AU741657B2

AU741657B2 - Electrical connector

Info

Publication number: AU741657B2
Application number: AU98214/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Evan Cater
Original assignee: Krone GmbH
Current assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
Priority date: 1998-04-20
Filing date: 1998-12-24
Publication date: 2001-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 2018-12-24
Also published as: AU9821498A

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

Name of Applicant: Krone Akticngccllchaft Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Evan CATER DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

Electrical connector Details of Associated Provisional Application(s): No(s): PP3084/98 filed 20 April 1998 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: -1- Q:\OPER\KAT\PP30&4.357 23/12/98 P:\OPER\KAT\KRONE3.CAP 23/12/98 1A- ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR This invention relates to an electrical connector.

Electrical connectors having terminals, such as for making releasable electrical connection to electrical conductors of a communications network, may be arranged to receive over-voltage protection devices which, in the event of an over-voltage condition on a conductor, act to provide a conductive path to earth. Such devices may be connected across respective pairs of conductors associated with respective communications circuits. Each over-voltage device may comprise a three terminal device, first and third terminals of which are in use connected to respective conductors of the pair with which it is associated. The second terminal is connected to earth. Under the condition of normal voltage across such a device, the device presents a high impedance as between all terminals, but under over-voltage conditions on either the first or second terminals, breakdown occurs to provide a conductive path from the terminal .15 exhibiting the over-voltage to earth. The provision of devices of this type is important in practical communications systems to prevent over-voltage conditions, arising for example from lightning strikes, from causing serious damage to the system.

Practically, in for example a telephone exchange, the connectors which releasably connect to 20 the network conductors are arranged on suitable support structure with the terminals facing outwardly for ease of access, bearing in mind that alterations to the connections from the connector terminals tothe conductors may need to be frequently made, to accommodate the needs of network users. In such a construction, the over-voltage protection devices may then be mounted to the fronts of the connectors. This mounting arrangement is convenient from the point of view of ease of access, since the over-voltage devices themselves may need to be accessed for replacement. However, mounting these in this fashion is also inconvenient in that the devices are then adjacent the connector terminals and inhibit convenient access to the connector terminals.

Broadly, the invention provides an electrical connector which may be arranged for receiving P:\OPER\KAT\ RONE3.CAP 23/12/98 -2over-voltage such as to allow for ready access to the connector terminals, and to the overvoltage devices.

More particularly, in one aspect, the invention provides an electrical connector having first terminals at a front thereof, and to which external electrical conductors may be secured to make electrical connections between the conductors and the first terminals, a mounting assembly at a rear of the connector, said mounting assembly being adapted to receive overvoltage protection devices so that the over-voltage protection devices are then coupled electrically to the first terminals for providing over-voltage protection to electrical circuits in S 10 use coupling to the first terminals via the external conductors, and releasable mounting means S for releasable connection of the connector to support structure for the connector.

The releasable mounting means may at least in part be formed by a conductive earth element, which in use of the connector makes releasable electrical connection to the support structure such that an electrical earth path is formed from the connector to an earthed conductive portion of the support structure.

The first terminals may be carried by an insulative body of the connector, the mounting S" assembly having second terminals electrically connected to ones of the first terminals, the 20 mounting assembly being adapted to receive the over-voltage protection devices so that these connect to the second terminals such that the over-voltage protection devices are coupled to the first terminals via the second terminals.

The mounting assembly may have an insulative structure and a circuit board, the second terminals being carried by the insulative structure and being electrically coupled to conductive tracks of the circuit board which are electrically coupled to the first terminals.

An electrically conductive earth element may be provided, in use of the connector forming part of or otherwise electrically coupling to the releasable mounting means, to provide an earth connection to the over-voltage protection devices. In one form, the earth element is P:\OPER\KATTKRONE3.CAP 23112/98 -3arranged to releasably connect to the insulative body of the connector. Also in a particular form, the earth element may have gripping portions which are adapted to releasably grip the support structure to effect the releasable connection of the connector to the support structure.

