GB2117577A

GB2117577A - An electrical distributor segment for telephone exchange systems

Info

Publication number: GB2117577A
Application number: GB08308591A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hans Scholtholt; Ewald Steiner
Original assignee: Siemens AG; Siemens Corp
Current assignee: Siemens AG; Siemens Corp
Priority date: 1982-03-31
Filing date: 1983-03-29
Publication date: 1983-10-12
Also published as: GB2117577B; DE3212013A1; AU563602B2; CS220983A2; AU1302783A; CS272756B2; DE3212013C2; ZA832290B; GB8308591D0

Abstract

Two spring connectors 4, 5 are connected to incoming and outgoing lines respectively. An additional break contact spring connector 6 is provided whose free end forms a socket connection together with the free end of the spring connector 4 for receiving a two-pole plug 15 carrying a cut-out fuse 18. When the plug 15 is inserted the two poles of the plug make contact with respective contacts 7 of the spring connectors 4 and 6 so that the fuse 18 is connected in series between the incoming and outgoing lines. When the plug 15 is not inserted the contacts 7 close to interconnect the spring connectors 4 and 6. The spring connector 5 makes resilient contact with a portion of the connector 6 intermediate the ends of the latter. A housing of the distributor segment can receive a plug 13 for interrupting the contact between connectors 5 and 6 or for tapping the signal from these connectors. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An electrical distributor segment for telephone exchange systems This invention relates to an electrical distributor segment, in particular for telephone exchange systems, comprising means for connection to incoming and outgoing lines, said connection means being connected to spring connectors which also provide contacts for external electrical devices.

A distributor segment of this kind is disclosed, for example, in German (OS) specification No. 20 48 104 in which the external electrical devices consist of safety devices equipped with surge voltage arresters. The safety device can be connected to the contacts of the spring connectors by being plugged in laterally. In addition to this known surge voltage protection featuring surge voltage arresters, certain postal administrations require a further protection which is to consist of cut-out fuses arranged in the line. Known distributor segments do not enable ready insertion of a cut-out fuse into the line.

It is an aim of the invention to provide a distributor segment which enables a cut-out fuse to be connected into the line.

According to this invention there is provided an electrical distributor segment, parti culariy for use in a telephone exchange, said distributor segment comprising respective means for connection to incoming and outgoing lines, said connection means being connected to first and second spring connectors, the second of the latter being arranged to make resilient electrical contact with a third spring connector which, with the first spring connector, extends to a socket for receiving a two-pole plug carrying a fuse and arranged, when plugged into the socket, to connect the fuse electrically in series between said first and third spring connectors end portions of which latter are arranged to provide respective contacts in the socket for the two poles of the plug.

Preferably the end of said third spring connector opposite said socket end portion is mounted in an electrically insulating support disposed between the first and second spring connectors, the second spring connector being arranged to make said resilient electrical contact with the third spring connector intermediate the ends of the latter.

Conveniently it may be arranged that said first and third spring connectors extend alongside each other and are separated by means of an electrically insulating member.

Advantageously it may be arranged that said socket end portions of said first and third spring connectors are arranged mutually facing and in resilient electrical contact so that if the two-pole plug is not inserted into the socket an electrically conductive path exists between said first and third spring connectors and hence between said first and second spring connectors.

In a particular embodiment it is arranged that said spring connectors are mounted in a housing arranged to provide access for an auxiliary plug which can be inserted between the second and third spring connectors to break said resilient contact either in an electrically insulating manner for connection cut-off or in an electrically conductive manner providing an electrically conductive path between the second and third spring connectors when the auxiliary plug is a test plug for tapping the current or voltage through or across the distributor segment. Conveniently said connection means are arranged at the front of the housing and are held, with the first and second spring connectors, by means of an electrically insulating component having a through bore for insertion of said auxiliary plug.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a part-sectional side view of a telephone exchange distributor segment embodying this invention; and Figure 2 is a plan view of part of the distributor segment shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1, a break element 1 of a telephone exchange distributor segment has mutually adjacent wire guides 2. Incoming external lines 11 are connected via first connection terminals 3 to spring connector 4.

Jumper lines 12 are connected via second connection terminals 3 to break contact spring connector 5. At its free end break contact spring connector 6 has a connection contact 7 which, together with connection contact 7 of the spring connector 4, forms a socket connection for a plug-in contact. The non-free end of the break contact spring connector 6 is supported in an electrically insulating support 10 which is arranged between the spring connector 4 and the break contact spring connector 5 in such manner as to allow a test plug or disconnect plug 1 3 to break the contact which exists between the break contact spring connector 5 and the break contact spring connector 6.Two protective shoulders 9 serve to increase the contact force of the spring connector 4 and the break contact spring connector 6 which are spaced from one another by means of an electrically insulating, separating bar 8. The connection terminals 3, the break contact spring connector 5, and the spring connector 4, are secured in an electrically insulating front component 1 4 of the housing.

As a result of the socket connection provided by the connection contacts of the spring connectors in the distributor segment described above it is possible to connect a fuse into the line. The advantages of known distributor segments of cutting a connection by means of a disconnect plug (13) or of carrying out measurements during an existing connection by means of a test plug (13) are fully retained.

In the embodiment shown, the break element 1 is shown as being connected to a twopole safety plug 1 5 which contains a longitudinal fuse 18 and surge voltage arresters 1 7.

This is to indicate that the added fuse can be installed in a safety plug of known type. The two contacts 7 provide respective connections for the two poles of the plug 1 5 when the latter is inserted as shown in the drawing.

This safety plug is connected via an earthing plate 1 6 to the earthed chassis 1 9 of a distributor strip. If the safety plug 1 5 is not inserted into the break element 1 and the connection contacts 7 of the latter are closed and the distributor segment operates without the addition of a fuse in the line.

Claims

1. An electrical distributor segment, particularly for use in a telephone exchange, said distributor segment comprising respective means for connection to incoming and outgoing lines, said connection means being connected to first and second spring connectors, the second of the latter being arranged to make resilient electrical contact with a third spring connector which, with the first spring connector, extends to a socket for receiving a two-pole plug carrying a fuse and arranged, when plugged into the socket, to connect the fuse electrically in series between said first and third spring connectors end portions of which latter are arranged to provide respective contacts in the socket for the two poles of the plug.

2. An electrical distributor segment according to claim 1 wherein the end of said third spring connector opposite said socket end portion is mounted in an electrically insulating support disposed between the first and second spring connectors, the second spring connector being arranged to make said resilient electrical contact with the third spring connector intermediate the ends of the platter.

3. An electrical distributor segment according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said first and third spring connectors extend alongside each other and are separated by means of an electrically insulating member.

4. An electrical distributor segment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said socket end portions of said first and third spring connectors are arranged mutually facing and in resilient electrical contact so that if the two-pole plug is not inserted into the socket an electrically conductive path exists between said and first and third spring connectors and hence between said first and second spring connectors.

5. An electrical distributor segment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said spring connectors are mounted in a housing arranged to provide access for an auxiliary plug which can be inserted between the second and third spring connectors to break said resilient contact either in an electrically insulating manner for connection cut-off or in an electrically conductive manner providing an electrically conductive path between the second and third spring connectors when the auxiliary plug is a test plug for tapping the current or voltage through or across the distributor segment.

6. An electrical distributor segment according to claim 5 wherein said connection means are arranged at the front of the housing and are held, with the first and second spring connectors, by means of an electrically insulating component having a through bore for insertion of said auxiliary plug.

7. An electrical distributor segment, particularly for use in a telephone exchange, said distributor segment being substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

8. A telephone exchange including one or more distributor segments according to any one of the preceding claims.