AU709346B2 - Modular electrical power distribution and switching system - Google Patents
Modular electrical power distribution and switching system Download PDFInfo
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- AU709346B2 AU709346B2 AU40717/95A AU4071795A AU709346B2 AU 709346 B2 AU709346 B2 AU 709346B2 AU 40717/95 A AU40717/95 A AU 40717/95A AU 4071795 A AU4071795 A AU 4071795A AU 709346 B2 AU709346 B2 AU 709346B2
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Description
2 MODULAR ELECTRICAL POWER DISTRIBUTION AND SWITCHING SYSTEM This invention relates to electrical power distribution and switching systems for electrical appliances and is particularly concerned with providing an electrical power distribution and switching system for lights or other electrical appliances which uses modular components to provide flexibility and ease of installation.
Currently, in buildings such as offices, hotels, houses or the like, electrical lighting systems are installed by hard wiring lights and switches therefor to the mains electrical supply of the building, and when it is desired to change the location of a switch or a light or to provide an additional light and/or an additional switch for controlling a light or lights, it is necessary for a qualified electrician to install the wiring for the required lights and/or switches.
The present invention provides, therefore, an electrical power distribution and switching system for electric lights, electrical appliances or other electrical loads including: a plurality of connection modules for distribution about a building or other site and interconnectable in an electrical power supply circuit, a plurality of connector leads for interconnecting said connection modules and forming said circuit, a plurality of load leads, each load lead connectable to a respective connection module and load for providing electrical power to said respective load, and a plurality of switch leads, each switch lead connectable to a respective connection module and switch for switching said respective load and for rendering said respective switch locatable independently of said respective connection module.
Thus, each switch is remotely connectable to a connection module, which connection may include (in addition to the switch lead) any suitable means such as further electrical wiring or an infer-red link.
;;Preferably each of the connection modules is connectable to a plurality of said switch leads each for connecting a respective switch, whereby, when respective 30 switches are connected to said connection module, the supply of electrical power to a respective load connected to the connection module can be controlled by a respective switch.
Preferably each of said connection modules is connectable to a plurality of \\MELB01\home$\ARymer\Keep\Speci\Andrew\40717.95 propose.doc 7/06/99 3 said load leads each for connecting a respective load, whereby, when one or more switches are connected to said connection module, the supply of electrical power to a respective load connected to the connection module can be controlled by one or more of said one or more switches.
Preferably each of said connection modules has first and second power supply connectors in the form of plug and/or socket connectors for connecting with complementary socket and/or plug connectors on the ends of respective connector leads.
Preferably each of said connection modules has a load coupler for coupling said connection module to a respective load lead, and a switch coupler for coupling said connection module to a respective switch lead.
Preferably said load coupler is in the form of a socket or plug connector adapted to co-operate with a complementary plug or socket connector on one end of a respective load lead.
Preferably said switch coupler is in the form of a socket or plug connector for co-operating with a complementary plug or socket connector on one end of a respective switch lead.
Preferably each of said connection modules includes a plurality of switch couplers and a plurality of load couplers.
Preferably the system includes at least one light, electrical appliance or V, 20 other electrical load connected to at least one of said connection modules.
Preferably the system includes an intermediate electric light, electrical appliance or other electrical load connected to said at least one of said connection modules by a load input lead, and to another electric light, electrical appliance or other o°•e o• electrical load by a load output lead.
Preferably the load input and output leads have complementary plug and socket connectors thereon.
Preferably each of said connection modules includes first and second
S.
power supply connectors, a load coupler connectable to an electric light, electrical appliance or other electrical load, and a switch coupler releasably connectable to a switch S, 30 for controlling the supply of electrical power to said load coupler, said switch locatable independently of said switch coupler.
Preferably said first and second power supply connectors comprise complementary plug and socket connectors.
\\MELBO1\homeS\ARymer\Keep\speci\Andrew\40717.95 propose.doc 7/06/99 4 Preferably the first and second power supply connectors include respective sets of two or more electrical terminals and connected by electrical conductors.
