EP1777720B1 - Electrical device, particularly relay socket, with spring clip and method of manufacture - Google Patents

Abstract

Electrical device (1) has a housing (11) having a terminal (5) provided with an insertion opening (6) configured for receiving a conductor end (13). The insertion opening communicates with an assembly chamber (14) formed in the terminal. A clamp (12) is arranged in the assembly chamber. The clamp has a leaf spring (15) divided into two parallel spring contacts (21, 22) by a parting slot. Each spring contacts is deflectable in a direction of insertion of the conductor end and having a free end (24, 25) positioned adjacent to a contact pressure plate so that a clamping slot is formed there between that force-fittingly receives the conductor end. The electrical device is a relay socket. An independent claim is included for a method of manufacture.

Description

The invention relates to an electrical component, in particular a relay socket, with a housing and at least one connection pole for connecting at least one conductor end, wherein the terminal pole having at least one insertion opening which extends in a direction of insertion of the conductor end to a disposed within the housing conductor receiving chamber, and with a clamping device, by which the conductor end is non-positively fixed in the conductor receiving chamber is provided.

Such electrical components are known from the prior art. For example, screw terminals for connecting conductor ends, so-called elevator terminals, used in which the conductor end is inserted into a limited by an electrically conductive pressure plate clamping gap and then the pressure plate is pressed by means of a screw under narrowing of the clamping gap on the conductor end. As a result, a non-positive connection of the conductor end with the electrical component is created, which secures the conductor end against unintentional release and electrically connects the conductor end to the component.

The disadvantage of this type of connection poles is that on the one hand for the operation of the screw special tool is necessary and on the other hand, the screwing takes time. In addition, it is very difficult in practice to insert and clamp more than one conductor in such a screw terminal at the same time. This is required, for example, in relay sockets if the connections of several relays must be bridged for the purpose of simultaneous operation. However, the installation and operation of several screw terminals for each connection is correspondingly expensive.

The print " DE 78 01 829 U1 discloses an electrical component according to the preamble of claim 1.

In view of these disadvantages, the invention is based on the object of providing a connection possibility for an electrical component, in particular a relay socket, which is easy to actuate even when several conductor ends are connected.

This object is achieved with an electrical component according to claim 1.

This solution is structurally simple and makes it possible, by virtue of the frictional clamping in the case of deflection of the contact spring, to force-fit each end of a conductor in a clamping gap. Due to the division of a leaf spring in at least two contact springs, it is thus possible to independently clamp several conductor ends to each of the nip of a contact spring. In this way, a plurality of conductor ends can be connected to a connection pole, as it is formed by the leaf spring. Each contact spring is again a leaf spring, which is preferably clamped at its narrow end.

The principle of the solution according to the invention can be further improved by the embodiments described below, which are advantageous in each case and can be combined with one another as desired.

Thus, in an advantageous development, the contact springs each form a guide bevel inclined in the insertion direction and tapering the conductor receiving chamber in the insertion direction to the clamping gap. Due to the guide slope, the conductor end is guided during insertion to the nip, so that the conductor ends can be inserted without entanglement in the nip.

In order to produce the contact springs cost, for example by punching and bending, it is advantageous if the guide slope is substantially rectilinear. In addition, a linear guide slope ensures that the conductor end is guided evenly to the nip.

The leaf springs forming the contact springs may be made in one piece from a stamped part, wherein the separating slot is cut or stamped into the stamped part. The Shaping can be done by bending, for example. At the opposite end of the nip of the contact springs, these can combine to form the leaf spring.

In particular, in an advantageous embodiment, the stamped part can be formed into a cage which forms side surfaces or plates which line the conductor end receiving chamber at least in sections. This leads to a secure contact of the conductor end with the clamping device of the terminal pole. The individual side surfaces can be produced by simple bending processes from a correspondingly punched output plate of a stamped, flat blank.

