Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Insulating body having plural mutually insulated terminals...
Patent
1997-04-18
1998-11-17
Abrams, Neil
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Insulating body having plural mutually insulated terminals...
439922, H01R 922
Patent
active
058367918
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This application is filed under 35 USC 371 of PCT/US94/11908 which was filed on Oct. 21, 1994.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to terminal blocks for connecting wire pairs. More particularly, the present invention relates to telecommunications terminal blocks for connecting telephone service wires to telephone exchange distribution cables.
2. Background of the Prior Art and Related Information
Telecommunications terminal blocks are used to provide convenient electrical connections between telephone customer service wires (the "service" side) and telephone exchange distribution cables (the "exchange" side). Such terminal blocks typically connect up to 25 distribution cable wire pairs on the exchange side, which may have several thousand wire pairs, to up to 25 individual service wire pairs on the service side.
Terminal blocks generally are configured as standard, multi-chambered units which terminate either 5, 10 or 25 wire pairs. In many cases the number of distribution wire pairs to be terminated may not conform to the standard number. For example, if 7 wire pairs need to be terminated, a terminal block for 10 wire pairs, the closest standard terminal block size, must be installed even through 3 of the 10 wire pair terminations will not be used.
The exchange side wire pairs are difficult to replace in that a splicing cable which provides the connection from the distribution cable to the exchange side of the terminal block is typically permanently joined to the terminal block during connection of the splice cable to the terminal block. The permanent connection protects both the splicing cable and the exchange side of the terminal block from the environment and ensures a physically secure connection designed to withstand the recurring installing and removing of connections on the service side.
When a connection on the exchange side of the terminal block fails, the entire terminal block of 5, 10 or 25 wire pairs must be replaced, requiring a new terminal block and significant installation time and resources. The connection between the splice cable and the failed terminal block must be physically cut and the old terminal block discarded, even if only a single connection has failed on the exchange side. In addition, in replacing the terminal block, all existing service side connections must be disconnected. A new terminal block may then be permanently installed on the splice cable and all the service side connections connected. This approach uses significant resources and results in many terminal blocks being discarded for only a single failure.
The service side of terminal blocks is generally subject to the most use because the service side is used to repeatedly connect or disconnect telephone service to the distribution cable through the terminal block. Service wire pairs are typically connected to the terminal block through some type of terminal which is easy to connect and disconnect on site such as a simple binding post where a stripped service wire is connected to the binding post and then secured with some type of cap. Another common type of terminal is an insulation displacement terminal where the service wire need not be bared prior to the connection to the terminal block and the insulation is severed through a blade or other sharp surface as the service wire is secured to the terminal. Again, in the insulation displacement type of terminal, some type of cap is typically employed to secure the service wire in place.
While the caps typically employed in the binding post or insulation displacement type terminals provide some protection from the environment, nonetheless, moisture, pollutants, chemicals, dust and even insects may reach the terminal connection resulting in corrosion or other degradation of the contact. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that in addition to the traditional aerial location of such terminal blocks, underground and even underwater terminal block locations are more and more frequently required for telephone distributio
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"Terminal Systems for the 90's . . . and Beyond", by PSI Telecom, May 1994.
Jespersen Mark R.
Waas Charles W.
Abrams Neil
PSI Telecommunications, Inc.
Wittels Daniel
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