U.S. patent application number 12/350545 was filed with the patent office on 2010-07-08 for end of car junction box assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to New York Air Brake Corporation. Invention is credited to Anthony Lumbis, Bryan McLaughlin, Gary Newton, Steven Newton, Keith Parnapy, Patrick Storms.
Application Number | 20100173504 12/350545 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42306975 |
Filed Date | 2010-07-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100173504 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Parnapy; Keith ; et
al. |
July 8, 2010 |
END OF CAR JUNCTION BOX ASSEMBLY
Abstract
An End of Car (EOC) junction box assembly includes a housing
wherein a plurality of female/female contact sockets couple with a
corresponding plurality of male contact pins and are positioned by
a fitting that enables the female/female contact sockets to
interface with an EOC receptacle plug also included in the housing
body, such that alternate positions of the fitting and EOC
receptacle plug are available during assembly while the components
included in the housing body are restrained from rotation following
assembly.
Inventors: |
Parnapy; Keith; (North
Bangor, NY) ; Newton; Steven; (Adams, NY) ;
McLaughlin; Bryan; (Watertown, NY) ; Lumbis;
Anthony; (Watertown, NY) ; Storms; Patrick;
(Carthage, NY) ; Newton; Gary; (Adams,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BARNES & THORNBURG LLP
750-17TH STREET NW, SUITE 900
WASHINGTON
DC
20006-4675
US
|
Assignee: |
New York Air Brake
Corporation
Watertown
NY
|
Family ID: |
42306975 |
Appl. No.: |
12/350545 |
Filed: |
January 8, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/34 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60T 13/665 20130101;
H01R 2201/26 20130101; B60T 17/228 20130101; H01R 31/06
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/34 |
International
Class: |
H01R 33/00 20060101
H01R033/00 |
Claims
1. A junction box assembly comprising: a junction box housing; an
EOC receptacle plug inserted at least partially in the junction box
assembly at a first end of the junction box housing; a plurality of
female to female contact sockets with first ends mated with
apertures included in the EOC receptacle plug and positioned to be
mated at second ends with first ends of a plurality of
corresponding male contact pins; and a fitting configured to
receive and position the plurality of male contact pins at a second
end of the junction box housing, wherein, the fitting is shaped
such that the shape interacts with an interior configuration of the
junction box housing to restrain rotation of the plurality of
female-to-female contact sockets and the plurality of male-to-male
pins included in the housing following assembly.
2. The junction box assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of
male contact pins and corresponding female to female contact
sockets are positioned within the junction box housing by the
fitting such that alternate positions of the fitting and EOC
receptacle plug are available during assembly.
3. (canceled)
4. The junction box assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of
male contact pins snap into corresponding slot apertures included
in the fitting during assembly of the junction box assembly.
5. The junction box assembly of claim 2, wherein the alternate
positions are 90 degrees rotated from one another.
6. The junction box assembly of claim 1, further comprising the
plurality of male contact pins corresponding to and mated with the
female to female contact sockets.
7. The junction box assembly of claim 6, wherein the plurality of
male contact pins snap into corresponding slot apertures included
in the fitting during assembly of the junction box assembly.
8. The junction box assembly of claim 1, wherein the exterior of
the junction box housing is triangular in shape.
9. The junction box assembly of claim 1, wherein the fitting
includes a plurality of slot apertures each configured to receive a
corresponding male contact pin.
10. The junction box assembly of claim 9, wherein each of the slot
apertures includes a region of smaller diameter for interfacing
with a corresponding male contact pin portion of smaller
diameter.
11. The junction box assembly of claim 1, wherein the junction box
assembly is an end of car junction box assembly.
12. The junction box assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of
male contact pins includes three male contact pins.
13. The junction box assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of
female to female contact sockets includes three female to female
contact sockets.
14. The junction box assembly of claim 1, wherein both the fitting
and the EOC receptacle plug are weather-resistant sealed by the
junction box housing.
15. The junction box assembly of claim 1, further comprising a
sleeve configured to receive and interact with the fitting such
that electrical contact between the male contact pins and the
junction box housing is prevented.
16. The junction box assembly of claim 15, further comprising a
ground pin configured to be positioned within an indentation on an
outer side of the sleeve.
