Quick connection identification module junction box

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9698582-B2
Application number	US-201414474001-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 29, 2014
Priority date	Aug 29, 2014
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

An electrical trainline junction box formed from a housing having first and second opposing sides, an identification module positioned in the housing, and first and second receptacles positioned in each of the first and second opposing sides. The first and second receptacles have a plurality of electrical contacts arranged in a predetermined geometry so that only one possible orientation and electrical connection to trainline flanges is possible. The flanges include contact pins in inserts coupled to the flanges by sleeves. The outer surface of the inserts and the inner surface of the sleeves are keyed to allow only a single orientation of the inserts relative to the sleeves. The outer surface of the sleeves is shaped to allow only a single orientation of the sleeves relative to the flanges, thus ensuring that the proper electrical connection is made when the junction box is installed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical trainline junction box, comprising:
a housing having first and second opposing sides;
first and second openings formed in the first and second opposing sides, respectively;
an identification module positioned in the housing and having a printed circuit board with a first side with a first plurality of male contact pins and an opposing second side with a second plurality of male contact pins,
wherein the first plurality of male contact pins extend outwardly in a first direction and the second plurality of male contact pins extend outwardly in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction;
first and second receptacles positioned in each of the first and second openings formed in the first and second opposing sides, respectively;
a first plurality of electrical contacts supported in the first receptacle and arranged in a first predetermined geometry,
wherein each of the first plurality of electrical contacts extends through the first receptacle to be define a first plurality of female contact pins exposed interiorly and exteriorly of the housing;
a second plurality of electrical contacts supported in the second receptacle and arranged in a second predetermined geometry,
wherein each of the second plurality of electrical contacts extends through the first receptacle to be define a second plurality of female contact pins exposed interiorly and exteriorly of the housing;
wherein the first plurality of male contact pins of the identification module are received within and engaged with the first plurality of female contact pins of the first plurality of electrical contacts of the first receptacle and the second plurality of male contact pins of the identification module are received within and engaged with the second set of female contact pins of the second plurality of electrical contacts of the second receptacle,
further comprising first and second flanges external of the housing and coupled to first and second mounts associated with the housing and supporting the first and second receptacles, respectively,
wherein each of the first and second flanges includes a third and a fourth plurality of male contact pins, respectively, that are arranged to correspond exactly to the predetermined geometry of the first plurality and second plurality of female contact pins of the plurality of electrical contacts of each of the first and second receptacles, and
wherein the identification module is attached to the first side of the housing by a set of asymmetrical connectors that only allow the identification module to be attached in a single orientation relative to the first side of the housing.

2. The junction box of claim 1 , wherein the first and second plurality of male contact pins in each of the first and second flanges are positioned in first and second inserts and coupled to the first and second flanges by first and second sleeves.

3. The junction box of claim 2 , wherein the outer surface of the first and second inserts and the inner surface of the corresponding first and second sleeves are keyed to allow only a single orientation of the first and second inserts relative to the first and second sleeves.

4. The junction box of claim 3 , wherein the outer surface of the first and second sleeves is shaped to allow only a single orientation of the first and second sleeves relative to the first and second flanges, respectively.

5. The junction box of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second receptacles comprise a mount having a central opening, a pair of mounting holes positioned on either side of the central opening, and a sealing ring positioned around the plurality of electrical connections.

6. The junction box of claim 5 , wherein the housing comprises first and second covers secured to the opposing sides of the housing.

7. The junction box of claim 6 , wherein the first and second receptacles are positioned in the first and second covers, respectively.

8. The junction box of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second receptacles comprise a threaded port surrounding the plurality of electrical connections.

9. The junction box of claim 8 , further comprising a first and second bodies, each of which include a threaded nut surrounding a plurality of male contact pins that are arranged in a corresponding geometry to the plurality of electrical connections so that only one mating orientation of the male contact pins relative to the plurality of electrical connections is possible.

Assignees

• New York Air Brake Llc
• New York Air Brakes Llc

Inventors

• Parnapy Keith
• Socha David
• Newton Gary
• Lumbis Anthony
• Gallagher Brian
• Mclaughlin Bryan
• Newton Steven

Classifications

• H02G3/088

  Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings or inlets · CPC title

• H02G3/083

  Inlets · CPC title

• H02G3/081 Primary

  Bases, casings or covers · CPC title