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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
CONNECTION DEVICE FOR TRANSFORMERS, ELECTRONIC DRIVES AND LIGHT CONNECTIONS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2011/099863
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A connection device for transformers, electronic drives and light connections in roofs or walls, including a house (1) in which the transformer/electronic driver/light connections (2) is attached, where wire connection devices (3) associated with the transformer primary (4) and secondary sides (5) are arranged at each end of the house (1), that wire connection devices on primary (4) and secondary sides (5) are protected by a lid (4,5), that wire connection devices (3) have insert holes (11 ) for the introduction of wires, that wire connection devices (3) ensures that the wires put into the insert hole (11), without having to open the wire connection device with a releasing arm (10), is firmly held in the wire connection device (3), and that the lids (4,5) functions as tension releavers when anchored to the house (1) in that the lids (4,5) and the house (1) have interior walls (28,29), which together will clamp the wires when the lids are anchored.

Inventors:
HANSEN EDGAR (NO)
Application Number:
PCT/NO2010/000049
Publication Date:
August 18, 2011
Filing Date:
February 10, 2010
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
OPTIME AS (NO)
HANSEN EDGAR (NO)
International Classes:
H01R4/48; F21S8/02; F21V23/02; H01F27/02
Foreign References:
DE8705242U11987-07-16
US2713668A1955-07-19
US6261120B12001-07-17
Other References:
See also references of EP 2534734A4
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
TANDBERGS PATENTKONTOR AS (Oslo, NO)
Download PDF:
Claims:
C l a i m s

1. A connection device for transformers, electronic drives and light connections in roofs or walls, including a house (1) in which the transformer/electronic driver/light connetions (2) is attached, characterized in that wire connection devices (3) associated with the transformer primary (4) and secondary sides (5) are arranged at each end of the house (1), that wire connection devices on primary (4) and secondary sides (5) are protected by a lid (4,5), that wire connection devices (3) have insert holes (11 ) for the introduction of wires, that wire connection devices (3) ensures that the wires put into the insert hole (11), without having to open the wire connection device with a releasing arm (10), is firmly held in the wire connection device (3), and that the lids (4,5) functions as tension releavers when anchored to the house (1) in that the lids (4,5) and the house (1) have interior walls (28,29), which together will clamp the wires when the lids are anchored.

2. Connection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the wire connection device (3) comprise a clamping house (7), a contact device (8), a contact spring (9), a release arm (10) and a cover plate.

3. Connection arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the release arm (10) is interlocked to the contact spring (9) via a small projection (20) on the free end (23) of the contact spring (9).

4. A method for using the connection device according to one of the claims 1- 3, characterized in that a wire (19) is entered into the insert hole (11) and the wire is pushed inward until the free end (23) of the contact spring (9) and the upper surface (22) of the contact device (8) together lock the wire in the wire connection device.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that by pushing the release arm (10) backwards, away from the inserthole (11), the free end of the contact spring (9) it's then pushed down and away from the upper surface (22) of the contact device (8) so that the wire (19) is released and can be pulled out of the wire connection device (3)ยท

Description:
Connection device for transformers, electronic drives and light connections.

Present invention concerns a connection device for transformers, electronic drives (eg LEDs) and light connections.

Installation of lighting in buildings has become significantly easier and safer by using installation boxes in plastic in roofs and walls. The boxes can have fixtures for both the light source and for any associated transformers, electronic drives as well as connections for electrical cables.

It has been customary to attach the wires to the transformers, electronic drives and light connectioner with screw connections. However, such a design , often require three hands to connect wires / cables, namely one to hold the actual connection unit, one to hold and use the screwdriver and one to bring the cables into the connection device and keep them there until they are properly fastened. Another problem with known solutions is that they do not always hold the cable firmly. In some systems it is possible to pull out the wires/cables with relatively small forces.

In EP 1 566 863 A2 it is described a household device for electrical equipment and other electrical appliances to be connected to electrical conductors. The household device can for example be used for operating the lights. Further, it is described a bodypart for electrical components and connection devices. The household devices includes further another bodypart designed as a lid that functions as a clamp for the cable(s) in that the lid is arranged to be anchored to the bottom body by use of locking devices on the lid which engage with holes in the bottom body. This household device does not take into account the issues of securing of electrical wires in the respective connection device, but deals with only strain relief in the electric wires and how they should be designed to provide the best possible hold.

Another document DE 10 237 701 Al refers to a connection clip for electrical wires, where the electrical wires can be connected by pushing the electrical wires into some clamps, without tools, and firmly held in place by using some arms that initially is pushed up to give the wire free passage and then afterwards pulled down to lock the wire in place. In this solution there are two operations that must be done to complete the connection. First, it is .necessary to push the arms up for the electric wires to enter. Then the wires, has to be held in place so that the arms can be pulled back and thereby locking the wires in place. However, it is possible to pull out the wires without too much force in this solution because the wires slide perpendicular to the locking device.