In the latter case, the gripping portions may be resilient and positioned adjacent to respective opposed portions of the connector, such that parts of the support structure may be resiliently gripped between the gripping portions and the opposed portions of the connector. The opposed portions may be formed on the earth element so that each gripping portion and its opposed portion define therebetween a respective rearwardly facing opening for receiving a respective part of the support structure. There may be a said gripping portion and an associated said opposed portion of the earth element at each end of the earth element.

A cover may be provided, covering the rear of the connector. This may be releasably attached to the connector body.

The insulative body of the connector and the first terminals may form parts of a disconnection module, the first terminals being arranged in two parallel rows so that pairs of the first terminals, each comprising a first terminal in one row and an opposed first terminal in the other row, are defined, the first terminals having respective resilient contact portions, .oeo.i the resilient contact portions of the first terminals in each pair thereof being arranged so that 20 in a first condition thereof they are resiliently biased into electrical contact with each other but, in a second condition thereof, are displaced out of direct electrical contact, by insertion of, for example, a test plug or an electrically insulative element therebetween so that they are forced apart against the resilient bias. In this arrangement, the resilient contact portions of each pair are electrically coupled in the first condition of these, and disconnected in the second condition. In arrangements of this kind, only the first terminals in one row of the first terminals may be arranged to be coupled to the over-voltage devices.

There may for example, be two spaced parallel rows of the second terminals, with an elongate portion of the earth element being positioned to extend parallel to and between the rows. The elongate portion of the earth element may be generally planar and arranged to form an P:\OPER\KAT\KRONE3.CAP 23112198 -4outstanding barrier between ones of the over-voltage devices positioned at either face thereof.

The elongate portion may have projections which connect to conductive tracks on the circuit board and thence via those tracks to ones of the second terminals.

The invention is further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a exploded perspective view of an electrical connector constructed in accordance with the invention, and support structure with which the connector is used; ]0 Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the connector and support structure of Figure 1: S: Figure 3 is a view somewhat like Figure 2, but with one component of the connector removed to show connections to an earth element, within the connector; and Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating electrical connections within the connector of Figure 1.

The electrical connector 8 shown is designed to be releasably secured to a support structure .:oooi 22, in this case, formed by spaced parallel rails 72.

S"Connector 8 has an electrically insulative body 10 on a front face of which are positioned first terminals 12 to which, in use of the connector, insulated wire conductors of communications circuits are connected. The terminals 12 are of the insulation displacement type, having bifurcated outer ends defining opposed resilient arms between which an insulated wire conductor can be pressed, so that inner edges of the arms cut the insulation and are resiliently urged into contact with the conductor, so that the conductor is gripped by the arms which then make electrical connection to the conductor.

The front face of the body 10 is of elongate rectangular form and the terminals 12 are arranged at this in two spaced parallel rows which extend parallel to the longer sides of the P:\OPERXKAT\KRONE3.CAP 23/12198 front face. The bifurcated ends of the terminals 12 are accommodated in forwardly open cavities 74 at the front face of the body 12, so as to permit wire conductors to easily be connected to these.

At the rear face of the body 10, the connector 10 is fitted with a mounting assembly 14 having a printed circuit board 26 and, mounted on this, an insulative structure 24 formed of the insulative bodies 38 of two over-voltage device connectors 28. As described later, certain of the terminals 12 are soldered or otherwise electrically connected to tracks on the printed circuit board 26. Tracks on the printed circuit board 26 are also connected, such as by soldering, to second terminals 16 carried by the insulative bodies 38 forming parts of the l connectors 28.

The terminals 16 are of a kind permitting the making of electrical connection to wires insertable into them, by clamping action as an end of the wire is pressed into the terminal.

Over-voltage protection devices 18 are electrically connected to the connectors 28, by so inserting wires 44, 46, 48 of each device 18 into respective ones of the terminals 16, so that the then-gripped wires make electrical connection via the tracks on the printed circuit board 26 to the terminals 12. The devices 18 are in this instance gas arresters, these being gas-filled *eeee S" devices having a central terminal to which wire 46 is connected and outer end terminals to 20 which the respective wires 44, 48 are connected.

