US3910667A - Electrical supply installations - Google Patents

Electrical supply installations Download PDF

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Publication number
US3910667A
US3910667A US379079A US37907973A US3910667A US 3910667 A US3910667 A US 3910667A US 379079 A US379079 A US 379079A US 37907973 A US37907973 A US 37907973A US 3910667 A US3910667 A US 3910667A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
adaptor
track
channel
contacts
nose portion
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
US379079A
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English (en)
Inventor
Robert Heritage
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.)
Rotaflex Great Britain Ltd
Rotaflex Ltd
Original Assignee
Rotaflex Ltd
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Rotaflex Ltd filed Critical Rotaflex Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3910667A publication Critical patent/US3910667A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R25/00—Coupling parts adapted for simultaneous co-operation with two or more identical counterparts, e.g. for distributing energy to two or more circuits
    • H01R25/14—Rails or bus-bars constructed so that the counterparts can be connected thereto at any point along their length
    • H01R25/142—Their counterparts

Definitions

  • An adaptor for tapping current from an electrical supply track of the continuous outlet type has a nose portion insertable into the track channel, and a hook support which is engageable with the channel, so that the adaptor is engageable in the channel by a simple manipulation involving insertion of the nose portion accompanied by tilting of the adaptor about an axis parallel with the length of the track.
  • Releasable latching means prevent inadvertent disengagement of the adaptor, once correctly inserted in the track.
  • a novel supply connector is also described, comprised of two wedge like components for wed ging engagement between the side walls of the track channel.
  • This invention relates to electricalsupply installations of the continuous outlet type, comprising one or more elongated track members having a channel in which are located current supply conductors, and one or more adaptors engageable in the track channel at substantially any point along the length thereof, each adaptor having contact fingers for engaging the conductors in order to power a lighting or other appliance which is mechanically supported by the adaptor.
  • One feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a new and improved adaptor specifically designed for one-handed mechanicalengagement with a track member.
  • the invention provides an adaptor comprising an insulated body having a nose portion provided with a laterally projecting hook portion adapted to engage a co-operating support in the track channel by insertion of the nose portion into the channel and concomitant tilting of the adaptor about an axis parallel with the length of the channel, and releasable latching means to prevent inadvertent .tilting of the adaptor out of its engaged position.
  • the latching means may be automatically engaged upon insertion of the adaptor into the track channel and may comprise a spring loaded latch mounted on the adaptor for engagement with an abutment provided in the trackchannel.
  • the adaptor preferably has movable contact fingers mechanically.
  • the contact fingers may be operated through a snapaction mechanism, such a toggle switch, in order to safeguard against arcing between the fingers and the track conductors, or may be operated by a rotary cam.
  • this adaptor In addition to the ease with which this adaptor can be engaged, it has the advantage that the weight of the adaptor and its appliance is transferred to the track
  • the inventiondoes not, of course, preclude the use of a metal tracksection wherein considerations arise of appearance ormaximum strength and rigidity.
  • the invention also provides a new and improved form of connector, for connecting the track' conductors to a supply: j f
  • su'pply connector consists essentially of twocompon'ents', one having fixed or spring contacts for engagement with the track conductors; and suitable terminal means for receiving supply loads, and a second,,.-locking component. Both components are insertable separately into a track channel through the open mouth thereof (or through one end) and are movable into wedging engagement with each other (preferably in directions parallel with the length of the track channel) so as to befirmly engaged against the respective sidewalls of the track channel.
  • the use of separate fixing devices, such as fixing screws may thus be obviated, although such additional devices may, of course, be employed if desired.
  • FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional elevation of a track member illustrating an adaptor and its manner of engagement 7
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views of an adaptor in its operative and inoperative condition, respectively;
  • FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an adaptor illustrating a possible form of latching means
  • FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-section through a supply conductor
  • FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrammatic isometric views of the connector shown assembled with the track and removed therefrom, respectively;
  • FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic end view of a further form of adaptor
  • FIG. 9 is a side view of some internal components of the adaptor of FIG. 8.
  • FIG. 10 is a section on the line XX of FIG. 9.
