EP1257002A2 - Complex-shaped modular terminal board - Google Patents
Complex-shaped modular terminal board Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1257002A2 EP1257002A2 EP02010326A EP02010326A EP1257002A2 EP 1257002 A2 EP1257002 A2 EP 1257002A2 EP 02010326 A EP02010326 A EP 02010326A EP 02010326 A EP02010326 A EP 02010326A EP 1257002 A2 EP1257002 A2 EP 1257002A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- terminal board
- modular
- conducting
- supporting body
- terminal
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 230000002441 reversible effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000011810 insulating material Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/46—Bases; Cases
- H01R13/514—Bases; Cases composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/46—Bases; Cases
- H01R13/502—Bases; Cases composed of different pieces
- H01R13/506—Bases; Cases composed of different pieces assembled by snap action of the parts
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R43/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
- H01R43/20—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors for assembling or disassembling contact members with insulating base, case or sleeve
- H01R43/24—Assembling by moulding on contact members
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a complex-shaped modular terminal board.
- a compressor may comprise an electric motor supplying user-adjustable power according to the type of application involved. More specifically, energy-saving or overload operating modes may be implemented for a limited period of time, in which case, a number of service terminals and/or connectors must be provided to transmit user-selected commands to, and so modify the operating mode of, the electric motor of the compressor.
- Known terminal boards therefore normally comprise an electric circuit defined by co-molded conducting tracks embedded in a single supporting body of insulating material, and bent so that portions of the tracks lie in respective planes.
- the service terminals and connectors required are preferably oriented in different directions and lie in different planes.
- the complex shape of the terminal board poses problems in comolding the electric circuit and supporting body.
- a complex-shaped modular terminal board comprising a number of contacts oriented in a number of non-coincident directions; characterized by comprising at least two distinct modular members connectable both mechanically, by means of first reversible fast-fit fastening means, and electrically; said modular members comprising respective conducting elements connected directly when said modular members are connected mechanically.
- the simpler-shaped modular members are obviously formed separately (by simpler, cheaper molding processes) and then connected to form a compact, complex-shaped terminal board having service terminals and/or connectors oriented in different directions.
- the first modular member comprises a supporting body defined by at least a first and a second half-shell, which close book-fashion and are connected to each other by straps and second reversible fast-fit fastening means.
- the supporting body comprises a number of seats, each for selectively receiving a respective conducting blade having service terminals.
- the first member which is also easy to produce, therefore provides for obtaining various service terminal arrangements, depending on the number and type of conducting blades used, and the seats in which the blades are inserted.
- a terminal board in accordance with the invention is therefore also versatile, by being easily adaptable to different applications.
- a complex-shaped modular terminal board indicated as a whole by 1, comprises a number of service terminals 2 oriented in a number of non-coincident directions; and at least a first and a second modular member 3, 4, which are separate and connectable both mechanically and electrically.
- the second modular member 4 which has a known structure and is only shown schematically, comprises further contacts not shown.
- Modular members 3 and 4 are connected mechanically by first reversible fast-fit fastening means comprising first click-on retaining teeth 5 projecting from a base 6 of first modular member 2, and a first retaining edge 8 of second modular member 4.
- second modular member 4 has openings 12 exposing connecting portions 11a of tracks 11, which have longitudinal slits 14, each for receiving a respective connecting terminal 10. And connecting terminals 10 project from the bottom of first modular member 3 by such an extent as to be force-fitted inside respective longitudinal slits 14 when modular members 3, 4 are connected mechanically.
- first modular member 3 comprises a supporting body 15; and a number of conducting blades 16 housed partly inside supporting body 15, and each having at least one respective service terminal 2, and a respective connecting terminal 10.
- Supporting body 15 is defined by at least a first and a second half-shell 18, 19, which close book-fashion and are connected to each other by straps 20. And, once closed book-fashion, half-shells 18, 19 are gripped together by second reversible fast-fit fastening means comprising second click-on retaining teeth 21 carried by first half-shell 18, and second retaining edges 22 on the second half-shell.
- Supporting body 15 comprises a number of seats 24, each for selectively receiving a respective conducting blade 16; and the number of seats in supporting body 15 is greater than the number of conducting blades 16 carried by supporting body 15.
- seats 24 comprise a number of slits 25 formed symmetrically in first and second half-shell 18, 19, so as to be positioned facing in pairs half-shells 18, 19 are closed book-fashion.
- Slits 25 are arranged in distinct sets, in each of which, the non-adjacent slits 25 are spaced at least 5 mm apart.
- each half-shell 18, 19 has two sets of slits.