An earth conductor in the form of an earth element 50 is formed by stamping and bending from metal plate. This has a planar central generally planar strip-like portion 52, with projections 54 extending outwardly from one edge. These projections 54 are received in openings in the printed circuit board 26, at locations between the two connectors 28, and soldered or otherwise electrically connected to tracks on the printed circuit board 26, so that the portion 52 extends outwardly from the rear face of the printed circuit board 26, in outstanding relationship to the printed circuit board 26 and between the connectors 28.

At its ends, the element 50 has transversely bent-out somewhat planar portions 60, these P:\OPER\KAT\KRONE3.CAP 23112/98 -6having at one free end of each a tongue-like mounting portion 62 with an aperture 64. These portions 62 are inserted into slots 66 at the rear of the body 10, and at each end of the body so that the mounting portions 62 cooperate with internal retaining elements (not shown) in the slots 66 to retain the mounting portions 62 and securely but releasably mount the element 50 to the body 10. For example, the slots 66 may have internal latching projections which snap fit into the apertures 64 for this purpose.

The planar portions 60 also define, at ends opposite the mounting portions 62, resilient gripping portions 68 which extend outwardly and rearwardly on the connector 8. These S 10 gripping portions 68 cooperate with respective adjacent but spaced edge portions 70 of the element 50, formed by cut-outs at the ends of the portion 52, to enable releasable resilient gripping of the parallel rails 72 of the support structure 22, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Thus, each gripping portion 68 and its adjacent opposed edge portion 70 constitutes a respective releasable mounting means 20 for releasably mounting the connector 8 to the structure 22.

A rear cover 30 is provided, which is positionable over the planar portion 52 of the element S 50, the printed circuit board 26, the connectors 28 and devices 18. Cover 30 rests against the rear of the body 10 and is held in position, when the connector is coupled to the rails 72 of 20 the support structure 22, by clamping of end extensions 32 of the cover between the rear of the body 10 and the rails. The cover 30 has end slots 34 at which the edge portions 70 of the planar portion 52 of the element 50 are exposed, so that these can engage the rails 72 for gripping in conjunction with the gripping portions 68.

The electrical interconnections within and to and from the connector 8 when in use are diagrammatically represented in Figure 4, which shows wire conductors 82, 86 of an incoming circuit pair connected to adjacent "incoming" terminals 12 in one row of the terminals 12 on body 10, and wire conductors 80, 84, of an "outgoing" circuit pair connected to adjacent "outgoing" terminals 12 in the other row of the terminals 12 on body 10. The connections to the conductors 80, 82, 84, 86 are made at insulation displacement contact P:\OPER\KAT\KRONE3.CAP 23/12/98 -7portions 12a of the terminals 12. The circuit board tracks, on circuit board 26, are represented diagrammatically by reference numerals 88. Certain of these tracks interconnect from body portions 12b of contacts 12 in the "incoming" row thereof to the terminals 16 and thus with the wires 44, 48 of the devices 18 as shown. Also, the wires 46 of the devices 18 connect via further printed circuit board tracks 88 to the element 50 and thence to the rails 72 of the support structure 22.

In use, electrical interconnections may be made between wires connected to the terminals 12 as may be needed to suit the set up of required communications circuits. This may be easily 10 accomplished at the front of the connector without interference or inconvenience as may occur if the over-voltage protection devices were to be positioned at the front of the connector. On the other hand, access to the devices 18 can be readily gained, when required, by unclipping the connector 8 from the rails 72 and removal of the cover. The devices 18 may be readily removed from the connectors 28 by applying manual force to pull the wires from the terminals 16.

The illustrated body 10 and terminals 12 constitute a so-called "disconnection module" S.i the terminals in each row of these being releasably electrically coupled to respective S" associated opposite terminals 12 in the other row. This coupling is effected by resilient 20 engagement of resilient contact portions 12c (Figure 4) of the terminals 12 in one row with corresponding spring portions 12c of the terminals in the other row. The portions 12c are positioned in a lengthwise extending trough in the front of the connector body, to be accessible to enable selective disconnection of the electric coupling between each of the terminals of one row from the respective associated terminals 12 in the other row, by positioning, for example, insulative plugs or test plugs between the portions 12c, so that the portions 12c are forced apart against natural resilient bias of these. The test plugs and/or insulative plugs can be readily inserted and removed, as required by virtue of the over-voltage protection devices being positioned at the back of the connector. Further, it should be appreciated that any other type of terminal device may be employed for connection with the terminals 12 of the connector, in place of the insulative or test plugs.

