EP0961358A2 - Steckerblock und integrierter Motorgehaüsedeckel und Steckerblockhalter - Google Patents

Steckerblock und integrierter Motorgehaüsedeckel und Steckerblockhalter Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0961358A2
EP0961358A2 EP99630020A EP99630020A EP0961358A2 EP 0961358 A2 EP0961358 A2 EP 0961358A2 EP 99630020 A EP99630020 A EP 99630020A EP 99630020 A EP99630020 A EP 99630020A EP 0961358 A2 EP0961358 A2 EP 0961358A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
terminal block
arms
terminal
electric
block
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP99630020A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0961358A3 (de
Inventor
Andrew F. Poag
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Emerson Electric Co
Original Assignee
Emerson Electric Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Emerson Electric Co filed Critical Emerson Electric Co
Publication of EP0961358A2 publication Critical patent/EP0961358A2/de
Publication of EP0961358A3 publication Critical patent/EP0961358A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R9/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, e.g. terminal strips or terminal blocks; Terminals or binding posts mounted upon a base or in a case; Bases therefor
    • H01R9/16—Fastening of connecting parts to base or case; Insulating connecting parts from base or case
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/46—Bases; Cases

Definitions

  • the present invention pertains to a locating assembly comprising a terminal block holder that locates a terminal block of an electrical device relative to a housing section of the electrical device and also covers over an opening in a casing of the electrical device.
  • the block holder holds the terminal block in a position relative to the housing section where electric terminals mounted on the terminal block will project through an opening provided for the terminals in the housing section when the housing section is assembled to the electric device.
  • the block holder also positions the terminal block relative to the electrical device where it can be easily accessed by automated testing equipment prior to assembly of the housing section on the electrical device
  • the block holder also covers an opening in the casing of the electric device and protects wiring of the electric device extending to the terminal block from contacting edges of a metal end cap of the device casing.
  • Electric terminals are commonly provided at the distal, free ends of the wiring.
  • the terminals are usually mounted in some manner to the protective housing of the electrical device where they are accessible from the exterior of the housing for connection to other electrical conductors.
  • One manner in which electrical terminals are mounted to a housing is through the use of a terminal block that is itself mounted to the housing.
  • the electric terminals such as male or female plug type terminals, are mounted in a terminal block that positions the terminals relative to each other.
  • the terminal block is molded plastic and the electric terminals are molded into the plastic of the terminal block with the electric terminals projecting from one side of the block and the loose wiring extending from the opposite side of the block.
  • the block itself may have a configuration formed into the block that enables it to be snap fit to the housing section to be assembled on the electrical device.
  • the housing section could be provided with a hole dimensioned to receive the terminal block in a snap fit connection, thereby supporting the terminal block with the electrical terminals projecting from the exterior of the housing section where they are accessible for connection to other electrical connectors.
  • the housing section could be provided with an opening for receipt of the terminal block and openings for fasteners, such as threaded fasteners, that would be used to hold the terminal block in its opening where the electric terminals are accessible from the exterior of the housing section for connection to other electrical conductors.
  • a disadvantage commonly experienced in these prior art types of mountings of electrical terminals is that they are difficult to manually assemble and are not conducive to automated assembly, for example by robotics.
  • the electric wiring length is usually kept at a minimum. This limits the extent to which the terminal block could be extended from the electrical device in manually inserting the terminal block through the interior of the housing section and positioning the terminal block in the housing section opening.
  • the present invention is a locating assembly that is used in positioning electric terminals connected by loose wiring to an electrical device relative to an opening in a housing section of the electrical device.
  • the assembly is basically comprised of a terminal block to which the electric terminals are fixed, and a block holder that is adapted to be attached to the electrical device.
  • the terminal block is preferably molded of plastic.
  • the electric terminals of the device are molded in the terminal block with the electric terminal projecting from one side of the terminal block and the loose wiring extending from the opposite side of the-terminal block to the electrical device.
  • metal connectors are molded in the plastic of the terminal block on opposite sides of the electric terminal or terminals. The connectors have internal screw-threading on the side of the terminal block from which the terminals project, and are provided with cylindrical collars on the opposite side of the terminal block.
  • the block holder is also preferably molded of plastic and includes a base having a shape adapted to be attached to the electrical device and a clamp having a pair of arms that project from the base.
  • the base interior surface is configured to cover over an opening in the electrical device from which the loose wiring extends.
