US3659247A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular conductor system
Assignee: Contecknix Inc
•
Filing: 1970-05-04
•
Granted: 1972-04-25
•
Expires: 1990-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A modular conductor system for electrical circuit wiring. The system includes a composite insulated conductor assembly having first and second elongate members of substantially homogeneous electrically nonconductive material, each of the members having substantially uniform transverse dimensions and substantially planar ends. The first member includes a plurality of spacedapart channels each extending lengthwise of the member in a surface thereof. Electrically conductive members, each having a relatively thin substantially uniform cross section fit snugly lengthwise and conform to the surface of corresponding ones of the channels such that the side edges of the conductive members are substantially flush with the surface of the first elongate member. The second elongate member extends the length of the first, and has a surface secured to the surface of the first member in which the channels extend, confining the conductive members in the channels. A space between each of the conductive members and the surface of the second elongate member defines openings at the ends of the composite conductor. Relatively short electrically conductive connector pins are receivable in the openings for joining together a plurality of the composite conductor assemblies in electrically conductive relationship. Each of the connector pins has a cross section conforming to the cross section of the openings at the ends of the joined elongate members, the pins having rough surfaces such that they are tightly gripped in the openings. Various modules may be used with such composite conductor assemblies, e.g., a receptacle module, a switch module, connector modules, and a wiring adaptor module which connects the modular wiring system to wire conductors of a power distribution system.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry R Chaney
- 👤 Edwin J Coughlin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 04:46
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01B; H01B7/00; H01B7/08; H01R; H01R25/00; H01R25/16; H01R25/161; H01R25/162
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
303 words
In a modular conductor system for electrical circuit wiring, an assembly constituting a composite insulated conductor comprising: a first elongate member of substantially homogeneous electrically nonconductive material, said member having substantially uniform transverse dimensions and substantially planar ends, said member having a plurality of spaced-apart channels of arcuate form each extending lengthwise of said member in a surface thereof; a plurality of electrically conductive members, each having a relatively thin substantially uniform cross section of arcuate form, each fitting snugly lengthwise into a corresponding one of said channels and conforming to the surface of the corresponding channel, said conductive members being of the same cross-sectional shape throughout the length of said channels and having sidE edges substantially flush with the surface of said elongate member in which surface said channels extend, said conductive members extending substantially to the ends of said first elongate member; a second elongate member of substantially homogeneous electrically nonconductive material extending the length of said first elongate member and having substantially planar ends coinciding with the ends of said first elongate member and a surface secured to the surface of said first elongate member in which said channels extend for confining said conductive members in said channels, there being a space between each of said conductive members and said surface of said second elongate member which space defines openings at the ends of said composite conductor, said openings each having a straight side and an arcuate side; and a plurality of relatively short electrically conductive connector pins receivable in said openings for joining together a plurality of composite conductors in electrically conductive relationship, said pins each having a cross section conforming to the cross section of each of said openings, said pins each having rough surfaces to be tightly gripped in contact with said conductive members in said openings.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
303 words
In a modular conductor system for electrical circuit wiring, an assembly constituting a composite insulated conductor comprising: a first elongate member of substantially homogeneous electrically nonconductive material, said member having substantially uniform transverse dimensions and substantially planar ends, said member having a plurality of spaced-apart channels of arcuate form each extending lengthwise of said member in a surface thereof; a plurality of electrically conductive members, each having a relatively thin substantially uniform cross section of arcuate form, each fitting snugly lengthwise into a corresponding one of said channels and conforming to the surface of the corresponding channel, said conductive members being of the same cross-sectional shape throughout the length of said channels and having sidE edges substantially flush with the surface of said elongate member in which surface said channels extend, said conductive members extending substantially to the ends of said first elongate member; a second elongate member of substantially homogeneous electrically nonconductive material extending the length of said first elongate member and having substantially planar ends coinciding with the ends of said first elongate member and a surface secured to the surface of said first elongate member in which said channels extend for confining said conductive members in said channels, there being a space between each of said conductive members and said surface of said second elongate member which space defines openings at the ends of said composite conductor, said openings each having a straight side and an arcuate side; and a plurality of relatively short electrically conductive connector pins receivable in said openings for joining together a plurality of composite conductors in electrically conductive relationship, said pins each having a cross section conforming to the cross section of each of said openings, said pins each having rough surfaces to be tightly gripped in contact with said conductive members in said openings.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
In a modular conductor system as set forth in claim 1, said conductive members comprising a ductile metal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
In a modular conductive system as set forth in claim 2, said conductive members comprising aluminum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
In a modular conductor system as set forth in claim 1, the cross section of each of said pins being substantially identical with the cross section of each of said openings.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
In a modular conductor system as set forth in claim 1, the cross section of said pins being relatively thin and substantially uniform.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
In a modular conductor system as set forth in claim 1, said first and second elongate members comprising a substantially nonrigid material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a modular conductor system as set forth in claim 1, there being a plurality of said conductive members disposed end-to-end in each of said channels providing an expansion gap between adjacent ends of said conductive members in each channel, each pair of said adjacent ends being bridged by a further conductive member overlapping a marginal portion of each of said adjacent ends, having a relatively thin substantially uniform cross section of arcuate form, and fitting snugly lengthwise into the space between the first said conductive members and the flat surface of said second elongate member, the side edges of said further member being substantially flush with said surface in which said channels extend, whereby thermal expansion of the first said conductive members does not cause undue thermal stress in said composite conductor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
In a modular conductor system as set forth in claim 1, a switch module comprising electrical switch means in an enclosure, said enclosure having at least one planar surface of electrically nonconductive material, said surface having a plurality of openings aligned with corresponding openings at one end of said composite conductor and adapted to receive said pins for joining said switch module to said composite conductor in electrically conductive relationship.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
In a modular conductor system as set forth in claim 1, a receptacle module comprising a receptacle in an enclosure, said enclosure having at least one planar surface of electrically nonconductive material, said surface having a plurality of openings which align with corresponding openings at one end of said composite conductor and which receive said pins for joining said receptacle module to said composite conductor in electrically conductive relationship.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
73 words
In a modular conductor system as set forth in claim 1, a connector module for connecting together a plurality of the composite conductors, said module having a plurality of planar surfaces each of which includes a plurality of openings which align with corresponding ones of openings at an end of one of the pluraLity of composite conductors and which receive said pins for joining the plurality of composite conductors in electrically conductive relationship.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
93 words
In a modular conductor system as set forth in claim 1, a wiring adapter module comprising an enclosure including means for providing interconnection with wire conductors of a power distribution system, said enclosure having at least one planar surface of electrically nonconductive material, said surface having a plurality of openings which align with corresponding openings at one end of said composite conductor and which receive said pins for electrically connecting said conductive member to the last-said means which said conductive members are electrically interconnected with said wire conductors of a power distribution system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2732420A
Cited
US2899668A
Cited
US2218545A
Cited
US2269779A
Cited
GB545647A
Cited
GB561728A
Cited
GB1060271A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-25 | 1975-10-25 | 1976-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-25 | 1979-10-25 | 1980-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-25 | 1983-10-25 | 1984-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |