GB2570739A

GB2570739A - Splitter, connecting module with a splitter, and cable junction box, and use of a splitter

Info

Publication number: GB2570739A
Application number: GB1805992.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Schimmel Christian; Brauer Thomas; Konig Uwe
Original assignee: COBINET FERNMELDE und DATENNETZKOMPONENTEN GmbH; Dexgreen Ltd
Current assignee: COBINET FERNMELDE und DATENNETZKOMPONENTEN GmbH; Dexgreen Ltd
Priority date: 2018-01-31
Filing date: 2018-04-11
Publication date: 2019-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 2038-04-11
Also published as: GB2570739B; DE102018102176A1; GB201805992D0

Abstract

A splitter 1 which can be used to split telephone and data or internet signals. These signals are intended to be transmitted together via a subscriber line in one direction and combined in the opposite direction. The splitter has a contact connector 2 for insertion into a tap (5 Figure 4) of a terminal block (6 Figure 4). The splitter also has two connection means (3, 4) for signal wires (14 Figure 10) which are connected to the contact connector using signaling. Other aspects include a connecting module comprising a terminal block into which the splitter is inserted, a cable junction box having at least one connecting module, and the use of a splitter on a terminal block. The invention seeks to reduce outlay costs and avoid errors during wiring in telecommunication scenarios.

Description

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Fig. 10

Splitter, connecting module with a splitter, and cable junction box, and use of a splitter

The invention relates to a splitter which can be used to split telephone signals and data and/or Internet signals, which are intended to be transmitted together via a subscriber line, in one signal direction and to combine them in the opposite signal direction.

The invention also relates to a connecting module for telecommunications and data technology, having at least one terminal block which has jumper-side connections for jumper-side wires on its jumper side and cable-side connections for cable-side wires on its cable side and taps between the jumper-side connections and the cable-side connections. On account of their arrangement between the jumper-side connections and the cable-side connections, such taps are also referred to as centre taps.

The taps or centre taps can be used, for example, to disconnect the cable-side connections from the jumper-side connections with their contacts and/or can be connected for test purposes and are therefore generally accessible from the outside. Taps which are provided, inter alia, for the purpose of disconnecting the jumper-side connections from the cable-side connections can also be referred to as disconnection taps.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a cable junction box for connecting main cables to branch cables and to a use of a splitter of the type mentioned at the outset on a terminal block.

Connecting modules of the type mentioned at the outset are used, for example, to supply subscriber connections with telephone and/or data or Internet connections provided by a telecommunications service provider. This is usually effected via socalled cable junction boxes which are connected to a main distribution frame of a telecommunications service provider via main cables. The cable junction box receives the corresponding signals via the main cables and forwards them to the individual subscribers by means of branch cables comprising branch wires. Terminal blocks are used to connect the wires of the main cables and the wires of the branch cables. The respective terminal blocks have cable-side contacts for wires of the main cable(s) and for wires of the branch cable(s). So-called LSA terminal blocks or LSA disconnection strips are used, in particular, as terminal blocks.

The main cable wires can be connected to the branch cable wires by means of jumper wires on jumper sides of the two terminal blocks.

For the purpose of providing faster Internet connections, a so-called Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) can be assigned to such a cable junction box. On account of its requirements with respect to climate control and protection against moisture, said multiplexer is enclosed in its own specially equipped switchgear cabinet. The DSLAM itself is connected to a main distribution frame via a fibre-optic cable connection.

If an analogue telephone service (POTS - plain old telephone service) is switched via the cable junction box and at least individual subscriber connections or lines are intended to be supplied with a fast Internet connection, it is necessary to connect such a DSLAM to the wires of the main cable, which arrive at the cable junction box and are used to provide the telephone service, and to the wires of the branch cable, which are used to connect the individual subscribers. A splitter module is used for this purpose.

For reasons of space, the splitter module required for this purpose is arranged in the switchgear cabinet of the DSLAM. The corresponding wires for the telephone service and the wires for the subscriber connections or lines must therefore be guided, via corresponding connecting modules with terminal blocks, from the switchgear cabinet of the cable junction box into the switchgear cabinet in which the DSLAM and the splitter module are arranged.

Although the practice of combining the cable junction box and the DSLAM therefore makes it possible to provide the subscribers with analogue telephone services and fast Internet connections, the outlay required for this purpose is high and is also potentially prone to errors.

The object of the invention is therefore to reduce this outlay and to avoid errors during wiring.

