US3604984A

US3604984A - Electrical connection system formed of plinths with opposed pairs of rolls in front and back for receiving connectors

Info

Publication number: US3604984A
Application number: US887008A
Authority: US
Inventors: Per Andreassen
Original assignee: ASEA AB
Current assignee: ABB Norden Holding AB
Priority date: 1969-12-22
Filing date: 1969-12-22
Publication date: 1971-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 1988-09-14

Abstract

A system for assembling and connecting electrical apparatus such as relays, supervision panels, circuit cards and electrode connections, multipole contacts and the like includes cabinets having frameworks fixed or pivoted in them. Assembly frames attached to the framework carry a number of connection plinths, module determined in size, having holes arranged in pairs in rows to receive contact sockets from one side of the plinth and contact pins for direct engagement in the sockets from the other side. The pins are held in the sockets by connecting elements provided with resilient tongues arranged in recesses inside the plinth. The connection elements are common to a pair of holes, and are provided with openings in their legs which are engageable over projections on the contact pins.

Description

United States Patent ELECTRICAL CONNECTION SYSTEM FORMED OF PLIN'I'I-IS WITH OPPOSED PAIRS OF ROLLS IN FRONT AND BACK FOR RECEIVING CONNECTORS 3 Claims, 12 Drawing Fi US. Cl 317/99, 317/101 DH, 339/19 Int. Cl. 1102b 1/04, HOlr 31/08 Field ofSearch ..317/99, 101

Primary Examiner-Lewis H. Myers Assistant Examiner-Gerald P. Tolin Attorney-Jennings Bailey, Jr.

ABSTRACT: A system for assembling and connecting electrical apparatus such as relays, supervision panels, circuit cards and electrode connections, multipole contacts and the like ineludes cabinets having frameworks fixed or pivoted in them. Assembly frames attached to the framework carry a number of connection plinths, module determined in size, having holes arranged in pairs in rows to receive contact sockets from one side of the plinth and contact pins for direct engagement in the sockets from the other side. The pins are held in the sockets by connecting elements provided with resilient tongues arranged in recesses inside the plinth. The connection elements are common to a pair of holes, and are provided with openings in their legs which are engageable over projections on the contact pins.

PATENTEU E 3,604,984

SHEET 2 [IF 3 INVENTOR. PER AN UREA SSEN PATENTED an 1 4:971

SHEET 3 OF 3 j jiiff INVENTOR 5/? fl/VDKEFSSE/K,

ATTORNEY ELECTRICAL CONNECTION SYSTEM FORMED OF PLINTIIS WITH OPPOSED PAIRS OF ROLLS IN FRONT AND BACK F OR RECEIVING CONNECTORS The present application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 767,153 filed on Oct. 14, I968.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a system for assembling and conne ting ele tric apparatu 2. The Prior Art Various systems are known which embody frames for the connection of electrical apparatus in various combinations. Likewise, in application Ser. No.787,178 filed Dec. 26, 1968, ther is disclosed a socket arrangement for receiving and holdhis contact pins. Also, application Ser. No. 681,644, filed Nor/.9, I967, now Pat. No. 3,572,043, shows an arrangement for short-circuiting a secondary circuit when electrical ap paratus is disconnected therefrom. The devices of these applications may be used in connection with or form a part of the apparatus described here n- SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a system for assembling and connecting electrical apparatus, such as relays and other supervision panels, circuit cards for electronic connections, multipole contacts and the like on stationary or pivotable frameworks in cabinets. The invention is particularly characterized in that in assembly frames which are attached to said framework are arranged a number of connection plinths, module-determined in size, having holes arranged in pairs in rows to receive contact sockets from one side of the connection plinth and contact pins which can be connected directly to these sockets from the other side. Said contact sockets or contact pins are held in the connection plinth by means of switching elements provided with resilient tongues, arranged in recesses inside the connection plinth. There are also a number of prefabricatedloose connection members to permit two arbitrarily chosen switching elements to be connected togeth r within the assembly frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 shows a front view of an assembly frame with plinths and apparatus inserted;

FIG. la shows a section along the line AA in FIG. 1;

FIG. 1b shows a view along the line B-B in FIG. Ia

FIG. 2 shows a view from. above of an assembly frame inserted in a framework;

FIG. 3 shows the invention in use on a pivotable assembly frame;

FIG. 4 shows two variations of the connection member according to the invention.

FIG. 5 shows in cross section one of the holding elements in position to the plinths;

FIG. 6 shows in cross section the holding elements in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the 'element of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view of a portion of the plinth from the left-hand side of FI FIGS. 9 and 10 show a side element and plan view respect tively of a tool for removing connectors.

