CA1079387A - Test station apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

TEST STATION APPARATUS

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Electrical currents and potentials in test leads associated with underground piping, cables and the like are monitored by a test station apparatus which essen-tially includes a tubular plastic conduit for sub-terranean implantation while the upper end of the conduit and test leads are accessible from aboveground. A
plastic tube projecting from diametrically-opposed sides of the conduit provides one form of anchor means to maintain the conduit within the ground while in another form the anchor means consists of a collar retained on the lower end of the conduit by a sleeve. A collet-type compression fitting is used to attach a collar onto the upper end of the conduit. Pedestals extend vertically from the end wall at opposed sides of an annular opening in the collar. The pedestals support a terminal block extending across the annular opening so that test leads passing vertically along the conduit are attached to either side of the terminal block by terminals which are normally enclosed by a dome-shaped cover secured to the collar.

Description

~'7~3~7 TEST STATION APPARATUS

This inventiorl relates to ~rl lmproved cs)n-81truc~ion and ~rrangement oiE p~rt~ to provide a test station of the ~ype employed to monitor elgc rical currents ~nd po~ent~al~ oeiated wi~h und~rgrou~ld piplng9 cable3 and ~he l~lce. ~ore particular~ h~ pxe~ent lnvention rela~es ~o such a ~t ~ta~io~ de ;Erom plastic material ~hat i~ non-corrosive ~nd Ql~c~rically pro-tec:ti~e for ~ield ins~allatioll without speci~ ool require~nt~ and lmprove th~ con~ructlon of ~he ~e8t st~tinn ~co provide access to ~e~ rmit~ from both ~ld of a t~rminal block while 6ubterraneaQ implant~ion oi~ a te~e ~ta~ion i.~ lnsured by a novel anchQ~ arr~ngement.
Te~ ~tationa are typi¢~lly ~mployed ~o pro~7id~
abovegroulld te~i~als :Eor ~on~enient tQonitorib~g o:f~ ele~
al ~u~r~ tet~ ls ~ a~ed w~
t~rp~ of ur~d~r~src3und pîpi~g,, c~b1~s arld o~her ~tallic $tructur~. l@or example) t~3~t ~tat~on~ ~r~ u8ed a~ a termirl~l poi~ or lte8~ ado t~ re~d a~ndargrou~d ~truc-ture ~o ~oil po~e~ial~ ¢a~hod,i~ pro~ec~i~n aslo~e cllr-re~t~g Ith~ r~sistiYe int@grilty GiE lt~ lating ~ g~s snd ~o~nt~ 118 ~ell ~ ~ho integ~1ty o i~u3~ation b~ en v~riolt~ t~pes o urldergrourld me~ c lltruGture~ includlr~
8 plpi~3 it8 ca~Ln~ or carrie~. Such t~t 8 a~ion~ ~re al~o used for ~et~ting ~r~d ms~uria r~ elo~trical curr~ s i~ ucld~rground or ~ubter~ne~ ructur~s as 3P~

well ~ ;Eor r~adin~ el~ctrical po~rltlal.
In the p~t, al t~s~ iorl wa~ made rom a oon-duî~ and fltting3 C01181Stlllg 0~ lu~oinum m~teri~:L. Not only does the aluminum materi~l under~o de~tructlve cor-rosion but al~o it ofered no pro~c~iLon to pe;r~onnel agaln~t electrical ehs~ck~. The te~t terminal~ w~re u6u~11y housed 1Q a heavy ca~t alumillum 8~ruc~ur~ th~ h~d a remova~le cover plate ~or ~cces~ to only one ~ide o~ th~a ~ermlnal8 wl~hou~ physically det~chl.ng ~he entlre termlrl~l b1Ocls from th~ statioslary ~a~ a~ 3inum enclo~ur~. More-over, this portion c~ the enc1O~ure inc1uded a ~hre~Ld~d f1ange to r~ceiv~ the thre~ded end o a cond1l1t plpe.
A~ter in~a11ation o:~ a te~t ~ation wa~ comp1et~d" it was a di~ficu1t and cumber~ome opesation to r~Love ~h~
ca~t a1uDIinum en¢lo~ure from th~ conduit pipe s1nce the ~hre~ded ~ rcotm~c~ior~ g u~ually corroded urld the le~l wir~s h~d t~ b~ r~moved ~rom ~h~ tes~ ter~i~a1~ to ~ccom-modate ~he requ~rg~d ~o~tis~n t~s d1~csnneel: ~h~ hr~ad~d interconnectiorl .
I~ i~ an ob~e~ o~ the pre~n~ 1n~re~tion to pro~
vide ~ te~ ~tatio~ h~v1ng arl ~proved con~ructio~ ~nd ~rr~em~n~ o~ par~ to faci1iL~te not on1y subterrarlea insta11a~ion but a1so th~ ints;~d~d mon:Ltoring operat10~3 great1y redu~1n~, the dac~g~r ~f e1ectrica1 shock ha~ard~ .
~o pe~onne1.
It la a furth~r ob,~e¢t o th~ pre~en~ ilnve~tion ~o provide a ~t ~t~on ~ppara~u~ ~30dyirlg an improYQd

