AU604576B2 - Terminal block comprising a plurality of block components - Google Patents

Description

I 7 S L 1 604,7 78-65 COMMOlNWEALTH OF AUSTRALTA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPIFCTO NAME ADDRESS OF APPLICANT: 0 04 00 0000 00 00 0 00 00 0 0 000 0000 Krone Aktiengesellschaft Beeskowdamrn 3-li D-1000 Berlin 37 Federal Republic of Germny NAME(S) OF INVENTOR(S): arnendm-:.ts nl"<e <i'w l *000 Gunter HEGNER Bernd DELAKOWITZ ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: O 0 DAVIES COLLISON Patent Attorneys 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVENION ENTITLED: 00 0 000 Terminal block comprising a plurality of block components The following statement is a full performing it known to me/us:description of this invention, including the best method of 1 ka- The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly for use for instance in telecommunications equipment.

An electrical connector assembly is known from German patent 3,201,894. It comprises a terminal block having a plurality of block components, with connecting elements arranged on at least two side faces and with terminal contacts for cable cores, in particular for cable cores of telecommunication systems. This terminal block comprises three block components and a plurality of circuit plug-in SI C Cpoints, each associated with two cable cores (a double core) thus providing I

T

e eindividual functions for in each case two cable cores. Two block components are t I o c equipped with cutting clamp contacts, with 20 cable cores (10 double cores) 1 capable of being connected to a block component. The third block component serves to connect signal and earth leads. All three block components are locked one on top of the other onto dished receiving means provided with lugs. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that in this system, the smallest functional *ol, group comprises 10 double cores with 10 plug-in points. Thus, the number of telephone cables to be connected can only be reduced or increased in groups of ten.

0° An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector assembly offering the possibility of extension and reduction in all three dimensions.

2, ,According to the present invention, there is provided an electrical connection assembly, comprising first and second block components, each made from an insulative housing, with connecting elements for interconnecting the housings of the bloc components with each other being arranged on at least two faces of the housing, and with at least one terminal contact for a cable core within the housing, such as a cable core of a telecommunication system, wherein an aperture is provided in the housing of each block component to give access to a terminal contact within the housing, or an extension thereof, a terminal contact of each block component being connected to a contact which protrudes from the housing of 1 ,,i 900830,cldspc.o09,24776.spe,1 q _e 13 DEC 88 150 54- Insert place and date of signature.

Signature of dectarant(s) (no aftwsation required) Note, Initial all alterations.

-F -j of the application.

Declared at Melbourne this 6th -,day of December 1988 A, D)AVIE~S COLLISON. MELBOURNE and CANBERF the protruding contact of the first block component seating in the aperture of the second block component when the first and second block components are interconnected, whereby terminal contacts of the interconnected block components are electrically coupled.

According to an embodiment of the invention, each block component comprises connecting elements on at least two opposing side faces in order to interconnect several block components 4C C r 4r f t Ce r t.

it x 900827,eldspe.l0J9,24776.sMe2 2 +hk eAeScAracc- 2or\<2Cl-^on <^ss~sbay O\S and to form i a terminal block. Furthermore, openings are provided in the housing of the block component for connecting contacts formed onto the terminal contact in order to connect further terminal contacts. As a result, terminal blocks of different sizes can be formed depending on the required application. The terminal block can be increased or reduced in all three dimensions. This allows a construction in the form of layers, blocks or strips. The individual block components may be wired individually, so that each block component obtains a different function, the housings of the block components always being formed identically.

t Further advantageous .developments of the invention are tapparent from the subclaims. Thus, it is possible to compose a functional unit from block components and an interposable connector element, which unit can be mounted, together with a ,l base element, on a carrier bar. It is also possible to mount T any number of functional units having different functions on the carrier bar in series. If required, individual functional units may be exchanged.