In order to achieve sufficiently large and uniform clamping forces within the specified tolerances, the contact springs may be provided at their end remote from the clamping gap with a deformation region in which the elastic deformation of the contact springs takes place substantially. The concentration of the elastic deformation in the deformation region is achieved by the fact that the shape of the contact springs in this area, the mechanical stresses in the deformation region are increased and the deflectability at this point is greater than in the remaining sections of the contact springs. This can be achieved, for example, by reducing the surface area of the cross-section of the contact springs in this area. However, this measure involves the risk of fatigue fractures due to the notch effect of such a narrowing. Therefore, it is preferred if the increase of the stresses in the contact springs is achieved by a transition radius extending in the longitudinal direction of the contact springs in the deformation region. The transition radius is a multiple of the material thickness of the contact springs.

In order to accommodate the clamping force generated by the contact springs, in a further embodiment, a pressure plate made of a sheet material with respect to the nip against the contact springs can be arranged. In this embodiment, the conductor end is pressed by the contact spring in the direction of the rigid pressure plate, which serves as a counter-holder. The number of parts required for the electrical component can be reduced, if the pressure plate is formed integrally with the contact springs of a stamped part and in particular forms a part of the cage.

If the contact springs are deflected too much, in particular if the contact springs are pressed down by a tool in order to release a conductor end, they can plastically deform, as a result of which the clamping force changes permanently and under certain circumstances no longer lies within the specified tolerance range. In order to avoid such a deformation, it is advantageous if, in a further embodiment, a stop is provided which is arranged on the opposite side of the contact springs with respect to the guide slope and limits the design.

The stop can be formed in a simple manner by a punched tongue, which is integrally connected to the contact springs and, for example, also part of the cage. In order to allow a sufficient enlargement of the nip upon insertion of a conductor end, the stop in the non-deflected state of rest of the contact springs may be spaced therefrom. The distance is preferably within the range in which a substantially pure elastic deformation of the contact springs takes place with a negligible amount of plastic deformation.

Furthermore, in a further embodiment, a stop can be assigned to the contact springs formed by a leaf spring by one or more separating slots at the same time, so that each contact spring can be supported by the stop. For this purpose, the stop can extend over the width of all contact springs.

Damage to the contact springs when striking the stop can be avoided if the punched tongue has a contact springs opposite stop surface on which the contact springs can rest in a substantially deflected from the rest position under an enlargement of the nip release position. Due to the large-area support prevents the contact springs are bent at too high pressure on the guide slope plastically around the stop. The release position serves to release the conductor end from the clamping device. This can be done, for example, that the conductor end associated with the contact spring is pressed under enlargement of the nip and releases the head end.

In order to facilitate the insertion of the conductor ends and, in the inserted state, to fix the conductor ends within the insertion opening, the insertion opening may advantageously have an outer contour corresponding to the outer contour of juxtaposed conductor cross-sections whose number of conductor cross sections corresponds to the number of contact springs.

In addition to the insertion opening, the housing may have at least one actuating opening which opens into the conductor end receiving chamber in the direction of a center section of at least one contact spring towards the conductor receiving chamber. The actuating opening allows the insertion of a tool, such as a screwdriver, to depress the contact spring to release the clamped conductor end, for example by pressure on the guide slope. Alternatively, an actuating opening can also extend over all the contact springs of a leaf spring, which leads to a simpler shaping. Like the insertion opening and the actuating opening may be formed in the housing of the electrical component.

The center section, on which the actuating opening guides a tool, is preferably arranged in the region of the stop, so that the force exerted by the tool when releasing the clamping force is absorbed directly by the stop.

As already mentioned above, the contact springs, the pressure plate and the stop of electrically conductive stamping sheet, for example, a tempered steel such as a chromium-nickel steel, e.g. X12CrNi17 7, be made. The stamped material may be formed into a cage open in the plug-in direction, which is inserted into a mounting chamber formed by the housing of the electrical component. The cage can thereby line with its side surfaces of the mounting chamber on at least three sides in order to provide a good contact of the conductor end and sufficient protection against sparking.

In a further embodiment, the cage itself may be formed as a spring element which, when inserted into the mounting chamber, is elastically deflected. This leads to a frictional mounting of the cage in the mounting chamber with a fairly simple installation.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the electrical component may further comprise a conductor element which electrically connects the clamping device, for example, with the elements of the component to be supplied with power from the terminal pole. In a relay socket, the clamping device can be connected by the conductor element with the plug connections for the relay.

