Abstract: A controller for an industrial automation system includes a main module having a housing, which can be fitted onto a DIN rail via a base, at least two printed circuit boards arranged in the housing, and a heat sink also arranged in the housing and connected with the base. One of the circuit boards is a backplane bus printed circuit board, which provides a backplane bus, and the other is a main printed circuit board. The heat sink is attached to at least one of the printed circuit board to cool its components.

Abstract: Controller for an industrial automation system, having a main module (1) with a housing, which can be fitted onto a DIN rail by means of a base (10), and with at least two printed circuit boards (20) which can be arranged in the housing, one of these printed circuit boards (20) being a backplane bus printed circuit board (21) and one being a main printed circuit board (23), wherein the main printed circuit board (23) is assigned a heat sink (50) for the cooling of components and wherein the backplane bus printed circuit board (21) provides a backplane bus, wherein the heat sink (50) is arranged in the housing, is attached to the base (10) and supports at least one of the printed circuit boards (20).

Abstract: An electrical module includes a rectangular carrier frame adapted for vertical transverse mounting on a horizontal support rail, a housing for mounting an electrical component in an open-top chamber contained in the carrier frame, and a rectangular electrical connector mounted on and extending across the upper end of the carrier frame, thereby to enclose the component and afford electrical connection with upper terminals thereof. The connector is pivotally connected at one end with the carrier frame for displacement between open and closed positions, and a fastener device serves to lock the connector in the closed position to the carrier frame. Alternatively, the ends of the connector are removably fastened to the carrier frame. Lower terminals of the component are connected with lower contacts arranged at the bottom of the chamber for connection with corresponding lower contacts of adjacent modules mounted in stacked relation on the support rail.

Abstract: An electrical contact arrangement includes a planar conductive metal blank having sections that are foldable to define pairs of orthogonally arranged component contacts and bus blade contacts. Connected with a first pair of opposed side edges of a horizontal rectangular core section of the blank are a pair of rectangular component contact sections that are upwardly bent to define a pair of component contacts for receiving therebetween an electrical component, such as a printed circuit board. Connected with the orthogonally arranged second pair of opposed side edges of the core section are a pair of rectangular support sections that are bent downwardly, whereby a corresponding pair of bus blade contact sections connected with corresponding edges of the support sections extend in vertical parallel spaced relation to define a pair of bus blade contacts adapted for insertion between the downwardly bent support sections of a corresponding second electrical contact arrangement.

Abstract: An electrical contact arrangement includes a planar conductive metal blank having sections that are foldable to define pairs of orthogonally arranged component contacts and bus blade contacts. Connected with a first pair of opposed side edges of a horizontal rectangular core section of the blank are a pair of rectangular component contact sections that are upwardly bent to define a pair of component contacts for receiving therebetween an electrical component, such as a printed circuit board. Connected with the orthogonally arranged second pair of opposed side edges of the core section are a pair of rectangular support sections that are bent downwardly, whereby a corresponding pair of bus blade contact sections connected with corresponding edges of the support sections extend in vertical parallel spaced relation to define a pair of bus blade contacts adapted for insertion between the downwardly bent support sections of a corresponding second electrical contact arrangement.

Abstract: An electrical module includes a rectangular carrier frame adapted for vertical transverse mounting on a horizontal support rail, a housing for mounting an electrical component in an open-top chamber contained in the carrier frame, and a rectangular electrical connector mounted on and extending across the upper end of the carrier frame, thereby to enclose the component and afford electrical connection with upper terminals thereof. The connector is pivotally connected at one end with the carrier frame for displacement between open and closed positions, and a fastener device serves to lock the connector in the closed position to the carrier frame. Alternatively, the ends of the connector are removably fastened to the carrier frame. Lower terminals of the component are connected with lower contacts arranged at the bottom of the chamber for connection with corresponding lower contacts of adjacent modules mounted in stacked relation on the support rail.

Abstract: An electrical power distribution device such as a junction box or the like includes a status indicator that also serves not only to indicate the status of energization of a connector mounted in a first housing opening, but also to illuminate a translucent indicia-bearing plate mounted in second housing opening. The housing contains a chamber in which are mounted a light emitting diode that is energized simultaneously with the connector, and a light transmitting member that directs the light produced by the LED toward the second housing opening.