The invention will beexplaine in grea-e- r.d.jtae-j1 her -nblw with reference to various exemplifi4ed embodiments which have been illustrated in the drawings in which: 4 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of a Y terminal block, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a block component of the terminal block, Fig. 2a is a perspective view of the terminal contact of the block component, shown on an enlarged scale, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of two block components locked together at their front and back sides, -JLb i I- 3 Fig. 4 shows a detail Z of Fig. 3 on an enlarged scale, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of two block components locked together at their top and bottom sides, SFig. 6 is a perspective view of two block components locked together at their side ~faces, Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of a terminal block, 41 ii 4A Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the third %embodiment of the terminal block, SFigs. 9 to 9i are circuit diagrams showing various i Zr and nd possible wiring arrangements of the to block components, S Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a connector 0 1 element, f elements locked together at their side faces, Fig. 13 is a perspective view of two connector elements locked together at their front and back sides, Figs. 14 to 14a are circuit diagrams showing various possible wiring arrangements of the connector elements, Figs. 15, 15b are perspective views of connector and 15d elements equipped with signal devices, -4- Figs. 15a, 15c are circuit diagrams of the signal and l5e devices of the connector elements, Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a base element and a carrier bar, Fig. 17 is the perspective view of a wire guide element, Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic representation of the signal and earth leads, Fig. 19 is a perspective view of several terminal blocks mounted on carrier bars and t Fig. 20 shows another embodiment of the base i element.

Ii The basic component of a terminal block 43 is formed by a block component I. With a plurality of block components 1 it is possible to construct functional units 44 as shown in Fig. 1 or block elements 43a as shown in Fig. 7. The functional unit 44 consists of two block components 1, a connector element 20 interposed between these block components 1 and a base element 17 which is locked onto a carrier bar 36.

A wire guide element 125 is attached to the side of the base element 17.

The block component 1, the connector element 20 and the base element 17 of a functional unit 44 will now be described in more detail with reference to Figs. 2, 11 and 16. The block component 1 shown in Fig. 2 comprises a two-part plastic housing consisting of identically formed front and back parts 45, 46 joined by ultrasonic welding. Between the front and back parts 45, 46 are inserted the terminal contacts 9 shown in Fig. 2a, which in this embodiment are each formed by two cutting clamp contacts 8. The cutting clamp contact 8 consists of a metallic contact strip with two prongs 47, 47a between which is formed a clamping notch 48. A cable core 122, 123 is pressed into the clamping notch 48 with simultaneous cutting of the cable insulation 49 in order to form a contact connection. The prongs 47, 47a of the cutting clamp contact 8 are arranged at an angle of about 450 relative to the axis of the cable core.However, instead of the cutting clamp contacts 8 shown in Fig. 2a, it is also possible to use cylindrical cutting clamp contacts, socalled tubular contacts, or differently shaped cutting clamp contacts in the block component 1. The lower end of the cutting clamp contact 8 is extended by connecting contacts onto which clamp contacts 64 are formed. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2a, there are provided aoclamp contact 64 0 i o,~r oriented towards the front side 6 and a connecting contact o 15 and two connecting contacts 15 oriented towards the o bottom side 5, which protrude from the block component 1 for ap electrical connection with other block components i.

&I Connecting contacts 15 and clamp contacts 64 may also be provided towards the other side faces 2, 3, 4, 7, independently of the wiring functions which will be described 4r later on.

4 4i On at least two side faces 2, 3; 4, 5, the block component 1 has connecting elements 10 to 13 for the interconnection of several block components 1. These connecting elements 10 to S 13 are formed as locking elements 12 or as guide elements 13 and consist of guide grooves 11 and guide ridges Ila on the side faces 2, 3, of locking elements 10 on the upper side 4 and of locking sockets 10a on the bottom side 5. The guide ridges lla consist of two outwardly oriented resilient locking members 50, 51. The guide ridges lla and guide grooves 11 are arranged on both sides of the block component 1, but in mirror image to one another, so that two block components 1 can be locked together at their sides. The guide groove 11, whose inner contour conforms to the outer contour of the guide ridge lla, laterally adjoins a locking member 51. The locking element 10 on the upper side 4 consists of five separate locking segments 52, between which four receiving grooves 56 are provided for the cutting clamp -r -6contacts 8. Each locking segment 52 comprises two locking members 57, 58 which are oriented towards the front and back sides 6, 7 and are T-shaped in cross-section. The locking socket 10a on the bottom side 5 consists of two inwardly oriented locking members 62, 63. Between these locking members 62, 63 is formed a T-shaped groove 66 which extends over the full length of the bottom side 5 and whose width corresponds to the outer dimensions of the locking segments 52 of the locking element 10. Two guide elements 53, 54 with slits 60, 61 are provided on each of the front and back sides 6, 7 of the block component 1. The connecting contact protrudes from the slit 60 of a guide element 53, for which purpose an aperture 16 is provided in the housing of the block component 1. In the central portion of the other guide element 54 is disposed the clamp contact 64 with three clamping lugs 65 which as will be described later on serves to receive a connecting contact 15 of a second block component 1. Similar apertures 16 are also provided at the front side 6, at the back side 7, at the side faces 2, 3 and at the bottom side 5 (not shown).

