US3816821A - Terminal block - Google Patents

Terminal block Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3816821A
US3816821A US00015988A US1598870A US3816821A US 3816821 A US3816821 A US 3816821A US 00015988 A US00015988 A US 00015988A US 1598870 A US1598870 A US 1598870A US 3816821 A US3816821 A US 3816821A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
contacts
casing
sliding
plate
terminal block
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00015988A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
D Rhodes
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BATEBILT Pty Ltd
Original Assignee
BATEBILT Pty Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BATEBILT Pty Ltd filed Critical BATEBILT Pty Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3816821A publication Critical patent/US3816821A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/73—Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall
    • H01R13/74—Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel
    • H01R13/741—Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel using snap fastening means
    • H01R13/743—Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel using snap fastening means integral with the housing

Definitions

  • Switch gear and control gear is also a problem.
  • One solution has been to arrange control cabinets in front of sets of busbars, the cabinets containing sliding drawers in which the control equipment for a series of operations can be installed.
  • One system which is in use consists of a slidingdrawer cabinet in which each drawer is provided at'its rear end with sets of contacts.
  • One set of contacts forms a connection with three-phase busbars when the drawer is pushed in to its full extent, a second set of contacts feeds in process variables to the control equipment in the drawer, and a third set of contacts feeds three-phase power to an electric motor under the direction of the control equipment. Maintenance work can be carried out on the control equipment within the drawer simply by pulling the drawerout to make the equipment accessible.
  • the arrangement nevertheless, has disadvantages in that all of the wiring is to the rear of the cabinet and the external connections are between the busbars'and the cabinet.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide complementary terminal blocks, one of which is adapted to be mounted on the side of a sliding drawer, and the other on a fixed plate to enable circuits to be made and broken by sliding of the drawer.
  • a still further object of the invention is to provide terminal blocks for the above purposes which will occupy a minimal amount of space to permit the overall dimensions of sliding drawer control cabinets to be reduced.
  • a terminal block for sliding engagement with a complementary terminal block comprising an insulating casing formed between its ends and on opposite sides with a pair of grooves by means of which it may be mounted in a slot in a stationary or slidable plate, a pair of clamps located within one end of said casing and adapted to receive and retain the ends of a pair of wires, and a pair of contacts electrically connected to said clamps and projecting from the other end of said casing, one of said contacts being arranged to project beyond the line joining said grooves to a greater extent than the other of said contact-s.
  • a pair of complementary terminal blocks as above defined the contacts of one block taking the form of tags or the like and the contacts of the other taking the form of spring clips adapted to engage with said tags or the like.
  • the invention provides a three-phase terminal block comprising an insulating casing having a base and side walls, a set of three spaced contacts moulded into said base and extending through both sides thereof into the interior of the casing and to the exterior of the casing, and one or more openings in one side of the casing to permit a complementary set of three-phase contacts to be connected to said first-mentioned contacts by relative sliding movement parallel to said base.
  • said first-mentioned contacts are located in a triangular arrangement and the end of said casing remote from the wall provided with an opening or openings is of tapered configuration having spaced projections for engagement with a complementarily shaped aperture in a support plate.
  • Each drawer of the cabinets consists of a side plate arranged to slide in upper and lower tracks which are preferably lined with an antifriction material such as nylon or polytetrafluoroethylene.
  • the remainder of the drawer is supported in cantilever fashion from the side plate and carries the electrical and/or electronic integers required for control of a motor.
  • the rear of the drawer carries three spring-loaded contact clamps adapted to engage with a set of three-phase busbars when the drawer is pushed inwardly to its full extent. These contacts are connected into the circuits within the drawer.
  • a set of contacts for control circuits and a set of threephase contacts for the motor circuit are arranged for sliding engagement with complementary contacts on a fixed plate within the cabinet and preferably located adjacent the front of the cabinet.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exemplary control circuit terminal block adapted for mounting on a movable drawer or the like;
