US2189622A

US2189622A - Heater terminal block

Info

Publication number: US2189622A
Application number: US177311A
Authority: US
Inventors: Barnsteiner Alfons; Edwin H Lockwood
Original assignee: Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: CBS Corp
Priority date: 1937-11-30
Filing date: 1937-11-30
Publication date: 1940-02-06
Anticipated expiration: 1957-02-06

Description

Feb. '6, 1940. A. BARNSTEINER ET! AL 2,189,622

HEATER TERMINAL BLOCK Filed Nov. 30, .1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. l n

WITNESSES: INVENTORS lllfons fiarnsteiner ZA gyinfllockwood.

Feb. 6, 1940. I A. BARNSTEINER ET AL 2,189,622

HEATER TERMINAL BLOCK Filed Nov. '50. 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.3, Bucn wnn's up 6:2 am 19 22 28 4a 2W8 ifig 3 d3 2 24 42 K J .C I

. 1 I I: 46 1 2 12:: I 33 MAM-3111,11: ao 2 /E 45 .99

WITNESSES: INVENTORS Alfons Barnsteiner if z-gd mwfl. Lac/(Mod.

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,189,622 manna TERMINAL anocx Application November 30, 1937, Serial No. 177,311

SOIaims.

Our invention relates to range surface units and more particularly to a terminal block for such units.

An obiect of our invention is to provide a two- 8 part terminal block formed in such a manner that the parts may be operatively associated with each other in only one relative position.

A further object of our invention is to provide means whereby supply lines cannot be connected to the surface unit in an improper manner.

A further object of our invention is to provide means for preventing the terminal block from becoming disengaged from the supply wires.

A further object of our invention is to provide 15 means for preventing any spillage from reaching the terminals.

Other objects of our invention will either be pointed out specifically in the course of the following description of one form 01' structure emso bodying our invention, or will be apparent from such description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure '1 is a bottom view of a surface unit embodying our invention.

gs Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view taken along the line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3' is a side elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1; and,

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are partial side elevational 30 views of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 3 with the movable terminal block in its various inoperative positions.

. Referring to the accompanying drawings, we show a range surface unit ll comprising a sup- 5 porting pan i2, an insulating block l4 located therein, a surface heater element It and our two-part terminal block It.

The supporting pan i2 is used primarily for retaining the insulating block l4 in position and for rigidly attaching the surface unit it to a range. The supporting pan i2 is preferably formed of sheet metal. However, it is to be understood that it may be made of any material desired.

The terminal block it includes a stationary block 20 and a movable block 22. The terminal block it is composed of ceramic material or of any other suitable insulating material. The stationary block 20 has a centrally recessed portion 50 24 within which terminals 26 are located. The stationary block 20 is held rigidly against the supporting pan i2 by means of through bolts 2! cooperating with upwardly extending ears It, integral with the supporting pan i2.

as A notch 45 is provided in one corner of block 20 below the recess 24 and a flange 21 is located at the corners directly above notch 45, for purposes to be described later.

Suitable terminals or straps 22 are rigidly attached at one end to the ends of the resistance ii elements 24 located within the heating unit it by means of nuts It substantially as shown in Fig. 1, in accordance with a familiar practice. The straps 32 extend within slotted apertures 38 located within the stationary terminal block 2., where they constitute terminals 2 to which the power leads iii are attached, as by bolts 2|. Suitable wing nuts 52 may be operatively associated with the through bolts 28 after the movable block 22 is operatively associated with the stationary block so as to hold the movable block 22 rigidly against the stationary block. If it be desired, ground wire 54 as shown in Fig. 1 may be operatively associated with one of the through bolts 28 and wing nut I2 to ground the surface 20 unit ill through the cooperating action of the wing nut I2, through bolt 28, ear 3! and supporting pan I2.

