US3397320A

US3397320A - Terminal block mounting means for plug-in type photoelectric cell

Info

Publication number: US3397320A
Application number: US499618A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ege Hans
Original assignee: UNDERWRITERS SAFETY DEVICE Co
Current assignee: Allied Corp; UNDERWRITERS SAFETY DEVICE Co
Priority date: 1965-10-21
Filing date: 1965-10-21
Publication date: 1968-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 1985-08-13

Description

' Aug. 13, 1968 H EGE 3,397,320

TERMINAL BLOCK MOUbiTING MEANS FOR PLUG-IN TYPE PHOTOELECTRIC CELL Filed Oct. 21, 1965 I I i /2 592 3 9 5 /6 45 373 f J4 40 4 1 5 CT I l7 1 4/ A D6 m1 4/ A5 4E [rave/i37 United States Patent Wee 3,397,320 TERMINAL BLOCK MOUNTING MEANS FOR PLUG-IN TYPE PHOTOELECTRIC CELL Hans Ege, Chicago, 111., assignor to Underwriters Safety Device (30., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 499,618 4 Claims. (Cl. 250-239) This invention relates to electrical socket mountings and more specifically is directed to a novel means for blind mounting of a terminal block in a manner to permit easy orientation for later positioning of a plug-in type photoelectric control unit.

Modern control for lighting arrangements, and especially street lighting system, include a photoelectric control unit which is sensitive to natural light conditions prevailing externally of the street light controlled by the unit. Such photocell units are of known type and have been used to a wide degree to automatically regulate the operation of a specific lighting system. When the intensity of natural light diminishes to a predetermined point, the photoelectric cell is operative to turn on or turn off the street light or a series of such lights.

In order for such photocell unit to work in a predetermined manner, it is necessary to orient it with respect to the direction in which the sun rises and sets. Inasmuch as the photoelectric cell unit itself is subject to failure and must be replaced from time to time, the terminal block or socket mounting of the photoelectric cell should also be appropriately designed and oriented so that photocell may be merely plugged into the terminal block and locked into position by known types of co-operating male and female connector blades. It is also desirable to protect the connector blades from the weather as such exposure has a tendency to corrode them, causing poor conductance. It is also desirable to have a mounting means for such terminal block which permits expedient installation into a socket receiving member, and subsequent orientation of the terminal block immediately prior to final tightening of the fasteners mounting the same.

Briefly stated, the present invention includes a terminal block having a body portion with a radially extending flange at one end. Suitable cam surfaces are formed on the opposite end of the terminal block and co-operate with axially movable cam follower members to cause a spreading of the cam follower members in response to tightening of fasteners which extend through the radially extending flange. As the fasteners are rotated, the cam followers engage the co-operating carn surfaces to extend a socket engaging portion on the cam followers and grip a shoulder in a socket mounting bore. Suflicient axial travel on the fastener is available so that the cam followers may be collapsed radially inwardly over the end of the terminal block for blind insertion into a stepped bore formed in the socket member. The fasteners are then tightened, drawing the cam followers to the cam surfaces and causing a spreading action of the cam followers whereby they will engage a shoulder formed in the bore. The terminal block may be oriented to position a mark embossed on the flange to the indicated direction prior to drawing the fasteners up tight. After orienting the terminal block, the fasteners are tightened to rigidly and securely mount the terminal block in the mounting socket. The photoelectric cell unit may then be plugged in and locked into place with a slight twist, squeezing an annular gasket mounted in the photoelectric cell unit against the flange on the terminal block to seal the parts against the elements.

Details of the present invention will be best understood upon consideration of the objects achieved and a detailed description of a preferred form.

3,397,320 Patented Aug. 13, 1968 It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved terminal block mounting for quick and easy positioning in a stepped bore in a socket member.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved terminal block having a novel fastening means which permits blind insertion and subsequent orientation of the terminal block in a socket having a stepped bore thereby to properly orient a photoelectric cell unit which is plugged into the terminal block.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent when reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the terminal block and photocell control unit with the two in assembled relation;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the terminal block of FIG. 1 with the photoelectric cell control unit partially in section and the mounting fasteners in a loose condition;

FIG. 3 is a plan view taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view partly in section of the terminal block being installed in a stepped bore in a socket; and

FIG. 5 is a partially sectioned view of the terminal block assembled into the socket portions with the photoelectric cell unit in the process of being inserted into the mounted terminal block.

