BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
A connector arrangement is provided for tapping off current from a plurality of insulated input conductors and for supplying the same to a plurality of output conductors, including a rectangular base member having a horizontal planar upper surface provided with a plurality of parallel seats receiving the insulated conductors, a frame mounted on the base member for supporting a plurality of terminal blocks for vertical displacement over the seats, each terminal block including an insulation piercing contact extending downwardly therefrom, and an eccentric disk arrangement for displacing each terminal block relative to the frame member between an elevated position spaced above the associated conductor seat, and a lowered position in which the contact penetrates the insulation layer and engages the conductor.
2. Description of Related Art
This kind of connection system is known from DE 297 08 222 U1. The connection system shown in that reference is used—just as the connection system of the present invention—to make electricity tap-off branches from a plurality of continuous conductors without having to cut through the continuous conductors. For this purpose, a plurality of groove-like seats are provided on a base plate into which seat one can insert a flat cable or a plurality of electrical conductors that are parallel with respect to each other. Then an upper part is put on in order to slacken the conductors or the flat cable. Upon this preassembled unit, which is provided with separating walls, one then locks clamp-like bodies in a pivotal motion, which bodies in each case are provided with an insulation-penetrating contact that is connected via a bus bar with, in each case, two resilient contacts for connection with output conductors. In this way, one can make in each case two branches on each conductor without having to separate the continuous conductors.
It is also known that one can arrange conductor connection discs on a shaft in a rotatable manner upon a bottom plate. This design did not work satisfactorily, because the conductors must be inserted sideways so that the arrangement is not suitable for assembly upon already-installed continuous cables.
The present invention therefore starts with the typical state of the art and seeks to simplify said state of the art with respect to its design structure, whereby a compact structure with ease of operation is achieved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a connector arrangement for supplying to a plurality of output conductors electrical current that is tapped off current from a plurality of continuous insulated conductors, including a base member having a plurality of parallel longitudinal seats for supporting the insulated conductors, a rectangular frame mounted on the base member to enclose the space above the seats, a plurality of terminal blocks connected with the frame for vertical displacement above the seats, respectively, said terminal blocks containing downwardly extending insulation-piercing contacts, respectively, and displacement means for displacing the terminal blocks downwardly relative to the frame to cause the insulation layers of the insulated conductors to be pierced by the contacts. The insulation-piercing contact means are connected by internal bus bar means with output terminals that that supply the tapped-off current to the output conductors connected thereto.
According to another object of the invention, the frame and terminal block assembly is mounted on the base member by snap fastener means provided on integral posts that extend upwardly from the base member, whereby upon downward displacement of the assembly relative to the base member, the fastener means on the integral posts cooperate with corresponding fastener surfaces on the frame. In a second embodiment, the frame includes pivot lug means that extend from one end of the frame for engagement with corresponding pivot openings contained in the base member, whereby in order to fasten the frame and terminal block assembly to the base member, the frame and terminal block assembly is pivoted downwardly about the pivot lug and opening from an inclined upper position toward a horizontal position above and parallel with the base member, thereby to cause engagement between fastener means carried by integral posts on the base member and corresponding fastener surfaces at the other end of the frame.
The present invention provides a connection system for tapping off electricity from a plurality of continuous electrical conductors, in particular, a section of cable from which the outer sheath has been stripped, with a base plate provided with a plurality of parallel seats arranged next to each other for the purpose of receiving the conductors of the cable from which the sheathing has been stripped, section by section; a connection module that is arranged on the bottom plate and that preferably can be supported by a modular frame having several receiving chambers for f receiving movably arranged terminal blocks in them with housings made of insulating material, where the terminal blocks have at least one insulation-penetrating contact that is directed at the bottom plate and that serves for contacting one of the conductors, together with at least one branch connection, in particular, for output tap-off conductors.
As regards design, the arrangement is further simplified when, compared to the state of the art, the invention uses tool-free connectable IDC contacts, in particular, contacts for wiring purposes. The module frame is well suited for absorbing the force, especially during wiring. In the process, the connection module as such already creates a unit that can be pre-assembled by the manufacturer, and that unit, in itself, already absorbs the major wiring forces without excessively stressing the bottom plate. It is thus possible in a simple manner to contact both the continuous conductors and the branching conductors (at any rate, when one uses direct plug contacts). As a result, there is no need to insert individual terminal blocks, although each of the conductors can be wired individually.
