GB2402818A

GB2402818A - Junction box

Info

Publication number: GB2402818A
Application number: GB0410486A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin George Royce; Jacques David Swann
Original assignee: RTECK PACIFIC Ltd
Current assignee: RTECK PACIFIC Ltd
Priority date: 2003-05-13
Filing date: 2004-05-11
Publication date: 2004-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 2024-05-11
Also published as: GB0410486D0; GB2402818B; AU2004202049A1; AU2004202049B2; NZ525844A

Abstract

A junction box includes a box having a base portion (2) and side walls (3) and a lid portion (4) closing off the top of the box. The lid portion may include an easily removable central portion (5) to improve access to the interior of the junction box. The lid may also include a labelling system to provide information to a user of the cables and circuits associated with the junction box. An earthing arrangement is provided within the junction box so that a common earth is provided for any cables associated with the junction box. The earthing arrangement involves slide in conductive plates (18, 24, 25) whose edges slide within channels 16 formed in corner portions connecting adjacent wall portions. The conductive plates, once installed are positioned adjacent and parallel to a wall portion and include at least one hole (23) which is concentric with a corresponding hole (11) formed in the adjacent wall portion to enable a cable to pass therethrough and into the junction box. A cable gland may be used to fix a cable to the junction box about a hole (11) while connecting an earth wire or metal braiding from the cable to the conductive plate. Provision is made within the box for electrical connection between respective conductive plates. The lid central portion may be transparent.

Description

240281 8

JUNCTION BOX

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to electrical cabling systems and in particular, though not solely, to junction boxes used in such systems.

BACKGROUND ART

Junction boxes are positioned in convenient locations throughout electrical cabling systems and are used to enclose and protect cable interconnections and to provide a convenient housing for such connections as well as a convenient inspection point for the connection of the cables.

Particularly in industrial environments, existing junction boxes suffer from a number of problems. For example, in existing metal junction boxes it is often difficult to remove metal screws from the lids due to corrosion. Because existing metal junction boxes are basically a standard solid walled metal box, it is necessary for the electrician to drill and tap appropriately sized cable insertion holes in order to fit cable glands to the sidewalls of the box to accept specific cable sizes depending on the individual situation. Also, it is often difficult to fit rail connectors in existing junction boxes and therefore plastic strip connectors are often utilised which are known to cause a higher rate of connection problems. Furthermore, many seals provided by the lid of known junction boxes is not usually sufficient to avoid ingress of water and other contaminants into the box and there is generally no provision for circuit identification labels except for on the cables themselves. The cost of existing metal junction boxes is also considered excessive and the added labour cost in modifying the standard junction box to suit individual circumstances must also be taken into account.

Plastic junction boxes are also well known but they often are not considered to be robust enough, particularly on cable gland entry points as they often break at these positions. Furthermore, the earthing of metal glands (for example for screened cables) during installation is time consuming and is often awkward and difficult to accomplish (earthing tags or rings and wiring strips are usually used). Removal of plastic lids on plastic junction boxes is also often difficult and can result in the breaking of screws and/or plastic lids.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a junction box which will go at least some way towards overcoming the above disadvantages or which will at least provide the industry with a useful choice.

All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinence of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents fonm part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country.

It is acknowledged that the term 'comprise' may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, the term 'comprise' shell have an inclusive meaning - i.e. that it will be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references, but also other non-specified components or elements. This rationale will also be used when the term 'comprised' or 'comprising' is used in relation to one or more steps in a method or process.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention consists in a junction box comprising: a base portion, a lid portion positioned opposite the base portion, and wall portions spanning the space between the base and lid portions, wherein adjacent wall portions are connected by corner portions which include channel means and wherein adjacent corner portions include channel means having aligned openings.

Preferably, the base portion is substantially rectangular and four substantially rectangular wall portions are provided around the periphery of the base portion.

Preferably, each corner portion includes two channel means, the opening of each of which is aligned parallel with one of the walls extending from the corner portion.

Preferably, a conductive plate is slidingly receivable in respective aligned channel means of adjacent corner portions.

Preferably, the conductive plate includes at least one hole, aligned with and commensurate in size with at least one cable entry port provided in the wall portion.

