Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FIVE-WAY RACEWAY CONNECTOR
Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to electrical terminals and, more
particularly, to a
multiple-tiered connector configuration for use in raceways to provide
multiple female terminal
connections.
Background of the Invention
Historically, various types of assemblies have been developed for electrically
and
conductively interconnecting devices to be electrically energized to sources
of electrical power.
For example, it is well known to provide various spatial areas of residential,
commercial and
industrial establishments with electrical receptacle units permanently
(through fuses, circuit
breakers or other emergency shut-off elements) conductively connected to one
or more sources
of main utility power. Each of the receptacle units typically comprises one or
more engaging
assemblies often referred to by the colloquial term "female receptacle."
These receptacle units are conventionally mounted in stationary walls or,
alternatively, in the case of modem and modular office furniture systems, in
moveable wall
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panels or even within work surfaces. Devices to be electrically energized
often comprise
receptacle plugs having two or more prongs or blade terminals adapted to be
conductively
engaged within the female receptacles. The prongs or blade terminals are
conventionally referred
to by the colloquial terms "male" plugs, prongs, blades or terminals. The
receptacle plugs are
typically interconnected to the circuitry of the device so as to be energized
by wires extending
through flexible insulative cords or the like. This type of male/female
electrical interconnection
configuration to provide removable or releasable conductive engagement is
utilized in a myriad
of electrical connector arrangements. For example, in addition to electrical
energization of
relatively large and discrete devices (such as lamps, televisions, stereos,
typewriters, etc.),
male/female interconnection configurations are also utilized internally in
electrical devices such
as computers and associated peripherals. In addition, male/female electrical
interconnection
arrangements are also utilized in a number of other applications, such as
internal circuit wiring
for electrical apparatus of modular office systems and the like.
In the design of male/female electrical interconnection configurations, it is
of
primary importance to provide a secure and stationary electrical contact
between the conductive
surfaces of the elements of the electrical receptacle and the conductive
surfaces of the prongs or
blade terminals. It is also of primary importance to provide surface
connections having relatively
little resistance. In view of the foregoing, various types of interfaces have
been developed for
engaging male prongs or blade terminals with mating female receptacles. For
example, it is
known to utilize an opposing pair of cantilever beams within the female
receptacle, which
provide a single point of contact on each side of an inserted male terminal.
Other known
arrangements include the use of single cantilever spring pressure, backed with
a steel or similar
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spring supported within a plastic housing. This type of arrangement will
conventionally provide
a single point of contact at the electrical interface.
It has become known that it is preferable to provide as many interface points
of
contact as is reasonably possible, while still maintaining a releasable
engagement. For example,
an arrangement for providing four contact points is disclosed in Sasaki et al,
U.S. Patent No.
4,795,379 issued January 3, 1989. The Sasaki et al patent refers to the
concept that it has been
known to utilize certain types of electrical connections in computers,
telecommunications
equipment and other data processing equipment, which are in the form of a
receptacle contact
having four resilient cantilever contact members extending forwardly from a
base. The contact
members are adapted to provide an electrical connection with a tab contact
inserted from the
front of the receptacle unit.
The tab contact is electrically engaged by four leaves from four directions.
The
four leaves can be arranged as opposing pairs, with each pair arranged
orthogonally.
In this type of arrangement, electrical engagement is made with the tab
contact at
four points, thereby increasing reliability of the receptacle contact relative
to a contact
arrangement having only two contact points. Sasaki et al also explains that a
problem can arise in
that a possibility of an incomplete electrical engagement can be caused by
foreign matter on the
surface of the tab contact. In addition, one of the pairs of contact members
may engage the edge
surfaces of the tab contact. The edge surfaces of the tab contact are
typically the surface edges
formed when the contact is made by stamping a sheet of conductive material.
The surfaces are
often rough in comparison with the planar rolled or formed surface of the
sheet, and thus have a
lower contact reliability. Accordingly, these contact members may not provide
a reliable
electrical connection, and a greater insertion force may be required at the
time of insertion.
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As an improvement, Sasaki et al describes a receptacle contact having opposed
leaf spring members formed by two parallel plates linked through a U-shaped
portion extending
between adjacent sides of the leaf spring members. The leaf spring members
include first spring
arms and second spring arms formed integrally with the spring members.
The first spring arms and second spring arms are opposed to each other, and
outer
contact and inner contact members are formed at the free ends of the spring
arms, which are also
opposed to each other. Additional contact members are located to the rear of
the first set of
contact members. The spring arms extend side by side from the leaf spring
members, with the
outer contact members being slightly twice the width of the inner contact
members. The contact
members are arcuate to facilitate insertion of a tab contact therebetween.
