Abstract:
A connector arrangement includes a universal terminal block having a body containing a chamber in which is removably mounted one of a plurality of function control modules as used in commercial, industrial and residential installations, wherein a pair of module contacts on the module are brought into electrical engagement with a pair of stationary contacts mounted in the chamber, thereby to connect the module to a pair of external insulated conductors via bus bars and terminals contained in the terminal block body. Various types of function control modules may be used with a single universal terminal block. The modules may include locking devices for locking the module to the universal terminal block. The terminal block includes mounting feet on the side thereof remote from the chamber, whereby selective modules may be substituted for one another when the terminal block is mounted on a support rail.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   A connector arrangement includes a universal terminal block having a body containing a chamber in which is removably mounted one of a plurality of function control or condition-sensing modules as used in commercial, industrial and residential installations, wherein a pair of module contacts on the module are brought into electrical engagement with a pair of stationary contacts mounted in the chamber, thereby to connect the module to a pair of external insulated conductors via bus bars and terminals contained in the terminal block body. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   It is known that one can lock upon housing bases of terminal blocks that can be locked upon mounting rails, building blocks that can contain, for example, fuses or relay building blocks. This kind of state of the art is displayed in EP 0 899 820 A2 or DE 20 2004 006 227 U1. In doing so, function building blocks and housing bases as a rule are so fit in with each other that a certain function building block can be locked upon only a specific housing base. As a result, a terminal block maker must typically maintain in his assortment the most varied housing bases for different practical purposes. 
   The following are also cited regarding the state of the art: DE 10 2004 045 889 A1, DE 102 54 871 A1, DE 10 2005 005 914 and WO 95/12 905 A1. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a connector arrangement including a universal terminal block having a body containing a chamber in which is removably mounted one of a plurality of different function control or condition sensing modules as used in commercial, industrial and residential installations, wherein a pair of module contacts on the module are brought into electrical engagement with a pair of stationary contacts mounted in the chamber, thereby to connect the module to a pair of external insulated conductors via bus bars and terminals contained in the terminal block body. Various types of function control modules may be used with a single universal terminal block. 
   According to another object of the invention, the modules may include locking means for locking the module to the universal terminal block. The terminal block includes mounting feet on the side thereof remote from the chamber, whereby selective modules may be substituted for one another when the terminal block is mounted on a support rail. 
   The invention creates a terminal block system with at least one housing body that has at least one or several connecting devices for conductors as well as a recess, in particular, a receiving chamber for a function control module that can be inserted in the chamber, whereby the module system has a plurality—at least three—of function modules performing different functions and/or geometry, which in each case can be inserted into the recess and which can there contact at least one or several contacts and can preferably be locked there. 
   In this way, one can in each case use or render usable a universal terminal block body—in this case, called basic body—for many different function control modules, something that reduces the inventory that must be kept and something that simplifies system planning and design. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, when viewed in the light of the accompanying drawing, in which: 
       FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  are perspective views of the universal terminal block of the present invention with a first function control module in the separated and completely inserted positions, respectively; 
       FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  are perspective views of the universal terminal block with a second embodiment of the function control module in the separated and completely inserted positions, respectively; 
       FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  are perspective views of the universal terminal block with a third embodiment of the function control module in the separated and completely inserted positions, respectively; 
       FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  are perspective views of the universal terminal block with a fourth embodiment of the function control module in the separated and completely inserted positions, respectively; 
       FIGS. 5   a ,  5   b  and  5   c  are perspective views of the universal terminal block with a fifth embodiment of the function control module in the separated, partially inserted and completely inserted positions, respectively; 
       FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  are perspective views of the universal terminal block with a sixth embodiment of the function control module in the separated and completely inserted positions, respectively; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the universal terminal block with the six variations of modules that can be used therewith; 
       FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  are perspective views illustrating the universal terminal block having a marker light conducting diode in the uncovered and uncovered conditions, respectively; 
       FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of a module provided with locking means for locking the module to a universal terminal block, and  FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b  illustrate the module in  FIG. 9  in the partially inserted and completely inserted conditions, respectively; 
       FIGS. 11   a - 11   c  illustrate the manner in which the module is retained in two intermediate inserted positions; 
       FIGS. 12   a  and  12   b  are perspective views of the apparatus with the locking button in the extended position; and 
       FIGS. 13   a  and  13   b  are perspective views of the apparatus with the locking button in the inserted position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  shows a terminal block  1  of a terminal block system, which is illustrated by way of a general overview in  FIG. 7 . 
