An enclosure for an electrical terminal block including barrier means for a cable entry opening

Abstract: An enclosure (10) for an electrical terminal block includes a housing having a back wall (12) and projecting side walls (16, 18, 20, 22) extending thereabout to form a bounded chamber. One side wall (18) includes an opening (32; 132) formed therethrough for permitting passage of an electrical cable (30) into the bounded chamber. A barrier member (40; 140) is supported by the side wall adjacent the opening. The barrier member includes a barrier wall at least partially surrounding the opening about a periphery thereof. The barrier member includes a pair of elongate oppositely directed deflectable fingers (46; 146) projecting inwardly from the barrier wall. Distal ends of the fingers include slitted portions thereat for engaging and deforming around the electrical cable (30) upon passage thereof through said opening in the side wall.

Description: The present invention relates to an enclosure for an electrical terminal block, the enclosure having an opening therein which permits entry of an electrical cable. More particularly, the present invention relates to a barrier member which closes the cable entry opening. Electrical enclosures have long been used in both power transmission and telecommunications transmission to house devices which terminate electrical wires or cables. These terminal devices referred to as "terminal blocks", are supported inside the enclosure. Openings are provided through the enclosure so that electrical cables may be passed therethrough for electrical termination to the terminal blocks. When enclosures such as these are used outdoors, they are exposed to the elements. Water and other contaminents such as dirt, small debris and insects, which may enter the enclosure through the cable entry openings, could adversely affect the connections of the cables to the terminal block. The art has seen a variety of barrier type devices which permit passage of the cable through the opening, yet restrict the passage of water and other contaminents therethrough. U.S. Patent No. 3,523,156 shows an improved moisture barrier for an electrical pedestal. The device includes a rubber sealing member having openings therethrough in line with the cable entry openings. The opening in the sealing member surrounds the electrical cable in sealing engagement, restricting the tendency of water to track along the cable and into the enclosure. However, in order to prevent water from entering the cable entry opening when a cable is not inserted therethrough, a separate plug must be inserted therein. The limitations of such a separate plug are readily apparent. Other enclosures include rubber sealing members including a thin membrane which spans the cable entry opening, thus effectively closing the opening when no cable is inserted therethrough. To provide cable access through a particular opening, the cable is inserted through the membrane to puncture the membrane, thus providing access to the interior of the enclosure. However, with these membrane-type sealing devices, once the cable is removed, the membrane is violated and water passage therethrough is not restricted. US-A-3223776 discloses an enclosure for a cable tap-off connection. The enclosure comprises a housing having a back wall, side walls and a cover, forming a bounded chamber. Two of the sidewalls include an opening from the main central department. Barrier means supported by the side walls adjacent the openings cover the openings and include a multiplicity of deflectable comb-like tines which extend from opposite sides of the opening and abut each other in the centre of the opening. When a cable is pushed through the opening, the tines are deflected and lie against the cable to exclude foreign matter from the enclosure. FR-A-2597673 discloses an enclosure for an electrical terminal block and electrical cables terminated to the block, the enclosure comprising a housing having a base wall and a side wall extending therefrom. The base wall supports preformed insulation elements which are formed to provide an opening for cables to pass through. The enclosure is for particular use for protection against problems of foreign matter and moisture when the enclosure is located on or in the ground. The opening has a barrier to allow passage therethrough of cables, one form of the barrier being opposing brushes or overlapping lips which are deflected by a cable passing through. It is desirable to provide an enclosure for an electrical terminal block having cable entry openings, which provides a barrier at the cable entry opening. The moisture barrier should effectively restrict water and other small contaminants from passing therethrough prior to cable insertion, while the cable is inserted and after the cable has been removed. According to the invention, there is provided an enclosure for an electrical terminal block and electrical cables terminated to said terminal block, said enclosure comprising: a housing having a back wall and a side wall projecting therefrom and extending thereabout to form a bounded chamber interiorly thereof; said side wall including an opening formed therethrough for permitting passage of an electrical cable into said bounded chamber; barrier means supported by said side wall adjacent said opening, said barrier means including a barrier wall at least partially surrounding said opening about a periphery thereof and a pair of elongate oppositely directed deflectable fingers projecting inwardly from said barrier wall into said opening, distal ends of each of said oppositely directed fingers including a plurality of slitted end extends thereat for engaging and deforming around said electrical cable upon said