Modular terminal fuse block

• US 6,431,880 B1
• Filed: 05/04/2001
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies
• Inventors: Joiner, Matthew Alan, Davis, Ruel Emmett
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): HYEON, HAE M
• Application Number:
  US09/849,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20020031924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 439/76.2, 439/949
• US Class Current: 439/76.2
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/208 specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/209 Modular assembly of fuses or holders, e.g. side by side; combination of a plurality of identical fuse units
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/0026 casings for the fuse and its base contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/2045 Mounting means or insulating parts of the base, e.g. covers, casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/205 Electric connections to contacts on the base
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/085 Short circuiting bus-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2491 Terminal blocks structurally associated with plugs or sockets
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/18 Disposition or arrangement of fuses for switchgear having a withdrawable carriage H02B11/26
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/949 Junction box with busbar for plug-socket type interconnection with receptacle

Abstract

A power distribution block assembly includes an insulative body having at least a first modular body section and a second modular body section, and at least one electrically conductive bus member having a longitudinally-extending base and a plurality of terminal blades extending from the base. The base of the bus member has a site for electrical connection to a power source and a longitudinally elongated U-shape channel defined by opposite legs. A plurality of terminal blades extend from the legs of the channel and include a plurality of sites for electrical connection to a plurality of removable circuit elements. A plurality of separate connector elements are contained within the body, and each of the connector elements are configured to engage a terminal blade of the bus with a terminal of a respective one of the removable circuit elements.

Claims

1. A power distribution block assembly comprising:

an insulative body comprising at least a first modular body section and a second modular body section, each of said first modular body section and said second modular body section comprising a number of electrical connection openings;

at least one electrically conductive bus member having a longitudinally-extending base and a plurality of terminal blades extending from said base, said base having a site for electrical connection to a power source and comprising a longitudinally elongated U-shape channel defined by opposite legs, said plurality of terminal blades extending from said legs, said terminal blades including a plurality of sites for electrical connection to a plurality of removable circuit elements; and

a plurality of separate connector elements contained within said body, each of said connector elements being configured to engage a terminal blade of said bus with a terminal of a respective one of said removable circuit elements.

2. A power distribution block assembly in accordance with claim 1, said insulative body comprising at least a first end section, a second end section, and a middle section engaged to said first end section and to said second end section.

3. A power distribution block assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first modular body section and said second modular body section are configured for snap-fit engagement to one another.

4. A power distribution block assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said first and second modular body sections comprise a plurality of electrical access openings providing access to said sites of said terminal blades.

5. A power distribution block assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein said first modular body section comprises a male coupling and said second modular body section comprises a female coupling, said male and said female coupling configured for connection to one another to form said body.

6. A power distribution block assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein said first modular body and said second modular body are configured for connection to one another with a tongue and groove arrangement.

7. A power distribution block assembly comprising:

an insulative body comprised of a plurality of modular sections connected to one another;

a plurality of electrically conductive bus members, each having a longitudinally extending base and a plurality of terminal blades extending from said base, each said base defining a site for electrical connection to a power source, said terminal blades defining a plurality of sites for electrical connection to a plurality of removable circuit elements;

a plurality of separate connector elements contained within each of said sections of said body, each of said connector elements being configured to engage a terminal blade of said bus with a terminal of a respective one of said removable circuit elements.

8. A power distribution block assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein said modular sections comprises at least a first end section, at least one middle section, and at least a second end section.

9. A power distribution block assembly in accordance with claim 8 wherein said middle section comprises a male end and a female end for connection to another of said plurality of modular sections.

10. A power distribution block assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein said male end of said middle section overlaps a female end of another of said plurality of modular sections.

11. A power distribution block assembly in accordance with claim 8 further comprising at least two middle sections.

12. A power distribution block assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein each of said modular sections comprises a plurality of electrical connector openings, said plurality of openings of each said section being less in number than said plurality of sites of said terminal blades.

13. A modular body for a power distribution block assembly including:

at least one electrically conductive bus member having a longitudinally-extending base and a plurality of terminal blades extending from said base, the base having a site for electrical connection to a power source and having a longitudinally elongated U-shape channel defined by opposite legs, a plurality of terminal blades extending from the legs, and the terminal blades including a plurality of sites for electrical connection to a plurality of removable circuit elements, said body comprising;

a first body section fabricated from an insulative material and comprising a first number of electrical connection openings therein for connection to the sites of the terminal blades;

a second body section fabricated from an insulative material and comprising a second number of said electrical connections opening therein for connection to the sites of the terminal blades;

each of said first and second body sections configured for snap-fit engagement to one another to accommodate the plurality of sites of the terminal blades of the bus member.

14. A modular body in accordance with claim 13 wherein each of said first and second body sections includes first and second legs for containing a plurality of separate connector elements, each of said connector elements being configured to engage a terminal blade of the bus with a terminal of a respective one of the removable circuit elements.

15. A modular body in accordance with claim 13 wherein said body comprises a at least a first end section, at least one middle section and at least a second end section.

16. A modular body in accordance with claim 15 wherein said first end section comprises a male end, said second end section comprises a female end, and said middle section comprises a male end a female end, said male and female ends of said respective sections configured for snap-fit engagement to one another.

17. A modular body in accordance with claim 16 wherein said male ends comprise a tongue and said female ends comprise a groove.

18. A modular body in accordance with claim 17 wherein said male and female ends overlap one another.

19. A modular body in accordance with claim 13 wherein said first number of openings of said body section is equal to said second number of openings of said second body section.

20. A modular body in accordance with claim 13 further comprising an organizing tray disposed about said first number of electrical connection openings of said first body section and said second number of electrical connection openings of said second body section.