In order to achieve this object, a splitter having the means and features of the independent claim directed to such a splitter is proposed. In particular, in order to achieve this object, a splitter is therefore proposed which has a contact connector for insertion into a tap of a terminal block and two connection means for signal wires which are connected to the contact connector using signalling. In this case, the tap can be formed between a cable-side connection and a jumper-side connection of the terminal block and may also be referred to as a disconnection tap or centre tap.

Wires of the so-called line, that is to say a connection to a subscriber connection, and the wires for providing an analogue telephone service can be connected to the two connection means of the splitter, for example. A data connection, in particular a DSL connection, can be established via the tap of the terminal block and the contact connector of the splitter. The signals of the data connection can be combined with the signals of the analogue telephone service with the aid of the splitter and can be transmitted together to the line or the subscriber connection.

In this manner, fast DSL signals and analogue telephone signals can be combined in a particularly compact manner on the branch wires of a line. On account of the compact design of the splitter, the latter can be directly arranged in the switchgear cabinet of the cable junction box and can be connected to a terminal block which is held there and is in turn connected to the DSLAM on the cable side.

Therefore, the splitter according to the invention has great advantages, in particular in the case of cable junction boxes which are provided in combination with associated DSLAM switchgear cabinets. On account of its compact design and the possibility of connecting the splitter to a tap of a terminal block of the cable junction box by means of its contact connector without a large outlay, it is possible to entirely dispense with corresponding splitter modules in the DSLAM switchgear cabinet and the complicated wiring described at the outset between the cable junction box and the switchgear cabinet of the DSLAM.

Another advantage of the splitter according to the invention is that only individual subscriber connections or lines can be supplied with analogue telephone services and fast data connections or Internet connections provided via a DSLAM if necessary.

If the analogue telephone services are replaced with digital telephone services, the splitter and the main cable can be removed. In this case, the signals for Internet and telephone services are transmitted via a common digital line. A DSLAM, for example, is expanded to form the MSAN (Multi Service Access Node) for this purpose. In addition to the data services, an MSAN provides analogue telephone lines and ISDN lines. It also converts the voice data to IP services such as Voice over IP (VoIP). In addition, the change to exclusively optical fibres as the transmission medium to the main distribution frame also takes place here.

The available installation space on a terminal block, to which the splitter is intended to be connected, is generally comparatively small. In order to also be able to connect the signal wires to the two connection means of the splitter in confined spaces with a reasonable outlay, the two connection means can be arranged together on one side of the splitter. It may be particularly advantageous if the side on which the two connection means of the splitter are arranged is a top side of the splitter or of a housing of the splitter in the connection position of the splitter on the terminal block.

The two connection means are particularly highly accessible for the signal wires on the top side of the splitter. The signal wires can therefore be connected to the two connection means of the splitter in a comparatively simple manner.

The splitter may respectively have two insulation displacement contacts for the two connection means, via which signal wires can be connected to the splitter. In this manner, the signal wires can be connected to the splitter via the two connection means without having to be previously stripped.

In this context, it may be advantageous if the connection means are in the form of slides and are movably mounted on a housing of the splitter and can be moved between a contact-making position and a connection position. In order to connect the signal wires to the splitter, the connection means are then moved, in particular without a tool, from their contact-making position into their connection position. As a result, insertion openings of the connection means become accessible for the signal wires to be connected. The signal wires are inserted into the insertion openings. The connection means can then be moved back into their contact-making position. As a result, the signal wires come into contact with the insulation displacement contacts and are finally connected to the splitter.

The splitter may also have a rod-shaped contact finger, at the free end of which the contact connector is formed. The contact connector is arranged in an exposed manner at the free end of the contact finger of the splitter. This facilitates the insertion of the contact connector into one of the taps of the terminal block. Said tap is generally situated behind a tap opening of a housing of the terminal block, through which the contact connector of the splitter must then be guided in order to connect the splitter to the terminal block.

It is mentioned at this point that the contact connector of the splitter may have at least two contact surfaces which are connected to corresponding mating contact surfaces of the tap as a result of the contact connector being inserted into a tap of the terminal block. The mating contact surfaces of the tap are then connected, via two terminal contacts or insulation displacement contacts, to two signal wires which are connected to a cable-side or jumper-side connection of the terminal block.

If the splitter has a housing, it may be expedient if the contact finger with the contact connector at its free end protrudes from the housing of the splitter in the insertion direction of the contact connector.

