TERMINAL BOARD FOR THE CONNECTION OF WIRES, IN PARTICULAR OF ELECTRIC ENERGY CONDUCTORS

Abstract: A terminal board comprising an envelope (1) from insulating plastic material that circumscribes a chamber; a foil (5) from conductive metal material provided with indentations (6) fastened in said chamber, and a lid (2, 2', 2'') also from insulating plastic material, that completes and closes said chamber, provided with protrusions (19) or thrust means that provide, during the lid closing step, to push and insert ends (7) of cables and wires (8, 9) to be connected with the indentations (6) of the metal foil (5).

Description: "Terminal board for the connection of wires, in particular of electric energy conductors" DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a terminal board for the connection of cables, in particular of electric energy conductors. More particularly, the present invention relates to a terminal board for the connection of cables, in particular of electric energy conductors protected by one or more covering sheaths. The terminal board of the present invention has a very contained size, is little bulky, is included in a container from plastic material and is provided with a new, rational and quick means for the connection and hooking of the end parts of the cables to be connected with each other. As is known, for the connection of cables, in particular of electric conductors, terminals are generally employed that compress to each other the surfaces of the conductors to be connected. The pressure necessary to compress constantly the two surfaces against each other is obtained with different means such as screws, bolts, rivets, etc. The terminal boards even though they are commonly used to make such connections, have several drawbacks that limit their use. Such drawbacks are mainly due to the reduced contact surface between the conductors; the oxidability of the conductors in touch with each other that render electric contacts imperfect; the necessity of having at one's disposal terminals that differ according to the section and the range of the cables to be united and connected; and especially the necessity of stripping or removing the sheath of a small part of the conductor, and precisely the parts that are connected or joined to each other, before making the connection. The sheath stripping, which realizes the insulating protection of the cable, is an unavoidable operation to obtain the necessary connection and contact. This operation must be carried out carefully, preventing the breaking of the wires that form the conductor and based on precise indications that can vary according to the necessity or quality of the cables to be connected. Even thought special instruments are used for this operation that allows to obtain a precise stripping, such operation always requires a remarkable time loss. To obviate some of the above drawbacks, it has been proposed to employ terminal boards provided with particular types of connection means. They comprise special stop springs or blades wherein there are inserted the terminals of the cables to be connected and that hook on the stripped cables, creating thereby the contact. Also these terminal boards have the drawback of requiring the stripping of the cable ends. Object of this invention is to obviate the aforesaid drawbacks. More particularly, object of this invention is to provide a terminal board for the connection of cables such as not to require the procedure of stripping the ends of the cables to be connected. A further object of this invention is to provide a terminal board for the connection of cables such as to allow to render the connection steps simpler and quicker, reducing the time necessary to implement them, without having recourse to the use of tools or particular means. According to the present invention, these and still other objects, which will be stressed by the following description, are achieved by a terminal board comprising an envelope from insulating plastic material that circumscribes a chamber; a lid also from insulating plastic material that completes and closes such chamber; and a means for the connection of the ends of the cables and wires to be connected, fixed to said chamber, wherein said connection means is a foil from conductive metal material provided with indentations, and the lid is provided with protrusions or thrust means that provide, during the lid closing step, to push and insert the ends of the cables or wires to be connected in the indentations of the metal foil. The connecting metal foil may be made from steel or other suitable conductive material and have any shape and size, and it is provided with indentations or means able to spike, incise and penetrate into the cables to be connected, at least up to the metal leads that form said cables. The preferred forms of the foil section are those "V-, "C"-, "U"- or "L"-shaped. At least one of the opposite arms or sides of the connection foil is provided with indentations having preferably a length at least equal to half the diameter or thickness of the cable(s) to be connected. Each foil provides to the connection of a pole of the cable or conductor to be connected; therefore, the number of the foils fixed in each terminal board is equal to the number of poles of the cable or conductor. Said foil is fixed to the inner walls of the envelope by any known fastening means; in particular and preferably by fitting in by elastic pressure between protrusions and/or recesses integral with the walls of the envelope and obtained during the forming step. The advantages achieved by means of the terminal