JPS6237004A - Switchable plug apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention relates to a panel structure of a plurality of series-coupled electrically wired panels, having a removable power tap, and more particularly a switch. Concerning improvements to changeable power taps.

This invention is assigned to U.S. Patent No. 4゜367
．． No. 370 discloses a panel structure in which electrically wired panels are connected in series. And, more particularly, the panel structure had selectively positionable openings in the panel for lighting fixtures or for conventional insertion. This is used to selectively select one of a plurality of electrical circuits. The panel structure of the above-mentioned patent has three different electrical circuits, and the power block or terminal provided on each panel has a removable para-tap that can be switched. Both have a structure that allows for plug connection. The power tap has five plugs that plug into the power block and connect to three different electrical circuits. However, this power tap has an internal switching structure in which only one of the three different plugs engages with the output side of the power tap, i.e. it has a conventional plug-in shape. Therefore, it will selectively couple to one of three different circuits. This switching mechanism allows the switch to be changed only when the power tap is removed from the power block when selecting one of the three circuits.

The panel electrical system of the above-mentioned patent, which has a switchable power tap, has an extremely high level of functionality in terms of a circuit setting mechanism that selectively selects one desired circuit for its use. have. However, in the design of the device described above,
Furthermore, as a result of continuous improvement of this switchable power tap in terms of its simple structure, functionality, and reliability, the extremely excellent switchable power tap described below was invented. .

Means for Solving the Problems To achieve this object, the present invention provides that an upright wall panel has an electrical terminal fixedly attached between a pair of parallel longitudinal panels, said panel also having an electrical terminal. It also has a cable, the electrical cable has independent electrical conductors connected to the terminals to form at least two independent circuits, and the terminal has a connector section composed of a plurality of conductor members, The conductor members are 1.2.
3.4 conductor members, and a small portable power tap unit is removably engaged with the connector portion;
・This power tap unit i~ has an inlet part that is electrically connected to the terminal and is supplied with power, and an output selected as an electric circuit provided outside the wall panel, that is, a circuit for supplying electricity to the product]・The outlet portion has a conventionally similar type 1, 2, and 3 socket, and the power tap unit has a first)
2゜3 conductors, each of which is connected to the first conductor without changing.
．． 2.3, the inlet portion of the power tap unit is formed such that a conductive element can be plugged into the inlet portion of the power tap unit to achieve electrical connection with the connector portion of the terminal, and the circuit selection means is Provided at the inlet part of the power tap unit, thereby allowing two
The circuit is configured such that any one of the circuits can be selectively specified and coupled to the inlet portion, and the circuit selection operation of the circuit selection means is configured such that it is possible only when the power tap unit is removed from the terminal. the plurality of conductor elements, at least one but less than the number of conductor elements is coupled to the terminal, and the conductor elements have a 12.3-th said conductor element;
The first and second conductor elements are electrically coupled to the first and second conductors of the power tap unit, and the circuit selection means includes:
means for coupling a third conductor element to the third conductor of the power tap unit; and means for moving the third conductor element between positions 1 and 2 of the housing of the power tap unit; When the third conductor element is in the first position and the power tap unit is coupled to the terminal, the third conductor element is coupled only to the third conductor element, and the third conductor element is in the second position and the power tap unit is characterized in that when it is coupled to the terminal, it is coupled only to the fourth conductor element.

More particularly, the invention relates to an improvement in a switchable power tap, in particular a removable power block or terminal having a pre-wired electrical system in the panel; This improved power tap allows for individual selection of outputs (i.e., receptacles) for use and therefore allows for electrical coupling to selectively one of a plurality of circuits provided within a pre-wired panel. . The improved power tap of this invention has a mechanism that allows the switch to be changed only when the power tap is electrically, ie, physically, removed from the power block. however,
The improved switchable power tap is capable of electrical coupling to a single electrical circuit rather than multiple electrical circuits, such as the power tap of the aforementioned patent, and thus the improved power tap of the present invention is capable of electrical coupling to a single electrical circuit rather than multiple electrical circuits, such as the power tap of the aforementioned patent. - Becomes of the electric phase.

The further improved power tap of the present invention has extremely tight electrical coupling, resulting in high reliability, and is a power tap with improved functionality, achieving stable performance regardless of the switching position. Additionally, this improved power tap is structurally simple and therefore inexpensive to manufacture.

The improved power tap of this invention is provided with a housing having three electrically conductive members or plates. These three plates form the outlet portion of the power tap, which according to a preferred embodiment may be similar to a conventional plug-in. The power tap also has an electrical inlet, which is constituted by a plug consisting of three electrical conductors and is adapted to be pluggable with a power block.