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of another exemplary control circuit terminal block adapted for mounting on a fixed frame for mating engagement with the terminal block of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a side view of the preferred exemplary type of mounting slot for receiving the terminal blocks of FIGS. 1 and 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a side view of an exemplary motor control circuit terminal block adapted for mounting on a movable drawer or the like;
  • FIG. 5 is a plan view of the terminal block shown in FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary terminal block adapted for mounting on a fixed frame for mating engagement with the terminal block of FIGS. 4 and 5;
  • FIG. 7 is a view of the preferred exemplary type of mounting slot for receiving the terminal blocks of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of the terminal block for attachment to the sliding drawer and consists of a moulded thermosetting plastic casing 10 having grooves 12 by means of which it is adapted to slide in a slot in the vertical side 13 of the drawer opposite that which is supported in tracks.
  • the section of casing 10 above the grooves 12 as shown in the drawing is located within the drawer, while the remainder of the casing is located externally of the drawer.
  • a pair of wires 14 are connected to the control circuits within the drawer and are held within casing 10 by means of clamps 16 having screws 18 which are readily accessible through moulded apertures 20 in the casing.
  • a pair of conductors 22, 23 have one of their ends held within clamps l6 and have their other ends extending outwardly of the casing through apertures 24, 25.
  • Conductors 22, 23 are preferably made from solid copper wire and have their free ends flattened to form tags 26, 27 respectively.
  • Conductor 22 is made longer than conductor 23 so I that tag 26 projects further from side 13 of the drawer than tag 27.
  • the relevant side of casing 10 is stepped to suit so that apertures 24, provide support to resist displacement of the tags 26, 27.
  • FIG. 2 The terminal block for mounting on a fixed part of the cabinet is illustrated in FIG. 2. Again there is provided a moulded thermosetting plastic casing 30 having a stepped configuration to match the stepped configuration of casing 10. Casing 30 is formed with a pair of grooves 32 by means of which it may be mounted in a slot in a fixed vertical plate 33 of the cabinet.'
  • a pair of wires 34 are connected to external equipment adapted to feed process variables to the control circuits in the drawer. These wires are held in casing 30 by means of clamps 36 provided with screws 38 which are readily accessible through apertures 40 in the casing, the apertures being directed at an angle towards the front of the cabinet to further facilitate access.
  • a pair of conductors 42, 43 have one of their ends held in clamps 36 and have their other ends fitted with spring contacts 44, 45 adapted to engage with tags 26, 27 on conductors 22, 23.
  • contacts 44, 45 are of the form described in our co-pending application filed on even date herewith.
  • Both casing 10 and casing 30 are provided with flat moulded covers (not shown).
  • the slots used in the side plate of the drawer and in the fixed plate f the cabinet for mounting the terminal blocks are preferably of the shape illustrated in FIG. 3 having a relatively broad upper section 50, of sufficient width and depth to admit the casings, and a somewhat narrow lower section 52 of sufficient width to span the distances between the inner extremities of the grooves 12 or 32 as appropriate.
  • any required number of terminal blocks can be installed simply by sliding them into the section 50, aligning the grooves l2 or 32 with the plate and sliding the casings 10 or 30 downwardly into the section 52.
  • the length of section 52 is selected to accommodate the required number of casings.
  • all of the control circuits can be connected by sliding the drawer inwardly in the direction of arrow 54 to engage tags 26, 27 in respective contacts 44, 45, and all of the control circuits can be disconnected simply by pulling out the drawer and disengaging the tags from contacts 44, 45.
  • the contacts for the electric motor to be operated by the direct circuits are preferably of the form illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a terminal block for attach ment to the sliding drawer
  • FIG. 6 illustrates the complementary terminal block for attachment to the fixed plate in the cabinet.
  • the movable terminal block comprises a moulded thermosetting plastic casing 60 which has a base 62 through which three spaced copper conductors 64 project in both directions.
  • the ends 66 of conductors 64 are located within the drawer and are provided with holes 68 by means of which they may be connected to the three-phase power supply derived from the busbars under the control of the control circuits.
  • the sections 70 of conductors 64 within the casing 60 are arranged to have spring clamps 72 connected to them. Within the casing conductors 64 are separated by integrally moulded walls 74 to prevent arcing and/or to enable the conductors to be placed more closely together.
  • the section of casing 60 to be located nearest to the front of the drawer is of tapered configuration (see FIG. 5) and its side walls 73 are provided with two sets of aligned projections 76, 78, the projections of set 76 being offset in relation to the projections of set 78 to facilitate moulding of the casing.
  • the projections are similar to those illustrated in FIG. 6, from which the arrangement can be more clearly seen.