e t4 Two block components 1 can be locked together in series at their front and back sides 6, 7 (Fig. 3) or above one another at their upper and bottom sides 4, 5 (Fig. 5) or next to one another at their side faces 2, 3. When two block components 1 are locked together above one another, the locking element 10 on the upper side 4 of one block component 1 engages into the locking socket 10a at the bottom side 5 of the other block component 1. In this manner it is possible to lock any number of block components 1 together one above the other. When the block components 1 are locked together side by side, the guide ridge lla on the side face 2, 3 of the f irst block component 1 engages into the guide groove 11 on the side face 2, 3 of the second block component 1 (Fig. When block components 1 are locked together one behind the other (Fig. guide ridges and guide grooves (not shown in detail) are provided on the front and back sides 6, 7 which are formed in identical manner to the guide elements 12, 13 provided on the side faces 2, 3. In ;?~I;Lat~xia;~;-*;Fir 7 the upper region of the front and back sides 6, 7 there are provided two rounded retaining bosses 14 (Fig. 3) which hold the cable cores 122, 123 inserted between two block components 1, so that the cable cores 122, 123 are prevented from slipping out in upward direction. All three connections that are possible require connecting elements 10 to 13 for the mechanical connection and connecting contacts 15 and clamp contacts 64 for the electrical connection.

Terminal blocks 43 can be formed by locking together a plurality of block components i. In a first embodiment, a desired number of block components 1 are locked together at their side faces 2, 3 (Fig. so that a block element 43a is formed (Fig. These block elements 43a may each have different functions, A, B, C depending on the internal e wirings of the individual block components i, as will be explained in more detail later on. The block elements 43a are locked next to one another on a carrier plate 87 comprising locking elements 10, so that device units 1.11 are formed. Each block element 43a can afterwards be removed I, i t from the device unit 111 and be replaced by another block element 43a with a different function, as is indicated by tz arrows 110 in Fig. 7.

The block elements 43a may also be locked on top of one A4~s F another (Fig. In this layer construction, the block elements 43a are locked together at their upper and bottom sides 3, 4, as sho ,n in Fig. In order to obtain different functions of the terminal blocks 43,the block components 1 are equipped with different terminal contacts 9. Figs. 9 9i diagrammatically show different wiring arrangements in all three dimensions, which are obtained by the arrangement of the connecting contacts Figs. 9 9c show how the cutting clamp contacts 8 are wired with the connecting contacts 15 to the side faces 2, 3. Thus, the connecting contacts 15 in Figs. 9 and 9a are arranged on the left side face 2, in lig. 9b on the right side face 3 and in Fig. 9c on both side faces 2 and 3. In i ;i 8 Figs. 9d and 9e there is an electrical connection of the cutting clamp contacts 8 with the front side 6 and in Figs.

9f and 9g with the bottom side 5. However, as shown in Figs.

9h and 9i, the two cutting clamp contacts 8 may also be connected inside the block component i.

Figs. 10 10g show connecting combinations of the cutting clamp contacts 8 with connecting contacts 15 arranged on several side faces. Thus, Fig. 10 shows that the cutting clamp contacts 8 are connected to the connecting contacts on the left and right narrow sides 2, 3 and on the front side 6. According to Fig. 10a, the cutting clamp contacts 8 are connected to the connecting contacts 15 on the left and i right narrow sides 2, 3 and on the bottom side 5 and 1>, according to Fig. 10b to the connecting contacts 15 on the left and right narrow sides 2, 3 and on the bottom and front sides 5, 6 and in Fig. 10c to the connecting contacts 15 on the front side 6 and the bottom side 5. In Figs. 10d to 4 two cutting clamp contacts 8 are connected to one another inside the block component 1 and in addition they are SP connected to the connecting contacts 15 on the two side faces 2, 3 (Fig. 10d), to the connecting contacts 15 on the front side 6 (Fig. 10e), to the connecting contacts 15 on the bottom side 5 (Fig. 10f) and to the connecting contacts on the two side faces 2, 3, on the bottom side 5 and on the front side 6.

