IE55171B1 - Jumper strip - Google Patents

Abstract

1. A jumper strip comprising a plurality of double connection terminals (2) which allow electrical conductors to be connected without being stripped, where the distributor strip has an approximately square cross-section and the double connection terminals (2) are supported in receivers along the upper longitudinal sides of an insulating component (1), offset in such manner that each double connection terminal (2) for an incoming line wire (4) which is arranged at the outer edge of one longitudinal side lies opposite a double connection terminal (2) for an outgoing jumper line (5) which is inwardly offset from the other longitudinal side, where the lateral distance between two aligned double connection terminals (2) fundamentally corresponds to the breadth of one double connection terminal (2), and where mutually opposed double connection terminals (2) within the insulating component (1) are in each case connected to one another by a rib (7), characterized in that cable channels (3) for the incoming line wires (4) are arranged between mutually opposing double connection terminals (2) arranged along the upper longitudinal sides, where said cable channels (3) extend vertically through the insulating component (1) from its top to its bottom, and where each cable channel (3) is assigned to two adjacent double connection terminals (2) arranged along a longitudinal side. [EP0121221A1]

Description

- 2 - - 2 - 55171 The present invention relates to a jumper strip having an approximately square cross-section and provided with a plurality of double connection terminals Which permit the connection of electrical 5 conductors without the need to strip the insulation therefrom.

A jumper strip is described, for example, in an article entitled "Solderless Connection Technology for Telecommunications Distributor Devices" in "Telcom 10 Report", 1981, Vol. 5, pages 409 ff in which the double connection terminals are held in receiving means provided in the upper edge portions of the longitudinal sides of an insulating body. In jumper strips of this kind, the incoming lines are led in at one of 19 the two longitudinal sides whilst the outgoing lines are led away at the opposite longitudinal side. This fact predetermines the maximum number of line wires which can be connected.

It is an object of the present invention to 20 provide a jumper strip of the kind referred to above in which, with identical external dimensions, the number of line Wires which can be connected can be increased and at the same time an advantageous wiring of the distribution strip is ensured.

According to the invention, there is provided a jumper strip comprising a plurality of double connection terminals which allow electrical conductors - 3 - - 3 - 5 517 1 to be connected without being stripped, where the distributor strip has an approximately square cross-section and the double connection terminals are supported in receivers along the upper longitudinal sides of an insulating component, offset in such manner that each double connection terminal for an incoming line wire which is arranged at the outer edge of one longitudinal side lies opposite a double connection terminal for an outgoing jumper line which is inwardly offset from the other longitudinal' side, where the lateral distance between two aligned double connection terminals fundamentally corresponds to the breadth of one double connection terminal, and where mutually opposed double connection terminals within the insulating component are in each case connected to one another by a rib, cable channels for the incoming line wires being arranged between mutually opposing double connection terminals arranged along the upper longitudinal sides, where said cable channels extend vertically through the insulating component from its top to its bottom, and where each cable channel is assigned to two adjacent double connection terminals arranged along a longitudinal side.

An advantage of the jumper strip of the invention is that the incoming line wires, for example, can be led upwards through the cable channels to the upper side of the jumper strip so that - 4 - - 4 - 5 5 17 1 they can then be led from the centre of the upper face to each double connection terminal. As a result, both sides of the jumper strip are available for leading away the jumper lines. In this way, it is possible 5 to at least double the connection capacity of a jumper strip in a simple manner.

Since the opposed double connection terminals are connected to one another within the insulating body by a bridge, it is possible to 10 ensure that, an incoming line wire, for example, can be connected to three outgoing line wires.

Advantageously, at least at one side wall of the distribution strip, wire guidance slots are provided one beside another on the upper and the 15 lower longitudinal edges, one upper wire guidance slot and a lower wire guidance slot located vertically beneath it being in each case assigned to one line wire, and on the lower side of the strip a predetermined number of wire guidance rings are provided 20 one beside another in the longitudinal direction, each of the wire guidance rings being used for a plurality of line wires.

In this form of jumper strip in accordance with the invention, it is advantageous that the incoming 25 external lines, for example, can be easily pre-wired, the spiral quads of each group being led in accordance with their colour coding through the wire guidance - 5 - - 5 - 5 5171 rings arranged on the underside of the strip, and the individual line wires being subsequently individually clamped to the strip by means of two Wire guidance slots which are associated with one 5 another. This facilitates a clearly laid out \ preliminary wiring arrangement which clearly indicates the course of the lines.

Preferably, at each corner of the jumper' strip, there is arranged a wire guidance channel having 10 openings on both sides in the side walls which are adjacent to the corner in question, the outer boundary of the wire guidance channel being constituted by two pins which are connected to the strip and which delimit a downwardly-sloping inlet slot for the line wires.

These wire guidance channels serve substantially to simplify the lateral leading away of the jumper lines which are to be connected.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the drawings, in which :-20 Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a jumper strip in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of part of the jumper atrip of Figure 1. - 6 - 55171 Figure 1 illustrates a jumper strip in accordance with the invention which comprises an insulating body 1,on the edge portions of the upper longitudinal face of which, there are provided a plurality of 5 double connection terminals 2 which allow electrical conductors to be- connected without the need to strip off their insulation. In accordance with the invention, the double connection terminals 2 are arranged so that in each pair of oppositely located 10 terminals, one is offset towards the centre line of the upper face, the inwardly offset terminals alternating at the two sides. Incoming line wires 4 are led upwards through cable channels 3 to the upper face of the insulating body 1 (see also Figure 2). !5 From the outlet openings of the cable channels 3 on - 7 - - 7 - 5S1 71 the upper face of the insulating body 1, the incoming line Wires are led to one terminal of the double connection terminal 2. Jumper lines 5 lead away from the other terminal of the double connection terminal 2.

Thus in the jumper strip in accordance with the invention, two adjacent double connection terminals 2 on one longitudinal side are sufficient to connect an incoming double Wire to an outgoing double wire.

Certain applications in distribution 10 installations require that three outgoing line wires should be connected with respect to each incoming line Wire. In known jumper strips, this can be achieved only by means of an additional outlay in jumpering and with an associated drop in connection capacity.

In the jumper strip in accordance with the invention, however, this problem is overcome by the use of two connection terminals 6 connected within the body 1 by a bridge 7. Since two opposite double connection terminals 6 are connected to one another, 20 the outlay normally required for this sort of jumpering is avoided, and, in addition, the space requirement for such jumpering is extremely low in . the jumper strip in accordance with the invention because of the arrangement of the -line wires.

The terms "upper", "lower" and "vertical" as used herein in respect of the -jumper strip, refer to the position of the strip as shown in Figure 1.

Claims (2)

1. 2. A distributor strip as claimed in Claim l, wherein juxtaposed wire guidance slots are provided at least along a side wall of the insulating component at the upper longitudinal edge. 5 3. A distributor strip as claimed in Claim 2, wherein at each corner of the insulating component a wire guidance channel is provided with openings on both sides of the respective comer, where the outer boundary of the wire guidance channel consists of two 10 pins which are connected to the insulating component and which delimit a downwardly sloping insulating insertion slot for the jumper lines.

2. 4. A jumper strip as claimed in Claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference 15 to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. F. R. KELLY & CO., AGENTS FOR THE APPLICANTS.