Preferably, two said conductive plates are connected by a central connecting portion wherein the conductive plates are arranged substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to the connecting central portion, and wherein each conductive plate is adapted to be received in respective, aligned channel means of adjacent corner portions respectively of two opposing wall portions.

Preferably, the base portion includes a recess between two opposing wall portions.

Preferably, said central connecting portion is received within said recess in said base portion.

Preferably, the lid portion includes a removable central portion which is separable from an outer portion connected to edges of the wall portions opposite their connection with the base portion.

Preferably, the central portion of the lid portion is substantially transparent.

Preferably, the central portion of the lid portion is a screw-fit within the outer portion.

Alternatively, the central portion of the lid portion is a snap-fit or a click-fit into the outer portion.

Preferably, the central portion of the lid portion is a screw-fit within the outer portion and includes recessed or protruding portions provided in its outer surface to aid in gripping the central portion to facilitate its rotation and therefore aid in its removal or installation in the outer portion.

Preferably, at least one wall portion is provided with at least one cable entry port sized to match the outer diameter of a cable.

Preferably, cable mounting means are provided to fix a cable, entering through a cable entry port, to a wall portion of the junction box.

Preferably, the base portion is provided with support means adapted for the fastening of electrical connector means thereto.

Alternatively, a pad is provided on the outer surface of the lid portion which is adapted to receive an identification means providing details of electrical circuits with which the junction box is associated, a substantially transparent cover means is positionable over the pad with the identification means sandwiched therebetween.

Preferably, fixing means are provided to allow the cover to be releasably attached over the pad.

Preferably, the fixing means comprise a plurality of posts provided about the periphery of the pad and a plurality of receiving sleeve members formed In the cover, each of which is positioned so as to receive a respective post therein.

Preferably, each post is tapered so that it has a smaller diameter at its free end than at its base on the pad.

Preferably, each receiving sleeve member has an inner diameter substantially the same as or smaller than the diameter of the free end of the posts.

Preferably each receiving sleeve member is expandable so as to be capable of accommodating the diameter of the post while retaining a frictional hold on the post.

Preferably, a pocket is provided on the inner surface of the central portion of the lid portion which is adapted to receive an identification means providing details of electrical circuits with which the junction box is associated, wherein the identification means is easily visible through the substantially transparent central portion of the lid portion.

BRIEF DESCRIP rloN OF DRAWINGS Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a junction box according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention with the lid portion removed for clarity; Fioure 2 is a cross-sectional side elevational view through the line loll of the junction box in Figure 1 with the lid shown; Fiqure 3A is a plan view of a blank for a conductive linking plate for use in the junction box shown in Figure 1; Figure 3B is a side elevational view of the conductive linking plate of Figure 3A, folded into shape; Fiqure 4 is a plan view of the central portion of the lid portion of the junction box shown in Figure 2; Figure 5A is a front elevational view of a gland plate for use in the junction box of Figure 1; Figure 5B is a front elevational view of an alternative gland plate for use in the Junction box of Figure 1; Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional side elevational view of the left-hand side of the junction box shown in Figure 2 additionally showing a cable entering the junction box and connected to the earthing arrangement; Fioure 7 is an expanded perspective view of an alternative preferred embodiment of a junction box in accordance with the present invention; and Fiqures 8 9 are exploded perspective views of further alternative embodiments of junction boxes according to the present invention.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIRST EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawings and in particular Figure 1, an electrical junction box 1 suitable for use in providing a convenient housing and inspection point for the interconnection of various wires within electrical cables in a cabling system is shown according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The electrical junction box 1 includes a base portion 2 which is more clearly shown in Figure 2 and comprises a substantially square or rectangular plate which is provided with wall portions 3 around its periphery. The wall portions 3 are each substantially rectangular plates extending substantially perpendicularly from the edges of the base portion 2. A lid portion 4 (not shown in Figure 1) is provided at the upper ends of the I wall portions, opposite the base portion, in order to close off the open top of the junction box.

The base portion 2, wall portions 3 and lid portion 4 may all be constructed from a plastics material such as HOPE which is suitable for its ruggedness, tolerance to corrosive environments and electrical insulation properties, It can be seen in Figure 2 that the lid portion 4 comprises two separate components, a first substantially circular removable central portion 5 and an outer portion 6 which is fixed to the upper ends of the wall portions 3. The outer portion 6 of the lid portion 4 is substantially square or rectangular to match the dimensions of the base portion 2 and has a circular cut out at its centre to match the shape and size of the removable central portion 5.

