Connector block

The subject of the invention is a terminal block for connecting multiple pairs of wires, and especially a terminal block used in telecommunications.

The telecommunications terminal block is used to create electrical connections between the subscriber's lead wires and the distribution cables of the telecommunications company. This type of terminal block typically connects 2 to 50 individual pairs of lead wires with a distribution cable that has several thousand pairs of wires¹. The terminal block is connected to the distribution cable by a master cable or a branch from the main cable forming part of the terminal block. Pairs of subscriber lead wires are connected in turn to a terminal block using the same type of terminal block, which is easy to connect and disconnect at its location

From US Patent No. 4040701, a terminal block is known that connects the lead wires to a distribution cable. The terminal block according to this solution is used to connect a pair of lead wires to a distribution cable when the terminals are placed in a sheath to reduce the adverse effects of weather conditions. During operation, the lead wires are positioned in the opening of the member. The screw is screwed into the member, forcing the contact wires with the terminals. The terminal block requires a consistent displacement of the screw and component to connect the lead wires to the distribution cable. The element is fixed relative to the screw. No insulating liquid was used in this solution.

From US Patent No. 4,423,918 it is known to close the connection of the lead wires, which can be re-inserted. A seal lubricant is used in the closure of the connector to close the pairs of terminal wires in the housing.

U.S. Patent Nos. 4,652,071 and 4,826,449 disclose a cable connector for connecting a pair of lead wires to a distribution cable and injecting a sealant into the realized joint to reduce exposure to external factors. In the operating position, the lead wires are placed in the passageways of the connecting element that is connected to the screw. When the bolt is tightened downwards, the connector element feeds the lead wires in the through channels into contact with the terminals. These solutions require a consistent movement of the screw and the connecting element to connect the lead wires to the distribution cable. The element does not move relative to the screw.

From US Patent No. 4,993,966 a block of electrical connectors is known to form a connector module arranged in a housing. Each terminal module has a pair of contact elements, one end of which is permanently connected to the distribution cable. The other end of the contact elements has a closing subassembly filled with sealing gel, used to connect with a pair of lead wires. The closing subassembly is permanently attached with a screw under the bases of the terminal block. During operation, the lead wires are placed in the closure subassembly, squeezing out excess gel and the screw is tightened to make the lead wires contact the contact elements. In this solution, it is necessary for the screw to be permanently connected to the closure subassembly.

In known solutions, it is difficult to connect the supply wires with the distribution cable using a cable carrier and clamp, ensuring a constant volume of insulating agent in the terminal block, which is to protect electrical connections against external influences in the event of repeated connection and disconnection

The object of the invention is to develop a telecommunications terminal block with increased resistance to moisture and other environmental factors causing degradation of connections and limiting applications in which such terminal blocks can be reliably used.

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A terminal block according to the invention comprising a housing having at least one chamber and a hole for pairs of wires for inserting a wire into the chamber in which the electric contact element is located and a wire connector having a hole in which a wire is inserted through the hole for wire pairs is characterized by . that the wire connector is disposed in the housing chamber slidably and is coupled to the clamp mechanism moving the wire connector in the housing chamber relative to the clamp mechanism.

Preferably the housing comprises a control input in which part of the electrical contact element is arranged.

Preferably, the metal electrical contact element is located outside the chamber and has a first insulation contact cutting blade with a gap made, positioned in the chamber facing the cable connector, and a third insulation contact blade with a gap made facing away from the chamber.

Preferably, the wire connector comprises a gap passing through the hole in the wire in which one end of the first contact blade is cut cutting the insulation with the gap formed.

Preferably, the clamp mechanism is a screw, one end of which is located outside the housing and the other end is connected to a wire connector, a threaded hole being made in the wire connector in which the other end of the screw displacing the wire connector in the chamber is arranged.

Preferably, the screw has an annular flange proximate one end and the housing includes an annular groove in which the annular flange of the screw is positioned to protect it against sliding movement relative to the housing.

Preferably the conduit connector has the shape of a cuboid, the threaded hole is made in the upper base of the cuboid and the conduit hole is made in the side of the cuboid at its lower base.

Preferably, the conduit connector has a channel on at least one side of the cuboid passing from the lower to the upper base of the cuboid of the conduit connector.

Preferably, the conduit connector has a flange extension extending from the side containing the opening, wherein the opening extends through the flange extension.