The receptacle contact described in Sasaki et al is formed by stamping from a
suitable metal sheet having the desirable conductive and spring
characteristics. The stamping
process is performed by shaping the metal sheet in an appropriate
configuration, and then folding
the spring anus to the shape required, while folding another portion into a U-
shape. In use, the
tip of a tab contact can be inserted into the space between the outer contact
members opposed to
each other at the front portion of the receptacle contact. Upon insertion,
upper and lower surfaces
of the contact are brought into a wiping engagement with the outer contact
members.
Accordingly, foreign matter on upper and lower surfaces of the contact is
removed. When the
contact is inserted further, the upper and lower surfaces which have been
cleaned by the outer
contact members are also wipingly engaged by the inner contact members. In
this manner, a
relatively greater electrical connection reliability between the tab contact
and the inner contact
members is provided. In addition, the outer contact members and inner contact
members are in
electrical engagement with in upper and lower planar surfaces of the tab
contact, and not with
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side surfaces which may comprise the cut edge surfaces of the contact.
Accordingly, this
decreases the force needed to insert the contact into the receptacle contact,
thereby improving
reliability of electrical connection.
In addition, the length of the spring arms which provide the contact force
created
between the outer contact members and the tab contact, is longer than the
length of the spring
arms which provide the contact force between inner contact members and the tab
contact.
Accordingly, the insertion force is reduced by reducing the contact force
created between the tab
contact and the outer contact members, which clean the upper and lower
surfaces of the tab
contact. In this manner, the initial insertion force of the tab contact within
the outer contact
members is less than the insertion force of the inner contact members.
Summary of the Invention
In accordance with the invention, a raceway connector is adapted to
conductively
receive and transmit electrical power. The raceway connector includes first
means for receiving
power from an external source. Second means are conductively connected to the
first means for
transmitting the power and applying the power to external components. The
first means
comprises a first terminal, and the second means comprises four terminals
identified as second,
third, fourth and fifth terminals. The first, second, third, fourth and fifth
terminals are each
conductively connected to each other. Further, each of the first, second,
third, fourth and fifth
terminals can have incoming power means for receiving incoming power from the
external
source.
The first terminal extends outwardly from the raceway connector in a first
direction. The second terminal extends outwardly in a second direction, the
second direction
being at an angle of 90 relative to the first direction. The third terminal
extends outwardly from
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the raceway connector in a third direction, with the third direction being at
an angle of 180
relative to the first direction. The fourth terminal extends outwardly from
the raceway connector
in a fourth direction. The fourth direction is at an angle of 270 relative to
the first direction. In
accordance with another aspect of the invention, the fifth terminal extends
outwardly from the
raceway connector in the first direction.
The connector also includes a series of five-way terminal sets. Each of the
terminal sets is disposed above or below an adjacent one of the terminal sets,
and each of the
terminal sets includes a first terminal, second terminal, third terminal,
fourth terminal and fifth
terminal. Still further, each of the five-way terminal sets is isolated from
each of the other of the
series of five-way terminal sets. In addition, the number of five-way terminal
sets is eight.
The raceway connector can include a first vertical terminal set formed as a
series
of vertically disposed first terminals, along with a second vertical terminal
set formed as a set of
second terminals. A third vertical terminal set is formed as a set of the
third terminals, and a
fourth vertical terminal set is formed as a series of four terminals. Further,
a fifth vertical
terminal set is formed as a series of fifth terminals. Still further, each of
the first, second, third,
fourth and fifth terminals is a female terminal.
Also in accordance with the invention, the raceway connector can include a
series
of horizontally disposed five-way terminal sets, with each of the terminals
sets comprising first,
second, third, fourth and fifth terminals. The raceway connector can further
include a connector
housing having individual housings for each terminal of the raceway connector.
In accordance
with another aspect of the invention, the first, second, third, fourth and
fifth terminals can each
include upper means extending forwardly, and having a lower surface with at
least first, second
and third upper contact locations formed thereon. Lower means extend forwardly
and
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conductively interconnect to and are positioned substantially directly below
the upper means.
The lower means has an upper surface with at least first, second and third
lower contact locations
formed thereon. Each terminal is sized and configured so that a blade terminal
is insertable
between the upper means and the lower means, and is adapted to conductively
contact the
terminal at the first, second and third upper and lower contact locations, so
as to form at least six
conductive and electrical contact locations with the terminal.
