GB2292489A

GB2292489A - Electrical distribution system

Info

Publication number: GB2292489A
Application number: GB9517067A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hugh Gordon Hutchison
Original assignee: Aphel Ltd
Current assignee: Aphel Ltd
Priority date: 1994-08-20
Filing date: 1995-08-21
Publication date: 1996-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 2015-08-21
Also published as: GB9517067D0; GB2292489B

Abstract

A distribution system for mains and other electrical services has an elongate housing 12 with input and output connectors 46 at each end, these being connected by conductors. The U-shaped housing is closed by one or more covers 28, 30, at least one having an opening 48 which receives a socket or other module in a snap-fitting manner. The module can incorporate a socket such as a square three pin or a round or flat two pin socket, enabling a combination of different types of socket to be included and interchanged in the distribution system as required. A fuse module (figure 3, not shown) includes a sliding fuse carrier incorporating a shield for the fuse contacts. The housing is closed at its ends by caps 42, 44 each enclosing a suitable connector 46 accessible through an aperture 60. A shutter 62 for the aperture is slidable between open and closed positions where it is held by stops 92, 94. Shutter projections 96 interfere with, to prevent removal of, an external connector engaging the internal connector 46 and the shutter operates a further connector latch 68. The housing is mounted by a plate 78 having flanges 80 engaging channels 82 or 24 and dovetails 78 for mating with an adjacent plate. Electrical interconnections are provided by any means. <IMAGE>

Description

ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM The present invention relates to a distribution system for distributing electrical signals from a single source to a number of outlets. Ideally, the system can be used for distributing power to various types of electrical apparatus.

Conventional distribution systems are manufactured as integral units and cannot therefore be modified for different uses.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved distribution system.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a distribution system for distributing electrical signals from a source to a plurality of outlets, the system comprising: an elongate housing having input and output means for the input and output of said electrical signals; conductor means interconnecting said input and output means for transferring said electrical signals from said input means to said output means; and module means detachably engageable in an opening in said housing, said module means having a socket for connection to said conductor means for enabling supply of said electrical signals to an external apparatus.

In a preferred form of the invention the module means is a snap-fit in the opening in the housing.

The present invention is further described hereinafter, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1A and 1B are exploded perspective views of an electrical distribution system according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 of a portion of the system of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a fuse holder for the system of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an assembled view of the fuse holder of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of several linked distribution systems according to the present invention.

Referring firstly to Figure 5, this shows five distribution systems 10 according to the present invention which are linked together to distribute mains electrical power from a source S to various apparatus including, for example, a lamp L and computer C.

One form of distribution system 10 is shown in Figures 1 and 2. The system has a housing 12 which includes body portion in the form of a generally U-shaped channel 14.

The channel 14 has an inner member 16 conveniently of extruded aluminium, covered by an outer layer 18 of extruded plastics material for insulation. The channel 14 has a bottom wall 20 and two side walls 22, the latter being formed with grooves 24 adjacent the bottom wall 20 to enable the housing to be secured to a suitable surface by means of clips 76 as described below.

The upper, free edge of each side wall 22 has a respective rib 26 extending the length of the channel for locating one or more covers 28,30 in position on the channel. Each cover 28,30 has a depending spigot or sleeve 32 to receive a screw 34 by means of which the cover is secured in place in the channel. The screw 34 is conveniently a self-tapping screw and engages in a co-operating channel 36 formed on the bottom wall 20 of the channel 14. The channel 36 is formed by two parallel, spaced apart ribs 38 which extend longitudinally of the channel 14. The inner side walls of the ribs 38 are conveniently themselves ribbed to facilitate engagement with the self-tapping screws.The particular formation of the channel 36 means that the covers 28,30 can be positioned anywhere along the channel rather than being restricted to particular discrete positions, with the obvious consequent advantages.

The ribs 26 on the side walls of the channel engage in co-operating slots 40 in the covers 28,30.