It may be particularly expedient if a greatest measurable width of the splitter transverse to the insertion direction of the contact connector into a tap of a terminal block is so large that each tap of a terminal block can be or can have been simultaneously fitted with a respective splitter. This ensures that each tap of a terminal block can be simultaneously fitted with a respective splitter. The splitter is therefore matched, with regard to its dimensions, to the terminal block and the mounting space available there. If necessary, all taps of such a terminal block can be equipped with a respective splitter.

If the terminal block is a ten-way two-wire terminal block having ten taps, for example, a total of ten splitters can be connected to this terminal block.

It may also be expedient if the splitter has at least one holding means for signal wires which are connected or can be connected to the two connection means. The holding means may be in the form of a hook, for example. The holding means can preferably be arranged on that side of the splitter on which the two connection means of the splitter are also provided. After the signal wires have been connected to the two connection means of the splitter, they can be looped or wound around the holding means. The connected signal wires can therefore be secured to the splitter in an ordered manner. This ensures order on the splitter and also greater security of the connections established via the signal wires. The holding means may also provide a certain strain relief for the connected signal wires, which can likewise facilitate the security of the connections.

The splitter, in particular a housing of the splitter, for example the housing which has already been mentioned above, may also have a signal wire guide. This signal wire guide may be, for example, in the form of a channel which is open on at least one side in the housing of the splitter. The signal wires which are to be connected to the two connection means of the splitter can be inserted into the signal wire guide. In this context, it may be particularly advantageous if the holding means is arranged at one end of the signal wire guide of the splitter.

In order to be able to fix the signal wires in the signal wire guide, it may be advantageous if the signal wire guide of the splitter has at least one undercut. The undercut may be, for example, in the form of a holding projection which at least partially covers the signal wire guide. After connection to the two connection means of the splitter, the signal wires can be inserted into the signal wire guide and can be pushed under the undercut or the holding projection. This makes it possible to effectively prevent the signal wires inserted into the signal wire guide from unintentionally moving out of the signal wire guide.

The two connection means may each have two insertion openings for signal wires. The signal wires can be pushed through these insertion openings and can finally be connected to contacts of the connection means. The signal wires can be connected to the splitter in a particularly convenient manner if the insertion openings of the connection means are oriented in such a manner that they define insertion directions for the signal wires which are oriented in the insertion direction of the contact connector, through a tap opening of a terminal block, into a tap situated behind said opening. After the signal wires have been connected to the splitter, the contact connector can be inserted into a tap of a terminal block for the purpose of connecting the splitter to the terminal block. An excess length of the signal wires previously connected to the splitter, which is possibly present after the splitter has been connected to the terminal block, can be compensated for by placing the signal wires around the already previously described holding means of the splitter and securely stowing them on the splitter in this manner.

It may also be advantageous if the splitter has a fastening means which can be used to fasten it to a terminal block or to an ordering module for signal wires which is described in yet more detail below.

The object is also achieved with a connecting module of the type mentioned at the outset which has the means and features of the independent claim directed to such a connecting module. In particular, in order to achieve the object, a connecting module of the type mentioned at the outset is therefore proposed, which module comprises at least one splitter according to one of Claims 1 to 8 which is connected or can be connected to one of the taps of the terminal block using its contact connector.

The connecting module may also have an ordering module for signal wires which are connected or are to be connected to the splitter. The ordering module can be arranged on the cable side of the terminal block. However, the ordering module is preferably arranged on the jumper side of the terminal block. It is particularly advantageous if the ordering module can be releasably connected to the terminal block. In particular, when splitters of the type described in detail above are no longer required, for example because the analogue telephone service is disconnected, both the splitters and the ordering module can be removed from the terminal block. In this manner, the installed terminal block can be used further, for example together with an MSAN.

It may be particularly advantageous if the ordering module is arranged between the terminal block and the at least one splitter of the connecting module in its position of use on the terminal block. The ordering module may respectively have a guide channel for each tap of the terminal block for the purpose of accommodating and guiding signal wires. In this manner, a guide channel for the signal wires to be connected to the two connection means of the splitter is respectively available on the ordering module for each splitter which is intended to be connected to a tap of the terminal block via its contact connector.

The ordering module may have at least one fastening element for releasable fastening to the terminal block. The terminal block may have at least one mating fastening element which corresponds thereto. A hook-shaped projection, which can be inserted into a corresponding receptacle on the terminal block which is then used as a mating fastening element, can be used as the fastening element, for example.