t Fig. 11 shows the connector element 20 which also consists of a two-part plastic body whose front and back parts 67, 68 have been joined by means of ultrasonic welding. At the narrow sides 19, 23 and at the front and back sides 26, 27 of the connector element 20 there are provided locking elements 12 and guide elements 13 formed in identical manner as in the block component 1. The locking and guide elements 12, 13 consist of guide ridges 24 and guide grooves 25. At its bottom side 69, the connector element 20 has a plug element 21.The plug element 21 comprises two plug pins 70 and 71 each having a longitudinal slot 72 which is formed such that a resilient bow-shaped earth contact 22 and signal r I ~I i n -I -9 contacts 22a can protrude to the outside from the interior of the housing of the connector element 20. The front and back sides 26, 27 of the connector element 20 also have openings 28 to which connecting contacts 15 arranged inside the connector element 20 are connected. Upper and lower openings 28 are provided for the upper and lower block components 1 which will subsequently adjoin the side faces. Two rectangular plug sockets 29 are provided at the upper side 31 of the housing of the connector element 20. An earth pick-off 30 for an earth contact 80 shown in Figs. 14 14h is arranged centrally between these plug sockets 29. The connector elements 20 can also be mounted in series, so that different assemblies can be made with any number of connector elements 20. As shown in Fig. 12, the two wedge-shaped 44 S guide ridges 24 of a first connector element 20 engage into othe guide groove 25 of the second adjoining connector element 20 when two connector elements 20 are connected c laterally. Fig. 13 shows how two connector elements 20 are 4 connected at their front and back sides 26r 27. In this connection the guide ridges (not shown) arranged at the Sfront and back sides 26, 27 of a first connector element f( engage respectively into the guide grooves of a second a 4 c adjoining connector element t 40414Z By different wiring arrangements, the connector elements 4 1 can be formed as a direct connector 73, as a separating e connector 74 or as a switch connector Figs. 14, 14a and 14b show a direct connector 73. The direct connector 73 directly connects two cutting clamp contacts 8 of the block component i. The direct connector 73 has two tapping contacts 76 for the parallel tapping with test plugs 7hich are accessible via the two plug sockets 29. The two tapping contacts 76 consist of a rest contact, the two contact pins 78, 79 of the rest contact being interconnected ,in the direct connector 73 by way of a contact bridge 84.

The contact pins 79 are connected via the connecting contacts 15 to the upper and lower openings 28 of the connector element 20. An earth contact 80,,which is connected via an r i I a 10 earth lead 82 to the earth contacts 22, is accessible by way of the earth pick-off Fig. 14a shows a direct connector equipped with an electrical protection element 81 as a protective connector 73a. The protection element 81 is intended to protect against overvoltages or overcurrent or overheating. The protection elements 81 are wired directly into the conducting path between the tapping contact 76 and the connecting contact 15 and are directly connected to the earth lead 82.

Fig. 14b shows the direct connector 73 with switch-over I contacts 83 as a switch-over connector 73b. The switch-over contacts 83 are arranged on the conductive path between one Spin of the tapping contact 76 and the upper opening 28 of the connector element. By switching over, the conductive SI path can be transferred by the tapping contact 76 from the opening 28 of the left narrow side 19 of the connector i element 20 to the opening 28 of the right narrow side 23.

Figs. 14c to 14e show separating connectors 74 which connect two connecting contacts of the block component 1 via the separating point of the separating contact 86. The separating point allows a separation of the conductive path, the parallel or serial tapping with test plugs, or the looping in of circuit members. In contrast to the direct connector 73, the separating connector 74 does not have a contact bridge 84. The separating connector 74 as a protective connector 74a may also be equipped with protection elements j 81 as shown in Fig. 14d or, as a switch-over connector 74b, with switch-over contacts 83 as shown in Fig. 14e.

Figs.14f, 14g and 14h show a switch connector 75 in which, instead of tapping contacts and separating contacts, 76, 86, switch contacts 77 are provided. An additional element (bridge), not shown in the drawing, is required in this case for the connection to the conductive path. The switch connector 75 as a protective connector 75a may also be 11 equipped with protection elements 81 as shown in Fig. 14g or, as a switch-over connector 75b, with switch-over contacts as shown in Fig. 14h.