As can be seen in Figures 2 and 4, the removable central portion 5 of the lid is provided with a threaded annular or cylindrical surface 7 which extends into the junction box and is a screw-fit into a correspondingly threaded annular or cylindrical surface 8 in the outer portion 6 of the lid portion 4. The central portion 5 could alternatively be a click- or snap-fit within the hole in the outer lid portion 6 in which case the threaded cylindrical surface 7 is unnecessary. An annular lip 9 is provided on! the upper surface of the removable central portion 5 of the lid which overlaps with the outer lid portion 6 to provide a contaminantproof seal. Of course, the seal between the removable central portion 5 and the outer lid portion 6 may be improved by, for example, the provision of an 'O' ring between the annular extending lip 9 and the outer lid portion 6.

In order to facilitate the removal and/or installation of the removable central portion 5 of the lid portion, recessed or cutout portions 10 are formed in the outer surface of the central portion into which, for example, the blade of a screwdriver or a similarly I shaped tool may be inserted and a rotational force applied in a clockwise or anti clockwise direction in order to remove or install the central lid portion 5 as required.

The removable central portion 5 of the lid portion 4 could be formed from a I substantially clear material such as glass, Perspex or other plastics material so that it is substantially transparent to allow a visual inspection of the contents of the junction box to be made without the need to first remove the lid portion. However, as already mentioned, it is relatively easy to remove the central portion of the lid portion should access to the wiring connections be required and so the central lid portion 5 need not be substantially transparent.

The base portion 2, wall portions 3 and optionally outer lid portion 6 may be integrally moulded, welded or otherwise bonded together or may be connected together by fastening means such as screws or bolts.

Depending on the size, number and type of cables being interconnected within the Junction box, the wall portions 3 may be provided with an appropriate number of cable entry ports 11 or holes. The cable entry ports 11 may be formed by the end user during installation of the junction box or the forming of the holes may be incorporated into the manufacture of the wall portions of the junction box by, for example, forming weakened circular portions in appropriate places and of appropriate sizes to match different diameter cables which are often used in conjunction with the junction box (for! example 16mm, 20mm and 25mm diameter holes).

Well known cable mounting means or cable glands (shown schematically at 27 in Figure 6) may be fitted in each cable entry port 11 in the known way so that a cable 26 may be passed through the gland and the gland tightened causing a deformable ring around the cable to be squeezed against the cable sheath thereby firmly holding I the cable in place relative to the junction box 1. The cable gland 27 may be of the plastic or metal variety.

Figures 1 and 2 show that base portion 2 of the junction box includes a number of raised platforms 12 providing support means onto which well known electrical connectors such as rail connectors may be mounted in the known way.

It can also be seen in Figures 1 and 2 that the base portion 2 of the junction box is provided with a lit" shaped recess made up of two crossedover segments 13 and 14.

The recessed segments 13 and 14 provide a housing for a conductive earthing arrangement extending between selected ones or all of the four wall portions. The conductive earthing arrangement is a common earth which the metal braiding surrounding shielded type cables may be electrically connected to and will be described further below.

With reference to Figure 6, in order to connect the braiding 28 of a shielded cable 26 to the braiding of another shielded cable (not shown), a conductive earthing arrangement is provided which includes conductive linking plates 15 (shown as a blank in Figure 3A). The linking plates 15 are folded about fold lines 22 into a UU"- shape as shown in side-elevation in Figure 3B. Insulative corner portions or gussets 17 which may be integrally formed with or separately attached to the base 2 and/or wall 3 portions, are provided between each pair of adjacent wall portions 3. It can be seen in Figure 1 in particular that the corner portions 17 include at least one and preferably two grooves or channel portions 16 provided adjacent and extending parallel to each wall portion extending therefrom. It can also be seen that the openings of channel portions 16 of adjacent fittings are aligned and these aligned channel portions 16 are adapted to slidingly receive conductive plates such as end portion 18 of the linking plate 15.

