AU2008205447B8

AU2008205447B8 - Improvements in or relating to pluggable wiring solutions

Info

Publication number: AU2008205447B8
Application number: AU2008205447A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Keith Wray Ball; Terence Edward John Lovett; Michael David Sargent
Original assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
Current assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
Priority date: 2007-08-15
Filing date: 2008-08-14
Publication date: 2011-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 2028-08-14
Also published as: AU2008205447A1; NZ570545A; GB0814347D0; AU2008205447B2; GB2451937A; GB0715899D0; AU2008205447A8

Abstract

Abstract Improvements in or relating to pluggable wiring solutions 5 A pluggable supply wiring adaptor (10) for electrical accessory mounting boxes (12) having pluggable connectors (18) for receiving pluggable supply wiring connectors, said adaptor (10) comprising at least two supply wiring connectors (14); and a bridging portion (16) located between and integrated with said at least two supply wiring connectors (14), wherein 10 said bridging portion (16) is adapted such that, in use, electrical signals may be transmitted between pluggable connectors (18) of adjacent mounting boxes (12). (Fig. 1a) C-4 ~-(0 -

Description

Pool Section 29 Regulation 3.2(2) AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: Improvements in or relating to pluggable wiring solutions The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: P111ASAU/1207 1 Improvements in or relating to pluggable wiring solutions The present invention relates to a pluggable supply wiring adaptor for electrical accessory mounting boxes, particularly, but not exclusively, to a 5 pluggable supply wiring adaptor for electrical accessory mounting boxes used in electrical trunking. The invention further relates to assemblies and installations of such adaptors and mounting boxes and methods of installation thereof. 10 Electrical trunking is used as a housing for, amongst other things, electrical power cables within institutional, commercial or industrial properties. The trunking typically provides one or more channel portions which are typically plastic extrusions mounted to a wall. The power cables are housed within the channels and the channels are covered with a 15 number of cover portions. The covers are detachably mountable to the channel portions to allow access to the power cables. Typically, a number of electrical accessories, such as power sockets, circuit breakers, light switches and the like, are installed at various 20 locations along the trunking. The electrical accessories are mounted to mounting boxes which are located within the channel portions of the trunking. Electrical power is delivered to the electrical accessory by wiring the power cables to the electrical accessory. The cover portions are cut to define an open portion of channel to accommodate the accessory. 25 An electrical accessory is typically installed by mounting the mounting box within the channel portion, wiring the power cables to the electrical accessory via apertures in the mounting box and then attaching the electrical accessory to the mounting box. The mounting box may be a 2 snap-fit within the channel, while the accessory is secured by two or more screws so that its face plate closes the box. Mounting electrical accessories in this manner is time consuming, since it 5 requires the power cables to be wired to the accessory. It also requires the person mounting the accessory to have a certain level of training in view of the inherent danger in dealing with electrical power. Pluggable wiring solutions to this are becoming widespread in building 10 installation. So called "plug & play" systems are systems that allow connection of electrical circuits by means of plug and socket connectors. Since there is no requirement for making cable to terminal connections in plug and play systems the time required to complete an installation can be greatly reduced, thus saving time and reducing cost. 15 In schools, hospitals, hotels, industrial, and office applications it is common to find electrical trunking housing a number of electrical accessories together, such as one, two or three double gang sockets, Ethernet points, telephone points etc. 20 Typically, adjacent electrical accessories are connected together using pluggable supply wiring assemblies which consist of a length of cable and two plug sections. The pluggable assembly is manufactured to a length that corresponds to the distance between adjacent accessories, and this is 25 difficult between adjacent accessories where only very short lengths are required. Furthermore, as the pluggable supply wiring assembly is required to consist of at least a length of cable and two plug sections, a gap 30 corresponding to the total length assembly must exist between the 3 connectors on adjacent accessories. Where the connectors are located on the back of a mounting box, this distance may be wide enough to permit the accessories themselves to be mounted with their face plates abutting one another. The back connection increases the depth of the assembly, however, 5 which may increase depth of trunking required, or depth behind a wall panel. Our co-pending application GB 0709793.4, not published at present priority date, proposes pluggable connectors on the end faces of the mounting boxes reduce the depth, but then the space requirement for the jumper cable prevents close mounting of the accessories. 10 Any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the invention. It should not be taken as an admission that any of the material formed part of the prior art base or the common general knowledge in the relevant art in Australia on or before the 15 priority date of the claims herein. Comprises/comprising and grammatical variations thereof when used in this specification are to be taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or 20 addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. It would be desirable to provide a pluggable supply wiring adaptor for electrical accessory mounting boxes which obviates or mitigates one or more of the 25 disadvantages referred to above. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a pluggable supply wiring adaptor for connecting electrical accessory mounting boxes adjacent to one another, said boxes having pluggable connectors for receiving 30 pluggable supply wiring connectors, said adaptor including: at least two supply wiring connectors; and a bridging portion located between and integrated with said at least two supply wiring connectors, 4 wherein said bridging portion is adapted such that, in use, electrical signals may be transmitted between pluggable connectors of adjacent mounting boxes. Adaptors are available in known pluggable wiring systems to connect two 5 pluggable cables together, for example to extend them, or to maintain a connection when an accessory is removed. However, the known adaptors are not suitable for directly coupling pluggable connectors of adjacent accessories mounting boxes where pluggable connectors are provided in the sides of the mounting boxes, and it is a requirement of the Wiring Regulations (BS 7671) to 10 have both robust electrical and mechanical connections. Preferably, said adaptor is configured to deliver electrical power. Additionally or alternatively, said adaptor is configured to transmit communication signals. 15 Preferably, said adaptor comprises a male supply wiring connector and a female wiring supply connector. This is useful in an application where each accessory likewise has one male and one female connector. Alternatively, said adaptor comprises two male supply wiring connectors or two female wiring supply connectors. 20 Preferably, said at least two supply wiring connectors are 3-pole connectors. Alternatively, said at least two supply wiring connectors are 4-pole connectors. Preferably, said at least two supply wiring connectors are designed to take the 25 form of Wieland GST 18i3 or GST 1814 connectors. Preferably, said bridging portion is dimensioned such that, in use, end faces of adjacent mounting boxes substantially abut against each other.

