Patents by Inventor Stefan Aporius

Stefan Aporius has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11916345
    Abstract: A connection terminal for connecting a conductor is formed as a direct plug-in terminal and includes a clamping spring arranged in a housing. The clamping spring includes a resilient clamping leg which can move into an open and locking position by pressing down an actuating device. The housing contains a conductor insertion channel for insertion of the conductor into a clamping point between the free end of the clamping leg and a busbar. The actuating device includes a pressing element and a pivoting element which interacts with the pressing element at least when the clamping point is being opened. At least one release device is provided for releasing the locking state of the clamping leg of the clamping spring. The release device is designed in such a way that the locking position can be released again by the action of the conductor on the release device when it is inserted, wherein the pivoting element acts on the pressing element and the pressing element acts on the clamping leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Marc Böcker, Ralf Schumacher, Karlo Stjepanovic, Walter Hanning, Till Schmitz, Stefan Aporius, Jens Oesterhaus
  • Publication number: 20230144954
    Abstract: An electrical and/or optical plug connection has a first plug connector and a second plug connector which can be fit to the first plug connector and which corresponds to the first plug connector. The first and second plug connectors each have a plug face which has a first sheet metal contact and a corresponding second sheet metal contact which can be fit together in an electrically contacting manner. The plug connectors further include first and second optical and/or electrical plug contacts which are fit together and which arranged with spacing from the first and second sheet metal contacts. A latching hook having a latching hook and latching arm is provided on the first plug connector and a corresponding latching recess having a latching edge is provided on the second plug connector. A hook portion (1 of the latching hook is connected to the latching arm via a bending line which deviates from a straight line and has a raised 3D shaped surface region with at least one open side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Benedikt STEUBE, Stefan APORIUS, Lars BRINKMANN, Roman HENZE, Robin REINKE, Willi LANG, Karsten KROME
  • Publication number: 20220320759
    Abstract: A connection terminal for connecting a conductor is formed as a direct plug-in terminal and includes a clamping spring arranged in a housing. The clamping spring includes a resilient clamping leg which can move into an open and locking position by pressing down an actuating device. The housing contains a conductor insertion channel for insertion of the conductor into a clamping point between the free end of the clamping leg and a busbar. The actuating device includes a pressing element and a pivoting element which interacts with the pressing element at least when the clamping point is being opened. At least one release device is provided for releasing the locking state of the clamping leg of the clamping spring. The release device is designed in such a way that the locking position can be released again by the action of the conductor on the release device when it is inserted, wherein the pivoting element acts on the pressing element and the pressing element acts on the clamping leg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Marc BÖCKER, Ralf SCHUMACHER, Karlo STJEPANOVIC, Walter HANNING, Till SCHMITZ, Stefan APORIUS, Jens OESTERHAUS
  • Patent number: 10411382
    Abstract: A contact element for electrically connecting an electrical conductor with an electrical assembly includes two contact rails extending in a longitudinal direction. The rails are arranged one above the other and are at a distance from one another in a contact direction and are also connected to each other via a connection piece. The connection piece is arranged at a first side of the contact rails and extends in the longitudinal direction and in the contact direction so that the contact element is formed in an approximately U-shaped manner in a cross section transversely to the longitudinal direction which runs through the connection piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Sichmann, Stefan Aporius
  • Patent number: 10141859
    Abstract: A series module assembly particularly for drive technology includes a bus system and series modules arranged in side by side in a row on a mounting base. The series modules each have an electronics housing in which at least one electronic element is arranged. The bus system includes busbars that extend outside of the electronics housing, wherein at least one of the busbars can be electrically connected to the electronic element of one of the series modules via a plug assembly. The series module assembly is designed for wall mounting. The bus bars are pre-assembled with a mounting and bus rail and anchored to the wall. The mounting and bus rail is configured so that the series modules can be mounted on the mounting and bus rail in a direction parallel to the wall in order to establish contact with the busbars. The mounting and bus rail can be adjustably mounted at a selected distance from the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Aporius, Wolfgang Sichmann
  • Publication number: 20180331448
    Abstract: A contact element for electrically connecting an electrical conductor with an electrical assembly includes two contact rails extending in a longitudinal direction. The rails are arranged one above the other and are at a distance from one another in a contact direction and are also connected to each other via a connection piece. The connection piece is arranged at a first side of the contact rails and extends in the longitudinal direction and in the contact direction so that the contact element is formed in an approximately U-shaped manner in a cross section transversely to the longitudinal direction which runs through the connection piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Wolfgang SICHMANN, Stefan APORIUS
