Title of Invention	SURGE ARRESTER MOUNTING UNIT FOR TELECOMMUNICATION AND DATA SYSTEMS EQUIPMENT
Abstract	The invention relates to a surge arrester mounting unit for telecommunications and data systems technology, comprising an upper part (13) and a lower part (14) made of plastic, and a plurality of metallic contact elements (4) which are arranged in pairs and which engage, by means of several spring arms (19) in number of chambers (15) of the upper part in order to make contact with surge arresters, and project out of the lower part as contact blades. In order to enable the surge arrester mounting unit also to be used for terminal blocks with high transmission rates, the invention provides for the contact blades (11) for separating contact fingers (6) (directed into the interior of a terminal block) from insulation piercing contact elements (4) to be made twice as long as the spring arms (19) and to be given more than double the material thickness (d) at the free end by bending over.

Title of Invention

SURGE ARRESTER MOUNTING UNIT FOR TELECOMMUNICATION AND DATA SYSTEMS EQUIPMENT

Abstract

The invention relates to a surge arrester mounting unit for telecommunications and data systems technology, comprising an upper part (13) and a lower part (14) made of plastic, and a plurality of metallic contact elements (4) which are arranged in pairs and which engage, by means of several spring arms (19) in number of chambers (15) of the upper part in order to make contact with surge arresters, and project out of the lower part as contact blades. In order to enable the surge arrester mounting unit also to be used for terminal blocks with high transmission rates, the invention provides for the contact blades (11) for separating contact fingers (6) (directed into the interior of a terminal block) from insulation piercing contact elements (4) to be made twice as long as the spring arms (19) and to be given more than double the material thickness (d) at the free end by bending over.