17. The junction box assembly of claim 1, further comprising a
junction box cover positioned at the end of the junction box
housing proximate to the EOC receptacle plug, the cover including
an aperture shaped to receive one end of the EOC receptacle plug
such that the EOC receptacle plug is accessible to mate with a
trainline.
18. The junction box assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of
male contact pins are crimped onto an electrical trainline within a
rail car prior to mating of the plurality of male contact pins with
the corresponding female to female contact sockets.
19. The junction box assembly of claim 1, wherein the female to
female contact sockets are pressed into apertures included the EOC
receptacle plug.
20. The junction box assembly of claim 2, wherein the internal
configuration of the junction box housing interacts with the
fitting such that the fitting may be rotated in 90 degree
increments to provide the alternative positions of the EOC
receptacle plug.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates generally to junction boxes
assemblies and, more specifically, for an improved End of Car
junction box for the electrical trainline of a train, as specified
in the independent claims.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Trains, in general, and freight trains, in particular, have
pneumatic brakes. Trains include a plurality of cars interconnected
to each other and pulled by a locomotive or include their own
locomotion within one of the cars. At least one fluid pipe
interconnects each of the cars. In trains that have electrical
capability, a trainline is interconnected between each of the cars
and/or locomotive.
[0003] Conventionally, a junction box assembly is generally
provided at each end of the rail car or locomotive. Conventionally,
the electrical cable line within the rail car is connected at a
terminal block within the junction box. An electrical connector
receptacle is also provided in the junction box and connected to
the terminal block. The cable is then received in the
connector/receptacle to interconnect between a pair of cars. An
example of a terminal block for an electrically-controlled
pneumatic brake application is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No.
6,283,765. A conventional junction box for use on the end of the
car or locomotive is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,669,506.
[0004] In recent years, End Of Car ("EOC") connectors have been
standardized; in particular, in freight cars, EOC connectors have
been standardized by the American Association of Railroads. Such
connectors threadably receive the trainline cable for a rail car.
As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,669,506, conventional connectors
can be susceptible to rotation during connection and disconnection.
This rotation in combination with the inability to create a seal
where the EOC connector extends through the wall of the housing is
very detrimental to the EOC connectors because components included
in the EOC junction box assemblies can become tangled or damaged,
thereby resulting in durability and reliability issues. Thus, U.S.
Pat. No. 6,669,506 addresses such issues.
SUMMARY
[0005] The following presents a simplified summary in order to
provide a basic understanding of some aspects of various invention
embodiments. The summary is not an extensive overview of the
invention. It is neither intended to identify key or critical
elements of the invention nor to delineate the scope of the
invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of
the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more
detailed description below.
[0006] In accordance with illustrated embodiments, an EOC junction
box assembly includes a housing wherein a plurality of
female/female contact sockets couple with a corresponding plurality
of male contact pins and are positioned with the aid of a fitting
such that the female/female contact sockets interface with an EOC
receptacle plug also included in the housing, such that alternate
positions of the fitting and EOC receptacle plug are available
during assembly while the components included in the housing are
restrained from rotation following assembly.
[0007] These illustrated embodiments are achieved by a combination
of features recited in the independent claim. Accordingly,
dependent claims prescribe further detailed implementations of the
present invention.
[0008] These and other aspects of the present invention will become
apparent from the following detailed description of the invention,
when considered in conjunction with accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Various embodiments are described herein, by way of example
only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific
reference now to the drawings, it should be understood that the
particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of
discussion of illustrated embodiments only, and are presented in
order to provide what is believed to be a useful and readily
understood description of the principles and concepts of the
invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural
details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a
fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken
with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how
the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.
[0010] Accordingly, a more complete understanding of the present
invention and the utility thereof may be acquired by referring to
the following description in consideration of the accompanying
drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features,
and wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an EOC junction box assembly
incorporating the principles of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is an end view of one end of the EOC junction box
assembly illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 3 is an end view of an end opposite to the end
illustrated in FIG. 2 of the EOC junction box assembly illustrated
in FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of an EOC junction box assembly
incorporating the principles of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross section view of the EOC
junction box assembly illustrated in FIG. 1 when viewed along the
view line 5-5 of FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a lateral cross section view of the EOC junction
box assembly illustrated in FIG. 5 when viewed along the view line
6-6 of FIG. 5.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a lateral cross section view of the EOC junction
box assembly illustrated in FIG. 5 when viewed along the view line
7-7 of FIG. 5.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a lateral cross section view of the EOC junction
box assembly illustrated in FIG. 5 when viewed along the view line
8-8 of FIG. 5.
