US 6,270,383 B1Granted

Resilient terminal including conductor centering means

AssigneeWeidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KG

InventorsThomas Wielsch, Jochen Reese

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Abstract

A resilient electrical terminal includes a pair of beveled centering surfaces that cooperate to center a conductor relative to the side walls of the clamping opening through which a bus bar and the conductor extend in clamped side-by-side conductive relation. A groove contained in the adjacent surface of the bus bar centers the conductor relative to the bus bar.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A resilient electrical terminal (1) operable to clamp a bus bar (2) and at least one conductor (10) in parallel side-by-side electrical engagement, comprising:

(a) a resilient electrical contact member including a central base portion (4), a clamping leg portion (5) extending generally orthogonally relative to one end of said base portion, and a biasing leg portion (3) connected with the end of said base portion, said biasing leg portion being angularly arranged at an acute angle relative to said base portion, thereby to cause said biasing leg portion to extend over said base portion, said biasing leg portion being resiliently biased away from said base portion and terminating at an free end (3a), said clamping leg portion containing a generally rectangular clamping opening (6) receiving said biasing leg portion free end, said clamping opening including a pair of generally parallel side edges (6a), and a clamping edge (7) remote from said base portion toward which said biasing leg portion is resiliently biased;
(b) an electrically conductive bus bar (2) arranged generally parallel with said clamping leg portion adjacent the side thereof that is remote from said base portion, said bus bar having a free end portion (2a) that extends within said clamping opening between said clamping edge and said biasing leg portion free end (3a);
(c) first conductor centering means (7) for centering between said clamping opening side edges a conductor (10) inserted between said bus bar and said clamping edge, said first conductor centering means comprising a recess defined in said clamping edge, said recess including a central edge portion (7a), and a pair of beveled centering portions (7b) on opposite sides of said central portion, said beveled portions extending toward said clamping opening side edges, respectively;
and
(d) bus bar centering means for centering said bus bar between said clamping opening side edges, respectively, said bus bar centering means comprising a pair of centering recesses (8) contained in said bus bar free end portion adjacent said clamping opening clamping edge, said centering recesses being arranged to receive said clamping edge beveled centering portions (7b), respectively.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A resilient electrical terminal (1) operable to clamp a bus bar (2) and at least one conductor (10) in parallel side-by-side electrical engagement, comprising:

(a) a resilient electrical contact member including a central base portion (4), a clamping leg portion (5) extending generally orthogonally relative to one end of said base portion, and a biasing leg portion (3) connected with the end of said base portion, said biasing leg portion being angularly arranged at an acute angle relative to said base portion, thereby to cause said biasing leg portion to extend over said base portion, said biasing leg portion being resiliently biased away from said base portion and terminating at an free end (3a), said clamping leg portion containing a generally rectangular clamping opening (6) receiving said biasing leg portion free end, said clamping opening including a pair of generally parallel side edges (6a), and a clamping edge (7) remote from said base portion toward which said biasing leg portion is resiliently biased;
(b) an electrically conductive bus bar (2) arranged generally parallel with said clamping leg portion adjacent the side thereof that is remote from said base portion, said bus bar having a free end portion (2a) that extends within said clamping opening between said clamping edge and said biasing leg portion free end (3a);
(c) first conductor centering means (7) for centering between said clamping opening side edges a conductor (10) inserted between said bus bar and said clamping edge, said first conductor centering means comprising a recess defined in said clamping edge, said recess including a central edge portion (7a), and a pair of beveled centering portions (7b) on opposite sides of said central portion, said beveled portions extending toward said clamping opening side edges, respectively;
and
(d) bus bar centering means for centering said bus bar between said clamping opening side edges, respectively, said bus bar centering means comprising a pair of centering recesses (8) contained in said bus bar free end portion adjacent said clamping opening clamping edge, said centering recesses being arranged to receive said clamping edge beveled centering portions (7b), respectively.

2 more elements