Figs. 15 to 15e show protective connectors 73a, 74a, 75a as shown in Figs. 14a, 14d and 14g which are each provided with a signal device 33.

Figs. 15, 15a show a mechanical signal device 91 with a locking mechanism 93. In the case of an electrical fault, a mechanical switch will actuate a pawl 92 when the protection element 81 heats up, whereby a locking hook 95 is released from the groove 96 of a resiliently supported signal pin 94.

The signal pin 94 thus emerges, due to the spring force of 00 aQ q V the compression springs 97, from an opening 32 in the upper side 31 of the housing of the protective connector 93a in the direction of arrow A and thereby indicates the fault. At 0000 O00 the same time the pawl 92 actuates a switch 98 which 0 1 1 switches the electrical fault to an earth potential 99.

Figs. 15b, 15c show another embodiment of a signal device 91 GIwith an opto-electric indicator 100. When the protection element 81 heats up, the indicator 100 is actuated and thus indicates the fault, and in this case also the overvoltage 0 1 is switched by means of the pawl 92 to the earth potential 99. Figs. 15d, 15e show a combination of the first two 0 4 embodiments. In this case the signal device 91 consists of a mechanical and opto-electrical indicator 101. The signal pin 94 of Fig. 15a in this case additionally has a lightemitting diode 102 activated by the protection element. The light-emitting diode 102 is connected to the signal lead 109 via the signal contacts 22a.

A base element 17 made of plastic is provided to mount block components 1 and connector elements 20 on a carrier bar 36 (Fig. 16). Wedge-shaped resilient locking elements 35 are provided on both sides at the bottom side of the base element 17. The locking elements 35 each have a groove 88 into each of which engages an arm 89 of the carrier bar 36.

i i -L S-12 Furthermore, the base element 17 comprises two openings to accommodate coupling elements (not shown) for the interconnection of several base elements 17. On the upper mounting side 37 of the base element 17 there are provided B two locking segments or guide elements 18,18a each having two locking members 38, 38a which are oriented towards the front and back sides 59, 59a of the base element 17 and which are formed in identical fashion to the locking members 57, 58 of the block components i. On the narrow sides 39, S39a of the locking segments 18, 18a complementary guide i ridges 40 and guide grooves 41 are formed corresponding to the guide ridges lla and the guide grooves 11 of the block component 1. A perpendicular receiving opening 42 for the connector element 20 is provided in the base element 17 i centrally between the locking segments 18, 18a. The receiving opening 42 is of rectangular shape to conform to the outer contour of the plug element 21 of the conndctor i element ii When, in another embodiment, the terminal block is assembled to form the functional unit 44 of Fig. 1, a plurality of Sblock components 1, the connector element 20 and the base I element 17 are mounted on the carrier bar 36. In the assembly, first of all in each case two block components 1 are locked on top of one another or respectively inserted i into one another. Upon locking, the locking members 62, 63 of the locking socket 10a of the upper block component 1 engage behind the locking members 57, 58 of the locking element 10 of the lower block component i. When the two block components are inserted into each other, the Tshaped locking segment 52 of the locking element 10 of the Ulower block component 1 is inserted laterally into the Tshaped groove 66 of the upper block component 1. An outgoing cable core 122 is connected to the upper block componernt 1 and an incoming cable core 123 is connected to the lower block component i. Two such block components 1 locked on top of one another are locked on both sides onto the base element 17. The locking socket 10a with the inwardly oriented locking members 62, 63 arranged on both sides thus -1 13 locks onto the locking segment 18, 18a arranged on the base element 17, whose locking members 38, 38a are oriented outwardly. The block components 1 can be pushed onto the locking segment 18 of the base element 17, since the locking segments 18, 18a of the base element 17 are also T-shaped in cross-section.

After two pairs of block elements 1 have been mounted on the base element 17, the connector element 20 is inserted centrally between both pairs of block components i. The guide ridges 24 on the narrow sides 19, 23 of the connector element 20 thereby engage into the right guide groove 11 of Sthe block component 1 mounted on the left side of the base element 17 and into the left guide groove 11 of the block component 1 mounted on the right side of the base element 17. At the same time, the guide ridges lla of the block component 1 engage into the guide grooves 25 on the left and right narrow sides 19, 23 of the connector element 20. The connector element 20 is thus guided on both sides and is inserted to such an extent until the plug element 21 is completely inserted into the receiving opening 42 of the base element 17 and the bottom side 69 of the connector element rests on the base element 17.