Brief Description of the Drawings
An illustrative embodiment of the invention will now be described with respect
to
the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art electrical contact arrangement;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the contact arrangement shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the contact arrangement shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an end view of the contact arrangement shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is an underside view from the opposing side of the contact arrangement
shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the contact arrangement, taken along section
lines 6-
6 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is a side view showing an example insertion arrangement of a blade
terminal into the contact arrangement;
FIG. 8 is an illustration similar to FIG. 7, showing further insertion of the
blade
terminal;
FIG. 9 is an illustration similar to FIG. 8, showing final position insertion
of the
blade terminal;
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FIG. 10 is an upper, perspective view of a five-way raceway connector in
accordance with the invention, showing the relative positioning of the
terminal sets within a
connector housing;
FIG. 11 is an upper, perspective view similar to FIG. 10, but showing a real
view
of the raceway connector, as incorporated within the connector housing; and
FIG. 12 is an upper, perspective view showing the horizontally disposed
terminal
sets and the vertically disposed terminal sets in accordance with the
invention.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
The principles of the invention will now be disclosed, by way of example, in a
five-way raceway connector 200 as illustrated in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12. However,
prior to a
detailed description of the improved terminal 200, a prior art electrical
contact unit 100 will be
described herein with respect to the illustrations shown in FIGS. 1 - 9. The
electrical contact
unit 100 was the subject of commonly owned U.S. Patent No. 4,990,110 issued to
Byrne, and
dated February 5, 1991. Following the description of the prior art electrical
contact unit 100, the
connector 200 will be described.
The contact unit 100 as described herein provides at least six locations of
contact
with respect to the electrical engagement of male blade terminals with the
electrical contact unit.
In addition, the contact unit 100 also provides a triangular positioning of
contact points so as to
maintain a stable electrical connection between the blade terminals and the
elements of the
electrical receptacles.
Referring primarily to FIG. 1, the electrical contact unit 100 includes a
series of
four electrical receptacles 102, 104, 106 and 108. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-
6, each electrical
receptacle 102, 104, 106 and 108 includes an outer, elongated and upper
cantilever member 110,
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and an opposing lower cantilever member 112. The upper cantilever members 110
each include a
pair of lateral and parallel elongated arms 114 integrally connected at their
forward ends by a
bridge portion 116. Correspondingly, each of the lower cantilever members 112
includes
corresponding lateral arms 118 integrally connected at their forward ends by a
lower bridge
portion 120.
As illustrated primarily in FIGS. 3 and 6, the upper lateral arms 114 have a
slight
downwardly angled configuration, while the upper bridge portion 116 is angled
slightly
upwardly. With this configuration, a contact surface or edge 122 is formed at
the integral
interface between the upper bridge portion 116 and each of the lateral arms
114.
Correspondingly, the lateral arms 118 of the lower cantilever members 112, as
further illustrated
in FIGS. 3 and 6, are angled slightly upwardly, while the lower bridge portion
120 is angled
slightly downwardly. With this configuration, a contact surface or edge 124 is
provided at the
interface between the integrally connected lateral arms 118 and lower bridge
portion 120.
As shown primarily in FIGS. 2 and 5, the lateral arms 110 and bridge portion
116
of the upper cantilever members 110 form an arcuate spatial area 126 internal
to the arms 114
and upper bridge portion 116. A similar spatial area 127 is formed by the
lateral arms 118 and
lower bridge portion 120 of the lower cantilever members 112. With respect
specifically to FIG.
2, each of the receptacles 102, 104, 106 and 108 also include an inner and
upper cantilever
member 128 which extends forwardly within the spatial area 126 formed by the
lateral arms 114
and bridge portion 116. An opposing inner cantilever member 130 is formed
within the
corresponding spatial area 127 of the lower cantilever members 112 and also
extends forwardly.
As illustrated primarily in FIGS. 3 and 6, each of the upper cantilever
members 128 is resilient in
structure and has a rear downwardly angled portion 132 integrally connected at
the forward
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portion thereof to a forward upwardly angled portion 134. Correspondingly,
each of the lower
and inner cantilever members 130 includes a rear upwardly angled portion 136
integrally
connected at its forward end to a forward downwardly angled portion 138. The
interface between
the rear downwardly angled portion 132 and forward upwardly angled portion 134
of the upper
cantilever member 128 forms a contact surface or edge 140. Correspondingly, a
contact surface
or edge 142 is formed at the interface between the integrally connected rear
upwardly angled
portion 136 and forward downwardly angled portion 138 of the lower cantilever
members 130.
