FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970 (39 of 1970)
As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2006
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See section 10 and rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION Ceiling fan terminal block
INVENTOR
Madhavan Sreerag, Crompton Greaves Limited, Fans & Appliances Division, Plot No 1, Bethora Industrial Estate, Ponda 403 409, Goa, India
APPLICANTS
Crompton Greaves Limited, CG House, Dr Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai 400030, Maharashtra, India, an Indian Company
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a ceiling fan terminal block BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A ceiling fan includes a terminal block or adapter located on the top end shield of the motor housing thereof. The terminal block generally comprises a basal support of injection moulded plastics like polypropylene or nylon 66 formed with a notch at the front face thereof for clamping the terminal block onto the fan shaft positioned in the notch. A screw hole is formed laterally of the notch for a screw to be engaged in the screw hole and tightened against the fan shaft to clamp the terminal block onto the fan shaft. The basal support is further formed with a split ring for holding the fan capacitor. The split ring is provided with an L-shaped extension and a straight extension to hold the capacitor in position against linear movement and tilting movement thereof, respectively. The basal support also comprises three electrical contactors namely main, auxiliary and common contactors comprising three conductor barrels located therein. In such a configuration of the terminal block, the capacitor leads and motor leads are to be shorted by twisting prior to fixing the shorted ends in the barrels with the help of screws. Shorting of the leads is done manually and while doing so there are chances of fingers of the operator getting injured. Shorting of the leads and fixing of the shorted ends of the leads in the conductor barrels is time consuming and reduces productivity of the terminal block. As the terminal barrels are not firmly held in the sockets there is also the possibility of wobbling and misalignment of the terminal barrels especially during fixing of the leads with screws. Misalignment and

wobbling of the barrels may also take place while fixing the conductor wires from the mains supply to the barrels with the help of screws. Misalignment and wobbling of the barrels reduces the reliability of the terminal block.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a ceiling fan terminal block which reduces assembly time and increases productivity of the terminal block.
Another object of the invention is to provide a ceiling fan terminal block which prevents injury to the fingers of the operator.
Another object of the invention is to provide a ceiling fan terminal block, which is simple in construction and has improved reliability.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a ceiling fan terminal block comprising a basal support of injection moulded plastics adapted to be located against the top endshield of the fan motor housing, the basal support comprising clamping means for clamping the basal support onto the fan shaft and main, auxiliary and common electrical contactors all located therein, the basal support further comprising mounting means provided thereon for mounting the fan capacitor with terminals projecting therefrom on the basal support with


the capacitor terminals making electrical contact with the main and common electrical contactors.
The following is a detailed description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figs 1,2 and 3 are front, back and bottom isometric views of a ceiling fan terminal block according to an embodiment of the invention, respectively;
Fig 4 is isometric view of a fan capacitor;
Fig 5 is front isometric view of the terminal block of Fig 1 with the fan capacitor of Fig 4 mounted thereon;
Fig 6 and 7 are top and bottom isometric views of a main electrical contactor of the terminal block of Fig 1, respectively;
Figs 8 and 9 are top and bottom isometric views of a common electrical contactor of the terminal block of Fig 1, respectively;
Figs 10 and 11 are top and bottom isometric views of an auxiliary electrical contactor of the terminal block of Fig 1, respectively;


Fig 12 is crosssectional view of a split contact of the contactor of Figs 6 and 7 or Figs 8 and 9 or Figs 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings;
Figs 13, 14 and 15 are front, back and bottom isometric views of a ceiling fan terminal block according to another embodiment of the invention, respectively;
Fig 16 is isometric view of a main electrical contactor of the terminal block of Fig 13;
Fig 17 is isometric view of a common electrical contactor of the terminal block of Fig 13; and
Fig 18 is isometric view of an auxiliary electrical contactor of the terminal block of Fig 13.
The terminal block 1 as illustrated in Figs 1 to 12 of the accompanying drawings comprises a basal support 2 of molded plastics adapted to be located against the top end shield (not shown) of a fan motor housing (not shown). The basal support is made of injection moulded plastics like polypropylene or nylon 66. The basal support comprises a semi circular collet 3 provided at the front face thereof. 4 is a clamping screw hole formed in the basal support laterally of the collet. The basal support is clamped onto a fan shaft (not shown) by positioning the fan shaft in the collet and tightening a clamping screw (not shown) engaged in the clamping screw hole against the fan shaft. 5 is a main contactor