  • FIG. 1 The installation shown in FIG. 1 comprises a rigid extruded metal track member 1: of channel cross-section, and a plastics insulator 2 securely located in one side of the channel and housing supply conductors 3.
  • An earth continuity strip contact 4 is securely mounted to the same side of the channel close to the base wall 5 of the channel, just above an inwardly projecting flange 6.
  • the opposite side wall of the member 1 is provided at its free end, adjacent the open mouth of the channel, with'a narrow flange 7 which serves as a.l'atch abutment, in a manner to be described below.
  • the adaptor 10 shown in FIG. 1 comprises an insulated' housing having a body portion 1 1 and a projecting nose portion 12, tapering in width towards its free end, at which there is formed a laterally projecting hook portion 13.
  • the adaptor To engage the adaptor, it is offered up to the track channel in the manner indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 1, being tilted to the vertical to allow the nose portion to pass upwardly into the channel and, when fully inserted, to be tilted back to the full-line position shown in FIG. 1, in which the hook portion 13 engages over and is supported by the flange 6.
  • the adaptor has a spring loaded latch 14 which snaps over the narrow flange 7 to lock the adaptor against the (anti-clockwise) tilting movement required to release it from the track member.
  • the latch is, of course, manually releasably by a push button or equivalent means, not shown.
  • the hook portion 13 of the adaptor is arranged to make earthing contact with the strip contact 4, optionally through the intermediary of a spring contact memfingers 17 which, in the operative condition of the contacts, project outwardly through slots 18 in the adjacent side wall of the nose portion 12 as shown in FIG.
  • the support 16 is-pivotable about the pin 16A between its two illustrated positions by means of an operating dolly l9 pivoting about a fixed pin 19A and having a spring loaded plunger 20, constituting a snap action operating member for the contacts.
  • Various mechanical arrangements could, of course, be employed for effecting operation of thecontacts, and in some cases we may prefer to have the contacts fixed, relative to the nose portion, and, if desired, to provide a separate switch between the contact strips and terminals (not shown) to which theappliance flex is connected.
  • FIG. 4 In which the latch takes the form of a swinging hook member 25, and the contact support 16 has a projecting stop 26 which obstructs movement of the hook away from its latching position until the carrier is pivotally moved to its inoperative position.
  • FIGS. to 7 illustrate a presently preferred form of supply connector in accordance with the invention.
  • the connector comprises two component parts.
  • One part comprises an insulated body 30 which has at one end a sloping wedge face 31 and which houses a pair of supply contacts 32 terminating in contact fingers 33 projecting laterally through slots in the body 30.
  • the body also houses respective terminal blocks 34 for the contacts and a cable grip 35.
  • the adjacent end of the body may have, as shown, transverse end flange 37 apertured to receive a supply cable and shaped to match the profile of the track member 1 to form an end closure or escutcheon plate.
  • the component may be inserted through the end of the track channel to bring the contact fingers 33 into proximity with the track conductors 3;
  • the second component is simple mechanical wedge 36 which is insertable through the open mouth of the track channel and is then moved longitudinally within the channel to bring its wedging face into engagement with the face 31, the resultant lateral reactions serving to clamp the components of the supply connector into secure engagement with the respective opposed channel side walls of the track members 1, and to press the fingers 33 into firm engagement with-the track conductors 3.
  • a separate cover plate may be provided if desired, but the wedge component preferably incorporates its own cover plate which covers that face of the body 30 adjacent the open mouth of the channel.
  • a fixing screw 38 may be provided to lock the two parts together in their assembled operative position.
  • the end plate or flange 37 may be omitted if it is desired to insert the body 30 through the open mouth of the channel rather than through one end.
  • the track itself is shown as having conductors 3 arranged only on onen side thereof, but it could have another set of conductors, on the other side to provide a multi-circuit facility each of the above described adaptors being reversed laterally to employ the other set of conductors as desired.
  • FIGS. 8 to 10 Such a track, and a special double-sided adaptor for use therewith, are illustrated, mainly diagrammatically, in FIGS. 8 to 10.
  • the track member 1 has two opposed plastics insulators 2, in which are embedded respective pairs of conductors 3N, 3L1, 3L2 and 3L3, thus providing three possible supply circuits all using a common neutral return 3N.
  • the adaptor correspondingly has four movable contacts, as will be described in more detail below. As may be understood from FIG. 8, the manner of inserting and engaging the adaptor is similar to that indicated in FIG. 1, to engage the hook 13 of the nose portion 12 over one or other of the two internal flanges 6 of the track member.
  • mechanical locking of the adaptor is effected by operation of a rotary, multiple, cam 40, the, uppermost cam 401 of which constitutes a mechanical locking member in the form of a disc having a single flat 41 which, in an initial, extreme rotary position of the cam 40, is set in from the adjacent side wall of the nose portion.