Inlet openings into the guide channels of the ordering module may be arranged on an inlet side of the ordering module and outlet openings may be arranged on an outlet side of the ordering module which is oriented transversely with respect to the inlet side. The outlet side of the ordering module may be oriented at right angles to the insertion direction of the contact connector of the at least one splitter into one of the taps of the terminal block. The outlet side is expediently also oriented parallel to the cable side or to the jumper side of the terminal block.

On that inlet side of the ordering module which is then arranged laterally with respect to the outlet side, the inlet openings situated there are readily accessible even in confined spaces. This facilitates the feeding of the signal wires through the guide channels to the at least one splitter.

The signal wires can be guided through the guide channels of the ordering module in a particularly convenient manner if the inlet side is oriented at an angle of between 15° and 45°, preferably at an angle of 30°, with respect to the insertion direction of the contact connector of the at least one splitter. In this context, it may be advantageous if the guide channels have a bent profile between their inlet openings and their outlet openings. This facilitates feeding of the individual signal wires through the guide channels.

An angle of between 90 and 135°, in particular an angle of 120°, may also be spanned between the inlet side and the outlet side of the ordering module. In this manner, the inlet side of the ordering module is oriented in such a manner that signal wires can be inserted through the inlet openings into the guide channels of the ordering module in a particularly convenient manner obliquely from the front.

The ordering module may also have a number of slots for splitters according to one of Claims 1 to 8, said number matching the number of taps of the terminal block to which the ordering module can be at least occasionally connected. In this manner, the splitter can also be held by the ordering module. The slots may be in the form of through-channels with exit openings and/or may have guide elements for splitters, in particular for contact fingers of the splitters. Such a guide element may be, for example, a guide web which is oriented in the insertion direction or a guide groove which is oriented in the insertion direction. The splitter may have a mating guide element designed to correspond to the guide elements of the ordering module, in particular on its contact finger. The splitter can therefore be guided, with its contact connector, to the tap without tilting in or at the slot of the ordering module.

Outlet openings of the slots can open into tap openings of the terminal block in the position of use of the ordering module on the terminal block of the connecting module. In this manner, the splitter can be inserted, with its contact connector, through the slot of the ordering module and can thus be finally pushed through into the tap opening of the terminal block for the purpose of making contact with the tap. It may also be advantageous if the slots for splitters are arranged below outlet openings of the guide channels of the ordering module in the position of use of the ordering module on the terminal block.

The ordering module may be particularly compact if the guide channels of the ordering module are arranged in two planes above one another.

As already mentioned above, the at least one splitter may be dimensioned and configured in such a manner that at least two taps of the terminal block which are directly adjacent are simultaneously fitted or can be fitted with a respective splitter according to one of Claims 1 to 8. It is also possible for all taps of the terminal block and/or all slots of the ordering module to be simultaneously fitted with splitters according to one of Claims 1 to 8. The at least one terminal block of the connecting module may particularly preferably be an LSA terminal block. In this case, LSA terminal blocks are those terminal blocks, with the contacts of which contact can be made without soldering, screwing and stripping in order to connect individual signal wires. The contacts of such LSA terminal blocks are in the form of insulation displacement contacts which allow signal wires to be connected in a particularly convenient manner.

If the taps of the LSA terminal block are formed or provided as disconnection taps, such an LSA terminal block is often also referred to as an LSA disconnection strip.

It may also be expedient if the terminal block is a ten-way two-wire terminal block. The ordering module of the connecting module can then accordingly have ten guide channels each with an inlet opening and an outlet opening and ten plug-type receptacles for splitters.

In order to properly fit the signal wires, guided to the at least one splitter through the ordering module, to the connecting module, it may also be advantageous if the ordering module has an eyelet or loop. A cable tie or else Velcro tape can be guided through this eyelet, for example, and can be tied around a strand of signal wires in order to secure the strand of signal wires to the ordering module.

The object is finally also achieved by means of a cable junction box of the type mentioned at the outset having the means and features of the independent claim directed to such a cable junction box. In particular, in order to achieve the object in a cable junction box of the type mentioned at the outset, it is proposed that the latter has at least one connecting module according to one of Claims 9 to 17.