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~ 7 anchor ~ystem to maintain the apparatu.q withln it~
intended subterranean implan~ation and inhibit inadver-t~nt removal.
It is a further ob~ect of the present invention to provide a test station apparatus wherein tes~ termlnals are carried by a unitary terminal support structure that ic readily secured and removed from a conduit pipe with-out nece9sitating the removal of te~t lead~ ~rom the terminals and at the ~ame tlme providing complete acce~
to the test terminal~ without the need for di.sassembling part~ of the te~t station.
According to the present invention~ there is provided a te~t station apparatus ~o monitor electric currents and poteQtials in test leads coupled with piping, cable~ and the like, the apparatu~ including the combina-tion of a collar ~ncluding a slde wall having, ~hreads on the surface thereof and slotted open~ngs at spaced peri-pheral locations9 the collar including an end wall having an opening to pa8~ the test lead~ through the collar, a nut member having a threaded surface for mating eng~gemen~
with the threads on thç collar, a ~upport m~mber engagi~g the collar for attachment there~o by the nut member, mean~ i~cluding a terminal block extending rom the end w~ll to traverse acros~ the opening in the end wall of ~he collar such tha~ opposed face surfaces of the ~erminal ~ 3~ 7 block overlie s~gments of the opening, terminals carried by the termlnal block for coupling to the test leads extending through either segment of the opening, and cover means to enclose the t:erminals.
In the preferred form, the aforesaid callar and means including a terminal block are defined to include pedestals in the form of a unitary plastic member which i~ coupled to the upper end of the conduit by a collet-type compressive fitting or the unitary plastic member i8 supported by a carrier plate. A semiclrcular cover includes a pro~ection to releasably engage the terminal block for retaining the cover in an enclosing relation with the end~
of the terminals at one side of the terminal block. When a conduit is used, anchor means in one form consists of a plastic pipe extending through diametrically-opposed openings in the lower end of the conduit.
These ~eature~ and advantages of thl3 present invention a~ well as other~ will be more fully understood when the following description i~ read in light o~ the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is an exploded elevatioaal view of a test station apparatus according to one embodisnent of the present invention;

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3~7 Plg. 2 i~ a p~r~lal view illuatra~ing ~ modlfied ~orm of ~n ~nchor c>r the tes~ s~a~1.on ~pp~r~tus 8h0Wtl irl ~1~. 1;
Fig. 3 i~ atl e2zplod~d el~vatlooal view Illu~tra~
tiQg ~ modi.fi.catis~ eo the app~r~us show~ ln Flgo 1.;
Flg~ 4 i~ ~n ~levat.LonEIl ViQW l;llustrating a rther embod~men~ of a t~st ~t~tion appar~u~
~ ig" S ia ~ plan vi~ o~ ~he app~r~tus shown tn F~g. 4, and ~l~. 6 i~ An ~ ational Vi~2W9 p~r~ly in section, o~ a modifled ~upport for a te~t ~tR~.~on apparatuæ .
I~ Fig., l~ there :l a llluatr~ted a cox!lduit l~ i th2 orm o a pla~t~ plpe preerably ~ad~ fr~m poly~
ethylene for subtgrranean Implan~atlorl ln c~lo8e pxo~ y to uQd~rground piping, cabl~s and ~her me~allic ~tructures4 Th~ co~duit include~ ~n ~nQular olpe~n~ ll at diam~trically~e~pp~sed ~ide~ ~r ~e~ivlng aY.ld pa~sl~
t~t lead~ iLn~o ~he iLo~erlor of th~ conduit 10 ~ZId p ~0 t~cting th~m ~or pa3~ge ~lorlg ~che leng~h o ~:h~ cond tc a poin~ abos~egrou~d.
A~co~d~llg to ~a~ ~mpor~arLt featur~ o th~ pr~-~ant inv~lation3 a~ as~chor n~e~n~ i8 provided to înhi~it unintentlonal ~ithdra~al of the co~dui~ lO ~rom the ~ub~
terrarle~ mpl~nt~IQn~ In on~ orm" th~ ~chs:lr me~
i9 a d~slred l~ng~h o~ ~ublng p~ r~l~ m~d~ fro~ pol~
ethyl~ . Tlhe di~te~ o~ the tllbin~ 12 l~ 23u~tantially .... . , . - . . . . . .