  • the exterior of the base has a metal cap attached thereto. The metal cap is actually attached to the metal enclosure of the electrical device, securing the base between the opening of the electrical device enclosure and the metal cap.
  • the metal cap extends around the projecting pair of arms of the block holder clamp.
  • the pair of arms have a spacing therebetween that is sufficiently large to enable the terminal block to be pressed between the pair of arms.
  • the resiliency of the plastic arms enables them to flex a slight distance away from each other, enabling the pair of collars extending from the bottom surface of the terminal block to be press-fit between the pair of resilient arms. With the collars positioned between the pair of arms, the arms hold the terminal block in a stationary position relative to the base and the electrical device to which it is attached.
  • the resiliency of the arms also enables the terminal block to be easily pulled and removed from the pair of arms when subjected to a pulling force.
  • the housing section may then be assembled to the enclosure of the electrical device.
  • the block holder positions the terminal block relative to the enclosure where it can be easily accessed for automated testing of the electrical device.
  • the block holder positions the terminal block relative to the housing section so that the electrical terminals will protrude through an opening in the housing section provided for the terminals.
  • two or more fastener holes are provided in the housing section that align with the internally screw-threaded holes of the terminal block connectors when the housing section is assembled to the electrical device.
  • the block holder of the locating assembly is dimensioned so that, when the housing section is assembled to the electrical device, the terminal block is releasably held by the block holder arms just below the opening in the housing section provided for the terminal block with the electric terminals extending through the opening.
  • the terminal block is pulled and released from the pair of arms of the block holder and is secured against the interior surface of the housing section with the electric terminals projecting through the opening in the housing section to the exterior of the housing section where they may be connected to other electrical conductors.
  • the locating assembly of the invention thereby provides a method by which a terminal block may be easily connected to the interior surface of a housing section after the housing section has been assembled to the electrical device of the terminal block, thereby significantly facilitating the manual assembly of the terminal block into the housing section and making it possible for such assembly to be automated.
  • the terminal block holder positions the terminal block relative to the electrical device where it can be easily accessed by automated testing equipment prior to the assembly of the housing section to the electrical device.
  • the locating assembly of the present invention is basically comprised of a terminal block 12 and a block holder 14. Together, the terminal block 12 and block holder 14 are used in positioning electric terminals connected by loose wiring to an electric device relative to the electrical device to facilitate the insertion of the electric terminals through a hole provided for the terminals in a housing section while the housing section is attached to the electric device.
  • Figure 1 illustrates one possible environment in which the locating assembly may be employed.
  • the locating assembly of the invention may be used in a variety of different housing enclosures where it is desired to positively position and locate one or more electric terminals relative to an electric device to facilitate the insertion of the terminals through an opening in a housing section provided for the terminals, as the housing section is assembled to the enclosure of the electric device.
  • an electric device 16 is shown already mounted in a portion of a housing enclosure 18 with a second housing section 20 positioned to be assembled to the enclosure 18 to completely enclose the electric device 16.
  • the electric device 16 is an electric motor that powers a power steering fluid pump of a vehicle.
  • the housing section 20 is assembled to the housing enclosure 18 to hermetically seal the electric device 16 within the enclosure.
  • the housing section 20 is provided with an oblong opening 26 dimensioned to accommodate the electric terminals to be described, and three fastener openings 28 arranged around the terminal opening 26.
  • the electrical device 16 contained within the housing enclosure 18 is further surrounded by a cylindrical casing 30.
  • the top of the casing 30 as viewed in Figure 1 is uncovered, exposing an opening 32 to the interior of the casing.
  • the casing 30 encloses an electric motor that powers a pump as in this illustrative environment, the opening 32 exposes the stator windings of the motor.
  • the electrical device 16 is represented only generally and the details of a stator winding visible through the casing opening 32 are not shown in order to simplify the description of the invention.
  • loose wiring 34 shown extending through the casing opening 32 would be comprised of the various different types of electrical conductors that communicate the electric motor, or some other type of electrical device, to other electrical conductors (not shown) that are external to the electrical device 16.
  • a metal endcap would be attached to the top edge 36 of the casing 30 covering the opening 32.
  • the endcap usually has an aperture through which the loose wiring 34 of the motor extends.
  • the loose wiring 34 would rub against the edge of the endcap aperture possibly scraping or cutting the insulation of the wiring away and creating a possible location for an electrical short in the wiring.