The housing has two end caps 42,44 which close the ends of the channel. Each end cap is generally cup-shaped, opening into the channel 14 and is secured to the body portion by means of further self-tapping screws 43 which engage in respective channels 45 formed on the side walls 22 of the body portion. The channels 45 are similar to the channel 36 but are generally part-circular in cross-section since the self-tapping screws 43 engage coaxially in the channels 45 whereas the screw 34 engages the channel 36 in a direction at right angles to the channel axis.

The end caps 42,44 are similar in construction, although end cap 42 carries a neon lamp to provide a visual indication of when power is applied to the distribution unit. However, for ease of reference, the common parts to the end caps are described only with reference to one or the other of the end caps.

Each end cap contains a detachable connector 46 which has three in-line plugs/sockets 47 to receive a co-operating 3-pin plug/socket (for the live, neutral and earth leads) which enables connection of the distribution system to a further such system or to a power supply circuit such as a ring main.

As can be best seen in end cap 44, each end cap has an end face 52 and upper, side and bottom walls 54,56,58. The end face 52 has a generally rectangular opening 60 adjacent the bottom wall 58 through which the external 3-pin plug/socket can engage in the cooperating connector 46 which is secured in position in the end cap.

To prevent accidental contact with, and exposure of the terminals of the connector 46 a closure member 62 is slidably mounted on the end wall 52. The closure member 62 is generally planar in shape and has side projections 64 which engage in respective slots 66 formed in the end wall 52 to allow the closure 62 to be slid between an upper, open position where the opening 60 and connector 46 are exposed and a lower, closed position in which the opening 60 and connector 46 are closed by the closure member 62.

The closure member 62 has a rearwardly extending flange (not shown in the drawings) formed adjacent its lower edge 74 which serves as a stop in abutting a lower edge 90 of the opening 60 to limit downward movement of the closure member 62 and prevent its removal from the end cap 44 after assembly.

When the closure member 62 is in its lower, closed position, sliding movement towards its open position is prevented by the engagement of its upper edge 75 with lugs or projections 92 formed on the end wall 52 of the end cap 44.

In order to release the closure 62 and allow it to be slid into its open position to expose the connector 46 it is necessary to insert a tool (eg the blade of a screwdriver) behind the upper edge 75 and lever the central portion of the closure member 62 away from the end wall 52 of the end cap 44 until the upper edge 75 clears the projections 92, at which point the closure member 62 can be slid upwardly to allow access to the opening 60. The closure member 62 is formed of plastics material and is sufficiently flexible to allow the slight distortion necessary.

The end wall 52 of the end cap 44 also has a further pair of projections 94 positioned above the projections 92 which serve to lock the closure member 62 in its upper, open position. In order to locate a plug/socket in the connector 46, the closure member 62 is slid upwardly onto the projections 94 by use of a tool as explained above with regard to projections 92. This raises the closure member 62 sufficiently to allow insertion of a plug/socket into the connector 46. The closure member 62 is then slid downwardly until its upper edge 75 clears the projections 94, at which point the projections 96 on the lower edge 74 of the closure member 62 have engaged in co-operating recesses or slots in the plug/socket to lock the plug/socket in position and prevent its removal. The plug/socket is thus locked into the connector 46 until the closure member 62 is disengaged using a tool as described above.

The closure member 62 and/or the projections 92,94 are so-shaped to allow the closure member 62 to ride over the projections without the use of a tool when moved downwardly towards its closed position.

An additional feature for retaining the plug/socket in engagement with the connector 46 is provided by means of a catch member 68. This is a snap-fit engagement in a suitably shaped tubular recess 70 extending axially from the end wall 52 of the end cap 44. The catch 68 is retained in the recess by a hook foot 69 and carries an axially extending flange 72 and a depending tongue 73. When a plug/socket is engaged with the connector 46 the depending tongue 73 locates in a co-operating recess in the plug/socket to prevent removal. In order to disengage the plug/socket the closure member 62 is slid upwardly as previously described. The flange adjacent the lower edge 74 of the closure member 62 engages the tongue 72, bending the catch member 68 upwardly to raise the depending tongue 73 clear of the plug/socket which can then be withdrawn from the connector 46.

