Filtered terminal block assembly

• US 6,371,791 B1
• Filed: 03/12/2001
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies
• Inventors: Newton, Robert Lewis Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ta, Tho D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRUC T
• Application Number:
  US09/803,815
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 439/620, 439/2, 439/382, 439/383, 439/384, 439/578
• US Class Current: 439/383
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7195 with planar filters with openings for contacts

Abstract

A terminal block assembly include a base assembly includes a terminal block housing and a terminal stud extending therethrough, a filter assembly coupled to the stud; and a ground assembly coupled to the base assembly and the filter assembly for dissipating filtered signals. The filter assembly is mechanically isolated from the base assembly and the ground assembly to prevent structural loading of the filter assembly.

Claims

1. A terminal block assembly comprising:

a base assembly comprising a terminal block housing comprising a bore and a terminal stud extending through said bore;

a filter assembly comprising a resilient contact element and a filter element coupled to said stud; and

a ground assembly coupled to said base assembly and said filter assembly for dissipating filtered signals;

wherein said resilient contact element is located between said terminal stud and said filter element so as to mechanically isolate said filter element from said terminal stud to prevent structural loading of said filter assembly.

2. A terminal block assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said terminal stud comprises opposite ends configured for electrical connections, and an undercut located between said opposite ends for retaining said resilient contact element.

3. A terminal block assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein said filter element comprises a tubular capacitor element.

4. A terminal block assembly in accordance with claim 3 wherein said tubular capacitor element comprises an inner surface, said resilient contact member establishing an electrical connection with said inner surface.

5. A terminal block assembly comprising:

a terminal block housing comprising an opening;

a terminal stud extending through said opening;

a filter element coupled to said stud;

a resilient contact element electrically coupled to said filter element and located between said terminal stud and said filter element so as to mechanically isolate said filter element from structural stress.

6. A terminal block assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein said terminal stud comprises a stop located within said housing for retaining said resilient contact element.

7. A terminal block in accordance with claim 6 wherein said resilient contact element is located between said stop and said filter element.

8. A terminal block assembly in accordance with claim 6 wherein said filter element comprises a tubular capacitor element.

9. A terminal block assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein said terminal stud comprises a threaded stud.

10. A terminal block assembly in accordance with claim 5 further comprising a ground plate coupled to said terminal block housing.

11. A terminal block assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein said ground plate is soldered to said filter element.

12. A method for assembling a terminal block assembly including a base assembly, a filter assembly, and a ground assembly, the base assembly including a terminal block housing having an opening and a terminal stud extending therethrough, the filter assembly including a resilient contact element and a filter element;

and the ground assembly including a ground plate, said method comprising the steps of;

positioning the resilient contact element over the terminal stud;

positioning the filter element over the resilient contact element and the stud; and

coupling the ground plate to the terminal block housing so that the resilient contact element mechanically isolates the filter element from mechanical stress.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the terminal block housing includes a filter element bore, said step of positioning the spring contact element comprising the step of positioning the spring contact element within the bore.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein the terminal stud includes an undercut located adjacent the bore, said step of positioning the spring contact within the bore comprises the step of abutting the resilient contact element to the undercut of the terminal.

15. A terminal block assembly in accordance with claim 14 wherein said step of positioning the filter element over the terminal stud and the capacitor element comprises the step of positioning the capacitor element over the resilient contact element so that an electrical connection is established between the resilient contact element and the filter element.