WO2017033011A1 - Connecteur électrique - Google Patents
Connecteur électrique Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2017033011A1 WO2017033011A1 PCT/GB2016/052628 GB2016052628W WO2017033011A1 WO 2017033011 A1 WO2017033011 A1 WO 2017033011A1 GB 2016052628 W GB2016052628 W GB 2016052628W WO 2017033011 A1 WO2017033011 A1 WO 2017033011A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- screw
- electrically conductive
- track
- housing
- connector
- Prior art date
Links
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
- H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
- H01R4/28—Clamped connections, spring connections
- H01R4/30—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a screw or nut clamping member
- H01R4/36—Conductive members located under tip of screw
- H01R4/363—Conductive members located under tip of screw with intermediate part between tip and conductive member
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R11/00—Individual connecting elements providing two or more spaced connecting locations for conductive members which are, or may be, thereby interconnected, e.g. end pieces for wires or cables supported by the wire or cable and having means for facilitating electrical connection to some other wire, terminal, or conductive member, blocks of binding posts
- H01R11/01—Individual connecting elements providing two or more spaced connecting locations for conductive members which are, or may be, thereby interconnected, e.g. end pieces for wires or cables supported by the wire or cable and having means for facilitating electrical connection to some other wire, terminal, or conductive member, blocks of binding posts characterised by the form or arrangement of the conductive interconnection between the connecting locations
-
- 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
- the present invention relates to a system for providing an electrical connection. More specifically, it relates to a system for providing an electrical connection between a cable and an electrically conductive track. Such a system may advantageously be used in order to provide power and data to an electronic shelving display system.
- Such networked devices require a supply of power, which may be provided either by batteries, or by hard-wired power lines which are typically connected to the device through the shelving.
- Battery powered devices provide a superior degree of flexibility, as the device may be located anywhere throughout a store or warehouse without the issue of having to provide a power supply.
- the lifetime of the battery is, however, a limiting feature, as the necessary replacement of batteries on a regular basis is both time-consuming and costly.
- Hard-wired power supplies do not have a finite lifetime, but are more expensive to install, and can limit the positions at which a shelf edge device may be located to those positions with an available power outlet.
- Data must be provided to the networked devices in order for each device to update the displayed information when required.
- Data may be provided wirelessly or through hard-wiring.
- Wireless formats allow flexibility in the positioning of networked devices, but potentially leave the system open to hacking or signal jamming.
- Hard-wired data supply is more secure, but as with hard-wired power, it is costly to install and can restrict the positioning of networked devices.
- Power and/or data may advantageously be provided to a shelving system by an electrically conductive track incorporated into the shelving system. This ensures that the electrical connection to the shelf label displays does not interfere with products on the shelves and is not damaged or otherwise affected by movement of the products on the shelves.
- a track must somehow be connected to a power and/or data supply. This connection typically takes the form of a flexible cable.
- any electrical connector that connects the power supply to the electrically conductive track should be safe and simple to use, so that it may be installed or maintained by unskilled workers in a retail environment.
- the connector should be simple to connect and remove, in order to allow for quick and easy reconfiguration of shelving.
- Such a connector should also be compact, so as not to interfere with the products displayed on a shelving system, and robust enough to survive incorrect handling by users.
- a terminal block for coupling a cable to a track would comprise one clamping screw to connect the cable to the terminal block and another clamping screw to connected the terminal block to the track.
- a terminal block for coupling a cable to a track would comprise one clamping screw to connect the cable to the terminal block and another clamping screw to connected the terminal block to the track.
- this requires a user to screw eight screws in order to make the connections and to unscrew eight screws to disconnect the cables from the track. Shelving units in retail stores are reconfigured frequently and so it is desirable to be able to provide for electrical connection and disconnection more simply.
- an electrical connector for connecting a cable to an electrically conductive track comprising: a screw, having a proximal end and a distal end; and a connector body, having an aperture through which the screw passes, and a resilient contact portion configured to abut the distal end of the screw; wherein the screw is movable to urge the resilient contact portion in a distal direction against the track, and the cable is retainable between the proximal end of the screw and the connector body.