Preferably said first and second power supply connectors are provided at opposite ends of said connection module.
Preferably said load coupler and said switch coupler each includes a set of two or more terminals, each terminal being connected electrically either to one of the electrical conductors or to a terminal of the other of said couplers.
Preferably active and neutral electrical conductors extend between the first and second power supply connectors, and one of the switch coupler and load coupler has a first terminal connected to the active conductor and the other of said couplers has a first terminal connected to the neutral conductor, the switch coupler and load coupler both having second terminals connected to each other.
Preferably an earth conductor extends between the first and second power supply connectors, and the load coupler has an earth terminal connected to the earth conductor.
Preferably each of said connection modules has a plurality of switch couplers whereby, when switches are connected respectively to each of the switch couplers, the supply of electric power to a load connected to the switched power outlet can be controlled by any one of the switches connected to the switch couplers.
Preferably active and neutral conductors extend between the first and 5 second power supply connectors, the active conductor being connected to a first terminal see ooeither of the load coupler or of a first one of the switch couplers, the neutral conductor •5oo being connected to the first terminal of the other one of the first switch coupler or the load coupler, another terminal of the first switch coupler being connected to a first :o terminal of a second switch coupler, and another terminal of the second switch coupler .5 being connected to a second terminal of the load coupler.
O. Preferably a third terminal of the first switch coupler is connected to a 0o• third terminal of the second switch coupler.
30 Preferably each of the connection modules includes an earth conductor extending between the first and second power supply connectors, and the load coupler has an earth terminal connected to the earth conductor.
Preferably one of the first and second power supply connectors has \\MELBO1\homeS\ARymer\Keep\Speci\Andrew\40717.95 propose.doc 7/06/99 5 terminals in the form of pin connectors and the other of the power input and power output connectors has terminals in the form of pin-receiving connectors adapted to receive pin terminals of a plug connector of a connector lead, or of another similar connection module.
Preferably the load coupler has pin connectors or pin-receiving connectors for co-operation with pin-receiving connectors or pin connectors of a complementary socket or plug connector on a respective load lead.
Preferably the switch coupler or couplers has pin connectors or pinreceiving connectors for co-operation with pin-receiving connectors or pin connectors of a complementary socket or plug connector on a respective switch lead.
Preferably the pin-receiving connectors comprise bifurcated spring contacts each having a pair of fork portion extending from a terminal head portion.
In order that the present invention may be more clearly ascertained, preferred embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a first arrangement of a modular switching and lighting system in accordance with the invention; Figure 2, is an external plan view of a connection module for use in the system of Figure 1; a 20 Figure 3 is an internal plan view of the connection module of Figure 2 i °""with the upper part of the module housing removed; a Figure 4 is a schematic wiring diagram for the connection unit of Figures a* 2 and 3; Figure 5 is a schematic view of another arrangement of a modular 25 switching and lighting system in accordance with the invention; a. Figure 6 is a schematic view of a further arrangement of a modular a.
switching and lighting system in accordance with the invention; Figure 7 is a schematic view of yet another arrangement of a modular •switching and lighting system in accordance with the invention; Figure 8 is an external plan view of a connection module for use in the system of Figure 7; Figure 9 is an internal plan view of the connection module of Figure 8 Swith its upper housing part removed; \\MELBO1\home\ARymer\Keep\Speci\Andrew\4071 .95 propose.doc 7/06/99 Figure 10 is a schematic wiring diagram for the connection unit of Figures 8 and 9; and Figure 11 is a schematic view of a further arrangement of a modular switching and lighting system in accordance with the invention.
The modular switching and lighting system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figure 1 includes at leat one connection module 10, at least one lighting fixture 20, at least one switch 30 and an electrical supply circuit which includes an input connector lead 40 and an output connector lead 50. The input connector lead 40 is connectable to the connection module 10 by a socket connector 41 provided on an end of the input lead 40 and which is adapted to co-operate with a first power supply connector comprising power input connector 11 in the form of a complementary plug connector provided at one end of the connection module 10. The output connector lead 50 is connectable to the connection module 10 by a plug connector 52 provided on an end of the output lead 50 and which is adapted to cooperate with a second power supply connector comprising power output connector 12 in the form of a complementary socket connector provided at the opposite end of the connection module On one side of the connection module 10 there is provided a switch coupler comprising switch outlet 13 in the form of a socket connection, and a load coupler comprising switched power outlet 14, also in the form of a socket connection.
