GB2269709A

GB2269709A - Terminal block assembly.

Info

Publication number: GB2269709A
Application number: GB9215948A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Vivian Jude Amourgam
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-07-27
Filing date: 1992-07-27
Publication date: 1994-02-16
Also published as: GB9215948D0

Abstract

A terminal block assembly comprises internally threaded solderable inserts (1), optionally a printed circuit board (2), an insulator body (3) and electrically conducting screws (4). A conducting screw (4) can be constructed as a fuse. The pcb may be omitted and the terminals cast into the body (3). <IMAGE>

Description

A TERMINAL BLOCK ASSEMBLY This invention felates to terminal block assembly.

In the context of this invention conventional terminal blocks are interface devices between self-contained electricrl electronic equipment and eternal circuitry and provide a meaus et connecting the aforementioned equipment to external circuits. Wires carrying bi-directional electrical power and/or control signals usually terminate or emanate from terminal blocks.The usuel construction of existing terminal blocks comprise an external connection point, an internal connection point and a means of coupling the ex ternal connection to the internal connection al 1 usually y held in place and protected by an insulating medium The internal connection connects directly with the electrical electronic equipment and can be in the for of older tags or pins or lugs for use with conducting wires or.

in the form of plated or tinned pins which are directly soldered to a printed circuit board. The important feature in the definition of the internal connection is that if electrical/el ectroni c equipment fitted with a terminal block is isolated from the rest of the universe the internal connection of the serving terminal block and the electrical/electronic equipment is preserved. The eternal connection is usually in the form of screws, solder tags or compression fixings indirectly actuated by screws. The external commection is usually designed to accomodate conduction wires.The coupling is usually in the form ot a conducting strip which connects an internal connection point with ist corresponding external connection point.

According to the present invention there is provided a terminal block comprising a printed circuit board, threaded] solderable, (or compression fit), inserts, an insulating body or medium, electrical conduction screws and appropriate glue.

The specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by wey of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which : FIG I shows an exploded view of the terminal block construction.

Referring to thE drawling an internally threaded solderable or compression fit insert (1), whose whole length is longer than the thickness of the printed circuit board (2), is pushed thraugh a tight witting hole located in a suitably etched printed circuit board (2), (single or double sided) and soldered on one or both sides to the printed circuit board. (The process may be repeated with more inserts depending on the number of terminal points required in the terminal block). The resulting assembly (1 & 2) is then offered, (with the protruding inserts facing the insulating block (3) ), to the insulating block (3) which has holes, (internally y coated with glue), emactyl matched and positioned with the holes in the printed circuit board.

screw iE ten passed +rom the other side, and through c hole, of the insulating block to engage with the insert and printed circuit board assembly. As the screw engages with the insert and is screwed in it gradually pulls the exposed part of the insert into the hole of the insulating block whereupon the glue welds the insert to the insulating block creating a new assembly (1,2,3 & ) or of terminal block (In practice there would be more than one terminal point per terminal block and in that case several screws, one per hole and terminal point, wold be o++ered to engage with the inserts/printed circuit board assembly and systematically and evenly screwed in to draw in the aforementioned assembly into the insulating block) An important feature of this invention is that the threaded insert (1) within the terminal bloc assembly shall not protrude to the other side of the insulating block, that is the side where the screws are i nserted.

Claims

CLAINS

1. A terminal block assembly comprising a printed circuit board, threaded solderable inserts, (flanged on one side or plain), an insulator tody and electrically conducting screws configured and arranged as implied by the exploded view of the assembly detailed in fig. 1.

2. A terminal block assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the the conduction screw (4) is a series link the in conducting medium for passing electrical signals to and from the printed circuit board (2) with referente to the outside world. (Note : the aforemtnioned term "series link" and especially the word "series' shall b interpreted as one would interpret "resistors in series").

3. A terminal block assembly as claimed in claims 1 and 2 wherein the threaded insert (1) is pressure or compression fitted to the printed circuit board (2) therehy eliminating the need to solder the insert to the printed circuit board.

4. A terminal block assembl as claimed in claims 1,2 and 3 wherein the threaded insert has a rough or knurled outer surface such that it bites into the hole in the insulating body when drawn inthereby eliminating the need to applt glue to the assembly.