  • the spacing between the two sets of projections is equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the side plate 13 of the drawer in which the contacts are to be mounted and it will be clear that, if an aperture of the configuration illustrated at 80 in FIG.- 7 is made in the side plate of the drawer, casing 60 can be readily installed by inserting it into the aperture to align the space between projections 76, 78 with the plate 13 and then sliding the casing in the direction of arrow 82 to cause the projections to engage with the plate.
  • a clamp or spacer is provided to retain casing 60 in the position indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 7.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates a suitable terminal block for use in conjunction with the terminal block of FIGS. 4 and 5. It comprises a moulded thermosetting plastic base having a shape similar to the base 62 of casing 60 as seen in FIG. 5. It is provided with two sets of offset projections 92, 94, the sets of projections being spaced apart a distance equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of fixed plate 33 of the cabinet in which the terminal block is to be mounted.
  • Three conductors 96 are moulded into base 90 in the same orientation as conductors 64 of the complementary terminal block.
  • the conductors extend through both sides of the base and at one end are formed with holes 98 by means of which they may be electrically connected to a motor.
  • the portions of conductors 96 on the opposite side of base 90 are adapted to engage with respective spring 5 clamps 72 when the drawer is pushed in the direction of arrow 100 in FIG. 4.
  • FIGS. 4 and 6 are drawn with the two terminal blocks shown in the relative positions which they occupy when the drawer has been pulled out to some extent and the motor circuit has been broken.
  • terminal blocks described hereinabove are regarded as superior to those currently in use since they enable the wiring to be connected to locations which are readily accessible from the front of a control cabinet and permit the control circuits and the motor circuit to be readily made and broken merely by pushing in or pulling out a drawer. Access to the rear of the control cabinet does not therefore have to be provided and there is no necessity to release any wiring from terminal blocks to enable maintenance to be carried out. Additionally, the configuration of the blocks is such that only a minimal amount of space is required at the side of each drawer.
  • a terminal block for sliding engagement with a similar but complementary terminal block in said mating cabinet structure comprising:
  • said insulated casing having a pair of grooves on opposite sides thereof mounting said terminal block in a slot in a plate on said sliding drawer,
  • a pair of clamps located within one end of said casing and adapted to receive and retain the ends of a pair of wires, and I a pair of contacts, each being electrically connected to a corresponding one of said clamps and projecting from the other end of said casing,
  • one of said contacts projecting beyond a line joining said grooves to a greater extent than the other of said contacts whereby the projecting contacts are staggered in astepwise fashion along said other end of the casing.
  • clamps include clamping screws, the axes of which are arranged at an angle to the plane of said plate so that said plate is part of a cabinet or a drawer of a cabinet in which said terminal block is mounted and the axes of the screws are directed at an angle towards the front of said cabinet to facilitate access.
  • a three-phase terminal block comprising:
  • an insulating casing having a base and side walls
  • a three-phase terminal block comprising:
  • an insulating casing having a base and side walls.
  • said first-mentioned contacts being located in a triangular arrangement
  • a terminal block for permitting sliding engagement and disengagement of a plurality of electrical contacts disposed along the side of a fixed or movable plate, said terminal block comprising:
  • an insulating casing having first and second ends and side walls
  • said two sliding contact means being displaced with respect to one another along said second end in the direction of intended sliding movement along said plate.
  • said mounting means comprises spaced projections formed to engage edges of said aperture.
  • a pair of terminal blocks adapted for sliding engagement with each other, each of said terminal blocks comprising:
  • an insulating casing having a pair of grooves on opposite sides thereof to permit mounting in a slot in a stationary or slidable plate
  • a pair of clamps located within one end of each of said casings and adapted to receive and retain the ends of a respective pair of wires
  • the contacts of a second one of said blocks being in the form of spring clips adapted to engage with said tags or the like.
  • an insulating casing having first and second ends and side walls
  • said two sliding contact means being displaced with respect to one another along said second end in the direction of intended sliding movement along said plate
  • said two sliding contacts also being displaced with respect to one another in a direction substantially perpendicular to said direction of intended sliding movement wherein said direction substantially perpendicular is also substantially parallel to the plane of said plate whereby each of said sliding contacts is disposed at substantially the same distance from the plane of said plate although displaced in the directionof intended sliding movement parallel to said plate.