In the plug element 21 of the connector element 20, as is shown in particular in Figs. 16 and 18, an earth bar 103 and a signal bar 85 are provided in the carrier bar 36 for the signal devices 91 and for the earth connection. The earth bar 103 consists of a U-shaped metal sheet with two upright legs 104, 105 arranged on either side and extending over the full length of the earth bar 103. These metal legs 104, 105 Scomprise a plurality of slits 106 in a defined grid pattern, so that sections 107 are formed on both sides. The width of the sections 107 corresponds to the width of the functional unit 44.

a block component being connected to a contact which protrudes from the housing of 90830,edspcX09,24776.sM1c, 14 The signal bar 85 (Fig. 18) is disposed centrally between the metal legs 104, 105 of the U-shaped earth bar 103 and is fixed by one or more retaining elements 108 (Fig. 16) mounted in the slits 106. The resilient earth contact 22 provided in the plug element 21 thus comes into contact with the inner side of the section 107 of the metallic earth bar 103, whereby the earth lead 82 of the connector element is electrically connected to the carrier bar. Since the carrier bar 36 is mounted on a frmae member, the earth potential is discharged via the frame. In most telecommunication systems, the earth connection is conducted via the metallic fastenings of the frame-board member. In certain cases, however, the earth potential has to be carried separately. In this case a strip of insulatirg material is disposed between the carrier bar 36 and t;e earth bar 103 and the earth bar 103 is fixed e.g. by means of plastic rivets. The earth potential is then carried on via an earth lead to be connected.

The other signal contact 22a of the connector element provided in the plug element 21 comes into contact with the signal bar 85, since the signal bar 85 engages into the longitudinal slot 72 of the plug element 21. The signal lead 109 for the signal devices 91 of the protective connectors 73a, 74a, 75a are thereby connected to the signal bar 85, as is also shown diagramnmatically in Figs. 15a, 15c and The retaining elements 108 serve to receive conductor paths e.g. circuit board strips for the signal circuits. In the simplest case, two conductor paths are required for the input and output of the current supply of signal lights (lamp, LED) in local and trunk indications. With a central indication for each protection element, however, two conductor paths are required for each signal element.

The earth bar 103 and the signal bar 85 can be adjusted, like the carrier bar 36, to any required length by division or series connection.

1t4 1 f 2 sc 900827,edspc.o 9,24776.sp2 Several functional units 44 assembled according to Fig. 1 can be mounted next to each other on the carzier bar 36 to form terminal blocks 43 (Fig. 19). Each functional unit 44 has an individual function A, B, C etc., which depends on the internal wiring, in accordance with Figs. 9 to 9i and Figs. 10 to 10g, of the block components 1 and of the connector element 20 in accordance with Figs. 14 to 14a.

Thus, it is possible to form terminal blocks 43 which consist of several functional units 44 having different functions. Individual functional units 44 may be removed from the terminal block 43 and replaced by another functional unit 44 with a different function, as indicated o 0 by case B.

oo00 oo A wire guide element 125 is provided to guide the cable o0 cores 122, 123 leading to the functional unit 44. This wire guide element 125 is locked directly on to the block component 1 (Fig. The wire guide element 125 has on its side faces 126 guide ridges 127 and guide grooves 128 which are formed identically to the guide ridges lla and guide grooves Sa 11 of the block component i. The wire guide element 125 is aa 0 therefore capable of being locked sideways onto the narrow sides 2, 3 of the block component i. Furthermore, on both S sides of the bottom side 129 of the wire guide element 125 there are provided two locking elements 130 with two inwardly oriented locking members 131,132 which are T-shaped 00 in cross-section. The wire guide element 125 can therefore be used for longitudinal or transverse mounting. The wire guide element 125 also has two resilient hooks 133, 134 which are facing towards each other and between which the cable cores 122, 123 are inserted from above.