It can be seen that the conductive linking plate 15, in its blank form, is a substantially "I" shaped plate which may be formed, for example from metal such as aluminium, copper, brass or steel. A first end portion 18 slides within the aligned channel portions 16 of two adjacent corner portions 17 associated with a first wall portion while the other end portion 18 slides within the aligned channel portions 16 of two adjacent corner portions 17 associated with the opposite wall portion. Once slid into place, holes 23 within the end portions 18 are positioned substantially co-axial with respective cable entry ports 11 so that the cable 26 may pass through aligned holes 11 and 23 while the metal braiding of a shielded cable may contact or be attached or connected to the conductive plate 18. The metal braiding may simply be jammed between the end portion 18 and the wall portion or cable gland 27 or it may be soldered, welded or screwed to the end portion 18. Holes 23 may be approximately tapped (for example, m20x3, m20x2 or m25x2) to receive threaded cable glands.

Once installed, the central connecting portion 19 of the linking plate 15 is positioned within the recess 13 or 14 in the base portion 2.

Accordingly, the conductive linking plate 15 provides a convenient and effective way of providing a common earth to a plurality of shielded or wire armoured cables. It should be noted that two, crossed-over, linking plates 15 could be used in a single junction box to allow the shielding of cables entering the junction box from three or four wall portions to be maintained at a common earth potential. In this case, the crossed-over central portions 19 could be welded; soldered; drilled, tapped and screwed; or otherwise electrically bonded together. Alternatively, a onepiece t" shaped conductive linking plate could be provided with four folded-up end portions 18 each of which are slid into respective channel portions in the corner portions 17 while the t"-shaped central connecting portion fits within the base recess 13,14. In another embodiment, the conductive linking plate could be "v.-shaped to provide connection between the shielding of cables entering the junction box from adjacent walls or the conductive linking plate could be Tn-shaped to allow the connection of shielding of cables from three of the wall portions.

Figures 5A and 5B show two alternative conductive plates to the end portions 18 of the unshaped conductive linking plate 15. These conductive gland plates 24, 25 are also a slide fit within aligned channel portions 16 and include holes 23 which, once the plates are in position, are coaxially aligned with cable entry ports 11 on the corresponding wall portions. Once again, the shielding or braiding 28 about a cable 26 entering the junction box may be connected to the gland plate through which it enters. Wires may then be connected between gland plates 24, 25 mounted against respective wall portions to ensure a common earth potential.

Although Figure 1 shows that each wall portion 3 of the junction box has at least one cable entry port 11, it should be understood that this is not essential and that the junction box could be formed so that only two wall portions are provided with cable entry ports, only three wall portions are provided with cable entry ports or all four wall portions are provided with cable entry ports. It may also be conceivable in some circumstances to have only one wall portion provided with a single cable entry port and the electrical connectors within the junction box would then be utilised to interconnect various wires within a single incoming cable. Furthermore, each conductive plate 18, 24, 25 may contain one, two or more cable entry holes 23.

A labelling system is also provided as a further aspect of the present invention. An identification means or tag 20 of any shape (such as square, rectangular or round) which may be formed from a piece of card or paper is provided in a pocket 21 on the inside surface of the central lid portion 5. The identification tag 20 may be coloured to correspond to the particular phase (in a three phase system) which the cables in the junction box are connected to. For example, the identification tag may be coloured red, yellow or blue and because the central portion 5 of the lid is see-through, it is unnecessary for an electrician to remove the lid in order to determine certain important information regarding the contents of the junction box but instead a simple inspection is all that is required. The identification tag 20 may also have additional identifying information presented to the electrician through the window" of the central portion 5, such as the circuit number, an indication of switchboard number and the elevation (height) of the junction box (in feet or meters).

FURTHER EMBODIMENTS

With reference now to Figure 7, a second embodiment of the junction box in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

The junction box shown in Figure 7 includes many of the features of the junction box according to the first embodiment. For example, a central removable lid portion 5 is removably connectable to an outer lid portion 6 which is also removably connectable to the upper ends of wall portions 3 whose lower ends are attached to a base 2. It should be noted that a single-piece lid portion could be provided whereby central portion 5 is effectively integral with outer portion 6 (see Figure 8).

