Arrangement in connection with a conductor track

• US 5,869,786 A
• Filed: 02/18/1997
• Issued: 02/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nordic Aluminium Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nordic Aluminium Incorporated
• Inventors: Nieminen, Eero, Jaakkola, Risto, Vaisanen, Esko
• Primary Examiner(s): Ledynh, Bot L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US08/801,467
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 248/49, 248/68.1, 439/110-120, 174/96, 174/97, 174/99 R, 174/68.3, 174/95, 174/72 A, 174/98, 174/99 B, 174/48, 174/49, 191/45 R, 191/22 R, 191/23 R, 52/220.3, 52/220.5
• US Class Current: 174/96
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/04 for network, e.g. LAN connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/14 Rails or bus-bars constructed so that the counterparts can be connected thereto at any point along their length supporting elements for lighting devices, displaceable along guiding elements and making electrical contact with conductors running along the guiding elements F21V21/35
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 5/04 Partially-enclosed installations, e.g. in ducts and adapted for sliding or rolling current collection

Abstract

An arrangement in connection with a conductor track, the conductor track having a connection groove extending in the longitudinal direction of the track for connecting devices to the conductor track, and current conductors mounted in the connection groove in the longitudinal direction thereof for supplying power by an adapter to the devices connected to the conductor track. To provide a simple solution which expedites the installation, the arrangement has at least one signal conductor fixed to the outer surface of the conductor track for supplying a bus control signal to a device connected to the conductor track by an adapter.

Claims

1. A conductor track assembly including a conductor track, said conductor track comprising a connection groove extending in a longitudinal direction of the track for connecting devices to the conductor track by means of an adaptor;

and current conductors mounted in the connection groove in the longitudinal direction thereof for supplying power by means of the adapter to the devices connected to the conductor track;

the assembly further comprising at least one signal conductor fixed to an exterior surface of the conductor track, exclusively for supplying a bus control signal to at least one of the devices connected to the conductor track by means of the adaptor.

2. A conductor track assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one signal conductor comprises two signal conductors.

3. A conductor track assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one signal conductor comprises three or more signal conductors.

4. A conductor track assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one signal conductor is fixed to a side of the connection groove.

5. A conductor track assembly according to claim 1, wherein the signal conductors are fixed on different sides of the connection groove.

6. A conductor track assembly according to claim 1, wherein the signal conductors are fixed on a same side of the connection groove.

7. A conductor track assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one signal conductor is insulated from the conductor track and positioned so as to be exposed on a surface of the conductor track.

8. A conductor track assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of conductor tracks connected by joints, wherein said at least one signal conductor is arranged to change places at the joints of the conductor tracks.

9. A conductor track assembly comprising:

a conductor track,

an adapter mounted on said conductor track for connecting a device to said conductor track,

a current conductor mounted to said conductor track for supplying power to the device,

a signal conductor, separate from said current conductor, mounted to an exterior surface of said conductor track, for supplying a bus control signal to the device.

10. A conductor track assembly according to claim 9, wherein said signal conductor is formed from an electrically conductive wire insulated from said conductor track and exposed to said adapter mounted on said conductor track.

11. A conductor track assembly according to claim 9, wherein said signal conductor has a smaller cross-sectional area than said current conductor.