The opposing upper and lower cantilever members 110, 112 and the opposing
inner cantilever members 128, 130 are flexible and resilient in nature so as
to be appropriately
flexed when a male blade terminal (illustrated in FIGS. 7-9) is inserted
between the opposing
cantilever members. In addition, as will be further apparent from additional
description herein,
the contact surfaces 122 and 140 associated with the upper cantilever member
110 and the upper
cantilever member 128 form a triangular contact surface configuration with the
male blade
terminal. Correspondingly, the contact surfaces 124 and 142 form an.opposing
triangular contact
surface configuration, thereby providing six points of contact between the
electrical receptacles
102, 104, 106 and 108 and the inserted male blade terminal. This triangular
configuration
provides a substantial stabilizing effect to the interconnection between the
male blade terminal
and the electrical receptacles, while correspondingly providing six points of
contact. Referring
again primarily to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the four- receptacle unit 100 includes a
connecting beam
144 central to and symmetrically located relative to the receptacles 102, 104,
106 and 108. The
connecting beam 144 is rectangular in configuration and is integrally
connected to each of two
secondary connecting portions 146 by means of a U-shaped connecting portion
formed at each
of the ends of the connecting beam 144. Each of the secondary connecting
portions 146 also
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forms an integral inner support portion for the upper cantilever members 110
and the upper
cantilever members 128.
As further illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the four- receptacle unit 100
includes a
common terminal input channel 150 having a pair of crimp wings 152 integrally
formed at the
lateral sides of the channel 150. The channel 150 includes a transition
portion 154 integrally
connecting the common terminal input channel 150 with the connecting beam 144.
In addition to
the foregoing, the receptacle unit 100 also includes a pair of tabs 156 each
formed on one side of
each of the secondary connecting portions 146. These tabs 156 provide a means
for controlling
positioning of the "boxes" formed by the surfaces of the connecting beam 144,
secondary
connecting portions 146 and U-shaped connecting portions 148.
The use of the electrical contact unit 100 with corresponding insertion of a
male
blade terminal 158 will now be described with respect to FIGS. 7-9. The male
blade terminal or
tab contact 158 may, as illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, include tapered
surfaces at its forward
portion for purposes of facilitating insertion into the electrical receptacles
102, 104, 106 and 108.
For purposes o illustration, FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 only illustrate one of the
electrical receptacles 106.
The forward portion of the blade terminal 158 is first inserted into the
spatial area formed
between the upper bridge portion 116 and lower bridge portion 120. As the
blade terminal 158 is
inserted, upper and lower surfaces of the terminal 158 will contact the upper
contact surfaces 122
and lower contact surfaces 124 formed at the interface between the bridge
portions 116, 118 and
the lateral arms 114, 118. As the blade terminal 158 is further inserted, the
forward portion of the
terminal 158, at its upper and lower surfaces near the central portions
thereof, will engage in an
electrical contact with the contact surfaces 140, 142 formed at the interfaces
of the integrally
connected downwardly angled portion 132 and forwardly and upwardly angled
portion 134 of
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the upper cantilever member 128, and the interface between the integrally
connected upwardly
angled portion 136 and downwardly angled portion 138.
As previously described, the upper contact surfaces 122 and 140 provide a
triangular configuration, with three locations of electrical contact. This
triangular configuration
provides a substantial stabilizing effect which prevents relatively poor
contact if the
interconnection between the male blade terminal 158 and the corresponding
receptacle is jarred
or otherwise subjected to a "rocking" movement. Correspondingly, the three
locations of lower
contact provided by the contact surfaces 124 and 142 provide a corresponding
triangular contact
surface configuration opposing the upper contact configuration. With the three
points of lower
contact, the interconnection and engagement between the male blade terminal
158 and the
corresponding electrical receptacle is provided with six locations of contact.
Still further, if the
male blade terminal 158 is appropriately sized relative to the relative
positioning of the bridge
portions 116, 120, the surfaces of the bridge portions 116, 120 will provide a
"wiping"
engagement with the central portion of the upper and lower surfaces of the
blade terminal 158.
This wiping engagement will ensure that the central portion of the blade
terminal 158 which will
be in electrical contact with the upper and inner cantilever member 128 and
lower and inner
cantilever member 130 will be free from any foreign matter as a result of the
"cleaning" function
carried out by the bridge portions 116, 118. With the six locations of contact
provided for each of
the electrical receptacles 102, 104, 106 and 108, the electrical, current-
carrying capability of the
receptacles is greatly improved. In addition, with respect to the particular
four-receptacle unit
100 illustrated herein, four receptacles are provided with the necessity of
only a single wire
crimp configuration in an integral terminal, thereby providing an efficient
use of space within a
connector system. Still further, the triangular positioning of the three
locations of contact on each
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of the upper and lower surfaces of the male blade terminal provide a
substantially "steady"
platform for the male blade terminal 158.
As apparent from the foregoing, the electrical connector unit 100 can be
formed
from a suitable metal sheet by means of stamping and forming the unit 100,
with the sheet
having the appropriate conductive and spring and resiliency characteristics.
Such a stamping
process can be achieved by utilizing a suitably formed metal sheet, and then
folding over the
elements forming the upper cantilever members 110 and the secondary connecting
portions 146.
The raceway connector 200 in accordance with the invention will now be
described primarily with respect to FIGS. 10, 11 and 12. To the extent
appropriate for
description and clarity, components of the raceway connector 200 which
correspond to
components of the electrical contact unit 100 will use identical reference
numericals. Referring
to the drawings, and first with respect to FIG. 12, the raceway connector 200
includes a series of
eight horizontally disposed five-way female terminal sets 202. Each of the
terminal sets 202
includes five female terminals, identified as a first terminal 204, second
terminal 206, third
terminal 208, fourth terminal 210 and fifth terminal 212. Each of these female
terminals 204-
212 includes an outer, elongated and upper cantilever member 214 and an
opposing cantilever
member 216. The upper cantilever members 214 each include a pair of lateral
and parallel
elongated arms 218 integrally connected at their forward end by a bridge
portion 220.
Correspondingly, each of the lower cantilever members 216 includes
corresponding lateral arms
222 integrally connected at their forward ends by a lower bridge portion 224.
Each of the upper lateral arms 218 can have a slight downwardly angled
configuration, while the upper bridge portion 220 is angled slightly upwardly.
With this
configuration, a contact surface or edge 226 is formed at the integral
interface between the upper
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bridge portion 220 and each of the lateral arms 218. Correspondingly, the
lateral arms 222 of the
lower cantilever members 216 are angled slightly upwardly, while the lower
bridge portion 224
is angled slightly downwardly. With this configuration, a contact surface or
edge 228 is
provided at the interface between the integrally connected lateral arms 222
and the lower bridge
portion 224.
As with the prior art, it is possible to utilize lateral arms, bridge portions
and
cantilever portions which form an arcuate spatial area 230 internal to the
arms and upper bridge
portion. A similar spatial area can be formed by the lower lateral arms and
the lower bridge
portion of the lower cantilever members. Also, each of the female terminals
204-212 can include
an inner and upper cantilever member 232 which extends forwardly within the
spatial area 230
formed by the lateral arms 218 and bridge portion 220. An opposing inner
cantilever member is
formed within the corresponding spatial area of the lower cantilever members
216 and also
extends forwardly. Each of the upper cantilever members 232 can be resilient
in nature and have
a rear downwardly angled portion integrally connected at the forward portion
thereof to a
forward upwardly angled portion. Correspondingly, each of the lower and inner
cantilever
members 234 can include a rear upwardly angled portion integrally connected at
its forward end
to a forward downwardly angled portion. The interface between the rear
downwardly angled
portion and forward upwardly angled portion of the upper cantilever member 232
forms another
contact surface or edge. Correspondingly, a further contact surface or edge is
formed at the
interface between the integrally connected rear upwardly angled portion and
forward
downwardly angled portion of the lower cantilevered members.
The opposing upper and lower cantilever members 214, 216 and the opposing
inner cantilever members 232, 234 are flexible and resilient in nature, so as
to be appropriately
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flexed when a male blade terminal is inserted between the opposing cantilever
members. In
addition, the contact surfaces associated with the upper cantilever member 214
and the upper
cantilever member 232 form a triangular contact surface configuration with the
male blade
terminal. Correspondingly, the contact surfaces associated with the lower
portion of each female
terminal form an opposing triangular contact surface configuration. In this
manner, six points of
contact between the female terminals and the male blade terminal are provided.
In addition to the raceway connector 200 having a series of eight horizontally
disposed five-way female terminal sets 202, the raceway connector 200 also
forms a series of
vertical female terminal sets. Specifically, and again with reference to FIGS.
