Electrical connector block

Abstract

A connector block for connecting drop wires to conductors of a multi-conductor cable is disclosed. The connector block includes a housing having plural apertures therethrough and individual terminal modules which are insertable into the housing. The terminal modules may be inserted into the housing in plural different orientations to permit insertion of the drop wire from different directions, Each individual terminal module establishes electrical connection between a drop wire pair and a pair of conductors of the multiconductor cable.

Description

(not shown) 100 (FIG. 3) introduced thereinto to environmentally protect the connection of contact element 44 to drop wires 12. Closure sub-assembly 60 is then attached to base 32 by partially screwing bolt 62 into bolt receiving member 38 in base 32. Terminal module 30 then may be inserted into housing 16 from below so that terminal module 30 seats within circular apertures 22. Ribs 40 of base 32 slide into slots 26 of annular wall 24 to align and support terminal module 30 to housing 16.

One advantage or the connector block 10 of the present invention is that terminal module 30 may be inserted in housing 16 in more than one orientation. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, ribs 40 of base 32 are diametrically opposed from one another, as are slots 26 of annular wall 24. Thus, terminal module 30 may be inserted in one of two positions. A first position is defined with openings 76 of cap 64 facing a rust direction adjacent longitudinal wall 21a of housing 16. A second position is defined where openings 76 of cap 64 face a second direction 180° opposite the first, adjacent longitudinal wall 21b of housing 16. This permits drop Wires 12 to be inserted from two different directions. In fact, it is contemplated that by various arrangements of ribs 40 and slots 26 the position of terminal module 30 in housing 16 may be infinitely varied. The variable positioning of terminal module 30 in housing 16 is a benefit to the installer as in typical installations, drop wires 12 extending from local distribution may be fed to connector block 10 from several different directions. The arrangement of terminal module 30 with respect to housing 16, eliminates the installer having to loop drop wire 12 either over or under the connector block 10.

Once the appropriate number of terminal modules 30 are supported in housing 16, conductors 144 of stub cable 14 (FIG. 2) may be connected thereto. Again, this step is typically performed in the factory where each individual conductor 144 is wire-wrapped in conventional fashion to lower terminal 58 of contact element 44. This wire-wrapping technique is well-known in the electrical connection art, and my be accomplished by hand or automatic tooling.

After conductors 14a of stub cable 14 are connected to contact elements 44, the rear of the housing 16 is filled with a self-hardening insulating medium or potting compound 85. This potting compound 85 serves two purposes. First, it electrically isolates and seals each of the individual connections of conductors 14a to lower terminals 58 and second, serves to permanently secure terminal modules 30 in housing 16.

Connection of drop wires 12 my now be accomplished by an installer in the field. Each individually inserted conductor 12a and 12b of drop wire 12 is inserted into drop wire accommodating region 78 between cap 64 and intermediate support member 66 of terminal module 30 through openings 76. The ends of drop wires 12 are supported from below by wire accommodating troughs 69 of intermediate support member 66, and from above by the upper surface 73 of cap 64. Excess gel within the drop wire accommodating region 78 is expelled back through openings 76. The screw tightening of bolt 62 to base 32 causes downward movement of closure sub-assembly 60, forcing the conductors 12a and 12b of drop wire 12 into insulation displacement connection with the upper insulation displacing portions 48 or contact elements 44. As is known in the electrical connection art, the upper insulation displacing portions 48 cut through insulation 12c to make electrical engagement with each of conductors 12a and 12b. Thus, electrical connection is established between drop wire 12 and conductors 14a of cable 14. As each of contact elements 44 includes a pair of spaced-apart integrally formed insulation displacing drop wire engagent elements 46, redundent electrical engagent is established between each drop wire 12 and contact element 44.

Disconnection of drop wire 12 from terminal module 30 may also be achieved by the present invention. Bolt 62 may be unscrewed from base 32, thereby raising closure sub-assembly 60 from base 32. This action pulls drop wires 12 off of upper insulation displacing portions 48 of contact elements 44, thus the disconnected drop wire may be removed, and another connection made.

Various changes to the foregoing described and shown structures would now be evident to those skilled in the art, Accordingly, the particularly disclosed scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. An electrical connector block for electrically connecting plural pairs of conductors of a multiconductor cable to plural pairs of drop wires comprising:

an elongate terminal block housing having a planar surface and plural discrete apertures extending therethrough; and

a plurality of identical electrical terminal modules, one module of said plurality insertably mounted in each aperture of said terminal block housing, each terminal module including means for electrically interconnecting one pair of said plural paris pairs of conductors of said multiconductor cable to one pair of said plural pain of drop wires.

2. An electrical connector block of claim 1 wherein each said electrical terminal module includes:

an electrically insulative body; and a pair of elongate electrical contacts supported in said body, said contacts including respective first connection end extents for electrical engagement with respective conductors of said multiconductor cable pair and second connection end extents for removable electrical engagement with respective drop wires of said drop wire pair;

wherein said electrically interconnecting means includes said pair of contacts.

