AU2007200416B2

AU2007200416B2 - An electrical mains-power connector assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2007200416B2
Application number: AU2007200416A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Robert James Battle
Original assignee: Sicame Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Sicame Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2006-02-06
Filing date: 2007-01-31
Publication date: 2011-08-18
Anticipated expiration: 2027-01-31
Also published as: AU2007200416A1

Abstract

An electrical mains-power connector assembly includes a support which is typically in the form of a wall mounting plate. A plurality of mains-power connectors is supported by the support. The mains-power connectors connect respective pairs of wires together. A restraint is fastenable to the support and restrains one wire of each pair relative to the support. The restraint impedes any flexing or twisting of the wires and thereby reduces the strain on the wires. it/ C"l

Description

I AN ELECTRICAL MAINS-POWER CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY 5 TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention generally relates to mains-power connectors which are used in electricity distribution systems for connecting mains-power to buildings (e.g. houses). 10 BACKGROUND Mains power and electrical distribution connectors are commonly used for connecting mains power (e.g. 240V, 415V, etc.) electrical wires together, for 15 example, when connecting mains power to a household load. A plurality of connectors is typically used to interconnect the mains power with the household load, with each connector corresponding to a respective phase or neutral of the power to be connected. Each connector engages with a mains power wire (or neutral wire) and household wire when making the connection. 20 The Applicant has discovered that wires extending from the connectors invariably become strained about the connector which can undesirably result in poor conduction and breakages of the wires. It is an object of the present invention to provide a means to hinder said poor 25 conduction and breakages of wires extending from mains-power connectors. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an 30 electrical distribution mains-power connector assembly for connecting mains power to a building, the connector assembly including: a support defining a plurality of cradles for cradling respective electrical distribution mains-power connectors; 2 the connectors to be cradled by the support and for connecting respective pairs of wires; and a restraint that is fastenable to the support and for restraining one wire of each pair relative to the support. 5 The restraint impedes any flexing or twisting of the wires and thereby reduces the strain on the wires. Preferably, said one wire of each pair is a respective mains-power supply 10 wire. Preferably, the restraint includes a clamp. The clamp may include a pair of elongate clamping elements. The clamp may further include one or more screws for clamping the clamping elements together. One of the clamping 15 elements may be integrally formed with the support, and may define one or more threaded apertures for engaging with respective screws. The other clamping element may define one or more apertures for receiving the shanks of respective screws. 20 The restraint may be releasable. The connector assembly may include four connectors. The connector assembly may further include a cover which, together with the support, defines a housing for housing the mains-power connectors. The 25 cover may define a plurality of recesses through which respective wires can extend. In one embodiment, the cradles may be rectilinearly arranged. 30 The support may include fastening means for fastening the support to a wall. The support may be integrally formed from plastics material.

3 According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a housing assembly for housing electrical distribution mains-power connectors for connecting mains-power to a building, the housing assembly including: a plurality of holders for holding respective electrical distribution mains 5 power connectors; and a restraint for restraining wires extending from the connectors with respect to the holders. According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a 10 support for an electrical distribution mains-power connector assembly for connecting mains-power to a building, the support defining: a plurality of holders for holding and supporting respective electrical distribution mains-power connectors; and a clamping portion which, in use, forms part of a clamp for clamping 15 wires extending from the connectors so that the wires are restrained with respect to the holders. According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a support assembly for an electrical distribution mains-power connector 20 assembly for connecting mains-power to a building, the support assembly including: a plurality of holders for holding and supporting respective electrical distribution mains-power connectors; and a restraint for restraining wires extending from the connectors with 25 respect to the holders. The holders are cradles. According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a 30 mains connection box for connecting mains-power to a building and including the mains power connector assembly.