:~79 sm~ller th~an t:he d~am~ter o:~ the condult ~o that the tub~
ing may extend through aligl:l¢d openiLng3 81: di~etricall~
opposed locatlot~ he lo~er ~nd of the condui~ and pro~ect ou~wardly therefrola at each ~ide of ~he condul by ~ d~ano~ o ~ppro~imately o~ at lea~t 2~1/2 or 3 lnche~. Flg. 2 illustrates ~ modi~ied form of an anchor wh~rein a collar 14 made from a flat plate o~ poly-ethylene or ~imilar material ha6 arl ~nnul~r ope~ g corre~ponding ~!s~ntially ~o ~he ou~side dl~te~ o~ che conduit 10. Th~ colla~ i~ pss8ed Ql~ O ~he end of ~h~
condui~ ~~cer which 8 sleeve 15 18 adhered by ~Slue or other ~uitable mean~ ~o the end o~ ~he ublng and fo~s a retainer il~or the colla~.
~erring a~ain ~o Fig. 1,, the above,~xound appara~u~ fo~i.ng part o~ th~ test 8t~tion e~ntially includ~ a un~tary te~t ~tation device that i&; pre~rably cons~ruc~ed ~rom pl~tic ma~ri~l a~ ~peci~ 11y by moldi~g polycarbona~ re~ material. Thi2a ma~ri~
pres~ntly a~allable rom the G~n~ral l~lectxic Co~pany, ?0 ~old utld~r ~he trad~mark L3i~5AN,, a~d Mobay Chemical Compan~, ~old unde~ the t~d~m~rlc ~ERL~N. These poly~
c~rborlate ma~ri~l~ typical~y h~ve a dlelectric s~r~ngth o 380 voltB pe~ mi,l. me~ are ~t~ble Imder ultr~vlolet ~: attaclc and Idir~n3iorlally stable ~Lthin th~ tempera~ure r~nge of ~113~F So ~50;@. The D2a~erlal i~ ligh~w~ght, approxi~ate:ly olle-~alf that of aluminum and ea~ibi~s ~a strength-eo-wei~bt ratlo ~qual to ~luminum while '~ ' : ., . . . . ~ .
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93~7 prov:lding an lmp~c~ a~rerlgth o our ~:lme~ ~,r~er th~
provlded by ~lumilmlmO Th~ urli~ary te3~ a~ation app~arat:u~
20 includa~ B ~ollar 21 h~v:lng a~ aYlnular alde wall ~ha~c d~ e~ on it~ ou~er ~urfac~e ~ firs~ ~er:Les o~ ~hre~ds ~2 ~nd a ~econd ~eri~ of ~hx~ead~ 23. The first se~ie~
o thre~d~ 22 i~ a~ed oll the low~x ~ermi~al ~d8e of th~ collar and th~se ~hxe~d33 ~re rend~r~d di~ct)n~imlous ~ou~ ~he p~riphe~al ~urf~ce o ~h~ collar by ~paced-ap~rt #lotted s~ening~ 2~. me low~r portlon o She collar con81~ing o~ the ~hr~ad~d portio~ 22 ant Op~ g~
24 d~fln~ a cDïl~ ch~k ~hich 1~ co~ esl3ivQly ~ cused on~o the upp~ d of t:he co~duit lû hy a colle~ nu~ 25, a~¢ond ~xi~ o~ thread~ 23 on ~ ou~r 9ur~a~ o~
the coll~?r 1~ ~ploy~d for ~ati~ gllgem~t wli:h in-t~ hr~ati:~ orm~d irl a eov~r 26 which 1~ ~ do~
l~ke ~trllctur~ rf~lly enclo~l~ the t~3~in~ r~
of ~h~ t~ ta~ion to b~ her~inaft:~r da8c~bed~, The collar 21 ur~h~ lnclud~s an end ~all 27 de~ini~8 a c~ntrall~ r~ ged all~ul~r opeairlg 28~, P~de~tal~ 29 ao p~o,~ec~ ver~iL¢~l~y ~ h~ w~ 7 a~ di~ rl¢ally~
~ppo~e~ f ~h~ s. q~ al~ ~r~
in~ ,r~l p~ar7; o~ She collar ~nd i~t~ra~ w~i~h b~oc~ 30 whil¢h ~x~ b~l:w~en ~he ped~tals ~o ~aver~
ac~8~ ~he ~ ul~r openit~ 8 8~h 'chat ~h~ oppoaed ~e 8urf~6e8 oP the ~e~n~l bls~sbc ov~rl~ 8~aaici~ular ~eg~e~ J~ ~h~ ~n~l~r ~n~ Th~ ~Qr~&~ t ~
par~s e~abl~ and ur~poed~ ece~s ~ ~o~h ~ixle~ o 0~_ , - -: , ~ - - -~ ~ ., ,: . - , .;