Referring now to FIG. 1, reference character 10 indicates a photoelectric control unit of the type described briefly above including a terminal block 11 and photocell unit 12. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the terminal block 11 includes a body portion 13 having a transverse end surface 14 at one end and a laterally projecting flange 15 at the opposite end defining a lower end surface 16 formed with slot-like openings 17-19 to receive male conductors of known form mounted on the photosensitive control unit 12.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the body portion 13 of the terminal block 11 may be formed from two

parts

20 and 21 joined together by an eyelet or rivet 22 extending through co-operating bores 23 and 24 in each of the parts. The slot-like opening .19 merges with an enlarged bore 25 having a combination blade and lead female connector 26 positioned therein. This construction is of known form and may be of the type described in my corresponding application, Ser. No. 205,455, filed June 26, 1962, which is now US. Patent No. 3,237,148, issued Feb. 22, 1966, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. The lead portion of the female connector 26 is mounted in a bore 27 formed in the upper body portion 20 of the terminal block 11 and an electrical wire 28 is conductingly attached while the free end (not shown) is adapted to receive a quick-type connector for operative installation in the socket unit of known form.

The photocell unit 12 illustrated has three male connector blades which are received in the slot-like openings 1719 with the larger blade 30 shown in the cross sectional view of FIG. 2. The male connector blades are of conventional design being generally flagor inverted L-shaped for insertion and rotational locking with the female connector 26-. Inasmuch as the male connector blade 30 is of larger angular dimension than the other connectors, the photoelectric cell 12 can only be installed in one position. An angular flange 31 on the cell 12 embraces the outer margin of the radial flange 15 and serves to position a gasket member 32 for operative engagement with the end surface 16 to seal against the weather. The upper end of the flange 31 is adapted for close positioning relative to the socket member when the terminal block is installed.

Two radially directed

groove portions

33 and 34 are formed in the upper end 14 and the bottom wall surfaces 35 and 36 disposed angularly relative to the central axis of the terminal block to form cam surfaces extending from the transverse end surface 14 outwardly to the circumferential surface of the body portion 20. A pair of

cam follower members

37 and 38 have angularly disposed

cam follower portions

39 and 40 engageable with the cam surfaces 35 and 36. Each

cam follower member

37 and 38 is apertured and internally threaded to receive threaded

fasteners

41 and 42. The outer margin of the

cam follower members

37 and 38 are adapted to engage a radially directed shoulder 46 formed in the bore of a socket 43 shown at cross section in FIG. 5. Socket 43 is provided with a first bore 44 coaxially arranged with a second bore 45 of increased diameter with the bores joined by the radially directed shoulder 46. Each of the

fasteners

41 and 42 extends through the flange 15 in longitudinal alignment with the camming surfaces 35 and 36 formed in the body 13 of the terminal block 11.

The terminal block 11 is prepared for installation by loosening the

fasteners

41 and 42 and

cam followers

37 and 38 to the condition shown in FIG. 2. The terminal block 11 may then be inserted into the first bore 44 to project partially into the second bore 45 as shown in FIG. 4, where the

cam follower members

37 and 38 are positioned well above the radial shoulder 46 joining the two bores.

Fasteners

41 and 42 are then rotated by means of a tool such as a standard screwdriver, drawing the

cam follower members

37 and 38 against cam surfaces 35 and 36 formed in the terminal block. After the

cam followers

37 and 38 engage the cam surfaces 35 and 36 and tightening of the

fasteners

41 and 42 is continued, the cam followers move radially outward to the position shown in FIG. 5 with the outer edges of the

followers

37 and 38 overlying the radial shoulder 46 to securely mount the terminal block 11. The axial dimension between the cam surfaces 35 and 36 and the radial flange 15 is such that the flange 15 and

cam follower members

37 and 38 firmly grip the socket 43 to tightly mount the terminal block 11. Prior to final tightening, the terminal block may be rotated to orient the arrow shown on the end surface 16 in FIG. 3 to the proper position, which as shown is to be pointed north.