P:\OPER\KATU(RONE3.CAP 23/12/98 -8- The described arrangement has been advanced merely by way of explanation any many modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which includes every novel feature and combination of features herein disclosed.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

S S o

Claims

1. An electrical connector having first terminals at a front thereof, and to which external electrical conductors may be secured to make electrical connections between the conductors and the first terminals, a mounting assembly at a rear of the connector, said mounting assembly being adapted to receive over-voltage protection devices so that the over-voltage protection devices are then coupled electrically to the first terminals for providing over- voltage protection to electrical circuits in use coupling to the first terminals via the external conductors, and releasable mounting means for releasable connection of the connector to 10 support structure for the connector.

2. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the releasable mounting means is at least in part formed by a conductive earth element, which in use of the connector makes releasable electrical connection to the support structure such that an electrical earth path is formed from the connector to an earthed conductive portion of the support structure.

3. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first terminals are carried by an insulative body of the connector, the mounting assembly having second terminals ooooi S" electrically connected to ones of the first terminals, the mounting assembly being adapted to 20 receive the over-voltage protection devices so that these connect to the second terminals such S that the over-voltage protection devices are coupled to the first terminals via the second terminals.

4. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein the mounting assembly has an insulative structure and a circuit board, the second terminals being carried by the insulative structure and being electrically coupled to conductive tracks of the circuit board which are electrically coupled to the first terminals.

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, having an electrically conductive earth element, for electrically coupling to the releasable mounting means to P:\OPER\KAT\KRONE3.CAP 23/12/98 provide an earth connection to the over-voltage protection devices.

6. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein the earth element is arranged to releasably connect to the insulative body of the connector.

7. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein the earth element has gripping portions which are adapted to releasably grip the support structure to effect the releasable connection of the connector to the support structure. 10

8. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein the gripping portions are S resilient and positioned adjacent to respective opposed portions of the connector, such that parts of the support structure may be resiliently gripped between the gripping portions and the opposed portions of the connector.

9. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 8, wherein the opposed portions are formed on the earth element so that each gripping portion and its opposed portion define therebetween a respective rearwardly facing opening for receiving a respective part of the S support structure.

10. An electrical connector as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein there is a said i gripping portion and an associated said opposed portion of the earth element at each end of the earth element.

11. An electrical connector as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 10, wherein a cover is provided for covering the rear of the connector.

12. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cover is releasably attached to the insulative body of the connector.

13. An electrical connector as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 12, wherein the insulative P:\OPER\KAT\KRONE3.CAP 23/12/98 11 body of the connector and the first terminals form parts of a disconnection module, the first terminals being arranged in two parallel rows so that pairs of the first terminals, each comprising a first terminal in one row and an opposed first terminal in the other row, are defined, the first terminals having respective resilient contact portions, the resilient contact portions of the first terminals in each pair thereof being arranged so that in a first condition thereof they are resiliently biased into electrical contact with each other but, in a second condition thereof, are displaced out of direct electrical contact, by insertion of an electrically insulative element therebetween so that they are forced apart against the resilient bias.

14. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 13, wherein only the first terminals in one row of the first terminals are arranged to be coupled to the over-voltage devices.

15. An electrical connector as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 14, wherein there are two spaced parallel rows of the second terminals, with an elongate portion of the earth element 15 being positioned to extend parallel to and between the rows.

16. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 15, wherein the elongate portion has projections which connect to conductive tracks on the circuit board and thence via those tracks to ones of the second terminals. OS DATED this 24th day of December, 1998 GrH KRONE AKTfENGEfSELLSCHAFT By its Patent Attorneys 104 Davies Collison Cave