3. An electrical connector block of claim 2 wherein said electrically insulative module body includes:

a base having an upper and a lower surface which supports said pair of contacts with said second connection end extents extending from said upper surface and said first connection end extents extending below said lower surface;

a cap secured to said base above said upper surface for movement toward and away from said base;

an intermediate member positioned between said cap and said base, said cap and said intermediate member defining a drop wire support region for supporting said drop wife pair adjacent raid second connection end extents of said pair of contacts; and

securement means for captively securing said intermediate member to said cap for movement therewith and for providing said movable securement of said cap to said base;

whereby movement of said cap toward said base establishes said electrical engagement of said respective second connection end extents with said respective drop wires of said pair and movement of said cap away from said base removes said respective drop wires of said pair from electrical engagement with said respective second connection end extents.

4. An electrical connector block of claim 3 wherein said securement means includes an externally screw-threaded bolt supported by said cap and wherein said base includes an internally screw-threaded bolt support for screw-accommodation with said bolt.

5. An electrical connector block of claim 4 wherein said cap is cup-shaped, having a op wall and a depending side wall, said bolt passing through said top wall thereof.

6. An electrical connector block of claim 5 wherein intermediate member is captively supported within said cup-shaped cap by said bolt.

7. An electrical connector block of claim 6 wherein said cap side wall includes a pair of openings therethrough adjacent said intermediate member, said openings providing access to said drop wire support region.

8. An electrical connector block of claim 7 wherein said contact second end extends include insulation displacement elements.

9. An electrical connector block of claim 8 wherein said contacts include a probe arm extending through said intermediate member, said arm being externally electrically accessible.

10. An electrical connector block of claim 9 wherein said base, said cap and said intermediate member are generally cylindrical in shape and where said housing apertures are circular so as to accommodate said module.

11. A connector block assembly for electrically connecting a conductor of a multiconductor cable to a drop wire, said connector block comprising:

an elongate housing having opposed longitudinal walls and a planar surface extending therebetween, said housing including plural apertures through said planar surface; and

at least one connector module insertably supportable in one of said housing apertures;

said module including;

and elongate electrical contact having a first connection end for electrical engagement with said conductor of said multiconductor cable and an opposed second connection end for electrical engagement with said drop wire;

an elongate insulative body supporting said electrical contact, said body having an upper end adjacent said second connection end of said contact, a lower end and an elongate front wall portion extending therebetween; said front wall portion including a drop wire entry opening adjacent said upper end for insertable receipt of said drop wire and for providing drop wire access to said second connection end of said contact; and

positioning means for supporting said connector module in said housing aperture in plural different positions, each said position differing in the location of said drop wire entry opening with respect to the longitudinal walls of said housing.

12. A connector block assembly of claim 11 wherein said connector module is supportable in said housing aperture in a first position wherein said front wall portion is positioned adjacent one of said longitudinal walls of said housing whereby said drop wire is insertable into said drop wire entry opening in a first direction perpendicular to said one longitudinal side wall 13.

13. A connector block assembly of claim 12 wherein said connector module is supportable in said housing aperture in a second position, wherein said front wall portion is positioned adjacent to the other of said longitudinal walls of said housing, whereby said drop wire is insertable into said drop wire entry opening in a said direction perpendicular to said other longitudinal side wall and opposite first direction.

14. A connector block of claims 12 or 13 wherein said connector module is generally cylindrical in shape and said housing aperture is circular being defined by an extending annular housing wall, and wherein said positioning means includes:

diametrically opposed keys on said connector module and said annular housing wall includes diametrically opposed key receiving slots, said key receiving slots adapted to receive said keys upon insertion of said connector module in said aperture in either said first or said second positions.

15. An electrical connector block, comprising:

(a) a housing arrangement defining an interior compartment for receipt of conductors of a multiconductor cable;

(b) first and second electrical contact members supported by said housing arrangement, each said contact member having a first contact disposed in said interior compartment and a second contact situated exteriorly of said housing arrangement; and

(c) a closure for enclosing said second contacts of said first and second electrical contact members, said closure having an interior compartment and defining first and second drop wire entry apertures in an exterior surface thereof and a drop wire support member interiorly in registry with said first and second apertures, said drop wire support member defining contact member passages therethrough enabling electrical engagement of said second contacts with drop wires disposed on said drop wire support member. 16. An electrical connector block of claim 15, further including a gel disposed in said closure interior compartment. 17. An electrical connector block of claim 15, wherein said closure defines a further aperture in an exterior surface thereof and further including a member disposed in said further aperture and operable for effecting electrical connection of drop wires disposed on said drop wire support member respectively to said second contacts of first and second electrical contact members. 18. An electrical connector block of claim 17, wherein said closure apertured exterior surfaces are mutually perpendicular. 19. An electrical connector block of claim 17, wherein said operable member comprises an

exteriorly threaded member. 20. An electrical connector block of claim 15, wherein each of said first and second contact members includes a probe contact and wherein said closure defines respective exteriorly-accessible probe passages communicating with said probe contacts. 21. An electrical connector block of claim 20, wherein said probe passages are perpendicular to said contact support member. 22. An electrical connector block of claim 15, wherein said closure includes a contact enclosing housing bounding said closure interior compartment and wherein said contact enclosing housing and said dropwire support member are respective separately fabricated elements. 23. An electrical connector block of claim 22, wherein said contact enclosing housing defines a further aperture in an exterior surface thereof, said connector block further including a member disposed in said further aperture and operable for displacing said contact enclosing housing relative to said housing arrangement for effecting electrical connection of drop wires disposed on said drop wire support member respectively to said second contacts of first and second electrical contact members. 24. An electrical connector block, comprising:

(a) a housing arrangement defining an interior compartment for receipt of conductors of a multiconductor cable;

(b) first and second electrical contact members supported by said housing arrangement, each said contact member having a first contact disposed in said interior compartment and a second contact situated exteriorly of said housing arrangement;

(c) a closure for enclosing said second contacts of said first and second electrical contact members, said closure having an interior compartment and defining first and second drop wire entry apertures in an exterior surface thereof; and

(d) a gel disposed in said closure interior compartment, said closure interior compartment defining interior surfaces therein extending from said second contacts of said first and second contact elements to said first and second drop wire entry apertures. 25. An electrical connector block of claim 24, wherein said interior surfaces extend also interiorly in said closure interior compartment of said second contacts of said first and second contact elements. 26. An electrical connector block of claim 24, wherein said closure defines a further aperture in an exterior surface thereof and further including a member disposed in said further aperture and operable for effecting electrical connection of drop wire respectively to said second contacts of first and second electrical contact members. 27. An electrical connector block of claim 26, wherein said closure apertured exterior surfaces are mutually perpendicular. 28. An electrical connector block of claim 26, wherein said operable member comprises an exteriorly threaded member. 29. An electrical connector block of claim 24, wherein each of said first and second contact members includes a probe contact and wherein said closure defines respective exteriorly-accessible probe passages communicating with said probe contacts. 30. An electrical connector block of claim 29, wherein said probe passages communicate with said interior surfaces. 31. An electrical connector block of claim 30, wherein said probe passages are perpendicular to said interior surfaces. 32. An electrical connector block of claim 24, wherein said closure includes a contact enclosing housing bounding said closure interior compartment and wherein said contact enclosing housing and said interior surfaces are respective separately fabricated. 33. An electrical connector block of claim 32, wherein said contact enclosing housing defines a further aperture in an exterior surface thereof, said connector block further including a member disposed in said further aperture and operable for displacing said contact enclosing housing relative to said housing arrangement for effecting electrical connection of drop wires respectively to said second contacts of first and second electrical contact members. 34. An electrical connector block of claim 24, wherein said second contacts of said first and second electrical contact members are insulation displacement contacts. 35. An electrical connector block, comprising:

(a) a housing arrangement defining an interior compartment for receipt of conductors of a multiconductor cable;

(b) first and second electrical contact members supported by said housing arrangement, each said contact member having a first contact disposed in said interior compartment and a second contact situated exteriorly of said housing arrangement, each of said first and second contact members including a probe contact;

(c) a closure for enclosing said second contacts of said first and second electrical contact members, said closure having an interior compartment and defining first and second drop wire entry apertures in an exterior surface thereof, said closure including cylindrical surfaces therein extending from said second contacts of said first and second contact members to said first and second drop wire entry apertures, said closure defining respective exteriorly-accessible probe passages communicating with said probe contacts, each of said probe passages communicating with said cylindrical surface for supporting said drop wires; and

(d) a gel disposed in said closure interior compartment. 36. In an electrical connector block having a housing arrangement defining an interior compartment for receipt of conductors of a multiconductor cable and first and second electrical contact members supported by said housing arrangement, each said contact member having a first contact disposed in said interior compartment and both a second contact and a probe contact situated exteriorly of said housing arrangement, the improvement comprising a closure for enclosing said second and probe contacts of said first and second electrical contact members, said closure having an interior compartment containing a gel and defining first and second drop wire entry apertures in a first exterior surface thereof and defining first and second probe entry apertures in a second exterior surface thereof, said closure further defining respective first and second interior surfaces extending from said first and second drop wire entry apertures to said second contacts of said first and second contact members and respective first and second probe passages extending from said first and second probe entry apertures to said first and second interior surfaces. 37. The invention claimed in claim 36 wherein said first and second interior surfaces extend also interiorly in said closure compartment of said second contacts of said first and second contact elements. 38. The invention claimed in claim 36, wherein said closure defines a further aperture in an exterior surface thereof and further including a member disposed in said further aperture and operable for effecting, electrical connection of drop wires inserted into said closure through said first and second drop wire entry openings to said second contacts of said first and second contact members. 39. The invention claimed in claim 38, wherein said operable member comprises an exteriorly threaded member. 40. The invention claimed in claim 39, wherein said closure includes a contact enclosing housing and a member defining said first and second interior cylindrical surfaces, said housing and said member defining said first and second interior cylindrical surfaces being separately fabricated.