passage thereof into said bounded chamber; a cover movably supported by said side wall for enclosing said terminal block; each of said deflectable fingers of said pair being spaced in the direction of the interior of the enclosure and said distal ends of said oppositely directed fingers overlapping to close off said opening. By way of example, two embodiments of an enclosure according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective showing of an enclosure for an electrical terminal block in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 and 3 show in bottom and front plan views respectively, one wall of the enclosure of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a partial sectional showing of the wall of Figure 2 including an insulative barrier member molded therearound; Figure 5 is a partial perspective showing of the wall and the barrier member of Figure 4 with an electrical cable inserted therein; Figure 6 is a front plan view of a portion of a back wall of a further embodiment of the enclosure of the present invention supporting plural discrete insulative barriers; Figure 7 is a perspective showing of one of the insulative barriers shown in Fig. 6; and Figure 8 shows schematically, one insulative barrier of Fig. 6 engaging an electrical cable. Electrical enclosure 10 of the present invention is typically a box-type member formed of sheet metal or similar material. Enclosure 10 is formed to have a flat planar back wall 12 and a substantially continuous side wall 14 projecting therefrom. Side wall 14 may be integrally formed or, as shown in the embodiment of Figure 1, may include discrete upper and lower wall segments 16 and 18, as well as side-by-side wall segments 20 and 22. Back wall 12 and side wall 14 define a bounded chamber 24 interiorly thereof, which is designed to support therein an electrical terminal block (not shown) used for electrical interconnections. Enclosure 10 further includes a plate-like cover 26 hingedly attached to side wall segment 22 with hinge 28. Cover 26 is opened to access the terminal block housed in chamber 24 and may be closed to provide a completely bounded closure. Enclosure 10 permits entry of electrical cables 30 thereinto for electrical termination with the terminal block supported in chamber 24. Referring to Figures 2 and 3, cable access is provided by a plurality of slots 32 located through lower wall segment 18. Each of slots 32 is an elongate member having a generally rectangular shape. Each slot is defined by a longitudinal dimension as well as a transverse dimension. As particularly shown in Figure 3, lower wall segment 18 includes depending stiffener members 34, which provide rigidity to the lower wall segment 18 between slots 32. Slots 32 are arranged in spaced side-by-side orientation along lower wall segment 18. This permits insertion of the plural electrical cables into enclosure 10. Referring again to Figure 1, typical cable insertion occurs by inserting the end of 31 of electrical cable 30 in a direction along the longitudinal axis of enclosure 10 (arrow A). One or more electrical cables 30 may be inserted through each slot 32. In typical use, enclosure 10 is installed outdoors either on a utility pole or as part of an above-ground pedestal. Therefore, provisions must be made to restrict water from tracking through slots 32 provided for insertion of electrical cable 30. The present invention employs a barrier member 40 which is molded about lower wall segment 18. Referring to Figures 4 and 5, barrier member 40 is formed of a suitable elastomer or rubber. Barrier member 40 is molded in direct adherence to lower wall segment 18 to cover slots 32, as well as depending stiffener members 34. Barrier member 40 is formed to have an upper surface 42 extending over and across all of slots 32. Barrier member 40 further includes a location 44 of reduced thickness adjacent to and over each of slots 32. Each of locations 44 is formed to have a plurality of inwardly directed fingers 46. As shown in Figure 4, fingers 46 extend from opposed peripheral longitudinal edges 32a of slots 32 inwardly toward each other. At least one finger 46 extends from each longitudinal edge 32a. In the present invention three inwardly directed fingers 46 are shown adjacent each slot 32. However, this number may vary. Each finger 46 extends more than halfway across the transverse extent of slot 32. Thus opposed adjacent fingers 46 overlap at distal extents 46a thereof. The center line l of each slot 32 is shown in Figure 4. Distal extents 46a of fingers 46 extend beyond this center line l. The overlapping of distal extents 46a of fingers 46 serves to close-off slots 32, preventing the inward migration of water therethrough. Inwardly directly fingers 46 essentially define a zigzag path which impedes the flow of water through slots 32. A further feature of the present invention is shown in Figure 4. Upper surface 42 of barrier member 40 includes a thin membrane 48 directly over each slot 32. Membrane 48 covers slot 32, completely closing off the slot as long as no electrical cable 30 is inserted therethrough. Thus, any one of slots 32 which is unused will be completely sealed against water propagation therethrough. Membrane 48 is relatively thin and easily puncturable by the insertion of cable 30 therethrough, to permit access to the interior of enclosure 10 (Fig. 1). Referring to Figures 1 and 5, it can be seen that electrical cable 30 may be inserted through slot 32 from below along the direction of arrow A. Upon insertion, each of distal ends 46a of fingers 46 contacts cable 30. Membrane 48 is ruptured upon insertion of cable 30 therethrough. The distal ends 46a of fingers 46, as well as the newly formed finger portions 49 adjacent the ruptured