Joseph Dale Lorenzen

US Patent:

62227173, Apr 24, 2001

Filed:

May 15, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/856935

Inventors:

Charles W. Waas - Burbank CA
Joseph D. Lorenzen - Burbank CA

Assignee:

3M Innovative Properties Co. - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

H02H 906

US Classification:

361119

Abstract:

A terminal block for terminating one or more exchange wires to one or more service wires has a housing including a plurality of separate chambers each of which are accessible to a service wire through a wire access port. The terminal block includes an access jack including a service wire junction contact provided within a service wire junction contact slot, an exchange wire junction contact provided within an exchange wire junction contact slot and an earth junction contact retained within an earth junction contact slot. Exchange wires are terminated to respective exchange wire junction contacts in the terminal block and the corresponding stub cable is permanently secured thereto. One or more service wires are terminated and conductively connected to a service wire junction contact. A linking module is provided which, when inserted into the access jack, forms a conductive connection between the service wire junction contact and the exchange wire junction contact. The linking module further includes a protection device which provides protection to the service side and exchange side.