  • This position is indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 8.
  • a first indexed displacement of the cam 40 brings the full profile of the locking member 401 into engagement with the adjacent flange 6, the member having an outwardly projecting flange portion 401A which overlies the flange 6.
  • the cam 401 prevents release of the adaptor from the channel until such time as the multiple cam 40 is returned to its initial position.
  • the rotary cam 40 has four further cams 402, 403, 404 and 405 for controlling operation of respective contact fingers 17N, 173, 172 and 171.
  • the cam has an indexing disc406, formed with a number of pips or projections for engagement with an indexing spring 42 mounted in the housing of the adaptor.
  • a rotary operating knob 43 projects outside the adaptor housing and facilitates manual rotation of the multiple cam 40;
  • Each'contact takes the form of a pivoted lever, having a longer arm whose free outer end is aligned with a slot in the adjacent side wall of the nose portion of the adaptor and a short arm engaged with a respective cam.
  • the neutral contact 17N is pivoted on a pin 44, and the three live contacts are pivoted on a coaxial pin 45.
  • a respective hinge spring 46 Associated with each contact is a respective hinge spring 46, having its coil portion engaged around the pivot pin and having one arm engaging the contact and its other arm bearing against a side wall of the housing. The springs are pre-stressed to urge the longer arms of their respective contacts outwardly.
  • the shorter arms of the contacts engage the respective cams 402405, which normally hold the contacts retracted against the action of the springs 46, and which only allow the contacts to pivot outwardly when the bottom dwell portions of the cams come round into register with the shorter arms of the contacts.
  • FIG. 10 shows one contact 172 held retracted by its cam 404, while the adjacent contact 171 extends outwardly, because the shorter arm of the contact isin register with the flat on cam 405.
  • the rotary cam 40 has five angular positions.
  • the locking cam 40] engages the track flange 6 to complete the mechanical coupling, and the neutral contact cam 402 allows the neutral contact 17N to project from the housing.
  • the three live contacts 171, 172 and 173 are allowed to project from the housing in turn, so that in any one of these positions the neutral contact and a respective one of the live contacts project from the nose portion of the housing to engage the respective track conductors 3" and 3L1, 3L2 or 3L3.
  • the adaptor is thus fully interlocked against insertion or withdrawal of the adaptor except when all contacts are retracted.
  • the arrangement of the rotary cam 40 to rotate about a vertical axis ie an axis transverse to the plane containing the mouth of the track channel) enables the depth of the adaptor to be accommodated substantially wholly within the track channel, thus giving a neat finish to the completed installation.
  • connections to an appliance are made by a neutral lead 47 connected at one end to the neutral pivot pin 44 and a live lead 48 connected at one end to the live pivot pin 45. Both leads have convenient terminations 47A, 48A to facilitate connection to the live and neutral leads of an appliance flex F.
  • the flex is brought into the adaptor through a cable entry gland (not shown) or any other convenient means and an appliance is suspended from the adaptor by any convenient bracket or stirrup, diagrammatically indicated at B.
  • An adaptor for use with an electrical supply, channel section track of the continuous outlet type comprising an insulated body having a nose portion a plurality of contacts mounted in said nose portion and movable in a plane between inoperative retracted positions and operative extended positions in which said contact members project laterally of said nose portion, a laterally projecting hook portion on said nose portion adapted to engage a first co-operating support in said track channel by insertion of said nose portion into said channel section and concomitant tilting of said adaptor about an axis parallel with the length of said channel and parallel with said plane, and releasable latching means being movable into and out of co-operating engagement with a second co-operating support of said track channel offset from the first with respect to the axis about which the adaptor tilts, said latching means extending, in its position of co operating engagement in a lateral direction opposite to the lateral direction of projection of said hook portion to prevent inadvertent tilting of said adaptor out of its engaged position.
  • An adaptor according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of contacts which are pivotal within said nose section about an axis extending transversely to a plane containing the mouth of said track channel, and rotary cam means parallel with the said axis controlling pivotal movement of said contacts between their respective operative and inoperative positions.
  • said rotary cam means comprises a respective cam for each contact, one said contact being moved to its operative position by rotation of said cam means to any one of a plurality of angularly displaced operative positions, and the remaining said contacts being moved into their respective operative positions by rotation of said cam means into different respective ones of said operative positions.
  • said rotary cam means includes a cam portion which constitutes said latching means, being movable into and out of co-operating engagement witha portion of said track member offset from the said hook portion with respect to the axis about which the adaptor tilts.

