GB2230654A

GB2230654A - A modular connection system

Info

Publication number: GB2230654A
Application number: GB8903210A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Rawson Briggs
Original assignee: CORMORANT TRADING Co LIMI
Current assignee: CORMORANT TRADING Co LIMI
Priority date: 1989-02-13
Filing date: 1989-02-13
Publication date: 1990-10-24
Anticipated expiration: 2009-02-13
Also published as: GB2230654B; GB8903210D0

Abstract

A modular connection system comprises a plurality of units (1, 2) connectable together by the provision of a plurality of sockets (11, 15, 17, 19) on one unit (1) and a corresponding plurality of plugs (53, 57, 61, 65) on the adjacent unit (2) for connecting adjacent units (1, 2) together. A base unit (1) is connected to the services to be provided and has a socket (11, 15, 17, 19) for each of the services. Intermediate units (2) are each provided with an extensible plug arrangement (51 to 65), one for each of the said sockets (11, 15, 17, 19) on the base unit (1). The units are each suitably housed in a housing which is provided with fixing means (47) for fixing the unit (1, 2) to a support structure therefor, the fixing means being such that it is possible to mount and dismount the units (1, 2) without the necessity of any dismantling of the individual units (1, 2). <IMAGE>

Description

MODULAR UNET SYSTEM n a number of commercial applications, such as banking, a number of counters are provided at which dealings take place with customers and it is necessary to supply to these various counters a number of services such as standard and specialised power supplies and information channels. As weii as the supplies, the various counter positions may need illuminated eigns bells and audibility systems where the customer is separated from the employee by glass screens.

n ercer to acnieve All these festures, the various cour er are usually wired up separately which calls T or a very considerable amount of specially designed and installed wiring making the operation very costly, particularly in establishments suon as banks or Building societies wnicn have a number of counters in eacn eranch ano a iarge number of branches.

The present invention seeks to provide a viable alternative to tne above previous systems in wnicn a minimum of speciallied wiring is requirec on site.

According to a ilrst aspect of the invention, there is provided a modular unit system comprising sn initial or base unit and at least one intermediate unit, tne initial or base unit being connected to the services to De provided and having a socket for each of the services and the intermediate unit being provided with an extensible plug arrangement, one for each of the saic sockets on the base unit whereby the services are connected from the initial or base unit to the intermediate unit to provide said services to said intermediate unit.

The plugs and sockets for tne services may suitably have a different configuration for each service so as to avoid the units being accidentally wrongly connected Two or more services may be provided. These may include a mains supply, a dedicated power supply, a data connection, a telephone connection, an audibility apparatus connection and an alarm circuit.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a plurality of units connectaoie togerner oy tne provisIon of a plurality of sockets on one unit ang a correspondIng plurality of plugs on tne angerant unit for connecting adjacent unite toge@her, cae units each seing housed in a nousing, the nousing being provices whin fixing means for fixing the unit @@ a suffing structure inerefor, the fixing means being sucun inat in is possible to mount anc dismount the units without the necessity of any diemantling of the individual units.

Preieresbly tne fixing means comprise a pair OT cooperating apertures on opposite sides OT the nousing througn whicn a fixing screw can pass.

The space between the two apertures may be enclosed by a tubular member extending from one side of the housing to the other. The housing is preferably metailiic and may comprise a generally open box shaped element closed by means of a detachable lid, the apertures for fixing being provided in the bottom of the box shaped element and in a part of the box shaped element standing proud of the bottom and adjacent to the lid. The lid may have apertures through which the fixing screw can pass.

Preferably these apertures in tne lid are larger than the head of the screw so that the screw can be inserted while the lid is in piace and tne lid can be removed wnile tne fixing screw is in place.

The housing may be divided into a number of compartments so as to separate certain of the services from eacn other and the tubular member for the fixing screws, if provided may be formed from compartment dividers or can be attached thereto.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which: figure iE a schematic arawing of a modular system naving three units connected together in accorcance with the invention; figure 2 is a scnematic front view of an initial or oase unit of fle modular system of figure í; rigure 3 is is a schematic wiring diagram of an htermediate unit of the system of figure Figures 4 is a view similar to figure 3 but showing the initial or base unit; Figure 5 is a perspective exploded fragment of a unit as.

shown in any one of the above figures, and Figure 6 is a plan view of the fragment snown in figure 5.

Referring firstly to figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a modular unit system intended for installation in a bank or a building society having three 'windows' for tellers. Thus the system comprises an initial or base unit i, and two intermediate units 2. It will be understood that all systems will have a base or initial unit out after this there may be any reasonable number of intermediate units.