Full Text	FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to an surge arrester mounting unit for telecommunications and data systems equipment, composed of an upper part and a lower part made of plastic, and of metallic contact elements which are arranged in pairs and which each engage by means of spring arms in chambers of the upper part in order to make contact with surge arresters, and project out of the lower part as contact blades. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION An surge arrester mounting unit of the generic type has previously been disclosed in DE 3014796 C3. In this mounting unit, the contact blades which project out of the lower part are designed to engage in contact springs of a terminal block whose design has previously been disclosed in DE 2725551 C2. Here, in each case two insulation piercing contact elements form, together with a contact spring, a single component, the contact spring being located relatively close to the top of the terminal block so that the contact blades can engage in it. In addition, DE 4325952 C2 has previously disclosed terminal blocks for telecommunications and data systems equipment with high transmission rates, in which terminal blocks there are, between the insulation piercing contact elements, contact fingers which are directed into the interior of the terminal block and which can be separated by a printed circuit board-like plug tongue of a plug. Over voltage protection for such a terminal block for high transmission rates cannot be provided by plugging in the surge arrester mounting unit which has previously been disclosed in DE 3014796 C3, since the contact blades of the mounting unit cannot separate the contact fingers of such a terminal block for high transmission rates. % SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The invention is therefore based on the object of developing the surge arrester mounting unit of the generic type in such a way that the latter can also be used for over voltage protection of terminal blocks for high transmission rates. In order to achieve this object, the invention provides for the contact blades for separating contact fingers (directed into the interior of a terminal block) from insulation piercing contact elements, to be made approximately twice as long as the spring arms and to be given more than double the material thickness at the free end by bending over. This significant, lengthening of the contact blades and the considerable thickening of the contact blades gives them the function of a printed circuit board-like plug which can engage between the contact fingers directed into the interior of the terminal block and separate them while making contact, so that over voltage protection is ensured for the terminal block for high transmission rates. The combination of lengthening and thickening of the contact blades is essential here, since it is the only way of being sure of both making contact with, and also separating, the contact fingers, directed into the interior of the terminal block, of the insulation piercing contact elements. In order to stabilize the contact blades and secure their position, the contact blades have a bowed portion cut out of the material approximately in the longitudinal center. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical cross sectional view through the surge arrester mounting unit which has been plugged into a terminal block; FIG. 2 is an end view of the surge arrester 10 mounting unit; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the surge arrester mounting unit; FIG. 4 is a side view of the lower part of the surge arrester mounting unit with contact elements; FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of a lower part according to FIG. 4 without contact elements; FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI--VI in FIG. 5 with contact elements; FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken through the lower part with contact elements; and FIG. 8 is a perspective side view of a contact element. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings in particular, the lower part of FIG. 1 shows a vertical cross section through a terminal block 1 for telecommunications and data systems equipment with high transmission rates, in accordance with DE 4325952 C2. The terminal block 1 is composed of a housing lower part 2 and a housing upper part 3, each made of plastic, into which two rows of short insulation piercing contact elements 4 for connecting cable conductors are Inserted. The distance between two adjacent pairs of insulation piercing contact elements 4 is (in a manner not illustrated in more detail) greater than the distance between two adjacent insulation piercing contact elements of a pair. The insulation piercing contact elements 4 are supported on supporting walls 5 in the housing lower part 2 and are lengthened, with obliquely angled contact fingers 6. The fingers 6 are directed into the interior of the terminal block 1. Spring contacts 7 are provided which adjoin the finger 6. The opposing fingers 6 and opposing contacts 7 form a break point 8 between them. Between the two rows of insulation piercing contact elements 4, the connection block 1 has a row of plug-in openings 9 for contact blades 11 of an surge arrester mounting unit 10. These openings 9 provide the access to separate the contact connection between the spring contacts 7. The surge arrester mounting unit 10 is illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 2 to 7. The mounting unit 10 has, on its two ends, clip-like prolongations 12 which are made of plastic. The clip-like prolongations 12 serve, in a fashion which is not illustrated in more detail, to make a connection to the housing upper part 3 of the terminal block 1 and over which the free ends of the contact blades 11 project. The surge arrester mounting unit 10 for telecommunications and data systems equipment is composed of an upper part 13 and a lower part 14, each made of plastic. The upper part 13 is latched into the lower part 14 by means of latching connections. In the upper part 13 there are ten chambers 15, divided by transverse walls 16, for the insertion of surge arresters 17 (FIG. 1). Each chamber 15 is assigned a pair of metallic contact elements 18 (FIG. 8) which are composed of spring arms 19, projecting