The conductor element may also be stamped from a stamped material, preferably copper such as K55, and in addition to a conductor section, for example, have a contact plate which is arranged between the pressure plate and the contact springs and allows direct contacting of the conductor element by the conductor end held by the contact spring.

The contact plate may be folded over in a further embodiment and form a plug-in direction of the base plate of the cage or the mounting chamber, so that at long conductor ends they do not touch the housing of the electrical component and damage. In particular, the bottom plate can complete the cage formed by the stamped part for the leaf spring on one side. In order to ensure the positioning of the conductor element relative to the clamping device, at least one latching fold and / or at least one retaining tongue can be provided. By these measures, a simple non-positive pre-assembly of conductor element and leaf spring or cage can be achieved, so that they can be integrally introduced as a preassembled part in the housing of the component.

A non-positive preassembly can be achieved, for example, in a simple manner, when the circuit board engages behind the insertion of the end with a retaining fold the pressure plate of the cage and the circuit board is pressed simultaneously by the leaf springs against the pressure plate.

A side wall of the cage may also form a retaining tongue, which is aligned with the lower edges of the side surfaces of the cage and projects into an interior of the cage. In a cage-mounted conductor element, the lower edge of the back plate and the lower edge of the retaining lug rest on the conductor element. In this embodiment, the conductor element in the one direction transverse to the insertion by the spring force the contact springs and in the other direction, parallel to the insertion direction, are secured by the retaining fold and the retaining lug against displacement.

The invention also relates to a manufacturing method based on such a pre-assembly of conductor element and clamping device.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment with reference to the drawings. In this case, individual features of the described embodiment can also be omitted according to the above-described, each advantageous embodiments, even if it should not arrive in a specific application on the advantages associated with this feature.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Perspektivansicht eines erfindungsgemäß ausgestalteten elektrischen Bauteils;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Seitenansicht in teilweiser Schnittdarstellung des elektrischen Bauteils der Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine schematische Perspektivansicht eines erfindungsgemäß ausgestalteten Klemmeinrichtung;

Fig. 4

eine schematische Perspektivdarstellung der mit einem Leiter zu einer vormontierten Baueinheit zusammengefügten Klemmeinrichtung der Fig. 2.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic perspective view of an inventively designed electrical component;

Fig. 2

a schematic side view in partial sectional view of the electrical component of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

a schematic perspective view of an inventively designed clamping device;

Fig. 4

a schematic perspective view of the assembled with a conductor to a preassembled unit clamping device of Fig. 2 ,

Fig. 1 shows a relay socket 1 as an electrical component to which the invention is applied. The relay socket 1 is used to receive a relay (not shown) in a receiving area 2, which is provided with plug contacts 3 for the pins of the relay and positioning 4 for the exact positioning of the relay in the receiving area.

The relay socket 1 is provided with a plurality of terminal poles 5, which via in Fig. 1 not shown conductor elements are connected to the plug contacts 3 for the relay. The connection poles are each provided with at least one insertion opening 6 and at least one actuation opening 7.

In an insertion opening 6, at least one conductor 8 and / or at least one bridge 9 can be inserted. The inner contour of the insertion opening 6 corresponds to the outer contour of juxtaposed conductor 8 or bridges 9, so that they are individually supported and positioned by the wall of the insertion opening 6. Through the actuating opening 7 can be a tool 10, such as a screwdriver introduce to solve the conductor 8 or the bridge 6 from terminal 5 pole.

The receiving area 2 with the openings for the plug contacts 3 and the positioning means 4 and the connection poles 5 with the insertion openings 6 and the actuating openings 7 are formed in a housing 11, for example made of plastic. The housing 11 is manufactured with these elements in one operation such as injection molding.

Fig. 2 shows a side view of the relay socket 1 of Fig. 1 , wherein a terminal pole 5 is shown in section.

As in Fig. 2 can be seen, the terminal pole 5 is provided with a clamping device 12 in which a stripped conductor end 13 of the conductor 8 is fixed non-positively. For this purpose, the conductor 8 is inserted into a plug-in direction E through the insertion opening 6 in a conductor end receiving chamber 14, where it is clamped by means of a deflectable in the insertion direction E leaf spring 15 in a clamping gap 16.