The switch 30 is connectable to the switch outlet socket connection 13 by a switch lead 31 having a switch plug connector 33 on the end of the switch lead 31 remote from the switch 30. The switch outlet socket connector 13 and the switch lead plug connector 33 0 e 0 are of complementary form with the switch lead plug connector being adapted to be 25 received in the switch outlet socket 13.
The lighting fixture 20 comprises a lamp 21 held by a lamp holder 22 which is electrically connectable to the switched power outlet socket 14 of the connection module 10 by a lighting connector lead 23 having a lighting plug connector 24 on the end of the lighting connector lead 23 remote from the lamp holder 22 and lamp S3 0 21. The lighting plug connector 24 and the switched power outlet socket 14 are of H:\paulad\Keep\speci\40717.95.doc 29/04/99 7 complementary form with the lighting plug connector 24 being adapted to be received by the switched power outlet socket 14.
As shown in Figure 1, the various socket connectors 12, 13 and 14 of the connection module and the socket connector 41 are of similar shape and construction and the plug connectors 11, 24, 33 and 52 are also of similar form and construction for ease of manufacture.
The input and output connector leads 40 and 50 and their respective socket and plug connectors 41 and 52 form part of a flexible soft wiring system formed from a plurality of connector leads with plug and socket connectors similar to connectors 52 and 41 on opposite ends of each lead, one pair of leads being **4 o *i H:\paulad\Keep\speci\40717.95.doc 29/04/99 -8connected to an alternating current three-phase mains power supply, for instance by a starter socket adapted to receive a plug connector of one lead and a socket connector of another lead. The connector leads may be supplied in various lengths, and the plug and socket connectors of the leads preferably have a twenty Amp rating.
The basic modular switching and lighting system shown in Figure 1 therefore enables a lighting fixture 20 and an associated switch 30 for controlling the lighting fixture 20 to be installed at any desired location in a building. Also, the location of oa lighting fixture and associated switch can be readily changed by disconnecting the otttt S 10 lighting fixture 20, and its associated connection module 10 and switch 30 from the input and output connector leads 40 and 50 and re-connecting the connection module
O
°at a different location between two other connector leads of the system. The soft wiring system may also include power modules connectable between plug and socket connectors of connector leads and which provide standard electrical socket outlets enabling electrical appliances to be connected to the soft wiring system at various S"locations in the system.
Referring more specifically to Figures 2 and 3 there is shown a connection module 100 of similar form to the connection module 10 of Figure 1 but which has a slightly different shape. The connection module 100 comprises a housing formed o 20 from an upper housing part 101 and a lower housing part 102. The housing parts are preferably formed as mouldings from plastics material having various internal walls and partitions. The housing 100 has a three-terminal power input plug connector 110 at one end, a three-terminal power output socket connector 120 at its other end and, extending from one side of the module 110, side extensions forming a switch outlet socket 130 and a switched power outlet socket 140.
The input terminal connector 110 has electrically conductive active, neutral and earth pin terminals 111, 112 and 113 respectively. The terminals are preferably in the form of brass pins and are received in recesses between longitudinally extending internal partitions in an end extension 114 of the connection module housing. The pin terminals 111, 112 and 113 project out of the end extension 114 JRG:NB:#17115.spc 22 December 1995 -9to form a three-pin plug connector 110.
The output socket terminal connector 120 comprises electrically conductive active, neutral and earth pin-receiving terminals 121, 122 and 123 respectively.
