Screwless terminal
AssigneeSiemens Aktiengesellschaft
InventorWerner Harbauer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A screwless wiring or connecting terminal for electric conductors is disclosed. According to the invention, a clamping spring of the leaf type is secured in a housing such that it can be tensioned in ring- or hairpin-fashion. One end of the spring can be detented in a cocked position by a detent associated with the spring. A conductor can be clamped between the one end of the spring and the housing when one end of the spring is released. A terminal according to the invention has the advantage that the spring terminal can be supplied from the factory in a cocked position, so that it is not necessary for the customer to apply high forces to insert and clamp a conductor. Terminals according to the invention are particularly well-suited for use in equipment having a large number of terminals, such as electromagnetic switchgear.
Claims12
A screwless wiring or connecting terminal comprising a housing, a leaf-type clamping spring configured and secured in the housing so that a first end of the spring can be tensioned from an uncocked position into a releasable cocked position in which the first end of the spring extends toward an adjacent portion of the spring, and a detent disposed in the adjacent portion of the spring configured to releasably retain the first end of the spring in the cocked position, there being a predetermined clearance between the first end of the spring and the interior of the housing in the cocked position of the spring such that a conductor can be inserted therebetween without having to overcome any spring tension, the first end and the housing being adapted when in the uncocked position of the spring to engage a conductor inserted therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.