Power terminal block

• US 7,534,148 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2007
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• 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: Schuttler, David, Stranberg, John, Mutabdzija, Srdan, Falcinelli, Michael, Briggs, James Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US11/872,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20080032565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 439/660, 439/682, 439/708, 439/709, 439/246, 439/247, 174/65.R, 298/37, 298/42
• 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 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.

2. The method of claim 1, 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 one of a plurality of mating connectors in the uninterruptible power supply.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further includes fastening the common tray to the uninterruptible power supply.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising inserting a cable containing at least one of the external wires through an opening in the common tray.

5. The method of claim 1, 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.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the common tray includes a wire panel for fastening the common tray to the uninterruptible power supply, and wherein coupling each of the external wires to one of a plurality of connection devices further includes:

unfastening the wire panel from the UPS; and

removing the common tray from the UPS to disconnect the plurality of electrical connectors from the plurality of mating connectors.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the connection devices include screw lugs, and wherein connecting the external wires to at least one of the connection devices includes securing the at least one of the external wires in a contacting position with the screw lug.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrical connectors includes a male plug, and wherein coupling each of the plurality of electrical connectors to one of a plurality of mating connectors includes inserting the male plug into the one of the plurality of mating connectors.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of mating connectors includes a female socket, and wherein coupling each of the plurality of electrical connectors to a mating connector includes inserting each of the plurality of electrical connectors into the female socket of one of the plurality of mating connectors.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising compensating for any misalignment by allowing radial movement of the at least one of the plurality of electrical connectors with respect to at least one of the plurality of mating connectors.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein compensating for the misalignment includes allowing radial movement of at least one of the plurality of mating connectors with respect to at least one of the plurality of electrical connectors.

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

electrically coupling, external to the uninterruptible power supply, a first end of each of the plurality of external wires to a removable assembly of the uninterruptible power supply;

inserting the assembly into an opening of the uninterruptible power supply; and

electrically coupling the assembly to the uninterruptible power supply.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the assembly of the uninterruptible power supply includes a male connector, and wherein inserting the assembly into an opening of the uninterruptible power supply includes inserting the male connector into a female connector of the uninterruptible power supply.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising allowing radial relative movement between the male connector and the female connector to compensate for misalignment.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein inserting the assembly into an opening of the uninterruptible power supply includes fastening the assembly to the uninterruptible power supply.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the assembly includes a wire panel and the method further includes:

unfastening the wire panel from the UPS; and

removing the assembly from the UPS to disconnect the male connector from the female connector.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the assembly includes screw lugs, and wherein electrically connecting the external wires to the assembly includes securing the at least one of the external wires in a contacting position with the screw lug.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising coupling a second end of at least one of the plurality of external wires to an electrical device, and providing power to the electrical device from the uninterruptible power supply.