The movable terminal block 22 is likewise composed of ceramic material or or any other suitas able insulating material. The block 22 comprises a main body portion 2! and an upwardly protruding portion 4|, a curved portion 42 and a flange or ridge 44. The upwardly protruding portion 40 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 extends across the full width of such block. The curved portion 42 is substantially in the form of a sector of a cylinder and extends away from the stationary block 20 when the movable block 22 is operatively associated therewith. The flange 44 is located on the side adjacent to the stationary block 20 as the movable block 22 is operatively associated therewith, and is located on the opposite side of the movable block from the protruding portion 40. The flange 44 is therefore also located on 4 theside opposite to the curved portion 42 substantially as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 to 6, inclusive. A plurality of apertures 46 are located within the main body portion 39 of the movable block 22 and are in such a position that they will 45 permit the through bolt 28 to extend therethrough as the movable block 22 is operatively associated with the stationary block 20.

When it is desired to have the movable block 22 operatively associated with the stationary 150 block 20. the movable block 22 is positioned in front of the stationary block 20 in such a manner that the apertures 46 will be in line with the through bolts 28 permitting the movable block 22 to be slid thereon. As the movable block 2 2,1ao,'caa

22 is slid along the through bolts 2.. the flange it will become operatively associated within notch II in block 22 permitting the movable block 22 to be slid along the through bolts 22 I until it will contact and become operatively assoelated with the stationary member 22. The iiange 21 will then contact the movable block 22. The protruding portion II will also extend shove the movable block 22 on the side opposite lo the supporting pan i2 and the curved portion 42 will be on the side opposite to the stationary mock 2..

Should the movable block 22 be positioned upon the through bolts 28 in a reverse manner. that is, with the curved portion 42 facing the stationary block 20, but right side up, the curved portion 42 will contact the stationary block 20 and prohibit the movable block 22 from becoming operatively associated therewith, the bolts m 22 not being long enough to permit the

blocks

20 and 22 to be fastened together in such position, as shown in Fig. 4.

Should the movable block 22 be rotated substantially 180 from the correct position shown I in Fig. 2, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the flange 44 will then be located in the top thereof or that portion of the block opposite from the retaining pan l2 and the curved portion-42 will be located on the side opposite from the stationary member 20. 80 Should one attempt to place the movable block 22 in association withthe stationary block 20 in such a manner, the protruding portion 40 will contact the pan l2 and prohibit the two blocks from becoming operatively associated. Should one attempt to place the movable block 22 in association with the stationary block 20 in a reverse position to that shown in Fig. 5, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the curved portion 42 would contact the stationary block 20 prohibitingthe two 40 blocks from becoming operatively associated. Should it be desired to place the movable block 22 in association with the stationary block 20 which is operatively associated with the supporting pan l2 as shown in Fig. 6, the protruding portion 40 will contact the supporting pan l2 prohibiting the movement of the movable block 22 along the through bolts 22.

It is therefore obvious that as shown in Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, and as hereinabove described, it o is impossible to locate or position the movable block 22 in operative association with the stationary block 20, except when the block is positioned substantially as shown in Fig. 2, or when the flange H is facing the stationary block 20, u the curved portion 42 is located on the side opposite to the stationary block 29, and the'protruding portion 40 is located at the top of the movable block.

A plurality of angularly disposed slots 48 extend through the movable block 22 substantially as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The slots 48 are positioned within the movable block 22 so that as the movable block is operatively associated with the stationary block 20 the slots 48 will be in line as with the terminals 26.

A plurality of feed wires 50 which may have eyelets ii on the ends thereof are inserted through the angularly displaced slots 42 in such a manner that they will be readily associated with the ter- 20 minals 26 when the movable block 22 is properly associated with stationary block 20. The feed wires Sll may be distinguished one from the others by any well known color markings. With the I feed wires 50 extending through the movable II block 22 from the curved portion 42 through to the opposite side, it is obvious that such feed wires may be readily associated with the terminals 28 as the movable and stationary blocks be- .come operatively associated. However, if the movable block 22 be accidentally rotated substan- I tially 180 as shown in Fig. 5, the protruding portion 42, because of contacting pan l2, will prevent the operative association of the two blocks and therefore prevent the accidental connection oi the power lines 82 with the heating element ll through terminals 2|.