Two of the inserts are permanently electrically bonded to two of the conductor plates. The third insert forms part of the switch mechanism and is slidable, but remains in electrical engagement with the conductive guide member. This guide member is electrically coupled to the third conductor plate. Although this slideable, and therefore switchable, insert can be selectively positioned in one of a plurality of different positions, in embodiments of the invention, are in three different positions, so that when the power tap is plugged into the power block, the switchable plug is connected to one of the three different electrical circuits provided on the power block. Selective electrical coupling becomes possible. This is made possible by pre-selecting switchable inserts.

[Example] FIG. 1 shows a panel structure 10, which is constructed by connecting upright prefabricated panels. In this figure, only two wedges of identical panels 11 and IIA are depicted.

Panels of different lengths can also be connected in series.

Each panel, for example panel 11, is provided with a rigid rectangular frame inside the frame, and the frame has two parallel rails at the top and the bottom, and two parallel rails on both sides of the frame. rigidly connected by rails.

FIG. 2 depicts a portion of the side rail 12', which is provided parallel to the lower rail 12. These rails are channel-shaped and open towards the inside of the panel. A suitable core structure is provided in the space defined by these frames. For example, a honey cone layer or similar conventional structure may be provided. The core and the frame are provided in a sandwich-like manner between the top sheets provided on the respective corresponding frames. These sheets are covered with a suitable structure, the surfaces of which will form the sides 13 of the panel. The construction of panel 11 is well known, and such construction is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,060,294, which further describes L.
A method of using a molded plastic hinge is disclosed. Panel 11 (also panel IIA) is provided with an electrical system 14, the wiring of which extends longitudinally at the bottom of this panel. The system includes identical power blocks 16 and 17 at opposite lower corners of the panel. This situation is shown in FIG. The power blocks 16 and 17 each have a box-shaped housing 18, which is made of an electrically insulating material, and has five electrically conductive plates 19 inside.
-1-19-5 (Fig. 6.7) These plates are electrically insulated from each other. power blocks 16 and 17
The five conductor plates 19 are individually electrically connected to five electric wires 21, which are wired between the Bavoux blocks 16 and 17 through a closed circuit 22.

This closed circuit 22 is provided between the housings of the power blocks 16 and 17, and each of these closed circuits is fixed to the bottom surface of the lower rail 10 by a metal fitting 23 that can be removably installed and removed by turning a quarter turn.

A channel 26 extends horizontally in the lower part of the panel 11, and the electrical system 14 is installed therein. This channel 26 is constituted by a pair of substantially identical diamond-shaped covers 27, forming a closed path together with the lower rail 12, and this state is shown in FIG. The L-shaped cover 27 is provided with a locking tab 28 on its top, which allows the cover to be removably fixed to the panel.

Each cover has a vertical leg 29 extending downwardly;
It then bends inward, eventually forming a bottom side 31. Two opposing L-shaped covers 27 are attached to the panel in cooperation with each other to form a closed circuit 32 therein. This closed circuit extends longitudinally along the lower part of the panel and is separate from the closed circuit 22 in which the electrical wires are arranged, so that connecting cables and other items can be routed.

Each power block 16 and 17 has an identical and paired connector portion 36 which points outwardly toward each other and is shown as 36R136L in FIG. 4.7. Each connector section 36 has four sets of conductor blades 38 that project outwardly from the power block.

In order to electrically connect two adjacent panels, for example 11 and IIA, adjacent power blocks 16 and 17 are connected.
A are connected by a flexible connector 46 as shown in FIG. The connector 46 has housings 47 and 48, which have arcuate hinges 49 and 51.
This allows the two housings to rotate in the horizontal direction around an axis provided concentrically with the axis of the hinge. The housings 47 and 48 are hollow inside;
A plurality of electric wires, five in this embodiment, are provided inside the connector portion 54 to distribute electric energy between the same connector portions 54. are provided at both ends.

Each of the connector portions 54 has five conductor prongs, each having a plug type shape so as to be electrically coupled to either the connector portion 36R or 36L provided on the power block. It is formed. The structure of connector portions 38 and 54 and the communication therebetween is described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,367,370.

Each power block 16 and 17 further includes a connector portion 41.
R and 4LL are provided on opposite sides, and these connector portions are arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction. These connector parts 41R and 41L have the same shape,
Slot 7 consisting of 5 sets each spaced vertically
conductor prongs 42-1 to 42-5, and 4 (17il) sets of conductor prongs 43-1 to 43-5.
-4 is provided to protrude outward from the power block housing. The conductor prongs 43 provided on the connector portion 41L are individually spaced apart from the prongs of the connector portion 41R provided on the opposite side. Furthermore, each conductor prong 43 is spaced apart from an adjacent conductor plate 19, with a slot 42 located therebetween.

The above arrangement is described in greater detail in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,367,370.

