Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6220901
-
Patent Number
6,220,901
-
Date Filed
Thursday, April 30, 199826 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, April 24, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Sircus; Brian
- Hyeon; Hae Moon
Agents
- Horton, Esq.; Carl B.
- Wasserbauer, Esq.; Damian
- Armstrong Teasdale LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 439 715
- 439 716
- 439 717
- 439 719
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A terminal board assembly for an electric motor is described. The terminal board assembly is configured to mount inside an electric motor terminal or conduit box and includes a terminal board and a mounting bracket. The terminal board includes six terminal studs and three connecting bars extending between the terminal studs. Quick connect spade type connectors are coupled to the six terminal studs adjacent the bottom of the terminal board to facilitate quick and easy connection of the wire connection leads of an electric motor. The terminal studs and connecting bars permit a choice of “Y” or “Delta” voltage connections to the electric motor. The terminal board also includes a first and a second slot positioned at, and parallel to, opposing ends of the board. The mounting bracket includes a base portion and first and second side portions depending from opposing ends of the base portion. An engaging portion extends from each side portion and is configured to extend through the slots positioned at the opposing ends of the terminal board. Each engaging portion includes a retaining tab configured to engage the terminal board. The base portion of the mounting bracket includes at least one mounting opening for attaching the bracket to the electric motor conduit box.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to electric motors and more particularly, to a terminal board assembly for connecting motor leads to power line leads.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electric motors sold for use in the United States often include multiple loose wire leads for connecting to the power line connecting leads. The wire leads and the power line connecting leads are connected, typically with wire nuts, in a conduit or terminal box attached to the motor housing. European standards require, however, that electric motors include a six stud connector block with connecting bars for setting “Y” or “Delta” voltage selections, mounted in the conduit box. The motor leads are attached to the connector block, usually with eyelet type connectors. To connect the motor to the power line, the power line leads must be connected to the proper terminal studs.
Electric motors manufactured to European standards using commercially available European type connector blocks with eyelet connectors are expensive to manufacture. Increased labor costs are incurred due to the increased time needed to mount the terminal block and to connect the leads using the eyelet connectors.
It would be desirable to provide a motor connector block meeting European standards that can be easily and quickly installed in the motor terminal box. It would further be desirable to provide a connector block that can be easily and quickly removed from the motor terminal box for service or replacement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects may be attained by a terminal board assembly configured to mount inside an electric motor conduit box and including a terminal board and a mounting bracket. The terminal board includes six terminal studs and three connecting bars extending between terminal studs configured to meet the European standards for electric motor connections to power line leads. Quick connect spade type connectors are coupled to the six terminal studs adjacent the bottom of the terminal board to facilitate quick and easy connection of the wire connection leads of an electric motor. The terminal studs and connecting bars permit a choice of “Y” or “Delta” voltage connections to the electric motor. The terminal board also includes a first and a second slot positioned at, and parallel to, opposing ends of the board for securing the terminal board to the mounting bracket as described below.
The mounting bracket includes a base portion and first and second side portions depending from opposing ends of the base portion. An engaging portion extends from each side portion and is configured to extend through the slots positioned at the opposing ends of the terminal board. Each engaging portion includes a retaining tab configured to engage the terminal board. The base portion of the mounting bracket includes at least one mounting opening for attaching the bracket to the electric motor conduit box.
To install the terminal board assembly in an electric motor conduit box, the mounting bracket is mounted inside the conduit box with mounting screws. The terminal board is then installed by positioning the board so that the slots in the board are positioned over the engaging portions of the mounting bracket. The terminal board is then pushed down onto the bracket so that the bottom of the board contacts the edge of the bracket side portions adjacent the base of the engaging portions, and the retaining tabs engage the board thereby securing the board in place. The motor wire leads may be connected to the board either before or after the board is secured in the mounting bracket.
The above-described terminal board assembly includes quick connect terminal connectors for quick and easy connection of the electric motor wire connection leads to the board. Additionally, the mounting bracket permits the terminal board to “snap in place” in the conduit box without the use of additional fasteners. The “snap in place” mounting bracket permits easy installation and easy removal of the terminal board for possible service, replacement, or installation of the power line connection leads.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a top view of a terminal board assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention mounted in an electric motor conduit box.
FIG. 2
is a front cross sectional view of the terminal board assembly and electric motor conduit box shown in FIG.
1
.
FIG. 3
is a side cross sectional view of the terminal board assembly and electric motor conduit box shown in FIG.
1
.
FIG. 4
is a perspective view of the mounting bracket of the terminal board assembly shown in FIG.
1
.
