Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Plural-contact coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-18
2001-04-03
Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Plural-contact coupling part
C439S929000, C439S748000, C439S271000, C439S378000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06210238
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wire connection apparatus for connecting feeding leads from an external power supply to a solenoid valve installed on a valve installation member such as a sub-plate or a manifold.
PRIOR ART
An example of a known wire connection apparatus for connecting feeding leads to a solenoid valve installed on a valve installation member, such as a sub-plate or a manifold, is a plug-in feeding apparatus in which a solenoid valve is installed on the valve installation member so that a receiving connector provided in the solenoid valve is electrically connected to a connector to a terminal block mounted on the valve installation member.
FIG. 11
shows an example of a well-known plug-in feeding apparatus. A valve installation member
61
having a solenoid-operated valve installed on its top surface includes a terminal block
62
mounted at one longitudinal end and a cover
63
covering the terminal block. The terminal block
62
has a plurality of feeding terminals
64
to which leads (not shown) are connected, and the cover
63
has an introduction hole
63
a
through which the leads are introduced.
When the solenoid-operated valve
60
is installed on the valve installation member
61
, the pins in a receiving terminal (not shown) provided in the solenoid valve are electrically connected to a connector (not shown) provided in a terminal block.
In this well-known feeding apparatus, when the leads, which have been passed through the introduction hole
63
a
in the cover
63
, are connected to the plurality of feeding terminals
64
provided in the terminal block
62
and if an attempt is made to perform this connection operation when the solenoid-operated valve
60
is installed on the valve installation member
61
, the operation must be performed in a narrow space under the solenoid valve
60
and is thus difficult. Consequently, the connection of the leads and the replacement of the terminal block are cumbersome, and the reliability of the connections is low.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a wire connection apparatus that is reliable and safe for use in feeding electricity and that enables feeding leads to be connected simply, reliably, and safely to a solenoid valve that is placed on the valve installation member.
To achieve this object, this invention provides a wire connection apparatus comprising a terminal block accommodation chamber in a valve installation member, a cover member detachably mounted on the opening of the terminal block accommodation chamber, and a terminal block that is formed integrally with the cover member and that is loaded in and unloaded from the terminal block accommodation chamber when the cover is installed and removed, respectively.
An introduction port through which feeding leads are drawn is provided in the cover member, and a plurality of feeding terminals to which the drawn leads are connected are provided on the terminal block. A plurality of contacts extend from the respective terminals, and a plurality of contacts leading to a solenoid-operated valve are provided in a first connector installed in the terminal block accommodation chamber so that when the terminal block is inserted into the accommodation chamber, the contacts of the terminal block and the contacts of the first connector are connected together.
In this invention configured in the above manner, the cover member is removed from the valve installation member to remove the terminal block from the accommodation chamber, and the feeding leads inserted into the introduction port in the cover member are connected to the respective feeding terminals. Subsequently, when the cover member is mounted on the opening of the accommodation chamber, the terminal block is inserted into the accommodation chamber to connect the contacts of the terminal block and the contacts of the first connector together, and the solenoid valve is connected to the feeding leads via the terminal block and first connector.
Thus, according to this invention, since the leads can be connected to the respective feeding terminals of the terminal block in a space outside the terminal accommodation chamber, connection operations can be simply and reliably performed even if the solenoid valve is installed on the valve installation member.
In addition, since each feeding terminal and the first connector are automatically connected together by inserting the wire-connected terminal block into the terminal block accommodation chamber, connection operations are simple and no connection error occurs. Electrical reliability is therefore improved.
Moreover, the terminal block can be loaded and unloaded via the cover member by simply installing and removing the cover member. Thus, handling is simple and this apparatus is safe because the operator does not need to directly touch the terminal block.
According to one specific embodiment of this invention, the terminal block has a base extending from behind the cover member. The plurality of feeding terminals are provided on the tip of the base horizontally in parallel. In addition, the contacts of the terminal block and the contacts of the first connector are shaped like plugs and sockets, respectively, that can be fitted together. The contacts of the terminal block are entirely surrounded by a cylindrical protective frame having an open front surface, and the contacts of the first connector are disposed horizontally in parallel inside a connector body mounted in the valve installation member. When the tip of the first connector is fitted in the protective frame, the contacts are connected together.
According to another specific embodiment, a second connector electrically connected to the first connector is provided on the top surface of the valve installation member so that when the solenoid is placed on the valve installation member, the connector of the solenoid valve is connected to the second connector.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2762026 (1956-09-01), Knohl
patent: 4664456 (1987-05-01), Blair et al.
patent: 4671600 (1987-06-01), Sawai et al.
patent: 5363722 (1994-11-01), Klotz
patent: 5777850 (1998-06-01), Jakob et al.
patent: 5996610 (1999-12-01), Sato et al.
patent: 6017249 (2000-01-01), Akimoto et al.
patent: 6041816 (2000-03-01), Hiramatsu et al.
patent: 1 980 272 (1968-03-01), None
patent: 84 18 488 (1984-09-01), None
patent: 39 17 528 (1990-12-01), None
patent: 297 18 245 U (1997-11-01), None
patent: 2 698 492 (1994-05-01), None
Akimoto Takashi
Tajima Masamichi
Bradley Paula
Nguyen Truc
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
SMC Corporation
LandOfFree
Wire connection apparatus for solenoid-operated valves does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Wire connection apparatus for solenoid-operated valves, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Wire connection apparatus for solenoid-operated valves will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2514556