The continuous insulated conductors, for instance, can be the continuous conductors of a flat cable - for example, a round cable - whose cable sheath was removed in the area of the connection system, whereby the continuous conductors in this sheath-stripped section are inserted in the seats of the bottom plate. For contacting purposes, one then merely needs to put on the terminal blocks, to displace them toward the engaged position, and then to insert the conductor ends of the output tap-off conductors. In this way, one can also quickly and subsequently assemble a output conductor to an already-installed cable.
Preferably, the terminal blocks, and thus especially also the insulation-penetrating contacts arranged thereupon, are guided in a purely vertically movable manner in the respective chambers so as to ensure a clearly defined piercing contact normal to the axis of the conductors. In this way, one can advantageously avoid pivotal movement of the contacts during the severing of the insulation layer of the conductor.
Preferably, actuation devices are associated with the terminal blocks for the purpose of movement, in particular, the vertical displacement of the terminal blocks in their respective chambers. In this manner, the terminal blocks are displaced simultaneously as a group in their respective module chambers; this ensures large-surface sliding bearing and defined guidance of the IDC contacts during the contacting of the conductors. Here, it is particularly advantageous when the actuation devices are made as eccentric disks because the latter facilitates high force transmission in a narrow space.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, when viewed in the light of the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of the connector arrangement of the present invention;
FIG. 2
a is a perspective rear view of the terminal block of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2b is an exploded view of the terminal block of FIG. 2a;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view illustrating the manner of mounting the support frame assembly upon the base member, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are corresponding perspective views illustrating the frame mounted on the base member with the terminal blocks in their elevated inoperable position and lowered operable insulation-piercing position, respectively;
FIGS. 6 and 7 are longitudinal sectional views illustrating the manner of operation of the apparatus to displace the frame and terminal block assembly from the elevated inoperable position to the lowered insulation-piercing position, respectively;
FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a modification of the apparatus of FIG. 4 contained within the outer housing with the lid removed and with the lid added, respectively;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the cable-to-conductor separating means of FIG. 8;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a modification of the housing arrangement of FIG. 9;
FIGS. 12-14 are perspective views illustrating base members having various conductor seat arrangements;
FIG. 15 is an exploded view of a modification of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 16
a is a rear perspective view of the terminal block of FIG. 15, and FIG. 16b is an exploded view of the terminal block of FIG. 16a;
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a partially assembled connector arrangement corresponding to FIG. 15;
FIGS. 18 and 19 are perspective views illustrating the assembled apparatus of FIG. 15 with the terminal blocks in the elevated inoperative and lowered operative insulation-piercing positions, respectively;
FIGS. 20 and 21 are longitudinal sectional views illustrating the operation of the apparatus of FIG. 15 when in the lowered operative and elevated inoperative positions, respectively;
FIG. 22 is a perspective view of another modification of the base member conductor seat arrangement;
FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 16 mounted within the lower housing section, with the lid removed;
FIGS. 24 and 25 are perspective views of various modifications of the housing of FIG. 23;
FIGS. 26
a,
26
b and 26c are partially assembled, fully assembled, and exploded perspective views, respectively, of another terminal block embodiment; and
FIGS. 27
a,
27
b and 27c are partially assembled, fully assembled, and exploded perspective views, respectively, of a further terminal block embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring first more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2a, and 2b, the connector tap-off arrangement 1 of the present invention includes a base member 2 that supports a rigid frame 3 that is formed from a suitable electrically insulating material and that contains a plurality of chambers 6 that are open at their upper and lower ends and within a plurality of terminal blocks 4 are respectively arranged for vertical movement as guided by rib and slot means 69. The apparatus is operable to tap off electrical current from a plurality of insulated conductors 21 of a cable 22 that are exposed upon the removal of a section of the cable sheath, thereby to define a pair of cable sheath ends 24. The cable is supported at each end of the base member 2 by integral cable support means 23, and the individual insulated conductors are mounted in separate longitudinally extending cable seats 20 that are integral with the base member. As will be explained in greater detail below, when the frame 3 is mounted on the base member 2 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, eccentric disks 16 on the terminal blocks 4 are operated to displace the terminal blocks downwardly relative to the frame, thereby to effect piercing of the insulation layers on the conductors 21 by a piercing contacts 8, on the terminal blocks, whereby electrical current is tapped off from the conductors 21 and supplied to output conductors 70a and 70b connected with the various terminal blocks 4.
As shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, each of the terminal blocks 4 includes a terminal block body 7 that is formed from a suitable electrically insulating synthetic plastic material, and within which is mounted a conductive bus bar 10. At one end, the bus bar 10 is connected with the insulation-piercing fork contact 8 that is connected with the first output contact means 9a in the form of a resilient contact 11. At its other end, the bus bar 10 is connected with the second output contact means 9b, which comprises a vertical plug contact 13. The terminal body 7 has a first access opening 12 for receiving the bare end of an output conductor 70a that engages the resilient contact 11, and the other end the terminal body contains a second access opening 35 for receiving the plug connector 65 of a second output conductor 70b. Thus, as will be described in greater detail below, when a given insulation-piercing contact 8 pierces the insulation layer of one of the conductors 21 to engage the conductor thereof, electrical current is transmitted both to the first output conductor 70a via the resilient contact means 11, and to the second output conductor 70b via the bus bar 10, the plug contact 13, and the plug connector 65. As is known in the art, the resilient contact 11 comprises a reversely bent resilient portion 56 terminating in an end extremity 55 that is adapted to engage the bare conductor end of the output conductor 70a that is inserted via opening 12. In order to stabilize and support the insulation-piercing contact 8 relative to the bus bar 10, a resilient U-shaped protective cover 34 is provided having a base portion that is connected with the bus bar 10, and a pair of leg portions that extend downwardly on opposite sides of the insulation-piercing contact 8.
Arranged for rotation within cam chambers 14 contained in the upper portion of the terminal block housings 7 are a plurality of eccentric disks 16, respectively, said disks containing axially-aligned radially-offset openings 17. Extending through these aligned offset openings is a mounting shaft 37 the ends of which are supported by opposed openings 36 contained in the side walls of the frame 3. The side walls of the terminal housings 7 contain opposed vertical slots 18 through which the mounting shaft 37 extends. The eccentric disks 16 also carry at each end central axially-extending pegs 32 that extend within corresponding opposed slots 33 contained in the side walls of the housing 7. Also mounted on the operating disks are spring-biased buttons 53 that are arranged to engage corresponding stop openings 54a and 54b contained in the housing side walls when the terminal blocks are in their elevated and lowered positions, as will be described below. The housing 7 contains a first access opening 12 for receiving the first output conductor 70a, and a second access chamber 35 for receiving the connector of the second output conductor 70b.
The support shaft 37 is normally non-rotatably connected with the eccentric disks 16, whereby the eccentric discs are operated simultaneously as a unit. Alternatively, the disks could be rotatably mounted on the shaft for individual selective operation. The base member 2 contains a row of inspection openings 30 beneath the conductors 21, respectively, thereby to permit an observer to determine if the conductors are properly in place. The base member also includes a plurality of vertically projecting integral mounting studs 25 to which the frame 3 is fastened when mounted on the base member 2, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Catch fasteners at the upper ends of the vertical projections 25 engage corresponding catch projections on the frame 3 when it is lowered to the mounted position of FIG. 4.
Referring now to FIG. 6, once the assembly of the frame 3 and the terminal blocks 4 is lowered onto the base member 2, the tip of an operating tool such as a screwdriver 40 is inserted within a corresponding slot 42 contained in the outer periphery of the eccentric disk 16, whereupon the disks 16 are simultaneously rotated about the support shaft 37 that extends through the opening 17 contained in the eccentric disks, and the vertical slots contained in the side walls of the terminal blocks. Owing to the cooperation between the outer circumferential cam surface of the eccentric disk 16 and the adjacent wall surface of the cam recess 14, together with the forces produced by the radial pegs 32 extending through the slots 33 contained in the side walls of the housing 7, the frame assembly is displaced downwardly relative to the base member 2 from the elevated inoperative position of FIG. 3 to the lower operable position of FIG. 7. At this time, the knife edges of the bifurcated fork piercing member 8 sever the insulation layer of the associated conductor 21, whereupon the conductor within the insulated conductor is electrically connected with the first and second contact means 9a and 9b at opposite ends of the terminal block. The retaining button 53 on the opposite ends of the eccentric disk 16 then engages the corresponding position-establishing opening 54b (FIG. 2b), thereby to maintain the eccentric disks 16 in place relative to the terminal blocks upon removal of the operating tool 40.
To disengage the frame and terminal block assembly from the base member 2, the operating tool 40 is again introduced into the slot 42, whereupon the eccentric disks 16 are rotated in the counterclockwise direction to their initial disengaged positions of FIG. 6. In this state, the button 53 on each end of the eccentric disk 16 engages the position opening 54a contained in the side walls of the terminal block housing 7.
Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, following the mounting of the frame and terminal block assembly on the base member 2, the resulting assembly is inserted downwardly within the chamber contained within an outer housing 26, with the cable extending through resilient seals mounted in the end walls of the outer housing 26. The output conductors 70 are directed out of the chamber of the outer housing 26 via a lateral opening 28 contained in the opposed side walls of the outer housing 26. The seal that normally closes the opening 28 is fractured to permit the output conductors to extend there through. If desired, a cable support element 43 (FIG. 10) may be provided containing a circular opening 45 at one end for receiving the cable 22, and a plurality of openings 44 for receiving the respective insulated conductors 21. The lower housing element 26 is closed by an upper lid closure member 27, as shown in FIG. 9. In the modification of FIG. 11, the opening 48 contained in the seal member 47 at each end of the housing 26 has an oval configuration for receiving a flat cable having a plurality of insulated conductors enclosed with an outer sheath layer.
Referring to FIGS. 12-14, the connector apparatus may include base members having various configurations and constructions. In the embodiment of FIG. 12, the base member 101 is provide with a plurality of conductor seats 20 that are adapted to receive conductors 21a and 21b having different diameters, respectively. The raised sides of the seats define bridge members 38 are provided with catch hooks 50 that retain conductors 21a and 21b of different diameters in the insulated conductor seats. In the embodiment of FIG. 13, the conductors are retained in separate elastic catch seats 51 that are mounted on a bridge 52 that is fastened to the upper surface of the base member 102. In the embodiment of FIG. 14, the projection 64a and 64b are arranged in parallel rows and face in opposite directions, thereby to define a labyrinth arrangement for retaining the cables 21a and 21b of different diameters within the conductor seats 20.
In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the assembly of the frame 3 and terminal blocks 4 is mounted upon the base member 2 by cooperating snap fastener means on the vertical projections 25 and the corresponding surfaces at the four corners of the frame 3. In the second embodiment of FIGS. 15, 16a, and 16b, the frame and terminal block assembly is fastened to the base member 104 by means of pivot lugs 58 that extend from the rear wall of the frame 3′ into a corresponding recess (not shown) contained in the base member 104, whereupon the frame and terminal block assembly is pivoted from an initial inclined position downwardly about the pivot lug means 58 toward the horizontal position parallel with the base member, thereby to effect engagement between catches 3d′ that extend outwardly from the side walls of the frame into corresponding catch openings contained in the vertical protecting portions 25′.
Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, it will be seen that the side walls of the terminal block housing 7 have upper bridge portions 57 that enclose the end portions of the eccentric disks 16. As before, each disk 16 contains an offset opening 29 that is non-rotatably connected with the operating shaft 37. The button 53 mounted on each end of the eccentric disk 16 is operable to engage the corresponding position openings 54a and 54b when the frame and terminal block assembly is in its elevated disengage and lowered engaged positions, respectively. The bus bar arrangement for connecting the piercing contact 8 with the outlet contacts 9a and 9b is the same in this embodiment as in the first embodiment of FIG. 1. Thus, when the eccentric disk 16 of FIG. 21 is rotated by the tool 40 in the clockwise direction about the axis of support shaft 37 to the position shown in FIG. 20, terminal blocks are displaced downwardly to effect piercing of the insulation layer by the fork 8. In this embodiment, clamp means 59 are provided for clamping the cable 22 to the bottom wall member 104. As before, the continuous shaft 37 is non-rotatably connected with all of the eccentric disks, whereby the operating disks are displace as a unit. Of course, if desired, the eccentric disks 16 of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 15 could be rotatably connected with the support shaft 37, whereupon the terminal blocks 4 could be individually displaced relative to the base member, rather than being displaced simultaneously as a group.
Referring now to FIG. 22, the base member embodiment 105 includes resilient supports 51 for retaining conductors 21a and 21b of different diameters within their respective longitudinally-extending conductor seats 20. In the embodiment of FIG. 23, the apparatus of FIG. 19 is mounted within the chamber contained in the lower section 26 of an outer housing. At each end, the housing 26 is provided with an opening in which is mounted seal means 47 containing a circular opening 48 for receiving the cable 22. In the modification of FIG. 24, the opening 48′ contained in seal means 47′ has an oval configuration for receiving a flat cable. The housing 26 is closed by a lid closure member 27, as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25.
Referring now to FIGS. 26a, 26b, and 26c, it will be seen that the output connector plug 65 that extends within access opening 35 containing the vertical contact 13 that defines the second output contact means 9b includes a conductive bifurcated contact 68 having a bifurcated lower end 68a that is adapted to receive the upwardly projecting contact 13 when the plug 65 is inserted within the access opening 35, as shown in FIG. 26a. As shown in FIG. 27a-27c, an auxiliary electrical component 65′ may be connected with the vertical contact 13 thereby to supply current from the insulation piercing contact 8 to a plurality of output conductors connected with the plug 65′.
While in accordance with the provisions of the Patent Statutes the preferred forms and embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made without deviating from the invention described above.
Patent Application
20070066121
