assistant Examiner: McGlynn; Joseph H.
Claims
I claim:
1. A screwless connecting terminal for electric leads includes a
terminal housing, a contact plate positioned within said terminal
housing and having a first face and an oppositely disposed second
face, a clamping spring positioned within said terminal housing and
supported on said contact plate, wherein the improvement comprises
said clamping spring extending along said clamping plate and having
a first part supported on said contact plate, a second part
extending from said first part and disposed in outwardly spaced
relationship from the first face of said contact plate, and a third
part bent from the second part toward said contact plate and having
its end remote from the second part spaced outwardly from the
second face of said contact plate, the third part of said clamping
spring having an opening therein through which said contact plate
extends and the edge of the opening facing the second face of said
contact plate being biased into engagement with said contact plate
for securing one or more electric leads therebetween, and said
second and third parts of said clamping spring being displaceable
relative to said contact plate for spacing the contacting edge of
the opening therein from the second face of said contact plate for
inserting one or more electric leads therebetween.
2. A connecting terminal, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the edge
surface of the opening in the third part of said clamping spring
which is biased into engagement with the second face of said
contact plate is located in a plane disposed angularly to the plane
of said contact plate when an electric lead is secured therebetween
for effecting a wedgelike gripping action on the lead.
3. A connecting terminal, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a groove
is provided in the second face of said contact plate and extends
therealong transversely of the third part of said clamping spring
for forming a recess for receiving an electric lead to be held
between said contact plate and clamping spring.
4. A connecting terminal, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
clamping spring has a second part and third part extending from
each of two opposite sides of said first part and each of said
third parts has an opening therethrough through which said contact
plate extends for forming points of engagement at the opposite ends
of said contact plate for one or more electric leads.
5. A connecting terminal, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
first part of said clamping spring is fixed to said contact plate
by the first face thereof at the end of said contact plate opposite
the end which extends through the opening in said clamping
spring.
6. A connecting terminal, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
contact plate has recesses in the sides thereof extending between
the first and second faces at a position intermediate its ends, and
the first part of said clamping spring secured within the recesses
in said contact plate whereby the first part of said clamping
spring secured to said contact plate is in engagement with the
first and second faces of said contact plate.
7. A connecting terminal, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a slot
is formed in said clamping spring extending through at least the
second and third parts thereof for splitting said clamping spring
into a pair of similar clamping spring members each having an
opening therethrough, and the end of said contact plate having a
forked configuration providing individual contact plate sections
arranged to pass through the separate openings in said clamping
spring members.
8. A connecting terminal, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
contact plate is elongated and has reduced cross-sectional portions
at each end thereof, and the first part of said clamping plate is
secured to said contact plate at a position intermediate the ends
of said contact plate and said clamping spring has two second parts
and third parts each extending from one side of said first part
toward the opposite ends of said contact plate, the third parts of
said clamping spring each having an opening therethrough arranged
to receive the reduced cross section portion of said contact
plate.
9. A connecting terminal, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the edge
of the opening in said clamping spring has a point intermediate its
ends arranged to contact the second face of said contact plate at
least when the electric leads are not disposed between the edge and
said contact plate, and the surfaces of said edge extending from
the intermediate point to the ends thereof arranged in diverging
relationship from the second face of said contact plate so that two
separate clamping regions are provided between the edge of the
opening and the second face of said contact plate, and means for
securing said contact plate to said clamping spring so that said
contact plate can be pivoted laterally about an axis extending from
its point of support on said contact plate through the opening in
said clamping spring and also so that the contact plate can be
pivoted relative to said clamping spring.
10. A connecting terminal, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
clamping spring is U-shaped having a bight portion and a pair of
legs each extending outwardly from one end of said bight portion,
the bight portion of said U-shaped clamping spring forming the
first part thereof intermediate its ends and the second part of
said clamping spring extending from the intermediate first part to
the ends of said bight portion, and each leg of said U-shaped
clamping spring forming the third part thereof and having an
opening therethrough arranged to receive one end of said contact
plate.
11. A connecting terminal, as set forth in claim 1, wherein at
least the portion of said terminal housing disposed opposite the
first face of said contact plate and located adjacent to the second
part of said clamping spring being formed of a flexible material so
that the second part of said clamping spring can be displaced
toward the first face of said contact plate whereby the contacting
edge surface of the opening in the third part of said clamping
spring is displaced away from the second face of said contact plate
for inserting electric leads therebetween.
12. A connecting terminal, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a
tongue extends inwardly from the walls of said terminal housing and
forms a support for said contact plate intermediate the ends
thereof, and the opposite ends of said terminal housing having
openings therein into which the opposite ends of said contact plate
extend.
13. A connecting terminal, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
third part of said clamping spring forms an obtuse angle with the
portion of the second face of said contact plate which extends
through the opening in the third part and the second part of said
clamping spring is disposed at an acute angle with the first face
of said contact plate.
14. A connecting terminal, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the
cross-sectional area of said contact plate which extends through
the opening in said clamping spring has a smaller cross-sectional
area than the portion of said contacting plate which extends
between the opening and the point at which the first part of said
clamping spring is supported on said contact plate.
15. A connecting terminal, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
contact plate is formed of an elongated metal strip bent over upon
itself for at least a portion of its length, and said contact plate
formed of said bent over metal strip having a first end for
engagement within the opening in said clamping spring and a second
end forming a connecting part such as a socket pin and the
like.
16. A connecting terminal, as set forth in claim 15, wherein the
bent over portion of said contact plate terminates at a point
intermediate the ends thereof, and the first part of said clamping
spring is inserted between and is held by the end of said bent over
portion and the oppositely disposed intermediate part of said
contact plate.
Description
This invention concerns a screwless connecting terminal or
connector to which the ends of electric leads are connectable
without screws.
Conventional connecting terminals have a terminal housing in which
a contact plate is mounted. The bent ends of a clamping spring are
supported on this contact plate and are in engagement with the
walls of the housing under the force of the spring.
The ends of the leads to be connected are inserted between the bent
clamping spring ends and the contact plate by raising the clamping
spring ends from the contact plate. With the use of these
connecting terminals a disadvantage is that the contact pressure is
received with or without clamped conductors by the terminal
housing, since the clamping springs are in contact with the
terminal housing under pressure.
Furthermore, such connecting terminals are expensive on account of
their complicated construction and manufacture and when carrying
large currents have a high contact resistance.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a screwless
connecting terminal or connector for joining electric leads which
avoids the present disadvantages and, due to its simple
construction, easy manufacture and reliable efficiency, is
economical, has low contact resistance when carrying large
currents, and automatically maintains its contact pressure.
In accordance with the present invention, a screwless connecting
terminal or connector for joining electric leads having at least
one bent clamping spring provided in a terminal housing and in
forced engagement with a contact plate, is characterized in that
the clamping spring encloses the contact plate, serving as
abutment, at its bent end, and is kept under tension by said
contact plate.
In a preferred embodiment, the clamping spring, together with the
contact plate, is constructed as a self-contained unit; and the end
region of the contact plate is located in an opening with play.
The contact plate may also be formed as a double-walled plate from
a strip of material, and the clamping spring may be secured by a
screw, rivet or the like or by a clip or locking connection, to the
contact plate.
One end region of the contact plate may be constructed as a
connecting member, such as a plug, contact sleeve, pinch
connection, solder lug or the like, and the terminal connection may
be arranged in a housing which is at least partially flexible or
resilient, or in a housing provided with an actuating pressure
member for the clamping spring.
In another embodiment of the invention, the connecting terminal or
connector is formed as banana plug and its contact plate with the
clamping spring is bent out of a strip of material, the clamping
spring with the plug opening being secured under spring tension in
an opening in the contact plate or the end region of the contact
plate.
The clamping spring may be arranged with the contact plate at the
contact end of a housing and the terminal member extending out of
the housing may be formed as a plug.
The screwless connecting terminal or connector of the present
invention is simple in design, easy to manufacture and reliable in
operation. The connecting terminal or connector is preferably
constructed as a self-contained unit so that the contact pressure
is maintained with or without clamped conductors at the connecting
terminal itself, and is not transmitted to the terminal
housing.
In addition, this connecting terminal or connector has the required
low contact resistance when carrying large currents, and is very
economical.