FIG. 1 shows an assembly frame 1 with an attachment plate 2 at each end, for attachment to a stationary or pivotable framework which will be further described in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3. At the left end of the assembly frame is attached a connection plinth 3 with space for four relays, only one relay position, the uppermost to the left, being shown in s ntirety with holes for the contact pins on the relay mount.- ing. To the right on the plinth 3 is shown an apparatus 4 which takes up two relay positions and below this apparatus two

other apparatus

5 and 6, each taking up one relay position. Even further to the right is shown yet another apparatus 7 which takes up four relay positions.

The invention also provides the opportunity to connect cir- Gnit cards for electronic connections and-in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, three

such circuit cards

8, 9 and 10 are shown. In the field to the right of the Circuit cards is shown uppermost a plinth 11 for connection of out and in-going connections to apparatus which comprises both out and in-going signal communications and current delay. The apparatus required for a certain purpose, for example control of a tool machine, 'may be so few that they can be placed in a single assembly frame, whereas in another case several frame units may be required to accommodate all the necessary apparatus. In the latter case the various assembly frame units are connected together to form a single unit with the help of cables. The connecting cables between the various units are designated 13 and 14 in FIGS. 2 and 3 and are connected to the plinth 11 by means of

output terminals

18 and 19.

In order to avoid all risks of short circuiting and damage to personnel due to a cable which has been taken out of its position in the plinth, the conductors in the

output terminals

18 and 19 terminate in contact sockets which are set into the output terminal so that they are not directly accessible. The plinth 11 is then equipped with contact pins. Since all the apparatus arranged on the assembly frame are voltageless when the output terminals are withdrawn, short circuiting of the contact pins in the plinth 11 when the output terminals are removed cannot cau e any damage.

FIG. 2 shows how the assembly arm 1 is attached in a framework, only partly shown in the figure, by means of an angle iron 16. This attachment method is used when the framework is permanently mounted in a cabinet and the assembly frames are arranged near the front of the cabinet with the apparatus, etc. set in.

FIG. 3 shows an assembly frame with apparatus in position and having connections similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 and ,2, but where the framework is such that the back of the connection plinths is accessible so that desired switches can be made. The details shown have been given the same designations as in FIGS. 1 and 2. The framework also has a suitably transparent front pl t 17.

FIG. 4 shows two examples of the connection members which according to the invention are necessary to effect the desired connection between the apparatus within an assembly frame. The connection member consists of an insulated condoctor 20 which at each end has either a contact pin 21 or a contact socket 22, It is of course also possible to have a contact pin at one end and a contact socket at the other. The length of the conductor 20 should be so great that it can connect any two apparatus within the assembly frame, which means that the length must be at least equal to the length of he diagonal of the assembly frame.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show three

such connection members

25, 26 and 27. Of these, the connection member 25 connects a conncction point in the connection plinth 3 to a point in the plinth 11. The connection member 26 connects the circuit card 10 to the plinth 11 and the connection member 27 connects the ap paratus 4 with the circuit card 9. As can be seen from what has been previously stated concerning the appearance of the connection member, the

connection members

25 and 26 should have a contact pin at the end which is connected to the plinth I1 and a contact socket at each end. Switches can be made within the plinth 11 with connection members having contact pins on both ends. The connection plinths attached to the as.- sembly frames can be opened in known manner and consist of an upper part which forms a lid over the lower part. As seen from FIG. 1 uppermost to the left and from the plinth 11 on the right of the figure, the lid is provided with a number of holes 30 arranged in pairs. In the figures these holes are shown only for a normal relay position. The corresponding relay mounting is normally provided with a contact pin for each pair of holes in the connection plinth, but, if extra ensurance against poor Contact between pin and socket is desired, pairs of contact pins may be inserted in the relay mounting which are connected to each other within the relay.

The bottom part of the connection plinth is provided with a hollow under each pair of holes in the lid. In this hollow is an element 31 which by means of resilient tongues forms an attachment member for contact elements inserted at the back of the plinth, which is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and described below. The contact elements are held in position by an annular flange 23 shown in FIG. 4 on the

contact elements

21 and 22, which engages in notches 38 in two cooperating resilient tongues on the element 31 when the contact element is inserted in the contact mounting. When a

connection member

20, 21, 22 is to be removed from the connection plinth, a releasing member to be described below is inserted at the side of the contact element so that the resilient tongues are pressed apart and thus release their grip on the flange 23.

The element 31 also comprises a transverse part which electrically connects a contact element inserted at the back of the plinth in a position corresponding to one of a pair of holes to another contact element similarly inserted in a position corresponding to the other hole in a pair of holes in the lid of the mounting. It is thus possible in an extremely simple manner to obtain two connections at the back of the plinth for a single contact element inserted at the front of the plinth. Contact pins are preferably used on the apparatus inserted at the front of the connection plinth and contact sockets on the connection members inserted at the back of the plinth. The extra terminal obtained at the back of the plinth may, for example, be used to sense the voltage condition of the plug in question and may be connected to a data machine for continuous supervision, or the like.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-9, FIG. 9 shows from the left the square holes 36 in the plinth, through which the ends of the connecting

elements

21 and 22 are inserted. When these pins are inserted, for example the elements 22, the shoulders 23, engage in the openings 38 in the members 31, so that the connecting members are then locked in position.