  • the features of the electrical device 16, its enclosure 18 and housing section 20 described above are typical and are intended to be illustrative only. Again, it should be understood that the locating assembly of the present invention may be employed with a variety of different electric devices that are enclosed within a closure and have electric terminals that are positioned in an opening of a housing section to electrically connect the electric device to conductors that are external to the device.
  • the terminal block 12 is shown connected to the loose wiring 34 of the electric device 16 in Figures 1, 7 and 9, and is shown separated from the loose wiring in Figures 6 and 8.
  • the terminal block 12 is preferably molded of plastic and has a top surface 40, a bottom surface 42 and a peripheral edge 44.
  • the housing section 20 to which the terminal block will be attached has three fastener holes 28 and an oblong opening 26 for a plurality of electrical terminals.
  • the terminals 46 are all spacially arranged in a line providing sufficient spacing between each terminal to enable its connection to a complimentary female terminal without adjacent female terminals contacting each other.
  • the terminals are all securely molded into a plastic foundation 48 that projects upwardly from a plastic footing 50 that in turn projects above the peripheral edge 44 of the terminal block. This particular molded plastic construction securely holds each of the electric terminals 46 in the terminal block 12. Bottom ends of the electric terminals 46 project from the bottom surface 42 of the terminal block 12.
  • the terminal bottom ends are connected to the loose wiring 34 of the electrical device 16 by female connectors press-fit over the bottom ends, by soldered connections, or by any other known type of connection.
  • Three metal cylindrical collars 52, 54, 56 are also molded into the plastic of the terminal block 12. Two of the collars 52, 54 are positioned on opposite sides of the row of electric terminals 46 and the third collars 56 is positioned off to one side of the electrical terminals. As best seen in Figures 1 and 8, the top ends of these three collars, 52, 54, 56 project from the terminal block footing 50 above the top surface 40 of the terminal block. The positioning of the three collars 52, 54, 56 on the terminal block 12 corresponds to the positions of the three fastener holes 28 in the housing section 20. Therefore, if the fastener holes 28 were fewer in number, or if their positions were arranged differently than that shown in Figure 1, the number and positions of the collars would be changed accordingly.
  • Each of the three collars 52, 54, 56 have internal screw-threading 58, 60, 62 to receive externally threaded fasteners inserted through the fastener holes 28 of the housing section 20 as will be explained.
  • the two collars 52, 54 positioned at the opposite ends of the row of electric terminals 46 extend completely through the terminal block 12 and project from a pair of plastic columns 64, 66 on the bottom surface 42 of the terminal block.
  • a third plastic column 68 projects downwardly from the terminal block bottom surface 42 and the bottom of the third metal collar 56 is encapsulated in and insulated by the third plastic column.
  • the bottom portions 70, 72 of the two metal cylindrical collars 52, 54 have necked down portions 74, 76 that leave annular rims at the opposite top and bottom ends of the necked down portions. These necked down portions 74, 76 are employed in releasably attaching the terminal block 12 to the block holder 14 as will be explained.
  • the block holder 14 is shown in Figures 2-4.
  • the block holder 14 includes a base 82 and a clamp projecting from the base, the clamp being formed by two projecting arms 84, 86.
  • the base 82 and projecting arms 84, 86 are molded as one, monolithic piece of plastic.
  • the bottom of the base has a peripheral edge band 88 that extends from one of the arms 84 around the base to the other arm 86.
  • the edge band 88 is given a configuration that is complimentary to the top edge 36 of the electrical device casing 30 surrounding the exposed opening 32 of the electrical device, but is slightly smaller so that the base peripheral edge band 88 will be received just inside the top edge 36 of the casing with the base 82 covering over the opening 32.
  • Just above the peripheral edge band 88 are four tabs 92 that project outwardly from the edge band. These four tabs engage with the top edge 36 of the electrical device casing when the base is inserted on the casing over the casing opening 32, thereby preventing the base 82 from passing through the casing opening 32.
  • Additional hooks 90 shown in Figures 12-14 are provided that engage over the top edge 36 of the casing and ensure the base stays in place on the top edge 36 of the casing.
  • the base Above the peripheral band 88 the base has a dome portion 94 that covers over the casing opening 32 when the base is attached to the casing opening.
  • Several openings 96 pass through the dome portion. These openings 96 are provided for drainage of a cleaning liquid flushed through the electric device following its assembly.
  • Three indents 98 are provided in the peripheral band 88 and the dome portion 94 just above the peripheral band.
  • the pair of projecting arms 84, 86 extend outwardly from the dome portion 94 of the base in a cantilever fashion.
  • the arms 84, 86 are elevated slightly above the peripheral band 88 of the base and are positioned in a plane that is parallel to the plane of the base peripheral band.
  • couplers 100, 102 that are mirror images of each other.
  • Each coupler includes a ledge 104, 106 recessed below a pair of top lands 108, 110 positioned on opposite sides of each ledge.
  • the pairs of top lands 108, 100 are flat surfaces positioned in the same plane.
  • Each ledge 104, 106 has a notch 112, 114 formed therein, with the pair of notches mutually opposing each other.