Furthermore, the connecting terminal or connector of the present
invention can be readily and rapidly assembled; it is manufactured
from material of high conductivity and represents the best possible
type of connection and connecting device for electric leads.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a screwless connecting terminal or
connector for electric leads, formed of a contact plate and
clamping spring and arranged in an insulating terminal housing,
FIGS. 2--5 are perspective views of other embodiments of screwless
connecting terminals or connectors,
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section through a terminal housing with
inserted connecting terminals,
FIG. 7 is a plan view of the same terminal housing comprising
connecting terminals, shown partly in section,
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the same connecting terminal split
at the clamping spring end,
FIG. 9 is a longitudinal section through a modified terminal
housing with inserted connecting terminal,
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a connecting terminal formed as a
banana-shaped or split plug,
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a modified terminal connector
formed as a banana-shaped or split plug,
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a modified doubled connecting
terminal or connector,
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a modified screwless connecting
terminal or connector comprising a contact plate displaceably
secured under tension in W-shaped recesses of a terminal
member,
FIG. 14 is a cross section through the same connecting terminal or
connector taken on the line I-I of FIG. 13 with two clamped
leads,
FIG. 15 is a cross section through the same connecting terminal or
connector with one clamped lead,
FIG. 16 is a cross section through the same connecting terminal or
connector provided with several separately pinched conductors of
two cables,
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a modified embodiment of
connecting terminal or connector,
FIGS. 18 and 19 show front views of other constructions of
connecting terminals or conductors.
The connecting terminal or connector 10 of the present invention
for the screwless connection of electric leads or the like has a
plane striplike contact plate 11, in the center area of which a
clamping spring 12 is secured by means of a screw, rivet or the
like 11a. This clamping spring 12 is bent at both ends and encloses
the end portions of the contact plate 11, said contact plate 11
serving as abutment, keeping the clamping spring 12 under tension.
The bent ends of the clamping spring 12 are each provided with an
opening 13 positioned in each case round the end 14 of the plate
which is reduced at the ends. The opening 13 of the clamping spring
12 is larger than the cross section of the reduced plate ends 14 so
that the clamping spring 12 displaceably encloses the ends of the
contact plate 11.
The openings 13 in the clamping spring 12 and the contact plate 11
are provided in the lower contact region with at least one recess
15, such as a channel, notch or the like determining the position
of an inserted electric lead.
This connecting terminal or connector 10 is arranged in an
insulating terminal housing 16, the contact plate 11 being secured
to the housing 16. Said terminal housing 16 may be made from a
flexible or resilient material so that the ends of the clamping
springs for receiving a current conductor can be effected by
deforming the housing. At least the upper side of the housing is
made resilient, since the movement of the clamping spring 12 for
the insertion of the lead between the clamping spring and contact
plate 11 must be effected from the top.
FIG. 2 of the drawings shows a modified construction of a
connecting terminal or connector 17. A clamping spring 18 bent at
one end engages through its opening 13 the reduced end 14 of a
contact plate 19. Said contact plate 19 is formed of a strip of
material bent at the reduced end 14 and resembles a plane
double-walled plate. The end 20 of the clamping spring 18 opposed
to the bends extends downwardly with a certain space parallel to
the free end of the clamping spring, and is clamped between the
doubled contact plate 19, so that the clamping spring 18 is firmly
connected to the contact plate 19 and represents a self-contained
unit. The free end of the contact plate 19 is formed as a terminal
member 21, such as a contact sleeve for receiving electric
leads.
A screwless connecting terminal or connector 22 is shown in FIG. 3
as another modified embodiment. The clamping spring 23 and the
contact plate 24 correspond to the connecting terminal or connector
17; the change is in the type of connection of the clamping spring
23 with the contact plate 24 which, at its end opposed to the bend,
is firmly connected to the contact plate 24 by a screw or rivet 25,
the two parts forming an independent unit. The end of the contact
plate 24 is formed as a terminal member 26.
Another modified screwless connecting terminal or connector 27 is
shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. The opening 13 in a clamping
spring 28, bent at one end, applies pressure to the reduced end 14
of a contact plate 29. The end of the clamping spring 28 opposed to
the bend is formed as a downwardly bent supporting member 30 by
means of which the clamping spring 28 is locked to the contact
plate 29, in that the clamping spring 28 with its supporting member
30 partly engages and locks in the contact plate 29; the clamping
spring 28 and contact plate 29 are also an independent unit.
The free end of the contact plate 29 is formed as a terminal member
31.
FIG. 5 of the drawings shows another embodiment of a screwless
connecting terminal or connector 32. A clamping spring 33 bent at
one end engages by its opening 13 round the reduced end 14 of a
contact plate 34. Said contact plate 34 is formed as a
double-walled plate of a strip of material bent at the end of the
plate opposite to the reduced end 14, and keeps the clamping spring
23 under tension by means of a screw or rivet. The doubled contact
plate 34 is flat in the region of the clamping spring 33 and at the
free end is shaped into a terminal member 35.