Finally, in order to achieve the object, the use of a splitter according to one of Claims 1 to 8 on a terminal block, preferably of a connecting module which is arranged in or on a cable junction box according to Claim 18, is also proposed.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below on the basis of the drawing, in which, in a partially highly schematic illustration:

Fig. 1	shows a perspective illustration of a splitter, wherein a contact connector can be seen at a free end of its contact finger and two connection means for connecting signal wires can be seen on a top side of the splitter,
Fig. 2	shows a side view of the splitter illustrated in Fig. 1,
Fig. 3	shows a perspective view of a connecting module arranged at a mounting trough of a cable junction box, wherein an LSA terminal block, a total of four splitters and an ordering module arranged between the splitters and the LSA terminal block can be seen,
Fig. 4	shows a perspective illustration of the LSA terminal block illustrated in Fig. 3,
Fig. 5	shows a perspective front view of the ordering module illustrated in Fig. 3, wherein a total of ten inlet openings into guide channels of the ordering module for signal wires to be fed can be seen on an inlet side of the ordering module,
Fig. 6	shows a perspective rear view of the ordering module illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5,
Fig. 7	shows a sectional illustration of the ordering module illustrated in Figs. 3, 5 and 6, wherein five guide channels of the total of ten guide channels of the ordering module, which are arranged in a first or upper plane, can be seen,

Fig. 8 shows a further sectional illustration of the ordering module illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5 to 7, wherein the second five of the total of ten guide channels of the ordering module for signal wires to be fed to the splitters, which are arranged in a lower or second plane, can be seen here,

Fig. 9 shows a perspective illustration of a connecting module which is arranged on a mounting trough of a cable junction box and has a plurality of terminal blocks, wherein all taps of the terminal blocks are each fitted with a splitter, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, and

Fig. 10 shows a front view of the connecting module arranged on the mounting trough in Fig. 9.

Figs. 1 und 2 show a splitter which is denoted as a whole by 1. This splitter is used to split telephone signals and data or Internet signals, which are intended to be transmitted together via a subscriber line, in one signal direction and to combine them in the opposite signal direction.

The splitter 1 has a contact connector 2 and two connection means 3 and 4. The contact connector 2 is set up to be inserted into a tap 5 of a terminal block 6 illustrated in Fig. 4, for example.

Each tap 5 comprises two tap contacts 5a which are each arranged between a contact 21 of a jumper-side connection 7 and a contact 24 of a cable-side connection 8 of the terminal block 6. If the taps 5 are fundamentally also provided and set up for the purpose of disconnecting the jumper-side connections 7 from the cable-side connections 8, the taps 5 are also referred to as disconnection taps and their tap contacts 5a are also referred to as disconnection tap contacts.

The terminal block 6 illustrated in Fig. 4, for example, is a so-called ten-way twowire LSA disconnection strip having ten jumper-side connections 7 each with two contacts, ten cable-side connections 8 each with two contacts which are assigned to the jumper-side contacts 7, and a total of ten taps 5 between the jumper-side connections and the cable-side connections.

The two connection means 3 and 4 of the splitter 1 are connected to the contact connector 2 of the splitter 1 using signalling.

The connection means 3 of the splitter 1, indicated by the letter L (such as line), is used to connect signal wires of a subscriber line to the splitter 1. The second connection means 4 marked with the letter P (such as POTS - plain old telephone service) in Fig. 1 can be used, for example, to feed signal wires for analogue telephone signals to the splitter 1 and ultimately to the subscriber line.

Via its contact connector 2, the splitter 1 connected to a tap 5 of a terminal block 6 receives the DSL Internet signals which can be transmitted together with the analogue telephone signals via the first connection means 3 on signal wires of the subscriber line with the aid of the splitter 1.

The two connection means 3 and 4 are arranged together on one side of the splitter 1. This side is a top side of the splitter 1. Two insulation displacement contacts for connecting signal wires 14 to the splitter 1 are respectively assigned to each of the two connection means 3 and 4. These insulation displacement contacts are situated in the interior of a housing 9 of the splitter 1 and are not illustrated separately in the figures.

The splitter 1 has a rod-shaped contact finger 10 on its housing 9. The contact connector 2 of the splitter 1 with its two contact surfaces 2a is formed at the free end 11 of the contact finger 10. As a result of its exposed position at the free end 11 of the contact finger 10, the contact connector 2 with its contact surfaces 2a can be fed in a particularly simple manner to the tap 5 of the terminal block 6 and its two tap contacts 5a. In particular, Fig. 1 illustrates that the contact finger 10 has a chamfer in the region of its free end 11. With the aid of this chamfer, the contact finger 10 can be inserted more easily into tap openings 12 of the terminal block 6.