- This arrangement has the advantage that only a single screw is required to connect and disconnect the cable from the track.
- the electrical connector comprises an electrically insulating housing configured to retain, in use, a portion of the electrically conductive track.
- the housing is preferably configured to retain the connector body so that, in use, the resilient contact portion contacts the electrically conductive track.
- the housing may comprise a screw thread engageable with the screw, and configured so that movement of the screw along the screw thread in a distal direction urges the resilient contact portion against the track.
- the housing may comprise gripping means configured to grip the electrically conductive track or an element to which the track is fixed, so as to allow relative movement between the electrically conductive track and the housing in a first direction, and prevent relative movement in a second direction opposite the first direction.
- the gripping means may advantageously allow the electrically conductive track to be inserted into the housing in the first direction, but prevent the track from moving back out of the housing accidentally, for example due to creep of the track or connector, or under gravity.
- the gripping means may advantageously grip only a base portion, or an insulating substrate portion, of the electrically conductive track, so that a powerful movement of either the track or the housing may overcome the gripping force of the gripping means. This may advantageously allow the track to be pulled free from the housing without damaging the electrically conductive portion of the track.
- the gripping means may be formed from a series of teeth protruding from the housing, which may advantageously act as a ratchet.
- the teeth are preferably arranged so that the tips of the teeth point in the first direction, so that the track can move in the first direction without catching on the teeth. Movement of the track in the second direction, however, causes the teeth to embed in the track, gripping the track and preventing movement in the second direction.
- the size of the teeth is such that they embed in and grip only a base portion, or an insulating substrate portion, of the electrically conductive track.
- the resilient contact portion provides an electrical connection to the track, in use, with the screw in a first position.
- the screw may be movable in a distal direction to a plurality of second positions, wherein the resilient contact portion provides an electrical contact to the track in each of the plurality of second positions. So the user does not need to be very concerned about how far to screw the screw in the distal direction once the cable is clamped.
- the resilient contact portion comprises a ridge connected to a base, configured so that, in use, the distal end of the screw abuts the ridge and the base abuts the electrically conductive track, such that movement of the screw in a distal direction compresses the ridge and urges the base against the track.
- other shapes for the resilient contact portion are possible that provide for resilient deformation on application of a force in a distal direction, including a concertina shape, a spiral shape and an S shape.
- An electrically conductive cable lug may be retainable between the proximal end of the screw and the connector body.
- the electrical connector is configured so that a plurality of connector bodies are retained within the housing so as to connect, in use, to the electrically conductive track in a plurality of positions.
- the housing is configured to retain an electrically conductive track comprising a plurality of ribbon conductors, and a plurality of connector bodies, wherein each connector body is configured to connect to a corresponding ribbon conductor.
- a system comprising: an electrically conductive track; a cable; and an electrical connector comprising a screw, having a proximal end and a distal end, and a connector body, having an aperture through which the screw passes and a resilient contact portion configured to abut the distal end of the screw; wherein the cable is retainable between the proximal end of the screw and the connector body, and the screw is movable to urge the resilient contact member against the track.
- the connector comprises an electrically insulating housing configured to retain a portion of the electrically conductive track.
- the housing may retain a portion of the cable.
- the housing is advantageously configured to retain the connector body so that the resilient contact portion contacts the electrically conductive track.
- the housing may comprise a screw thread engageable with the screw, configured so that movement of the screw along the screw thread in a distal direction urges the resilient contact portion against the track.
- the housing comprises a gripping means as decribed in relation to the first aspect of the invention.
- the resilient contact portion may provide an electrical connection to the track with the screw in a first position, and the screw may be movable in a distal direction to a plurality of second positions, wherein the resilient contact portion provides an electrical contact to the track in each of the plurality of second positions.
- the cable may advantageously be coupled to an electrically conductive cable lug which is coupled to the screw so as to provide an electrical connection between the cable and the screw.
- the resilient contact portion may comprise a ridge connected to a base, configured so that the distal end of the screw abuts the ridge and the base abuts the electrically conductive track, such that movement of the screw in a distal direction resiliently compresses the ridge and urges the base against the track.