  • Patent number: 10050394
    Abstract: A resilient conductive contact spring is bent to define at least three tulip-shaped receptacles for receiving conductive devices that are to be electrically connected together by the contact spring. The contact spring can be included in a socket arrangement for connecting an electrical component mounted within a housing with a bus bar power supply system arranged outside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Inventors: Stefan Aporius, Bernd Van Giesen
  • Publication number: 20180183196
    Abstract: A resilient conductive contact spring is bent to define at least three tulip-shaped receptacles for receiving conductive devices that are to be electrically connected together by the contact spring. The contact spring can be included in a socket arrangement for connecting an electrical component mounted within a housing with a bus bar power supply system arranged outside the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Stefan Aporius, Bernd Van Giesen
  • Publication number: 20170288328
    Abstract: A resilient conductive contact spring is bent to define at least three tulip-shaped receptacles for receiving conductive devices that are to be electrically connected together by the contact spring. The contact spring can be included in a socket arrangement for connecting an electrical component mounted within a housing with a bus bar power supply system arranged outside the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Stefan Aporius, Bernd Van Giesen
  • Publication number: 20170288563
    Abstract: A series module assembly particularly for drive technology includes a bus system and series modules arranged in side by side in a row on a mounting base. The series modules each have an electronics housing in which at least one electronic element is arranged. The bus system includes busbars that extend outside of the electronics housing, wherein at least one of the busbars can be electrically connected to the electronic element of one of the series modules via a plug assembly. The series module assembly is designed for wall mounting. The bus bars are pre-assembled with a mounting and bus rail and anchored to the wall. The mounting and bus rail is configured so that the series modules can be mounted on the mounting and bus rail in a direction parallel to the wall in order to establish contact with the busbars. The mounting and bus rail can be adjustably mounted at a selected distance from the wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Stefan Aporius, Wolfgang Sichmann
  • Patent number: 9680237
    Abstract: A compact spring-biased connector includes a housing having a chamber containing a conductive bus bar, a clamping spring normally having an expanded clamping condition for biasing a conductor bare end toward electrical engagement with the bus bar, and a release lever pivotally connected with the housing for displacement from a normally closed clamping position toward an open position, such that a lateral projection on the clamping lever operates the clamping spring toward a compressed open condition, thereby permitting removal of the conductor bare end from the housing chamber. The clamping spring is a compression V-shaped leaf spring having a stationary support leg and a movable clamping leg, with the lateral operating projection extending within the chamber to engage the spring clamping leg adjacent its juncture with the support leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Weidmueller Interface GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Aporius, Constantin Classen, Dirk Hanke, Sascha Nolte
  • Patent number: 9451712
    Abstract: An electrical module arrangement for supplying electrical power to a printed circuit board mounted within the housing of an electrical module, including a plug-in electrical connector mounted in an opening contained in an end wall of the module housing. The connector is of the conductive leaf spring S-shaped type, including two reversely-bent portions defining oppositely directed recesses for receiving a bus bar voltage source and a planar contact of the printed circuit board, respectively. In a modification, the leaf spring is W-shaped including three bends, thereby permitting connection of the PCB contact with two separate parallel spaced bus bar arrangements. A plurality of the modules are supported in side-by-side relation either by mounting the module housings on a common mounting rail, or by connecting the plug-in connectors to a common bus bar mounted on a fixed support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Weidmueller Interface GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Sichmann, Bernd Van Giesen, Stefan Aporius
  • Publication number: 20160164235
    Abstract: A resilient conductive contact spring is bent to define at least three tulip-shaped receptacles for receiving conductive devices that are to be electrically connected together by the contact spring. The contact spring can be included in a socket arrangement for connecting an electrical component mounted within a housing with a bus bar power supply system arranged outside the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Applicant: Weidmueller Interface GmbH & Co.KG
    Inventors: Stefan Aporius, Bernd Van Giesen
  • Publication number: 20160049737