Figs. 3 and 9 and 10 illustrate that each tap 5 of a terminal block 6 can be equipped with a respective contact connector 2 of a splitter. This is possible since each of the splitters 1 has a largest measurable width transverse to the insertion direction of its contact connector 2, which width is so large that each tap 5 of a terminal block 6 can be simultaneously fitted with a respective splitter 1. The splitters 1 illustrated in the figures also each have a holding means 13. The holding means 13 is in the form of a holding hook on the top side of the respective splitter 1. The holding means 13 is used, on the one hand, to order the signal wires which are to be connected to the two connection means 3 and 4 of the splitter 1 and are provided with the reference symbol 14 in Figs. 3 and 9 and 10 and, on the other hand, to secure them to the splitter 1.

The splitters 1 also each have a signal wire guide 15 on their housings 9. This signal wire guide 15 is formed on that side of the splitter 1 on which the two connection means 3 and 4 are also provided. The signal wire guide 15 is in the form of a groove and is also equipped with two undercuts 16 in the form of holding projections 16. Signal wires 14 arranged in the signal wire guide 15 of the splitter can be reliably fixed there with the aid of the holding projections 16. The position of the signal wires 14 below the holding projections 16 on the respective splitters 1 can be readily seen in Figs. 3 and 9 and 10, for example.

The two connection means 3 and 4 each have two insertion openings 17 for signal wires 14. The insertion openings 17 are arranged on the connection means 3 and 4 and are oriented in such a manner that they define insertion directions for the signal wires 14 which are oriented in the insertion direction of the contact connector 2 into one of the taps 5 of one of the terminal blocks 6. The connection means 3, 4 are in the form of slides, are movably mounted on the housing 9 and can be moved back and forth between a contact-making position and a connection position.

In order to connect the signal wires 14 to the splitter 1, the connection means 3, 4 are pulled upwards from their contact-making position out of the housing 9 of the splitter 1 into their connection position (cf. Figs. 1 to 3). As a result, the insertion openings 17 become accessible and the signal wires 14 can be inserted. The connection means 3, 4 are then pushed back into the housing 9 again together with the inserted ends of the signal wires 14. As a result, the signal wires 14 come into contact with insulation displacement contacts and are therefore connected to the splitter 1.

Figs. 3 and 9 and 10 now show a connecting module 18 for telecommunications and data technology. Each of the connecting modules 18 has a plurality of terminal blocks 6. Each of the terminal blocks 6 has, on its jumper side 19, a terminal strip 20 having connections 7 with jumper-side contacts 21 for jumper-side wires and has, on its cable side 22, a terminal strip 23 having connections 8 with cable-side contacts 24 for cable-side wires. The terminal blocks 6 have the taps 5 already mentioned above between the jumper-side connections 7 and the cable-side connections 8.

The connecting module 18 comprises a plurality of splitters 1 which can each be connected to one of the available taps 5 of the terminal block 6 of the connecting module 18.

Fig. 3 shows an illustration of the connecting module 18, in which three splitters 1 with their contact connectors 2 have already been connected to taps 5. Fig. 3 illustrates the insertion operation for connecting the contact connector 2 of the splitter 1 to one of the taps 5 of the terminal block 6 on the basis of a fourth splitter 1 which has not yet been connected.

Between the splitters 1 and the terminal block 6, the connecting module 18 also has an ordering module 25 for each terminal block 6. This ordering module 25 which is also shown in an individual illustration in Figs. 5 to 8 can be used to guide signal wires 14, which are connected or are to be connected to the splitters 1, in an ordered manner to the splitters 1 and their connection means 3 and 4. Each of the ordering modules 25 is arranged on the jumper side 19 of one of the terminal blocks 6 and is connected to the terminal block 6.

Each of the ordering modules 25 has a respective guide channel 26 for each tap 5 of the terminal block 6 assigned to it for the purpose of accommodating and guiding signal wires 14 which are intended to be fed to the connection means 3 and 4 of the splitters 1.

Fig. 6 illustrates the fact that the ordering modules 25 have, on their rear side facing the jumper side 19 of a terminal block 6 in the position of use, two fastening elements 27 for releasably fastening the ordering module 25 to a terminal block 6. The fastening elements 27 are in the form of snap-action hooks which can be inserted into corresponding mating fastening elements 27a in the form of receptacles on the terminal block 6.

