IE64716B1 - Distribution strip for a telecommunications installation - Google Patents

Abstract

The oblong distribution block (1) has at its front two parallel rows of cutting-type terminals (2) for connecting incoming and outgoing lines (3 and 4). The cutting-type terminals are a part of contact parts (5, 19, 20) which are provided with plug-in contacts (11) for protective plugs (13) and additional plug-in contacts (12, 17) for test plugs (14). The protective plugs (13) and test plugs (14) can be inserted from the front of the distribution block (1). The protective plug (13) is placed eccentrically so that adequate free space is available for the incoming lines (5) from the subscribers which must be frequently changed. As a result, the distribution block can be inexpensively produced and easily installed.

Description

The invention relates to a distribution strip for a telecommunications installation, preferably a telephone exchange, the elongated, parallelepiped distribution strip being provided with contact parts which are arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction, have insulation-piercing terminals, which are located opposite one another in pairs along the longitudinal sides of the distribution strip, for incoming and outgoing lines.

Such a distribution strip has been disclosed, for example, by DE 35 09 523 Al. According to this, the contact parts are provided with contact points for protective plugs for interruptor plugs or test plugs. The contact parts can be constructed integrally or in two pieces. The two-piece version has contact springs which rest on one another in a sprung manner such that they can be separated. The contact points and insulation-piercing terminals are all accessible from the operating side. The insulation-piercing terminals for those outgoing patching lines which must be changed frequently are arranged so high above the rearside of the distribution strip that they overhang an inserted protective plug. The contact parts thus extend essentially in the insertion direction. The contact parts are matched to the required route essentially by bending and are guided and held between two housing parts of the distribution strip. At the same time, the interruption contact points are located at approximately half the height between the contact points for the protective plugs and the insulation-piercing terminals for the patching lines.

The invention is based on the object of reducing the dimensions of the distribution strip and of simplifying production.

This object is achieved according to Claim 1 of the invention.

Since the material planes of the contact parts all extend in the operating direction, the basic shape of the contact parts can essentially be produced by means of a cutting-stamping process. The bases of the contact parts extend transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction. The insulation-piercing terminals are bent in the longitudinal direction simply by bending the bases. The spring limbs of the interruptor contacts can also be bent in the same manner so that two suffi- 4 ciently flexible contact springs are produced. Since the spring limbs are effective from the base, their height can be kept small.

The contact points for the protective plugs are located alongside the insulation-piercing terminals for those lines which have to be changed rarely. The spring contacts for the test plugs and interruptor plugs are located between the contact points for the protective plug and the insulation-piercing terminals for the outgoing patching lines. In consequence, the protective plug can be kept at a sufficient distance from the insulation-piercing terminals for the patching lines, so that the connecting processes are not impeded. The insulation-piercing terminals for the patching lines can thus be arranged at a suitably low level, so that the structural height of the distribution strip is considerably reduced. As a result of the contact parts being fixed in a single housing part, the contact parts can be installed in a considerably simpler manner. The contact parts just need to be pushed from the rearside into the corresponding retaining chambers in the housing part on the operating side. A cover-like housing rear part has only a sealing function.

As a result of the development of the invention according to Claim 2, the protective plug covers not only those insulation-piercing terminals which are required rarely but also the associated wiring space for the corresponding cable cores. In consequence, sufficient space is created for connection of the patching lines and * for connecting a test plug alongside the protective plug.

As a result of another development of the invention according to Claim 3, the test plug can be supported on the distribution strip over its full width, as a result of which the plug contact points are less stressed.

The invention is explained in more detail in the following text, with reference to an exemplary embodiment which is illustrated in the drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a distribution strip with lines connected, Fig. 2 shows an enlarged section through the distribution strip along the line II-II in Figure 1, Fig. 3 shows a plan view of contact parts of the distribution strip according to Figure 2, Fig. 4 shows a partial section through the distribution strip according to Figure 2, with modified contact parts.

According to Figure 1, an elongated distribution strip 1 has insulation-piercing terminals 2 which are arranged on an operating side of the distribution strip 1, along the two longitudinal sides. Lines 3, which can be patched and come, for example, from subscribers, and outgoing lines 4, which lead, for example, to a switching device, are connected to the insulation-piercing terminals 2. In each case one insulation-piercing terminal 2 for an incoming line 3 and an opposite insulationpiercing terminal 2 for an outgoing line 4 are components of an integral contact part 5. The latter is accessible through plug openings 6, 7 in a housing 8, 9 of the distribution strip 1, for protective plugs and test plugs.