5 Preferably, said bridging portion is dimensioned such that, in use, end faces of face plates of adjacent electrical accessories of mounting boxes substantially abut against each other. 5 In one embodiment, said bridging portion is substantially 16mm long. That is, said bridging portion separates said at least two supply wiring connectors by substantially 16mm, corresponding to two times the overhang of the accessory faceplate. The exact separation will depend on the exact form of the mounting box and accessory, and the choice of 10 connector components. A separation of 8-20mm will typically be appropriate, more particularly 10-18mm or 13-16mm. Alternatively, the separation could be greater than 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 16mm, 20mm, 25mm, 35mm, 45mm, 55mm, 65mm or 75mm. 15 Preferably, said adaptor further comprises locking means, such that, in use, either side of said adaptor may be locked to said mounting box. Preferably, either side of said adaptor is locked to said pluggable connector of said mounting box. 20 Preferably, said locking means comprises at least two slots located on said bridging portion, each slot being adapted to engage with a corresponding locking clip located on a pluggable connector of a mounting box. 25 Preferably, said at least two slots are dimensioned to receive an unlocking tool to allow unlocking of said adaptor from said mounting box. Preferably, said adaptor is moulded from a plastics material. 30 6 According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a mounting box for an electrical wiring accessory, said mounting box having at least one pluggable connector for receiving a compatible supply wiring connector, in combination with at least one pluggable supply wiring adaptor in accordance with 5 the first aspect of the present invention, wherein at least one of said two supply wiring connectors of said adaptor is pluggable into said at least one pluggable connector of said mounting box. Preferably, said mounting box includes two pluggable connectors and two 10 pluggable supply wiring adaptors. According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided an assembly of electrical mounting boxes including at least two mounting boxes in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, wherein said pluggable 15 connectors of each adjacent mounting box are connected with a pluggable supply wiring adaptor in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of attaching a pluggable supply wiring adaptor to adjacent electrical accessory 20 mounting boxes including the steps of: providing a pluggable supply wiring adaptor having at least two supply wiring connectors and a bridging portion located between and integrated with said at least two supply wiring connectors; providing at least two electrical accessory mounting boxes each having at 25 least one pluggable connector for receiving pluggable supply wiring connectors; and plugging one of said supply wiring connectors of said adaptor into each pluggable connector of said mounting box such that electrical signals 7 may be transmitted between said pluggable connectors of said adjacent mounting boxes. Preferably, said method of attaching said pluggable supply wiring adaptor 5 to said electrical accessory mounting boxes comprises the further step of locking said adaptor to said mounting boxes. Preferably, said adaptor is locked to said pluggable connectors of said mounting boxes. 10 15 20 25 30 8 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 5 Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures la to 1d are perspective views of a pluggable supply wiring 10 adaptor according to the present invention; Figures 2a to 2c are perspective views of an alternative embodiment of the adaptor of Figure 1; 15 Figures 3a and 3b are perspective views of the adaptor of Figure 1 being connected to electrical accessory mounting boxes; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the adaptor of Figure 1 being connected to two pluggable connectors of an electrical accessory mounting box; and 20 Figures 5a and 5b are perspective views of an assembly of electrical accessory mounting boxes and adaptors mounted to electrical trunking. 25 30 9 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 5 Figure 1 illustrates a pluggable supply wiring adaptor 10 for an electrical accessory mounting box 12 (as illustrated in Figures 3a and 3b). The adaptor 10 comprises two supply wiring connectors 14 and a bridging 10 portion 16 located between the supply wiring connectors 14. The bridging portion 16 is integrated with the supply wiring connectors 14. With reference to Figures 3a and 3b, the supply wiring connectors 14 of the adaptor 10 are configured to engage with pluggable connectors 18 of 15 electrical accessory mounting boxes 12. As illustrated in Figure 3a, the pluggable connectors 18 of the mounting boxes 12 are located on the end faces 12a of the mounting box 12. However, as illustrated in Figure 3b, the pluggable connectors 18 could be 20 located on the top and bottom sides 12b of the mounting box 12. This is advantageous, as it allows horizontal or vertical connection of pluggable adaptors, such as the pluggable supply wiring adaptor 10 of the present invention. 25 The adaptor 10 is configured to allow the transmission of electrical signals between pluggable connectors 18 of adjacent mounting boxes 12. The transmission of electrical signals may include the transmission of electrical communication signals or the delivery of electrical power. The adaptor 10 is a rigid one-piece unit which does not use sections of cable to transmit 30 the electrical signals.