10 and 12, five
vertically aligned female terminal sets are provided by the eight five-way
female terminal sets
202. Specifically, and particularly with reference to FIG. 12, these
vertically disposed terminal
sets are identified as first vertical female terminal set 250, second vertical
female terminal set
252, third vertical female terminal set 254, fourth vertical terminal set 256
and fifth vertical
terminal set 258. The first vertical terminal set 250 is made up of the eight
first female terminals
204, while the second vertical terminal set 252 is made up of the eight second
female terminals
206. Correspondingly, the third vertical female terminal set 254 is made up of
the third female
terminals 208, and the fourth vertical female terminal set 256 consists of the
fourth female
terminals 210. Further, the fifth vertical female terminal set 258 consists of
the fifth female
terminals 212.
As particularly shown in FIG. 12, the eight first female terminals 204 extend
outwardly in a direction shown in FIG. 12 by the arrow X. Correspondingly,
second female
terminals 206 are parallel to the first female terminals 204, and also extend
outwardly in the
direction X. Also, as particularly shown in FIG. 12, the third female
terminals 208 extend
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outwardly in the direction shown by the arrow Y. The direction shown by the
arrow Y can be
characterized as being at an angle of 90 relative to the direction shown by
arrow X.
Correspondingly, the fourth female terminals 210 extend outwardly in a
direction Z, shown by
the arrow Z. This direction is 180 from the direction shown by arrow X.
Finally, the fifth
female terminals 212 extend outwardly in the direction shown by the arrow A.
This direction
can be characterized as being at 180 from the direction shown by arrow Y, and
at 270 relative
to the direction shown by arrow X. It should be noted that all of the female
terminals 204-212
associated with one of the horizontally disposed five-way female terminal sets
202 are
conductively connected to each other. Accordingly, if electrical power is
applied to any one of
the female terminals 204-212 associated with a terminal set 202, that power is
available as output
power at each of the other female terminals associated with the same female
terminal set 202. In
this manner, if power is applied to either the first female terminal 204 or
second female terminal
206, then such power would be available at a female terminal which is directed
at 0 , 90 , 180 or
270 from the female terminal to which power is applied.
It should be noted that the particular raceway connector 200 shown in FIGS.
10,
11 and 12 includes eight five-way female terminal sets 202. Such a terminal
set configuration
would be useful for an eight-wire system. However, without departing from any
of the novel
concepts of the invention, any other number of horizontally disposed female
terminal sets could
be utilized.
In addition to the female terminal sets 202 primarily illustrated in FIGS. 10
and
12, the raceway connector 200 also includes a connector housing 260 as
primarily shown in FIG.
11. Such a connector housing for use with two terminal sets is well known in
the art, and is
disclosed, for example, in my commonly owned U.S. Patent No. 5,941,720 issued
August 24,
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1999. The connector housing 260 includes a pair of connector blocks which
extend in the
direction shown by arrow X (in FIG. 12), with each connector block 262 adapted
to receive the
first vertical terminal set 250 and second vertical terminal set 252. Each
connector block 262 is
provided with a pair of side flanges 264. The side flanges 264 have slots 266
(only one of which
is shown in FIG. 11) for purposes of engagement with male connector blocks
(not shown) having
male terminals to mate with the female terminals of the raceway connector 200.
The housing
260 further includes a series of female terminal housings 268, each of which
is adapted to
receive one of the female terminals associated with the raceway connector 200.
In addition to the connector blocks 262, the housing 260 also includes a
connector
block 270 extending in the direction of arrow Y, connector block 272 extending
in the direction
of arrow Z and connector block 274 extending in the direction of arrow A. The
connector block
270 is adapted to house the third vertical female terminal set 254. The
connector block 272 is
adapted house the fourth vertical female terminal set 256, and the connector
block 274 is adapted
to house the fifth vertical terminal set 258. The connector blocks 270, 272
and 274 can also
include flanges such as the side flanges 264 or similar means for mechanically
and releasably
coupling a male terminal connector block to a corresponding one of these
female terminal
connector blocks. Further, if desired, the connector blocks can also be keyed,
for purposes of
ensuring that there can be no inappropriate connection or attempt for
connections among
terminals.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the pertinent arts that other
embodiments of
raceway connectors in accordance with the invention can be achieved. That is,
the principles of
accordance with the invention are not limited to the specific embodiments
described herein. It
will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and other
variations of the above-
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described illustrative embodiments of the invention may be effected without
departing from the
spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the invention.
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