[0019] FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of an EOC receptacle
plug utilized in the EOC junction box assembly illustrated in FIG.
1.
[0020] FIG. 10 illustrates a front view of the EOC receptacle plug
illustrated in FIG. 9.
[0021] FIG. 11 illustrates an end view of the EOC receptacle plug
illustrated in FIG. 9.
[0022] FIG. 12 illustrates a perspective view of an EOC fitting
incorporated in the EOC junction box assembly illustrated in FIG.
1.
[0023] FIG. 13 illustrates an end view of the EOC fitting
illustrated in FIG. 12.
[0024] FIG. 14 illustrates a perspective view of the sleeve
provided in at least one embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] In the following description of various invention
embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which
form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration,
various embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is
to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and
structural and functional modifications may be made without
departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0026] An EOC junction box assembly for a trainline on the prior
art is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,669,506. As
illustrated there, the assembly addresses conventional problems of
rotation and the inability to make a seal. In that configuration,
the housing of such EOC junction box assemblies may include a
removable lid and a pair of opposed walls. A terminal block is
mounted in the interior of the housing. Fastener apertures are
provided adjacent to the corners of the walls of the housing and
through which fasteners extend and mount the housing to the car.
Further, fasteners secure the lid to the body of the EOC junction
box and a fitting includes a threaded sleeve, which secures the
fitting in an opening in the side wall of the body. Additionally,
the interior of the body includes numerous components including
screws, nuts, a strain relief, and various collars and fasteners so
that a car trainline wire cable can be received through the body
and its wires connected to the terminal block so as to provide a
conventional EOC junction box.
[0027] However, although such conventional connectors are less
susceptible to rotation during connection and disconnection and
there is improved ability to create a seal where the EOC connector
extends through the wall of the housing, such connectors still
suffer from very complicated structures that involve numerous
components that require complicated assembly. As a result, even
though such designs improve durability and reliability, the
installation and maintenance of such designs can be burdensome.
Thus, simplification of the components included in an EOC junction
box assembly should improve durability and reduce the possibility
of malfunction or damage of the constituent parts of the EOC
junction box assembly.
[0028] Accordingly, illustrated embodiments of the invention
provide improved ease of assembly and repair by providing an EOC
junction box configured to act as a plug and play type of apparatus
whereas conventional EOC junction box required assembly of terminal
strips and many small pieces of associated hardware. Further,
illustrated embodiments provide the opportunity to provide
alterative configurations wherein the EOC receptacle plug, along
with the EOC fitting, may be rotated at 90 degree intervals. The
ability to rotate these internal components allows for alternate
mounting positions for the EOC junction box to be mounted to the
housing of the car without the need to change the orientation of
the trainline cable.
[0029] Moreover, illustrated embodiments address the conventional
need to carefully mate the EOC receptacle plug to the cover because
the novel EOC junction box includes a step that the EOC receptacle
plug may rest against rather than using threads for placement.
[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an EOC junction box assembly
100 incorporating the principles of the present invention. As
indicated in the perspective view of the EOC junction box assembly,
the EOC junction box assembly 100 includes both a triangular shaped
EOC junction box housing 101 as well as an EOC receptacle plug 105
provided on one longitudinal end of the EOC junction box housing
101, as further illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0031] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the longitudinal end including the
cable EOC receptacle plug 105 also includes an EOC junction box
housing cover 130 as well as two bolts that engage with both
apertures in the EOC junction box cover 130 and threaded apertures
included in the EOC junction box housing 101 so as to affix the EOC
junction box cover 130 to the EOC junction box housing 101 and
position the EOC receptacle plug 105 within the EOC junction box
assembly 100 so as to be accessible for connection and
disconnection by personnel. The EOC receptacle plug 105 includes a
plurality of apertures of differing sizes 106-108 that mate with
corresponding male pins affixed to an end of a trainline or cable
(not shown) as conventionally known. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the
EOC receptacle plug 105 has a "D" shape that is conventionally
known to help enable connection and disconnection of such cables
without rotation of components or connections included in EOC
boxes. Therefore, it should be understood and appreciated that the
both the "D" shape and the differing sizes of the apertures 106-108
assist in enabling personnel to easily connect and disconnect lines
to the EOC receptacle plug 105 in a proper orientation.
[0032] As illustrated in FIG. 3, a longitudinal end of the EOC
junction box housing 101 opposite to that illustrated in FIG. 2 may
include a threaded aperture 110 that is configured to mate with a
corresponding threaded component provided as part of a rail car to
which the EOC junction box assembly 100 is to be coupled. Like FIG.
2, the opposite end of the EOC junction box housing 101 includes a
plurality of apertures of differing sizes 125, 127, 129 positioned
in a similar manner to that of FIG. 2, however with a
modified-square shape, which is provided by EOC fitting 115, which
may be rotated to provide various alternative positions, as
explained in detail herein.
[0033] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of an EOC junction box assembly
100 illustrated in FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the EOC
junction box housing 101 houses various assembly components that
cooperate in a manner so as to provide electrical connection
between one longitudinal end of the assembly (as illustrated in
FIG. 2, for example) and an opposite longitudinal end of the
assembly (as illustrated in FIG. 3, for example). Accordingly, the
EOC junction box assembly 100 includes an EOC fitting 115 that
cooperates and mates with a plurality of male contact pins 125, 127
and 129 (as illustrated in FIG. 3), that in turn mate with a
corresponding plurality of female/female contact sockets 120, 122,
124; note that both the male contact pins and the female/female
contact sockets vary in size and, therefore, form corresponding
pairs of male contact pins and female/female contact sockets.
[0034] In turn, the female/female contact sockets 120, 122, 124
interact with the rear end 190 of the EOC receptacle plug 105 (as
illustrated in FIG. 11) so as to provide electrical contact from
the EOC receptacle plug 105 through to the male contact pins 125,
127, 129.
[0035] The EOC receptacle plug 105 cooperates with an EOC junction
box cover 130, which has a configuration that is described herein
with reference to FIG. 9. As part of the assembly of the EOC
junction box assembly 100, the EOC junction box cover 130 is
affixed over the EOC receptacle plug 105 to the EOC junction box
housing 101 using a plurality of bolts 135 with associated washers
140 through apertures included in the EOC junction box cover 130 to
engage with threaded apertures in the EOC junction box housing 101.
To provide durability and provide a weather-resistant seal, the EOC
junction box assembly 100 may also include seals 145, 146 and 150.
As explained herein with reference to FIGS. 5-8 and 12-13, the
unique shape of the EOC fitting 115 and its interaction with the
sleeve 112, ground pin 113 and interior shape of the EOC junction
box housing 101 and the male contact pins 125, 127, 129 enables the
EOC receptacle plug 105 to be positioned in various alternative
positions as part of assembly of the EOC junction box assembly 100;
however, the resulting EOC junction box assembly 100 does not
suffer from operation and maintenance issues stemming from rotation
of the EOC receptacle plug 105 during coupling and uncoupling of
the EOC junction box assembly 100 (for the reasons explained with
reference to FIGS. 9-11).
[0036] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross section view of the EOC
junction box assembly illustrated in FIG. 1 when viewed along the
view line 5-5 of FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the various
components illustrated in the exploded view of FIG. 4 are inserted
and cooperate within the EOC junction box housing 101. Thus, the
EOC junction box housing 101 includes the EOC fitting 115
cooperating with the male contact pins 125, 127, 129, which in turn
cooperate with the female/female contact sockets 120, 122, 124,
which in turn cooperate with the apertures included on the
back/internal side 190 of the EOC receptacle plug 105. Accordingly,
the cross section of FIG. 5 illustrates how, once these components
are inserted in the interior of the EOC junction box housing 101,
the seals 145, 146 and 150 are installed and the EOC junction box
cover 130 is affixed to the EOC junction box housing 101 to both
seal that side of the interior of the EOC junction box housing 101
and position the EOC receptacle plug 105 using the bolts 135. In
both FIGS. 1 and 5, u-bolt pocket 155 is provided. The pocket 155
bisects the corners of the triangular shape of the EOC junction box
housing 101 and is primarily used to assist in facilitating
coupling and uncoupling of the EOC junction box assembly 100 with
exterior equipment but may also be used to aid in mounting the EOC
junction box assembly 100.