Each of the pin-receiving terminals 121, 122 and 123 is in the form of a bifurcated bronze spring contact which terminates adjacent a respective aperture or recess 154, 155, 156 provided in an internal wall 150 in a socket end extension 152 at the opposite end of the housing, the right hand end as seen in Figures 2 and 3. Each pin-receiving terminal 121, 122, 123 has a terminal head portion 124, 125, 126 and a pair of fork portions 127, 128, 129. Each pair of fork portions 127, 128 and 129 S 10 extends from the respective terminal head portion 124, 125, 126 with a gap between the fork portions which then taper inwardly to meet at a position adjacent a respective one of said recesses 154, 155, 156, with the ends each pair of the fork portions 127, 128, 129 extending away from each other to form a mouth for receiving a pin terminal of a complementary plug connector on a connector lead such as the lead 50 of Figure 1.
Each of the active, neutral and earth pin terminals 111, 112 and 113 is connected to a respective one of the active, neutral and earth pin-receiving terminals .o 121, 122 and 123 of the output socket connector 120 by respective active, neutral and earth brass bar conductors 161, 162 and 163 which extend longitudinally within 20 the connection module housing 100. At an intermediate portion along each bar ot conductor 161, 162 and 163, there is provided a respective branch terminal 164, 165 and 166.
The switch outlet socket 130 is of similar form to the output socket connector 120, having three recesses 134, 135 and 136 in an internal wall or partition 137 in the side extension forming the switch outlet 130, but differs in that it has only two pin-receiving terminals 131 and 132. The pin-receiving terminals 131 and 132 comprise bifurcated spring contacts of similar form to the pin-receiving terminals 121, 122 and 123, each of the mouths of the bifurcated pin-receiving terminals 131 and 132 terminating adjacent a respective aperture or recess 134, 135.
The switched power outlet socket 140 is of similar form to the power output JRG:NB:#17115.spc 22 December 1995 10 socket connector 120 having electrically conductive active, neutral and earth pinreceiving terminals 141, 142 and 143 respectively. Each of the pin-receiving terminals 141, 142 and 143 comprises a bifurcated spring contact of similar form to the contacts 121, 122 and 123 of the power output socket connector, with each of the bifurcated pin-receiving terminals 141, 142 and 143 terminating adjacent a respective aperture or recess 144, 145, 146 in an internal wall or partition 147 in the side extension forming the switched power outlet socket 140.
The internal circuit diagram for the connector module 100 is shown •schematically in Figure 4 from which it will be seen that one of the pin-receiving 10 terminals 131 of the switch socket 130 is connected to the intermediate branch terminal 164 of the active bar conductor 161, and the neutral and earth pin-receiving terminals 142 and 143 of the switched power outlet socket 140 are respectively connected to the branch terminals 165 and 166 of the neutral and earth bar conductors 162 and 163. The connections between the branch terminals 164, 165 and 166 and the pin-receiving terminals 132, 142 and 143 are made by insulated, flexible copper wires 171, 172 and 173 respectively. The other pin-receiving terminal 132 of the switch outlet socket 130 is connected to the active pin-receiving S. terminal 141 of the switched power outlet socket 140 also by an insulated, flexible copper wire 170.
In use, the connection module 100 is connected to an electrical supply circuit, a lighting fixture or other electrical appliance and an electrical switch in the manner a, illustrated in Figure 1, with the switch being arranged to make or break electrical contact across the pin-receiving terminals 131 and 132 so that the operation of the lighting fixture or other electrical appliance can be controlled by the switch.