- First and second half-shell 18, 19 respectively comprise a first and second standard-shaped connector body 27, 28, which are substantially in the form of cup-shaped bodies, project laterally on opposite sides, and receive respective standard connectors 29, 30 shown schematically in Figure 4.
- each conducting blade 16 has at least one service terminal 2, and may comprise up to four service terminals 2 coplanar with and substantially perpendicular to the respective connecting terminal 10. And at least one of conducting blades 16 comprises at least a pair of service terminals 2 extending on opposite sides of the respective connecting terminal 10.
- Conducting blades 16 are inserted inside respective seats 24 so that service terminals 2 project laterally through respective slits 25.
- Groups of side by side service terminals 2 define connector assemblies 26 of first modular member 1 oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to said connecting terminals.
- First modular member 3 preferably comprises at least two connector assemblies 26 extending laterally on opposite sides of supporting body 15; and two of the connecting assemblies 26 are housed respectively in first standard-shaped connector 27, and partly in second standard-shaped connector body 28.
- conducting blades 16 can be inserted selectively inside different seats 24, depending on the type of connector assembly 26 required.
- an electric connection by means of standard multiway connectors can be made using the connector assemblies 26 housed in first and second standard-shaped connector bodies 27, 28.
- the number, arrangement, and shape of conducting blades 16 may be other than as shown.
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a complex-shaped modular terminal board.
- As is known, many devices, both industrial and non-industrial, require special terminal boards, particularly high-current devices and when user adjustment of the operating mode of the device is required. For example, a compressor may comprise an electric motor supplying user-adjustable power according to the type of application involved. More specifically, energy-saving or overload operating modes may be implemented for a limited period of time, in which case, a number of service terminals and/or connectors must be provided to transmit user-selected commands to, and so modify the operating mode of, the electric motor of the compressor.
- Known terminal boards therefore normally comprise an electric circuit defined by co-molded conducting tracks embedded in a single supporting body of insulating material, and bent so that portions of the tracks lie in respective planes. In this way, it is possible to obtain terminal boards which are compact and, at the same time, comprise even a large number of service terminals and connectors to meet the requirements of specific applications. More specifically, the service terminals and connectors required are preferably oriented in different directions and lie in different planes.
- Known terminal boards, however, have several drawbacks.
- Firstly, while indeed reducing overall size, the complex shape of the terminal board poses problems in comolding the electric circuit and supporting body.
- And secondly, the arrangement of the service terminals being predetermined, the possibility of adapting the same terminal board to different applications or even to devices made by different manufacturers is extremely limited, so that changes must be made to the molding process, thus increasing overall cost.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide a terminal board designed to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks, and which, in particular, is versatile and cheap and easy to produce.
- According to the present invention, there is provided a complex-shaped modular terminal board comprising a number of contacts oriented in a number of non-coincident directions; characterized by comprising at least two distinct modular members connectable both mechanically, by means of first reversible fast-fit fastening means, and electrically; said modular members comprising respective conducting elements connected directly when said modular members are connected mechanically.
- The simpler-shaped modular members are obviously formed separately (by simpler, cheaper molding processes) and then connected to form a compact, complex-shaped terminal board having service terminals and/or connectors oriented in different directions.
- According to a further aspect of the invention, the first modular member comprises a supporting body defined by at least a first and a second half-shell, which close book-fashion and are connected to each other by straps and second reversible fast-fit fastening means.
- And the supporting body comprises a number of seats, each for selectively receiving a respective conducting blade having service terminals.
- The first member, which is also easy to produce, therefore provides for obtaining various service terminal arrangements, depending on the number and type of conducting blades used, and the seats in which the blades are inserted. A terminal board in accordance with the invention is therefore also versatile, by being easily adaptable to different applications.
- A non-limiting embodiment of the invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 shows a view in perspective of a modular terminal board in accordance with the present invention;
- Figure 2 shows a longitudinally sectioned side view of the Figure 1 terminal board;
- Figure 3 shows a larger-scale, partly exploded view in perspective of a detail of the Figure 1 terminal board;
- Figure 4 shows a view in perspective of part of the Figure 1 terminal board being assembled;
- Figure 5 shows a top plan view, sectioned along line V-V, of the Figure 1 terminal board.