[0037] FIGS. 6-8 are lateral cross section views of the EOC
junction box assembly 100 illustrated in FIG. 5 when viewed along
the view lines 6-6, 7-7 and 8-8, respectively, of FIG. 5.
[0038] Thus, as illustrated in FIGS. 6-8, the interior
configuration of the EOC junction box assembly 100 is non-uniform
and aids to ensure that components included in the EOC junction box
housing 101 do not rotate following assembly of the EOC junction
box assembly 100.
[0039] FIG. 6 is a lateral cross section view of the EOC junction
box assembly 100 illustrated in FIG. 5 when viewed along the view
line 6-6 of FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 6, the EOC receptacle plug 105
includes apertures 106-108 positioned to interface with
female/female connectors 120, 122, 124 (illustrated in FIG. 7).
That EOC receptacle plug 105 is positioned within the interior of
the EOC junction box housing 101 with the assistance of the EOC
junction box cover 130 (not shown in FIG. 6) which is affixed to
the EOC junction box housing 101 by the screws 135.
[0040] Likewise, FIG. 7 is a lateral cross section view of the EOC
junction box assembly 100 illustrated in FIG. 5 when viewed along
the view line 7-7 of FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 7, the female/female
connectors 120, 122, 124 are positioned so as to interface with the
apertures 106-108 of the EOC receptacle plug 105. Note the back or
interior end 190 of the EOC receptacle plug 105 is illustrated.
That end 190 is substantially square in shape but includes a
flattened corner 192 that alters the shape of the end 190 to be
somewhat similar to the EOC fitting 115 illustrated in FIGS. 12-13
for reasons discussed herein.
[0041] Also, as can be seen in FIG. 7, the ground pin 113 is
positioned within the recess 121 of the sleeve 112. This
cooperation between the sleeve 112 and the ground pin 113 assists
in preventing accidental dislodging of the male contact pins from
the EOC fitting by vibration. In this configuration, the ground pin
113 will also serve as a ground for the EOC junction box assembly
100. Additionally, such a sleeve 112 and ground pin 113 may assist
in ensuring that, if the male contact pins become partially
dislodged, the pins do not come into electrical contact with the
wall of the housing. Sleeve 112 may be, for example, a sleeve-like
component sized to provide a relatively thin sleeve surrounding EOC
fitting 115, as shown in FIG. 14 and described herein.
[0042] FIG. 8 is a lateral cross section view of the EOC junction
box assembly 100 illustrated in FIG. 5 when viewed along the view
line 8-8 of FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 8, the male contact pins 125,
127, 129 are likewise positioned via the EOC fitting 115 so as to
interface with the female/female connectors 120, 122, 124. As shown
in FIG. 8, the male contact pins 125, 127, 129, are respectively
positioned in openings 200, 202, 204 of differing sizes within the
EOC fitting 115. As mentioned above, the EOC fitting 115 is shaped
very similar to the end 190 of the EOC receptacle plug 105. Thus,
the EOC fitting 115 is shaped like a square but includes a
flattened corner 114 that is flattened like flattened corner 192
and includes indentations configured to receive and interface with
the protrusions 123 of the sleeve 112. The other sides of the EOC
fitting 115 include sides 116, 117, 118, 119 may include such
indentations as well.
[0043] As further illustrated in FIG. 8, the interior material 103
of the EOC junction box housing 101 includes a cavity 104 that is
substantially square in shape as well.
[0044] Additional details are now provided regarding the EOC
receptacle plug 105 illustrated in FIGS. 1-7. FIG. 9 illustrates a
perspective view of an EOC receptacle plug 105 utilized in the EOC
junction box assembly 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. Likewise, FIGS.