Thus there is a need to produce a solution that allows you to attach a cable wire to a connection device securely with two hands without the need for extra tools. This is achieved with the device and method according to the present invention as defined by the independent claim(s).

On the drawing figure 1 shows a perspective view of an opened connection device with wire connection devices with release arms in open position, figure 2 shows wire connection devices from figure 1 with release arms in closed positon, figure 3 shows a connection device according to the invention with the lids closed on both the primary side and secondary side, figure 4 shows the connection device from Figure 3 with one lid open, figure 5 shows a connection device according to present invention in exploded perspective, figure 6 shows the connection device from figure 5, where some parts are put together and figure 7 shows the principle of self-locking of a cable connection in the arrangement.

A connection device according to the invention includes a house 1 containing a transformer/electronic driver/light connection 2 (hereinafter referred to as drive unit), wire connection devices for primary (not shown) and secondary side 3 and protection lids for respectively primary 4 and secondary 5 wire connection devices. The drive unit's cables/wires are attached to the connection points 15 that are associated with wire connection devices 3, preferably arranged side by side, both on primary side 4 and the secondary side 5 of the connection device.

The wire connection device 3 comprises a clamping house 7, a contact device 8, a contact spring 9, a release arm 10 and if necessary a cover plate (not shown) to cover the open side of the last wire connection device 3 in a series of several.

The clamping house 7 includes an end wall 13 with a surrounding sidewall 14 with normally four sides. One of the vertical side walls has an insert hole 11 The lower side to the surrounding side wall 14 has two slots 18 to enable the contact device 8 with connection points 15 to be placed inside the clamping house 7 and provide connection opportunity for the transformer cables. On the open side of the surrounding side wall 14 there are four pins 12 which is approximately perpendicular to the side to be able to connect to another clamping house 7. On the end wall 13 there are corresponding holes (not shown) in order to accommodate these pins from another clamping house 7 The upper side of the surrounding side wall 14 has a cut out so that the release arm 10 has the ability to rotate around a pivot pin 17. This pivot pin also has the function to ensure that the contact spring 9 does not move when a wire 19 is inserted into the insert hole 11. Furthermore, the pivot pin 17 prevent the contact spring 9 being bent beyond the elastic region of the contact spring, when the release arm is pushed backwards, away from the insert hole 11.

The contact spring 9 has a small projection 20 which fits into a slit 21 in the release arm 10. When the release arm 10 is pushed backwards, away from the insert hole 11, the free end 23 to the contact spring 9 will then be pushed down and away from the upper surface 22 of the contact device 8. This is because the release arm rotates around the pivot pin 17 which is located closer to the insert hole 11, than the slit 21.

When a wire 19 is inserteed into a inert hole 11 in one of the wire clamping devices 3, it will meet the contact spring 9 and begin to push this back and down away from the upper surface 22 to the contact device 8. As the end of the wire passes the free end 23 to the contact spring 9 it will not be possible to pull the wire out again without the release arm 10 being pushed sufficiently backward away from the insert hole 11 so that the wire will be 100% released. The contact spring 9 has a self-locking feature that prevents the wire from being pulled out the moment the end of the wire 19 passes the free end 23 of the contact spring 9. The self locking feature is such that the harder the wire is pulled the harder the contact spring 9 will press against the wire.

If desired, the release arm 10 can be placed in open position and stay there until the wire shall be fastened. This is done by pushing the release arm 10 so far back, away from the insert hole 11, until the locking ridge 24 located on the release arm rest against the recess 16 in the surrounding side wall 14 and stays there. Then the free end 23 of the contact spring 9 get in contact with the wire 19 and be prevented from being pulled out of the wire connection device 3, but the wire can then be freely taken in and out of the insert hole 11 as long as desired.

When all wires are attached to their respective wire connection devices 3 the lid 4,5 is closed and anchored. Anchoring can be one of several methods and the methods can also be combined. One way to anchor the lid 4,5 is to have a hook/tap on the lid that engages into a cut out of the house 1. Another solution is to use the notches/grooves 25 on the lid and corresponding notches / grooves 26 on the sides of the house 1, which allows for a gradual locking of the lid as it is lowered over the cables. A third solution is to have a locking screw / peg that goes through a hole 27 in lid 4,5 and which is attached to the bottom of the house 1.

The lid 4,5 has at least one interior wall 28 with corresponding at least one Avail 29 in the bottom of the housing 1 so that they will move towards each other when the lid 4,5 is closed. These walls of the lid 4.5 will act as strain relief for the wires, because the wall 28 of the lid put pressure on the wires and this pressure against the wires is increased and maintained using the anchoring method.

The main features with the present invention is the simplification achieved, that a person with ease can install and connect all the wires and achieve a secure connection with the drive unit without the use of tools, but also that the cables are seated securely in the connecting device and cannot be pulled out by accident.