CN109560436B

CN109560436B - Electric connector

Info

Publication number: CN109560436B
Application number: CN201710883053.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 赵楠
Original assignee: Delphi Electrical Centers Shanghai Co Ltd
Current assignee: Delphi Electrical Centers Shanghai Co Ltd
Priority date: 2017-09-26
Filing date: 2017-09-26
Publication date: 2024-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 2037-09-26
Also published as: CN109560436A

Abstract

An electrical connector configured to join two or more wires and cables is disclosed herein. The connector includes a bus bar and a clamping spring housed within a housing. The connector further includes a lever pivotally attached to the housing and a wire carrier housing one of the wires and cables. When the lever is moved from the initial position to the final position, the lever engages the wire carrier and urges the wire carrier forward. When the lever is in the initial position, a ramp on the wire carrier engages the clamping spring and urges the clamping spring away from the bus bar. When the lever is in the final position, the ramp is disengaged from the clamping spring, and the clamping spring engages the cable to ensure that the cable is in contact with the bus bar.

Description

Electric connector

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to electrical connectors and, more particularly, to electrical connectors configured to splice two-wire cables.

Background

Spring force connection terminals are known in many forms, such as conductor connection terminals, terminal blocks, or are installed in electrical equipment, automobiles, automation equipment for industrial control or building automation.

European patent No. EP 1213791 B1 discloses an electrical connector comprising a cage tension spring comprising a self-supporting actuating lever. This actuating lever is rotatably mounted on the back curve busbar section.

German patent application No. DE 102008060282 A1 discloses a spring termination which can be implemented without the use of tools for electrical conductors, wherein the actuating lever is suspended in a recess in a stationary limb of the cage tension spring and is guided transversely through the cage tension spring by means of at least one side limb.

German patent No. DE 102008052626 B4 describes a connection terminal comprising an arcuate piece engaged on both sides around a clamping spring, on which an actuating lever is hinged.

European patent No. EP 2001086 B1 discloses a screwless connection terminal comprising a cage tension spring, wherein the actuating lever is suspended in a support bend of the bus bar, which is behind the spring bend of the cage tension spring. The actuating lever engages on both sides around the bus bar and rests on the actuating section of the cage tension spring.

Chinese patent publication No. 104885303A discloses a spring force terminal connection comprising a bus bar, a terminal spring in the form of a cage tension spring, and an actuator element which is displaceably mounted to act on an actuator section of the terminal spring such that the terminal point can be opened and closed. The support arm extends from the direction of the bus bar through a slot in the terminal section and/or in the actuating section of the terminal spring. The section of the bearing arm that extends through the slot is arranged in the region between the transverse edge of the end spring and the support of the actuator.

Against this background, there remains a need for an electrical connector having improved electrical connection between cables spliced by the electrical connector and improved retention of the cables within the electrical connector.

The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely because of its mention in the background section. Similarly, the problems mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different methods, which may themselves be inventions.

Disclosure of Invention

According to one embodiment of the present invention, an electrical connector configured to electrically interconnect an electrical wire and cable is provided. The electric connector comprises: a planar bus bar having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface; and a clamping spring having a base section in contact with the first major surface of the bus bar, an attachment section extending from the base section, a spring bending section adjoining the attachment section, and a clamping section adjoining the spring bending section and extending toward the second major surface of the bus bar. The electrical connector further comprises a wire carrier in which the wire cable is arranged. The wire carrier defines a ramp on the front end. The electrical connector further comprises: a housing defining a cavity in which the bus bar, the clamping spring and the wire carrier are disposed; and a lever pivotally attached to the housing. When the lever is moved from the initial position to the final position, the lever engages the wire carrier and pushes the wire carrier forward. When the lever is in the initial position, the ramp engages the clamping section, pushing the clamping section away from the bus bar. When the lever is in the final position, the ramp disengages the clamping section and the clamping section engages the wire and cable, thereby ensuring that the wire and cable is in contact with the second major surface of the bus bar.

The lever may be attached to the housing by a first post and to the wire carrier by a second post disposed within a hoof-shaped recess defined by the wire carrier. When the lever is moved from the initial position to the final position, the second leg passes through the shoe-shaped recess, thereby pushing the wire carrier forward in the housing.

Alternatively, the lever may define a sector gear that engages a rack defined by the wire carrier when the lever is moved from the initial position into the final position, thereby pushing the wire carrier forward in the housing.

The lever may optionally define a sector gear that engages a rack defined by the wire carrier, by which engagement the lever engages the wire carrier and urges the wire carrier forward in the housing when the lever is moved from the initial position to the final position.

