Terminal block

Abstract

A telecommunications terminal block employs a housing having a number of separate dielectrically, isolated chambers disposed therein. Service wires to be connected to a splice cable are inserted into a chamber through openings in the housing and into a movable wire carrier member disposed within the chamber. An actuator member drives the carrier member from a first position, at which the wires are inserted, to a second position where the wires engage a contact element which electrically couples them to the splice cable. The carrier member moves within the chamber so as to allow, an electrically insulating medium within the chamber to flow around the carrier and maintain a constant volume of the medium within the chamber. Loss of insulating medium is thereby avoided during connection and reconnection of the service wires allowing improved protection from environmental factors such as moisture, chemicals and other contaminants.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A multi-wire terminal block comprising: an elongated housing having a plurality of separate chambers and a plurality of holes for allowing wire pairs to be inserted into said chambers;   a plurality of electrical contact elements, respectively configured in each of said plurality of separate chambers;   a plurality of wire carrier members, each configured in a respective one of the plurality of separate chambers, each of said wire carrier members having one or more openings for receiving wire pairs inserted through the holes in said chambers, and each said wire carrier member being movable within the chamber so as to move a wire engaged thereby into contact with said electrical contact element; and   a plurality of actuator mechanisms, each coupled to a respective one of said plurality of wire carrier members and adapted to move said wire carrier member within said chamber and relative to said actuator mechanism in a manner such that the actuator mechanism does not change its degree of entry into the chamber.   
     
     
       2. A multi-wire terminal block as set out in claim 1, wherein said housing further has a plurality of test lead openings and wherein a portion of each of the electrical contact elements extends into the respective test lead opening. 
     
     
       3. A multi-wire terminal block as set out in claim 1, wherein each of said electrical contact elements is a metal element configured outside the chamber and having a pair of slotted insulation cutting blades extending into said chamber toward said wire carrier member and another pair of slotted insulation cutting blades extending in the opposite direction outside of the chamber. 
     
     
       4. A multi-wire terminal block as set out in claim 3, wherein each of said wire carrier members further has a slot extending across said wire pair receiving openings and adapted to receive one end of said slotted insulation cutting blades. 
     
     
       5. A multi-wire terminal block, as set out in claim 1, wherein each of said actuator mechanisms is a screw having one end thereof extending outside said housing and the other end thereof engaging said respective wire carrier member and wherein said wire carrier member has a threaded opening adapted to receive said other end of the screw such that rotation of said screw moves the wire carrier member within the chamber. 
     
     
       6. A multi-wire terminal block as set out in claim 5, wherein each of said screws includes an annular flange adjacent said one end thereof and wherein said housing includes a plurality of annular grooves adapted to receive said annular flange of respective screws extending through said housing and restrain each said screw from moving relative to said housing when said screw is rotated to actuate said wire carrier member. 
     
     
       7. A multi-wire terminal block as set out in claim 5, wherein each of said wire carrier members is a generally box-shaped structure, wherein said threaded opening extends into the box shape in a first end thereof and wherein said wire receiving openings extends into said box shape in a side adjacent to a second end of the box shape. 
     
     
       8. A multi-wire terminal block as set out in claim 7, wherein said wire carrier member has a plurality of channels in one or more of the sides of the box-shaped structure, said channels extending from the first to second end of the carrier member. 
     
     
       9. A multi-wire terminal block as set out in claim 7, wherein said wire carrier member has a flanged extension extending from the side containing the wire receiving openings and wherein said openings extend through said flanged extension. 
     
     
       10. A multi-wire terminal block, comprising: a housing having a plurality of separate chambers spaced along a length direction thereof, said housing including one or more wire access ports leading into each of said chambers, each of said chambers being adapted to hold a predetermined volume of a fluid insulating medium;   a plurality of electrical contact elements respectively configured within each chamber;   wire carrier means, configured within each of said chambers, for engaging wires inserted into each of said chambers and moving said wires into electrical contact with said electrical contact element; and means for actuating movement of said wire carrier   means within each of said chambers in a manner such that a substantially constant volume of said fluid insulating medium, relative to the total volume of said chamber, is maintained within said chamber during such movement.   
     
     
       11. A multi-wire terminal block as set out in claim 10, wherein said wire carrier means comprises a movable member having a threaded hole therein and one or more holes for receiving wires therein and wherein said means for actuating comprises a threaded bolt rotatably mounted to said housing and adapted to fit within the threaded hole of said wire carrier means. 
     
     
       12. A multi-wire terminal block as set out in claim 10, wherein said wire carrier means has a plurality of wire receiving openings for receiving wires inserted into each of said chambers, said wire receiving openings being aligned with said wire access ports in said housing when said wire carrier means is in a first position and wherein said wire receiving openings are adjacent said electrical contact element when said wire carrier means is in a second position. 
     
