Patent GB-1213424-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to electric circuit distribution systems
IPC: H04Q1/14
Filed: 1969-02-28
Abstract: 1,213,424. Distribution assembly. SIEMENS A.G. 28 Feb., 1969 [1 March, 1968], No. 10723/69. Heading H2E. [Also in Division H1] A distribution assembly comprises a plurality of superimposed flat carriers 1 of non-conductive material in guides in each of which are held contact springs with angled switching ends 200, 300, 400, 500 and respective connection ends 2, 3, 4, 5 which extend cantilever fashion out of said carriers for connection of jumper wires or incoming or outgoing conductors. The switching ends of the contact springs in adjacent carriers are normally in direct electrical contact, and are aligned one above the other. Connection between a pair of contact springs, e.g. 200, 300 may be broken by the introduction of an insulating material tab into socket openings 10, the tab acting to separate the mutually biased springs. The openings 10, and also the wire guides 14, 15 and the cable duct 16 are formed by complementary recesses in adjacent carriers 1. Similarly, appropriate profiling of carrier faces provides guide grooves 24, 25, 26, 27 for the location of the contact springs. Stops 28, 29 securely lock the connection ends 2, 3, 4, 5 in the guide grooves when the carriers 1 are stacked together in a series of mirror-symmetrical pairs. V-shaped connector springs 201, 401 are located in pockets 59, 30 near the rear edge of the carrier. These springs may be electrically connected to the contact springs 2, 4 as illustrated. When assembled, grooves 31, 32 in the rear edge of the carrier combine to form openings 31/32 through which an insulating plug 34 having metal conducting paths on each side may be inserted for the connection of over-voltage protector 33. Connection may also be made to an earthing bus-bar 35 or 36. The plug 34 may be mounted on a printed circuit board 37, printed paths thereon enabling protectors to be connected individually to the plug 34. A protector plug having four blades but otherwise similar to that already described may be inserted into openings 10 in the front of the assembly (Fig. 5, not shown). The mounting printed circuit board in this case may be bent through 90 degrees to enable connection ends 2, 3, 4, 5 to be directly soldered to its circuitry. The carriers may be provided with holes 38, 39 through which locating guide bars (not shown) may be inserted. Carriers which are profiled on both sides may be used (Fig. 4, not shown) and flat earthing bus-bars may be inserted through slots in the carriers extending over the full height of the assembly (Fig. 5, not shown). The carrier stack is enclosed between end plates, one of which may be formed with a pyramidally tapering crease which on pivoting of a horizontal flat bar causes the carriers to be firmly clamped together (Fig. 6, not shown). Preferably the pivotal support for the bar is located in a guide slot formed in the back of the carriers, and has a flat surface which, on pivoting, abuts the edges of the carriers and acts as a stop (Fig. 7, not shown). The carriers may be mounted in a closed frame. Two assembly sections may be formed by dividing the assembly along its axis of symmetry (Fig. 2, not shown).