If it is necessary to arrange block components 1 on circuit boards 112, a base plate 113 as shown in Fig. 20 is used, which plate is mounted onto the circuit board 112. The base plate 113 is made of plastic and has on one side an upright side wall 114. In this side wall 114 are inserted connecting elements 115 which have soldering tags 116 on one side and plugs 117 on the other side. On the back side of the side 1 '0 I -16wall 114, the soldering tags 116 are guided through a bore 118 to the other side of the circuit board, so as to enable I cable cores to be soldered on there. On the front side of I the side wall 114, there are arranged three locking segments 119, 120, 121 which are formed in corresponding fashion to the locking segments 52 of the block component 1. The plugs 117 are arranged between two locking segments 119, 120 and 1 120, 121 respectively. The block component 1 is mounted onto these locking segments, with the locking segments 119, 120, 121 engaging into the locking socket 10a of the block component 1. The plugs 117 now engage into the apertures 16 provided in the bottom side 5 and thus form an electrical I connection between the cutting clamp contacts 8 of the terminal contacts 9 and the conductor paths connected to the S 4 soldering tags 116. Grooves 124 are provided in the base :1plate 113 spaced apart in each case by three locking aqct( segments 119, 120, 121 respectively and two plugs 117, so that the base plate 113 can be adapted to the desired number Cof poles, by breaking off the segments which are not CC required.

17- List of reference numerals 1 block component 2 left side face 3 right side face 4 upper side bottom side 6 front side 7 back side 8 cutting clamp contact 9 terminal contact locking element 0 0 00.4 lOa locking socket 0o 11 guide groove 0 lla guide ridge r 12 locking element 13 guide element o 14 retaining bosses connecting contacts ,0 16 aperture :0 9 17 base element 18 locking segment o0: 18a guide element 19 left narrow side 0000~c connector element 21 plug element 22 earth contact 22a signal contact 23 right narrow side 24 guide ridge guide groove 26, 27 front side, back side 28 openings 29 plug sockets earth pick-off 31 upper side of housing 32 openings 33 signal devices L snown in Fig. 2a, which in this embodiment are each formed by two cutting clamp contacts 8. The cutting clamp contact 8 consists of a metallic contact strip with two prongs 47, 47a -18 *i a Cr I1 yC 34 36 37 38, 39, 41 42 43 43a 44 47, 48 49 50, 52 53, 56 57, 59, 62, 64 66 67, 69 72 73, 74, 76 77 78, 38a 39a 46 47a 51 54 58 59 61 63 68 71 73a, 73b 74a, 74b 75a, 75b 79 bottom side locking elements carrier bar mounting side locking members narrow sides guide ridge guide grooves receiving opening terminal block block element functional unit front part, back part prongs clamping notch cable insulation locking members locking segment guide elements receiving grooves locking members front side, back side slits locking members clamp contact clamping lugs T-shaped groove front part, back part bottom side plug pins longitudinal slot direct connector separating connector switch connector tapping contact switch contact pins earth contacts ILiiinue ifne LCKinU g etemenz ±u on tne upper siae 4 consists of five separate locking segments 52, between which four receiving grooves 56 are provided for the cutting clamp I iC ;L i i I 19

I

r fr 4 4

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81 82 83 84 86 87 88 89 91 92 93 94 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104, 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119, 120, 121 electrical protection element earth lead switch-over contact contact bridge signal bar separating contact carrier plate groove arm openings mechanical signal device pawl locking mechanism signal pin locking hook groove compression spring switch earth potential opto-electric indicator mechano-optical indicator light-emitting diode earthbar metal legs slits sections retaining element signal lead arrows device unit circuit board base plate side wall connecting element soldering tags plugs bores locking segments c i, i 9 grooves (not shown in detail) are provided on the front and back sides 6, 7 which are formed in identical manner to the guide elements 12, 13 provided on the side faces 2, 3. In i 20 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131, 132 133, 134 outgoing cable core incoming cable core groove wire guide element side faces guide ridge guide groove bottom side locking segment locking members hooks

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Claims (1)