When the lever is in the final position, the lever may engage a stop in the rear portion of the wire carrier. The lever preferably moves through an arc of greater than 135 ° as the lever moves from the initial position to the final position. More preferably, the lever moves through an arc of about 180 ° as the lever moves from the initial position to the final position. The front portion of the ramp may have a convex surface and the rear portion of the ramp may have a concave surface. The bus bar may define a longitudinally extending tongue. In this case, the clamping section defines a recess, and the tongue is disposed in the recess.

The electrical connector may be configured to electrically interconnect a pair of wires and cables. The electrical connector may include a pair of clamping springs each having a base section in contact with the first major surface of the bus bar, an attachment section extending from the base section, a spring bend section adjoining the attachment section, and a clamping section adjoining the spring bend section and extending toward the second major surface of the bus bar. The electrical connector may further include: a pair of wire carriers in which one of the pair of wires and cables is disposed; and a pair of levers pivotally attached to the housing. Each lever engages one of the pair of wire carriers.

Drawings

The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connector of fig. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the electrical connector of fig. 1 with the lever and wire carrier in an initial position according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is an isolated perspective view of the wire cable, wire carrier, bus bar and clamping spring of the electrical connector of FIG. 1 in the initial position of FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4B is an isolated perspective view of the wire cable, bus bar and clamping spring of the electrical connector of FIG. 1 in the initial position of FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the electrical connector of fig. 1 with the lever and wire carrier in an intermediate position according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6A is an isolated perspective view of the wire cable, wire carrier, bus bar and clamping spring of the electrical connector of FIG. 1 in the neutral position of FIG. 5, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6B is an isolated perspective view of the wire cable, bus bar and clamping spring of the electrical connector of FIG. 1 in the neutral position of FIG. 5, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the electrical connector of fig. 1 with the lever and wire carrier in a final position according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8A is an isolated perspective view of the wire cable, wire carrier, bus bar and clamping spring of the electrical connector of FIG. 1 in the final position of FIG. 7 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8B is an isolated perspective view of the wire cable, bus bar and clamping spring of the electrical connector of FIG. 1 in the final position of FIG. 7, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9A is an isolated perspective view of a bus bar and clamping spring of the electrical connector of FIG. 1 in an unassembled condition, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9B is a schematic diagram of a system according to the present invention embodiment(s) an isolated perspective view of the bus bar and clamping spring of the electrical connector of fig. 1 in an assembled condition;

fig. 10 is a perspective view of an electrical connector according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

An electrical connector configured to electrically interconnect two or more wires and cables is disclosed herein. The connector includes a bus bar and a pair of clamping springs housed within a housing. The free end of each clamping spring is configured to ensure that the wire and cable are in contact with the bus bar when the clamping spring applies a spring force to the wire and cable.

The connector further includes a lever pivotally attached to the housing and to a wire carrier housing the wires and cables. When the lever is moved from the initial open position to the final closed position, the lever pushes the wire carrier into the housing. A ramp on the wire carrier lifts the clamping spring until the wire is inserted into the housing and then allows the clamping spring to contact the wire and cable, thereby securing the wire and cable to the bus bar.

Fig. 1-9B illustrate a first non-limiting example or implementation of an electrical connector assembly 10, the electrical connector assembly 10 being designed to electrically interconnect or splice two or more electrical wires and cables 12. The connector assembly 10 includes a bus bar 14, a pair of clamping springs 16, and a pair of levers 18 disposed within an insulating housing 20. The wire and cable 12 is electrically interconnected by a bus bar 14, the bus bar 14 being formed of an electrically conductive material such as a copper alloy.

Each of the clamping springs 16 holds each of the wire and cable 12 in contact with the top surface 22 of the bus bar 14, as best shown in fig. 8B. The wire and cable 12 is provided with a wire carrier 24, which wire carrier 24 is accommodated in a cavity 26 in the housing 20. The lever 18 is configured to move the wire carrier 24 and the wire cable 12 longitudinally within the cavity 26 when the lever 18 is moved from the initial open position 28 shown in fig. 3 to the final closed position 30 shown in fig. 7. When the wire carrier 24 is moved into the housing 20 in the forward direction 32, the convex portion 34 of the ramp 36 on the front end 38 of the wire carrier 24 engages the clamping spring 16, pushing the clamping spring 16 upward and away from the bus bar 14, as shown in fig. 6A and 6B, to allow the wire and cable 12 to be inserted between the clamping spring 16 and the bus bar 14. As used herein, the forward direction 32 is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing 20 and in the direction of insertion of the wire and cable 12 into the housing cavity 26. As used herein, the rearward direction is in a direction opposite the forward direction 32. When the wire carrier 24 is further inserted into the housing 20 by further moving the lever 18 toward the closed position 30, the clamping spring 16 engages the concave portion 40 of the ramp 36, as shown in fig. 8A and 8B, allowing the clamping spring 16 to move downward toward the bus bar 14 and contact the wire cable 12, thereby securing the wire cable 12 to the bus bar 14.