-
- With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a complex-shaped modular terminal board, indicated as a whole by 1, comprises a number of
service terminals 2 oriented in a number of non-coincident directions; and at least a first and a secondmodular member - The second
modular member 4, which has a known structure and is only shown schematically, comprises further contacts not shown. -
Modular members base 6 of firstmodular member 2, and a first retaining edge 8 of secondmodular member 4. - Electrical connection is made between connecting
terminals 10 on firstmodular member 3, and conductingtracks 11 co-molded with and embedded inside secondmodular member 4. More specifically, connectingterminals 10 are connected directly to respective conductingtracks 11 whenmodular members - As shown in more detail in Figure 3, second
modular member 4 hasopenings 12 exposing connectingportions 11a oftracks 11, which havelongitudinal slits 14, each for receiving a respective connectingterminal 10. And connectingterminals 10 project from the bottom of firstmodular member 3 by such an extent as to be force-fitted inside respectivelongitudinal slits 14 whenmodular members - With reference to Figures 4 and 5, first
modular member 3 comprises a supportingbody 15; and a number of conductingblades 16 housed partly inside supportingbody 15, and each having at least onerespective service terminal 2, and a respective connectingterminal 10. - Supporting
body 15 is defined by at least a first and a second half-shell straps 20. And, once closed book-fashion, half-shells teeth 21 carried by first half-shell 18, and second retaining edges 22 on the second half-shell. - Supporting
body 15 comprises a number ofseats 24, each for selectively receiving a respective conductingblade 16; and the number of seats in supportingbody 15 is greater than the number of conductingblades 16 carried by supportingbody 15. - More specifically,
seats 24 comprise a number ofslits 25 formed symmetrically in first and second half-shell shells -
Slits 25 are arranged in distinct sets, in each of which, thenon-adjacent slits 25 are spaced at least 5 mm apart. In the Figure 4 embodiment, each half-shell - First and second half-
shell shaped connector body standard connectors - As stated, each conducting
blade 16 has at least oneservice terminal 2, and may comprise up to fourservice terminals 2 coplanar with and substantially perpendicular to the respective connectingterminal 10. And at least one of conductingblades 16 comprises at least a pair ofservice terminals 2 extending on opposite sides of the respective connectingterminal 10. - Conducting
blades 16 are inserted insiderespective seats 24 so thatservice terminals 2 project laterally throughrespective slits 25. - Groups of side by
side service terminals 2 defineconnector assemblies 26 of first modular member 1 oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to said connecting terminals. Firstmodular member 3 preferably comprises at least twoconnector assemblies 26 extending laterally on opposite sides of supportingbody 15; and two of the connectingassemblies 26 are housed respectively in first standard-shaped connector 27, and partly in second standard-shaped connector body 28. - As shown in Figure 5, conducting
blades 16 can be inserted selectively insidedifferent seats 24, depending on the type ofconnector assembly 26 required. - More specifically, if conducting
blades 16 are inserted insidenon-adjacent seats 24, the service terminals of the blades are over 5 mm apart (VERIFY), so that, in conformance with current standards, direct connections can be made using fast-on-type contacts, with no need for connectors with insulating casings. - In any case, an electric connection by means of standard multiway connectors can be made using the
connector assemblies 26 housed in first and second standard-shaped connector bodies - Clearly, changes may be made to the terminal board as described herein without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention.
- In particular, the number, arrangement, and shape of conducting
blades 16 may be other than as shown. - Changes may also be made to the orientation of
service terminals 2, and therefore of connector assemblies 26, with respect to connectingterminals 10.
Claims (12)
- A complex-shaped modular terminal board comprising a number of contacts (2) oriented in a number of non-coincident directions; characterized by comprising at least two distinct modular members (3, 4) connectable both mechanically, by means of first reversible fast-fit fastening means (5, 8), and electrically; said modular members (3, 4) comprising respective conducting elements (2, 10, 11, 16) connected directly when said modular members (3, 4) are connected mechanically.
- A terminal board as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that said reversible fast-fit fastening means (5, 8) comprise click-on fastening means; and in that said conducting elements (2, 10, 11, 16) comprise connecting terminals (10) carried by a first of said modular members (3), and conducting tracks (11) carried by a second of said modular members (4).
- A terminal board as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that at least said first modular member (3) comprises a supporting body (15) defined by at least a first and a second half-shell (18, 19), which close book-fashion and are connected to each other by straps (20) and second reversible fast-fit fastening means (21, 22).
- A terminal board as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that said first modular member (3) comprises a number of conducting blades (16) housed partly in said supporting body (15), and each having at least one respective service terminal (2), and a respective one of said connecting terminals (10), which is connectable electrically to a respective said conducting track (11) on said second modular member (4).
- A terminal board as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that, in each said conducting blade (16), said at least one service terminal (2) and said connecting terminal (10) are coplanar and substantially perpendicular; and in that at least one of said conducting blades (16) comprises at least one pair of service terminals (2) extending on opposite sides of said respective connecting terminal (10).