10 With reference to Figure 5b, the bridging portion 16 of the adaptor 10 is adapted such that, when the adaptor 10 is plugged into the pluggable connectors 18 of adjacent mounting boxes 12, an electrical connection is 5 established between the pluggable connectors 18. Furthermore, the bridging portion 16 may be dimensioned such that, when the adaptor is plugged into each mounting box 12, the accessory face plates 20 of each accessory 22 substantially abut against one another, as 10 illustrated in Figure 5a. This allows a close mounting of accessories in the electrical trunking 30. The connectors 14 and 18 in the embodiment described here take the form of Wieland GST 18i3 and GST 18i4 connectors. However, it should 15 be appreciated that any suitable form of connectors may be used. Furthermore, although the supply wiring connectors 14 of the adaptor 10 have been illustrated here as comprising one male connector and one female connector, it should be appreciated that the adaptor 10 may 20 alternatively have two male connectors or two female connectors. When connectors in the form of Wieland GST 18i3 and GST 18i4 are used, the bridging portion 16 may typically be 16mm in length. That is, the bridging portion 16 separates the connectors 14 of the adaptor 10 by substantially 16mm. These dimensions allow the adaptor 10 to transmit 25 electrical signals between the pluggable connectors 18 of adjacent mounting boxes 12. However, it should be appreciated that, depending on the size and type of connection system used, the bridging portion may have alternative dimensions.

