Electrical connectors – Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient... – Spring actuated or resilient securing part
Utility Patent
1998-12-28
2001-01-02
Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient...
Spring actuated or resilient securing part
C439S725000, C439S786000
Utility Patent
active
06168479
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a connection device which comprises at least one terminal of the type having an elastic cage and a current conducting component, the latter providing the support function for the cage.
Connection devices of this type are well known. They are associated with an apparatus or electrical device and allow a cable which is to be connected to the apparatus or device to be clamped in a terminal without a clamping screw having to be used. In the usual manner, the elastic cage is positioned close to one end of the supporting component close to an access face of the apparatus and comprises a supporting wing applied onto the supporting component, a clamping wing fitted with an aperture for clamping the conductor by a jamming effect and a loop that links the supporting wing to the clamping wing and which forms a spring to ensure that the conductor is jammed in place.
In certain electrical equipment that include such elastic connection terminals, it is desirable to be able to establish a connection, not only with cables which are detachable and held by being jammed, but also with feeder bars or with other items of equipment that are arranged laterally or are superimposed, while benefiting from the presence of these terminals.
Hence an aim of the invention is to make use of elastic cage terminals provided in an electrical apparatus to provide the connection of a cable so as to create a simple and reliable connection with another piece of equipment or with a current conducting device.
According to the invention, the connection device has an insulating block which carries on the one hand an arm suitable for ensuring the opening of the elastic cage and on the other hand a conducting connection arm, the two arms being guided in a way substantially parallel to the supporting wing of the cage and constructed in such a way that, when the block comes alongside the cage, the opening arm bends the loop to allow the connection arm to be introduced into the clamping aperture.
Preferably, the two arms are rigid and a space remains in the clamped position between the opening arm and its housing in the direction in which the elastic loop slackens, in such a way that the application pressure of the connection arm on the conducting component is due to the pressure exerted by the loop on the opening arm. One of the arms can be provided with a shape that assists the retention of the block in the connected position. The insulating block has, on the other hand, at least one interconnecting element such as a conducting pin parallel to the connection arm and connected to it to provide the connection with another apparatus.
REFERENCES:
patent: 39 11 459 A1 (1990-10-01), None
patent: 94 14 939 (1995-03-01), None
patent: 44 35 781 A1 (1996-04-01), None
Canault Jean
Guinda Santos
Bradley Paula
Gilman Alexander
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
Schneider Electric SA
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