membrane 48, will deflect and bear against cable 30 in sealing relation to prevent water from tracking along the cable 30 and into enclosure 10. If during subsequent use cable 30 is removed, fingers 46 will deflect back to their original position shown in Figure 4, where the distal ends 46a again extend beyond center line l to overlap one another, closing off slot 32 and restricting water from entering enclosure 10. Referring now to Figures 6, 7 and 8, a further embodiment of the present invention is shown. A portion of planar back wall 12 is shown in Figure 6, and includes modifications which permit the reception of plural discrete barrier members 140 (Fig. 7) therealong. Back wall 12 includes plural barrier holding elements 121 spaced therealong, which permit insertion of electrical cable 30 therebetween. Referring additionally to Figure 7, discrete barrier member 140 includes a generally rectangular central body portion 142 and a pair of outwardly directed fingers 146 extending from each side thereof. Fingers 146 are similar to fingers 46 described hereinabove and extend more than halfway across the slot 132 defined between adjacent discrete barrier members 140. In the present illustrative embodiment, a pair of fingers 146 extend from each side of barrier member 140. However, additional fingers may be employed. The distal extents 146a of fingers 146 overlap, closing off slots 132, preventing the entry of contaminants into the enclosure. As with the above-identified embodiment, the inwardly directed fingers 146 define a zig zag path which also impedes the flow of water through slots 132. As particularly shown in Figure 6, the end barrier members 140a include fingers 146 which extend in only one direction. The remaining barrier members 140 are of identical construction. A further feature of the present invention is particularly shown in Figures 7 and 8. The distal end extents 146a of fingers 146 include a plurality of spaced slits 147 therealong. Slits 147 extend from end extent 146a inwardly towards the main body 142 of barrier member 140. Slits 147 permit fingers 146 to more tightly wrap around the inserted electrical wire 30 as shown in Figure 8. Upon insertion of wire 30 into slot 132 between barrier members 140, cable 30 will engage the slitted end extents 146a of fingers 146 and deform around the electrical cable. This provides an improved seal around the cable, further inhibiting the tracking of water along the cable into the enclosure. Also, the engagement of the slitted end extents 146a with the cable provides superior protection from the intrusion of dirt, small particals and other contaminents which could adversely affect the electrical connection. The end extents 146a of fingers 146 deflect about the slits to tightly engage cable 30 as shown in Figure 8, thereby providing an effective seal against the cable. Various changes to the foregoing described and shown structures would now be evident to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the particularly disclosed scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims.

Claims: An enclosure (10) for an electrical terminal block and electrical cables terminated to said terminal block, said enclosure comprising: a housing having a back wall (12) and a side wall (16,18,20,22) projecting therefrom and extending thereabout to form a bounded chamber interiorly thereof; said side wall (18) including an opening (32) formed therethrough for permitting passage of an electrical cable (30) into said bounded chamber; barrier means (40) supported by said side wall adjacent said opening, said barrier means including a barrier wall at least partially surrounding said opening about a periphery thereof and a pair of elongate oppositely directed deflectable fingers (46) projecting inwardly from said barrier wall into said opening, distal ends of each of said oppositely directed fingers including a plurality of slitted end extents (147) thereat for engaging and deforming around said electrical cable upon said passage thereof into said bounded chamber; a cover (26) movably supported by said side wall for enclosing said terminal block; each of said deflectable fingers (40) of said pair being spaced in the direction of the interior of the enclosure and said distal ends of said oppositely directed fingers overlapping to close off said opening. An enclosure in accordance with Claim 1 wherein said barrier means includes an additional deflectable finger extending from said barrier wall vertically spaced in the direction of the interior of the closure from and substantially parallel to one finger of said pair, said additional deflectable finger having a distal end including a plurality of slitted end extents thereat. An enclosure as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the housing is a box including the back wall (12), side walls (16,18,20,22) and cover (26) defining the chamber therein for supporting an electrical terminal, the opening comprising a plurality of longitudinal cable entry slots (32) spaced along one of said side walls (18) for providing passage for plural electrical cables, each of said slots (32) having a longitudinal extent extending along a longitudinal center line and a transverse extent; and the barrier means (40) covering said cable entry slots (32). An electrical enclosure of any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein said barrier fingers are resiliently deflectable for permitting passage of said electrical cables therethrough.

Inventors: FISCHER ADAM JR, RODRIGUES JULIO F, FISCHER, ADAM, JR., RODRIGUES, JULIO F.
Applicants: THOMAS & BETTS CORP, THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION
Application year: 1992
Main classification: H02G3
IPC codes: H02B1, H02G3