10-11 illustrate the front and rear ends 180, 190, respectively, of
the EOC receptacle plug 105.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 1, and as mentioned above, the EOC
receptacle plug 105 has a non-circular shape 180 including both a
flat portion 182 and a circular portion 184. The EOC receptacle
plug 105 cooperates and mates with an aperture in the EOC junction
box housing 101. That aperture has a corresponding non-circular
shape (not shown) such that rotation of the EOC receptacle plug 105
within the aperture is retarded or prevented by the non-rotating
shapes.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 11, the rear end 190 of the EOC receptacle
plug 105 has a substantially-triangular shape, resulting from the
square shape with one flattened corner 192 provided in a similar
manner as the non-circular shape of the front end 180. More
specifically, as indicated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the flattened
portions 182 and 192 of the substantially circular end 180 and
substantially square end 190 of the EOC receptacle plug 105 are
provided in the same general location as one another, i.e., they
have the same orientation. Accordingly, it should be understood
that if the EOC junction box assembly 100 is assembled with the
flat portion 182 of the "D" shape 180 downward, then the flattened
portion of the substantially square shape on the rear end 190 of
the EOC receptacle plug 105 will also be provided in that same
orientation.
[0047] However, in accordance with the illustrated invention, the
EOC fitting 115 cooperates with the interior cavity 103 of the EOC
junction box housing 101 (as illustrated in FIG. 8) and the other
components included in the EOC junction box assembly 100 (as
illustrated in FIGS. 5-8) such that the orientation of the "D"
shaped EOC receptacle plug 105 may be altered by 90 degrees without
affecting the orientation required for EOC junction box housing
101. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the end 190 of the EOC
receptacle plug 105 is substantially square in shape but includes a
flattened corner 192 that alters the shape of the end 190 to be
somewhat similar to the EOC fitting 115 illustrated in FIGS. 12-13
for reasons discussed herein. Additionally, as explained herein,
the interior cavity 104 of the EOC junction box housing 101 is
shaped so as to interact with the EOC fitting 115 such that four
alternative square shaped plug configurations, 90 degrees rotated
from one another may be provided during assembly. Likewise, it
should be understood that the EOC receptacle plug 105 also has four
alternative positions rotated from one another by 90 degrees.
[0048] More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the EOC
fitting 115 is shaped substantially in a triangular manner, which
may be alternately viewed as a substantially square shape with a
flattened side in the same manner as the end 190 of the EOC
receptacle plug 105. In the EOC fitting 115, the corners of the
triangle may be replaced with slot apertures 200, 202, 204 (also
illustrated in FIG. 8) that span the entire length of the EOC
fitting 115. Thus, as illustrated, the EOC fitting includes three
slot apertures 200, 202, 204 of varying sizes corresponding to the
various sizes of the male contact pins 125, 127, 129. Thus, the
slot apertures 200, 202, 204 are shaped, positioned and sized to
receive the three male contact pins 125, 127, 129, respectively.
The EOC fitting 115 may be configured so that each of the male
contact pins 125, 127, 129 may simply snap into place within each
of the slot apertures 200, 202, 204.
[0049] As illustrated in FIG. 12, the slot apertures 200, 202, 204
may also include a smaller diameter region 210 provided to
accommodate a smaller diameter portion of the male contact pins
125, 127, 129 to ensure that the male contact pins 125, 127, 129 do
not move laterally along the slot apertures 200, 202, 204.
[0050] The male contact pins 125, 127, 129 may then provide
connection with the pins or sockets (not shown) crimped onto a
trainline (not shown) that may be fed through the rear end of the
EOC junction box housing 101. To that end, it should be appreciated
that the male contact pins 125, 127, 129 may include female contact
sockets on one end for receiving male contact pins crimped on a
trainline; alternatively, the male contact pins 125, 127, 129 may
include male contact pins on both ends so as to enable mating with
female contact sockets crimped on a trainline.
[0051] The "D" shaped non-circular shape 180 of the EOC receptacle
plug 105 may be rotated at 90 degree intervals to enable different
configurations of the "D" shaped plug with relation to the EOC
junction box housing 101. Thus, FIG. 1 illustrates only one
configuration of the EOC junction box assembly 100; in another
configuration, the flat end of the "D" shape may be provided on the
opposite lateral side of EOC junction box assembly 100. Such an
alternative configuration can be of potential utility when
trainline connections are easiest coupled or uncoupled from one
lateral side, top or bottom of the connection or connections are
more easily initiated or maintained from one or another lateral
side of the connection or the top or bottom of the connection.