Abstract: An adapter assembly for connecting a multi-contact electrical plug within a cable support arrangement includes an elongated adapter body containing a through passage and having a rectangular first end portion containing a chamber for receiving the electrical plug, and a tubular second end portion threadably connected adjacent its free extremity with a concentrically arranged cable sleeve, an annular sealing device being provided for sealing one end of the annular space defined between the cylindrical outer surface of the adapter body tubular end portion and the inner surface of the adjacent end portion of the concentrically arranged sleeve. A second annular seal is supported within the cable sleeve for sealing the entrance of the cable into the adapter through passage, and a third sealing ring is provided for sealing the space between the outer surface of the adapter body rectangular end portion and a slidably mounted outer sleeve member.

Abstract: A locking device attaches to a first end of a plug-supporting housing a telecommunications plug having a cable that extends through a longitudinal bore contained in the housing. The locking device includes at least one locking plate having a first end portion connected with the housing, and a second end portion containing a projection for engaging a corresponding retaining surface, thereby to retrain the plug within a first plug-receiving chamber contained within a first end of the housing. In a first embodiment, the locking plate directly retains in the first chamber either the plug, or a hollow adapter frame that contains the plug. In a second embodiment, an adapter body containing a second plug-receiving chamber is fastened to the housing first end, and a pair of locking plates lock within the second chamber either the plug, or an adapter frame that contains the plug.

Abstract: A locking device attaches to a first end of a plug-supporting housing a telecommunications plug having a cable that extends through a longitudinal bore contained in the housing. The locking device includes at least one locking plate having a first end portion connected with the housing, and a second end portion containing a projection for engaging a corresponding retaining surface, thereby to retrain the plug within a first plug-receiving chamber contained within a first end of the housing. In a first embodiment, the locking plate directly retains in the first chamber either the plug, or a hollow adapter frame that contains the plug. In a second embodiment, an adapter body containing a second plug-receiving chamber is fastened to the housing first end, and a pair of locking plates lock within the second chamber either the plug, or an adapter frame that contains the plug.

Abstract: An adapter assembly for connecting a multi-contact electrical plug within a cable support arrangement includes an elongated adapter body containing a through passage and having a rectangular first end portion containing a chamber for receiving the electrical plug, and a tubular second end portion threadably connected adjacent its free extremity with a concentrically arranged cable sleeve, an annular sealing device being provided for sealing one end of the annular space defined between the cylindrical outer surface of the adapter body tubular end portion and the inner surface of the adjacent end portion of the concentrically arranged sleeve. A second annular seal is supported within the cable sleeve for sealing the entrance of the cable into the adapter through passage, and a third sealing ring is provided for sealing the space between the outer surface of the adapter body rectangular end portion and a slidably mounted outer sleeve member.

Abstract: An electrical power distribution device such as a junction box or the like includes a status indicator that also serves not only to indicate the status of energization of a connector mounted in a first housing opening, but also to illuminate a translucent indicia-bearing plate mounted in second housing opening. The housing contains a chamber in which are mounted a light emitting diode that is energized simultaneously with the connector, and a light transmitting member that directs the light produced by the LED toward the second housing opening.

Abstract: A terminal block assembly is provided for use in the electrical power supply and/or monitoring signal control bus section of an automated industrial, commercial or residential building, characterized by the provisions of a terminal block containing a first opening for receiving a printed circuit board, and a second opening for removably receiving a replaceable internal bus conductor unit. The bus conductor unit carries first conductors arranged on a thin insulating support plate for connection with the power supply bus and/or the signal voltage lines of the electrical monitoring and/or control system, and second conductors arranged on the support plate for connection with the circuits of the printed circuit board. Jumper connections are provided for connecting selected first and second conductors with each other.

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: A terminal block assembly is provided for use in the electrical power supply and/or monitoring signal control bus section of an automated industrial, commercial or residential building, characterized by the provisions of a terminal block containing a first opening for receiving a printed circuit board, and a second opening for removably receiving a replaceable internal bus conductor unit. The bus conductor unit carries first conductors arranged on a thin insulating support plate for connection with the power supply bus and/or the signal voltage lines of the electrical monitoring and/or control system, and second conductors arranged on the support plate for connection with the circuits of the printed circuit board. Jumper connections are provided for connecting selected first and second conductors with each other.

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: 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: An internal bus connector device is provided for use in the terminal block of an electrical power and signal distribution system, wherein the connector device includes a thin support plate that extends parallel with the support rail of the system and that carries a plurality of rows of pins each of which includes a pair of orthogonally arranged portions that extend parallel with and normal to the support plate, respectively. The pin portions that extend normal to the support plate are adapted for connection with the circuits of an associated printed circuit board, and the pin portions that extend parallel with the support plate are connected with conductors on the terminal block or with corresponding terminals of an adjacent terminal block mounted on the same support 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.