The initial or base unit, which can also be seen in figure 2, comprises an operator's unit 5, similar in outward appearance to the intermediate unit. To this ena it has a plurality of sockets 7 of differen types at the left hand end and more sockets 9 at the right hand end The sockets 7 comprise two standard thirteen amp sockets 11, a dedicated supply socket 15, recognisable by the circular earth connection, an illuminated sign control supply 17 ane a data socket i9. The sockets 9 comprise one syandard 13 amp socket 21, two dedicated 13 amp sockets 23 and two data connections 25.The initial or oase unit i also has associated with it a supply unit 27 through which all input to the modular system pases by way of a caoie ouct 28.

each of the units forming the modular system may have, attached tnereto, a spur unit. One such is indicated scnematically at 3i and is powered from the right hand socket 11 by means of a plug and lead (not shown). Also used Dy tne spur unit is a connection to the ijiuminated sign control circuit, also by way of a lead and plug (not shown) plugged into the right hand illuminated sign control supply 17. The four remaining sockets are used for connection to an intermediate unit.

The spur unit 31 is equipped with two standard thirteen amp sockets 33 and various controls, indicated generally at 35, for controlling the illuminated sign in different ways and for othe purposes. The operator will generally make all his connections using the sockets 9.

Figure 4 shows a schematic wiring diagram of the base or initial unit. it snould be borne in mind that while the unit is drawn as if with the lid removed, tne sockets themselves wouid normally be carried by the lid. As can be seen, the wiring of the base or initiai unit is straight forward. Terminal blocks 41 and 43 are provided for input of the illuminated sign control circuit and the two power supplies respectively. These terminal blocks have to be connected individually and are the only part of the instailation which requires individual wiring.

The terminal block 41 is connected directly to the two sockets 17 at the right hans end and, as previously stated, the left hand socket 17 provides output to the adjacent unit weile the right hand socket 17 is connected by carle to the spur unit 3i. inc terminal bleck 43 in connected directly to the sockets 21 and 23.

providing the operator with power supplies, ana from tnence to the sockets i5 and ii, the left hand sockel 11 and the socket 15 providing out puts to the adjacent unit wniie tne right hand socket 11 provides power to the spur unit 3i.

The data circuits are separated from the other supplies by means of a metallic wall 45 which shields the data iines from interference from the power supplies. The initial or base unit is provided with a pair of data sockets 25, both of which are connected together and to the output socket i9 to the adjacent unit. Three fixing points 47 are provided in the region of the dividing wall 45 of the unit and these will be described in greater detail hereafter in relation to figures 5 an6.

Figure 3 is a view similar to figure 4, but in this case, the schematic wiring of an intermediate unit 2 is snown. it w.ll be seen that, as far as tne front face of tne intermeniste unit 2 is concerned, it is identical to that of tne initial or base unit i. However, tne internal wiring and arrangements for connection to tne initial or base unit or a second intermediate unit make it significantly different.

The input connections to the intermediate unit 2 are in the form of cables carrying suitable plugs for mating with the sockets at the left hand end of the adjacent unit. Thus the illuminated sign control is carried by a cable 5 with a jack pludg 53 on its end, tne standard thirteen amp electrical supply is carried by a cable 55 with a square pin thirteen amp plug 57 on tne end, the dedicated supply is carries by the cabie 59 witn a dedicates plug 51 (as a standard plug but witn a round earth pin and the data is carried by a caple 53 with a circular six pin date plug on the ens. As can re seen, each cable 51, 55 and 59 has a convoluted from within tne unit, a lowing a considerable length ot caole to be storec within rne unit, which is of utmost importance wnen setting up the units as will be described hereafter.

The only other difference between the two units lies in tne connection of the data sockets 25. In the initial or base unit i, the two data sockets 25 are connected together but in the case of the intermediate unit 2, the right hand socKet 25 is connected to the input cable 59 while the left hand socket 25 is connected to the output socket 19.

Figures 5 and 5 show details of the fixing arrangements 47 of the units which enable tne units to be assembles without removing r;neir lids. In rhe form snown, tne box is indicated at 7i ano tne dividing wall 45 between tne power and data circuits is shown in couble wall form.

@@@@ @@@@ing @@@@@ 45 is attended to the bace or the bex 7, in any chitrly way such as by welding. At the fixing points 47, the individual elemente 73 and 75 of the wall 45 are bowed out away from each other so as to effectively form a tube 77 extending from the top to the bottom of the box 71. The bottom of the box has an aperture (not shown) at this point. The lid of the unit is shown at 81 and is provided with an aperture 83 which is lined up with the tube 77 and through this aperture a screw 85, bolt or other fixing device can pass.It will be observed, ano this can be particularly seen in figure 5, that tne head 87 of the screw 85 can pass tnrough the aperture 83 and is only restrained by the Tact that the diameter of tne thoc 77 is less tan the head diameter.

it wi. @ be understood that tne lis 8; is itseit attachec to the @@@@ 7; in T ne usual way by, for example, colts (not shown) and that despite the box being attached in plate with the lid on, the lic can still be taxen off while the box remains in place.