It is therefore obvious that, with the power lines ill threaded through the movable block 22 in a correct manner as hereinabove described, due to the protruding portion ll, the movable block 22 is can be associated with the stationary block 22 in only one position of such block, thus prohibiting the accidental connection of the power lines I. to the surface unit in an improper manner.

The eyelets 5 located on the ends of the feed I wires 50, after having been inserted through the angular slots 42, and when turned to a horizontal or operative position, will prohibit the movable block from sliding off the feed wires. It is, therefore, obvious that the movable block 22 may be ll placed on the feed wires III at the factory, which in turn enables the surface units to be quickly and accurately installed by the service man who installs the range.

The colored feed wires 50 usually turn black Q or lose their color distinction with continued use of the surface unit. This loss of adequate distinction of the feed wires sometimes is the cause of removed or replaced units being improperly connected to the feed wires. ther obvious that with our movable block 22 associated with the feed wires ill as a unit at the factory, such block, constructed as described above, will prohibit the feed wires from being improperly connected to the surface unit.

If, perchance, the power lines 50 be accidentally threaded through the angularly placed slots 42 in a reverse manner, that is, from the flanged side of the movable block 22 through to the curved portion side, it is obvious from an inspection of 5 Figs. 4 and 6, the curved portion 42 due to its striking the stationary block or the protruding portion due to its striking the supporting pan l2, will warn the operator that the parts are improperly assembled and thus prevent the so power lines from being connected to the terminals 26.

It is therefore obvious that regardless of whether or not the power lines be inserted through the movable block 22 in a proper or im 66 proper manner, such block, due to its characteristic design, and the inability to place wing-nut 82 on through bolts 28, will prohibit the improper connection of the power lines to the terminals 20.

Various modifications may be made in the de vice embodying our invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and we desire therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art and the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A support, a two-part terminal block, one of said parts being stationary and positioned upon said support and having a plurality of spaced apertures, the second of said parts being removable and having a face conforming to a face of said stationary part and engaging therewith in the correct assembly of said parts and a second face non-conforming with respect thereto, said removable part also having a plurality of spaced It is, therefore. fura" through the-apertures of said stationary part, a

plurality of additional conductors movably disposed through the apertures of said removable part, and fastening means long enough to hold said parts together only when said conforming faces are in engagement thereby to insure correct alinement of said conductors and additional conductors.

2. A support, a two-part terminal block, one of said parts being stationary and positioned upon said support and having a plurality of spaced apertures, the second of said parts being removable and having a face conforming to a face of said stationary part and engaging therewith in the correct assembly of said parts and a second face non-conforming with respect thereto, said removable part also having a plurality of spaced apertures disposed substantially in respective alinement with the first mentioned apertures, a plurality of conductors stationarily disposed through the apertures of said stationary part, a plurality of additional conductors movably disposed through the apertures of said removable part, said parts each having an opening, fastening means disposed in said openings and long enough to project beyond the opening in said removable part only when said conforming faces are in engagement thereby to insure correct alinement of said conductors and additional conductors, tightening means applicable to the projecting end of said fastening means when extending beyond the said opening to tightly assemble said parts, and means. for securing together the adjacent ends of the respectively alined conductors.

3. A support, a two-part terminal block, one of said parts being stationary and positioned upon said support and having a plurality of spaced apertures, the second of said parts being removable and having a face conforming to a face of said stationary part and engaging therewith in the correct assembly of said parts and a second face non-conforming with respect thereto, said removable part also having a plurality of spaced apertures disposed substantially in respective alinement with the first mentioned apertures, a plurality of conductors stationarily disposed through the apertures of said stationary part, a plurality of additional conductors movably dis; posed through the apertures of said removable part, said conforming faces also having a flangeand-recess connection, thereby to insure correct alinement of said conductors and additional conductors, and fastening means long enough to hold said parts together only when said conforming faces are in engagement and said fiange-and-recess connection is effective, and means for securing together within the bounds of said stationary part the adjacent ends of the respectively alined conductors.

ALFONS BARNS'I'EINER. EDWIN H. LOCKWOOD.