- other shapes for the resilient contact portion are possible that provide for resilient deformation on application of a force in a distal direction, including a concertina shape, a spiral shape and an S shape.
- the electrically conductive track comprises a plurality of electrically conductive elements, and the housing retains a plurality of electrical connectors so that each connector contacts a corresponding electrically conductive element.
- the system may comprise a plurality of cables retained within the housing, such that each cable is coupled to a connector that contacts a corresponding electrically conductive element.
- an electronic shelving display system comprising: at least one shelf support; at least one electrically conductive track, mountable to the shelf support; at least one cable; and at least one electrical connector; wherein the connector comprises a screw, having a proximal end and a distal end, and a connector body, having an aperture through which the screw passes and a resilient contact portion configured to abut the distal end of the screw; wherein the cable is retained between the proximal end of the screw and the connector body, and the screw is movable to urge the resilient contact member against the track, in order to provide an electrical connection from the cable to the track to allow for the supply of power and/or data to the shelf.
- An electronic shelving display system preferably comprises an electrically insulating housing, retaining a portion of the electrically conductive track and a portion of the cable. The housing may be mounted to the shelf support.
- the housing comprises a gripping means as decribed in relation to the first aspect of the invention.
- the electrically conductive track may comprise a plurality of electrically conductive elements, and the housing may be configured to retain a plurality of electrical connectors so that, in use, each connector is configured to contact a corresponding electrically conductive element.
- the electronic shelving display system may comprise a plurality of cables retained within the housing, such that each cable is coupled to a connector configured to contact a corresponding electrically conductive element.
- Each cable may carry power and/or data, such that power and/or data is transmitted through each connector to the corresponding electrically conductive element of the electrically conductive track.
- An electronic shelving display system may additionally comprise at least one electronic shelf label display, coupled to the electrically conductive track in order to allow for the supply of power and/or data to the electronic shelf label display.
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a connector body in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
- Figure 2 is a side view of the connector body of Figure 1 ;
- Figure 3 is an underside view of the connector body of Figure 1 ;
- Figure 4 is an exploded view of a connector system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
- Figure 5 is an assembled view of the connector of Figure 4.
- Figure 6 is a plan view of the connector of Figure 4;
- Figure 7 is a cross section of the connector of Figure 4, with the screw in an unconnected position;
- Figure 8a is a cross section of the connector of Figure 4, with the screw in a connected position;
- Figure 8b is a detail view of the connector body in Figure 8a;
- Figure 9a is a schematic illustration of a shelving system including a connector system as illustrated in Figured 4 to 8b;
- Figure 9b is a detail view of the connector of Figure 9a;
- Figure 10 is a is a plan view cross section of the connector system of Figure 4.
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a connector body 10 for use in a connector as illustrated in Figure 4.
- Figure 2 is a side view of the connector body of Figure 1.
- Figure 3 is an underside view of the connector body of Figure 1.
- the connector body 10 is formed from a single sheet of phosphor bronze PB102, with a tin over nickel finish.
- the connector body 10 comprises a resilient contact portion 12, connected to an upper portion 18 by a connecting beam 11.
- the upper portion 18 has an aperture 19 formed in it and is dimensioned to allow the shaft of a screw to pass through it.
- the resilient contact portion 12 comprises base portions 16 and a ridge portion 14 between the base portions.
- the ridge portion 14 projects from the base portions 16 towards the upper portion 18.
- the connector body is formed from a sheet of phosphor bronze of around 0.2mm thick so that the ridge portion is readily compressible, as will be described. In an uncompressed state the ridge portion extends from the base portion 16 towards the upper portion by a distance of around 1 mm.
- a screw can passed through the aperture 19 from an opposite side of the aperture to the ridge 14 and moved in a direction towards the apex 15 of the ridge, herein referred to as the distal direction. Further movement of the screw in the distal direction will cause a distal end of the screw to contact the apex 15. If an underside of the base portions 16 is abutting a conductive track, as will be described, further distal movement of the screw will compress the ridge and thereby spread the base portions 16 apart from one another.