Referring to Figure 5 of the drawings, there is shown a modified arrangement of a modular switching and lighting system which is similar to that of Figure 1, and corresponding reference numerals have been applied to corresponding parts. The system of Figure 5 differs from that of Figure 1 in that a plurality of lighting fixtures 20a, 20b and 20c are cascaded from a single connection module 10 with operation of all of the lighting fixtures 20a, 20b and 20c being controlled by a single JRG:NB:#17115.spc 22 December 1995 11 switch 30 connected to the switch outlet socket 13 of the connection module 10 by switch connector lead 31 and switch plug connector 33. As shown in Figure lighting fixture 20a is connected to the switched power outlet socket 14 of the connection module 10 by a first lighting connector lead 23 and lighting plug connector 24, and lighting fixture 20a has a second lighting connector lead 25 with a lighting socket connector 26 on the end of connector lead 25 remote from the lighting fixture 20a. This enables the lighting fixture 20a to be connected to lighting fixture 20b which has a lighting connector lead 23b with lighting plug connector 24b that is adapted to co-operate with lighting socket connector 26. Lighting fixture 10 also has a second lighting connector lead 25b with a lighting socket connector 26b which enables a further lighting fixture 20c having lighting connector lead 23c with lighting plug connector 24c to be connected in series with lighting fixtures 20a and 20b. In this manner, a plurality of lighting fixtures 20a, 20b and 20c may be controlled simultaneously by a single switch 30. The twenty Amp rating of the plug and socket connectors enables a large number of lamps to be cascaded from connection module 10 provided that the total current drawn does not exceed twenty Amps.
w* Referring to Figure 6 of the drawings, there is shown another alternative arrangement of a modular switching and lighting system which is similar to that of Figure 1, and corresponding reference numerals have been applied to corresponding parts. The system of Figure 6 differs from that of Figure 1 in that two connection modules 10 are used to provide two-gang switching for respective lighting fixtures from a two-gang switch unit 300.
The two-gang switch unit 300 has two switches 301 and 302 each of which has a respective switch connector lead 310, 312 and switch plug connector 330, 332.
As shown in Figure 6, each of the switch plug connectors 330, 332 is connected to the switch outlet socket 13 of a respective one of the connection modules 10. Whilst Figure 6 shows that two connection modules may be connected together to provide two-gang switches, it will be appreciated that multiple gang switching, e.g. up to eighteen gang switches, may be provided by using an appropriate number of JRG:NB:#17115.spc 22 Deember 1995 12 connection modules 10 connected together by the complementary plug and socket connections 11 and 12 of adjacent connection modules Referring to Figure 7, there is shown another alternative arrangement of a modular switching and lighting system which uses a modified connection module for providing two-way switching for a single lighting fixture 20 from individual twoway switches 30 and 70 at different locations. Otherwise, the system of Figure 7 is similar to that of Figure 1 and corresponding reference numerals have been applied to corresponding parts.
S.
The connection module 90 is similar to the connection module 10 of Figure 10 1 in that it has a power input plug connector 91 and a power input socket connector 92 at opposite ends of the connection module housing and a switched power outlet oc socket 94 on one side of the housing, but instead of a single switch outlet socket, the ":connection module 90 has a first switch outlet socket 93 and a second switch outlet socket 15 The first switch outlet socket 93 is adapted to receive a switch plug connector So.
33 on the end of a switch connector lead 31 connected to the first two-way switch 30, and the second switch outlet socket 95 is adapted to receive a switch plug connector 75 on the end of a switch connector lead 72 connected to the second twoway switch 70. In the system arrangement of Figure 7, either one of the two-way switches 30 and 70 may be used to control the supply of electrical power to the light fixture Referring to Figures 8 and 9, there is shown a modified connection module 200 similar to the connection module 90 which can be used in the modular switching and lighting system of Figure 7. The connection module 200 is of similar construction to the connection module 100 of Figures 2 and 3 and corresponding reference numerals have been applied to corresponding parts. The connection module 200 differs from the connection module 100 in that instead of having a single switch outlet socket 130, it has first and second switch outlet sockets 230 and 250 respectively. Thus, the connection module has a power input plug connector 110 with active, neutral and earth connectors 111, 112 and 113 respectively, a power JRG:NB:#17115.spc 22 December 1995 13 output socket connector 120 with active, neutral and earth pin-receiving terminals 121, 122 and 123 respectively, and a switched power outlet socket 140 with active, neutral and earth pin-receiving terminals 141, 142 and 143 respectively.