Landscapes

  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
  • Connections Arranged To Contact A Plurality Of Conductors (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
US00015988A 1969-03-07 1970-03-03 Terminal block Expired - Lifetime US3816821A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU5162169 1969-03-07

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3816821A true US3816821A (en) 1974-06-11

Family

ID=3737964

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00015988A Expired - Lifetime US3816821A (en) 1969-03-07 1970-03-03 Terminal block

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US3816821A (xx)
JP (1) JPS5343671B1 (xx)
CA (1) CA936605A (xx)
CH (1) CH513527A (xx)
DE (1) DE2011542A1 (xx)
FR (1) FR2037768A5 (xx)
GB (2) GB1303448A (xx)
SE (2) SE382532B (xx)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4027937A (en) * 1975-01-20 1977-06-07 Norden Alexander Electrical terminal blocks
US4523797A (en) * 1983-03-09 1985-06-18 Parker Hannifin Corporation Connector adaptor
US4772211A (en) * 1986-04-17 1988-09-20 Amp Incorporated Multi-plane interconnection system
WO2007110781A1 (en) 2006-03-27 2007-10-04 Roman Borczyk Dental apparatus for irrigating root canals of teeth and method for irrigating root canals of teeth
US20100255730A1 (en) * 2009-04-07 2010-10-07 Fujitsu Component Limited Connector device
US20110065314A1 (en) * 2009-09-17 2011-03-17 Matthew Leigh Vroom Docking station for portable electronics with voids for connector pass-through and integral connector fastener
US9285831B2 (en) 2009-09-17 2016-03-15 Henge Docks Llc Docking station for portable electronics
US9309698B2 (en) 2013-12-31 2016-04-12 Henge Docks Llc Motorized horizontal docking station having integrated locking mechanism
US9575510B1 (en) 2015-10-23 2017-02-21 Matthew Leigh Vroom Precision docking station for an electronic device having integrated retention mechanism
US9727084B2 (en) 2015-10-23 2017-08-08 Henge Docks Llc Drivetrain for a motorized docking station
US9811118B2 (en) 2015-10-23 2017-11-07 Henge Docks Llc Secure assembly for a docking station
US9927838B2 (en) 2013-12-31 2018-03-27 Henge Docks Llc Sensor system for docking station
US10365688B1 (en) 2018-04-19 2019-07-30 Henge Docks Llc Alignment sleeve for docking station

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5625618U (xx) * 1979-08-04 1981-03-09

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US445751A (en) * 1891-02-03 Electric-wire connector
US2885652A (en) * 1954-11-18 1959-05-05 Gen Electric Terminal assembly for enclosed electric apparatus
DE1065502B (xx) * 1959-09-17
US3086191A (en) * 1961-09-13 1963-04-16 Gen Electric Stab contact assemblies
US3090936A (en) * 1959-12-24 1963-05-21 Frederick L Maitby Electrical connector
US3107963A (en) * 1960-10-10 1963-10-22 Atlantis Electronics Corp Transistor test socket
GB941891A (en) * 1961-04-29 1963-11-13 Automatic Telephone & Elect Improvements in or relating to terminal arrangements for electrical wiring
GB1023038A (en) * 1963-08-14 1966-03-16 Richard John William Kennell Improved plug and socket for an electric circuit
US3273103A (en) * 1964-04-27 1966-09-13 Gen Electric Polarizing means for busway plug
US3296576A (en) * 1964-10-14 1967-01-03 Marathon Special Products Corp Electrical connector
US3320572A (en) * 1964-12-03 1967-05-16 Sperry Rand Corp Electrical connector assembly

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US445751A (en) * 1891-02-03 Electric-wire connector
DE1065502B (xx) * 1959-09-17
US2885652A (en) * 1954-11-18 1959-05-05 Gen Electric Terminal assembly for enclosed electric apparatus
US3090936A (en) * 1959-12-24 1963-05-21 Frederick L Maitby Electrical connector
US3107963A (en) * 1960-10-10 1963-10-22 Atlantis Electronics Corp Transistor test socket
GB941891A (en) * 1961-04-29 1963-11-13 Automatic Telephone & Elect Improvements in or relating to terminal arrangements for electrical wiring
US3086191A (en) * 1961-09-13 1963-04-16 Gen Electric Stab contact assemblies
GB1023038A (en) * 1963-08-14 1966-03-16 Richard John William Kennell Improved plug and socket for an electric circuit
US3273103A (en) * 1964-04-27 1966-09-13 Gen Electric Polarizing means for busway plug
US3296576A (en) * 1964-10-14 1967-01-03 Marathon Special Products Corp Electrical connector
US3320572A (en) * 1964-12-03 1967-05-16 Sperry Rand Corp Electrical connector assembly