11 With reference to Figures 1a and 4, the adaptor 10 also comprises locking means 24. The locking means 24 comprises two slots 26 located on the bridging portion 16. Each slot 26 is adapted to engage with a corresponding locking clip 28 located on a pluggable connector 18 of a 5 mounting box 12. Therefore, both sides of the adaptor 10 may be separately locked to a corresponding mounting box 12. When the adaptor 10 is plugged into the pluggable connector 18 the locking clip 28 engages with the slot 26. The locking clip 26 is typically 10 formed from plastic and snap-fits into engagement with the slot 26. The slots 26 are also dimensioned to receive an unlocking tool (e.g. a screwdriver) to unplug the adaptor 10 from the pluggable connector 18. Providing the adaptor 10 with a locking means 24 which allows either side of the adaptor 10 to be locked with a pluggable connector 18 increases 15 safety, as the adaptor 10 cannot easily be unplugged from the pluggable connector 18. A user must use a tool to unplug the adaptor 10. Figures la to Id illustrate the adaptor 10 as having supply wiring connectors 14 in the form of 3-pole connectors. However, Figures 2a to 20 2c illustrate an alternative embodiment of the adaptor 10', where the connectors 14 are 4-pole connectors. The adaptor 10 in the embodiments described here is a one-piece plastics moulded unit. However, it should be appreciated that the adaptor 10 may 25 be manufactured from any other suitable material and may not be manufactured as a one-piece unit. The pluggable supply wiring adaptor 10 permits electrical accessory mounting boxes 12 to be quickly and easily connected together, as the 30 adaptor 10 is simply plugged into the pluggable connectors 18 thereof.

12 This avoids the use of using wiring assemblies consisting of lengths of cable and plug sections. Furthermore, by adapting the bridging portion 16, it is possible to reduce 5 the gap between adjacent mounting boxes 12, which permits close mounting of accessories. Also, the adaptor 10 is able to be manufactured and tested prior to dispatch and installation. This ensures a high level of quality due to 10 repeatability of process and traceability. This removes problems such as bad and/or incorrect connections within the parts of the assembly. The adaptor 10 also maintains the benefit of plug & play modular construction, where the system can be easily dismantled and rearranged 15 as required. Modifications and improvements can be made to the above without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, although the bridging portion 16 of the adaptor 10 has been described and 20 illustrated above as being adapted to allow adjacent face plates 20 to substantially abut one another, it should be appreciated that the bridging portion 16 could be adapted such that adjacent end faces 30 of the mounting boxes 12 could substantially abut against one another. 25 Also, although the adaptor 10 has been described above as being locked to the pluggable connectors 18, it should be appreciated that it could also be locked directly to the mounting box 12.

13 Different sizes of adaptor can be provided for bridging different gaps, and further bridging sizes can be built up by using two or more adaptors in series. 5 10 15 20 25 30

Claims

1. A pluggable supply wiring adaptor for connecting electrical accessory mounting boxes adjacent to one another, said boxes having pluggable connectors for receiving pluggable supply wiring connectors, said adaptor including: 5 at least two supply wiring connectors; and a bridging portion located between and integrated with said at least two supply wiring connectors, wherein said bridging portion is adapted such that, in use, electrical signals may be transmitted between pluggable connectors of adjacent mounting 10 boxes.

2. A pluggable supply wiring adaptor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adaptor is configured to deliver electrical power and/or communication signals.