A terminal block according to the invention comprising a housing having at least one chamber adapted to hold a liquid insulating agent and at least one hole for pairs of wires in which an electrical contact element is arranged and a wire connector having a hole in which a wire is inserted through the hole a pair of wires is characterized by that the wire connector is disposed in the housing chamber slidably and is coupled to the clamp mechanism moving the wire connector in the housing chamber relative to the clamp mechanism, and the volume of the insulating agent filling the chamber is constant relative to the total capacity of the housing chamber.

Preferably, the wire connector is a movable element with a threaded hole and with at least one hole for introducing the wire, the threaded hole having part of the clamp mechanism including a screw rotatably mounted in the housing.

Preferably, the wire connector has a hole for inserting the wire inserted into the chamber, aligned with the hole for wire pairs made in the housing in the first position of the wire connector, positioned near the electrical contact element in the second position of the wire connector.

Preferably the conduit connector has at least one channel on the sides for flowing the conduit connector through an insulating agent.

A terminal block according to the invention comprising a housing having at least one chamber adapted to hold a liquid insulating agent with a hole for pairs of wires, in which an electrical contact element is arranged, and a wire connector having a hole in which a wire is inserted through a hole for pairs of wires, characterized by in that the cable connector is located in the housing chamber

168 839 slidably and is coupled to a clamp mechanism moving the conduit connector in the housing chamber relative to the clamp mechanism and the conduit connector includes a device for the flow of an insulating agent filling the enclosure chamber.

Preferably, the device for the flow of electrically insulating agent around the conduit connector comprises at least one passage for the flow of electrically insulating agent around the conduit connector during its movement through the chamber.

A terminal block according to the invention comprising a housing having at least one chamber and a hole for pairs of wires for inserting a wire into the chamber in which the electric contact element is located and a wire connector having a hole in which a wire is inserted through the hole for wire pairs is characterized by . that the wire connector is disposed in the housing chamber slidably and coupled to the clamp mechanism moving the wire connector in the housing chamber relative to the clamp mechanism and relative to the contact element having an upper portion permanently attached to the control input in which the housing is provided.

Preferably, the top of the electrical contact element is located outside the chamber adjacent to the control input.

Preferably, the electric contact element is an S-shaped metal element having a first contact blade with a slit in one part of the S-shaped metal element, and the other part of the S-shaped contact element is the upper part being the test tip.

Preferably, the upper portion of the electrical contact element comprises an extended metal leg extending from the S-shaped upper portion towards the control input.

A terminal block according to the invention comprising a housing having at least one chamber with at least one hole for pairs of conductors adapted to hold a liquid insulating medium in which at least one electrical contact element and a movable element is arranged, characterized in that the movable element is arranged in the chamber is movable relative to the housing and is coupled to the clamp mechanism, moving the movable element in the housing chamber relative to the clamp mechanism, creating an electrical connection between the conductor and the electrical contact element while maintaining a constant volume of liquid insulating medium in the chamber relative to the total capacity of the chamber.

The advantages of the invention are simplicity of construction, easy operation, no loss of insulating fluid during long-term operation of the device and resistance to external factors.

The object of the invention in an embodiment is shown in the drawing, in which Fig. 1a is a perspective view of a terminal block according to the invention, Fig. Ib is a top view of a terminal block, Figs. 2a and 2b are a broken view showing the interior of an insulated chamber in a terminal block position of the cable carrier before and after connecting the cable respectively, fig. 3 is a view showing all the basic components in one chamber of the terminal block, Fig. 4 is a view showing all the parts of the terminal block in the case of a housing divided into two parts for easier manufacturing and assembly.

Figures 1a and 1b are a perspective view and a top view of the telecommunications terminal block according to the present invention. The terminal block has a housing 10 that has a set of holes 12 for pairs of wires along the face. The housing 10 is made of dielectric material suitable for forming into the required shape, for example thermoplastic resins due to their relatively low cost and ease of manufacture. However, other dielectric materials can also be used.

As shown in Figure 1a, the holes 12 for pairs of wires are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the housing 10 and allow access wires to the insulated inner chamber 22 in the housing 10. The number of pairs of holes 12 for the pair of wires therefore corresponds to the number of the inner chambers 22 and changes depending on the specific application of the terminal block. In conventional telecommunications applications to connect the lead wire to telephone distribution cables, a single terminal block typically connects 2 to 50 pairs of lead wires. Other applications, however, may require a different number of wire pairs. Also in other applications, the chamber has a single hole for the wire instead of a pair of holes for the pair of wires 12 or more than two holes for the wires, if the need arose in a particular application.