1. 21.The plug element 21 comprises two plug pins 70 and 71 each having a longitudinal slot 72 which is formed such that a resilient bow-shaped earth contact 22 and signal -21- THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLD'YS: 1. Electrical connection assembly, comprising first and second block components, each made from an insulative housing, with connecting elements for interconnecting the housings of the block components with each other being arranged on at least two faces of the housing, and with at least one terminal contact for a cable core within the housing, such as a cable core of a telecommunication system, wherein an aperture is provided in the housing of each block component to give access to a terminal contact within the housing, or an extension thereof, a terminal contact of each block component being connected to a contact which protrudes from the housing of that block component, the protruding contact of the first block component seating in the aperture of the second block component when the first and second block components are interconnected, whereby terminal contacts of the interconnected block components are electrically coupled. 2. Electrical connection assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of at least two terminal contacts of each of two block components are electrically o coupled to terminal contacts of the other block component by way of their protruding contacts and apertures when said two block components are interconnected by means of their connecting elements. o 0 3. Electrical connection assembly according to either preceding claim, further comprising a connector element having an insulative housing, the connector element being provided with attachment means for co-operation with the connecting elements of the block components to interconnect the housing of either block component with the housing of the connector element, said connector element being provided with a wiring arrangement which is brought into electrical contact with a terminal contact of a block component when the block component is interconnected with respect to the connector element. 4. Electrical connector assembly according to claim 3 wherein said wiring f arrangement is configured such that the connector element provides direct electrical 900830,cldspc.009,24776.spc,21 uluiruacu pins /i are connected via the connecting con- tacts 15 to the upper and lower openings 28 of the connector element 20. An earth contact 80,-which is connected via an ELi; "T1 [i -22- connection between terminal contacts of a plurality of block components, each of which is interconnected with respect to the connector element. 'i Electrical connector assembly according to claim 3 wherein said wiring arrangement is configured such that the connector element acts as a separating connector between terminal contacts of a plurality of block components, each of which is interconnected with respect to the connector element. 6. Electrical connector assembly according to claim 3 wherein said wiring i 10 arrangement is configured such that the connector element provides a switch connection between terminal contacts of a plurality of block components, each of which is interconnected with respect to the connector element. r 7. Electrical connector assembly according to any one of claim 3 to 6 wherein plug sockets are provided in the housing of the connector element to receive plug elements for the tapping of contacts arranged in the connector element and being comprised by said wiring arrangement. 8. Electrical connector assembly according to claim 7 wherein the connector element is provided with at least one opening giving access to the wiring arrangement or an extension thereof, such that a protruding contact of a separate component can be brought into electrical contact with said wiring arrangement. 9. Electrical connector assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each connecting element comprises guide means which acts on a co- operating connecting element during interconnection of the housings of a pair of block components so as to guide the block components of the pair in a particular relative orientation. 10. Electrical connector assembly according to claim 9 wherein said guide means comprises a groove which is necked in cross section, and a projection which 0 is necked in cross section in a complementary manner, such that the projection and (bridge), not shown in the drawing, is required in this case for the connection to the conductive path. The switch connector 75 as a protective connector 75a may also be 1- -23 V groove of a connecting element of a first block component can be coupled with the groove and projection respectively of a connecting element of a second block component. 11. Electrical connector assembly according to claim 10 wherein said groove is elongate and said projection comprises a rib. 12. Electrical connector assembly according to any one of claims 3 to 11, wherein the connector element comprises a plug element with resilient earth contacts and signal contacts. II13, Electrical connector assembly according to any one of claims 3 to 12, wherein the attachment means of the connector element are adapted to co-operate with attachment means of a further connector element or elements such that several connector elements can be connected in series. 14. Electrical Connector assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a base element on which one or more block components can be I mounted by means of its or their connecting element or elements. Electrical connector assembly according to claim 14, wherein mounting elements are provided on the base element in order to mount the base element on a carrier bar. 16. Electrical connector assembly according to either one of claims 14 or wherein a receiving opening for a connector element is provided in the base element. 17. Electrical connector assembly according to either one of claims 15 or 16 wherein a plurality of openings are provided in the base element parallel to the longitudinal axis of the carrier bar in order to receive coupling elements for the series connection of several base elements. provided on both sides at the bottom side of the base element 17. The locking elements 35 each have a groove 88 into each of which engages an arm 89 of the carrier bar 36. i 13 1' I I-le.-'l U I- 24 18. Electrical connector assembly according to any one of claims 14 to 17 wherein the base element comprises a base plate and a side wall with locking segments and guide elements and with plugs and soldering tags for mounting on a circuit board. 19. Electrical connector assembly according to any one of claims 14 to 18 wherein a block component, a connector element and the base element form a functional unit. 20. Electrical connector assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each terminal contact comprises a cutting clamp contact. 21. Electrical connector assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. DATED this 27th day of August, 1990. KRONE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT By its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON 900827,edspe.009,24776.c,24 r