Multi-wire terminal block employing removable surge protector

A protected multi-wire terminal block adapted for use in connecting an exchange wire and one or more service wires, the protected terminal block comprising:

• a housing having a plurality of separate chambers and a plurality of access holes for allowing service wire pairs to be inserted into said chambers;
• a plurality of electrical contact elements, respectively configured in each of said plurality of separate chambers and conductively connected to an exchange wire;
• means configured within the housing, for electrically connecting each respective service wire to an electrical contact element;
• a ground contact removably secured to said housing adjacent a test port;
• a plurality of receptacles removably secured to said housing and configured adjacent said test port, wherein said plurality of receptacles and said ground contact may be removed from said housing;
• and
• means, removably mounted in a selected receptacle and conductively connected to said ground contact and a selected contact element, for providing electrical surge protection, wherein a protected electrical path is provided between said service wire, said selected electrical contact element and said exchange wire,
• wherein said connections between said protection means, and said ground contact and said selected contact element, are automatically achieved upon insertion of said protection means into said selected receptacle.

A protected terminal block adapted for use in connecting a pair of exchange wires and a pair of service wires, the protected terminal block comprising:

• a housing having a pair of access holes for allowing a pair of service wires to be inserted into said housing;
• a pair of electrical contact elements configured in said housing and conductively connected to a pair of exchange wires, said pair of electrical contact elements having a corresponding pair of test leads;
• a pair of test ports in said housing for providing access to said pair of test leads;
• means configured within the housing, for electrically connecting said pair of service wires to said pair of contact elements;
• a ground contact secured to said housing adjacent said pair of test ports;
• a receptacle coupled to the housing and configured adjacent said pair of test ports;
• and
• a protection module for protecting a pair of electrically conductive paths removably mounted in said receptacle, said protection module having a protector with a pair of terminal block contact elements and a protection module ground connector, wherein said pair of terminal block contact elements extends into said pair of test ports to form an electrically conductive connection between said pair of terminal block contact elements and said pair of test leads within said pair of test ports, and wherein said protection module ground connector forms an electrically conductive connection with said ground contact,
• wherein said electrically conductive connections between said terminal block contact elements and said pair of test leads, and said protection module ground connector and said ground contact, are automatically achieved upon insertion of said protection module into said receptacle.

A terminal block for use in connecting telecommunication service wires to exchange wires, the terminal block comprising:

• a housing including a plurality of service wire to exchange wire terminating means therein;
• a pair of receptacles connected to the housing;
• and
• one or more removable protection modules which are adapted to removably fit within the receptacles, each protection module including:
• an electrical surge protection means, one or more test contacts, a first electrical contact which is automatically electrically connected to the service to exchange wire terminating means upon insertion of the module into a receptacle, and a ground contact which is automatically connected to a path to an electrical ground when the module is inserted into a corresponding receptacle, wherein when a protection module is fitted within a receptacle the one or more test contacts allow a corresponding service wire to exchange wire terminating means to be individually electrically tested.