Abstract: An electrical connector includes a metal housing having at least one side wall, and first and second end walls cooperating with the side wall to define an open-topped chamber, an inverted generally U-shaped resilient contact having first and second leg portions introduced into the chamber adjacent the first and second end walls, respectively, and a bridging portion adjacent the open top of the metal housing, the housing side wall having a bent portion for supporting the resilient contact bridging portion, the resilient contact first leg portion being connected against coplanar movement relative to the housing first end wall. The resilient contact second leg portion is biased outwardly from the first leg portion, thereby to bias a conductor introduced within the housing chamber toward engagement with a bus bar defined adjacent the housing second end wall. The housing may be formed of an electrically conductive metal, such as copper.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a metal housing having at least one side wall, and first and second end walls cooperating with the side wall to define an open-topped chamber, an inverted generally U-shaped resilient contact having first and second leg portions introduced into the chamber adjacent the first and second end walls, respectively, and a bridging portion adjacent the open top of the metal housing, the housing side wall having a bent portion for supporting the resilient contact bridging portion, the resilient contact first leg portion being connected against coplanar movement relative to the housing first end wall. The resilient contact second leg portion is biased outwardly from the first leg portion, thereby to bias a conductor introduced within the housing chamber toward engagement with a bus bar defined adjacent the housing second end wall. The housing may be formed of an electrically conductive metal, such as copper.

Abstract: A terminal block assembly includes an actuator member that is displaceable relative to a terminal block housing to transport an insulated conductor toward the insulating penetrating knife edges of a stationary electrical contact mounted within the housing, characterized by the provision of a guide pin and guide groove arrangement for guiding the actuator member during the displacement thereof relative to the housing.

Abstract: A coding arrangement is connected between a pair of components that are to be laterally displaced into engagement with each other, thereby to assure that only authorized components may be connected with each other. The coding assembly includes a pair of matching coding elements one of which has at least one projection that carries a pair of angularly arranged coding surfaces which engage a corresponding pair of coding surfaces on the other coding element. According to the method of assembly provided by the invention, the coding elements are mounted on the ends of a synthetic plastic strap by tear strip means, and the strap is deformed to bring the coding elements together into coded engagement with each other, thereby to form a preassembled coding assembly. One coding element of this preassembled coding assembly is initially mounted on one of a pair of components, such as a terminal board to which an authorized printed circuit board or the like, which are to be physically mounted and electrically connected.

Abstract: An electrical apparatus having a modular structure is characterized by a connection module that can be mounted on a carrier rail that is provided with connection levels including double or multiple connections and a serial alignment of disk-shaped base terminal carriers. Several power supply elements are provided on the terminal carriers, the elements being connected to the connection levels via bus bars of the disk-shaped base terminal carriers. The bus bars extend only on one of the sides of the base terminal carrier to the pertinent multiple connections. With the use of base terminal carriers, both a block structure and a disk structure as well as a combination of the two can be constructed.

Abstract: A terminal block assembly includes an actuator member that is displaceable relative to a terminal block housing to transport an insulated conductor toward the insulating penetrating knife edges of a stationary electrical contact mounted within the housing, characterized by the provision of a guide pin and guide groove arrangement for guiding the actuator member during the displacement thereof relative to the housing.

Abstract: An electrical connecting element includes a connector body containing an opening for receiving the exposed shield portions of a plurality of shielded cables, a pair of clamping devices being provided for resiliently biasing the shield portions of the cables into electrical contact with the connector body. Male plug contacts extend from the connector body for insertion into corresponding female contact openings carried by a module, terminal block or the like, thereby to connect the cable shield with circuitry contained within the component.

Abstract: An electrical connecting element includes a connector body containing an opening for receiving the exposed shield portions of a plurality of shielded cables, a pair of clamping devices being provided for resiliently biasing the shield portions of the cables into electrical contact with the connector body. Male plug contacts extend from the connector body for insertion into corresponding female contact openings carried by a module, terminal block or the like, thereby to connect the cable shield with circuitry contained within the component.

Abstract: A synthetic plastic terminal block assembly includes a housing containing a longitudinal through passage in which is mounted a unitary fastening member having a center portion that is connected with the housing, and a pair of end portions resiliently connected for independent displacement relative to the center portion and to the housing, the end portions having opposed inwardly-directed hook-shaped foot portions adapted to extend under the outwardly extending flanges at the upper ends of the legs of a U-shaped mounting rail, thereby to fasten the terminal block to the rail. With this extremely simple design, the terminal block can be mounted downwardly upon the rail from above. The terminal block can be easily disconnected from the rail at either side, and if necessary, the terminal block can be pivoted laterally away from the rail.

Abstract: A locking device serves to lock an electronic module to a bank of terminal blocks, characterized by a body member having at least one pair of integral parallel spaced legs that extend downwardly within a corresponding T-shaped vertical groove contained in one end of a first one of the terminal blocks. The legs are resiliently biased apart and are provided at their free ends with hook or catch portions that extend laterally outwardly from opposite sides of the legs into corresponding locking recesses contained in opposite side walls of the groove, respectively, thereby to lock the body member with the bank of terminal blocks. The adjacent end of the body member contains a longitudinal chamber that slidably receives a locking member that is displaceable between retracted unlocked and extended locking positions relative to the body member.