In this embodiment the walls 3, base 2 and corner portions 17 are all integrally formed, for example by moulding in a plastics material. The base includes a single recess 13 between two of the opposed wall portions 3 although a tn-shaped recess could be incorporated in the base. Raised platforms 12 are provided on the base on to which well known electrical connectors such as rail connectors may be mounted as in the first embodiment.

It can be seen that each of the walls may be provided with one or more cable entry ports 11 and one or more of the walls may even be provided with a partially fommed cable entry port 30 in which an annular recess has been formed in one or more of the walls but which does not extend completely through the wall so that the wall is still solid but minimal effort would be required to remove the central portion within the angular recess to thereby form a cable entry port in the wall.

It can also be seen that the corner portions 17 are slightly recessed inwards towards the centre of the junction box so that the corners of the base 2 are exposed enabling attachment holes 31 to be formed therein so that the junction box may be attached to a surface such as a wall or a floor by screws or bolts passing through attachment holes 31. The corners of the outer lid portion 6 are also recessed so that, for example, a screwdriver may have easier access to the attachment holes 31.

The upper ends of corner portions 17 include screw receiving holes 32 aligned with holes 33 in the outer lid portion so that fixing means such as screws may be passed through the holes 33 and screwed into holes 32 to attach the outer lid portion 6 to the upper ends of the walls portion 3.

Channel portions 16 are formed on either side of each of the corner portions 17 by protruding ridges 34 which are attached to or formed integrally with the comer portions 17 and aligned with their openings substantially parallel to the adjacent wall portion 3. End portion 18 of Unshaped conductive linking plates 15 or conductive gland plates 24, 25 (Figures 5A and 5B) are Ridable within channel portions 16 as described with reference to the first embodiment.

The mechanism for releasably connecting the inner lid portion 5 to the outer lid portion 6 is different than that used in the first embodiment. In Figure 7, the annular cylindrical portion 7 extending from the underside of the removable central lid portion is provided with a plurality (for example four) of spaced apart radial protrusions 35.

The upper surface of the protrusions 35 are angled downwards slightly and it can be seen that the annular inner surface 8 of the recess in the outer portion 6 of the lid portion includes an equal number of cut-out portions 36 through which projections 35 may easily pass.

Stoppers 37 are positioned to one side of each of the recesses 36 so that during insertion of the removable lid portion 5 the protrusions 35 pass vertically downwards through recesses 36 and contact a protruding toe portion of stoppers 37 so that the protrusions 35, and therefore the central lid portion 5, is urged in a clockwise direction. A user may then manually rotate the central lid portion 5 by gripping ridges 38 protruding from the upper surface of the central lid portion 5 and rotating it further clockwise during which the protrusions 5 contact against a downwardly sloping surface 38. The removable central portion 5 of the lid is thereby held tightly against the outer portion 6, optionally with a compressible sealing means such as an "Of ring therebetween.

The upper surface of the removable lid portion 5 also includes a pad 39 having posts extending therefrom around its periphery. A cover 41 of similar size to pad 39 is provided to cover the pad and is made from a substantially transparent material such as a clear plastics material. An identification tag similar to tag 20 shown in Figure 4 is positionable on pad 39 and held in position and protected from the environment by cover 41. The periphery of pad 39 may be provided with raised edges and/or an Oring to avoid ingress of contaminants. Note that cover 41 is shown in Figure 7 to be beneath central lid portion 5 although in reality it is above the lid.

Cover 41 includes receiving sleeve members about its periphery which are arranged so that each is aligned with a separate post 40. Each of the posts 40 are tapered towards their upper ends and sized so that their insertion within the sleeve member 42 causes expansion of the sleeve members (it can be seen that the sleeves incorporate a split so that they are effectively expandable) so that the sleeve members expand to receive a post 40 and frictionally grip the post so that cover 41 is held securely over pad 39. Cover 41 is easily removed simply by prising it away from pad 39 so that the tag 20 may be altered or replaced and then the cover securely repositioned.