- FIG 4 is an exploded view of a connector system that incorporates a connector body as shown in Figures 1 to 3.
- the connector connects an electrically conductive track 30 to a plurality of cables 40.
- the connector comprises a base housing 20 and a cover 22, both formed formed from an insulative plastics material.
- the cover 22 is formed from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and the base housing is formed from polyamide.
- Engaging lips on the base housing engage the sides of the track 30 in a manner that allows the base housing 20 to slide along the length of the track.
- the base housing 20 comprises four bores 26 configured to receive respective electrically conductive screws 24 .Below each of the bores 26, but not visible in Figure 4, a connector body 10 and a threaded insert
- each cable 24 passes through each cable lug and into the respective bore 26, as can be seen clearly in Figure 7, which is a cross sectional view of an assembled connector.
- Cover apertures 26 are provided in the cover 22 to permit access to each of the screws 24.
- Each cable 40 is connected to a different electrically conductive strip 32 by the connector system. In this example two of the cables carry power and two of the cables carry data.
- Figure 5 is a perspective view of an assembled connector of the type shown in Figure 4, and Figure 6 is a plan view of Figure 5.
- the cover can be seen engaged to the base housing, and the screws 24 are clearly accessible through cover apertures 26 to allow for loosening and tightening of the screws 24.
- FIG 7 is a cross sectional view of the connector of Figures 5 and 6.
- the electrical track 30 is shown and comprises an insulating substrate 34 and electrically conductive strips 32.
- a screw 24 is shown passing through a cable lug 42, a bore 26, the aperture 19 in a connector body 10 and a threaded insert 23.
- the screw 24 is formed from an electrically conductive material such as phosphor brass.
- a thread on the screw 24 engages a thread on threaded insert 23.
- the screw is shown in a position in which it is not engaged with the ridge 14 of the connector body so that no electrical connection is made between the cable lug 42 and the electrically conductive strip 32.
- the cover 22 is engages with the base housing by a mechanical interlock between base lugs 28 on the base and cover lugs 29 on the cover.
- Figure 8a is a cross sectional view of the assembly of Figure 7 but with the screw 24 moved distally to provide an electrical connection between the cable lug 42 and the electrically conductive strip 32.
- Figure 8b is a detail view of the connector body in this position. It can be seen that in the position shown in Figures 8a and 8b the cable lug 42 is clamped between a screw head at the proximal end of the screw and the base housing 20. The distal end of the screw is in contact with the resilient contact portion of the connector body and has compressed the ridge 14, urging the base portion 16 into contact with the electrically conductive strip 32. In this way an electrical connection is made between the cables 40 and the track 30.
- the advantage of this arrangement is that the screw can be screwed into the threaded insert to clamp the cable lug 42 and simultaneously contact the connector body 10 and because of the ability of the resilient contact portion 12 of the connector body to deform, the relative dimensions of the base housing 20, the cable lugs 42 and screws 24 do not have to be controlled within very tight tolerances. Furthermore, the ability of the resilient contact portion 12 of the connector body to deform reduces the chances that the screw could damage the track 30 by being over tightened and reduces the chance of damage to the track if the track and connector are pulled apart by a user before the screws 24 are loosened. The resilient contact portion can simply slide along the track with tearing the surface of the track.
- FIG 9a is a schematic illustration of a shelving system 50 including a connector as described with reference to Figures 1 to 8b.
- the shelving system 50 comprises a shelf 52 supported by a shelf support 54.
- Displays 56 are connected to a front edge of the shelf 52.
- Power and data is provided to the displays 56 through electrically conductive tracks 30, 35 and 37.
- Preferably electrical power is provided at a voltage of 15V and a current of 5A in a direct current (DC) configuration, and data in an appropriate data format, such as 4xRS485 data format, for electronic shelf label displays.
- the power and data supply 66 may supply electrical power at a voltage of 12V, or 24V, according to the requirements of the system.
- FIG. 9a Only a single shelf is shown in Figure 9a but the system may include several shelves supported by a single shelf support and may include several shelf supports. Each shelf may have several displays 56.