[0052] Thus, inside the EOC junction box housing 101, the EOC
fitting 115 may be rotated 90 degrees during assembly. This
flexibility is a result of the configuration of the EOC fitting 115
in relationship to the back end 190 of the EOC receptacle plug 105
and the symmetrical nature of both the EOC fitting 115 and the
inside of the EOC junction box housing 101. Additionally, as
explained herein, a sleeve 112 of similar shape to the EOC fitting
115 and end 190 may also be included in the EOC junction box
housing 101.
[0053] Depending on the orientation of the EOC fitting 115, e.g.,
as illustrated in FIGS. 12-13, or upside down, the flat portion 182
of the "D" shape 180 of the EOC receptacle plug 105 may be provided
as shown in FIG. 10, or rotated 90, 180 or 270 degrees, without
affecting the positioning of the EOC junction box housing 101 of
the EOC junction box assembly illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0054] To aid in the understanding of this potential rotation, FIG.
13 includes a dashed line indicating the orthogonal or square
nature of the EOC fitting 115. Thus, the EOC fitting 115 may be
rotated at 90 degree increments without altering the orientation of
the EOC junction box housing 101. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the
slot apertures 200, 202, 204 may also optionally include enlarged
ends 205 that facilitate installation of the male contact pins 125,
127, 129.
[0055] Assembly of the EOC junction box assembly 100 is fairly
straight forward and involves pressing the female/female contact
sockets 120, 122, 124 into the apertures 106, 107, 108 on the back
side 190 of the EOC receptacle plug 105 and inserting that
combination within the interior cavity 104 of the EOC junction box
housing 101 at the desired configuration relative to the EOC
junction box housing 101. Subsequently, or simultaneously, the male
contact pins 125, 127, 129 may be snapped into the slot apertures
200, 202, 204 of the EOC fitting 115 and the combination inserted
into the interior cavity of the sleeve 112. This combination may
then be inserted in the interior cavity 104 of the EOC junction box
housing 101. Accordingly, the female/female contact sockets 120,
122, 124 may be mated with the male contact pins 125, 127, 129.
Subsequently, the EOC junction box cover 130 and associated seals
may be added to the housing, and the EOC junction box cover 130 may
be affixed to the EOC junction box housing 101 by the screws
135.
[0056] FIG. 14 illustrates one example of the sleeve 112 that may
be utilized to prevent accidental dislodging of the male contact
pins from the EOC fitting by vibration. As shown in FIG. 14, the
sleeve 112 includes a recess 121 for interacting with the ground
pin 113. This cooperation between the sleeve 112 and the ground pin
113 assists in preventing accidental dislodging of the male contact
pins as well as electrical contact with the wall of the housing.
The sleeve also includes protrusions 123 configured on the interior
sides of the sleeve 112 and located to interact with corresponding
indentations provided on the sides of the EOC fitting 115, as
illustrated in FIG. 13. Additionally, such a sleeve 112 and ground
pin 113 may assist in ensuring that, if the male contact pins
become partially dislodged, the pins do not come into electrical
contact with the wall of the housing.
[0057] Whereas the figures have shown a EOC junction box assembly
typical for a specific type of EOC receptacle plug, it should be
appreciated that various types of EOC receptacle plugs are well
known in the art; as a result, although such plugs are not
described in detail, it should be appreciated that the EOC junction
box assembly 100 may be used in conjunction with various different
types of plugs and, the particular physical configuration of a
fitting used in the EOC junction box assembly according to the
illustrated embodiments may be altered accordingly. It should also
be appreciated that, in the configuration of the illustrated EOC
junction box assembly 100, both the EOC fitting 115 and the EOC
receptacle plug 105 may be environmentally sealed.
[0058] Although the present invention has been described and
illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that this is
done by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken
by way of limitation. Thus, while this invention has been described
in conjunction with the specific embodiments outlined above, it is
evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will
be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the various
embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to
be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. As a result,
it will be apparent for those skilled in the art that the
illustrative embodiments described are only examples and that
various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention
as defined in the appended claims.
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