The setting Up of the system will now be oescrined: After the various power supplies etc. have been brought to tne position of the intended initial or base unit 1, the base unit is attached in piace using the apertures 83, tubes 77 and screws 85. The unit is then opened up and the various cables attached to the terminai blocks 41 and 43. With the lid 81 replaced the initial or base unit 1 is fully functional and can be used as a sole unit in its own right. The remaining closed intermediate units can ten be fixed in position using their apertures 83, tubes 77 and screws 85. of course, for ease of assembly, all the units may be attached at the same time if required. Once all the units are in place, tne plugs and cables can be pulled out of the enos of tne units to juct sufficient length to enable them to be connected to the adjacent units, ana tne plugs are then plugged into tneir corresponding socKets. Connections can then be made to spur units using sables and plugs supplied with these spur units. In this way, the units do not require to be set up at an accurate spacing from each other since the internally stored cabies can take up any differences. Likewise, the units can be much more readily set up to the operator's requirements without the need for individual wiring.

it will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the above bestribed embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, tne exact services provided can be varied as required.

Other services include telephone ana intercom facillities, "next customer piease" signs, an audibility circuit, an alarm circuit ans tne like Individual services can also ne omitted it not require. Ine number of outilis in tne units can be determined as needed by tne particular application.

Other means for internal storage of the cables could be uses sucn as cofils, or where large iengths of cable may be needed between units, drum type storage couLd be uses.

Any suitable number of intermediate units could be used with a single initial or base unit depending on the rating of the supplies. The plug connectors may be of standard construction, in which case the fuse facility on the current supplies themselves will usually be omitted to prevent a short circuit in an apparatus connected to one unit from cutting off the supply to the next unit. Of course one would expect the appiiances themselves to be fused in the usual way and fuses would be provides in the supplies to the initial or base unit.

The fixing arrangements could be varied. For example, the tubes could be omitted if a locating aperture is provided on the box adjacent to the lid. Such an arrangement is easily achieved if the fixing arrangements are located in the region of the sides or corners of the box. However, the tube method is preferred since this avoids any contact between the screws and the interior wiring.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the invention, in its preferred embodiment, provides a modular unit system which can readily be assembled using factory produced units with a minimum of individual wiring and generality unskilled iabour, thus providing a viabie and less expensive alternative to currentiy known systems.

Claims

í. A modular unit system comprising an initial or base unit and at least one intermediate unit, the initial or base unit being connected to services to be provided and having a socket for each of the services and the intermediate unit being provided with an extensible plug arrangement, one for each of the said sockets on the base unit whereby the services are connected from the initial or base unit to the intermediate unit to provide said services to said intermediate unit.
2. A system as claimed in claim i. wherein tne plugs and sockets for the services have a different configuration for each service so as to avoid the units being accidentally wrongly connected.
3. A system as claimed in claim i or 2, wherein the services provided are selected from two or more ot a mains supply, a dedicated power supply, a data connection, a telephone connection, an audibility apparatus connection and an alarm circuit.
4. A modular unit system comprising a plurality of units connectable together by the provision of a plurality of sockets s on one unit and a corresponding plurality of plugs on the adjacent unit for connecting adjacent units together, the units each being housed in a housing, the housing being provided with fixing means for fixing the unit to a support structure therefor, the fixing means being such that it is possible to mount and dismount the units without the necessity of any dismantling of the individual units.
5. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fixing means comprise a pair of cooperating apertures on opposite sides of the housing through which a fixing screw can pass.
6. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the space between the two apertures is enclosed by a tubuiar member extending from one side of the housing to the other.
7. A system as claimed in claim 5 or 6. wherein the housing is metallic.
8. A system as ciaimed in claim 5, 6 or 7. wherein tne housing comprises a generally open box shaped element closed by means of a detachable lid, the apertures for fixing being provided in the bottom of the box shaped element ano in a part of the box shaped eiement standing proud of the bottom and adjacent to the lid.
9. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the lid has apertures through which the fixing screw can pass.
it. A system as claimed in claim 9. wherein the apertures in the lid are larger than tne head of tne screw so that the screw can be inserted while the lis is in place and the lid can be removed while the fixing screw is in place.
11. A system as claimed in any one of claims 4 to iO.

wherein the housing is divided, by compartment dividers into a number of compartments so as to separate certain of the services from each other.
12. A system as claimed in claim 11 when appendent to claim 6 or any other claim appendent directly or indirectly thereto, wherein the tubuiar member for the fixing screws is formed from compartment dividers.
13. A system as claimed in claim 11 when appendent to claim 6 or any other claim appendent directly or indirectly thereto, wherein the tubular member for the fixing screws is attached to the compartment dividers.

14 A modular unit system substantially as describes herein with reference to the drawings.