Power terminal block

• US 20050164563A1
• Filed: 01/23/2004
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Mutabdzija, Srdan, Falcinelli, Michael, Briggs, James Edward, Schuttler, David, Stranberg, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,281,958 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/709
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/69 deformable terminals, e.g. crimping terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/778 Coupling parts carrying sockets, clips or analogous counter-contacts H01R12/78, H01R12/79 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6315 allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/36 Conductive members located under tip of screw
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/223 Insulating enclosures for terminals for switches H01H9/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/00 Circuit arrangements for emergency or stand-by power supply, e.g. for emergency lighting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49147 Assembling terminal to base

Abstract

A terminal block for use in an uninterruptible power supply comprises a first portion that includes a plurality of stalls, each of the plurality of stalls having an aperture, and at least one socket positioned in the aperture, the at least one socket arranged to accept a wire from internal portions of the uninterruptible power supply, and a second portion removably connectable to the first portion, the second portion including a plurality of stalls, a plurality of electrical ports, an electrical port positioned in each of the plurality of stalls, and at least one connector pin positioned within one of the plurality of stalls to connect to the at least one socket through the aperture.

Claims

1. A terminal block for use in an uninterruptible power supply comprising:

a first portion comprising;

a plurality of stalls, each of the plurality of stalls having an aperture; and

at least one socket positioned in the aperture, the at least one socket arranged to accept a wire from internal portions of the uninterruptible power supply;

a second portion removably connectable to the first portion, the second portion comprising;

a plurality of stalls;

a plurality of electrical ports, an electrical port positioned in each of the plurality of stalls; and

at least one connector pin positioned within one of the plurality of stalls to connect to the at least one socket through the aperture.

2. The terminal block of claim 1 wherein the at least one socket of the first portion is float-connected to at least one of the plurality of stalls of the first portion.

3. The terminal block of claim 1 wherein the at least one connector pin is float-connected to the at least one of the plurality of stalls of the second portion.

4. The terminal block of claim 1 wherein the first portion is fixedly connected to the uninterruptible power supply.

5. The terminal block of claim 1 wherein the plurality of stalls of the first portion and the plurality of stalls of the second portion are insulated terminals.

6. The terminal block of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of electrical ports includes a screw lug.

7. A terminal block for use in an uninterruptible power supply comprising:

a first portion comprising;

a plurality of stalls, each of the plurality of stalls having an aperture; and

at least one socket positioned in the aperture, the at least one socket arranged to accept a wire from internal portions of the uninterruptible power supply; and

a second portion removably connectable to the first portion, the second portion comprising;

a plurality of stalls;

a plurality of electrical ports, an electrical port positioned in each of the plurality of stalls;

at least one connector pin positioned within one of the plurality of stalls to connect to the at least one socket through the aperture;

a terminal block tray on which the stalls are positioned;

an output ground connection connected to the terminal block tray; and

a wire panel connected to the terminal block tray.

8. A terminal block for use in making electrical connections in an uninterruptible power supply comprising:

a first portion having a plurality of stalls, each of the plurality of stalls including an aperture to accept a wire from an internal portion of the uninterruptible power supply;

a second portion having a plurality of stalls, each of the plurality of stalls including an electrical port for accepting electrical connections from at least one device; and

connecting means for connecting the first portion to the second portion, the connecting means including at least one connector inserted into a first side of the aperture and at least one socket inserted into a second side of the aperture.

9. The terminal block of claim 8 wherein the connecting means includes float-connecting means for movably connecting the at least one socket to one of the plurality of stalls of the first portion.

10. The terminal block of claim 8 wherein the connecting means includes shrouds for removably snap-fitting the at least one socket into the second side of the aperture.

11. The terminal block of claim 8 wherein the connecting means includes float-connecting means for float connecting the at least one connector to one of the plurality of stalls of the second portion.

12. The terminal block of claim 8 wherein the first portion is fixedly connected to the uninterruptible power supply.

13. The terminal block of claim 8 wherein the plurality of stalls of the first portion are insulated terminals.

14. The terminal block of claim 8 wherein the plurality of stalls of the second portion are insulated terminals.

15. A terminal block for use in making electrical connections in an uninterruptible power supply comprising:

a first portion having a plurality of stalls each of the plurality of stalls, including an aperture to accept a wire from an internal portion of the uninterruptible power supply; and

a second portion having a plurality of stalls, each of the plurality of stalls including an electrical port for accepting electrical connections from at least one device;

connecting means for connecting the first portion, to the second portion the connecting means including at least one connector inserted into a first side of the aperture and at least one socket inserted into a second side of the aperture;

a terminal block tray on which the plurality of stalls are positioned;

an output ground connection connected to the terminal block tray; and

a wire panel connected to the terminal block tray.

16. A method of coupling a plurality of external wires to an uninterruptible power supply comprising:

coupling each of the external wires to one of a plurality of connection devices,

wherein each of the connection devices is coupled to a common tray; and

inserting the common tray into an opening in the uninterruptible power supply such that each of the external wires is electrically coupled to a corresponding wire in the uninterruptible power supply.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the common tray includes a plurality of electrical connectors with each of the connection devices coupled to one of the plurality of electrical connectors, and wherein inserting the tray includes coupling each of the plurality of electrical connectors to a mating connector in the uninterruptible power supply.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the method further includes fastening the common tray to the uninterruptible power supply.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising inserting a cable containing at least one of the external wires through an opening in the common tray.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the external wires are input power lines for at least one electronic device, and wherein the method further includes providing power to the at least one electronic device over the external wires.