Inlet openings 28 into the guide channels 26 of the ordering module 25 are formed on an inlet side 28a of the ordering module 25. Outlet openings 29 from the guide channels 26 are arranged on an outlet side 29a of the ordering module 25 which is oriented transversely with respect to the inlet side 28a of the ordering module 25. An angle of approximately 120° is spanned between the outlet side 29a and the inlet side 28a of the ordering module 25. The inlet side 28a is also oriented at an angle of approximately 30° with respect to an insertion direction of the contact connectors 2 of the splitters 1 into taps 5 of the terminal blocks 6.

According to Figs. 7 and 8, the guide channels 26 have a bent profile between their inlet openings 28 and their outlet openings 29. The bent profile of the guide channels 26 considerably simplifies the feeding of the signal wires 14 to the connection means 3 and 4 of the individual splitters 1 in confined spaces, as can generally be encountered in cable junction boxes, for example.

Each of the ordering modules 25 has a total of 10 slots 30 for splitters 1. The number of slots 30 of the ordering module 25 therefore corresponds to the number of taps 5 on a terminal block 6, to which the ordering module 25 is connected, before the splitters 1 with their contact connectors 2 are connected to the taps 5 of the terminal block 6.

In the position of use of the ordering module 25 on a terminal block 6, exit openings 31 of the slots 30 of the ordering module 25 are arranged and configured in such a manner that they open into the tap openings 12 of the terminal block 6. In this manner, the splitters 1, with their contact fingers 10 and the contact connectors 2 arranged on the latter, can be pushed through the slots 30 of the ordering module 25 which are open on the rear side and then come into contact with the tap contacts 5a of the taps 5 of the terminal block 6.

In the position of use of the ordering module 25 on the respective terminal block 6, the slots 30 are arranged below the outlet openings 29 of the guide channels 26.

According to Figs. 7 and 8, the guide channels 26 of the ordering module 25 are arranged above one another in two planes. Fig. 7 shows the five guide channels 26 which are arranged in an upper plane. Fig. 8 shows the second five of the total of ten guide channels 26 which are arranged in a second, lower plane of the ordering module 25.

The dimensions of the ordering modules 25, the splitters 1 and the terminal blocks 6 are matched to one another in such a manner that two directly adjacent taps 5 of a terminal block 6 can be simultaneously fitted with a respective splitter 1. This results in all taps 5 of the terminal blocks 6 of the connecting module 18, as illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, and all slots 30 of the ordering module 25 simultaneously being able to be fitted with splitters 1. Each of the ordering modules 25 also has an eyelet 34 adjacent to its inlet side 28a having the inlet openings 28. A loop, a belt or else a cable tie can be fastened to this eyelet 34 and can be used to combine the signal wires 14 fed to the ordering module 25 to form a wire strand 35.

The rear view of the ordering module 25 according to Figure 6 shows that the slots 30 for the splitters 1 are in the form of through-channels. The slots 30 each have, on their top side, a guide element 36 which is in the form of a guide web 36. The position of the contact fingers 10 of the splitters 1 can be defined with the aid of these guide webs 36. The guide webs 36 thus simplify the connection of the contact connectors 2 of the splitters 1 to the taps 5 of the terminal blocks 6.

The connecting module 18 illustrated in the figures is suitable for use in a cable junction box 32 (illustrated only in a highly schematic manner) for connecting main cables to branch cables using communications engineering, telecommunications engineering, network technology or data technology. The connecting module 18 is fastened to a mounting trough 33 in the cable junction box 32.

The invention deals, inter alia, with a splitter 1 which has a contact connector 2 for insertion into a tap 5 of a terminal block 6 and two connection means 3 and 40 for signal wires 14 which are connected to the contact connector 2 using signalling. A plurality of these splitters 1 can be used on a connecting module 18. The connecting module 18 can be used in a cable junction box 32 in which main cables are connected to branch cables in order to supply subscriber connections with signals for telephone and Internet or data services.