Landscapes

  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
  • Connections Arranged To Contact A Plurality Of Conductors (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
US379079A 1972-07-21 1973-07-13 Electrical supply installations Expired - Lifetime US3910667A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB3414872A GB1436707A (en) 1972-07-21 1972-07-21 Electrical supply installations

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3910667A true US3910667A (en) 1975-10-07

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ID=10361991

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US379079A Expired - Lifetime US3910667A (en) 1972-07-21 1973-07-13 Electrical supply installations

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US (1) US3910667A (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png)
JP (1) JPS4992586A (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png)
AT (1) AT340508B (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png)
AU (1) AU469590B2 (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png)
BE (1) BE802416A (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png)
BR (1) BR7305438D0 (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png)
CA (1) CA997838A (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png)
CH (1) CH585978A5 (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png)
DE (1) DE2336216A1 (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png)
ES (1) ES417079A1 (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png)
FR (1) FR2194060B1 (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png)
GB (1) GB1436707A (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png)
IL (1) IL42695A0 (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png)
IN (1) IN137953B (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png)
IT (1) IT991824B (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png)
NL (1) NL7309906A (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png)
NO (1) NO134678C (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png)
SE (1) SE394773B (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png)
ZA (1) ZA734879B (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0074754A2 (en) * 1981-09-07 1983-03-23 Rotaflex p.l.c. Elektrical supply connector for continuous outlet track
US4508400A (en) * 1982-10-18 1985-04-02 Rotaflex P.L.C. Electrical supply connector for continuous outlet track
US5259774A (en) * 1992-04-13 1993-11-09 Juno Lighting, Inc. Track and insulator constructions for track lighting systems for bus bar spacing
EP0779685A3 (en) * 1995-12-13 1998-08-19 REGGIANI S.p.A. ILLUMINAZIONE Electrical track and connector assembly for electrical systems with track-type distribution
EP2940818A1 (en) * 2014-04-28 2015-11-04 Powerbar Limited Electrical distribution system

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1499795A (en) * 1974-02-27 1978-02-01 Rotaflex Ltd Electrical current supply installations
GB1520151A (en) * 1976-01-19 1978-08-02 Rotaflex Ltd Electrical current supply installation
DE3025913A1 (de) * 1980-07-09 1982-02-04 Hans Leopold 6257 Hünfelden Schneider Installations-kontakt-funktionssystem fuer schwachstrom und starkstrom sowie fuer fernmelde und antennenanlagen
ATE64798T1 (de) * 1986-01-23 1991-07-15 Siemens Ag Schutzleiteranschlussklemme.
DE3901500C1 (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png) * 1988-06-01 1989-12-21 Lts Lichttechnik Gmbh, 7992 Tettnang, De
US7819676B1 (en) * 2009-11-12 2010-10-26 Power Distribution Inc. Electrical power distribution system
CN108448358B (zh) * 2018-03-29 2023-11-14 江南大学 一种挂式轨道取电装置及方法