On top of the housing 10 are a series of regularly spaced terminal blocks 14, the number of which is equal to the number of internal chambers 22 located in the housing 10 and which are located above these internal chambers 22. In Figs. 1a and 1b the upper portions of terminal blocks 14 are shown, and the remaining portion of each clamp enters through the housing 10 into the corresponding internal chamber 22. As shown in Fig. 1a, for which some terminal 14 terminals have been omitted, the terminals 14 are inserted into the housing 10 through matched first openings 16 of the housing 10. The terminals 14 of the terminals are preferably made of dielectric material, which may be identical to the material of the housing 10. The upper part of the terminal 14 of the terminal block preferably has a shape that allows it to be easily gripped and rotated by a hand wrench or other tool. Alternatively, the terminal 14 of the terminal block can be adapted to be gripped by the pliers and rotated by the user of the terminal block. Turning the terminal 14 of the terminal block by a fixed amount, preferably indicated by visual markers on the housing 10 and terminal 14 of the terminal block connects the subscriber's lead wires to the connector cable.

As shown in Figure 1b, the housing 10 also includes a pair of control inputs 18 for each position of the inner chamber 22. These control inputs 18 provide easy access to the terminals located in the housing 10, which allows testing pairs of cable without opening the housing 10 or disconnecting the lead wires. As shown in fig. 1b, the housing 10 has a second opening 20 at one of its ends containing a pair of wire splitters, enabling field wire pairs to be separated in connection with the terminal block.

Figs. 2a and 2b show a cross-sectional view along lines 2-2 in Figs. 1a and 1b with partial breakout, so that the interior of the single inner chamber 22 of the terminal block is shown. In Fig. 3, the single inner chamber 22 is shown in a view showing all parts.

The inner chamber 22 forms a whole with the top and sides of the housing 10. The first openings 16 of the housing 10 into which the terminal 14 of the connectors and holes 12 for cable pairs enter allow direct access to the internal chamber 22 from the outside of the housing 10. In each internal chamber 22 there is the connector 24 of the wire connected to the terminal 14 of the terminal block. As shown in fig. 3 the cable connector 24 has a threaded hole 26 in its upper part, into which the threaded end of the terminal clamp enters. The wire connector 24 also has a pair of holes 28 into which pairs of lead wires inserted into the inner chamber 22 through holes 12 for wires pairs. Holes 28 of the conduit connector 24 extend through the flange extension 30 of the conduit 24 to the center of the conduit 24. The first slot 32 into which the first contact blade 26 enters is made in the connector 24 of the conduit closer to the flange extension 30, and the second slot 34 into which the second contact blade 38 enters is made in the connector 24 further from the flange extension 30

The first and second slots 32, into which the first 36 and second 38 contact blades respectively enter, form a guide for the first 36 and second 38 contact blades cutting the insulation when the cable connector 24 is in the closed position shown in Fig. 2b. The first and second contact blades 36 extend upward from the L-shaped contact element 40 which is located outside the inner chamber 22. The first 36 and second contact blades enter the inner chamber 22 through the third and fourth slots 44 in the bottom of the inner chamber 22. The third contact blade 46 in turn extends outside the inner chamber 22 and forms a connection with the connector cable (not shown)

168 839 nym). The contact element 40, comprising first, second, 38 and third contact blades 46, is preferably made of a metallic transducer to ensure good electrical contact with the lead wires, while the first and second contact blades 38 cut through their insulation. Which of the two contact blades first 36 or second 38 forms electrical contact with the wires is determined by the diameter of the wire. This means that whether the second is in the first slot 32 or in the second slot 34 depends on the diameter of the wire. For example, as shown in Fig. 2b, a large diameter wire travels along the opening 28 of the connector 24 to the first slot 32 and forms electrical contact with the first contact blade 36. The smaller diameter wire is pushed against the second slot 34 and forms contact with the second, longer contact blade 38.

As shown in Figs. 2a and 2b, the upper part 48 of the double L-shaped contact element 40 also enters the opening in the chamber 22 adjacent to the control inputs 18. This allows easy electrical connection to the lead wires through the control terminals being the upper part 48 contact element 40 located in the control inputs 18. Although the inspection entrance 18 and the portion 48 of the contact element 40 are shown connected to the inner chamber 22, they can also be placed in a separate control entrance sealed separately from the inner chamber 22.