The embodiment shown in Figure 9 is very similar to the embodiment of Figure 7 although a gasket or O-ring 44 is included between outer lid portion 6 and the opening of the junction box defined by the upper edges of wall portions 4. A groove or channel 47 may be provided in the upper edges of the wall portions in which the gasket or O-ring 44 may be seated. Mounting projections or tabs 45 which project from the base of the junction box from two opposing wall portions are provided and include holes 46 to allow screws or nails to be inserted therethrough or securing the junction box to a surface or to a support structure made from UNISTRUT49 metal framing, flat bar or angle iron for example. The Figure 8 embodiment does not include a removable central lid portion 5 or outer lid portion 6. Instead, a single piece lid 47 is provided which is releasably fixed to the upper edges of the wall portion 3 (in a similar fashion to the way in which the outer lid portion 6 is fixed to the wall portions in the embodiments of Figures 7 and 9) and may include the previously described pad 39 of the labelling system on its outer surface.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof. I

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A junction box comprising: a base portion, a lid portion

positioned opposite the base portion, and wall portions spanning the space between the base and lid portions, wherein adjacent wall portions are connected by comer portions which include channel means and wherein adjacent comer portions include channel means having aligned openings.
2. A junction box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base portion is substantially rectangular and four substantially rectangular wall portions are provided around the periphery of the base portion.
3, A junction box as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each corner portion includes two channel means, the opening of each of which is aligned parallel with one of the walls extending from the corner portion.
4. A junction box as claimed in claim 3, wherein a conductive plate is slidingly receivable in respective aligned channel means of adjacent corner portions.
5. A junction box as claimed in claim 4, wherein the conductive plate includes at least one hole, aligned with and commensurate in size with at least one cable entry port provided in the wall portion.
6. A junction box as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein two said conductive plates are connected by a central connecting portion wherein the conductive plates are arranged substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to the connecting central portion, and wherein each conductive plate is adapted to be received in respective, aligned channel means of adjacent corner portions respectively of two opposing wall portions.
7. A junction box as claimed in claim 6, wherein the base portion includes a recess between two opposing wall portions.
8. A junction box as claimed in claim 7, wherein said central connecting portion is received within said recess in said base portion.
9. A junction box as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid portion includes a removable central portion which is separable from an outer portion connected to edges of the wall portions opposite their connection with the base portion.
10. A junction box as claimed in claim 9, wherein the outer portion of the lid portion is detachable from the wall portions.
11. A junction box as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the central portion of the lid portion is substantially transparent.
12. A junction box as claimed in any one of claims claim 9 to 11, wherein the central portion of the lid portion is a snap-fit or a click-ft into the outer portion.
13. A junction box as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the central portion of the lid portion is a screw-fit within the outer portion.
14. A junction box as claimed in claim 13, wherein the central portion of the lid portion includes recessed or protruding portions provided in its outer surface to aid in gripping the central portion to facilitate its rotation and therefore aid in its removal or installation in the outer portion.
15. A junction box as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one wall portion is provided with at least one cable entry port and cable mounting means are provided to fix a cable, entering through a cable entry port, to a wall portion of the junction box.
16. A junction box as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the base portion is provided with support means adapted for the fastening of electrical connector means thereto.
17. A junction box as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a pad is provided on the outer surface of the lid portion which is adapted to receive an identification means providing details of electrical circuits with which the junction box I is associated, a substantially transparent cover means is positionable over the pad with the identification means sandwiched therebetween.
18. A junction box as claimed in claim 17, wherein fixing means are provided to allow the cover to be releasably attached over the pad.
19. A junction box as claimed in claim 18, wherein the fixing means comprise a plurality of posts provided about the periphery of the pad and a plurality of receiving sleeve members formed in the cover, each of which is positioned so as to receive a respective post therein.
20. A junction box as claimed in claim 19, wherein each post is tapered so that it has a smaller diameter at its free end than at its base on the pad.
21. A junction box as claimed in claim 19 or claim 20, wherein each receiving sleeve member has an inner diameter substantially the same as or smaller than the diameter of the free end of the posts.
22. A Junction box as claimed in claim 21, wherein each receiving sleeve member is expandable so as to be capable of accommodating the diameter of the post while retaining a frictional hold on the post.
23. A junction box as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein a pocket is I provided on the inner surface of the central portion of the lid portion which is adapted i to receive an identification means providing details of electrical circuits with which the junction box is associated, wherein the identification means is easily visible through the substantially transparent central portion of the lid portion.
24. A junction box, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.