# US 12,191,617 B2 · Connection device for a shield conductor of an electrical line > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,191,617 B2 - Document ID: US12191617B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/783,282 - Filed: 2020-12-03 - Published: 2023-01-26 - Granted: 2025-01-07 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-09 - Assignees: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG - Applicants: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG - Inventors: Kevin Berghahn; Heinz Reibke - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12191617B2 ## CPC - H01R 4/489: {spring force increased by screw, cam, wedge, or other fastening means} - H01R 4/484: {Spring housing details} - H01R 4/646: {for cables or flexible cylindrical bodies} - H01R 9/0527: {Connection to outer conductor by action of a resilient member, e.g. spring} - H01R 11/05: the connecting locations having different types of direct connections - H01R 4/4821: {Single-blade spring} - H01R 4/483: {Pivoting arrangements, e.g. lever pushing on the spring} - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A connection device for a shield conductor of an electrical line includes: a housing attachable to a potential collector, into which housing the electrical line with the shield conductor is insertable; a spring element which is arranged adjustably on the housing, which spring element has a clamping leg and is movable relative to the housing from an open position into a clamping position in order to, in the clamping position, act with the clamping leg on the shield conductor of the electrical line inserted in the housing; and a locking element which is adjustable, relative to the housing, between a locking position, in which the housing attached to the potential collector is locked with the potential collector, and an unlocking position for releasing the housing from the potential collector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connection device for a shield conductor of an electrical line, comprising: a housing attachable to a potential collector, into which housing the electrical line with the shield conductor is insertable; a spring element which is arranged adjustably on the housing, which spring element has a clamping leg and is movable relative to the housing from an open position into a clamping position in order to, in the clamping position, act with the clamping leg on the shield conductor of the electrical line inserted in the housing; and a locking element which is adjustable, relative to the housing, between a locking position, in which the housing attached to the potential collector is locked with the potential collector, and an unlocking position for releasing the housing from the potential collector, wherein the spring element is configured to adjust the locking element relative to the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The connection device of claim 1, wherein recesses configured to receive the potential collector are formed on the housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The connection device of claim 2, wherein the locking element in the locking position is configured to lock a receptacle defined by the recesses of the housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The connection device of claim 1, wherein the locking element is guidable in at least one guide on the housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The connection device of claim 4, wherein the housing has two parallel side walls extending in parallel to and spaced apart from one another along a transverse direction, between which a receiving space is formed, and a connecting segment connecting the side walls to one another, and wherein at least one guide is provided on each of the sidewalls. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The connection device of claim 1, wherein the housing is attachable to the potential collector in an attachment direction, and wherein the locking element is displaceable relative to the housing in a displacement direction perpendicular to the attachment direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The connection device of claim 1, wherein the spring element is pivotable relative to the housing about a pivot axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The connection device of claim 1, wherein the clamping leg is configured so as to push the locking element into the unlocking position when the spring element is moved from the clamping position into the open position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The connection device of claim 8, wherein the clamping leg is configured to be first lifted from an inserted shield conductor, and then to act on an actuating segment of the locking element, if the spring element is moved from the clamping position into the open position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The connection device of claim 1, wherein the spring element comprises an actuating leg arranged pivotably on the housing, which actuating leg is bent toward the clamping leg, and wherein the actuating leg is configured to press the locking element into the locking position if the spring element is moved from the open position into the clamping position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The connection device of claim 1, wherein the connection device is configured to receive the shield conductor of the electrical line in the clamping position between the spring element and the potential collector. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) An assembly, comprising; an electrical line comprising a shield conductor; a potential collector; and the connection device of claim 1. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The assembly of claim 12, wherein the potential collector comprises a component of a support rail or of a busbar. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The connection device of claim 1, wherein the housing has at least one bearing point for adjustable mounting of a spring element on the housing and at least one guide, and wherein the at least one guide is configured such that a locking element is adjustable relative to the housing along the at least one guide, between a locking position, in which the housing attached to the potential collector is locked to the potential collector, and an unlocking position for releasing the housing from the potential collector. ### Claim 15 A connection device for a shield conductor of an electrical line, comprising: a housing attachable to a potential collector, into which housing the electrical line with the shield conductor is insertable; a spring element which is arranged adjustably on the housing, which spring element has a clamping leg and is movable relative to the housing from an open position into a clamping position in order to, in the clamping position, act with the clamping leg on the shield conductor of the electrical line inserted in the housing; and a locking element which is adjustable, relative to the housing, between a locking position, in which the housing attached to the potential collector is locked with the potential collector, and an unlocking position for releasing the housing from the potential collector, wherein the clamping leg is configured so as to push the locking element into the unlocking position when the spring element is moved from the clamping position into the open position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The connection device of claim 15, wherein the clamping leg is configured to be first lifted from an inserted shield conductor, and then to act on an actuating segment of the locking element, if the spring element is moved from the clamping position into the open position. ### Claim 17 A connection device for a shield conductor of an electrical line, comprising: a housing attachable to a potential collector, into which housing the electrical line with the shield conductor is insertable; a spring element which is arranged adjustably on the housing, which spring element has a clamping leg and is movable relative to the housing from an open position into a clamping position in order to, in the clamping position, act with the clamping leg on the shield conductor of the electrical line inserted in the housing; and a locking element which is adjustable, relative to the housing, between a locking position, in which the housing attached to the potential collector is locked with the potential collector, and an unlocking position for releasing the housing from the potential collector, wherein the spring element comprises an actuating leg arranged pivotably on the housing, which actuating leg is bent toward the clamping leg, and wherein the actuating leg is configured to press the locking element into the locking position if the spring element is moved from the open position into the clamping position.