As shown best in Figure 3, the upper housing portion 10 above the inner chamber 22 is provided with an annular gap 50 around the first opening 16. The upper end of the terminal 14 of the terminal block is provided with an annular collar 52 which is located in the annular gap 50 as shown in Figures 2a and 2b. This prevents vertical displacement of terminal 14 of the terminal block during its rotation, in contrast to terminals with terminals according to the prior art, which are screwed into the socket to make contact with the lead wire.

Before using the terminal block of the present invention to connect the lead wires and preferably during the manufacture or assembly of the terminal block, the insulating agent is injected into the inner chamber 22 so that it completely surrounds the wire connector 24 and fills the holes 28 of the connector 24. Any of many known known in the trade of lubricants, gels or other insulating agents depending on the application requirements. The fluid's viscosity and adhesion should be such that the conduits can be inserted and removed from the holes 28 of the conduit connector 24 without excessive adhesion to the fluid, and the fluid should be sufficiently fluid to allow conduit connector 24 to pass through. The refrigerant can be injected into the chamber 22 through the holes 28 of the conduit connector 24. The refrigerant may also be injected in the pre-cured state or injected in the unhardened state and then be able to cure.

Under field conditions, the lead wires to be connected to the connector cable (not shown) are placed in the holes 28 of the cord connector 24 in the first position shown in Fig. 2a. In this position, the wires can easily be inserted inside the wire connector 24 by moving only a small amount of insulating agent. As can be seen from the fig. 2a, in the first position, the flange extension 30 of the wire connector 24 blocks some of the holes 12 for pairs of wires below the holes 28 of the connector 24, preventing leakage of the insulating agent therethrough. When the wires are inserted into the holes 28, the terminal 14 of the terminal block is rotated, which in turn moves the wire connector 24 downwards due to the threaded connection of the terminal 14 of the terminal block and the wire connector 24. The terminal 14 of the terminal rotates until the terminal 24 of the cable is moved to the second position shown in Fig. 2b. In this position, the wire is forced into contact with the first contact blade 36 cutting the insulation (because, as shown in Fig. 2b, the wires have large diameters and cannot enter the narrower part of the opening 28 of the connector 24. The first contact blade 36 cuts through the insulation on the wire giving good electrical contact with the internal conductive core of the wire.

During the downward movement of the conduit connector 24, from the first position shown in Fig. 2a to the second position shown in Fig. 2b, the insulating agent inside the chamber 22

168 839 flows around the conduit connector 24 going from the top of the inner chamber 22 to the bottom. Therefore, vertical conduits 54 (shown in more detail in Figure 3) are provided in the conduit connector 24 to facilitate the flow of the insulating agent around the conduit connector 24 when it is moved from the first to the second position by turning the terminal 14 of the terminal. Thus, despite the downward pressure of the connector 24 and the wires connected thereto, the volume of the insulating agent in the inner chamber 22 remains constant and the leakage of the insulating agent or the creation of any empty places that could allow moisture or dirt to enter from outside is avoided.

Accordingly, it can be stated that the terminal block according to the present invention provides much better protection against environmental influences and allows multiple connection and disconnection of the lead wires to the terminal block without significant losses of the insulating agent and the associated losses resulting from the loss of the ability to protect against external factors. Further, the present invention provides a terminal block that is simple to use and mechanically simple, and not prone to failure even in the case of repeatedly connecting and disconnecting.

Figure 4 is a side view showing all parts of the alternative embodiment of the present invention, adapted for easier fabrication. As shown in Fig. 4, the terminal block includes a terminal block 14, a wire connector 24, and a contact element 40, as in the embodiment described above. As shown in Fig. 4, the housing 10 is formed of two separate parts 10a and 10b, which can be manufactured separately, e.g. by injection molding. During assembly, these parts 10a and 10b are then joined together to form a joined housing 10, as shown in Figs. 1-3. It can therefore be concluded that the present invention, in addition to having the features described above, can also be produced more economically in accordance with existing manufacturing technologies.

Although the above description currently describes the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it should be understood that the terminal block of the present invention can be modified in many ways while remaining within the scope and scope of the present invention. For example, specific configurations of the housing, chamber, carrier, and carrier clamp may be changed for special manufacturing reasons or other reasons without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Then, although the present invention has been described as a terminal block adapted to work with an insulated wire, the present invention can equally well be used with a bare wire. Additional changes and modifications to the preferred invention described above can also be made by those skilled in the art and accordingly, the above description of the present invention is illustrative only.

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FIG. 2b

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FIG. 4

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