FIG. 5
is a top view of a terminal board in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to
FIGS. 1
,
2
, and
3
, a terminal board assembly
20
in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown mounted inside an electric motor terminal or conduit box
22
. Conduit box
22
includes a base member
24
and a cover member
26
. Base member
24
has the general shape of an open top box and includes a bottom
28
, four sides
30
A,
30
B,
30
C, and
30
D, and a sealing flange
32
extending from sides
30
A,
30
B,
30
C, and
30
D. An opening
34
(see
FIGS. 1 and 3
) extends through bottom
28
of base member
24
to permit electric motor lead wires (not shown) to enter conduit box
22
. Another opening
36
(see
FIG. 3
) extends through side
30
A to permit power line connection wires (not shown) to enter conduit box
22
. Mounting screws
38
A and
38
B extend through bottom
28
to secure conduit box
22
to an electric motor (not shown). A ground screw
40
(see
FIGS. 1 and 3
) extends through bottom
28
of base member
24
. Cover
26
is configured to be secured to base member
24
and includes a sealing flange
42
configured to mate with sealing flange
32
of base member
24
. Cover
26
is mounted to base member
24
with cover mounting screws
44
A and
44
B (see
FIG. 2
) which extend through sealing flanges
32
and
42
at opposing ends of conduit box
22
. In another embodiment, conduit box
22
may be remotely mounted from the electric motor (not shown). In such a configuration, the electric motor wire leads are routed through a conduit extending between the motor and conduit box
22
.
Terminal board assembly
20
includes a terminal board
46
and a mounting bracket
48
. Terminal board
46
is configured to fit inside conduit box
22
and includes a first surface
52
and a second surface
54
. Elongate slots
56
A and
56
B are located at opposing ends
58
and
60
of terminal board
46
(see FIG.
1
). Slots
56
A and
56
B are configured to engage mounting bracket
48
, and are parallel to ends
58
and
60
. Terminal board
46
includes six terminal studs
62
A,
62
B,
62
C,
64
A,
64
B, and
64
C. Terminal studs
62
A,
62
B, and
62
C are threaded type studs, and include nuts
65
A,
65
B, and
65
C. Terminal studs
64
A,
64
B, and
64
C are threaded type studs and include nuts
66
A and
68
A,
66
B and
68
B, and
66
C and
68
C respectively (see FIG.
2
and
3
). Quick connect spade type terminals
70
A,
70
B,
70
C,
72
A,
72
B, and
72
C are coupled to terminal studs
62
A,
62
B,
62
C,
64
A,
64
B, and
64
C respectively and are positioned adjacent to second surface
54
of terminal board
46
. Of course, quick connect terminals
70
A,
70
B,
70
C,
72
A,
72
B, and
72
C may be any suitable type quick connect terminal. Connecting bars
74
A,
74
B, and
74
C extend between and connect to studs
62
A and
64
A, studs
62
B and
64
B, and studs
62
C and
64
C, respectively (see FIG.
1
). This configuration provides a “Delta” voltage connection to the electric motor. Different configurations of connecting bars
74
A,
74
B, and
74
C between terminal studs
62
A,
62
B,
62
C,
64
A,
64
B, and
64
C, permit a choice of “Y” or “Delta” voltage connections to the electric motor.
Referring to
FIG. 4
, mounting bracket
48
is configured to fit inside conduit box
22
and includes a base portion
76
and side portions
78
A and
78
B depending from opposing sides of base portion
74
. Side portions
78
A and
78
B include first ends
80
A and
80
B, and second ends
82
A and
82
B, respectively. Engaging portions
84
A and
84
B extend from second ends
82
A and
82
B of side portions
78
A and
78
B respectively and are configured to extend through the slots
56
A and
56
B. Engaging portions
84
A and
84
B include retaining tabs
86
A and
86
B respectively which are configured to engage terminal board
22
. Side portions
78
A and
78
B are wider than engaging portions
84
A and
84
B and include edges
88
A and
88
B adjacent to engaging portions
84
A and
84
B. Mounting opening
90
extends through base portion
76
. Mounting screw
38
A (shown in
FIG. 3
) extends through mounting opening
90
and secures mounting bracket
48
to bottom
28
of conduit box
22
. Mounting bracket
48
may be fabricated from sheet metal. Some non-limiting examples of sheet metal include, for example, galvanized steel, aluminum, and stainless steel.
To install terminal board assembly
20
in electric motor conduit box
22
, mounting bracket
48
is mounted to conduit box
22
with mounting screw
38
A. Terminal board
46
is then installed by positioning board
46
so that slots
56
A and
56
B are positioned over engaging portions
84
A and
84
B of mounting bracket
48
. Terminal board
46
is then pushed down onto bracket
48
so that second surface
54
of board
46
contacts bracket edges
88
A and
88
B of side portions
78
A and
78
B, and bracket retaining tabs
86
A and
86
B engage board
46
thereby securing board
46
in place. Typically, the electric motor wire leads (not shown) are connected to terminal board
46
before board
46
is secured in mounting bracket
48
. Particularly, the motor wire leads are connected to the appropriate quick connect terminal connectors
70
A,
70
B,
70
C,
72
A,
72
B, and
72
C. However, the motor wire leads may also be connected to terminal board
46
after board
46
is secured in mounting bracket
48
.