     
       13. A multi-wire terminal block as set out in claim 12, wherein said wire carrier means has one or more channels in the sides thereof to allow the insulating medium to flow past the wire carrier means when the wire carrier means moves from said first position to said second position. 
     
     
       14. A multi-wire terminal block, of a type adapted for use with an electrically insulating medium, comprising: an elongated housing having a plurality of separate chambers, said chambers being adapted to receive said electrically insulating medium, said housing having a plurality of holes for allowing wire pairs to be inserted into said chambers;   a plurality of electrical contact elements, respectively configured in each of said plurality of separate chambers;   a plurality of wire carrier members, each configured in a respective one of the plurality of separate chambers, each of said wire carrier members having one or more openings for receiving wire pairs inserted through the holes in said chambers, and each said wire carrier member being movable within the chamber;   a plurality of actuator mechanisms, each coupled to a respective one of said plurality of wire carrier members and adapted to move said wire carrier member within said chamber so as to move a wire engaged thereby into contact with said electrical contact element; and   means for allowing said electrically insulating medium to flow around the wire carrier member as it is moved within the chamber by said actuator mechanism.   
     
     
       15. A multi-wire terminal block as set out in claim 14, wherein said means for allowing said electrically insulating medium to flow around the wire carrier member comprises one or more channels configured so as to allow said electrically insulating medium to flow through said channels around said wire carrier member as it moves through said chamber. 
     
     
       16. A multi-wire terminal block comprising: an elongated housing having a plurality of separate chambers and a plurality of holes for allowing wire pairs to be inserted into said chambers, said housing further having a plurality of test lead apertures;   a plurality of electrical contact elements, respectively configured in each of said plurality of separate chambers, said electrical contact elements having a portion thereof adapted to receive a test lead and said test lead apertures providing access from the outside of said housing to said portion of the contact element;   a plurality of wire carrier members, each configured in a respective one of the plurality of separate chambers, each of said wire carrier members having one or more openings for receiving wires inserted through the holes in said chambers, and each said wire carrier member being movable within said chamber so as to move a wire engaged thereby into contact with said electrical contact element; and   means for moving each said wire carrier member so as to electrically connect the wires inserted therein to said electrical contact element in a manner such that the position or the test lead aperture and said test lead portion of the electrical contact element remain unchanged.   
     
     
       17. A multi-wire terminal block as set out in claim 16, wherein said portion of the electrical contact element adapted to receive a test lead extends out of said chamber to a position adjacent said test aperture. 
     
     
       18. A multi-wire terminal block as set out in claim 16, wherein each of said electrical contact elements is an S-shaped metal member having slotted wire engaging elements at one portion of said S-shape and the other portion of said S-shape comprising said portion adapted to receive a test lead. 
     
     
       19. A multi-wire terminal block as set out in claim 18, wherein said portion of the electrical contact element further comprises an extended metal leg extending from the upper portion of the S-shape toward the test lead aperture. .Iadd. 
     
     
       20.  A terminal block comprising: a housing having a chamber and a hole for allowing a wire to be inserted into said chamber;   an electrical contact element configured in said chamber;   a wire carrier member configured in said chamber, said wire carrier member having an opening for receiving a wire inserted through the hole in said chamber, and said wire carrier member being movable within the chamber so as to move a wire engaged thereby into contact with said electrical contact element; and   an actuator mechanism, coupled to said wire carrier member and adapted to move said wire carrier member within said chamber and relative to said actuator mechanism in a manner such that the actuator mechanism does not change its degree of entry into the chamber. .Iaddend..Iadd.   
     
     
       21.  A terminal block as set out in claim 20, wherein said housing further has a test lead opening and wherein a portion of the electrical contact element extends into the test lead opening. .Iaddend..Iadd.22. A terminal block as set out in claim 20, wherein said electrical contact element is a metal element configured outside the chamber and having a slotted insulation cutting blade extending into said chamber toward said wire carrier member and another slotted insulation cutting blade extending in the opposite direction outside of the chamber. .Iaddend..Iadd.23. A terminal block as set out in claim 22, wherein said wire carrier member further has a slot extending across said wire receiving opening and adapted to receive one end of said slotted insulation cutting blade. 
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.24.  A terminal block, as set out in claim 20, wherein said actuator mechanism is a screw having one end thereof extending outside said housing and the other end thereof engaging said wire carrier member and wherein said wire carrier member has a threaded opening adapted to receive said other end of the screw such that rotation of said screw moves the wire carrier member within the chamber. .Iaddend..Iadd.25. A terminal block as set out in claim 24, wherein said screw includes an annular flange adjacent said one end thereof and wherein said housing includes an annular groove adapted to receive said annular flange of said screw extending through said housing and restrain said screw from moving relative to said housing when said screw is rotated to actuate said wire carrier member. .Iaddend..Iadd.26. A terminal block as set out in claim 24, wherein said wire carrier member is a generally box-shaped structure, wherein said threaded opening extends into the box shape in a first end thereof and wherein said wire receiving opening extends into said box shape in a side adjacent to a second end of the box shape. 
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd. 7.  A terminal block as set out in claim 26, wherein said wire carrier member has a channel in one or more of the sides of the box-shaped structure, said channel extending from the first to second end of the carrier member. .Iaddend..Iadd.28. A terminal block as set out in claim 26, wherein said wire carrier member has a flanged extension extending from the side containing the wire receiving opening and wherein 
     