   Terminal block  1  has a housing body  2  that is made of insulating material that can be mounted upon a mounting rail  4  by means of catch feet  3  and which can be arrested or locked there. At least two or more terminal connection devices  5 ,  6  are arranged in housing body  2  made of insulation material for the connection of a pair of external insulated conductors C. Connection devices  5 ,  6  in this case are designed by way of example as push-in terminals by a known direct plug-in technique, which has a compression spring (to be recognized here only by way of indication), plus a terminal cage  7 , whereby the bare ends of the conductors can be inserted into the connection devices via openings  8  contained in the housing base  2 . 
   Housing body  2  has at least one chamber  9  for receiving one of a plurality of function control modules  10 , which, according to  FIGS. 1 to 6  or  7 , are designed in the most different manner. Chamber  9  is in this case made in the middle between the two connection devices  5  and directly above the mounting rail  4  in the housing base  2 . Preferably, chamber  9  defines a pair of thin longitudinal side walls  29 ,  30  formed of insulating material and which extend normal to the axis of the mounting rail  4 . The chambers  9  extend essentially almost up to the lower edge of the housing body  2  on the mounting rail  4 . 
   Into chamber  9  protrude in this case two contacts  11 ,  12  that are made for contacting in accordance with corresponding contacts  31  and  32  on the function control modules  10 . Contacts  11 ,  12  are connected with the connection terminals  5  via bus bars  13 . 
   According to the invention, it is now possible to insert the most varied and different types of function control modules  10  into the chamber or recess  9 . For instance,  FIG. 1  shows a first function control module  10   a  that has an insulation body  14  with a lateral seat  15  for a fuse  16 . Insulation body  14  is provided with catch projections  17  that are made for engagement in correspondingly shaped catch recesses contained in chamber  9 . 
   On each end, the insulation body has a guide rib  18  that serves as a guide and that is designed for engagement in a corresponding vertical groove contained in the adjacent side wall of the chamber  9 . The housing or the insulation body  14  of the function control module  10  is made in a stepped fashion. 
   It is quite conceivable according to the manner shown in  FIG. 1  to provide several function blocks  10   a  with differently dimensioned fuse holders for differently dimensioned fuses (5×20.5×25, 6.35×32) (not illustrated). The function control module  10   a  of  FIG. 1   a  that acts as a fuse holder is normally locked in the lowermost position. However, an intermediate position may be provided (for purposes of separation). 
   According to  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , the function control module  10   b  is made as a pluggable automatic fuse such as it is, for example, readily available in commerce. It can be used for various automats for the most varied nominal currents. The fuse automat is also locked in the lowermost position. There its contacts  31 ,  32  contact the stationary contacts  11 ,  12  mounted in the recess  9 . Again one can provide an intermediate position for purposes of separation. 
     FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  illustrate a function control module block  10   c  that, in turn, is made as a pluggable automatic fuse with a seat  33  for flat fuses (especially motor vehicle fuses)  20 . The most varied flat fuses can be supplied for different nominal currents. This function control module  10   c  is also arrested in the lower position. Again, one can provide an intermediate position for purposes of separation (not shown). 
     FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  illustrate a function control module  10   d  that is designed for receiving a plurality of electronic components  21 . These electronic components  21 , for example, can be made in the form of a printed circuit board with various electronic components. It is also conceivable that one might use a different kind of electronic structure here. For example, design in the form of a relay building block is also conceivable. 