into the chambers 15, for making contact with the connection limbs 20 of the surge arresters 17, and of a contact blade 11 projecting out of the lower part 14. The spring arms 19 are joined, in each case in pairs, to a web 22 and bent at the free end into a V shape and are c. directed towards one another. The contact blade 11 projects from the web 22 with a rounded portion and at approximately 90.degree., and it is approximately twice as long as the spring arms 19, and is thickened at its free end to a thickness D of more than twice the material thickness d of the contact blade 21 by bending an end clip 23. Each metallic contact element 18 is formed in one piece with its spring arms 19, which are arranged In pairs, its contact blade 11 and its bent-over end dtp 23. Provlded.approxlmately In the longitudinal center of the contact blade 21, underneath a shoulder 21, there is a domed section 24 in the form of a curve. This domed section 24 is cut out of the material of the contact blade 11, is curved out above the planar shoulder 21 and serves to take up the play of the contact blade 11 which is Irtserted into the lower part 14, Due to the thickened end clip 23, the contact blade 11 requires a through opening 26 through the base 29 of the lower part 14, which has a greater cross section, as will be explained below. As FIG. 4 shows, the spring arms 19 which are arranged in pairs project into the free space of the lower part 14 into which the upper part 13 is inserted. The spring arms 19 each engage in pairs in the chambers 15 of the upper part 13. The contact blades 11 are of longer design and have the thickened end dip 23 project out of the lower part 14 parallel to the lateral clips 12 and are each plugged into the base 29 of the lower part 14, after having been respectively rotated through 180.degree.. The result is that the thickened end clips 23 of the contact blade 11 are pointed in alternating directions with respect to the two longitudinal sides of the lower part 14. As is clear from FIG. 7, the metallic contact elements 18 are plugged into the lower part 14, with their webs 22 parallel to the base of the lower part 14. The contact blades 11 penetrate the openings 23 in the base of the lower part 14, the cross section of which openings 26 is L-shaped (FIG. 5) and is matched to the thickened end clip 23. On the underside of the lower part 14 there are central guide webs 27 between the laterally adjacent clips 12, the guide webs 27 being made of plastic and each guiding a pair of contact blades 11. Between in each case two pairs of contact blades 11 there are central webs 28 which are made of plastic and which additionally guide the contact blades 11. The cut-out curved section 24 of each contact blade 11 is located here in a guide duct 33 which is formed from the guide webs 27 and the central webs 28, in such a way that the contact blade 11 is securely mounted in the lower part 14 despite the fact that the opening 26 is larger in cross section. The base 29 of the lower part 14 has two large openings 13 per pair of contact blades 11. A Z shaped wall 31 is provided between the openings 30 so that the thickened end clips 23 of the contact blades 11 can pass through openings 26, which are L-shaped in cross section, on each side of the limbs 23 of the wall 31. The bowed sections 24 are provided to secure the position, and to absorb the play, of the contact blade 11 in the guide duct 33 adjoining the opening 26. While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles. f 8. WE CLAIM 1. An surge arrester mounting unit (10) for telecommunications and data systems equipment, comprising an upper part (13) and a lower part (14) made of plastic; and a plurality of metallic contact elements (4) disposed in pairs being engageable by means of several spring arms (19) in number of chambers (15) of the upper part (13) in order to make contact with a plurality of surge arresters, the metallic contact elements projecting out of the lower part (14) as contact blades, characterized In that the contact blades (11) for separating several contact fingers (6) (directed Into the interior of the terminal block (1)) from a number of insulation piercing contact elements (4) are made twice as long as the spring arms (19) and configured to have more than double the material thickness (d) at a free end through bending over. 2. The surge arrester mounting unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact blades (11) have, in a longitudinal center, a bowed portion (24) cut out of the material. 3. The surge arrester mounting unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein in a base (29) of the lower part (14), an opening (26) having an L-shaped cross section designed so that a thickened free end (23) of the contact blade (11) to pass through an end (23), and wherein the contact blade (11) is guided, by means of the bowed portion (24), in a guide duct (33) adjoining said opening (26). 4. The surge arrester mounting unit as claimed in one claims 1 to 3, wherein the terminal block (1) for high transmission rates is equipped with insulation piercing contact elements (4), a distance between two adjacent pairs of insulation piercing contact elements (4) being larger than a distance between two adjacent insulation piercing contact elements of one pair (4), and wherein said terminal block (1) is additionally provided with a central row of plug-in openings (9) for the contact blades (11). The invention relates to a surge arrester mounting unit for telecommunications and data systems technology, comprising an upper part (13) and a lower part (14) made of plastic, and a plurality of metallic contact elements (4) which are arranged in pairs and which engage, by means of several spring arms (19) in number of chambers (15) of the upper part in order to make contact with surge arresters, and project out of the lower part as contact blades. In order to enable the surge arrester mounting unit also to be used for terminal blocks with high transmission rates, the invention provides for the contact blades (11) for separating contact fingers (6) (directed into the interior of a terminal block) from insulation piercing contact elements (4) to be made twice as long as the spring arms (19) and to be given more than double the material thickness (d) at the free end by bending over.