The element 31 in addition to the notches 38 has openings 40 in its cross piece, side by side, these openings being positioned opposite the holes 30.

When a socket member such as 22 is inserted through the openings 36, the shoulder 22 will push apart the resilient legs of the member 32 until it comes opposite the openings 38, whereupon the retaining element will hold the socket against withdraw. If now one of the pins 21 is introduced through the holes 30, into which the socket member 22 extends, it will engage in the socket member and be resiliently gripped by it.

In some cases, the arrangement may be reversed, with the pins 21 being inserted through holes 36 and the socket members into holes 30.

In any event, at least some of the members 20 are long enough to extend across the diagonal sides of the assembly so that any two holes can be connected. Obviously if two socket members are inserted through the holes 36 common to the members 31, the connectors 20 of these socket members will be connected to each other, so that two connections can be made from a single pin inserted in the hole 30.

The device for releasing the sockets or pins from the holding member 31 is shown in FIGS. and 11. This is a member 42, preferably made of plastic, having a thin tongue 44 extending from one end. The width of the tongue 44 is substantially equal to the width of one of the openings 36. If this member is inserted into the opening 36, it passes on the inside of one of the tongues of the holding element 31 and deforms it sufficiently to allow the shoulder 33 of the socket or pin member inserted in the opening to escape from the notches 38, whereupon it can be pulled out of the plinth.

The plinths are modulated on a basis of a single value such a 7 millimeters, that is all dimensions are multiples of 7 millimeters. In this way various types of electromechanical and electrical devices such as relays, motors, time relays, electrical reclosers, synchronous motors, remote control and protection devices can be connected into a single assembly.

The method of making connections is uniform through the system. All the wiring connections can be made from the backside of the plinth, and then the equipment is blocked in.

This is possible because the pins or sockets are already held in by the locking elements 31.

The invention has many great advantages. Due to the module system apparatus such as relays, electronic cards, etc., can be arranged in the most suitable manner and can easily be replaced. The connection members at the back' of the assembly frame provide the greatest possible flexibility as regards connections between different members and apparatus within the frame and connections between different members and apparatus within the frame and connection of units arranged on other assembly frames. Also, the switching elements and the loose connection members arranged in the connection plinths permit connection of any of the connected apparatus for connection to a data machine.

I claim:

1. A system for assembling and connecting electrical apparatus on frame works comprising an assembly frame, a plurality of connection plinths module-detennined in size on the assembly frame, each plinth comprising a lower part and said upper part having holes therein arranged in pairs in rows constituting means to receive contact members inserted in the plinth from the lower side and from the upper side, each pair of holes in the upper part being situated opposite a corresponding pair of holes in the lower part, said lower part being provided with enclosure means forming a hollow opposite each pair of holes in the lower part, a connection element in each of said hollows, each connection element having a pair of resilient tongues, each connection element being arranged opposite two holes in the lower part and constituting an engaging and holding member for a contact member inserted in the plinth from the bottom side, a number of flexible connection members, each connection member comprising an electrical conductor provided with a contact element at each of its ends, said resilient tongues and said contact elements having cooperating means thereon for releasably holding to said contact elements in the holes.

2. A system according to claim 1, in which the assembly frame is of rectangular shape, the length of the conductor of said connection member being at least equal to the diagonal of said frame.

3. A system according to claim 1, in which the contact elements include means operable when the contact elements are inserted into the holes in the upper and lower parts to engage with and be in electrical contact with each other.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,604,984

DATED I September 14, 1971 lNvENTORtS) 1 Per Andreassen It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 1: Line 4, after "and" insert -an upper part in the form of a lid over the lower part, said lower part and-.

Signed and Scaled this RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Office (ommrmrmrer nj'larenrs and Trademarks

Claims

1. A system for assembling and connecting electrical apparatus on frame works comprising an assembly frame, a plurality of connection plinths module-determined in size on the assembly frame, each plinth comprising a lower part and said upper part having holes therein arranged in pairs in rows constituting means to receive contact members inserted in the plinth from the lower side and from the upper side, each pair of holes in the upper part being situated opposite a corresponding pair of holes in the lower part, said lower part being provided with enclosure means forming a hollow opposite each pair of holes in the lower part, a connection element in each of said hollows, each connection element having a pair of resilient tongues, each connection element being arranged opposite two holes in the lower part and constituting an engaging and holding member for a contact member inserted in the plinth from the bottom side, a number of flexible connection members, each connection member comprising an electrical conductor provided with a contact element at each of its ends, said resilient tongues and said contact elements having cooperating means thereon for releasably holding to said contact elements in the holes.