Terminal board
46
may be easily removed from conduit box
22
for possible service or to connect power line connection leads (not shown). Particularly, terminal board
46
is removed from box
22
by disengaging retaining tabs
86
A and
86
B from board
46
and sliding board
46
off engaging portions
84
A and
84
B of mounting bracket
48
.
FIG. 5
illustrates an alternative embodiment of terminal board
46
which includes notches
92
A and
92
B located at ends
58
and
60
respectively in place of slots
56
A and
56
B.
FIG. 5
also illustrates the configuration of connecting bars
74
for a “Y” voltage connection. Terminal board
46
is configured for a “Y” voltage connection to the electric motor. Particularly, connecting bars
74
A and
74
B are connected between studs
62
A and
62
B, and
62
B and
62
C respectively to provide for a “Y” voltage connection to the electric motor.
The above-described terminal board assembly
20
includes quick connect terminal connectors
70
A,
70
B,
70
C,
72
A,
72
B, and
72
C for quick and easy connection of the electric motor wire connection leads to board
46
. Additionally, assembly
20
includes mounting bracket
48
that permits terminal board
46
to “snap in place” in conduit box
22
without the use of additional fasteners. “Snap in place” mounting bracket
48
permits easy installation and easy removal of terminal board
46
for possible service or installation of the power line connection leads.
From the preceding description of various embodiments of the present invention, it is evident that the objects of the invention are attained. Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is intended by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the invention are to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A terminal board assembly for an electric motor including a conduit box, said assembly comprising:a terminal board configured to fit inside an electric motor conduit box, said terminal board comprising a plurality of terminal studs and a plurality of connecting bars extending between and coupled to said terminal studs; and a mounting bracket comprising a base portion, a first and a second side portion depending from opposing ends of said base portion, and engaging portions extending from each side portion, each said engaging portion comprising a retaining tab configured to engage said terminal board to provide a snap-in-place engagement with said terminal board, said mounting bracket configured to fit inside of and attach to the electric motor conduit box.
- 2. A terminal board assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said terminal board comprises six terminal studs.
- 3. A terminal board assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein said terminal board further comprises three connecting bars, each said connecting bar extending between and coupled to two terminal studs and configured so as to provide a “Delta” voltage connection.
- 4. A terminal board assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein said terminal board further comprises two connecting bars, each said connecting bar extending between and coupled to two terminal studs and configured so as to provide a “Y” voltage connection.
- 5. A terminal board assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein said terminal studs further comprise quick connect terminals coupled to said terminal studs.
- 6. A terminal board assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein said quick connect terminals comprise spade type quick connect terminals.
- 7. A terminal board assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said terminal board further comprises a first and second slot positioned at opposing ends of said terminal board and configured to permit said engaging portions of said mounting bracket to extend through said terminal board.
- 8. A terminal board assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said terminal board further comprises a first and second engagement notch positioned at opposing ends of said terminal board and configured to engage said engaging portions of said mounting bracket.
- 9. A terminal box assembly for an electric motor said assembly comprising:a conduit box comprising a base box portion and a cover portion; a terminal board configured to fit inside said conduit box, said terminal board comprising a plurality of terminal studs and a plurality of connecting bars extending between and coupled to said terminal studs; and a mounting bracket comprising a base portion, a first and a second side portion depending from opposing ends of said base portion, and engaging portions extending from each side portion, each said engaging portion comprising a retaining tab configured to engage said terminal board to provide a snap-in-place engagement with said terminal board, said mounting bracket configured to fit inside of and attach to said conduit box.
- 10. A terminal box assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein said terminal board comprises six terminal studs.
- 11. A terminal box assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein said terminal board further comprises three connecting bars, each said connecting bar extending between and coupled to two terminal studs and configured to provide a “Delta” voltage connection.
- 12. A terminal box assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein said terminal board further comprises two connecting bars, each said connecting bar extending between and coupled to two terminal studs and configured to provide a “Y” voltage connection.
- 13. A terminal box assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein said terminal studs further comprise quick connect terminals coupled to said terminal studs.
- 14. A terminal box assembly in accordance with claim 13 wherein said quick connect terminals comprise spade type quick connect terminals.
- 15. A terminal box assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein said terminal board further comprises a first and second slot positioned at opposing ends of said terminal board and configured to permit said engaging portions of said mounting bracket to extend through said terminal board.
- 16. A terminal box assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein said terminal board further comprises a first and second engagement notch positioned at opposing ends of said terminal board and configured to engage said engaging portions of said mounting bracket.
- 17. A terminal board assembly for an electric motor including a conduit box, said assembly comprising:a terminal board configured to fit inside an electric motor conduit box, said terminal board comprising a plurality of terminal studs and a plurality of connecting bars extending between and coupled to said terminal studs, each said terminal stud comprising a quick connect terminal coupled to said stud; and a mounting bracket configured to fit inside of and attach to the electric motor conduit box, and to provide a snap-in-place engagement with said terminal board.
US Referenced Citations (4)