The clamping device 12 is arranged in an assembly chamber 17 formed by the housing 11, which overlaps at least partially with the conductor end receiving chamber 14. A conductor element 18 extends from the clamping device 12 to a plug contact 3 of the receiving region 2 and connects it to the connection pole 5. The conductor element 18, like the clamping device 12, can be produced from a stamped part be. The configuration of the conductor element 18 is below with respect to the Fig. 4 described.

Like in the Fig. 2 can also be seen, the tool 10 is guided by the wall of the likewise opening into the conductor end receiving chamber 14 actuating opening 7 in the conductor end receiving chamber 14 that it meets the leaf spring 15 and this presses enlargement of the clamping gap 16 down, in the insertion direction E, until the leaf spring abuts against a stop 19.

The clamping device 12 is essentially formed by a one-piece, cage-shaped stamped part 20 made of an electrically conductive sheet, such as a sheet of chromium-nickel steel, whose structure is now with reference to the Fig. 3 will be described in more detail.

As can be seen, the leaf spring 15 is part of the cage 20 and divided into at least two parallel contact springs 21, 22 which are separated by at least one separating slot 23. At the free end 24, 25 of each contact spring 21, 22 a clamping gap 26, 27 is arranged. In each nip 26, 27 can, as in Fig. 2 is shown, a conductor end 14 under elastic deflection of the respective contact spring 21, 22 fixed in the insertion direction E frictionally.

At their pointing into the conductor end receiving chamber 14 back surfaces form the contact springs 21, 22 each have a preferably rectilinear, in the insertion direction E inclined guide slope 28, 29, the conductor end receiving chamber 14 in the direction of insertion E to the clamping gaps 26, 27 tapering and so through a through the insertion 6 (cf. Fig. 2 ) inserted conductor end 13 to the clamping gaps 26, 27 lead.

Adjoining the guide slopes 28, 29 at the sides facing away from the clamping gaps 26, 27 is a transition radius R configured as a deformation region 30, 31 which extends in the longitudinal direction of the contact springs 21, 22 and which has a plurality of material thicknesses D. As a result of this shaping of the contact springs 21, 22, the stresses during pressing of a conductor end are concentrated on a guide slope of a contact spring 20, 21 in the respective deformation region 30, 31, so that there substantially the elastic deformation of the contact springs 21, 22 takes place, while the guide slopes 28, 29 remain substantially undeformed.

At their free ends 24, 25 opposite ends 32, 33, at the end of the deformation regions 30, 31, the two contact springs 21, 22 are connected to each other and continue in a back plate 34. The back plate 34 extends in the insertion direction E and is substantially rectangular. A side of the back plate 34 adjoining the contact springs 21, 22 is set in a rectangular, elongated side plate 35, which extends substantially transversely to the insertion direction over the entire length of the contact springs 21, 22.

At its opposite end of the back plate 34 connect to the side plate 35, a pressure plate 36 which, together with the contact springs 21, 22, the clamping gaps 26, 27 forms. The pressure plate 36 receives the clamping forces generated by the contact springs 21, 22. Since the free ends 24, 25 of the contact springs are inclined in the insertion direction E, a train at the end of the conductor 13 against the insertion direction causes the contact springs 21, 22 try to raise in the horizontal and press more against the pressure plate 36. This increases the clamping forces that are absorbed by the pressure plate 36.

The lower edge 37 of the back plate 34 lies in a plane with the lower edge 38 of the side plate 35 and the lower edge 39 of the pressure plate 36, so that they form a common bottom surface.

The plane of the lower edges 37, 38, 39 is substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction E.

The height of the pressure plate 36 in the insertion direction E is slightly less than the height of the side plate 35, so that a recess 40 is formed.

The back plate 34, the side plate 35 and the pressure plate 36 form the side surfaces of a substantially cuboid cage, in the interior of which the bent contact springs 21, 22 to form the conductor end receiving chamber 14 and the Clamping gaps 28, 29 protrude. They are created by a double folding of an originally flat starting plate of the punching material by about 90 ° around an inner space 41 around.