The clamping spring 16 is integrally formed and preferably formed of an electrically conductive material, although embodiments are contemplated in which the clamping spring 16 is formed of a non-conductive material. The clamping spring 16 has a base section 42, which base section 42 is in contact with a bottom surface 44 of the bus bar 14. The clamping spring 16 has an L-shaped attachment section 46, which L-shaped attachment section 46 is integrally attached to the base section 42 and extends from a top surface of the base section 42. As the clamping spring 16 extends farther from the base section 42, the clamping spring 16 defines an arcuate spring bending section 48 positioned adjacent the attachment section, the arcuate spring bending section 48 being configured to generate a majority of the spring force exerted by the clamping spring 16. The clamping spring 16 also includes a clamping section 50 adjacent the attachment section, the clamping section 50 extending toward the top surface 22 of the bus bar 14. The clamping spring 16 exerts a clamping force on the clamping section 50, the clamping section 50 being configured to ensure that the wire and cable 12 is in contact with the top surface 22 of the bus bar 14.

As best shown in fig. 1, each lever 18 includes a pair of lever arms 52, the lever arms 52 being oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the housing 20. The lever arms 52 are spaced apart from one another and are generally a cross bar 54 perpendicular to the lever arm 52 is interconnected. Each lever arm 52 is pivotally attached to the housing 20 by a first generally cylindrical post 56 extending outwardly from the lever arm 52, the first post 56 being received within a circular socket 58 defined by the housing 20. The lever arm 18 is further attached to the wire carrier 24 by a second generally cylindrical post 60 extending inwardly from the lever arm 52, the second post 60 being received within a shoe or horseshoe shaped recess 62 in the outer surface of the wire carrier 24.

When the lever 18 is moved in the rearward direction from the open position 28 where the cross bar 54 is proximate the front end of the housing 20 to the closed position 30 where the cross bar 54 is proximate the wire and cable 12, the second leg 60 passes the shoe groove 62, thereby advancing the wire carrier 24 in the forward direction 32. When the lever 18 moves from the open position 28 to the closed position 30, the lever 18 moves through an arc greater than 135, preferably through an arc of about 180. As used herein, "about 180 °" means between 165 ° and 195 °.

As shown in fig. 9A and 9B, the bus bar 14 defines a pair of tongues 64, the tongues 64 extending longitudinally in the forward direction 32 from a transversely oriented body 66 of the bus bar 14. When the lever 18 is in the open position 28, the free end of the clamping spring 50 defines a recess 68, and the tongue 64 is disposed within the recess 68 intermediate the clamping section 50 and the base section 42, and when the lever 18 is in the closed position 30, the wire and cable 12 is disposed within the recess 68 intermediate the clamping spring 16 and the tongue 64.

Fig. 10 shows another non-limiting embodiment of the connector assembly 10. In this embodiment, the lever arm 52 includes a sector gear 70, the sector gear 70 engaging a rack 72 on the wire carrier 24 to move the wire carrier 24 into the cavity 26 of the housing 20 as the lever 18 moves from the open position 28 to the closed position 30. The wire carrier 24, ramp 36, housing 20, bus bar 14, and clamping spring 16 are all substantially identical to those previously described in this embodiment.

The connector assembly may be formed by the following method.

In a first step, a housing 20 is provided and a first leg of the lever 18 is inserted into a socket in the housing 20.

In a second step, the clamping spring 16 is formed by stamping a flat rectangular metal sheet having a notch 68 on one end. The clamping spring 16 is then bent to form the base section 42, attachment section, spring bending section, and clamping section 50. The free end of the clamping section 50 defines a recess 68. This process is repeated for the second clamping spring 16.

In a third step, the bus bar 14 is formed by stamping a flat sheet of metal, having a transverse body and two tongues 64 extending forward.

In a fourth step, the tongue 64 is placed within the recess 68 intermediate the clamping section 50 and the base section 42.

In a fifth step, the second leg of the lever arm 52 is inserted into the shoe-shaped recess 62 of the wire carrier 24. Optionally, the sector gear 70 of the lever arm 52 is engaged with the rack 72 of the wire carrier 24.

