Multiple Circuit Interrupter for Telecommunication System

Our present invention relates to a multiple circuit interrupter normally interconnecting a certain number of incoming lines of a telecommunication system, within a distribution or switching frame of a telecommunication system, to as many outgoing lines.

In copending application Ser. No. 751,890 filed Dec. 17, 1976 by one of us, Guglielmo Giacoppo, there has been disclosed a modular connector unit which can be clipped together with other such units to form such a switching frame. Each connector unit is in the form of a flat, generally prismatic housing with banks of input and output terminals for incoming and outgoing lines and with a seat for a junction box within which extensions of these lines are interconnected. As mentioned in that prior application, these line extensions should have terminations that are readily accessible for the purpose of breaking an existing connection or for the insertion of testing equipment into a line. As further described in that application, the line terminations disposed within the junction box are carried on a block which is frictionally or otherwise received in that box and can be extracted therefrom for replacement purposes.

The object of our present invention is to provide a multiple circuit interrupter of compact construction, generally similar to the contact-carrying insert of the aforementioned junction box, which is receivable in a connector housing of a distribution frame and facilitates the interruption of existing connections as well as the extension of the normally interconnected lines to display, testing or other ancillary equipment.

In accordance with our present invention, such a multiple circuit interrupter comprises a body of generally rectangular outline which is split into a central section and two lateral sections along surfaces substantially paralleling the major sides of that outline, these sections defining between them a multiplicity of connectors which will be referred to hereinafter as jacks and which are arrayed in two rows parallel to those major sides. One or more transverse incisions, extending across all three sections, define a plurality of identical bosses which encompass respective groups of jacks and can be embraced by a complementary socket fitting around any one of these bosses. The socket carries a group of plugs which are insertable between pairs of normally contacting conductor springs forming part of respective jacks.

Advantageously, pursuant to another feature of our invention, the bosses and the socket have complementary asymmetrical profiles designed to insure an unequivocal alignment between the plugs of the socket and the jacks of the engaged boss.

The above and other features of our invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a multiple circuit interrupter embodying our invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the circuit interrupter of FIG. 1 together with a complementary socket shown partly in section; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line III -- III of FIG. 2.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 we have shown a multiple circuit interrupter according to our invention, designed as a modular unit, which has a body of generally rectangular outline (as seen in FIG. 1) longitudinally split into a central section 1 and two lateral sections 2 and 3 of the same length. Between these central and lateral sections there are formed two rows 7 of recesses 4 located within bosses 6, also of generally rectangular outline, which are separated from one another by transverse incisions 5. Each recess 4, as best seen in FIG. 3, accommodates a respective jack comprising a base 14 and two normally contacting conductor springs 13a, 13b projecting therefrom toward the opposite end of the recess which has an aperture 15 for the insertion of a mating plug disposed within a socket 20 having lower and upper wall portions receivable in incisions 5. Extensions 12a, 12b of incoming and outgoing lines, passing through the nonconductive body 1-3 and base 14, are tied to conductor springs 13a and 13b of respective jacks so as to be normally interconnected thereby. The plugs of socket 20, which is also made from nonconductive material, comprise tongues 21 integral with that socket flanked by conductor strips 23a, 23b which come into contact with respective springs 13a, 13b upon introduction of these plugs through the apertures 15 into mating engagement with the respective jacks. Conductors 22a, 22b extending from strips 23a, 23b lead to external testing circuits or other monitoring devices not shown.

In the illustrated embodiment, the three bosses 6 encompass respective groups of jacks designated X, Y and Z, each group consisting of two rows of four jacks each. The lines connected by these eight jacks may serve, for example, for the transmission of the several bits of a PCM channel together with signals of an associated supervisory channel.

The bosses 6 are shown to have profiles of asymmetrical shape including guide grooves 8 aligned with rows 7 and notches 9 offset from the centerline of body 1-3 and located at the end faces of that body as well as along the boundaries of incisions 6. These profiles are complementary to that of socket 20 which, therefore, can be fitted onto each boss in only one predetermined position whereby its plugs are unequivocally aligned with the corresponding jacks. Lugs 10 integral with central body section 1, projecting from the minor sides of the rectangular outline of the circuit interrupter, are receivable in corresponding recesses of a connector housing 30 forming part of a switching or distribution frame of the type described in copending application Ser. No. 751,890 referred to above.

The three body sections 1-3 are held together by throughgoing fasteners, preferably metal clips as shown at 11 in FIG. 2. These fasteners are necessarily offset from the recesses 4 containing the jacks.

If the outgoing conductors 22a, 22b of a given plug are open-circuited, the insertion of that plug will simply break the connection existing between the lines 12a and 12b served by the corresponding jack. Either of the conductors 22a, 22b of that plug can then be used to complete a test circuit through the corresponding line 12a or 12b, or a single test circuit may be bridged across both conductors to ascertain the continuity of the signal path constituted by the two lines. The angular bending of lines 12a, 12b shown in FIG. 3 facilitates their connection to a printed-circuit board forming part of frame unit 30 as described in application Ser. No. 751,890.