The stopper 19 is punched out of the side plate 35 of the cage and folded into the interior 41 of the cage. The punching is arranged so that a sloping flap 42 (see. Fig. 2 ) and thus with respect to the insertion direction E obliquely, in the direction of the clamping gaps 28,29 inclined extending stop surface 42 is formed. The inclination N of the abutment surface 42 relative to the insertion direction E is dimensioned such that the undersides 43, 44 of the contact springs 21, 22 substantially lie on the stop surface 42 over the entire surface, if the contact springs 21, 22 in the insertion direction E from their in Fig. 3 illustrated rest position in the in Fig. 2 shown release position are deflected elastically. In this case, the abutment surface 42 in the rest position is spaced from the lower sides 43, 44 such that it can be moved against the abutment surface 42 without plastic deformation.

The stopper 19 is arranged substantially opposite to the actuating opening 7, as the Fig. 2 can be seen, so that the force acting on the performance bevels 28,29 by the tool 10 is received directly by the stopper 19.

As in Fig. 3 can be seen, a retaining lug 50 is punched out of the side plate 35 and preferably bent or bent parallel to the pressure plate 36 and back plate 34 into the interior 41. The lower edge 51 of the retaining lug 50 lies on a plane with the lower edges 37, 38, 39. The function of this retaining lug 50 is from the Fig. 4 clear.

Fig. 4 shows the clamping device 12 formed from the stamped part 20 and the conductor element 18. The conductor element 18 extends up to the receptacle 2 for the relay and forms at its end facing away from the clamping device 12 a terminal receptacle 45 for the connection of a pin of the relay.

The conductor element 18 and the clamping device 12 are non-positively connected with each other without additional components and form a preassembled, integrally manageable assembly unit.

For this purpose, an end plate 46 arranged at the end of the conductor element 18 opposite the terminal receptacle 45 is shaped substantially at right angles and forms a part 47 and, at right angles, a part 48. The one, longer part 47 of the end plate 46 forms a bottom plate for the stamped part 20, which covers the interior 41 at the end located in the insertion direction E. The conductor element 18 is at the bottom of the lower edge 37 of the back plate 34 and at the lower edge 51 of the retaining lug 39 to.

The folded shorter portion 48 is the interior 42 of the stamped part facing between the pressure plate 36 and the contact springs 21, 22 and forms a printed circuit board. Preferably, the contact springs 21, 22 are slightly deflected by the part 48, so that the conductor element 18 is pressed against the pressure plate 36. At the opposite end of the insertion of the circuit board a holding fold 49 is arranged, which engages the opposite direction of insertion E, upper end of the pressure plate 36 in the direction of the interior 41 and projects into the recess 40. By the retaining fold 49 and the pressure of the contact spring 21, 22, the conductor element 18 is secured against displacement in the insertion direction E.

Overall, a connection is achieved by this configuration between the conductor element 18 and the clamping device 12, which is easy to produce and sufficiently strong for mounting purposes.

Of course, the conductor element 18 may also be made in one piece with the clamping device 12 or the cage 20. However, such a configuration requires a more complicated punching geometry with a significantly higher reject rate than the inventive design with two individual parts, namely cage and ladder element.

When assembled, the stamped part 20 clothes with its back plate 34 and the side plate 35 and the pressure plate 36 at least three sides of the mounting chamber 17 of the housing 11 from. A fourth side of the mounting chamber 17 is in the in Fig. 4 shown embodiment lined by the conductor element 18.

The structure of the stamped part 20 has a sufficient elasticity, so that it is elastically deformed during insertion into the mounting chamber 17 and is thereby fixed in the mounting chamber.

Due to the design with at least two contact springs 21, 22, it is possible to attach a plurality of conductor elements 18 or at least one conductor and a bridge of different diameters independently of each other at a connection pole 5 of an electrical component such as a relay socket 1, without the clamping effect of the rest on a Terminal pole 5 arranged conductor is impaired.