3. A pluggable supply wiring adaptor as claimed in claim I or claim 2, wherein said adaptor includes a male supply wiring connector and a female wiring 15 supply connector.

4. A pluggable supply wiring adaptor as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said adaptor includes two male supply wiring connectors or two female wiring supply connectors.

5. A pluggable supply wiring adaptor as claimed in any preceding claim, 20 wherein said at least two supply wiring connectors are 3-pole or 4-pole connectors.

6. A pluggable supply wiring adaptor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said at least two supply wiring connectors are designed to take the form of Weiland GST 18i or GST 18i4 connectors. 25

7. A pluggable supply wiring adaptor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said bridging portion is dimensioned such that, in use, end faces of adjacent mounting boxes substantially abut against each other. 15

8. A pluggable supply wiring adaptor as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein said bridging portion is dimensioned such that, in use, end faces of face plates of adjacent electrical accessories of mounting boxes substantially abut against each other. 5

9. A pluggable supply wiring adaptor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said bridging portion is between 8 and 20mm in length.

10. A pluggable supply wiring adaptor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said adaptor further includes locking means, such that, in use, either side of said adaptor may be locked to said mounting box. 10

11. A pluggable supply wiring adaptor as claimed in claim 10, wherein either side of said adaptor is locked to said pluggable connector of said mounting box.

12. A pluggable supply wiring adaptor as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein said locking means includes at least two slots located on said bridging portion, each slot being adapted to engage with a corresponding locking clip 15 located on a pluggable connector of a mounting box.

13. A pluggable supply wiring adaptor as claimed in claim 12, wherein said at least two slots are dimensioned to receive an unlocking tool to allow unlocking of said adaptor from said mounting box.

14. A mounting box for an electrical wiring accessory, said mounting box 20 having at least one pluggable connector for receiving a compatible supply wiring connector, in combination with at least one pluggable supply wiring adaptor according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein at least one of said two supply wiring connectors of said adaptor is pluggable into said at least one pluggable connector of said mounting box. 25

15. A mounting box for an electrical wiring accessory as claimed in claim 14, wherein said mounting box includes two pluggable connectors and two pluggable supply wiring adaptors. 16

16. An assembly of electrical mounting boxes including at least two mounting boxes according to claims 14 or 15, wherein said pluggable connectors of each adjacent mounting box are connected with a pluggable supply wiring adaptor according to any of claims 1 to 13. 5

17. A method of attaching a pluggable supply wiring adaptor to adjacent electrical accessory mounting boxes including the steps of: providing a pluggable supply wiring adaptor having at least two supply wiring connectors and a bridging portion located between and integrated with said at least two supply wiring connectors; 10 providing at least two electrical accessory mounting boxes each having at least one pluggable connector for receiving pluggable supply wiring connectors; and plugging one of said supply wiring connectors of said adaptor into each pluggable connector of said mounting box such that electrical signals may be 15 transmitted between said pluggable connectors of said adjacent mounting boxes.

18. A method of attaching a pluggable supply wiring adaptor to electrical accessory mounting boxes as claimed in claim 17, wherein said method of attaching said pluggable supply wiring adaptor to said electrical accessory mounting boxes includes the further step of locking said adaptor to said mounting 20 boxes.

19. A method of attaching a pluggable supply wiring adaptor to electrical accessory mounting boxes as claimed in claim 17 or 18, wherein said adaptor is locked to said pluggable connectors of said mounting boxes.

20. A pluggable supply wiring adaptor as hereinbefore described with 25 reference to the accompanying drawings.

21. A mounting box for an electrical wiring accessory as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 17

22. An assembly of electrical mounting boxes as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. A method of attaching a pluggable supply wiring adaptor to adjacent electrical accessory mounting boxes as hereinbefore described with reference to 5 the accompanying drawings. SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS WATERMARK PATENT & TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS P30690AUOO