To engage a plug/socket with the connector 46 the procedure is the same. The closure member 62 is again raised to raise the depending tongue 73 and the plug/socket is then engaged with the connector 46. Release of the closure member 62 allows the tongue 73 to resile into its original position in engagement with the plug/socket.

Referring to the cover 28, as can be seen from Figure 2 this has a rectangular opening 48 for receiving a snap-fit module 50. A blank module is shown in Figure 2 but the module may be a power socket of any particular design as can be seen from Figure 5. This has the advantage that modules of different types or styles of socket are interchangeable in the distribution system to suit a particular market. The distribution system could be fitted with, for example, 13 amp style sockets for use in the United Kingdom or continental style 2-pin sockets for use on the Continent.

The modules need not be power socket modules but could have, for example, television aerial sockets, telephone connector sockets or various types of data transmission sockets, although the connector 46 would need to be modified accordingly. Where several modules are provided in the distribution system, it would be possible for one module to serve as an input socket with the others being the output distribution sockets. The connection of terminals between the sockets and the connectors 46 can be effected in any suitably convenient manner.

The orientation of each module may also be varied. Since the modules are conveniently square in plan view each module can be positioned in one of four orientations, 90C apart.

The distribution system can be mounted on any suitable surface using one or more clips 76. Each clip has a generally planar base 78 which can be secured to a surface by means of screws, and upstanding hooked flanges 80 which engage in co-operating grooves 82 in the side walls 56 of the end caps 42,44 or grooves 24 in the channel 14. The clips 76 have template location recesses 77 which allow simple marking of the fixing surface for the drilling of holes for the screws. The flanges 80 are resilient and can be levered away from the co-operating grooves 82 to allow the distribution system to be detached from the clips.

Each clip 76 also has a dovetail jointing 79 which allows the clips at adjacent ends of two distribution systems to be engaged directly by dovetail engagement of the two clips.

One module provided for the distribution system may be a fuse holder module 100 shown in exploded perspective view in Figure 3 and in assembled form in Figure 4. The fuse holder has three main parts, a base member 102 which encloses two fuse contact assemblies 104,106, a base plate assembly 108 which telescopically engages in the base member 102, and a fuse carrier 110 which telescopically engages in the base plate 108.

The base member 102, base plate 108 and fuse carrier 110 have a number of co-operating projections and recesses such that, once assembled the base plate 108 cannot be removed from the base member 102 and the fuse carrier 110 can only be slid out of the base plate 108 by an amount sufficient to allow insertion of a fuse 112 in a recess 114 in the fuse carrier. The contact assemblies 104,106 also clip into the base member 102.

In addition, the fuse carrier 110 has a shelf 116 on which the fuse rests when first inserted, the shelf being slightly narrower than the gap between the contacts of each contact assembly 104,106. Thus, when the fuse carrier 110 is raised to allow insertion or removal of the fuse, the shelf 116 prevents access to the contact assemblies 104,106.

However, when the fuse carrier 110 is slid into the base plate 108 the shelf 116 passes between the contacts of the contact assemblies 104,106 to allow the fuse 112 to be pressed between the contacts. This provides an extremely safe form of fuse holder which prevents accidental contact with the live contact assemblies.

The distribution system may also have a diode and neon indicator connected in series between the line and neutral to allow DC insulation testing between the line and neutral without the need for disconnection of the neon.

Claims

1. A distribution system for distributing electrical signals from a source to a plurality of outlets, the system comprising: an elongate housing having input and output means for the input and output of said electrical signals; conductor means interconnecting said input and output means for transferring said electrical signals from said input means to said output means; and module means detachably engageable in an opening in said housing, said module means having a socket for connection to said conductor means for enabling supply of said electrical signals to an external apparatus.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said module means is a snap-fit in the opening in the housing.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said housing has an elongate body portion and cover means detachably secured thereto for closing said body portion along its length and wherein said opening is formed in said cover means.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said cover means comprises a plurality of covers for closing respective portions of said body portion along its length and wherein at least one of said cover means has an opening formed therein for detachably receiving a module means.