  • the notches 112, 114 are spaced from each other by a distance that is slightly smaller than the distance between the necked down portions 74, 76 of the terminal block metal collars 52, 54.
  • the cantilevered projection of the arms 84, 86 from the base 82 of the block holder 14 gives the arms a resiliency that enables the couplers 100, 102 to be flexed slightly away from each other when subjected to a force pushing the arms away from each other, with the resiliency of the arms returning the arms to their at rest positions shown in the drawings 2-4 once the force is removed.
  • Figure 5 shows a metal endcap 116 that is positioned over the dome portion 94 and the peripheral edge band 88 of the base 82.
  • the metal endcap 116 has a configuration very similar to that of the block holder base 82. It is provided with a peripheral edge band 118 that fits around the peripheral edge band 88 of the base 82. It is also provided with a dome portion 120 that fits over the dome portion 94 of the base 82. The dome portion also has several openings 122 that correspond to the openings 96 of the base. Three indents 124 are provided in the cap in positions that correspond to the indents 98 of the base.
  • each of the indents 124 has a slot 126 that receives a tab 128 projecting upwardly from the top edge 36 of the electrical device.
  • the tabs 128 are bent over the edge of the slots 126 to secure the endcap 116 and block holder 14 to the electrical device.
  • the slots 126 and tabs 128 are also used to positively locate the endcap 116 on the electrical device.
  • the endcap peripheral band 118 is provided with connectors such as detents (not shown) that will engage in slots (not shown) around the electrical device casing 30 adjacent its top edge 36, or with slots (not shown) that receive detents (not shown) formed in the electrical device casing 30 adjacent its top edge 36.
  • These connectors enable the endcap 116 to be snap-fit over the casing opening 32 onto the electrical device casing 30 around its top edge 36 with the base 82 of the block holder 14 secured between the device casing top edge 90 and the endcap 116. With the end cap so attached to the device casing, the block holder arms 84, 86 project outwardly from beneath the endcap 16.
  • Figure 9 is a view beneath the terminal block 12 assembled to the block holder 14.
  • the necked down portions 74, 76 of the two metal collars 52, 54 at the opposite ends of the electric terminals 46 are pressed between the couplers 100, 102 of the block holder arms 84, 86. This causes the arms 84, 86 to flex apart from each other allowing the necked down portions 74, 76 of the collars to pass between the ledges 104, 106 of the arms and to engage in the notches 112, 114.
  • the resiliency of the arms 84, 86 clamps or squeezes the necked down portions 74, 76 of the collars between the arms, thus removeably holding the terminal block 12 on the block holder 14.
  • the pairs of top lands 108, 110 of each of the arms 84, 86 engage against the terminal block bottom surface 42 and stabilize the terminal block on the arms.
  • the loose wiring 34 of the terminal block 12 extends beneath the base 82 of the block holder and through the casing opening 32 of the electrical device to its appropriate connections in the electrical device.
  • the plastic of the block holder base 82 insulates the loose wiring 34 from the metal endcap 116 and prevents the metal edges and surfaces of the endcap from rubbing against the insulation of the wiring possibly scrapping or cutting into the insulation and creating an electrical short in the wiring.
  • Figure 10 shows the block holder 14 with the terminal block 12 attached, assembled to the electrical device casing 30 by the metal endcap 116. It can be seen in this view that the block holder 14 holds the terminal block 12 in a position where the electric terminals 46 will pass through the terminal opening 26 in the housing section 20 as the housing section is assembled onto the housing enclosure 18 of the electric device. Furthermore, the block holder 14 holds the terminal block 12 in a position where the internal screw-threading 58, 60, 62 of the collars 52, 54, 56 will align with the fastener openings 28 provided in the housing section 20 as the housing section is assembled to the housing enclosure.
  • Threaded fasteners 126 are inserted through the fastener openings 28 of the housing section 20 and into the internal screw-threading 58, 60, 62 of the terminal block collars 52, 54, 56. Screwing the threaded fasteners 130 into the collar internal screw threading 58, 60, 62 exerts a pulling force on the terminal block 12 that is sufficient to pull it from the block holder arms 84, 86 releaseably holding the terminal block.
  • the top surface of the terminal block presses against the interior surface of the housing section 20 with the electric terminals 46 projecting through the terminal opening 26 as shown in Figure 11.
  • the block holder 14 holds the terminal block 12 in a position that facilitates its attachment to the interior surface of the housing section 20 as that section is assembled to the housing enclosure 18, eliminating the need for the terminal block to be manually positioned inside the housing section.
  • the length of loose wiring 34 can be decreased, with the extra length of wiring needed to manually position the terminal block being no longer needed.
  • terminal block 12 and the block holder 14 of the invention have been described by reference to an electric device employing an electric motor having five electric terminals connected to the motor by loose wiring, it is emphasized that this environment is illustrative only and the terminal block and the block holder of the invention may be employed in a variety of different environments where it is desirable to facilitate assembling housing sections together while positioning electric terminals in an opening of one or more of the housing sections.

