Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for forming AC power connections between a DC-to-AC inverter on a solar panel and AC power cable extending to an AC power grid includes a three-contact socket on the inverter and a three-contact electrical connector on the cable. The connector may be joined to the socket in either of two positions.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 6, 2011
Date of Patent:
May 7, 2013
Assignee:
Phoenix Contact Development & Manufacturing, Inc.
Inventors:
Shane Wiest, Gottlieb Oyster, Kevin Walker, John Phillip Huss, Jr., Arndt Schafmeister, Sebastian Schafer
Abstract: A modular DIN rail mounted base includes a two-part body made of plastic shells and a unitary circuit board assembly having two vertically spaced circuit boards. The edges of the circuit boards fit into interior grooves formed the interior surfaces of the shells to locate the assembly vertically in the shell. An alignment rib provided in a groove in a shell extends into a recess formed in a circuit board edge in the groove to locate the assembly longitudinally along the groove in the body.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 23, 2011
Date of Patent:
February 19, 2013
Assignee:
Phoenix Contact Development & Manufacturing, Inc.
Inventors:
Michael Anthony Correll, Terry Lee Barber
Abstract: An electronic connector latch system provides safety via an internally hidden latch that requires a correctly sized pin to open. The described system is positive, in that it provides a “deadbolt” style latching wherein the pull out force is perpendicular to direction of opening the latch, and latching occurs on both sides of the locking post. The system is still user friendly in that mating the two connectors together can be accomplished without any tools. Mating is achieved with a simple insertion of the mating connector. The latch is captured inside the plastic unit housing, and a stamped sheet metal spring provides high cycle life.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 11, 2010
Date of Patent:
September 18, 2012
Assignee:
Phoenix Contact Development & Manufacturing Inc.
Inventors:
Kevin E. Walker, John P. Huss, Jr., Gottlieb O. Oyster, Shane W. Wiest
Abstract: A surge protection system including a pluggable surge protection cartridge and its corresponding base is disclosed. The cartridge includes a housing, a surge protection assembly situated within the housing containing a surge protection element and a plurality of cartridge contacts in electrical contact with the surge protection assembly. The cartridge contacts are configured to engage a base within an electrical load center to carry a surge current from the load center across an electrical path of the surge protection assembly through the surge protection element. The cartridge is configured to be situated within the base such that the cartridge is removable from the base while the base remains in electrical contact with the load center.
Type:
Application
Filed:
December 19, 2011
Publication date:
August 16, 2012
Applicant:
PHOENIX CONTACT DEVELOPMENT & MANUFACTURING, INC.
Inventors:
Brian John GILLESPIE, Christopher Jon LAUBACH, Russell David MOSER, David Michael McCLELLAN, Scott Keith MICKIEVICZ
Abstract: A wireless field device or an adapter for converting a wired field device to a wireless field device includes a housing, a first connector on the housing, and a removable antenna module that includes an antenna, a second connector coupleable and uncoupleable with the first connector, and a radome that houses the antenna and fits on the second connector. The radome is made of a static dissipative material that dissipates static buildup without sparking when coupling or uncoupling the connectors, enabling the antenna to be removed or replaced while the field wireless field device is located in a hazardous (classified) location.
Type:
Application
Filed:
February 1, 2011
Publication date:
August 2, 2012
Applicant:
PHOENIX CONTACT DEVELOPMENT & MANUFACTURING, INC.
Abstract: A base for mounting on a DIN rail includes a body and a latch assembly on the bottom of the body. The latch assembly has an elongate actuator extending to one side of the base and a latch member attached to the actuator for engaging the DIN rail. The release member is held on the base in an assembly position to facilitate mounting of the attachment member on the release member and the base, and is then shifted to an operative position.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 23, 2011
Date of Patent:
July 24, 2012
Assignee:
Phoenix Contact Development & Manufacturing, Inc.
Inventors:
Michael Anthony Correll, Terry Lee Barber
Abstract: A terminal block is disclosed that integrates a surge protection base, a disconnect and connection points to provide a Kelvin connection in which a surge protection element is in electrical communication with the ground and the connection points for incoming and outgoing wires. The terminal block includes a terminal body having a terminal body housing. a plurality of conductive elements arranged within the terminal body to create a continuous electrical path therethrough and a disconnect switch integral the terminal body, the switch arranged to open the continuous electrical path and expose a terminal. The terminal body is configured to receive a surge protection element and the surge protection element, when received in the terminal body, forms a portion of the continuous electrical path.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 19, 2011
Publication date:
April 5, 2012
Applicant:
PHOENIX CONTACT DEVELOPMENT & MANUFACTURING, INC.
Inventors:
Brian John GILLESPIE, Christopher Jon LAUBACH, Russell David MOSER, David Michael McCLELLAN, Scott Keith MICKIEVICZ, Michael P. Lacey
Abstract: A terminal block is disclosed that includes a terminal body housing, a plurality of conductive elements arranged within the terminal body to create a continuous electrical path therethrough, and a disconnect switch integral the terminal body, the switch arranged to open the continuous electrical path and expose a terminal.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 19, 2011
Publication date:
April 5, 2012
Applicant:
PHOENIX CONTACT DEVELOPMENT & MANUFACTURING, INC.
Inventors:
Brian John GILLESPIE, Christopher Jon LAUBACH, Russell David MOSER, David Michael MCCLELLAN, Scott Keith MICKIEVICZ, Michael P. Lacey
Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for forming insulation displacement connections with conductors in small wires includes a wire carrier and a base. Pierce points on the base are slid along opposed walls in a slot in the carrier to align small tips on the ends of the pierce points to form electrical connections with a conductor in a wire in the carrier. The connections are located inwardly of the slot walls.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 1, 2010
Date of Patent:
May 17, 2011
Assignee:
Phoenix Contact Development & Manufacturing, Inc.
Inventors:
John Phillip Huss, Jr., Ralf Geske, Hans-Hilmar Schulte, Karsten Freund, Markus Sonderer, Thomas Beier
Abstract: A modular system for transmitting power and data between a control processor that receives and transmits signals along a trunk of a distributed control network, and one or more field devices located in a hazardous area includes a backplane bus and a trunk module connected to the backplane and interconnecting the trunk and backplane. Intrinsically safe spur modules are removably attached to the backplane.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 28, 2009
Date of Patent:
May 10, 2011
Assignee:
Phoenix Contact Development & Manufacturing, Inc.
Inventors:
Brenton Eugene Helfrick, Aaron Richard Kreider, Brian James Vogt, Davis Mathews
Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for forming insulation displacement connections with conductors in small wires includes a wire carrier and a base. Pierce points on the base are slid along opposed walls in a slot in the carrier to align small tips on the ends of the pierce points to form electrical connections with a conductor in a wire in the carrier. The connections are located inwardly of the slot walls.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 2, 2010
Date of Patent:
December 7, 2010
Assignee:
Phoenix Contact Development & Manufacturing, Inc.
Inventors:
John Phillip Huss, Jr., Ralf Geske, Hans-Hilmar Schulte, Karsten Freund, Markus Sonderer, Thomas Beier