     FIGS. 5   a - 5   c  show an exemplary embodiment where the function control module  10   e  is made as a pluggable insert with a separator function so that one comes up with a kind of disconnect terminal. Here in the initial separated state ( FIG. 5   a ), there is shown an intermediate position ( FIG. 5   b ) and a fully inserted condition ( FIG. 5   c ). In  FIG. 5   c , the contacts between function building blocks  10  and the basic body  2  are engaged. In  FIG. 5   b , they are disengaged. 
   According to  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b , function control module  10   f  is formed as an additional pluggable connecting terminal that can have its own housing  34  with an additional connection  35  in any desired technique, which, for example, can be made as a tension spring connection with an auxiliary conductor C′. Alternate designs using a push-in technique, a tension spring technique, screw connection, IDC connection and the like are also conceivable. 
     FIG. 7  presents an overview of the various function control modules  10   a  to  10   f . Additional function control modules with additional functions—not illustrated here—are conceivable. 
   It is advantageous when chamber  9  has different catch contours for the purpose of locking of various corresponding catch means of differently shaped function control modules so that function control modules with different external geometry can also be locked in chamber  9  (see, for example,  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
   According to  FIG. 8   a , yet another function control modules block  10   g  has a liquid controlled diode (LED), which indicates the state of connection of the components. The LED is labeled  36 . A second LED  37  can also be positioned in a marking duct  24  that is arranged in the basic body. The marker can also be made transparent so that one can combine two functions: a label and/or an optical display by means of an LED or a low-voltage glow lamp or the like. This combined function could also be placed upon a safety lever. The function building block and/or basic building block could also be provided with an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) building block for the transmission of the function state, for example, of the fuse signal state. 
     FIG. 9  shows another variant where function building block  10 , for example, the fuse holder  10   a , is secured against vibrations and the like by a separate (or molded on) locking hook means  25  in chamber  9 . The separate locking hook means  25  includes a locking lever  27  having first and second end portions, and an intermediate portion provided with connecting means  26  that extends within a recess  40  contained in function control module  40 . The first end portion is provided with a catch hook  28  that is made for grasping behind a corresponding catch edge or catch shoulder  38  on housing base  2  in recess  9  ( FIG. 11 ). 
   During insertion, catch hook  28  yields and swings in the lowermost position into the undercut  38   a  and thus prevents the loosening of the function building block ( FIG. 11   c ). For loosening purposes, one grasps the handle segment  41  at the other end of the locking lever  27 , and in that way, one automatically actuates the catch hook  28 , and one releases the lock. By means of a shoulder  39  on module housing  10 ′, one can recognize whether the function building block has been inserted far enough into the chamber  9  (if the shoulder of the fuse holder as well as the upper edge of the terminal carrier are on one level, then the fuse holder has reached the correct depth). The movable projection or shoulder  39  on the module housing assures the optical ability to determine as to whether the fuse holder has been stuck in all the way to its working position. That is illustrated in  FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b.    
   In  FIG. 10   a , the function control module is inserted all the way down to the bottom. Optical recognition is possible here. In the intermediate position shown in  FIG. 10   b , there is no further contact to the basic housing. This function is also retained by the locking hook when there are provided two undercuts  38   a, b  that are offset with respect to each other in the direction of insertion (into the recess  9 ). The function of the locking hook  25  is visible particularly in  FIG. 11 , which shows different function positions. Here we can easily recognize the undercuts  38   a  and  38   b . According to  FIG. 11   b , the undercut is released by actuating the hook and the function control module  10  can be moved upward for removal or for locking into a second upper position. Additional views of these terminals can be seen in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , wherein the operating button portion is in the extended and inserted positions, respectively. 
   While in accordance with the provisions of the Patent Statutes the preferred forms and embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made without deviating from the invention described above.