     
        said opening extends through said flanged extension. .Iaddend..Iadd.29.  A terminal block, comprising: a housing having a chamber, said housing including one or more wire access ports leading into said chamber, said chamber being adapted to hold a predetermined volume of a fluid insulating medium;   an electrical contact element respectively configured within said chamber;   wire carrier means, configured within said chamber, for engaging a wire inserted into said chamber and moving said wire into electrical contact with said electrical contact element; and   means for actuating movement of said wire carrier means within said chamber in a manner such that a substantially constant volume of said fluid insulating medium, relative to the total volume of said chamber, is   
     
     
        maintained within said chamber during such movement. .Iaddend..Iadd.30.  A terminal block as set out in claim 29, wherein said wire carrier means comprises a movable member having a threaded hole therein and one or more holes for receiving a wire therein and wherein said means for actuating comprises a threaded bolt rotatably mounted to said housing and adapted to fit within the threaded hole of said wire carrier means. .Iaddend..Iadd.31. A terminal block as set out in claim 29, wherein said wire carrier means has a wire receiving opening for receiving a wire inserted into said chamber, said wire receiving opening being aligned with said wire access port in said housing when said wire carrier means is in a first position and wherein said wire receiving opening is adjacent said electrical contact element when said wire carrier means is in a second position. .Iaddend..Iadd.32. A multi-wire terminal block as set out in claim 31, wherein said wire carrier means has one or more channels in the sides thereof to allow the insulating medium to flow past the wire carrier means when the wire carrier means moves from said first position to said 
     
     
        second position. .Iaddend..Iadd.33.  A terminal block, of a type adapted for use with an electrically insulating medium, comprising: a housing having a chamber, said chamber being adapted to receive said electrically insulating medium, said housing having a hole for allowing a wire to be inserted into said chamber;   an electrical contact element, configured in said chamber;   a wire carrier member, configured in said chamber, said wire carrier member having an opening for receiving a wire inserted through the hole in said chamber, and said wire carrier member being movable within the chamber;   an actuator mechanism, coupled to said wire carrier member and adapted to move said wire carrier member within said chamber so as to move a wire engaged thereby into contact with said electrical contact element; and   means for allowing said electrically insulating medium to flow around the wire carrier member as it is moved within the chamber by said actuator   
     
     
        mechanism. .Iaddend..Iadd.34.  A terminal block as set out in claim 33, wherein said means for allowing said electrically insulating medium to flow around the wire carrier member comprises one or more channels configured so as to allow said electrically insulating medium to flow through said channel around said wire carrier member as it moves through 
     
     
        said chamber. .Iaddend..Iadd.35.  A terminal block comprising: a housing having a chamber and a hole for allowing a wire to be inserted into said chamber, said housing further having a test lead aperture;   an electrical contact element, configured in said chamber, said electrical contact element having a portion thereof adapted to receive a test lead and said test lead aperture providing access from the outside of said housing to said portion of the contact element;   a wire carrier member, configured in said chamber, said wire carrier member having an opening for receiving a wire inserted through the hole in said chamber, and said wire carrier member being movable within said chamber so as to move a wire engaged thereby into contact with said electrical contact element; and   means for moving said wire carrier member so as to electrically connect the wire inserted therein to said electrical contact element in a manner such that the position of the test lead aperture and said test lead portion of   
     
     
        the electrical contact element remain unchanged. .Iaddend..Iadd.36.  A terminal block as set out in claim 35, wherein said portion of the electrical contact element adapted to receive a test lead extends out of said chamber to a position adjacent said test aperture. .Iaddend..Iadd.37. A terminal block as set out in claim 35, wherein said electrical contact element is an S-shaped metal member having a slotted wire engaging element at one portion of said S-shape and the other portion of said S-shape comprising said portion adapted to receive a test lead. .Iaddend..Iadd.38. A terminal block as set out in claim 37, wherein said portion of the electrical contact element further comprises an extended metal leg extending from the upper portion of the S-shape toward the test lead aperture. .Iaddend.