In a sixth step, the wire and cable 12 is inserted into the wire carrier 24.

In a seventh step, the lever 18 is moved from the open position 28 to the closed position 30, thereby moving the wire carrier 24 forward in the housing 20. As the wire carrier 24 moves forward in the housing cavity 26, the convex front portion of the wire carrier ramp 36 contacts the clamping spring 16 and pushes the clamping portion upward. As the wire carrier 24 moves further into the housing cavity 26, the concave rear portion of the wire carrier ramp 36 contacts the clamping spring 16 and the spring portion brings the clamping portion down and into contact with the wire cable 12.

The embodiment of the connector assembly shown in fig. 1-10 has two wires and cables connected to the bus bar by a pair of clamping springs. An alternative embodiment of the connector assembly may have two wires and cables pressed against the bus bar by the same clamping spring. Further alternative embodiments of the connector assembly may include three or more wires and cables attached to the bus bar by three or more clamping springs or even a single wire and cable attached to the bus bar by a single spring.

Although the illustrated embodiment shows two independently operable levers, other embodiments are contemplated in which the levers are actuated in unison, such as by a common cross bar. Further embodiments may have a common lever arm between the levers.

Further alternative embodiments may include an electrical connector having openings on opposite sides of the housing for inserting wires and cables, rather than openings on one side of the housing as shown in fig. 1-10.

Thus, an electrical connector assembly is provided that can be used to interconnect or splice two or more wires and cables. The connector assembly may ensure a good electrical connection of the cables to each other and may ensure a good retention of the cables to the connector assembly.

While the invention has been described in terms of its preferred embodiments, the invention is not intended to be so limited, but rather is limited only to the extent set forth in the following claims. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order of importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. In addition, directional terms such as upper, lower, etc. do not denote any particular orientation, but rather the terms upper, lower, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another and establish positional relationships between the various elements.

Claims

1. An electrical connector configured to electrically interconnect a wire and cable, comprising:

a planar busbar having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface;

a clamping spring having a base section in contact with the first major surface of the bus bar, an attachment section extending from the base section, a spring bending section adjacent the attachment section, and a clamping section adjacent the spring bending section and extending toward the second major surface of the bus bar;

a wire carrier in which the wire cable is disposed, the wire carrier defining a ramp on a front end;

a housing defining a cavity in which the bus bar, the clamping spring and the wire carrier are disposed; and

a lever pivotally attached to the housing, wherein when the lever is moved from an initial position to a final position, the lever engages the wire carrier and pushes the wire carrier forward in the housing, wherein when the lever is in the initial position, the ramp engages the clamping section, pushing the clamping section away from the bus bar, and wherein when the lever is in the final position, the ramp disengages the clamping section and the clamping section engages the wire cable, ensuring that the wire cable is in contact with the second major surface of the bus bar.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the lever is attached to the housing by a first post, and wherein the lever is attached to the wire carrier by a second post disposed within a shoe-shaped recess defined by the wire carrier.

3. The electrical connector of claim 2, wherein the second post passes through the shoe-shaped recess when the lever is moved from the initial position to the final position, thereby pushing the wire carrier forward in the housing.

4. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the lever defines a sector gear that engages a rack defined by the wire carrier.

5. The electrical connector as recited in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lever engages a detent in a rear portion of the wire carrier when the lever is in the final position.

6. The electrical connector as recited in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the lever moves through an arc greater than 135 ° when the lever moves from the initial position to the final position.

7. The electrical connector of claim 6, wherein the lever moves through an arc of about 180 ° when the lever moves from the initial position to the final position.

8. The electrical connector of any of the preceding claims 1-4, wherein a front portion of the ramp has a convex surface and a rear portion of the ramp has a concave surface.

9. The electrical connector of any of the preceding claims 1-4, wherein the bus bar defines a longitudinally extending tongue, wherein the clamping section defines a recess, and wherein the tongue is disposed within the recess.

10. The electrical connector of any of the preceding claims 1-4, wherein the electrical connector is configured to electrically interconnect a pair of electrical wires and cables, wherein the electrical connector comprises a pair of clamping springs each having the base section in contact with the first major surface of the bus bar, the attachment section extending from the base section, the spring bending section adjacent the attachment section, and the clamping section adjacent the spring bending section and extending toward the second major surface of the bus bar, wherein the electrical connector comprises a pair of wire carriers and a pair of levers, one of the pair of electrical wires and cables disposed in the wire carriers, the levers pivotally attached to the housing, wherein each lever engages one of the pair of wire carriers.