- A terminal board as claimed in Claim 5, characterized in that said supporting body (15) comprises a number of seats (24), each for selectively receiving a respective said conducting blade (16); the number of seats (24) on said supporting body (15) being greater than the number of said conducting blades (16) carried by said supporting body (15).
- A terminal board as claimed in Claim 6, characterized in that said seats (24) comprise a number of slits (25) formed symmetrically in said first and second half-shell (18, 19), so as to be positioned facing in pairs when said first and second half-shell (18, 19) are closed.
- A terminal board as claimed in Claim 7, characterized in that said slits (25) are arranged in distinct sets; and in that, in each of said sets, non-adjacent slits (25) are at least 5 mm apart.
- A terminal board as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 8, characterized in that said first modular member (3) comprises connector assemblies (26) including respective groups of side by side service terminals (2).
- A terminal board as claimed in Claim 9, characterized in that said connector assemblies (26) are oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular with respect to said connecting terminals (10).
- A terminal board as claimed in Claim 9 or 10, characterized in that said first modular member (3) comprises at least two connector assemblies (26) extending laterally on opposite sides of said supporting body (15).
- A terminal board as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 11, characterized in that said second modular member (4) has openings (12) exposing connecting portions (11a) of said conducting tracks (11), which have longitudinal slits (14), each for receiving a respective one of said connecting terminals (10).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT2001MI000937A ITMI20010937A1 (en) | 2001-05-08 | 2001-05-08 | MODULAR TERMINAL BOARD OF COMPLEX SHAPE |
ITMI20010937 | 2001-05-08 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1257002A2 true EP1257002A2 (en) | 2002-11-13 |
EP1257002A3 EP1257002A3 (en) | 2003-04-23 |
Family
ID=11447608
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP02010326A Withdrawn EP1257002A3 (en) | 2001-05-08 | 2002-05-07 | Complex-shaped modular terminal board |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1257002A3 (en) |
IT (1) | ITMI20010937A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2006000386A1 (en) * | 2004-06-24 | 2006-01-05 | Berh Gmbh & Co. Kg | Device for connecting a basic electrical component and an additional electrical component to a supply network, especially of a motor vehicle, and methods for the production of such a connecting device |
WO2009146789A1 (en) * | 2008-06-03 | 2009-12-10 | Mc Technology Gmbh | Connecting element to produce an electrically conducting connection between two terminals |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2618317A1 (en) * | 1976-04-27 | 1977-11-17 | Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie | Electromagnetic relay adaptor on printed circuit board - has thermoplastic retaining part snapping onto moulded plastics contact part |
US4313646A (en) * | 1980-02-25 | 1982-02-02 | Amp Incorporated | Power distribution system |
EP0211191A2 (en) * | 1985-07-10 | 1987-02-25 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Electrical connecting block |
DE29804419U1 (en) * | 1998-03-12 | 1998-05-14 | Kostal Leopold Gmbh & Co Kg | Electrical connector part |
US5782651A (en) * | 1994-12-22 | 1998-07-21 | Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. | Electrical connection box |
-
2001
- 2001-05-08 IT IT2001MI000937A patent/ITMI20010937A1/en unknown
-
2002
- 2002-05-07 EP EP02010326A patent/EP1257002A3/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2618317A1 (en) * | 1976-04-27 | 1977-11-17 | Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie | Electromagnetic relay adaptor on printed circuit board - has thermoplastic retaining part snapping onto moulded plastics contact part |
US4313646A (en) * | 1980-02-25 | 1982-02-02 | Amp Incorporated | Power distribution system |
EP0211191A2 (en) * | 1985-07-10 | 1987-02-25 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Electrical connecting block |
US5782651A (en) * | 1994-12-22 | 1998-07-21 | Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. | Electrical connection box |
DE29804419U1 (en) * | 1998-03-12 | 1998-05-14 | Kostal Leopold Gmbh & Co Kg | Electrical connector part |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2006000386A1 (en) * | 2004-06-24 | 2006-01-05 | Berh Gmbh & Co. Kg | Device for connecting a basic electrical component and an additional electrical component to a supply network, especially of a motor vehicle, and methods for the production of such a connecting device |
WO2009146789A1 (en) * | 2008-06-03 | 2009-12-10 | Mc Technology Gmbh | Connecting element to produce an electrically conducting connection between two terminals |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
ITMI20010937A1 (en) | 2002-11-08 |
EP1257002A3 (en) | 2003-04-23 |
ITMI20010937A0 (en) | 2001-05-08 |
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