Cited By (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4027937A (en) * 1975-01-20 1977-06-07 Norden Alexander Electrical terminal blocks
US4523797A (en) * 1983-03-09 1985-06-18 Parker Hannifin Corporation Connector adaptor
US4772211A (en) * 1986-04-17 1988-09-20 Amp Incorporated Multi-plane interconnection system
WO2007110781A1 (en) 2006-03-27 2007-10-04 Roman Borczyk Dental apparatus for irrigating root canals of teeth and method for irrigating root canals of teeth
US20100255730A1 (en) * 2009-04-07 2010-10-07 Fujitsu Component Limited Connector device
US8337237B2 (en) * 2009-04-07 2012-12-25 Fujitsu Component Limited Connector device adapted for easy replacement of a controller unit in a controller unit array
US20110065314A1 (en) * 2009-09-17 2011-03-17 Matthew Leigh Vroom Docking station for portable electronics with voids for connector pass-through and integral connector fastener
US8105108B2 (en) 2009-09-17 2012-01-31 Matthew Leigh Vroom Docking station for portable electronics with voids for connector pass-through and integral connector fastener
US9285831B2 (en) 2009-09-17 2016-03-15 Henge Docks Llc Docking station for portable electronics
US9347245B2 (en) 2013-12-31 2016-05-24 Henge Docks Llc Motorized horizontal docking station having integrated locking mechanism
US9309698B2 (en) 2013-12-31 2016-04-12 Henge Docks Llc Motorized horizontal docking station having integrated locking mechanism
US9593510B2 (en) 2013-12-31 2017-03-14 Henge Docks Llc Motorized horizontal docking station having integrated locking mechanism
US9650814B2 (en) 2013-12-31 2017-05-16 Henge Docks Llc Alignment and drive system for motorized horizontal docking station
US9663977B2 (en) 2013-12-31 2017-05-30 Henge Docks Llc Motorized horizontal docking station having integrated locking mechanism
US9725930B2 (en) 2013-12-31 2017-08-08 Henge Docks Llc Motorized horizontal docking station having integrated locking mechanism
US9927838B2 (en) 2013-12-31 2018-03-27 Henge Docks Llc Sensor system for docking station
US10459486B2 (en) 2013-12-31 2019-10-29 Brydge Technologies LLC Motorized horizontal docking station having integrated locking mechanism
US9575510B1 (en) 2015-10-23 2017-02-21 Matthew Leigh Vroom Precision docking station for an electronic device having integrated retention mechanism
US9727084B2 (en) 2015-10-23 2017-08-08 Henge Docks Llc Drivetrain for a motorized docking station
US9811118B2 (en) 2015-10-23 2017-11-07 Henge Docks Llc Secure assembly for a docking station
US10365688B1 (en) 2018-04-19 2019-07-30 Henge Docks Llc Alignment sleeve for docking station

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SE382532B (sv) 1976-02-02
FR2037768A5 (xx) 1970-12-31
DE2011542A1 (de) 1970-09-17
CA936605A (en) 1973-11-06
JPS5343671B1 (xx) 1978-11-21
SE361561B (xx) 1973-11-05
CH513527A (de) 1971-09-30
GB1303449A (xx) 1973-01-17
GB1303448A (xx) 1973-01-17

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3816821A (en) Terminal block
US3245024A (en) Separable electrical connector for plural conductors
US3626253A (en) Cell construction for motor control center for separate disengaging of terminal blocks and bus stabs
US4167769A (en) Panelboard having distributed neutral
US2766405A (en) Panel board bus arrangement and circuit breaker mounting base
EP1133820B1 (en) Device for supporting and fixing bus-bars
US6075692A (en) Upgradable functional feeder unit of a low-voltage electrical cubicle
US2986676A (en) Panel board arrangement for embedded load terminals
US4789344A (en) Plug-in connector module for a removable control unit of a motor control center
US3769553A (en) Panelboard with insulative snap-in support means
JPH0724173B2 (ja) 開閉器用補助導線連結装置
US4093970A (en) Main lug assembly for circuit breaker load centers
US6039612A (en) Arrangement for mounting terminal blocks in a mounting panel
US3086191A (en) Stab contact assemblies
US3075039A (en) Polyphase load center bus bar mounting
US3244941A (en) Mounting means for electromagnetic devices
US7446635B2 (en) Combination of two electromagnetic switching devices
US4580864A (en) Modular connecting blocks
US3678342A (en) Mounting arrangement for a board which supports electrical conductors
GB2036437A (en) Improvements in and Relating to Circuit Breakers
US2725542A (en) Bus duct structure and plug-in unit having polarizing means
US4534612A (en) Current connecting device for the establishing of electrical connection between conductors
US2980824A (en) Load distributing arrangement
US2885652A (en) Terminal assembly for enclosed electric apparatus
GB963852A (en) Terminal supports,and corresponding terminal bars