Patents Assigned to Weidmuller Interface GmbH & Co.
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Patent number: 7327052Abstract: An electrical distribution system includes a plurality of separate consumer modules for supplying power to a plurality of consumer loads, respectively. Each of the consumer modules includes an overload fault detection device for automatically interrupting the supply of power to a given consumer load upon the detection of a fault therein by an overload protection arrangement. When the voltage drop across a measuring resistor exceeds a given threshold value, a non-conducting transistor becomes conductive, thereby opening a gate circuit to disconnect the consumer load from its power supply. Resistors of varying resistance values may be selected manually or by remote control to correspond with the demand requirements of the consumer loads.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2005Date of Patent: February 5, 2008Assignee: Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Klaus Korsten, Christian Tepper, Matthias Müller, Michael Buschkamp
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Patent number: 7287999Abstract: An electrical connector for insulated conductors includes a housing containing a chamber and having a conductor opening communicating with the chamber, a bus bar mounted in the chamber adjacent the conductor opening, a compression spring mounted in the chamber for biasing the bare end of an insulated conductor inserted into the chamber via the conductor opening into electrical engagement with the bus bar, a retaining device normally retaining the spring in a retracted inoperable condition, and a manually operable release member for releasing the spring to its operable condition. In one embodiment, the release member is connected for sliding movement between releasing and retaining positions, and the housing contains a reset access opening. In a second embodiment, the release member includes a pair of rigid sections joined by a flexible section, the release member being movable between retaining and releasing positions by operating buttons at exposed ends of the sections.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2006Date of Patent: October 30, 2007Assignee: Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Klaus Holterhoff, Walter Hanning, Jens Oesterhaus, Thomas Salomon
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Patent number: 7241165Abstract: A sectional electrical connector for flat cables includes separable lower and upper horizontal sections formed from a relatively hard synthetic plastic material, at least one electrical contact having a horizontal bus bar portion mounted in the lower section, and a vertical portion extending upwardly toward the upper section, and seal strips integral with and arranged between the sections to seal the space between the sections surrounding the contact vertical portion, the seal strips being formed from a relatively soft synthetic plastic material. In one embodiment, the contact vertical portion comprises an insulation piercing contact for engaging the conductor of an insulated conductor contained in the flat cable. In a second embodiment, the vertical contact portion comprises a pin for connection with one or more components of a printed circuit board.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2006Date of Patent: July 10, 2007Assignee: Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Joerg Scheer, Walter Hanning, Heike Schmidtpott
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Patent number: 7234961Abstract: An electrical connector arrangement taps off electrical current from a plurality of coplanar parallel input insulated conductors and supplies the same to a plurality of output conductors, respectively. A rectangular base member is provided having a horizontal upper surface that supports a plurality of parallel coplanar longitudinally-extending input conductors, respectively. A pair of pivot members are connected with the ends of the base member for pivotal movement about transverse horizontal pivot axes, respectively. As the pivot members are pivoted from disengaged positions toward engaged positions parallel with and directly above the base member top surface, bifurcated insulation-piercing knives on the pivot members pierce the insulation layers of the insulated conductors and electrically engage the conductors.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2006Date of Patent: June 26, 2007Assignee: Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Uwe Arlitt, Paulo Russo, Rainer Schulze, John Witt, Günter Lucht, Joachim Bury, Torsten Diekmann, Andreas Wedler, Thomas Salomon
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Patent number: 7232324Abstract: A plug-in electrical bridge connector includes a pair of parallel bridge contacts that extend through contact openings contained in an insulated bus bar housing arrangement for electrical engagement with bus bars mounted in chambers contained therein, respectively. A locking device is arranged in at least one of the bus bar chambers for automatic locking engagement with the associated bridge contact, thereby to retain the bridge contact in engagement with the associated bus bar. A release device is moveably mounted on the bridge connector body for displacement from a retracted position toward an operable extended position in which the release member unlocks the locking device from the bridge contact, thereby to permit removal of the bridge connector from the bus bar housing arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2005Date of Patent: June 19, 2007Assignee: Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Jens Oesterhaus
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Patent number: 7230820Abstract: A distributor is provided for selectively connecting with a plurality of voltage sources a plurality of electrical load devices, such as the sensors or actuators of an electrical and mechanical installation. A pair of voltage supply connectors mounted on a housing include first pins that are connected to continuously supply power from a first voltage source to the internal electronics circuitry of the distributor, and second pins that are connected via a jumper switch to selectively connect a second voltage source with the groups of electrical load devices.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2004Date of Patent: June 12, 2007Assignee: Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co.KGInventor: Stefan Reker