The above described connecting terminal or connector 17, 22, 27 and
32 may be provided on the lower contact area between the spring
opening 13 and reduced contact plate end 14, with at least one
recess 15 such as a channel or notch, so that the electric lead
inserted under the contact plate 19, 24, 29 and 31 in the opening
13 of the clamping spring 18, 23, 28 and 33 may be secured in a
predetermined position. The clamping spring 12, 18, 23, 28, 33 kept
under tension by the contact plate 11, 19, 24, 29 and 34 ensures a
reliable clamped position and good contact for the inserted
electric lead.
The connecting terminals or connectors 17, 22, 27 and 32 may be
fitted, as shown in the connecting terminal or connector 10, in a
completely or partially resilient or flexible terminal housing 16
or in the terminal housing 36 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
The terminal housing 36 has a box-shaped body open at one end, and
is provided at the other end with one or more insertion openings 27
for the electric leads. One or more adjacent but separated
connecting terminals or connectors may be inserted in said terminal
housing 36.
The connecting terminal or connector 38 inserted in the terminal
housing 36 (see FIG. 8) is provided with a double contact plate 39,
to which a split clamping spring 40, bent at one end, is secured
under tension, and forms an independent unit with the contact plate
39. At the connecting end of the clamping spring 40, said contact
plate 39 has two adjacent plate members 39a round which a clamping
spring member 40a of the split clamping spring 40 engages at an
opening 41. The two adjacently provided clamping spring members
40a, each in contact under tension with the contact plate members
39a, afford two possible connections for this connecting terminal
38 at one end. The other end of the contact plate 39 is formed at a
terminal member 42. An electric lead may be connected to the
connecting terminal 38 in the region of the member 42, and two
electric leads are clamped near the clamping spring members
40a.
The contact plate 39 is supported on a tongue 43 and is secured
thereto by the clamping spring 40. In the region of the curved
parts 40a of the clamping spring the tongue 43 is recessed for the
movement of the clamping spring 40. The part of the tongue in
contact with the housing wall in the insertion region is provided
as a stop 43a, the surface of which, adjacent to the clamping
spring 40, is slanted. This stop 43a with its inclined surface
serves as an abutment for the lower portions of the clamping spring
and prevents twisting of the clamping spring members 40a when the
electric terminal leads are pulled out.
The clamping spring 40 can also be fitted with more than two
clamping spring members 40a so that several leads can be clamped
together.
The members 39a of the contact plate 39 at the connecting end
partly project into the insertion openings 37 of the housing 36 and
come into contact with an upper abutment. Two recesses 44 are
provided on the top of the housing 36, near the bend of each
clamping spring 40, through which a screwdriver or the like can be
inserted for moving the clamping spring 40 downwardly when
inserting the electric leads.
Such a terminal housing 36 provided with a connecting terminal or
connector 38 represents a terminal body which can be used for the
connection of several, for example, four electric leads (two on
each side). In addition, a lead can be connected in this terminal
body to the connecting member 42 of each connecting terminal 38,
and two leads may extend in the region of the clamping spring 40.
The modified terminal housing 45 shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings,
has a boxlike base member 46 in the two ends of which insertion
openings 47 are formed. A contact plate 49 supported by members 48
is secured by its ends in the insertion openings 47 acting as
abutments at the top. A clamping spring 51, bent at both ends and
supported in the center area with a bend on the contact plate and
held with tension on the contact plate 49 owing to its curved
(W-shaped) formation, forming an independent unit with the contact
plate 49, engages round both ends of the contact plate. An
actuating pressure member 52 covering the top of the terminal
housing 45 is secured to the clamping spring 51, said pressure
member 52 being movable into the base member 46 for moving the
clamping spring 51. With this actuating pressure member 52, when
one end is pressed, said member moves the bent end of the clamp
spring 51 downwardly for the insertion of electric leads, about the
center bend of the clamp spring 51.
The other bent end of the clamp spring 51 may also be raised from
the contact plate 49 by moving the other end of the actuating
presser 52 downwardly for the insertion and clamping of the
electric lead. The parts of the members 48 at the insertion end
also serve as stops 48a and prevent twisting of the lower parts of
the clamping spring when the electric leads are drawn out of the
opening 50 in said clamping spring.
A screwless connecting terminal or connector 53 is shown in FIG. 10
of the drawings as a banana-shaped or split plug and formed from a
strip of material into a contact plate 54 and a clamp spring 55.
The bent clamp spring 55 has an opening 56 at one end and extends
through an opening 57 at the end of the contact plate 54. The
contact plate 54 and the clamp spring 55 are shaped as a
cylindrical plug 58 at one end so that the connecting terminal 53
is insertable by this pluglike connecting member 58 into a socket.
