GB2041665A - Electric current supply system - Google Patents

Abstract

A continuous outlet current supply system comprises a track of cylindrical form defining a channel 13 housing conductors 16, and having opposed flanges 17, 18 spaced inwardly from the mouth of the channel, and an adaptor insertable into the track at any position along its length, the adaptor being characterised in that operation of a single handle 26 causes contact fingers 24 and locking lugs (23) to engage with the track. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electrical current supply system This invention relates to electrical current supply systems of the continuous outlet type comprising an elongate track member having a channel housing two or more current carrying conductors, and one or more adaptors, each insertable in the track channel at any point along the length thereof and having contacts for engagement with the track conductors.

The present invention provides a system of this general form in which the track and adaptor are designated for simplicity and neatness.

In accordance with the invention there is provided an electric current supply installation of the continuous outlettype, comprising an elongate track member having channel housing a plurality of longitudinal extending conductors, the track member being of part-cylindrical external form with the channel mouth lying in a chordal plane, and the track member including a pair of longitudinal flanges on opposite sides of the channel, said flanges being parallel to the channel mouth and spaced inwardly therefrom, and an adaptor insertable into the channel at any position therealong, the adaptor having hollow body including parallel sidewalls, end walls and a bottom wall, the bottom wall projecting laterally from the side walls to define shoulders for engaging the respective flanges of the track member to limit insertion of the adaptor into the channel, and an operating member including a rotary part which passes through the bottom wall of the body, securing lugs fast with the rotary part for movement between a retracted position within the body and a securing position in which they project through openings in the side walls of the housing for engaging behind the respective flanges to secure the adaptor in the channel, electric contacts movable by rotation of the rotary part between a retracted position and an extended position protruding laterally from the housing for contacting the conductors, and a planar handle fast with the rotary part and normal to the axis thereof, the handle being movable in a plane closely adjacent and parallel the plane of the channel mouth when the adaptor is inserted in the track member, whereby the handle can be turned either to secure the adaptor in the channel and bring the contacts into engagement with the conductors or to release the adaptorfor removal from the channel.

Thus, the adaptor has a single operating member which is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the length of the track to effect electrical and mechanical engagement and disengagement of the adaptor with the track, the handle of the operating member being perpendicular to the axis of rotation and positioned adjacent a plane containing the outer extremities of the track channel. These features in addition to the flanges being located inwardly of the channel mouth minimise protrusion of the adaptor from the track channel.

In an especially preferred embodiment of the invention, the side, end and bottom walls of the adaptor body are made in one piece as a first integral moulding, and the rotary part, securing lugs and handle are all made in one piece as a second integral moulding.

To improve the appearance the handle is preferably so shaped that its profile substantially corresponds to that of the bottom wall of the body when the handle is in the securing position One form of supply system in accordance with the invention is described below, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying~ drawings, in which: Figure lisa cross-section of the track with an adaptor in operative position in the track channel; Figure 2 is a side view; Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the adaptor; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the adaptor.

As shown in Figure 1, the track section 10 is of part cylindrical external form and has a transverse partition wall 11 to define an upper channel 12 which may be used for fixing the track section to a suitable -support surface such as a wall or ceiling. For convenience of description, the system is described herein as if secured to a ceiling, with the partition wall horizontal.

A lower channel 13 houses a strip 14 of insulating material housing a pair of current carrying conductors 16 in manner known per se. Towards the mouth of the channel, but inwardly thereof, the track member has a pair of internal flanges 17, 18, the lower face of the flange 17 being closertothe mouth of the channel than that of the flange 18.

The outer (lower) extremities of the lower track channel 13 defining the channel mouth lie in a common horizontal plane H.

The adaptor comprises a hollow body 20 moulded in one piece from electrically insulating material and shaped to fit snugly into the channel 13. The hollow body 20 includes parallel side walls, curved end walls interconnecting the side walls and a bottom wall which projects laterally of the side walls to define shoulder which engage the track flanges 17, 18 to limit insertion of the adaptor into the track channel 13. One shoulder has a polarity bead or projection 21 to prevent the adaptor being properly inserted unless correctly orientated relative to the track section. If incorrectly inserted, the bead 21 fouls the lowerflange 17.