The first switch outlet 230 differs from the switch outlet 130 of Figures 2 and 3 in that it has three pin-receiving terminals 231, 232 and 233 each of which terminates adjacent a respective recess 234, 235 or 236 in an internal wall or partition 237 within the socket 230. The second switch outlet socket 250 is of similar form having three pin-receiving terminals 251, 252 and 253, each of which terminates adjacent a respective recess or aperture 254, 255 or 256 in an internal S: 10 wall or partition 257 of the socket 250.
The internal wiring of the connection module 200 is shown in Figure 9 and also diagrammatically in Figure 10. A first pin-receiving terminal 231 of the first switch outlet socket 230 is connected by an insulated flexible copper wire 271 to the active branch terminal 164, and the neutral and earth pin-receiving terminals 142 and 143 of the switched power outlet socket 140 are connected respectively to the neutral and earth branch terminals 165 and 166 by insulated flexible copper wires 172 and *4 173 respectively. The active pin-receiving terminal 141 of the switched power outlet ;socket 140 is connected by an insulated flexible copper wire 270 to a first pinreceiving terminal 251 of the second switch outlet socket 250. The second and third S 20 terminals 232 and 233 of the first switch outlet socket 230 are respectively So connected to the second and third pin-receiving terminals 252 and 253 of the second switch outlet socket by insulated flexible copper wires 272 and 273 respectively.
In use, first and second two-way switches 30 and 70 as shown in Figure 7 are respectively connected to the first and second switch outlet sockets 230 and 250 of connection module 200 by switch connector leads 31 and 72 and three-pin switch plug connectors 33 and 75. A lighting circuit including at least one lighting fixture is connected to the switched power outlet 140 by lighting connector lead 23 and three-pin lighting plug connector 24. With this arrangement, either of the two-way switches 30 or 70 can be used to switch the lamp 21 of lighting fixture 20 on or off.
Referring to Figure 11 there is shown a further arrangement of a switching JRG:NB:#17115.spc 22 December 1995 14and lighting system in accordance with the invention which is similar to the arrangement of Figure 7, and corresponding reference numerals have been applied to corresponding parts. The system of Figure 11 differs from that of Figure 7 in that a further switch 80 is connected to the second switch 70. The further switch 80 is provided at one end of a further switch connector lead 83 with a switch plug connector 87 provided on the end of the connector lead 83 remote from the switch The switch 70 has a second switch connector lead 73 extending therefrom and a switch socket connector 77 is provided on the end of the switch connector lead 73 :00 remote from the switch 70. The switch plug and socket connectors 87 and 77 are S 10 connectable together to connect the further switch 80 to the second switch 70 so that control of the lighting device 20 can be controlled from any one of switches 30, ~and 0000 ~Whilst the various arrangements of power supply and switching systems described above with reference to the drawings are switching and lighting systems, it will be appreciated that the lighting devices 20 can be replaced by electrical fans l or other electrical appliances to be controlled by the switches 30, 301, 302, 70 and 00. °0 The present invention therefore provides a versatile and flexible power supply and switching system for lighting circuits and other electrical appliances which by the use of connection modules and connection leads with plug and socket connectors can be used in a wide variety of different switching and circuit arrangements.
It will be appreciated that various modifications and alterations to the arrangements of power supply and switching systems described above may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. For instance, the number and arrangement of lighting devices 20 or other electrical appliances and the number and arrangement of switches may be varied for different applications.
JRG:NB:#17115.spc 22 December 1995 15 THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. An electrical power distribution and switching system for electric lights, electrical appliances or other electrical loads including: a plurality of connection modules for distribution about a building or other site and interconnectable in an electrical power supply circuit, a plurality of connector leads for interconnecting said connection modules and forming said circuit, a plurality of load leads, each load lead connectable to a respective connection module and load for providing electrical power to said respective load, and a plurality of switch leads, each switch lead connectable to a respective connection module and switch for switching said respective load and for rendering said respective switch locatable independently of said respective connection module.
2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said connection modules is connectable to a plurality of said switch leads each for connecting a respective switch, whereby, when respective switches are connected to said connection module, the supply of electrical power to a respective load connected to the connection module can be controlled by a respective switch.