comprising a contactor body 6 formed with a pair of split contacts one at one end thereof comprising gaping split portions 7a and 7b and the other at the middle thereof comprising gaping split portions 8a and 8b (Figs 6 and 7). 9 is a slitted contact formed at the other end of the contactor body of the main contactor. The slit in the contact 9 is marked 9a. 10 is a screw hole formed at one side of the slitted cylindrical contact 9. 11 is a common contactor comprising a contactor body 12 formed with a split contact at one end thereof comprising gaping split portions 12a and 12b (Figs 8 and 9). 13 is a slitted contact formed at the other end of the contactor body of the common contactor. The slit in the contact 13 is marked 13a. 14 is a screw hole formed at one side of the slitted contact of the common contactor. 15 is an auxilliary contactor comprising a contactor body 16 formed with a pair of split contacts one at one end thereof comprising gaping split portions 17a and 17b and the other at the other end thereof comprising gaping split portions 18a and 18b (Figs 10 and 11). The slitted contact at the said other end of the main contactor corresponds to the slitted contact at the said other end of the common contactor. The basal support is formed with access holes 19a, 19b and 19c corresponding to the split contacts at the said one end of the contactors and terminal holes 19d and 19e corresponding to the split contacts at the middle of the main contactor and the said other end of the auxiliary contactor and screw entry holes 20a and 20b corresponding to the screw holes at the one side of the slitted contacts of the main and common contactors. Each of the contactors is provided with a lancing 21 at the bottom surface thereof. The contactors are located in oblong open ended sockets 21a formed in the basal support with the lancings engaged in corresponding grooves 22 formed at the bottom surface of each of the sockets in the basal support. The bottom surface of the basal support is formed with a slot 23 in each of the grooves in each


of the sockets. On pushing the contactors inside the corresponding sockets, the lancings move into the corresponding openings 24 at the bottom surface of the contactor bodies and allow the contactors to be pushed inside the sockets. When the contactors are fully pushed into the respective sockets, the lancings move out and snap fit in the slots 23 in the grooves thereby locking the contactors in the sockets in position. The contactors may be disengaged from the sockets by pushing the lancings into the corresponding openings 24 in the contactor bodies with the help of a screw driver or the like pointed tool introduced in the slots from the bottom of the basal support. The basal support also comprises a pair of spaced apart confronting upstanding members 25, 25 projecting upwardly from the top of the basal support. The upstanding members are in the proximity of the terminal holes 19d and 19e in the basal support corresponding to the split contacts at the middle of the main contactor and corresponding said other end of the auxiliary contactor. The distal ends of the upstanding members are bent inwardly to form holding lugs 26, 26 for a fan capacitor 27 to be mounted on the basal support. The capacitor is formed with terminals 28, 28 projecting therefrom corresponding to the split contacts at the middle of the main contactor and corresponding said other end of the auxiliary contactor. The capacitor is further formed with collars 29, 29 at opposite sides thereof and is mounted on the basal support between the upstanding members with the holding lugs of the upstanding members engaged against the collars at the sides of the capacitor and with the terminals of the capacitor push or press fitted between the split portions of the split contacts at the middle of the main contactor and corresponding said other end of the auxiliary contactor through the respective terminal holes 19d and 19e in the basal support. Leads (not shown) of the fan motor (not shown) formed with flat surfaces (not shown) at the distal ends thereof are push


or press fitted between the split portions of the split contacts at said one end of each of the contactors through the respective access holes 19a, 19b and 19c in the basal support. Conductor wires (not shown) from the mains supply (not shown) are terminated at the said other ends of the main and common contactors and fixed in position with screws (not shown) engaged through the respective screw entry holes 20a and 20b in the basal support and the screw holes 10 and 14 at the said one side of the slitted contacts of the main and common contactors, respectively and tightened against the conductor wires. The slitted contacts provide flexibility to the contacts to be tightened with the screws against the conductor wires. According to the invention, the capacitor can be easily mounted on the basal support between the upstanding members with the terminals thereof push or pressed fitted in the respective split contacts of the main and auxiliary contactors. The fan motor leads can be straight away push or pressfitted in the respective split contacts of the main, auxiliary and common contactors. The invention eliminates shorting of the motor leads with the capacitor leads and fixing thereof in the contactors with screws. As a result, fixing time for the leads in the contactors is reduced. Also injury to the fingers of the operator is avoided. The contactors are locked and held in position in the sockets. Therefore, chances of dislocation and wobbling of the contactors in the sockets are eliminated and the reliability of the terminal block is improved. The gap between the split portions of the split contacts at the said one ends of the main, auxiliary and common contactors can be increased by introducing a screw driver or similar pointed tool between the split portions of the split contacts through the open ends of the sockets so as to facilitate removal of the motor leads from the respective split contacts if there be need.