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the terminal block whereby tes-t leads in -the condui-t 10 may pass along either or both sides of the terminal block for coupling to terminals 31~ As illustrated in Fig. 1, the terminals are in the form of screw and nut assemblies that are arranged to extend from either side of the terminal block. As is the usual practice, shunts may be connected across various terminals as necessary or desirable. A shunt 32 is shown in Fig. 1 and may be removed or installed without disassembling the parts forming the test station.
The test station apparatus of the present invention is placed into operation by first implanting the conduit 10 to a desired extended depth within an excavated area ad~acent a metallic pipeline or the like.
The test leads are passed through openings 11 and drawn vertically along t~e extended length o~ the conduit. The earth is then back-~illed and a test station apparatus 20 is attached to the exp~sed upper end of the conduit by the colleb-type compression fitting. By coupling the test station device 20 to the conduit in this manner, the test station device ma~ he replaced without un-earthing the entire conduit assem~ly. Moreover, differ-ent diameter conduits may be used with a single design o~ a test station de~ice by employing ddapter collars, Suoh adapter collars, while not sown ln the drawing, consist of a collar having an inner d~ameter con~orming to the d~ameter o~ t;he conduit 10 and an outside diameter ~ .

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conforming to the internal diameter of the collar 21.
The test leads are then drawn -through ei-ther semi-circular opening bene~th the terminals for coupling to the terminals 31. After this assembly procedure is completed, the dome-shaped cover is placed on the collar and held in place by the threaded interconnection.
Fig. 3 illustrates a modified form of an inter-lock to releasably fasten the cover 26 onto -the collar 21 for enclosing terminals 31. Diametrically-opposed surfaces of the collar 21 each includes an outw~rdly projecting wall 35. The wall extends about a course defining boundries to in-terconnected areas wherein a lock bar 36 on the cover 26 is releasably retained. When the cover is lowered into an enclosing rela-tion with pede-stals 29, the lock bar 36 is first received within an entry recess 37. The cover is then rotated to the lel~t as one views Fig~ 3, to move the locking bar into a holding recess 38 wherein the bar is moved downwardly toward nut 25 against the lower portion of wall 35. The cover is then rotated to the right as one views Fig. 3 , whereby the lockng bar mo~es into a locking recess 39~
This tortuous pa-th o~ travel b~ the locking bar deters unauthorized and unintentional removal of cover 26 ~rom the test station apparatus 20.
Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a modified ~orm o~
terminals and protective aover for one side thereo~. The terminal block 30, pedestals 29 and collar 21 are the .~