3. A system as claimed in either claim 1 or 2, wherein each of said connection modules is connectable to a plurality of said load leads each for connecting a respective load, whereby, when one or more switches are connected to said connection module, the supply of electrical power to a respective load connected to the connection module can be controlled by one or more of said one or more switches.
4. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of said connection modules has first and second power supply connectors in the form of plug and/or socket connectors for connecting with complementary socket and/or plug 0 connectors on the ends of respective connector leads.
\\MELBO1\homeS\ARymer\Keep\Speci\Andrew\40717.95 propose.doc 7/06/99
Claims (17)
- 6. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said load coupler is in the form of a socket or plug connector adapted to co-operate with a complementary plug or socket connector on one end of a respective load lead.
- 7. A system as claimed in either claim 5 or 6, wherein said switch coupler is in the form of a socket or plug connector for co-operating with a complementary plug or socket connector on one end of a respective switch lead.
- 8. A system as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein each of said connection modules includes a plurality of switch couplers and a plurality of load couplers. o 9. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including at least one light, electrical appliance or other electrical load connected to at least one of said connection °o 20 modules.
- 10. A system as claimed in claim 8, including an intermediate electric light, electrical :appliance or other electrical load connected to said at least one of said connection :modules by a load input lead, and to another electric light, electrical appliance or other electrical load by a load output lead.
- 11. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the load input and output leads have complementary plug and socket connectors thereon. 0 12. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of said \\MELBOI\homeS\ARymer\1eep\Speci\Andrew\40717.95 proposedoc 7/06/99 17 connection modules includes first and second power supply connectors, a load coupler connectable to an electric light, electrical appliance or other electrical load, and a switch coupler releasably connectable to a switch for controlling the supply of electrical power to said load coupler, said switch locatable independently of said switch coupler.
- 13. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said first and second power supply connectors comprise complementary plug and socket connectors.
- 14. A system as claimed in either claim 12 or 13, wherein the first and second power supply connectors include respective sets of two or more electrical terminals and connected by electrical conductors. A system as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein said first and second power supply connectors are provided at opposite ends of said connection module.
- 16. A system as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein said load coupler and said switch coupler each includes a set of two or more terminals, each terminal being ro oi 0connected electrically either to one of the electrical conductors or to a terminal of the Sother of said couplers.
- 17. A system as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein active and neutral electrical conductors extend between the first and second power supply connectors, and one of the switch coupler and load coupler has a first terminal connected to the active aconductor and the other of said couplers has a first terminal connected to the neutral conductor, the switch coupler and load coupler both having second terminals connected to each other.
- 18. A system as claimed in claim 17, wherein an earth conductor extends between the first and second power supply connectors, and the load coupler has an earth terminal 3 0 connected to the earth conductor. \\MELBO1\home$\ARymer\Keep\Speci\Andre\ 4 071 7 .95 propose.doc 7/06/99 18
- 19. A system as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein each of said connection modules has a plurality of switch couplers whereby, when switches are connected respectively to each of the switch couplers, the supply of electric power to a load connected to the switched power outlet can be controlled by any one of the switches connected to the switch couplers. A system as claimed in claim 19, wherein active and neutral conductors extend between the first and second power supply connectors, the active conductor being connected to a first terminal either of the load coupler or of a first one of the switch couplers, the neutral conductor being connected to the first terminal of the other one of the first switch coupler or the load coupler, another terminal of the first switch coupler being connected to a first terminal of a second switch coupler, and another terminal of the second switch coupler being connected to a second terminal of the load coupler.
- 21. A system as claimed in claim 20, wherein a third terminal of the first switch coupler is connected to a third terminal of said second switch coupler. S.. o ooe
- 22. A system as claimed in either claim 20 or 21, wherein each connection module 20 includes an earth conductor extending between the first and second power supply connectors, and the load coupler has an earth terminal connected to the earth conductor. .23. A system as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 22, wherein one of the first and second power supply connectors has terminals in the form of pin connectors and the other of the power input and power output connectors has terminals in the form of pin- receiving connectors adapted to receive pin terminals of a plug connector of a connector lead, or of another similar connection module.