board of the present invention are many and include, by way of example, the following: - the connection of the cables is obtained by means of simple hand operations, in an easy, simple and economic manner, without stripping the respective ends and without using locking means such as screws, bolts or rivets, and without having recourse to the use of springs or other devices that stop and restrain the ends of the cables; - the tightening of the concerned cables and their connection takes place during the closing of the terminal board lid by means of a simple pressure of the hand; - all the leads or the cables or conductors to be connected remain enveloped within the protection sheath, and none of them can come out therefrom; - the terminal board may be used in any industrial, building and domestic sectors; - it allows to realize a marked time saving both for the use and its preparation and fabrication; - the cables to be connected may have any diameter, the most different sections and pole numbers; - any oxidation of the cable surfaces in touch is prevented, as the cable is protected by the sheath; - the surfaces of the cables that, either directly or indirectly, get in touch with each other are very high. The constructive and functional characteristics and the advantages of the terminal board of the present invention will be better understood thanks to the following description wherein reference is made to the figures of the drawings attached hereto, which represent a preferred embodiment, solely reported by way of non-limiting illustrative example, and wherein: Figure 1 shows the perspective side schematic view of an embodiment of the terminal board of the present invention, provided with a full lid and employed for the connection of a bipolar conductor; Figure 2 shows the schematic view of a section of the terminal board of the present invention according to the A-A direction of Figure 3, with an openable lid hinged in a central hinge; Figure 3 shows the schematic view of a section of the terminal board of Figure 2 according to the B-B direction of said Figure 2; and Figure 4 shows the perspective schematic view of an indented laminar connection element. With reference to the figures, the terminal board of the present invention comprises an envelope 1 from insulating plastic material that circumscribes a chamber and a shaped lid 2, also from insulating plastic material, that completes and closes said chamber. Said envelope 1 and lid 2 are provided with corresponding openings for the passage of cables and wires 8, 9. The lid may be a rigid body 2 made as an integral piece, or may be constituted by two articulated parts 2', 2"as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The two parts 2', 2" are united to each other by a flexible wall 18 that permits to actuate the process of opening and closing of each part 2', 2" independently on each other, and the part one wishes before the other one In the inside of envelope 1 and during the molding of said envelope, there are obtained fastening means, symmetrically arranged with respect to each other, and the F axis of envelope 1 and cables 8, 9, one of which 4 is central and two side cables 3 are arranged along the opposite walls of envelope 1, parallel to axis F. The central fastening means has an approximate "8"-like shape, while each means of side fastening 3 comprises a rectilinear central part 3' and two side parts that extend up to the side walls of envelope 1. Each side part of each fastening means 3 has an approximate "S"-like shape, so as to form a recess 3", and at the free end it may be provided with an annular groove 20 for housing and fastening a sheath 12 and/or indentations 11 for the fastening of cables 8, 9 Between the central fastening means 4 and each side fastening means 3, there is inserted and fixed by elastic pressure a connection means 5. Said connection means, in the embodiment shown in the figures only by way of example, is a blade from steel or other metals more suitable for the conduction needs of the current, having the shape of an open " V", and having on each of its arms indentations 6 facing lid 2. The connections foils 5 are strongly fastened to envelope 1 by fitting in the apex into the central "8"-shaped recess, and the ends into the side recesses 3" of the side fastening means 3. Such fitting fastening is obtained by pressure and is facilitated by the elasticity of the metal of foil 5. Indentations 6 are the means by which ends 7 of cables or wires, 8, 9, involved in the connection, are spiked, incised and retained in envelope 1. A trestle 10 from insulating material may be pressure-inserted between the central part 3' of the side fastening means 3 and the metal foil 5, in order to better stabilize and fix said foil 5 between side 3 and the central 4 fastening means. Lid 2 or both parts 2', 2" forming the lid are provided on the surface facing envelope 1 with protrusions 19, which in the step of pressure-closing of the lid or each of its parts, pushes ends 7 of cables or wires 8, 9 into indentations 6 until they insert and penetrate between said indentations 6, becoming in this way spiked and hooked. In order to ensure the fastening of lid 2 or the two parts of the lid 2', 2" to envelope 1, lid 2 or each part 2', 2" thereof is provided with cylindrical pins 15 having herring-bone-protrusions, and, correspondingly, the base surface of envelope 1 is provided with cylindrical, tubular, hollow protrusions 15', also having herring¬ bone checks. During the closing of lid 2 or each of parts 2', 2" thereof, the cylindrical pins 15 forcibly enter the recesses