    Abstract: A compact spring-biased connector includes a housing having a chamber containing a conductive bus bar, a clamping spring normally having an expanded clamping condition for biasing a conductor bare end toward electrical engagement with the bus bar, and a release lever pivotally connected with the housing for displacement from a normally closed clamping position toward an open position, such that a lateral projection on the clamping lever operates the clamping spring toward a compressed open condition, thereby permitting removal of the conductor bare end from the housing chamber. The clamping spring is a compression V-shaped leaf spring having a stationary support leg and a movable clamping leg, with the lateral operating projection extending within the chamber to engage the spring clamping leg adjacent its juncture with the support leg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Applicant: Weidmueller Interface GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: STEFAN APORIUS, Contantin Classen, Dirk Hanke, Sascha Nolte
  • Publication number: 20150257286
    Abstract: An electrical module arrangement for supplying electrical power to a printed circuit board mounted within the housing of an electrical module, including a plug-in electrical connector mounted in an opening contained in an end wall of the module housing. The connector is of the conductive leaf spring S-shaped type, including two reversely-bent portions defining oppositely directed recesses for receiving a bus bar voltage source and a planar contact of the printed circuit board, respectively. In a modification, the leaf spring is W-shaped including three bends, thereby permitting connection of the PCB contact with two separate parallel spaced bus bar arrangements. A plurality of the modules are supported in side-by-side relation either by mounting the module housings on a common mounting rail, or by connecting the plug-in connectors to a common bus bar mounted on a fixed support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Wolfgang Sichmann, Bernd Van Giesen, Stefan Aporius
  • Patent number: 9093762
    Abstract: A marking arrangement serves to identify the various conductors connected with the contacts of an electrical connector, including a plurality of indicia-bearing marking members that are respectively connected with the actuating elements that selectively unlock the resilient retaining devices that fasten the conductors to the connector body. The marking members include shaft portions that extend longitudinally into openings contained in one end of the longitudinally-displaceable actuating members, respectively. The other ends of the actuating members are in engagement with the retaining springs that normally bias the conductors into electrical engagement with conductor seats on contacts contained within the connector through ducts, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Weidmueller Interface GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Schwarzkopf, Stefan Aporius, Andreas Wieneke
  • Publication number: 20140017934
    Abstract: A marking arrangement serves to identify the various conductors connected with the contacts of an electrical connector, including a plurality of indicia-bearing marking members that are respectively connected with the actuating elements that selectively unlock the resilient retaining devices that fasten the conductors to the connector body. The marking members include shaft portions that extend longitudinally into openings contained in one end of the longitudinally-displaceable actuating members, respectively. The other ends of the actuating members are in engagement with the retaining springs that normally bias the conductors into electrical engagement with conductor seats on contacts contained within the connector through ducts, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Weidmueller Interface GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Schwarzkopf, Stefan Aporius, Andreas Wieneke
  • Patent number: 8084903
    Abstract: A connector arrangement is provided for supplying electric power to a three-phase motor to produce motor operation in either a delta mode or a star mode, use being made of modular units that are removably mounted within a chamber contained in an outer frame that is secured to the motor housing. A power supply module arranged within the chamber includes a main receptacle containing a stack of terminal blocks having bus bars that transmit to the motor windings three-phase power that is supplied either by external power supply lines that extend into the chamber though openings contained in the side walls of the outer frame, or from an inverter arranged externally of the outer frame. Auxiliary receptacles are removably connected with the external surface of the main receptacle for monitoring the operating condition of the motor, or for controlling a motor operation, such as braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Woidmueller Interface GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andrea Goetze, Jens Oesterhaus, Stefan Aporius, Thorsten Beck, Wolfgang Schild
  • Publication number: 20090230792
    Abstract: A connector arrangement is provided for supplying electric power to a three-phase motor to produce motor operation in either a delta mode or a star mode, use being made of modular units that are removably mounted within a chamber contained in an outer frame that is secured to the motor housing. A power supply module arranged within the chamber includes a main receptacle containing a stack of terminal blocks having bus bars that transmit to the motor windings three-phase power that is supplied either by external power supply lines that extend into the chamber though openings contained in the side walls of the outer frame, or from an inverter arranged externally of the outer frame. Auxiliary receptacles are removably connected with the external surface of the main receptacle for monitoring the operating condition of the motor, or for controlling a motor operation, such as braking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Andrea Goetze, Jens Oesterhaus, Stefan Aporius, Thorsten Beck, Wolfgang Schild