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3531758A (en) * 1968-03-27 1970-09-29 Leon Blumkin Bus bar assembly
US3553398A (en) * 1968-04-25 1971-01-05 Reininghaus & Co Connecting boxes including switching means for illuminating devices
US3611252A (en) * 1969-11-19 1971-10-05 Halo Lighting Division Attachment member for a power distribution track
US3676830A (en) * 1970-09-16 1972-07-11 Lightolier Inc Multiple access electric power distribution assembly
US3686614A (en) * 1970-02-03 1972-08-22 Nokia Oy Ab Connecting plug for a current supply rail
US3718886A (en) * 1969-05-31 1973-02-27 Nokia Ab Finnish Cable Works O Connection plug for a current supply rail

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2027501A1 (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png) * 1969-01-03 1970-10-02 Comp Generale Electricite

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3531758A (en) * 1968-03-27 1970-09-29 Leon Blumkin Bus bar assembly
US3553398A (en) * 1968-04-25 1971-01-05 Reininghaus & Co Connecting boxes including switching means for illuminating devices
US3718886A (en) * 1969-05-31 1973-02-27 Nokia Ab Finnish Cable Works O Connection plug for a current supply rail
US3611252A (en) * 1969-11-19 1971-10-05 Halo Lighting Division Attachment member for a power distribution track
US3686614A (en) * 1970-02-03 1972-08-22 Nokia Oy Ab Connecting plug for a current supply rail
US3676830A (en) * 1970-09-16 1972-07-11 Lightolier Inc Multiple access electric power distribution assembly

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0074754A2 (en) * 1981-09-07 1983-03-23 Rotaflex p.l.c. Elektrical supply connector for continuous outlet track
EP0074754A3 (en) * 1981-09-07 1984-08-01 Rotaflex P.L.C. Elektrical supply connector for continuous outlet track
US4508400A (en) * 1982-10-18 1985-04-02 Rotaflex P.L.C. Electrical supply connector for continuous outlet track
US5259774A (en) * 1992-04-13 1993-11-09 Juno Lighting, Inc. Track and insulator constructions for track lighting systems for bus bar spacing
EP0779685A3 (en) * 1995-12-13 1998-08-19 REGGIANI S.p.A. ILLUMINAZIONE Electrical track and connector assembly for electrical systems with track-type distribution
EP2940818A1 (en) * 2014-04-28 2015-11-04 Powerbar Limited Electrical distribution system
US9564726B2 (en) 2014-04-28 2017-02-07 Powerbar Limited Electrical distribution system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA997838A (en) 1976-09-28
FR2194060B1 (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png) 1976-11-12
NL7309906A (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png) 1974-01-23
JPS4992586A (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png) 1974-09-04
CH585978A5 (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png) 1977-03-15
IN137953B (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png) 1975-10-18
SE394773B (sv) 1977-07-04
BE802416A (fr) 1973-11-16
NO134678B (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png) 1976-08-16
DE2336216A1 (de) 1974-01-31
FR2194060A1 (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png) 1974-02-22
AU5826273A (en) 1975-01-23
BR7305438D0 (pt) 1974-08-22
IT991824B (it) 1975-08-30
AU469590B2 (en) 1976-02-19
IL42695A0 (en) 1973-10-25
GB1436707A (en) 1976-05-26
ATA620173A (de) 1977-04-15
AT340508B (de) 1977-12-27
NO134678C (US07122603-20061017-C00294.png) 1976-11-24
ZA734879B (en) 1974-08-28
ES417079A1 (es) 1976-05-01

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