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same a8 previously d~cribed. Asl ~rrn~ of ~penlng~ :ln ~he termlnal block ~upport termlnal ass0mblie~ ~0. Each terminal ~3sembl3r Lrlcludes a ~hreaded ~h~ft l~l h~vl~g socke~ opening 42 in one end to rQce~re a lead of a te~
meter~ A pla3tic ~leeve 43 orms ~ ln~ulatlve coverillg on a metal nut 44 which eng~e~ the threaded ~haft 41.
~le$al wa~h~r~ 45 carrylng plastic sleeve~ 46 are lo~a~ed at oppo~ite ~des o the t~rlDin 1 block 30 on eha~ 41.
A nut 47 ~ec~tr~3 the bar~ elld s~f ~ e~t ~Qad on th~ ree end o~ ~hat 41 a~l secure~ the ~rmina1 a~e~ib1y to the termina1 block. It i~ preferred ~co arrange ~he term1n~1 a~eDibliea ~o ~ha~ all th~ ~st 1~ads ar~ lo~:ated at ~
colmn4n sid2 o the te~mina1 block. A p1asti¢ pr~t~tlve cover 48 i~ ~em~ircu1ar and includes ~ ~etni~:ircu1ar 1ip 49 extending do~nward from th~ bot o~n w~1}. 50. The 11p 49 e~tends iCltO a se~ t o~ th~ annulsr op~nirlg 28 at on~ s1de ~ th~ ~rmin~1 b10~k 30~ Th~ botto~ w~ll 50 1e ~uppo~e~d up~ th~ w~11 27 o ~he col1ar a~l~ An upper w~ll 51 ~ the cover 48 ~c1ud~ para11~1 ~lo ~ 52 ~th a pr~e~:ion 5~ The p~o~ectl~n ha~s 2 no~ched ~ ~Eor 10cking en~g~g~en~ i~ an opet~ he t~r~ina1 block 30.
l'h~ a~e~ o~ ~he l:op ~all be~ 810t~ i2 il5 ~elEl ~e~o~mabl~ to us~1Q~k 'che proJ~ctlo~ 53 ~rom ~ blo~k 30 or remova~1 v~ covls~ 48, ~'ig. 6 il.lu~l:ra~ us~r ~m~od~n~ of a ~upport for t:he t-~t 8t~;LtiQtl o th~ p~e~ t ln~entiol.
A te~t sl:~ltion 20 lncludin~ eo~7~r 2~ i8 conn~cted by a ~0~ ~

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3~7 ~hor~: lellg~h o:e ~ pl~tic pip~3 conduiLt 55 ~o ~ r~c~angular ba~ 56. The ba~e i~ m~d~ xom pl~l3tlc ma~r~al 3uch a~
moldQd polycarbon~te resirl and lncludes ~ plurallty o~
openings 57 arranged ~o p~ e~ lead~ into the cs:)ndult 55. The base i8 used or fx2~ ar~ suppor~ of ~he ~e~t station wlthin an operli.ng provided In a concret~
block 58 located b~low groun~d le~el, A plps3 59 ~ith a removable ~o~ e 60 exkend~ :~'rs:~m ~he Con~:ret:Q block 'co ground level to p~ote~t:ively house ~le ~ree ~anding ~est station.
Al~hough th~ inv~ntion ha~ b~en sho~rr~
conn~c~clon w~h c~rt~in l!3pe~ c embodi~rltæ3 it will be readily appa~nt ~o ~ kllled ir~ the ar~ that variou~
change~ 1~ orD~ ~nd a~ra~emen~ o par~ ~ay ~e m~de ~o sui~ requlre~ents wi~chou~ depar~:ing ram th~ ~pirit a~d ~cope of ehe Llw-~n~lorl. ;

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Claims (25)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A test station apparatus to monitor electrical currents and potentials in test leads coupled with piping, cables and the like, said apparatus including the combination of:
a collar including a side wall having threads on the surface thereof and slotted openings at spaced peri-pheral locations, said collar including an end wall having an annular opening to pass test leads through the collar, a nut member having a threaded surface for mating engagement with the threads on said collar, a support member engaging said collar for attachment thereto by said nut member, pedestals extending vertically from said end wall at opposite sides of the annular opening therein, a terminal block supported by said pedestals to traverse across the annular opening in the end wall of said collar such that opposed face surfaces of the terminal block overlie semicircular segments of the annular opening, terminals carried by said terminal block for coupling to the test leads extending through either semi-circular segment of the annular opening, and cover means normally supported by said collar to enclose said terminals.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said support member includes:
a tubular plastic conduit arranged for access to the upper end of the conduit from aboveground, the lower end of the conduit having at least one opening for passing test leads into and along the extended length of the conduit, and anchor means to support said conduit.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said anchor means includes a rod extending outwardly from the lower end of said conduit.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said anchor means includes a plastic tube projecting from diametrically-opposed sides of said conduit.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the lower end of said tubular plastic conduit includes aligned openings in the side walls thereof for supporting said plastic tube.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said anchor means includes a collar-like plate member with an annular opening to receive the lower end of said tubular plastic conduit, and a sleeve secured to the lower end of said conduit for supporting said collar-like plate member.

7. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said nut member comprises a collet nut adapted to pass onto said conduit, said slotted openings at spaced peripheral locations in said collar defining a collet chuck for compressive engagement with said conduit by said collet nut.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said slotted openings at spaced peripheral locations in said collar extend along said side wall through said threads.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said collar, pedestals and terminal block are defined by a unitary plastic member.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein some of said terminals project from each face surface of said terminal block.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cover means includes a lock bar, and wherein said collar further includes wall means defining a tortuous path of travel for said lock bar between locked and unlocked positions.

12. A test station apparatus to monitor electrical currents and potentials in test leads coupled with piping, cables and the like, aid apparatus including the combination of:

a collar having a side wall and an end wall with an annular opening therein to pass test leads out-wardly through the collar, a support member engaging said collar, pedestals extending vertically from said end wall at opposite sides of the annular opening therein, a terminal block supported by said pedestals to traverse across the annular opening in the end wall of said collar such that opposed face surfaces of the terminal block overlie semicircular segments of the annular opening, terminals carried by said terminal block for coupling to the test leads extending through either semi-circular segment of the annular opening, a semicircular cover normally enclosing one side of said terminal block through support by said collar, and cover means normally supported by said collar to enclose said terminals.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said support member includes:
a tubular plastic conduit arranged with the upper end of the conduit being accessible from aboveground and the lower end of the conduit having at least one opening for passing test leads into and along the extended length Of the conduit, and anchor means to support said conduit.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said semicircular cover includes a projection to releasably engage said terminal block for retaining the cover in an enclosing relation with the ends of said terminals of one side of the terminal block.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said terminals include insulative covering with exposed ends at the side of said terminal block opposite said semicircular cover.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said anchor means includes a rectangular base with openings to pass test leads into said tubular plastic conduit, said rectangular base being secured to the lower end of the conduit for free-standing support in a subterranean opening.

17. A test station apparatus to monitor electrical currents and potentials in test leads coupled with piping, cables and the like, said apparatus including the combination of:
a collar including a side wall having threads on the surface thereof and slotted openings at spaced peripheral locations, said collar including an end wall having an opening to pass test leads through the collar, a nut member having a threaded surface for mating engagement with the threads on said collar, a support member engaging said collar for attachment thereto by said nut member, means including a terminal block extending from said end wall to traverse across the opening in the end wall of said collar such that opposed face surfaces of the terminal block overlie segments of the opening, terminals carried by said terminal block for coupling to the test leads extending through either segment of the opening, and cover means to enclose said terminals.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said support member includes:
a tubular plastic conduit arranged for access to the upper end of the conduit from aboveground, the lower end of the conduit having at least one opening for passing test leads into and along the extended length of the conduit, and anchor means to support said conduit.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said anchor means includes a rod extending outwardly from the lower end of said conduit.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said anchor means includes a plastic tube projecting from diametrically-opposed sides of said conduit.

21. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said anchor means includes a collar-like plate member with an annular opening to receive the lower end of said tubular plastic conduit, and a sleeve secured to the lower end of said conduit for supporting said collar-like plate member.

22. The apparatus, according to claim 18 wherein said nut member comprises a collet nut adapted to pass onto said conduit, said slotted openings at spaced peri-pheral locations in said collar defining a collet chuck for compressive engagement with said conduit by said collet nut.

23. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said slotted openings at spaced peripheral locations in said collar extend along said side wall through said threads.

24. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said cover means includes a lock bar, and wherein said collar further includes wall means defining a tortuous path of travel for said lock bar between locked and un-locked positions.

25. The apparatus according to claim 17 further including cover means at one side of said terminal block to enclose one end of each of said terminals.