3a BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient 5 information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding 4 Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a drawing as follows: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an industrial mains connection box in 5 accordance with an embodiment of the present invention showing the cover removed from the support. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 10 According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an industrial mains connection box 2 as shown in Figure 1. The connection box 2 includes a wall mounting plate 4 (i.e. support) and a cover 6 which is releasably fastenable to the wall mounting plate 4. The wall mounting plate 4 and cover 6 can be fastened together to form a housing for housing a quartet 15 of mains-power connectors 8. The connection box 2 further includes a clamp which, in turn, includes an elongate clamp ledge 22 and an elongate clamp member 24. The clamp ledge 22 and clamp member 24 combine to clamp and restrain a quartet of wires 10 extending from the connectors 8. The industrial mains connection box 2 is described in detail below. 20 The wall mounting plate 4 is integrally formed from plastics material and provides a support for supporting the connectors 8. The wall plate 4 defines a quartet of linearly arranged cradles 16 (or bays) for each cradling a respective connector 8. Each cradle 16 includes a wall which surrounds and forms a 25 snug fit with the connector 8 so as to hold the connector 8 firmly in place. Each connector 8 includes an insulated housing in which a pair of electrically conductive chambers is contained. The chambers are electrically interconnected and each chamber defines an aperture for receiving the 30 threaded shaft of a respective bolt 14. In use, a respective wire 10, 12 is located in each chamber at either end of the connector 8, and the bolts 14 are engaged within the chambers so as to clamp the wires 10, 12 therein. An electrical connection is formed between the wires 10, 12 via the chambers (and bolts). The wires 10, 12 can be stripped of their insulation before 5 connection or, in some applications, the base of the shaft of the bolts 14 may include formations for piercing the wire insulation so as to make contact (and therefore an electrical connection) with the conducting portion of the wire. 5 The industrial mains connection box 2 is used to interconnect a three phase power supply to a household or industrial load. In this manner, each connector 8 corresponds with a respective phase of the three-phase supply and a neutral line is also provided. The wires 10 at the base of the wall plate 4 are mains-power supply wires whereas the wires 12 extending from the top 10 of the connectors 8 are household load wires. The wall mounting plate 4 defines a plurality of mounting apertures 18 by which the wall mounting plate 4 can be fastened to a wall using screws or bolts. The wall plate 4 further defines a quartet of household wire apertures 15 20 through which the household wires 12 can enter the mains connection box 2. The wall plate 4 further defines a threaded fastening post 30. In use, the cover 6 snugly engages with the wall plate 4 and a fastening screw 32 can be threaded into the fastening post 30 so as to secure the cover 6 and wall plate 4 together. 20 The mains wires 10 extend from the connectors 8 and rest in respective bights defined in an elongate clamping ledge 22 of the wall mounting plate 4. The ledge 22 further defines a pair of threaded apertures 26 in which clamping screws 28 can be engaged. There is provided an elongate clamping member 25 24 which further defines a quartet of bights for each engaging with a respective wire 10. The elongate clamping member 24 also defines a pair of apertures for each loosely receiving the shank of a respective screw 28. In use, each screw 28 engages with a respective threaded aperture 26 to thereby clamp the mains power supply wires 10 between the clamping 30 member 24 and the clamping ledge 22. In this manner, the mains wires 10 are restrained and impeded from any flexing or twisting, thereby reducing the strain on the wires 10 and hence the connectors 8.

6 The screws 28 may also be disengaged from the threaded apertures 26 so as to un-restrain or free the mains wires 10. The head of each screw 28 includes a pair of wings to facilitate hand tightening and un-tightening. 5 The cover 6 is also integrally formed from plastics material. The base of the cover 6 defines a quartet of recesses or apertures (not shown) through which the mains power supply wires 10 can extend from within the mains connection box 2. In use, the cover 6 covers the connectors 8 and thereby protects them from the rain and other elements. 10 A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention. 15 In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of 20 its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. An electrical distribution mains-power connector assembly for connecting mains-power to a building, the connector assembly including: a support defining a plurality of cradles for cradling respective electrical distribution mains-power connectors; the connectors to be cradled by the support and for connecting respective pairs of wires; and a restraint that is fastenable to the support and for restraining one wire of each pair relative to the support.

2. An electrical distribution mains-power connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one wire of each pair is a respective mains-power supply wire.

3. An electrical distribution mains-power connector assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the restraint includes a clamp.

4. An electrical distribution mains-power connector assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the clamp includes a pair of elongate clamping elements.

5. An electrical distribution mains-power connector assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the clamp further includes one or more screws for clamping the clamping elements together.

6. An electrical distribution mains-power connector assembly as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein one of the clamping elements is integrally formed with the support, and defines one or more threaded apertures for engaging with respective screws.

7. An electrical distribution mains-power connector assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the other clamping element defines one or more apertures for receiving the shanks of respective screws. 8

8. An electrical distribution mains-power connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the restraint is releasable.

9. An electrical distribution mains-power connector assembly as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein th6 connector assembly further includes a cover which, together with the support, defines a housing for housing the mains-power connectors.

10. An electrical distribution mains-power connector assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cover defines a plurality of recesses through which respective wires can extend.

11. An electrical distribution mains-power connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cradles are linearly arranged.

12. An electrical distribution mains-power connector assembly as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the support includes fastening means for fastening the support to a wall.

13. An electrical distribution mains-power connector assembly as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the support is integrally formed from plastics material.

14. An electrical distribution mains-power connector assembly as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the connector assembly includes four connectors.

15. A housing assembly for housing electrical distribution mains-power connectors, the housing assembly including: a plurality of cradles for cradling respective electrical distribution mains power connectors; and a restraint for restraining wires extending from the connectors with respect to the cradles . 9

16. A support for an electrical distribution mains-power connector assembly for connecting mains-power to a building, the support defining: a plurality of cradles for cradling and supporting respective electrical distribution mains-power connectors; and a clamping portion which, in use, forms part of a clamp for clamping wires extending from the connectors so that the wires are restrained with respect to the cradles.

17. A support assembly for an electrical distribution mains-power connector assembly for connecting mains-power to a building, the support assembly including: a plurality of cradles for cradling and supporting respective electrical distribution mains-power connectors; and a restraint for restraining wires extending from the connectors with respect to the cradle.

18. An electrical distribution mains-power connector assembly for connecting mains power to a building substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1.

19. A housing substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1.

20. A wall mounting plate substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1.