Claims (22)

1. Electrical component (1), in particular a relay socket, comprising a housing (11) and at least one terminal (5) for the connection of at least one conductor end (13), the terminal (5) being provided with at least one plug-in opening (6), which extends in a plug-in direction (E) of the conductor end (13) to a conductor end receiving chamber (14) arranged inside the housing (11), and with a clamping device (12), through which the conductor end (13) may be non-positively fixed, the clamping device (12) having in the conductor end receiving chamber (14) at least one leaf spring (15), the free end of which is divided into at least two parallel spring contacts (21, 22) by at least one dividing slot (23), a clamping slot (26, 27) being formed at each of the free ends (24, 25) of the spring contacts, into each of which clamping slots a conductor end (13) can be introduced in the plug-in direction (E) with deflection of at least one spring contact (21, 22), and an electrically conductive pressure plate (36, 48) being arranged opposite the spring contacts with respect to the clamping slot (26, 27), characterised in that the spring contacts (21, 22), the pressure plate (36) and a stop (19) which limits the deflection of said spring contacts (21, 22) are formed from a punching sheet, which forms a substantially cuboid cage (20).
2. Electrical component (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the spring contacts (21, 22) each form a guide bevel (28, 29) which is inclined in the plug-in direction (E) and narrows the conductor end receiving chamber (14) in the plug-in direction (E) towards the clamping slot (26, 27).
3. Electrical component (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that the guide bevel (28, 29) extends substantially in a straight line.
4. Electrical component (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the free ends (24, 25) of the spring contacts (21, 22) are inclined in the plug-in direction (E).
5. Electrical component (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the leaf spring (15) is formed on a cage-shaped stamping (20).
6. Electrical component (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that the cage forms side faces (34, 35, 36) which clad at least portions of the conductor end receiving chamber (14).
7. Electrical component (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the spring contacts (21, 22) are each provided, at their ends remote from the clamping slot (28, 29), with a deformation region (30, 31), which is more deflectable than the other portions of said spring contacts (21, 22), and in that in the deformation region (30, 31) the spring contacts (21, 22) each have a transition radius (R) which is a multiple of the material thickness (D) of the spring contacts (21, 22).
8. Electrical component (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the pressure plate (36, 48) is formed together with the spring contacts (21, 22) in one piece.
9. Electrical component (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that a stop (19) which limits the deflection is provided on the side of the spring contacts (21, 22) opposite the guide bevel (28, 29).
10. Electrical component (1) according to claim 9, characterised in that stop (19) is formed from a punched-out tongue which is connected integrally to the spring contacts (21, 22).
11. Electrical component (1) according to either claim 9 or claim 10, characterised in that when the spring contacts (21, 22) are not deflected but at rest, the stop (19) is at a distance from them.
12. Electrical component (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterised in that the stop (19) has a stop face (42) opposite the spring contacts (21, 22), against which the spring contacts (21, 22) under an enlargement of the clamping slot lie in a substantially resiliently deflected release position.
13. Electrical component (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the insertion opening (6) has an outer contour which corresponds to the outer contour of adjacently arranged conductor cross-sections, the number of which corresponds to the number of spring contacts.
14. Electrical component (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the housing (11) has at least one actuation opening (7) which opens into the conductor end receiving chamber (14) in the direction of a central portion of at least one spring contact (21, 22).
15. Electrical component (1) according to claim 14, characterised in that the stop (19) is arranged in the region of the central portion.
16. Electrical component (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cage forms a spring element, which is resiliently deflected when the cage is installed in the mounting chamber.
17. Electrical component (1) according to claim 16, characterised in that the spring element is supported in the mounting chamber by an edge.
18. Electrical component (1) according to either claim 16 or claim 17, characterised in that the spring element comprises the pressure plate.
19. Electrical component (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cage (20) and a conductive element (18) leading away from the terminal (2) are substantially non-positively connected.
20. Electrical component (1) according to claim 19, characterised in that a part (48) of the conductive element (18) is clamped between the spring contacts (21, 22) and the pressure plate (36).
21. Electrical component (1) according to either claim 19 or claim 20, characterised in that the conductive element (18) engages behind the cage (20) by means of a retaining fold (49).
22. Electrical component (1) according to claim 21, characterised in that the conductive element (18) abuts on the side of the cage (20) which faces in the plug-in direction (E) and the retaining fold (49) engages behind the cage (20) on the side facing away from the plug-in direction (E).

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