List of reference symbols

Splitter

Contact connector

2a Contact surfaces on 2

Connection means (LINE)

Connection means (POTS)

Tap a Tap contacts

Terminal block

Jumper-side connection on 6

Cable-side connection on 6

Housing

Contact finger

Free end of 10

Tap opening

Holding means

Signal wire

Signal wire guide

Undercut/holding projection

Insertion opening on 3,4

Connecting module

Jumper side

Jumper-side terminal strip

Jumper-side contacts

Cable side

Cable-side terminal strip

Cable-side contacts

Ordering module for 14

Guide channel

Fastening element

Mating fastening element

Inlet openings in 26

Inlet side

Outlet openings from 26

Outlet side

Slots on 25 for 1

Exit openings from 30

Cable junction box

Mounting trough

Eyelet on 25

Wire strand

Guide element/guide web

Claims

1. Splitter (1) which can be used to split telephone signals and data or Internet signals, which are intended to be transmitted together via a subscriber line, in one signal direction and to combine them in the opposite signal direction, characterized in that the splitter (1) has a contact connector (2) for insertion into a tap (5) of a terminal block (6) and two connection means (3, 4) for signal wires (14) which are connected to the contact connector (2) using signalling.

2. Splitter (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the two connection means (3, 4) are arranged together on one side of the splitter (1), and/or in that the splitter (1) respectively has two insulation displacement contacts which are assigned to the two connection means (3, 4), preferably wherein the connection means (3, 4) are in the form of slides which are movably mounted between a contact-making position and a connection position.

3. Splitter (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the splitter (1) has a rod-shaped contact finger (10), at the free end (11) of which the contact connector (2) is formed.

4. Splitter (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a greatest measurable width of the splitter (1) transverse to the insertion direction of the contact connector (2) is so large that each tap (5) of a terminal block (6) can be simultaneously fitted with a respective splitter (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

5. Splitter (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the splitter (1) has at least one holding means (13) for signal wires (14) which are connected or can be connected to the two connection means (3, 4).

6. Splitter (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the splitter (1), in particular a or the housing (9) of the splitter (1), has a signal wire guide (15), preferably on a side of its housing (9) on which the two connection means (3, 4) are arranged or formed.

7. Splitter (1) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the signal wire guide (15) has at least one undercut (16), in particular in the form of a holding projection (16), with which signal wires (14) arranged in the signal wire guide (15) can be fixed there.

8. Splitter (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the two connection means (3, 4) each have two insertion openings (17) for signal wires (14), preferably wherein the insertion openings (17) are oriented in such a manner that they define insertion directions for the signal wires (14) which are oriented in the insertion direction of the contact connector (2) into a tap (5) of a terminal block (6).

9. Connecting module (18) for telecommunications and data technology, having at least one terminal block (6) which has jumper-side connections (7) for jumper-side wires on its jumper side (19) and cable-side connections (8) for cable-side wires on its cable side (22), wherein taps (5) are formed between the jumper-side connections (7) and the cable-side connections (8), characterized in that the connecting module (18) comprises at least one splitter (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 8 which is connected or can be connected to one of the taps (5) of the terminal block (6) using its contact connector (2).

10. Connecting module (18) according to Claim 9, characterized in that the connecting module (18) has an ordering module (25) for signal wires (14) which are connected or are to be connected to the splitter (1), wherein the ordering module (25) is arranged on the cable side (22) or on the jumper side (19) of the terminal block (6), and wherein the ordering module (25) respectively has a guide channel (26) for each tap (5) of the terminal block (6) for the purpose of accommodating and guiding signal wires (14).

11. Connecting module (18) according to Claim 10, characterized in that the ordering module (25) has at least one fastening element (27) for releasable fastening to the terminal block (6), and the terminal block (6) has at least one mating fastening element (27a) which corresponds thereto.

12. Connecting module (18) according to Claim 10 or 11, characterized in that inlet openings (28) into the guide channels (26) of the ordering module (25) are arranged on an inlet side of the ordering module (25) and outlet openings (29) are arranged on an outlet side of the ordering module (25) which is oriented transversely with respect to the inlet side, wherein an angle of between 90 and 135 degrees, in particular an angle of 120 degrees, is spanned between the outlet side and the inlet side of the ordering module (25), and/or in that the guide channels (26) have a bent profile between their inlet openings (28) and their outlet openings (29).

13. Connecting module (18) according to one of Claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the ordering module (25) has a number of slots (30) for splitters (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, said number matching the number of taps (5) of the terminal block (6), and/or in that the ordering module (25) has guide elements (36) for splitters (1), in particular at its slots (30).

14. Connecting module (18) according to Claim 13, characterized in that exit openings (31) of the slots (30) open into tap openings (12) of the terminal block (6) in the position of use of the ordering module (25) on the terminal block (6), and/or in that the slots (30) are arranged below outlet openings (29) of the guide channels (26) in the position of use of the ordering module (25) on the terminal block (6).