Abstract: A clamping device for electrical conductors is characterized by a housing and a clamping member rotatably connected with the housing via an improved bearing assembly. The bearing assembly includes an embossed journal on one side of the clamping member and an embossed bore in the other side of the clamping member. The journal fits within an opening in one side wall of the housing and a tongue having a circular portion bent inwardly from the other side of the housing fits within the bore of the clamping member. When the clamping member is activated, it rotates within the housing to clamp an electrical conductor against a bus bar segment.

Abstract: A connector assembly is operable to connect a conductor with a generally U-shaped ground rail having a pair of upwardly extending legs that terminate in outwardly directed flange portions, including a conductive plate having a body panel that extends transversely above the rail. At a first end, the body panel included a downwardly extending hook portion the extends in locking relation beneath the flange portion of the associated first rail; at its other end, a first plate support panel is connected with the bottom of the body pane for bending movement about a first generally horizontal fold lined to a support position generally normal to the body panel and in engagement with the upper surface of the flange portion of the other rail.

Abstract: A terminal block assembly includes a plurality of terminal blocks at least one of which contains plurality of interconnected distributor bars having at least a pair of terminal assemblies electrically connected by a bridge member. Each terminal assembly includes a terminal having a resilient contact portion and a stationary base portion, and further includes a bus bar containing a plug-receiving gap. The bus bar is provided with a plug-in link projection adapted for insertion within the plug-receiving gap of a terminal contained in the next adjacent terminal block. In this manner, a pair of terminals contained within the same terminal block are electrically connected via the bridge members, and terminals contained in adjacent terminal blocks are electrically connected via the plug-in link projections.

Abstract: A field bus connection module for coupling a local bus conductor to an associated field bus system includes a housing formed from functionally different, alignable terminal blocks, and spacing elements. The terminal blocks comprise a feed block and a grounded conductor block. Removably connected with the housing is at least one functional printed circuit board. Removal of the functional printed circuit board necessarily interrupts a separable connection between the local bus conductor and the field bus, although the field bus continues to be connected to the functional printed circuit board.

Abstract: In this modular control assembly, individual bus conductor segments are integrated in modular, alignable housing blocks. The bus conductor segments have strip conductors on the upper and lower surfaces thereof. The bus conductor segments of mutually adjoining housing blocks are electrically connected by separating slide contact members. The contact members comprise a closed housing containing upper and lower contact springs for engaging the strip conductors of the bus conductor segment. The slide contact members can be pushed between an extended position in which they grasp the mutually facing ends of bus conductor segments (8) of neighboring housing blocks and a retracted position in which only one bus conductor segment is covered by the slide contact member.

Abstract: A terminal block assembly with lateral distribution of electrical power includes a plurality of terminal blocks each containing a plurality of interconnected distributor bars. At least one of the distributor bars of a first conductor is directly connected with a main internal bus bar conductor, and one or more of the remaining distributor bars are connected to the main conductor via a bridge member. Each distributor bar includes a terminal having a contact portion and a bus bar laterally spaced from the contact portion, thereby to define a plug-receiving slot therebetween which opens downwardly and receives either the main conductor or a plug-in link portion of the bridge. The contact portion of the terminal bus bars extends laterally in the direction of adjacent terminal blocks for connection with distributor bars contained within the adjacent terminal blocks, thereby providing lateral distribution of the electrical supply.

Abstract: A modular control system for connecting the electrical components of an automated system, such as switches, sensors, reactors and field units, with a master field bus system via an assembly of terminal blocks mounted on a grounded support rail, characterized in that the assembly includes a power supply terminal block, a ground terminal block, and at least one control signal terminal block for supplying control signals to control circuits carried by printed circuit boards contained within a removable electronics module. The various terminal block assemblies mounted on a given support rail are connected via internal bus bar means that is connected by a module with the master field bus.

Abstract: A modular control system for automated buildings includes an assembly of terminal blocks mounted as a unit on a mounting block for supplying electrical power and control signals to and from circuits contained in an electronics module mounted on a support rail, thereby to operate associated components of the building. The terminal block assembly includes symmetrical ground, power-supply, control-signal and end-support terminal blocks connected together as a unit. Signal feed-in occurs on both sides of an electronic module arranged on the terminal block assembly.

Abstract: A terminal block and removable electronic module assembly is provided having a movable disconnect member that is displaceable relative to the module between engaged and disengaged positions in which an electronic component carried by the module is electrically connected and disconnected, respectively, relative to terminals carried by the terminal block member. When the disconnect member is in the disconnect position, the electronic module may be tested by a test plug external of the module housing.

Abstract: An insulation stripping apparatus is disclosed including a tool housing (1) containing a slitting channel (6) for laterally receiving an insulated conductor (7). A clamping or support body (10) connected with the tool housing carries at least one knife cassette (33) that is laterally adjustable longitudinally of the slitting channel in a corresponding cassette-receiving opening (26) contained in the clamping body between different cutting positions relative to the conductor. The thickness of the knife cassette is appreciably less than the length of the groove, whereby a plurality of knife cassettes may be mounted for simultaneous cutting of the insulation at desired cutting depths and at a plurality of longitudinally displaced positions, respectively.