The terminal block 30 as illustrated in Figs 13 to 18 of the accompanying drawings comprises a main contactor comprising a barrel 31 formed with a terminal hole 32 at the middle thereof and a pair of screw holes 33 one at one end and the other at the other end thereof (Fig 16). The common contactor comprises a barrel 34 formed with a pair of screw holes 35 one at one end and the other at other end thereof (Fig 17). The auxiliary contactor comprises a barrel 36 formed with a screw hole 37 at one end thereof and a terminal hole 38 at the other end thereof corresponding to the terminal hole at the middle of the main contactor (Fig 18). The basal support is provided with terminal holes 39a, 39b corresponding to the terminal holes in the main and auxiliary contactors. The basal support is also provided with screw entry holes 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d and 40e corresponding to the screw holes at said one end each of the main and common contactors and said other end of each of the main and common contactors. The capacitor terminals are push or press fitted in the terminal holes of the main and auxiliary contactors through the respective terminal holes in the basal support. The fan motor leads are fitted at the said one ends of each of the contactors with the help of screws (not shown) engaged in the screw holes at the said one ends of the contactors through the corresponding screw entry holes in the basal support and tightened against the leads. Conductor wires (not shown) from the mains supply (not shown) are fitted at the said other end of each of the main and the common contactors with the help of screws engaged in the screws holes at the said other end of the main and common contactors through the corresponding screw entry holes 40d and 40e in the basal support and tightened against the conductor wires. In such a configuration also, shorting of the motor leads and capacitor leads is eliminated thereby reducing fixing time of the leads


and increasing productivity of the terminal block. Injury to the fingers of the operator is also eliminated. Wobbling or misalignment of the barrels is also eliminated.


We claim:
1. A ceiling fan terminal block comprising a basal support of injection moulded plastics adapted to be located against the top endshield of the fan motor housing, the basal support comprising clamping means for clamping the basal support onto the fan shaft and main, auxiliary and common electrical contactors all located therein, the basal support further comprising mounting means provided thereon for mounting the fan capacitor with terminals projecting therefrom on the basal support with the capacitor terminals making electrical contact with the main and common electrical contactors.
2. The terminal block as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clamping means comprises a semicircular collet provided at the front face of the basal support and a clamping screw hole formed in the basal support laterally of the semicircular collet, the contactors being located in oblong open ended sockets formed in the basal support, the main contactor comprises a contactor body formed with a pair of split contacts one at one end thereof and the other at the middle thereof, the main contactor further comprises a slitted contact at the other end thereof and a screw hole at one side of the slitted contact, the common contactor comprises a contactor body formed with a split contact at one end thereof and a slitted contact at the other end thereof and a screw hole at one side of the slitted contact thereof and the auxiliary contactor comprises a contactor body formed with a pair of split contacts one at one end thereof and the other at the other end thereof, the split contact at the said other of the auxilairy contactor corresponding to the split contact at the middle of the main contactor, the basal support being formed with access holes corresponding to the split contacts at the said one end of each of the contactors and terminal holes corresponding to

the split contacts at the middle of the main contactor and at the said other end of the auxiliary contactor and screw entry holes corresponding to the screw holes at the said one sides of the slitted contacts of the main and common contactors, the contactors each further comprises self locking means and the mounting means comprises a pair of spaced apart confronting upstanding members each projecting upwardly from the top surface of the basal support in the proximity of the terminal holes in the basal support, the distal ends of the upstanding members being bent inwardly to form holding lugs for the capacitor.
3. The terminal block as claimed in claim 1, wherein the split contacts each comprises a pair of gaping split portions.
4. The terminal block as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clamping means comprises a semicircular collet provided at the front face of the basal support and a clamping screw hole formed in the basal support laterally of the semicircular collet, the contactors being located in oblong open ended sockets formed in the basal support, the main contactor comprises a barrel formed with a pair of screw holes one at one end thereof and the other at the other end thereof and a terminal hole at the middle thereof, the common contactor comprises a barrel formed with a pair of screw holes one at one end thereof and the other at the other end thereof and the auxiliary contactor comprises a barrel formed with a screw hole at one end thereof and a terminal hole at the other end thereof corresponding to the terminal hole at the middle of the main contactor, the basal support being formed with termianl holes corresponding to the terminal holes in the main contactor and auxiliary contactor and with screw entry holes corresponding to the screw holes in the main


contactor, auxiliary contactor and common contactor, the contactors each further comprises self locking means and the mounting means comprises a pair of spaced apart confronting upstanding members each projecting upwardly from the top surface of the basal support in the proximity of the terminal holes in the basal support, the distal ends of the upstanding members being bent inwardly to form holding lugs for the capacitor.
5. The terminal block as claimed in claim 2 or 3 or 4, wherein the self locking means comprises a lancing provided at the bottom surface of each of the contactors, the lancing being adapted to be engaged and guided in an oblong groove formed at the bottom surface of the corresponding socket in the basal support and being adapted to snap fit in a slot formed at the bottom surface of the corresponding socket in the basal support.



Abstract
A ceiling fan terminal block (1) comprising a basal support (2) of injection moulded plastics adapted to be located against the top endshield of the fan motor housing. The basal support comprises clamping means (3, 4) for clamping the basal support onto the fan shaft and main, auxiliary and common electrical contactors all located therein. The basal support further comprises mounting means (25) provided thereon for mounting the fan capacitor (27) with terminals projecting therefrom on the basal support with the capacitor terminals making electrical contact with the main and common electrical contactors (fig 5).