An electric lead 59 may be inserted and clamped in the opening 56
in the clamping spring 55 below the contact plate 58. The clamp
spring 55 may be enclosed at the connecting end together with the
contact plate 54, by a terminal housing 60 consisting of flexible
or elastic material, said terminal housing 60 being provided at the
connecting end with a hinged cover 61 with passage openings 62 for
the electric lead 59 and for receiving the banana-shaped plug 53. A
presser 63 may be arranged on the housing 60 for actuating the
clamp spring 55 during insertion of the lead.
The connecting terminal or connector 64 shown in FIG. 11 of the
drawings is also formed as a banana-shaped plug and corresponds in
its design to the connecting terminal 53. The modification resides
in the arrangement of a spring 65, which assists in holding the
clamp spring 55 in clamping tension relative to the contact plate
54.
The connecting terminals or connectors 53 and 64 formed as
banana-shaped plugs may also be provided with a clamp spring 55
which engages round the contact plate with tension through an
opening, and they are designed according to the connecting
terminals or contactors according to FIGS. 1--6.
Another embodiment of a screwless connecting terminal 70 shown in
FIG. 12 of the drawings has a clamping spring 71 having at least
two separately movable clamping spring members 71a, 71b, at both
ends; each clamping spring member 71a, 71b of the clamp spring 71
extends through an aperture 72 across stems 73a, 73b at the end of
a contact plate 73. The clamp spring 71 is U-shaped, and the angled
shanks thereon are represented by the clamp spring members 71a,
71b. The clamp spring 71 is held with tension against the contact
plate 73 by means of a support 74 and forms an independent unit
therewith. The support 74 is located in the center area of the
clamp spring. It is preferable to bend the center support 74 out of
the contact plate 73 to form a clamp spring support. Additional
supports 74 may also be bent out of the sides of the contact plate
73.
It is within the scope of the present invention to provide the
center and/or the sides of the contact plate with supports 74 which
can be made from the contact plate 73 by the stamping and bending
process or secured to the contact plate 73 in any different manner.
The two clamp spring members 71a, 71b at each end of the clamp
spring 71 are formed by longitudinally splitting said spring and
springing the end over their respective contact plate independently
of each other.
The other sides of each contact plate member 73a, 73b and the edge
of the opening 72 of each clamp spring member 71a, 71b in contact
with the members 73a, 73b are provided with recesses 75, which
secure the inserted electric leads in the correct position.
The contact plate members 73a, 73b may be reduced so that the
opening 72 of each clamp spring member 71a, 71b is greater than the
cross section of the contact plate members. In the case of such a
connecting terminal or connector 70 several electric leads may be
inserted, since this terminal 70 is constructed as a double or
multiple terminal. Each clamp spring member 71a, 71b may be moved
independently of the adjacent or opposing clamp spring member 71a,
71b for the insertion or removal of the electric lead.
Such a clamp 70 may be arranged in a casing, and its clamp spring
members 71a, 71b may be moved by a pin insertable through recesses
in the casing, or by an actuating presser.
The above-described connecting terminal or contactor 70 although of
simple construction, makes it possible to interconnect several
electric leads.
The special advantage of the connectors described is that the
contact plates serve as abutments and the clamp spring or springs
are held under tension. Together with the clamp spring, the contact
plate forms an independent unit, through which the contact
pressure, with or without clamped electric leads, is not
transmitted to the insulating casing.
The connecting terminal or contactor of the present invention may
be used in switches, plug sockets, and plug devices; such terminals
may also be used as a connection on electric leads, or for
connecting such leads together.
A screwless connecting terminal and contactor 110 in another
embodiment according to FIGS. 13--16 has a clamp member 111 which
is provided with two oppositely disposed apertures 112; said
apertures each have clamping surfaces 113 slanted with respect to
each other, dividing each aperture 112 into two clamping regions. A
contact plate 115 clamping individual leads 114a of a cable extends
between the opposed apertures 112 of the clamping member 111.
The leads 114 are secured by clamping at three points with line
contact by the clamping member 111, and the contact plate 115 and
the individual conductors 114a of the cable lead are compressed in
the clamping regions of the recesses 112 with line contact by the
contact plate 115.
The apertures 112 of the clamping member 111 are W- or M-shaped.
The contact plate 115 is tiltable about an abutment of the clamping
member 111 and provided at the clamping ends with straight clamping
edges 116.
