GB1337393A - Electrical connectors - Google Patents

Abstract

1337393 Two-part couplings ROTAFLEX (GREAT BRITAIN) Ltd 19 April 1971 [6 March 1970] 10939/70 Heading H2F An electrical connector, for use with a powerdistribution track having conductors in a channel in the track, comprises a plastics tubular casing 1 closed at one end by a plastics platform 2 which is releasably secured to the casing, and mounted on the platform independently of the casing are: (i) a resilient U-shaped member, of for example spring steel, of which the limbs 19, 20 secure the connector to the mouth of the track channel, (ii) contact fingers 13 for engagement with the track conductors, and (iii) a terminal block 16 for electrically connecting an appliance lead to the contact fingers. A support member 26, which has a projection 28 of dovetail cross-section to slide into a corresponding slot 27 on the platform 2, carries an earth contact 29 and/or a switch assembly (31, Fig. 2, not shown) or a fuse assembly (30) and is locked in position by the easing 1. The contact fingers 13 are releasably mounted in a rotary plug unit 3 which also comprises a tubular body 4, a flange 5, a finger 6 by means of which the unit can be rotated manually, an insert 7, a dividing member 9, and a locking bush 10 with a pair of locking fingers 11 and a hole to receive a noseportion of member 9 and the electrical contacts which engage terminal sockets 15 on leads 14. The engagement of an extension of the base 18 of the U-shaped member with a peripheral groove in the flange 5 enables a single screw to secure block 16, unit 3 and the U-shaped member to the platform. The limbs 19, 20 can be forced apart to lockingly engage the mouth of the track channel by a screw 22 which passes through a threaded bush 21 on limb 20 and can engage the other limb 19. A push button 23 in conjunction with the screw 22 enable the limbs 19, 20 to be pressed towards each other for removal of the connector from the track channel. Fig. 3, not shown, shows variations of the support members 26 of Fig. 2, in which the earth contact is omitted.