Full Text

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an surge arrester mounting unit for telecommunications and data systems equipment, composed of an upper part and a lower part made of plastic, and of metallic contact elements which are arranged in pairs and which each engage by means of spring arms in chambers of the upper part in order to make contact with surge arresters, and project out of the lower part as contact blades.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An surge arrester mounting unit of the generic type has previously been disclosed in DE 3014796 C3. In this mounting unit, the contact blades which project out of the lower part are designed to engage in contact springs of a terminal block whose design has previously been disclosed in DE 2725551 C2. Here, in each case two insulation piercing contact elements form, together with a contact spring, a single component, the contact spring being located relatively close to the top of the terminal block so that the contact blades can engage in it.
In addition, DE 4325952 C2 has previously disclosed terminal blocks for telecommunications and data systems equipment with high transmission rates, in which terminal blocks there are, between the insulation piercing contact elements, contact fingers which are directed into the interior of the terminal block and which can be separated by a printed circuit board-like plug tongue of a plug. Over voltage protection for such a terminal block for high transmission rates cannot be provided by plugging in the surge arrester mounting unit which has previously been disclosed in DE 3014796 C3, since the contact blades of the mounting unit cannot separate the contact fingers of such a terminal block for high transmission rates.
%

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The invention is therefore based on the object of developing the surge arrester mounting unit of the generic type in such a way that the latter can also be used for over voltage protection of terminal blocks for high transmission rates.
In order to achieve this object, the invention provides for the contact blades for separating contact fingers (directed into the interior of a terminal block) from insulation piercing contact elements, to be made approximately twice as long as the spring arms and to be given more than double the material thickness at the free end by bending over. This significant, lengthening of the contact blades and the considerable thickening of the contact blades gives them the function of a printed circuit board-like plug which can engage between the contact fingers directed into the interior of the terminal block and separate them while making contact, so that over voltage protection is ensured for the terminal block for high transmission rates. The combination of lengthening and thickening of the contact blades is essential here, since it is the only way of being sure of both making contact with, and also separating, the contact fingers, directed into the interior of the terminal block, of the insulation piercing contact elements.
In order to stabilize the contact blades and secure their position, the contact blades have a bowed portion cut out of the material approximately in the longitudinal center.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a vertical cross sectional view through the surge arrester mounting unit which has been plugged into a terminal block;
FIG. 2 is an end view of the surge arrester 10 mounting unit; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the surge arrester mounting unit;
FIG. 4 is a side view of the lower part of the surge arrester mounting unit with contact elements;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of a lower part according to FIG. 4 without contact elements;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI--VI in FIG. 5 with contact elements;
FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken through the lower part with contact elements; and
FIG. 8 is a perspective side view of a contact element. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings in particular, the lower part of FIG. 1 shows a vertical cross section through a terminal block 1 for telecommunications and data systems equipment with high transmission rates, in accordance with DE 4325952 C2. The terminal block 1 is composed of a housing lower part 2 and a housing

upper part 3, each made of plastic, into which two rows of short insulation piercing contact elements 4 for connecting cable conductors are Inserted. The distance between two adjacent pairs of insulation piercing contact elements 4 is (in a manner not illustrated in more detail) greater than the distance between two adjacent insulation piercing contact elements of a pair. The insulation piercing contact elements 4 are supported on supporting walls 5 in the housing lower part 2 and are lengthened, with obliquely angled contact fingers 6. The fingers 6 are directed into the interior of the terminal block 1. Spring contacts 7 are provided which adjoin the finger 6. The opposing fingers 6 and opposing contacts 7 form a break point 8 between them. Between the two rows of insulation piercing contact elements 4, the connection block 1 has a row of plug-in openings 9 for contact blades 11 of an surge arrester mounting unit 10. These openings 9 provide the access to separate the contact connection between the spring contacts 7.
The surge arrester mounting unit 10 is illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 2 to 7. The mounting unit 10 has, on its two ends, clip-like prolongations 12 which are made of plastic. The clip-like prolongations 12 serve, in a fashion which is not illustrated in more detail, to make a connection to the housing upper part 3 of the terminal block 1 and over which the free ends of the contact blades 11 project. The surge arrester mounting unit 10 for telecommunications and data systems equipment is composed of an upper part 13 and a lower part 14, each made of plastic. The upper part 13 is latched into the lower part 14 by means of latching connections. In the upper part 13 there are ten chambers 15, divided by transverse walls 16, for the insertion of surge arresters 17 (FIG. 1). Each chamber 15 is assigned a pair of metallic contact elements 18 (FIG. 8) which are composed of spring arms 19, projecting into the chambers 15, for making contact with the connection limbs 20 of the surge arresters 17, and of a contact blade 11 projecting out of the lower part 14. The spring arms 19 are joined, in each case in pairs, to a web 22 and bent at the free end into a V shape and are
c.

directed towards one another. The contact blade 11 projects from the web 22 with a rounded portion and at approximately 90.degree., and it is approximately twice as long as the spring arms 19, and is thickened at its free end to a thickness D of more than twice the material thickness d of the contact blade 21 by bending an end clip 23. Each metallic contact element 18 is formed in one piece with its spring arms 19, which are arranged In pairs, its contact blade 11 and its bent-over end dtp 23. Provlded.approxlmately In the longitudinal center of the contact blade 21, underneath a shoulder 21, there is a domed section 24 in the form of a curve. This domed section 24 is cut out of the material of the contact blade 11, is curved out above the planar shoulder 21 and serves to take up the play of the contact blade 11 which is Irtserted into the lower part 14, Due to the thickened end clip 23, the contact blade 11 requires a through opening 26 through the base 29 of the lower part 14, which has a greater cross section, as will be explained below.
As FIG. 4 shows, the spring arms 19 which are arranged in pairs project into the free space of the lower part 14 into which the upper part 13 is inserted. The spring arms 19 each engage in pairs in the chambers 15 of the upper part 13. The contact blades 11 are of longer design and have the thickened end dip 23 project out of the lower part 14 parallel to the lateral clips 12 and are each plugged into the base 29 of the lower part 14, after having been respectively rotated through 180.degree.. The result is that the thickened end clips 23 of the contact blade 11 are pointed in alternating directions with respect to the two longitudinal sides of the lower part 14. As is clear from FIG. 7, the metallic contact elements 18 are plugged into the lower part 14, with their webs 22 parallel to the base of the lower part 14. The contact blades 11 penetrate the openings 23 in the base of the lower part 14, the cross section of which openings 26 is L-shaped (FIG. 5) and is matched to the thickened end clip 23.