- 24. A system as claimed in any of claims 12 to 22, wherein the load coupler has pin connectors or pin-receiving connectors for co-operation with pin-receiving connectors or \\MELBOl\home$\ARymer\Keep\Speci\Andrew\40717 95 propose.doc 7/06/99 19 4. 9 9 *9 .9 *99*Y 9e 9. *9 9 pin connectors of a complementary socket or plug connector on a respective load lead. A system as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 24, wherein the switch coupler or couplers has pin connectors or pin-receiving connectors for co-operation with pin- receiving connectors or pin connectors of a complementary socket or plug connector on a respective switch lead.
- 26. A system as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 25, wherein the pin-receiving connectors comprise bifurcated spring contacts each having a pair of fork portion extending from a terminal head portion.
- 27. An electrical power distribution and switching system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 1 to 4 or to figure 5 or to figure 6 or to figures 7 to or to figure 11 of the accompanying drawings. Dated this 23rd Day of June 1999 GREENSHELL PTY LTD By its Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK 2 0 Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia 3cm'l~ -j \\MEtBO1\home$\AIyme\Keep\Speci\Andrew\ 4
- 0717.95 propose.doc 23/06/99 20 ABSTRACT MODULAR ELECTRICAL POWER DISTRIBUTION AND SWITCHING SYSTEM A modular electrical power distribution and switching system is provided which includes at least one connection module (10; 90; 100; 200) connectable in an electric power supply circuit (40, 50), at least one electric light (20) or other electric appliance connected to a switched power outlet (14; 94; 140) of the connection module and a switch or switches (30; 70; 80; 301; 302) connected to a switch outlet (13; 130) or switch outlets (93, 95; 230, 250) of the connection module. S 0 JRG:NB:#17115.spc 22 December 1995
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU40717/95A AU709346B2 (en) | 1994-12-23 | 1995-12-22 | Modular electrical power distribution and switching system |
AU33940/99A AU3394099A (en) | 1994-12-23 | 1999-06-08 | Modular electrical power distribution and switching system and connection module therefor |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AUPN0281 | 1994-12-23 | ||
AUPN0281A AUPN028194A0 (en) | 1994-12-23 | 1994-12-23 | Modular electrical power supply and switching system |
AU40717/95A AU709346B2 (en) | 1994-12-23 | 1995-12-22 | Modular electrical power distribution and switching system |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
AU33940/99A Division AU3394099A (en) | 1994-12-23 | 1999-06-08 | Modular electrical power distribution and switching system and connection module therefor |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
AU4071795A AU4071795A (en) | 1996-07-04 |
AU709346B2 true AU709346B2 (en) | 1999-08-26 |
Family
ID=25625292
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
AU40717/95A Withdrawn - After Issue AU709346B2 (en) | 1994-12-23 | 1995-12-22 | Modular electrical power distribution and switching system |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
AU (1) | AU709346B2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9685730B2 (en) | 2014-09-12 | 2017-06-20 | Steelcase Inc. | Floor power distribution system |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4035052A (en) * | 1973-05-14 | 1977-07-12 | Louis Marrero | Quick connector electrical utility box |
US5326933A (en) * | 1990-04-11 | 1994-07-05 | Dorma Gmbh+Co. Kg | Electrical installation system |
-
1995
- 1995-12-22 AU AU40717/95A patent/AU709346B2/en not_active Withdrawn - After Issue
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4035052A (en) * | 1973-05-14 | 1977-07-12 | Louis Marrero | Quick connector electrical utility box |
US5326933A (en) * | 1990-04-11 | 1994-07-05 | Dorma Gmbh+Co. Kg | Electrical installation system |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU4071795A (en) | 1996-07-04 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
CFC | Application withdrawn - opposition proceedings |
Opponent name: WIELDLAND ELECTRIC GMBH |
|
MK12 | Application lapsed section 141(1)/reg 8.3(2) - applicant filed a written notice of withdrawal |