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Patent number: 7207824Abstract: An electrical plug connector arrangement includes a male plug member that is normally locked in engagement with a female socket member by a plurality of radially inwardly directed spring fingers that engage the threads of an externally threaded portion of the plug member, together with an annular quick-release member that is axially displaceable relative to the socket member to release the spring fingers from the threads on the plug member, thereby to permit separation of the plug and socket members.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2006Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Weidmuller Interface GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Ralf Schumacher, Jürgen Ziemke
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Patent number: 7179137Abstract: An electrical connector arrangement includes slidably connected upper and lower connector body sections, at least one pair of first contacts carried by the upper body section, at least one pair of second contacts of the pin type carried by the lower body section beneath the first contacts, respectively, and a third contact arranged on the upper section body section for connecting the pairs of first and second contacts, the third contact having two upwardly extending arm portions in engagement with the two first contacts, respectively, and three downwardly extending spaced leg portions that define a pair of gaps that receive the two pin second contacts, respectively. A plurality of the first, second and third contacts are arranged in parallel rows on the upper and lower connector sections.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2006Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Eckardt Quendt, Marcell Nickol
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Patent number: 7170758Abstract: A module connecting arrangement for mounting a module on a support rail includes a horizontal rectangular housing containing a longitudinal chamber, and a bottom surface that contains a recess for transversely receiving the support rail, the recess being in communication with the chamber. A pair of horizontal, superimposed, slidably-connected locking slide members are longitudinally mounted in the chamber. The slide members are spring-biased together toward a locking position in which integral opposed locking lip portions thereon extend below outwardly directed horizontal flange portions of the support rail. A separating member having a non-circular cross-section is rotatably connected with the housing and extends into a gap defined between spaced opposing walls on the slide members, whereby rotation of the separating members produces displacement of the slide members toward released positions relative to the support rail.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2006Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Weidmuller Interface GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Walter Hanning, Jens Oesterhaus
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Patent number: 7104833Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing having a chamber in which are mounted a bus bar, and a leaf spring that normally biases the end of a conductor that is inserted into the chamber into electrical engagement with the bus bar. A release member is connected with the housing for movement from a retracted position toward an extended release position, thereby to release the spring from the conductor so that the conductor may be removed from the housing. For ease of operation, the release member has a pair of angularly arranged surfaces that contain operating openings for selectively receiving the tip of an operating tool arranged at various angular positions relative to the housing.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2005Date of Patent: September 12, 2006Assignee: Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Jens Oesterhaus
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Patent number: 7096760Abstract: A pliers-type stripping tool includes a base, a pair of pivot levers pivotally connected with the base, a pair of clamping members connected for relative longitudinal displacement on one of the pivot levers, a pair of cutting members connected for relative longitudinal displacement on the other of the pivot levers, a first spring biasing the clamping jaws apart, a second spring biasing the cutting jaws apart, and a first operating arrangement operable by a pair of pivotally-connected handles to displace the clamping and cutting jaws together from their normal separated conditions toward adjacent positions in clamping and insulation-piercing engagement with an insulated conductor positioned therebetween. The cutting members sever a length of the insulation layer that extends concentrically around the conductor, and a second operating arrangement is operable by the handles to separate the pivot levers, thereby to strip the severed insulation layer from the bare conductor.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2005Date of Patent: August 29, 2006Assignee: Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Hartmut Schmode, Günter Hanning, Detlev Hetland, Christian Heggemann, Thomas Köster
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Patent number: 7094071Abstract: A junction box containing at least one electrical terminal is connected for displacement between unfastened and fastened positions relative to a carrier element, whereby during movement of the housing toward the fastened position, a U-shape contact spring is progressively displaced on a contact tab portion of the terminal within the junction box from a retracted position to a clamping position, thereby to bend a deformable relatively small thin conductor into contiguous lateral engagement with the contact tab portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2004Date of Patent: August 22, 2006Assignee: Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Frank Hackemack, Werner Radde
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Patent number: 7066756Abstract: A plug connector and printed circuit board assembly and method include a snap-on fastening arrangement wherein a row of resilient contacts on the plug connector are brought into engagement with a corresponding row of strip contacts carried by a planar surface of the printed circuit board, whereupon the plug connector is fastened to the printed circuit board in such a manner as to compress the resilient contacts against the strip contacts.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2004Date of Patent: June 27, 2006Assignee: Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Manfred Lange, Bernhard Delarue