The contact plate 115 is formed with an angular or arcuate cross
section and to provide the corner edges on the concave side as
clamping edges 116, the convex side surface of the contact plate
115 is tiltably supported on the abutment of the clamping member
111.
The spring clamping member 111 is shaped as a curved clamping
spring with a W- or M-shaped basic form (see FIGS. 13--16). The
contact plate 115 is mounted in the center area of the clamp on the
clamping member 111 by a rivet 117.
The rivet 117 is disposed in a bore 118 of the clamping member 111
and can be displaced (tilted) with the contact plate 115 relatively
to the clamping member 111; at the same time, the center area of
the clamping member serves as an abutment for the contact plate 115
and apertures 112 are formed in the turned down ends 119 of the
clamping member 111.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 17 a screwless connecting terminal
or connector 120 has a U-shaped yoke as clamping member 121, in
both shanks 122 of which an aperture 112 is formed. The contact
plate 115 is displaceably mounted in the apertures 112 and has a
compression spring 123. It is held by this compression spring 123
tiltably in the apertures 112; the compression spring 123 is
arranged between the crosspiece of the stirrup and contact plate
115.
A screwless connecting terminal and contactor 124 according to
another embodiment of FIG. 18 has two U-shaped yokes adjacent to
each other as clamping members 125, which jointly engage the
contact plate by the apertures 112 formed in the shanks. With each
yoke there is associated a compression spring 123 which extends
between the contact plate 115 and the yoke crosspiece to keep the
contact plate 115 displaceably with tension in the apertures 112 of
the clamping member 125.
FIG. 19 shows another embodiment of a screwless connecting terminal
and contactor 126 which has a U-shaped yoke as a clamping member
127, in the side recesses 112 of which the contact plate 115 is
kept under tension by means of two compression springs provided
between contact plate 115 and yoke crosspiece. The apertures 112 of
all the above described embodiments are each formed in the shanks
119 and 122 of the clamping members 111, 121, 125, 127 in the free
ends of the shanks opposite the crosspiece and are of similar form;
the shanks 119, 122 of the clamping members 111, 121, 125, 127 are
disposed by the portion receiving the apertures 112 at an angle
relative to each other, so that the leads 114 clamped between the
shanks 119, 122 and contact plate 115 in the apertures 112 are
retained reliably, since, due to the inclined formation of the
clamps, a cone effect is obtained preventing extraction of the
leads 114 or 114a.
Since the contact plate 115 of the screwless connecting terminal or
contactor 110, 120, 124, 126 is mounted displaceably in the
recesses of the clamping members 111, 121, 125, 127 a good clamping
action is obtained; the contact plate 115 automatically swivels to
accommodate the inserted leads 114 or 114a, and has a strong
pressure action due to the supporting or mounting on an abutment
111, 122.
The leads 114 are always clamped with three point mounting by means
of linear contact and the leads 114a are compressed in a bunch and
also prevented from slipping out of the sides by the shape of the
aperture, whereby a high contact pressure is ensured.
Since the contact plate is tiltable about its longitudinal axis,
either one or two leads may be inserted into the apertures; in the
case of two inserted leads the contact plate exerts an
approximately uniform pressure on both leads.
If diagonally opposed leads are used, a sufficient contact pressure
is achieved. The naturally resilient formation of the clamping
spring as a clamping member and the compression springs of the
yokes formed as clamping members, give the contact plate a strong
pressure action so that adequate contact pressure is ensured in
each method of clamping.
The leads can be easily inserted into the apertures between
clamping member and contact plate.
At the same time it is a great advantage for several electrical
leads to be connected together in the smallest space.
It is possible to manufacture such screwless connecting terminals
and connectors in other forms and to make the shapes and sizes of
the clamping parts different. For example, it is within the scope
of the present invention to provide the screwless connecting
terminal and connector 110, as shown in FIGS. 13--16, as a
one-sided embodiment; the clamping member 111 is constructed as a
bent clamping spring with only one aperture 112 provided with two
clamping surfaces 113 opposed to each other at an angle, said
aperture being divided by the clamping surfaces 113 into two
clamping regions.
A contact plate 115 is applied with tension on this clamping member
111 and the contact plate 115 extends into the aperture 112 for
securing the leads 114 to be electrically connected. In this
embodiment it is preferable to secure one end of the contact plate
115 to the clamping member 111 so that the other end of the
clamping plate 115, disposed in the aperture 112, is in pressure
contact with the clamping member 111.
* * * * *