- a connector is positioned at the base of the shelf support 54 and the connector cover 22 can be seen. The connector connects power and data cables in the cable jacket 41 to the track 30, as is more clearly shown in the detail view of Figure 9b. The connector can slide on or snap on to the track 30.
- the track 30 is shown covered by a track cover 38.
- the tracks 30, 25 and 37 are fixed to the shelf support and shelf and do not interfere with products on the shelf.
- Figure 10 is a plan view cross section of the connector system of Figures 4 to 8, showing only the track 30 and base housing 200.
- the base housing 200 comprises opposing sets of teeth 250 arranged to engage and grip the sides of the track 30.
- the teeth 250 are arranged so that the tips of the teeth are angled towards a first end 260 of the base housing. This allows the track to be inserted into the base housing 200 by sliding it into the base housing until the track reaches the first end of the housing.
- the teeth 250 then act to stop the track moving away from the first end of the base housing, by embedding in and gripping the sides of the track 30.
- a connector as described allows for simple and reliable connection of cable to a conductive track system, using a minimal number of screws and that is not easily damaged by misuse.
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- Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
- Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
Abstract
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB1804732.4A GB2557799A (en) | 2015-08-24 | 2016-08-24 | Electrical connector |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB1515028.7 | 2015-08-24 | ||
GBGB1515028.7A GB201515028D0 (en) | 2015-08-24 | 2015-08-24 | Electrical connector |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2017033011A1 true WO2017033011A1 (fr) | 2017-03-02 |
Family
ID=54292124
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB2016/052628 WO2017033011A1 (fr) | 2015-08-24 | 2016-08-24 | Connecteur électrique |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (2) | GB201515028D0 (fr) |
WO (1) | WO2017033011A1 (fr) |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
BE424995A (fr) * | 1936-12-03 | 1938-01-31 | Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft | Horne de raccordement a plaque intermediaire |
CH225299A (de) * | 1936-12-03 | 1943-01-15 | Licentia Gmbh | Anschlussklemme mit Zwischenplatte. |
WO1994022125A2 (fr) * | 1993-03-25 | 1994-09-29 | Electronic Retailing Systems International, Inc. | Systeme de presentation d'informations sur rail |
DE19513281A1 (de) * | 1995-04-07 | 1996-10-10 | Kopp Heinrich Ag | Kombianschlußklemme |
EP1246319A1 (fr) * | 2001-03-27 | 2002-10-02 | C & C MARSHALL LIMITED | Système de rail d'énergie électrique |
WO2005101443A2 (fr) * | 2004-04-19 | 2005-10-27 | Moeller Gebäudeautomation KG | Dispositif de commutation |
-
2015
- 2015-08-24 GB GBGB1515028.7A patent/GB201515028D0/en not_active Ceased
-
2016
- 2016-08-24 WO PCT/GB2016/052628 patent/WO2017033011A1/fr active Application Filing
- 2016-08-24 GB GB1804732.4A patent/GB2557799A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
BE424995A (fr) * | 1936-12-03 | 1938-01-31 | Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft | Horne de raccordement a plaque intermediaire |
CH225299A (de) * | 1936-12-03 | 1943-01-15 | Licentia Gmbh | Anschlussklemme mit Zwischenplatte. |
WO1994022125A2 (fr) * | 1993-03-25 | 1994-09-29 | Electronic Retailing Systems International, Inc. | Systeme de presentation d'informations sur rail |
DE19513281A1 (de) * | 1995-04-07 | 1996-10-10 | Kopp Heinrich Ag | Kombianschlußklemme |
EP1246319A1 (fr) * | 2001-03-27 | 2002-10-02 | C & C MARSHALL LIMITED | Système de rail d'énergie électrique |
WO2005101443A2 (fr) * | 2004-04-19 | 2005-10-27 | Moeller Gebäudeautomation KG | Dispositif de commutation |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2557799A (en) | 2018-06-27 |
GB201515028D0 (en) | 2015-10-07 |
GB201804732D0 (en) | 2018-05-09 |
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