Telecommunications terminal block

Details Telecommunications terminal block Telecommunications terminal block

2000-07-24

2001-10-16

Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

Contact comprising cutter

Insulation cutter

C439S417000, C439S521000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06302723

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to terminal blocks used by telecommunication companies to connect conductor wires of a multi-core cable to service wires that extend to customer residences or places of business. The invention more specifically relates to an improved terminal block of the type that contains viscous sealant material.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A terminal block of the aforesaid type is usually mounted outdoors. Even when surrounded by a protective housing, it is exposed to rain, snow, sleet, ice, temperature fluctuations, dirt, insect infestation and similar conditions that may adversely affect the electrical connections between the service wires and electrical connectors, which may be and usually are of the insulation displacing type, within the blocks. To minimize incursion of foreign matter, viscous sealing material has heretofore been provided within interior areas of prior art terminal blocks. The protection afforded by the sealant material usually is adequate for as long as the original connections between the service wires and the associated insulation displacing connectors remain undisturbed, but has heretofore rapidly decreased in proportion to the number of times that the connections are re-entered (i.e, broken and reestablished) by a telecommunications craftsperson. The decreasing protection is due to the fact that each re-entry displaces some of the sealant and causes the formation therein of voids that permit ingress of air, dirt, moisture, insects and the like. The use of sealant of the gel type minimizes the size of such voids but does not entirely eliminate their formation. Reliable protection of the terminal block against surge (i.e., overvoltage and/or overcurrent) conditions is also highly desirable since in the absence of such protection lightning strikes, engagement of the telephone wires by power lines, or similar conditions can severely damage the terminal block and components or structures adjacent thereto and/or connected therewith.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved telecommunications terminal block, of the type containing protective viscous sealant material, that is of compact, durable and economical construction; can be re-entered a number of times without significant decrease in the efficacy of the protection afforded by the sealant material; provides surge protection when that is desired; and that can be readily installed and used by a craftsperson upon a telephone pole or in other exposed locations to connect service wires having a wide range of gauges.
In its preferred embodiment the terminal block includes an elongate base that is adapted to be secured to a telephone pole or other supportive structure, and further includes at least one and usually a plurality of driver modules that are cantilever mounted upon the base in laterally adjacent relationship to each other for individual movement; relative to the base between first (illustratively upper) and second (illustratively lower) positions respectively distal from and adjacent to the base. Movement of each module between its first and second positions preferably is effected by a threaded fastener that extends through an opening in a mounting chamber of the module and into a base within an underlying mounting post of the base. A plurality of pairs of insulation displacing connectors, which may be and preferably are of an “inverted” type, project upwardly from the base at spaced intervals along its length. Lower portions of the connectors are pre-joined to appropriate ones of the wires of a multi-core cable that extends into an interior part of the base filled with conventional potting material. The sections of the paired first and second connectors projecting from the base extend into respective first and second connector chambers of an overlying one of the driver modules upon the base. First and second pump chambers within the driver module communicate with respective ones of the connector chambers. First and second passageways extending from an outer surface of the module into the connector chambers direct the ends of first and second insulated service wires, that are inserted into and advanced longitudinally of such passageways by a craftsperson while the module occupies its upper position, into respective first and second ones of the chambers and into entrance openings of respective first and second ones of the insulating displacing connectors within the chambers. Movement of the driver module from its upper position to its lower position displaces the two insulated service wires downwardly into slots of the connectors and establishes electrical contact with respective ones of the connectors. In the case of heavily insulated service wires, the downward module movement also impales the insulation of the service wires upon retainer elements that underlie the slots and resist axial pull-out of the wires. The connector chambers, pump chambers and service wire passageways of each module contain protective sealant material, which preferably is of the gel type. Each module may include an electrical surge protector device which is both fail safe and vent safe, and which preferably is located in a space that also contains protective sealant material.
Each entry of the module disturbs the sealant to some extent, and may create undesirable voids therein. Sealant pump means are provided to compensate for the sealant disturbance, and to eliminate or at least reduce the size of voids created thereby in the sealant. In one embodiment the pump means includes first and second. sealant pump chambers that are located in each driver module, communicate with respective first and second ones of the connector chambers and the service wire passageways of the module, and that contain reserve sealant.
The sealant pump means further includes pump piston elements that extend upwardly from the base of the terminal block into aligned ones of the pump chambers of an overlying driver module upon movement of the module from its upper position to its lower position. The aforesaid pump means drives enough reserve sealant material from the pump chambers into the connector chambers and service wire passageways as to eliminate or at least reduce the size of any voids present therein by reason of prior re-entries. The downward module movement also causes tip and ring contacts upon the surge protector device to engage contacts upon the insulation displacing connectors, and also grounds a third contact of the surge protector. In another embodiment tip and ring contacts upon the surge protector continuously engage respective ones of the insulation displacing connectors, and a third contact of the surge protector continuously engages ground, except when grounding of the protector is not desired, irrespective of the vertical position of the module. When surge protection is not included, a non conductive stud extends downwardly from the member that normally carries the surge protector and is received within an underlying slot in the base component of the terminal block, which usually houses the grounding bus. Interference between the grounding bus and the stud prevents misapplication. An upstanding flexible collar like member upon the post containing the bore that receives the threaded fastener that imparts vertical movement to the driver module engages the undersurface of such screw and resiliently supports the same such as to permit the initial threads to be formed in the bore with only minimal downward force applied to the screw. This reduces the possibility of undesirable “stripping” of the internal screw threads of the bore.
At least part of each driver module preferably is formed of transparent material permitting exterior viewing of interior components, such as the aforesaid overvoltage limiting device, and monitoring of the correct insertion of the insulated service wires within the connector chambers and connector members of such driver module.
In one embodiment engageable and disengageable latch means, which includes cooperating latch elements upon each module and

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