On the underside of the lower part 14 there are central guide webs 27 between the laterally adjacent clips 12, the guide webs 27 being made of plastic and each guiding a pair of contact blades 11. Between in each case two pairs of contact blades 11 there are central webs 28 which are made of plastic and which additionally guide the contact blades 11. The cut-out curved section 24 of each contact blade 11 is located here in a guide duct 33 which is formed from the guide webs 27 and the central webs 28, in such a way that the contact blade 11 is securely mounted in the lower part 14 despite the fact that the opening 26 is larger in cross section. The base 29 of the lower part 14 has two large openings 13 per pair of contact blades 11. A Z shaped wall 31 is provided between the openings 30 so that the thickened end clips 23 of the contact blades 11 can pass through openings 26, which are L-shaped in cross section, on each side of the limbs 23 of the wall 31. The bowed sections 24 are provided to secure the position, and to absorb the play, of the contact blade 11 in the guide duct 33 adjoining the opening 26.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.
f

8. WE CLAIM
1. An surge arrester mounting unit (10) for telecommunications and data
systems equipment, comprising an upper part (13) and a lower part (14)
made of plastic; and a plurality of metallic contact elements (4) disposed
in pairs being engageable by means of several spring arms (19) in number
of chambers (15) of the upper part (13) in order to make contact with a
plurality of surge arresters, the metallic contact elements projecting out of
the lower part (14) as contact blades, characterized In that the contact
blades (11) for separating several contact fingers (6) (directed Into the
interior of the terminal block (1)) from a number of insulation piercing
contact elements (4) are made twice as long as the spring arms (19) and
configured to have more than double the material thickness (d) at a free
end through bending over.
2. The surge arrester mounting unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
contact blades (11) have, in a longitudinal center, a bowed portion (24)
cut out of the material.
3. The surge arrester mounting unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein in a base
(29) of the lower part (14), an opening (26) having an L-shaped cross
section designed so that a thickened free end (23) of the contact blade
(11) to pass through an end (23), and wherein the contact blade (11) is
guided, by means of the bowed portion (24), in a guide duct (33)
adjoining said opening (26).
4. The surge arrester mounting unit as claimed in one claims 1 to 3, wherein
the terminal block (1) for high transmission rates is equipped with
insulation piercing contact elements (4), a distance between two adjacent
pairs of insulation piercing contact elements (4) being larger than a
distance between two adjacent insulation piercing contact elements of one
pair (4), and wherein said terminal block (1) is additionally provided with a
central row of plug-in openings (9) for the contact blades (11).
The invention relates to a surge arrester mounting unit for telecommunications and data systems technology, comprising an upper part (13) and a lower part (14) made of plastic, and a plurality of metallic contact elements (4) which are arranged in pairs and which engage, by means of several spring arms (19) in number of chambers (15) of the upper part in order to make contact with surge arresters, and project out of the lower part as contact blades. In order to enable the surge arrester mounting unit also to be used for terminal blocks with high transmission rates, the invention provides for the contact blades (11) for separating contact fingers (6) (directed into the interior of a terminal block) from insulation piercing contact elements (4) to be made twice as long as the spring arms (19) and to be given more than double the material thickness (d) at the free end by bending over.

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Patent Number

202528

Indian Patent Application Number

02/CAL/2000

PG Journal Number

09/2007

Publication Date

02-Mar-2007

Grant Date

02-Mar-2007

Date of Filing

03-Jan-2000

Name of Patentee

KRONE GMBH

Applicant Address

BEESKOWDAMM 3-11,NO-14167 BERLIN

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	NICHOLLS BRYCE LINDSAY	12 GILL AVENUE , NSW 2260 AVOCA BEACH,
2	BIPPUS HANS-DIETER	RMB 5973 WATTLE TREE ROAD,HOLGATE NSW 2250

PCT International Classification Number

H 01 C 7/12

PCT International Application Number

N/A

PCT International Filing date

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	19900759.4	1999-01-12	Germany