The adaptor also comprises an operating member including a rotatable part 22 which carries radial projecting locking lugs 23 which protrude through windows in the side walls of the body 20. The part 22 also controls a pair of contact fingers 24 which may be fast with the member 22 or as seen in Figure 4, separately mounted in the body 20. The contact fingers 24 are pivotally mounted and urged apart and outwardly of the body 20 by a spring 24a. Cam follower portions 24b integral with the contact fingers are biased into camming engagement with the part 22 by the same spring 24a.Rotation of the part 22 through 90" from the position illustrated in Figures 1-3 to that shown in Figure 4 will cause the contact fingers 24 and the locking lugs 23 to be retracted within the width of the body 20, defined by the outer surfaces of the side walls, to permit removal and insertion of the adaptor from and into the track channel 13.

The part 22 passes through a hole in the bottom wall of body 20 and rotary movement of part 22-is controlled by a planar handle 26 fast with the part 22 and perpendicular to its vertical rotational axis. The handle swings in a horizontal plane which is adjacent the plane H of the channel, so as to have minimal clearance from the lips of the channel 13. As a result protrusion of the adaptor from the track channel is minimised.

The rotary part 22, securing lugs 23 and handle 26 are made in one piece as a unitary moulding which is retained in the adaptor body by the lugs 23 engaging with a snap action behind projections provided on the inner surfaces of the side walls of body 20. As can be seen from Figure 3, the handle 26 is so shaped that its profile corresponds to that of the bottom wall of body 20, when the adaptor is secured in the track.

At one end of the adaptor, there is provided a tubular boss 27 which constitutes a cable entry gland and pivotal mount for a mounting bracket 28 which supports a light fitting (not shown) in known manner.

The cable 29 (Figure 4) is held by a cable grip 30 in the form of a third plastics moulding which is fitted into the hollow body 20 from above and is a snap-fit therein. The live and neutral leads L, N of the cable are electrically connected to the respective contact fingers 24, while the earth lead E is electrically connected to an earth contact 31 positioned for engagement with the flange 17 ofthetrack.

The system described and illustrated herein achieves a combination of simplicity and neatness which renders it particularly suitable for domestic use. In the particular example illustrated, the outside diameter of the track section is only 30 mm.

Claims (6)

1. An electric current supply installation of the continuous outlet type, comprising an elongate track member having a channel housing a plurality of longitudinally extending conductors, the track member being of part-cylindrical external form with the channel mouth lying in a chordal plane, and the track member including a pair of longitudinal flanges or, opposite sides of the channel, said flanges being parallel to the channel mouth and spaced inwardly therefrom, and an adaptor insertable into the chan ne:: at any position therealong, the adaptor having a hollow body including parallel side walls, end walls ard a bottom wall, the bottom wall projecting laterally from the side walls to define shoulders for engaging the respective flanges of the track member 10 mit insertion of the adaptor into the channel, and as operating member includng a rotary part which passes through the bottom wall of the body, securing lugs fast with the rotary part for movement between a retracted position within the body and a Securing position in which they project through nings in the side walls of the housing for engaging behind the respective flanges to secure the adaptor in the channel, electric contacts movable by rotation of the rotary part between retracted position and an extended position protruding laterally from the housing for contacting the conductors, and a planar handle fast with the rotary part and normal to the axis thereof, the handle being in a plane closely adjacent and parallel to the plane of the channel mouth when the adaptor is inserted in the track member, whereby the handle can be turned either to secure the adaptor in the channel and bring the contacts into engagement with the conductors or to release the adaptor for removal from the channel.

2. An installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side, end and bottom walls of the housing are made in one piece as an integral moulding.

3. An installation according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rotary part, securing lugs and handle are all made in one pieces as an integral moulding.

4. An installation according to claims 2 and 3, where , the operating member is inserted into the adapter body through an opening in the bottom wall a:id is retained in the body by snap-fit engagement therebetween.

5. An installation according to claim 1, wherein the handle is so shaped that its profile corresponds with that of the bottom wall of the body when the adaptor is secured in the track member.

6. An electric current supply installation substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.