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Patent number: 7063557Abstract: An electrical connector includes a connector body that contains an open-topped chamber in which is mounted a stationary, upwardly-directed insulation-severing electrical contact, together with an operating member for displacing an insulated conductor laterally downwardly in the chamber. The operating member includes a flexible intermediate portion that permits the leading end of the operating member to be introduced initially downwardly into the chamber, and subsequently to be diverted upwardly relative to the connector body by a guide surface arranged at the bottom of the chamber. As the leading and trailing ends of the operating member approach their final positions relative to the connector body, the insulation layer of the conductor is severed by knife edges on the stationary contact, and the conductor is brought into electrical engagement contact with the contact.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2005Date of Patent: June 20, 2006Assignee: Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Jürgen Ziemke, Klaus Wohlgemuth, Michaela Mücke, Rudolf Steinmeier, Volker Schröder, Walter Hanning
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Patent number: 7059891Abstract: An electrical connecting and fastening apparatus includes a guide arrangement for respectively connecting a plurality of conductors of a hollow cable with a plurality of stationary contacts mounted in circumferentially spaced relation within a bore contained in one end of a cylindrical socket member, the guide arrangement being so operable that as the cable is progressively inserted into the socket member bore, the leading end of the cable is rotated and twisted about its longitudinal axis relative to the remaining portion of the cable and to the socket member, thereby to effect positive electrical engagement between the conductors and the stationary contacts, respectively. In a first embodiment, the conductors are insulated, and the contacts are of the insulation piercing type. In another embodiment, the conductors are bare, and the stationary contacts are resilient and are biased toward engagement with the conductors. A lock nut arrangement serves to lock the cable to the socket member.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2005Date of Patent: June 13, 2006Assignee: Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Joachim Bury
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Patent number: 7057105Abstract: An electrical distribution box includes a housing having a front wall containing an opening surrounded by a flange portion, a plurality of side and end walls cooperating with the front wall to define a chamber communicating with the front wall opening, and a lid connected with the front wall for movement between open and closed positions relative to the opening, characterized in that at least a first one of the side and bottom walls is contained in a plane that is angularly arranged at an acute angle relative to the plane of the front wall, the angularly arranged first wall containing an opening in which an electrical component is mounted.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2005Date of Patent: June 6, 2006Assignee: Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Daniel Gottardo, Daniel Sigg, Martina Bruland
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Patent number: 7008260Abstract: An electrical cross-connector arrangement is provided for connecting to an electrical junction box or the like a plurality of connecting terminals, modules or pin-and-socket connectors, including a comb-like member having a plurality of resilient flat finger portions having free ends that extend within corresponding openings contained in a plurality of bus bars, respectively, the free end of each finger portion being twisted about the longitudinal axis of the finger portion, thereby to effect a positive electrical contact between the finger portion and the walls of the bus bar opening, while affording a certain degree of tolerance.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2004Date of Patent: March 7, 2006Assignee: Weidmuller Interface GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Torsten Diekmann
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Patent number: 6997028Abstract: A crimping tool includes a crimping drum that is rotatably supported within a housing for displacement between a plurality of crimping positions, thereby to position a selected one of a plurality of crimping dies opposite a window through which the bare end of an insulated conductor is introduced, characterized by the provision of a first drum locking arrangement that connects the drum to the housing via a die selecting wheel that is non-rotatably connected with the drum. A second retaining arrangement is operable to lock the other end of the crimping drum to the housing.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2003Date of Patent: February 14, 2006Assignee: Weidmuller Interface GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Hartmut Schmode
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Patent number: 6961233Abstract: A field bus module assembly includes a generally rectangular base module adapted for mounting on a fixed support, an input/output module, and a connecting module for connecting the input/output module with the base module, the base module including a lateral projecting portion adapted for insertion in sealed relation within a corresponding recess contained in the base module of an adjacent assembly. The base module includes a housing formed of a synthetic plastic insulating material, a plurality of bus bar conductors mounted on the housing, a protective cover member covering the bus bar conductors, and a mass of encapsulating material hermetically sealing the space around the cover.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2003Date of Patent: November 1, 2005Assignee: Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co.Inventors: Michael Hoeing, Thorsten Wuensche, Walter Hanning
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Patent number: 6893286Abstract: An electrical connector arrangement includes a resilient contact adapted for direct engagement with the bare wire of an insulated conductor without the use of any assembly tool, characterized in that the resilient contact includes a first leg having a first end containing a window opening, a second leg having a first end extending at an acute angle through the window opening for clamping engagement with a conductor bare wire that is also inserted in the same direction therein, and a connecting portion connecting the other ends of the first and second legs to define a closed loop. A clamping edge at the extremity of the first end of the second resilient contact leg engages the bare wire and cooperates with a first edge of the window opening to prevent the withdrawal of the bare wire from the window opening.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2004Date of Patent: May 17, 2005Assignee: Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Bjoern Drewes, Eckard Beins, Herbert Fricke, Joerg Richts, Siegfried Storm, Thomas Tappe, Udo Pruessner