Track coupling for electrical distribution tracks

Claim 2

A coupler for electrically connecting exposed track conductors in neighbouring lengths of electrical distribution tracks, the coupler comprising: a casing, a pair of conductive elements, insulated from one another, which are mounted within said casing for movement between operative and inoperative positions, and a cam assembly within said casing, but operable from the exterior thereof, for moving said conductive elements between their operative and inoperative positions, whereby in their operative positions, said conductive elements, in use, clamp the coupler to the neighbouring lengths of track and each engage one of said track conductors in each of said two tracks to establish electrical continuity between the conductors engaged thereby, said Cam assembly comprising: a cam-shaft, a slidably mounted cam on said cam-shaft and a camseat disposed around said cam-shaft, said cam being biased against said cam-seat by said conductive elements, and a pair of arcuate inclined surfaces being provided on said cam-seat for coaction with said cam to resist movement of said cam from the position thereof in which it urges the conductor elements to their operative track conductor-engaging positions.

Claim 3

A coupler according to claim 1, wherein said conductive elements are mounted side by side within said casing and are movable apart upon operation of said cam assembly whereby said conductive elements, in use, press against spaced-apart track conductors located on opposite sides of the tracks.

Claim 4

A coupler according to claim 2, wherein each conductive element has an outwardly-directed contact finger for engaging the appropriate track conductors.

Claim 5

A coupler according to claim 3, wherein each conductive element has a pair of spaced, upstanding ears each carrying an outwardly-directed contact finger, individual cam assemblies being provided to control the positions of said fingers of each opposed pair of ears.

Claim 6

A coupler according to claim 1, wherein said cam-seat includes rotational limit stops for said cam.

Claim 7

Electric distribution apparatus including at least two lengths of distribution track joined together electrically by a coupler as claimed in claim 1.

Claim 8

A coupler for electrically connecting exposed track conductors in neighbouring lengths of electric distribution tracks, the coupler comprising: a casing, a pair of conductive elements, insulated from one another, which are mounted within said casing, each of said elements having two spaced, upstanding ears and each ear carrying an outwardly-directed contact finger, said elements being mounted side-by-side with their ears located opposite one another, said ears being movable apart whereby in use, said contact fingers press against the track conductors on opposite sides of the tracks to clamp said coupler to said tracks, each element engaging one of said track conductors in each of said two tracks to establish electrical continuity between the conductors engaged thereby, and two cam assemblies within said casing, each of which is operable from the exterior thereof to effect movement of one of the opposite pairs of said ears, said cam assemblies each comprising a cam, a camshaft and a cam seat mounted for movement along said camshaft, said cam seat being biased against said cam by said conductive elements, and said cam seat having a pair of arcuately-inclined surfaces for coaction with said cam to resist movement of said cam from the position thereof in which it urges said conductive elements to their track conductor-engaging position.

Claim 9

A coupler for electrically connecting exposed track conductors in neighbouring lengths of electric distribution tracks, the coupler comprising: a casing, a pair of conductive elements, insulated from one another, which are mounted within said casing, each of said elements having two spaced, upstanding ears and each ear carrying an outwardly-directed contact finger, said elements being mounted side-by-side with their ears located opposite one another, said ears being movable apart whereby in use, said contact fingers press against the track conductors on opposite sides of the tracks to clamp said coupler to said tracks, each element engaging one of said track conductors in each of said two tracks to establish electrical continuity between the conductors engaged thereby, and two cam assemblies within said casing, each of which is operable from the exterior thereof to effect movement of one of the opposite pairs of said ears, said cam assemblies each comprising a cam, a camshaft and a cam seat mounted for movement along said camshaft, said cam seat being biased against said cam by said conductive elements, and said cam seat having a pair of arcuately-inclined surfaces for coaction with said cam to resist movement of said cam from the position thereof in which it urges said conductive elements to their track conductor-engaging position.

Claim 10

A coupler according to claim 7, wherein said conductive elements are movable against a biasing force when each cam assembly is operated to urge their contact fingers into engagement with said track conductors.

Claim 11

A coupler according to claim 7, wherein said cam-seat includes rotational limit stops for said cam.

Claim 12

A coupler according to claim 7, wherein said cam is generally elliptical and has flats formed at its opposite ends to coact with said conductive elements to aid in resisting movement of said conductive elements from their track conductor-engaging positions.