In this panel structure IO, the power blocks 16 and 17 provided in each panel can be fitted with a power tap unit, which is indicated by 61. This power tap unit 61 can be inserted into one side or both sides of the power block, thereby allowing the power tap unit to be positioned on a desired side of the panel structure. This power tap unit 61 can be buried in the closed circuit 32 as shown in FIG.
It is located in the same plane as the surface of 9. For this purpose, a rectangular opening 63 is provided in the cover.

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 12, the power tap unit 61 has a housing 62, which is made of an insulator and has at least one outlet. It has a socket 66 which is an outlet. This socket is provided on the front surface of the housing. Each socket consists of a pair of vertical slots 67 and 68 as before and a U-shaped ground slot 69, unlike any conventional two-way socket.
It is also adapted to engage a book or three-pronged plug.

The housing 62 has a plate 70 and a first plate 73 as shown in FIG. 11, and the first plate is disposed in the U-shaped ground slot 69. Second plate 7
2 is placed in the slot 68, and the third plate 71 is placed in the other slot 7) 67.

There is an input section 74 on the back side of the power tap unit 61.
is provided, and as shown in Figure 1O, this input section has three
It has book inserts 76-78. The uppermost inserts 77, 78 are respectively fixed to the plates 72, 73. The spigot 77 has a slot 79 in the rear side of the housing wall which allows it to engage the spigot.

The insert 76 constitutes a part of the switch mechanism 81, and the insert 76 has a plurality of different positions, three positions in this example, and a selectively determined one of the positions. It is arranged so that it can be located at any position. Switch mechanism 8
1 has a member 82, which is configured in the shape of a sleeve to be slidably supported by a guide rod 83 that guides in the longitudinal direction, and this guide rod 83 is fixed to the housing 61. The guide rod 83 is made of an electrically conductive material, and the lower part thereof is connected to the third plate 71.
It is fixedly installed. The sleeve member 82 is likewise constructed of electrically conductive material, the upper end of the sleeve 82 being connected to the bridge portion 84 1 and having an insert 76 fixedly attached to the opposite side thereof, which insert 76 is connected to the rear surface of the housing. pan
It extends outward through 103゜1lTl. The back cover has an elongated slot 86 through which the insert 76 protrudes and allows the insert 76 to slide between three positions as shown in FIG.

The switch mechanism 81 has a circuit display means 91. For this purpose, a small window 92 is provided on the front surface of the power tap unit 61, and this small window is made to coincide with the front surface of the indicator 93. The front side of the indicator 93 is marked with specific numbers 1, 2 and 3 to indicate which of the three different circuits already installed on the panel. And the number above is 7
6 appears in the small window 92 according to its position. An indicator 93 is added to the end of the arm 96;
The other end is fixed to a plastic sleeve 97, which is fixed to the conductor radial sleeve 82. The indicator 93 is slidably movable between guide rails 98, which are fixed to the inner surface of the front wall of the housing.

Next, the effect will be explained.

Once the panel structure is configured in the desired configuration by the flexible connectors 46, the entire electrical system is ready for use by coupling to one of the power blocks. This power supply can be either floor type or ceiling type. In this way, electrical energy will be supplied through the panel structure and the power tap unit node 61 can be placed at a desired location on the panel.

These power tap units can be configured to selectively use any one of the three circuits during installation of the panel structure.

Regarding the power tap unit 61, each panel is 0 to 4.
Two power tap units can be arranged, since each power block can have a power tap unit inserted on one side or on either side. Before individually attaching the power tap units 61 to the power block, the operator moves the switchable spigot 76 upward or downward until the spigot 71 is in the desired one of three positions. . As a result, the power tap unit will be coupled to one of the three circuits 1.2.3 of the power block. After the spigot 76 has been manually moved and moved into position, such as that shown in Figure 10.11 at the top, the selected circuit is visible from the side of the power tap unit. That is, the number 1 can be visually seen through the small window 92, and the predetermined circuit can be identified. When the circuit selection work is completed, the power tap unit 61 is inserted into the power block, and by manually moving the locking member 101, the opening and king tab 102 overlap a predetermined location on the back cover of the power tap unit. Bawata from power block:,
It is possible to prevent the 7-piece from coming off.

When the power tap unit 61 is inserted into the power block, the upper insertion points 77 and 7 of the power tap unit
8 is inserted into the slot 42-5. As a result, the inserts 77 and 78 are connected to the conductor plates 19-4 and 19-
5, respectively. At the same time, the insertion 43-4 at the top of the power block corresponds to the slot 79 provided on the back surface. When the movable insert 76 is located at the uppermost position as in the embodiment, it is inserted into the slot 42-3 of the power block, so that the insert 43-3 and the conductor plate 19-3 form a bridge. , that is, they will be connected, and this plug-in 76 will be connected to one of the plurality of circuits. That is, it will be connected to circuit l. The power block spigot 43-3 will mate with the spigot 76 which is likewise movable through the slot 86 of the power tamp unit. The remaining two inserts of the power block, namely inserts 43-1 and 43-2, simply protrude downward into the slot 86 of the power tap UNISO 1-61, and simply protrude into space. Therefore, no electrical connection is achieved. Therefore, only a single circuit
From this point on, electricity is supplied to the power tap unit 61.

In a similar situation, if the insert 76 is placed in the middle or at the lowest position, that is, each circuit number 2
, or 3, then this insert 76 will project into engagement with the power block slot 42-2 or 42-1, respectively.

After the power tap Uniso 1- is plugged into the power block, the indicator 9 provided at the rear of the small window 92
3 will display the selectively determined circuit. This allows the power tamp unit to accurately and quickly determine which circuit is in use. However, once the power switch is connected to the power block, the switch cannot be changed unless the power tamp unit is electrically and physically removed from the power block. This prevents the switch from being changed inadvertently, making safe handling possible and improving the functionality of the Power Kumbuni 7).

In the above-described invention, the power tamp unit is fixed and has an insertion opening, but the power tamp unit may have other shapes. i.e. connectors for lighting equipment;
Of course, other electrical products are also suitable.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the panel structure showing the series connection of two panels that are already electrically wired; Figure 2 is a partial enlargement of the wired distribution path that engages the bottom of the panel and has the cover removed. 3 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of one end portion of the panel, and FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3, including adjacent panels and showing electrical connectors between these panels.
Figures 5 to 7 are enlarged sectional views taken along the lines ■-■, Vl-Vl, and ■-■ in Figure 3, respectively, and Figure 8 is a front view of the power tap connected to the power valve 0.7. The path is indicated by a dotted line. Fig. 9 is a left side view of Fig. 8, Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the power tap 7 taken on the X-X line of Fig. 8.11, and Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the power tap 7 taken on the cross section,
FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view taken along the lines of FIG. 11. In the figure, 11. IIA is the panel, 16.17 is the power block, 36.36R136L is the connector part, 38
is a conductor blade, and 61 is a power tamp unit.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. An upright wall panel has an electrical terminal fixedly attached between a pair of parallel vertical panels, said panel also having an electrical cable, said electrical cable having at least two
Independent electrical conductors are respectively connected to the terminals to constitute a series of independent circuits, the terminals have a connector portion composed of a plurality of conductor members, and the conductor members are first, second, third, and fourth conductors. A small portable power tap unit is removably engaged with the connector portion, the power tap unit having an inlet portion electrically coupled to the terminal and supplied with power, and provided externally to the wall panel. It has an outlet section selected for an electric circuit, that is, one circuit for supplying electricity to the product, and this outlet section is conventionally
, 2, and 3 sockets, and the power tap unit has first, second, and third conductors, which are electrically coupled to the first, second, and third sockets without change, respectively. As a result,
The inlet portion of the power tap unit is formed such that a conductive element can be plugged into the inlet portion of the terminal for electrical connection with the connector portion of the terminal, and a circuit selection means is provided in the inlet portion of the power tap unit, thereby selecting two circuits respectively. The circuit is configured to be able to selectively specify one of the circuits and connect it to the inlet portion, and the circuit selection means is configured to perform a circuit selection operation only when the power tap unit is removed from the terminal. ,
The plurality of conductor elements, at least one but less than the number of conductor elements, are coupled to the terminal, and the conductor elements have first, second, and third conductor elements, and the first and second conductor elements are The circuit selection means is electrically coupled to the first and second conductors of the power tap unit, and the circuit selection means includes means for coupling a third conductor element to the third conductor of the power tap unit, and a first conductor of the housing of the power tap unit. , means for moving the third conductive element between two positions;
When the conductor element is in the first position and the power tap unit is coupled to the terminal, it is coupled only to the third conductor element, and the third conductor element is in the second position and the power tap unit is coupled to the terminal. A switchable plug-in device characterized in that when it is connected to the fourth conductive element, it is connected only to the fourth conductive element. 2. The third conductor has an electrical conductor guide part, the third conductor element is electrically coupled to and slidably supported by the guide part, and the power tap unit has a long slot on the back side, 2. The switchable insert according to claim 1, wherein said third conductive element projects outwardly and is movable between said first and second positions. Device. 3. said plurality of electrical conductors each communicate with at least three individual electrical circuits, said terminal having a fifth conductor member that communicates with said cable means forming a third circuit, said circuit selection; Means movably supports the third conductive element in a third position relative to the power tap housing, the third conductive element being electrically coupled only to the fifth conductive member when the power tap unit is coupled to the terminal. Claim 1 characterized in that
Plug-in device capable of changing the switch as described in Section 1.