of the cylindrical protrusion 15', the erring-bone protrusions hook to each other, tying lid 2 or each of parts 2', 2" thereof to envelope 1. To ensure the tightness between lid 2 and envelope 1, the wall portions 16, 17 of both the lid and the envelope which get in touch with each other, may be provided with herring-bone protrusions that hook to each other tying and further fastening lid 2 or each of parts 2', 2" thereof to envelope 1. The use of the terminal board of the present invention is very simple, easy and quick. By means of the lid(s), cables and wires 8, 9 are fastened between the indentations 11 of the side fastening means 3 or introduced in sheath 12 fastened into the annular groove of said side fastening elements 3. Ends 7 of each pole of said cables or wires 8, 9, covered with the protecting sheath, are arranged in correspondence of and above indentations 6 of each connection foil 5. Lid 2 or parts 2', 2" that compose it, are pressure-closed, either separately or jointly, so that protrusions 19 push and press ends 7 on indentations 6. Indentations 6 incise and penetrate the sheaths of cables or wires 8, 9, reach the strands of their leads, ensuring the connections and the restraints also in the presence of violent pulls. While the present invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, solely reported by way of illustration, many changes and alternative shall be apparent to those skilled in the art, in the light of the above reported description. Therefore, the present invention intends to embrace all the variants and alternatives that fall within the spirit and the protection scope of the following claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A terminal board comprising an envelope (1) from insulating plastic material that circumscribes a chamber; a lid (2, 2', 2") also from insulating plastic material, that completes and closes such chamber; and a connection means of ends (7) of cable and wires (8, 9) to be connected, fastened to said chamber, characterized in that said connection means is a foil (5) from conductive metal material provided with indentations (6) and lid (2, 2', 2") is provided with protrusions (19) or thrust means that provide, during the closing of the lid, to push and insert ends (7) of cables or wires (8, 9) to be connected in indentations (6) of the metal foil (5). 2. The terminal board according to claim 1, wherein the connection metal foil (5) is from steel or other conductive material. 3. The terminal board according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connection metal foil (5) has a "V"-, "C"-, "IT- or "L"-shaped section, and at least one of the arms is provided with indentations (6) having a length at least equal to half the diameter or thickness of the cables(s) to be connected. 4. The terminal board according to claim 3, wherein the connection metal foil (5) has an open "N"-shaped section, and both arms are provided with indentations (6) facing lid (2, 2', 2"). 5. The terminal board according to any of the preceding claims, wherein envelope (1) is provided with fastening means (3, 4) of foil (5), obtained during the molding and located symmetrically to each other and with respect to axis F of the envelope (1); said foil (5) being inserted by elastic pressure between said fastening means (3, 4). 6. The terminal board according to claim 5, characterized in that the fastening means of foil (5) comprise a central fastening means (4), approximately "8"-shaped, and two side fastening means located along the opposite walls of the envelope (1), parallel to axis F; each side fastening means (3) comprising a rectilinear central part (3') and two side parts which extend up to the approximately "S"-shaped side walls of envelope (1), so as to form a recess (3"), said foil (5) being inserted by elastic pressure between the central recess of the central fastening means (4) and recesses (3") of each side fastening means (3). 7. The terminal board according to claim 6, wherein each side fastening means (3) has the terminal ends provided with an annular groove (20) for housing and fastening a sheaths (12) and/or indentations (11) for fastening cables (8, 9). 8. The terminal board according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it also comprises a trestle (10) from insulating material may be pressure-inserted between the central part (3') of the side fastening means (3) and the metal foil (5). 9. The terminal board according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that lid (2, 2', 2") is provided with herring-bone protrusions, and, correspondingly, the base surface of envelope (1) is provided with cylindrical, tubular, hollow protrusions (15'), also having herring-bone checks; during the closing of lid (2, 2', 2"), the cylindrical pins 15 forcibly enter the recesses of the cylindrical protrusion 15'). 10. The terminal board according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wall portions (16, 17) of both the lid (2, 2', 2") and the envelope (1) that get in touch with each other in closing, are provided with herring-bone protrusions. 11. The terminal board according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that lid (2) is a rigid body 2 made as an integral piece. 12. The terminal board according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lid is constituted of two articulated parts (2', 2"), united to each other by a flexible wall (18).

Inventors: DE LUCIA ALFONSO, DE LUCIA, ALFONSO
Applicants: CABIT S R L, LUCIA ALFONSO DE, CABIT S.R.L., DE LUCIA, ALFONSO
Application year: 2000
Main classification: H01R4
IPC codes: H01R4