5. A system as claimed in any of the preceding claims further comprising: end closure means for closing an end of said housing; connector means forming at least one of said input/output means for the input/output of said electrical signals; wherein said end closure means has an opening therein enabling access to said connector means through said end closure means for connection of an external plug or socket to said connector means; and wherein said end closure means has cover means movable between first and second positions wherein, in said first position said cover means closes said opening to prevent access to said connector and in said second position said cover means exposes said connector to enable connection thereto of said external plug or socket through said opening.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said cover means is slidable between said first and second positions and wherein said end closure means has stop means for limiting movement of said cover means away from said second position through said first position.

7. A system as claimed in claim 5 or 6 wherein said cover means is movable into a third position, intermediate said first and second positions, wherein said cover means engages with said external plug or socket.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7 further comprising first means for locking said cover means in said third position.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said locking means comprises first cooperating means on said cover means and said end closure means engageable when said cover means is in said third position to inhibit movement of said cover means from said third position towards said second position.

10. A system as claimed in claim 8 or 9 wherein said first locking means comprises cooperating detent means on said cover means and said end closure means shaped so as to allow movement of said cover means from said second position towards said third position and to inhibit movement of said cover means from said third position towards said second position.

11. A system as claimed in any of claims 7 to 10 wherein said cover means has means for engaging said external plug or socket when said cover means is in said third position thereby to prevent withdrawal of said external plug or socket from engagement with said connector means.

12. A system as claimed in any of claims 5 to 11 further comprising second means for locking said cover means in said first position.

13. A system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said second locking means comprises cooperating means on said cover means and said end closure means engageable when said cover means is in said first position to prevent movement of said cover means from said first position towards said second position.

14. A system as claimed in claim 12 or 13 wherein said second locking means comprises cooperating detent means on said cover means and said end closure means shaped so as to allow movement of said cover means from said second position towards said first position and to inhibit movement of said cover means from said first position towards said second position.

15. A system as claimed in any of claims 8 to 14 wherein said cover means is generally planar and disengagement of said locking means is effected by deformation of a portion of said cover means out of said plane.

16. A system as claimed in claims 10 to 15 when appendant to claim 14 wherein each said cooperating detent means has a respective shoulder which engages in a snap-acting manner over the shoulder of the cooperating detent means thereby to lock said cover means in said first or third position and wherein deformation of said cover means out of said plane moves each said shoulder clear of the other to allow movement of said cover means away from said first or third position towards said second position.

17. A system as claimed in any of claims 5 to 16 wherein said end closure means has means for retaining said external plug or socket from said connector means.

18. A system as claimed in claim 17 wherein said retaining means comprises catch means movable between first and second positions wherein, in said first position said catch means is arranged to engage cooperating means on said external plug or socket thereby to retain said external plug or socket connected to said connector means, and in said second position said catch means allows removal of said external plug or socket from said opening in said end closure means.

19. A system as claimed in claim 18 wherein said catch means has a depending tongue for engaging in a cooperating recess in said external plug or socket, and laterally extending flange means, said tongue and said flange means being supported by resilient means biasing said tongue and said flange means towards said first position, and wherein said cover means has means engageable with said flange means whereby movement of said cover means towards said second position engages said flange means thereby to move said tongue from said first position towards said second position.

20. A system as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said input and output means are arranged at respective ends of said housing.

21. A system as claimed in any of the preceding claims further comprising clip means securable to a surface and detachably engageable with said housing for detachably mounting said housing to said surface.

22. A system as claimed in claim 21 wherein said clip means is engageable with said housing in a snap-acting manner.

23. A system as claimed in claim 21 or 22 wherein said clip means has a generally planar base and upstanding flange means thereon having hook means for engaging in a snap-acting manner in cooperating recess means on said housing.

24. A system as claimed in claim 23 having a plurality of clip means wherein any two of said clip means are engageable in a dovetailing manner thereby to enable two said housings to be retained in axial alignment.

25. A distribution system for distributing electrical signals from a source to a plurality of outlets, the system being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.