According to Figures 2 and 3, the housing comprises a front part 8, which is on the operating side, and a cover-like rear part 9. The front part 8 is provided with retaining chambers, which are open towards the rear part 9, for the contact parts 5. The latter can be inserted into the front part 8, from the rearside, simply by being plugged in and are completely retained therein and are held in the correct position. The contact parts 5 are upright and at right, angles to the rear part 9, which is latched to the front part 8. Between the insulation-piercing terminals 2, the contact parts 5 have a base section 10 along the rear part 9, which base section 10 connects the insulation-piercing terminals 2 to one another. The insulation-piercing terminals 2 are installed parallel to the longitudinal direction of the distribution strip 1, by bending through 90°. In addition to the insulation-piercing terminals 2, plug-in contacts and 12, which are in the form of forks and have been cut free, for protective plugs 13 and test plugs 14 project from the base section 10. The plug-in contacts 11 and 12 are transverse with respect to the longitudinal direction of the distribution strip 1 and are parallel to the base section 10. They are aligned to the centre of the ineulation-piercing terminals 2 by means of a bend.

This simplifies the visual allocation of the plugs to the insulation-piercing terminals 2. The plug-in contacts 11 are also suitable for connection of a cable plug.

The protective plug 13 is provided with plug tongues 15 which are inserted between the sprung limbs of the plug-in contacts 11. The plug-in tongues 15 are arranged eccentrically on the protective plug 13. The latter covers the insulation-piercing terminals 2 for the outgoing lines 4 and, on the longitudinal side, overhangs the connecting strip 1 by the width of a wiring apace for the outgoing lines 4. The test plug 14 is likewise provided with plug-in tongues 16 which are inserted between the sprung limbs of the plug-in contact 12. The plug-in tongues 16 are likewise arranged offset eccentrically towards the protective plug 13. In consequence, it is possible to arrange the plug-in contacts 11 and 12 closely adjacent to one another, so that the overall width of the distribution strip can be kept small. The protective plug 13 and the test plug 14 are arranged back to back, closely adjacent to one another. The test plug covers the associated insulation-piercing terminals 2 for the lines 3 which come, for example, from the sub- r scribers. These lines 3 can be constructed as patching lines which lead to another region of the distributor.

Since line tests and wiring changes cannot be carried out simultaneously, the test plugs can be withdrawn during connection of the switching wires.

According to Figure 4, the plug-in contacts 12 (Figure 2) are replaced by interruptor contacts 17 which are interrupted by the plug-in tongues 16 of the test plug 14. Instead of the plug-in tongues 16 of the test plug 14, the plug-in tongues of an interruptor plug can also be pushed between the interruptor contacts 17 in order to interrupt the connection. When the plugs are withdrawn, the interruptor contacts 17 are closed. The contact parts 19, 20 are constructed in two pieces and are connected to one another via the interruptor contacts 17 when the plugs are withdrawn. The interruptor contacts have two spring limbs 18 which are bent in the longitudinal direction of the distribution strip 1 and are approximately parallel to the insulation-piercing terminals 2. The spring limbs 18 are constructed such that they can be accommodated in the same housing as the plug-in contacts 12 for the protective plug 14.

Claims (4)

1. Distribution strip for a telecommunications installation, preferably a telephone exchange, the elongated, parallelepiped distribution strip (1) being j, provided with contact parts (5, 19, 20) which are arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction, have insu- 4 · lation-piercing terminals (2), which are located opposite one another in pairs along the longitudinal sides of the distribution strip (1), for incoming and outgoing lines (3 and 4), and have plug contacts (11) for protective plugs (13) and additional plug contacts (12, for example 17) for test plugs (14) or interruptor plugs, the insulation-piercing terminals (2) and the plug contacts being accessible from an operating side of the distribution strip (1) and being arranged side-by-side in plan view of the operating side, and the planes of the insulationpiercing terminals (2) extending parallel to the longitudinal sides of the distribution strip (1), characterized in that the contact parts (5, 19, 20) have on the rear side facing away from the operating side - base sections (10) which connect the insulation-piercing terminals (2) and the plug contacts (11, 12, for example 17) to one another, in that the base sections (10) are arranged at the same height above the rear side, positioned vertically with respect thereto, in that the plug contacts (11, 12, 17) and insulation-piercing terminals (2) project from the base sections (10) in the direction of the operating side, and in that the contact parts (5, 19, 20) are essentially accommodated and held in a front part (8), on the operating side, of a housing (8, 9) of the distribution strip (1).

2. Distribution strip according to Claim 1, characterized in that the protective plug (13) is essentially t arranged above the insulation-piercing terminals (2) for the lines (4) which have to be changed rarely, for & example outgoing lines to a switching device, and overhangs the longitudinal side of the distribution strip (1) at the sides.

3. Distribution strip according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the test plug (14) covers the insulation-piercing terminals (2) for the lines which have to be changed frequently, for example incoming lines from the subscribers.

4. A distribution strip according to Claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.