US3621173A - Mounting means for electrical devices - Google Patents

Abstract

A relay mount includes a case for a relay, ears projecting away from both sides of the case, connector pins extending from the case above the plane of the ears, and a mounting track with spaced-apart elongated grooves in which the ears make a sliding and releasable fit.

Description

United States Patent 72] Inventor Theodore ll. OCheskey Whittier, Calif.

[2]] Appl. No. 67,339

[ 22] Filed Aug. 27, I970 [45] Patented Nov. 16, 1971 [73] Assignee United States Filter Corporation Whittier, Calif.

[54] MOUNTING MEANS FOR ELECTRICAL DEVICES 3,340,440 9/1967 Minter 317/101 CC 3,168,612 2/1965 Sorenson 200/168 C 3,244,941 4/1966 Maynard et al 200/168 C 3,274,450 9/1966 Siebold 200/ l 68 C 3,337,708 8/1967 Cerveny et al 200/168 C FOREIGN PATENTS 1,167,577 10/1969 Great Britain Primary ExaminerH. 0. Jones Attorney-Christie, Parker & Hale ABSTRACT: A relay mount includes a case for a relay. ears projecting away from both sides of the case, connector pins extending from the case above the plane of the ears. and a mounting track with spaced-apart elongated grooves in which the ears make a sliding and releasable fit.

1 MOUNTING MEANS FOR ELECTRICAL DEVICES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to mounting devices for electrical apparatus such as relays.

Relays are commonly sealed in glass, metal, or plastic cases, with pins or contacts projecting from the case for connection to a conventional relay socket. When mounting relays to a panel or the like, it is common to mount each relay to a terminal block, which is a mounting device that includes a socket and a plurality of terminals connected in series with the respective receptacles of the socket. Each terminal is used to connect a given electrical lead in series with a respective one of the contacts on the relay when the relay is mounted in the socket of the terminal block.

Terminal blocks are particularly useful when mounting a large number of relays to a panel or the like. The terminal blocks are releasably mounted to the panel so they can be removed quickly and moved to various other positions on the panel. Moreover, a relay can be quickly mounted in the socket, and electrical leads can be connected to the terminals of the mounting block relatively quickly and with ease. However, terminal blocks are expensive items which substantially add to the cost of constructing a relay circuit, particularly when a large number of relays are used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION lengthwise in each sidewall. The mounting ears fit into the grooves of the mounting track so the relay body makes a releasable sliding fit within the track to hold the relay body in a fixed position with the connector pins in position for engagement with the electrical leads.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above and other features of the invention are more fully set forth in the following detailed description of the embodiment of the invention which is presently preferred, such description being presented with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a plan elevation of the relay mount; and

FIG, 2 is a sectional elevation taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, a relay is hermetically sealed in a plastic case or dust cover 12. A pair ofmounting ears 14 formed integrally with an edge of the case 12 project outwardly from opposing sides of the case. Connector pins or contacts 16 project from the case 12 in the same direction as one of the mounting ears 14.

The relay 10 makes a sliding fit in a mounting track 17 having an elongated base 18 and a pair of upright sidewalls 20 formed integrally with the base. The base 18 has an elongated recess 22 in its center with longitudinally spaced-apart slotted holes 24. Mounting screws 26 fit into the slotted holes to mount the track and relay to a panel 28. A pair of laterally spaced-apart ribs 30 formed integrally with the bottom of the base 18 extend lengthwise along the base parallel to the recess 22 to provide stability for the mounting track 17 when it is fastened to the panel 28. Each sidewall 20 has a respective elongated groove 32 formed in its inner face and extending the length of the sidewall. The mounting track is preferably made of a flexible material such as polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene or rubber.

In use, the relay 10 is mounted in the track 17 by pushing the relay down into the channel formed by the track to snap the mounting ears 14 into engagement with the respective grooves 32. The flexible sidewalls 20 how outwardly, as shown by the phantom lines of FIG. 2, when the mounting ears 14 are forced into engagement with the grooves. The sidewalls 20 thereafter return to their normal position, shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, to hold the relay in a fixed position with contacts 16 extending outwardly above the plane of the mounting ears I4 for engagement with cooperating terminals 34 of electrical leads 36. Contacts 16 are preferably blade-type contacts, and terminals 34 are preferably the quick-connect" type terminals that make a tight friction fit with the contacts 16 when slipped over the ends of contacts.

Thus, the relay l0 snaps into engagement with mounting track 18 as easily and quickly as when a conventional terminal block is mounted to a track on a panel or the like. The relay mount of this invention saves the time required to connect a relay to the socket of the terminal block. The relay I0 is slidable within the track 17 and is removable from the track as easily and quickly as a terminal block. Furthermore, the relay 10 may be connected to electrical leads in substantially shorter time than it takes to connect electrical leads to the terminals of the conventional terminal block.

I claim:

I. The combination of a relay body, mounting ears formed integrally with opposite sides of the relay body, connector pins extending outwardly from the relay body above the plane of the mounting ears for engagement with a cooperating electrical lead, and a mounting track having and elongated base, sidewalls formed integrally with the base, and an elongated groove formed lengthwise in each sidewall, the mounting ears being constructed to fit into the grooves so the relay body makes a releasable sliding fit within the mounting track to hold the relay body in a fixed position with the connector pins in position for engagement with the electrical lead.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the mounting ears extend in the same direction as the connector pins.

3. Apparatus according to claim I wherein the sidewalls of the mounting track are movable relative to the base so that the mounting ears may be snapped into engagement with the grooves.

I I i 1.! l

Claims (3)

1. The combination of a relay body, mounting ears formed integrally with opposite sides of the relay body, connector pins extending outwardly from the relay body above the plane of the mounting ears for engagement with a cooperating electrical lead, and a mounting track having an elongated base, sidewalls formed integrally with the base, and an elongated groove formed lengthwise in each sidewall, the mounting ears being constructed to fit into the grooves so the relay body makes a releasable sliding fit within the mounting track to hold the relay body in a fixed position with the connector pins in position for engagement with the electrical lead.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the mounting ears extend in the same direction as the connector pins.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the sidewalls of the mounting track are movable relative to the base so that the mounting ears may be snapped into engagement with the grooves.

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