5. A terminal block assembly as claimed in claims 1,2,3 and 4 wherein there are as many threaded inserts, holes provided in the printed circuit board holes provided in the insulating block and conducting screws as required for multi-terminal points within a single terminal block assembly. ie. for a 4 terminal point (4 wayi , terminal block there would be 4 threaded inserts 4 holes es in the printed circuit board, 4 matching holes in the insulating block (matching with those pr provided in the printed circuit board), and 4 conducting screws.

A terminal block assembly as claimed in claims 1,2,3,4 and 5 wherein the insulating block may be manufactured of any type of insulating material.

7. A terminal tlock assembly as claimed in clamis 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 wherein the conducting screw(4) may be constructed ta include a fuse such that if this fuse blows the conducting screw is no longer conducting but behaves as if it were manufactured +rom an insulating material.

8. A terminal block assembly as claimed in claims 1,2,3,4,5,6 ans wherein the printed circuit board (2) ie not used but where the threaded insert is cast on one side of the insulator block (3) hole with the screw entering on the other side to engage with the threaded insert and where the serew continues to act as a series link in the conducting medim.

9. A terminal block assembly as claimed in claims 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8 and with reference to figure 1 wherein blocking means are provided to the insulating block(3) such that when the terminal block is fully assembled it shall not be possible for the internally threaded solderable insert(l) to protrude through the insulating block(3), (that is, through the hole to the side where the conducting screw(4) enters).

9. A terminal block assembly as claimed in claims 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8 wherein the axial length of the threaded insert (1) is less than the length of the insulator block (3) measured axially (ie. its thickness) when no circuit board is used (as described in claim 8). In the case where the printed circuit board (2) is used the axial length of the threaded insert (1) is less than the combined axial lengths of the printed circuit board (2) and the insulator block (3). In the case where compression type threaded inserts are used it is the length after compression which shall be taken into account.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A terminal block assembly comprising an internally threaded solderable electrically conducting insert(l), (flanged on one side or plain), an insulator body(3) and electrically conducting screws(4) configured and arranged as implied by the exploded view of the assembly detailed in fig. 1.

2. A terminal block assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the the electrically conducting screw(4) is a series link in the conducting medium for passing electrical signals to and from the internally threaded solderable insert(l) with reference to the outside world. (Note: the aforementioned term "series link" and especially the word "series" shall be interpreted as one would interpret "resistors in series").

3. A terminal block a-ssembly as claimed in claims 1 and 2 wherein the internally threaded insert(l) has a rough or knurled outer surface such that it bites into the hole in the insulating body(3) when drawn in thereby eliminating the need to apply glue to the assembly.

4. A terminal block assembly as claimed in claims 1,2 and 3 wherein there are as many internally threaded inserts(l), holes provided in the insulating block(3) and electrically conducting screws(4) as required for multi-terminal points within a single terminal block assembly. ie. for a 4 terminal point, (4 way), terminal block there would be 4 internally threaded inserts(l) and 4 matching holes in the insulating block(3), and 4 electrically conducting screws(4).

5. A terminal block assembly as claimed in claims 1,2,3 and 4 wherein the insulating block(3) may be manufactured of any type of insulating material.

6. A terminal block assembly as claimed in claims 1,2,3,4 and 5 wherein the electrically conducting screw(4) may be constructed to include a fuse such that if this fuse blows the electrically conducting screw(4) is no longer electrically conducting but behaves as if it were manufactured from an insulating material.

7. A terminal block assembly as claimed in claims 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 and with reference to figure 1 wherein the extent of the thread on the electrically conducting screw(4) stops short at a finite distance from the head of the electrically conducting screw(4) such that it is impossible to fully screw the electrically conducting screw(4) into the internally threaded solderable insert(l) to the extent where the head of the electrically conducting screw(4) makes contact with the internally threaded solderable insert(l) whether or not the insulating block(3) is in position, (as suggested by the exploded view).

8. A terminal block assembly as claimed in claims 1,2,3,4,5,6 and 7 and with reference to figure 1 wherein blocking means are provided to the internally threaded solderable insert(l) such that when the terminal block is fully assembled there will exist a finite distance between the head of the electrically conducting screw(4) and the internally threaded solderable insert(l).