The photoelectric unit 12 may then be installed by positioning the blade members in the slot-like openings 17-19 and rotating it angularly to lock it in place, causing the gasket 32 to be compressed. Since the terminal block 11 has been properly oriented, the photocell will also be properly oriented since it may be installed in only one position. The upper end of the flange 31 is disposed closely adjacent the underside of the socket to form a barrier which assists the gasket 32 in excluding the weather, which could cause corrosion and failure of the electrical connections.

The novel manner of mounting the terminal block of the present invention permits it to be blindly installed and precisely oriented to the proper location for ultimate positioning of a plug-in type photocell unit with unequaled case. While two cam surfaces have been illustrated, it is obvious that a greater or lesser number may be provided, depending upon the particular size of the terminal block and corresponding socket member. The present design provides an easy method of blind installation for electrical receptacles and especially those designs which must be oriented relative to compass directions.

Upon a consideration of the foregoing, it will become obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the invention embodied herein. Therefore, only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A terminal block particularly adapted for blind insertion into a mounting socket, said terminal block comprising a body portion having a transverse surface at one end and a laterally projecting flange at an opposite end, a plurality of terminal openings at said opposite end adapted to receive connectors projecting from a photoelectric cell unit, a pair of cam surfaces formed on opposite sides of said body, a pair of elongated fasteners extending through said laterally projecting flange in substantial longitudinal alignment with each of said cam surfaces, a cam follower member disposed over each of said cam surfaces, thread means formed in each of said cam follower members, each of said thread means co operating with thread means formed on each of said elongated fasteners whereby rotation of said fasteners will cause said cam follower members to be drawn into engagement with said cam surfaces, and means on said cam follower adapted to engage a portion of said mounting socket for rigidly mounting said terminal block therein.

2. The terminal block of claim 1 wherein said cam surfaces extend from said transverse upper end surface to a circumferential portion of said body portion.

3. A blind mounting arrangement for a terminal block comprising a socket member having a first bore communicating with a second bore of increased diameter relative to said first bore, shoulder means joining said bores, a terminal block received in said socket member and having a portion thereof projecting into said second bore, flange means formed on one end of said terminal block, said flange means being of greater diameter than said first bore to cover the same when said terminal block is fully inserted in said socket, means to mount said terminal block in said socket, said mounting means including at least one cam surface formed in the body of said terminal block, cam follower means engageable with said surface and having a portion thereof engageable with said shoulder joining said first and second bores, and fastener means extending through said flange into threaded engagement with said cam follower means and operatively urging said cam follower means into engagement with said cam surface in said body of said terminal block thereby to cause said portion to project laterally from said body and engage the shoulder joining said first and second bores and draw said flange into tight engagement with said socket.

4. The blind mounting arrangement of claim 3 wherein a photoelectric control unit is plugged into said terminal block, said control unit having a circumferential axially projecting flange disposed closely adjacent said socket externally of said terminal block flange, and gasket means interposed between said terminal block flange and said photoelectric control unit.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,117,084 11/1914 Phelps 339126 3,187,294- 6/1965 Murray et al 250-239 X JAMES W. LAWRENCE, Primary Examiner. V. LAFRANCHI, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A TERMINAL BLOCK PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR BLIND INSERTION INTO A MOUNTING SOCKET, SAID TERMINAL BLOCK COMPRISING A BODY PORTION HAVING A TRANSVERSE SURFACE AT ONE END AND A LATERALLY PROJECTING FLANGE AT AN OPPOSITE END, A PLURALITY OF TERMINAL OPENINGS AT SAID OPPOSITE END ADAPTED TO RECEIVE CONNECTORS PROJECTING FROM A PHOTOELELCTRIC CELL UNIT, A PAIR OF CAM SURFACES FORMED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BODY, A PAIR OF ELEONGATED FASTENERS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID LATERALLY PROJECTING FLANGE IN SUBSTANTIAL LONGITUDINAL ALIGNMEMT WITH EACH OF SAID CAM SURFACES, A CAM FOLLOWER MEMBER DISPOSED OVER EACH OF