Power distribution unit for modular wall panels

• US 4,740,167 A
• Filed: 10/24/1985
• Issued: 04/26/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AMP Limited
• Original Assignee: AMP Limited
• Inventors: Murren, Daniel J., Sheesley, Wilmer L., Millhimes, Wayne L.
• Primary Examiner(s): McQuade, John
• Application Number:
  US06/790,772
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 339/21 R, 339/22 R, 339/22 B, 339/198 J, 339/14 R, 339/14 RP, 339/23, 339/24, 339/20, 339/31 R, 339/31 M, 339/36, 339/154 A, 174/48, 439/92, 439/166, 439/170-175, 439/217-224, 439/638, 439/640, 439/650-654
• US Class Current: 439/92
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/00 Coupling parts supported only by co-operation with counterpart
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/16 structurally associated with support for line-connecting terminals within the box
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/288 in modular walls, e.g. wall panels

Abstract

The present invention is a power distribution unit for electrification of modular wall panels such as used in office buildings and the like. More particularly the invention includes a central junction box, that houses six buss bars three power, one neutral and two ground bars, and two duplex receptacles, pluggable into the sides of the box.

Claims

1. A power distribution unit for modular wall panels and the like, comprising:

a. a junction box having a recess on each of two opposing, longitudinal sides with floors of the recesses having apertures therethrough and being parallel to the longitudinal sides;

b. a plurality of elongated buss bars positioned in the junction box with one or more buss bars having electrical engaging means in alignment with said apertures in said recesses;

c. a receptacle for being received in one of said recesses and having electrical means for engaging the electrical engaging means on the one or more buss bars having electrical engaging means; and

d. a plurality of cover means selectively attachable to the one side of the receptacle which bears against the floor of the recess, each cover means having a different thickness so that the receptacle, when positioned in the recess, will extend out of the recess a distance determined by the particular cover means selected and attached to the one side.

2. An electrical power junction box for use in an electrical power distribution system, comprising:

dielectric housing means having electrical bus means disposed therein and extending therethrough from one end to the other, said electrical bus means including one ground bus means, two neutral bus means and two power bus means;

electrical contact means at the ends of said bus means, said contact means being disposed in respective opening at the ends of said housing means, said electrical contact means electrically connectable with complimentary electrical contact members of electrical connector means latchably mountable onto the ends of said housing means;

receptacle-receiving areas extending along each side of said housing means, said receptacle-receiving areas having a pattern of apertures extending through each side of said housing means respectively;

electrical contact areas of said bus means at said apertures;

electrical receptacle means positionable in one or both of said receptacle-receiving areas of said housing means, said receptacle means being adapted to receive electrical plugs of the type having two or three outwardly extending prongs; and

electrical contact member means positionable in said electrical receptacle means and including a ground electrical contact member means for electrical connection with said ground bus means, one of at least two neutral line electrical contact member means with each having connectable means at different spatial locations relative to each other for selective electrical connection with one or another of said two neutral bus means and one of at least two power line electrical contact member means with each having connectable means at different spatial locations relative to each other for selective electrical connection with one or another of the two power bus means.

3. An electrical power distribution system for use as part of modular wall panels, comprising:

electrical power junction box means having dielectric housing means including side member means and end means;

electrical bus means disposed along said side member means and having intermediate contact means and end contact means, said intermediate contact means being located at apertures in the side member means, said electrical bus means including two ground bus means, one neutral bus means and two power bus means;

said end means having contact-receiving means along which said end contact means of said bus means extend;

electrical connector means including dielectric-housing means and electrical terminal means latchably mounted onto said end means with the electrical terminal means electrically connectable with said end contact means;

each of said side member means having receptacle-receiving areas, said areas enclosing said apertures;

electrical receptacle means positionable in one or both of said receptacle-receiving areas, said receptacle means being adapted to receive electrical plugs of the type having two or three outwardly extending prongs; and

electrical contact member means positionable in said electrical receptacle means and including a neutral line electrical contact member means for electrical connection with said neutral bus means, one or two ground electrical contact member means with each having connectable means at different spatial locations relative to each other for selective electrical connection with one or another of said two ground bus means and one of two power line electrical contact member means with each having connectable means at different spatial locations relative to each other for selective electrical connection with one or another of the two power bus means.