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  • Connections Arranged To Contact A Plurality Of Conductors (AREA)
  • Motor Or Generator Frames (AREA)
EP99630020A 1998-05-28 1999-02-26 Steckerblock und integrierter Motorgehaüsedeckel und Steckerblockhalter Withdrawn EP0961358A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US8605398A 1998-05-28 1998-05-28
US86053 2002-02-28

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0961358A2 true EP0961358A2 (de) 1999-12-01
EP0961358A3 EP0961358A3 (de) 2001-05-16

Family

ID=22195938

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99630020A Withdrawn EP0961358A3 (de) 1998-05-28 1999-02-26 Steckerblock und integrierter Motorgehaüsedeckel und Steckerblockhalter

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EP (1) EP0961358A3 (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8497611B2 (en) 2011-04-22 2013-07-30 Regal Beloit America, Inc. Motor end frame
CN107706603A (zh) * 2017-09-30 2018-02-16 赫霍艾迪欧洲公司 安全电源插头
WO2021199068A1 (en) * 2020-03-31 2021-10-07 Tvs Motor Company Limited An electric machine

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5015894A (en) * 1990-02-13 1991-05-14 Emerson Electric Co. Unit bearing leadless motor
JP3654759B2 (ja) * 1997-11-18 2005-06-02 アスモ株式会社 モータ装置及びワイパモータ装置

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8497611B2 (en) 2011-04-22 2013-07-30 Regal Beloit America, Inc. Motor end frame
CN107706603A (zh) * 2017-09-30 2018-02-16 赫霍艾迪欧洲公司 安全电源插头
WO2021199068A1 (en) * 2020-03-31 2021-10-07 Tvs Motor Company Limited An electric machine
CN115336147A (zh) * 2020-03-31 2022-11-11 Tvs电机股份有限公司 电机

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Publication number Publication date
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