Patent ID: 7367852

Claim:
A terminal block connecting arrangement for connecting the electrical contacts of a terminal block with the electrical contacts of an electrical apparatus, comprising: (a) a horizontal first terminal block ( 1 ) having at least one first contact ( 5 ); (b) electrical apparatus ( 30 ) having at least one second contact ( 32 ), said first terminal block being displaceable in a given direction (x) from a first position remote from said electrical apparatus toward a second position adjacent said electrical apparatus; (c) test means ( 34 ) including a test terminal block ( 9 ) extending parallel with said first terminal block and arranged between said first terminal block and said electrical apparatus, said test terminal block including at least one dual-ended test contact ( 10 ) having a first end portion ( 10 a ) adapted for electrical engagement with said terminal block first contact, and a second end portion ( 10 b ) adapted for engagement with said electrical apparatus second contact; (d) connecting means ( 4 ) supporting said test terminal block for movement relative to said electrical apparatus in said given direction between a test position remote from said electrical apparatus and a connected position adjacent said electrical apparatus, said test contact second end portion being disconnected from said electrical apparatus second contact when said test terminal is in said test position, and in electrical engagement with said second contact when said test terminal block is in said connected position; and (e) detent means ( 12 ) normally retaining said test terminal block in said test position, ( 1 ) said detent means being operable to retain said test terminal in said first position when said first terminal block is initially displaced from said remote first position toward an intermediate position in which said first contact is brought into electrical engagement with said test contact first end portion; ( 2 ) said detent means being releaseable when said first terminal block is subsequently displaced from said intermediate position toward said second position to permit displacement of said test terminal by said first terminal from said test position toward said connected position, thereby to connect said first contact with said second contact via said dual-ended test contact.