Zero space component adapter for rail mounted terminal block relays

An in-plane component adapter used with a terminal block of a type mountable at a rear surface on a laterally extending rail to present a substantially constant lateral thickness between left and right planar walls that may abut corresponding planar walls of adjacent terminal blocks mounted on the rail, the terminal block further providing a plurality of terminals accessible at upper and lower edges of the terminal block for receiving electrical conductors communicating electrical signals to a relay of the terminal block, and providing a terminal block socket for receiving the relay having relay pins insertable into the terminal block socket from a front surface, the component adapter comprising:

• an insulating housing;
• a component within the insulating housing having terminals;
• conductive pins collectively having:
• first ends extending from a rear surface of the housing and receivable by the socket, portions within the housing attached to terminals of the component, and second ends terminating in housing receptacles receiving the relay pins of the relay at a front surface of the housing;
• wherein when the conductive pins are received by the terminal block socket, the housing lies substantially between planes of the left and right planar walls of the terminal block;
• and
• wherein the housing includes upper and lower forward extending stabilizing means having inner surfaces aligned with and parallel to upper surface and lower surface of the relay so as to receive upper edge and lower edge of the relay therebetween when the relay pins are inserted into the housing receptacles.

A terminal block relay assembly comprising:

• a terminal block housing having a rear surface including a channel allowing the housing to be mounted on a laterally extending rail to present a substantially constant lateral thickness between left and right planar walls that may abut corresponding planar walls of adjacent terminal blocks mounted on the rail;
• a plurality of terminals accessible at upper and lower edges of the terminal block housing for receiving electrical conductors communicating electrical signals to a relay held by the terminal block housing;
• an in-plane fuse adapter including:
• (a) an insulating adapter housing having a width substantially equal to the lateral thickness of the terminal block housing;
• (b) at least one component within the adapter housing having terminals;
• (c) at least one conductive pin having a first end extending from a rear surface of the adapter housing and receivable by the terminal block housing, having a portion within the adapter housing to selectively attach to terminals of the component and having a second end receiving a conductor from the relay at a front surface of the adapter housing;
• wherein the adapter housing may be attached to the terminal block housing so that the adapter housing ties substantially between planes of the left and right planar walls of the terminal block housing;
• and
• wherein the housing includes upper and lower forward extending stabilizing means having inner surfaces aligned with and parallel to upper surface and lower surface of the relay so as to receive upper edge and lower edge of the relay therebetween when the conductor from the relay is received by the second end.

A terminal block relay assembly comprising:

• a terminal block housing having a rear surface including a channel allowing the housing to be mounted on a laterally extending rail to present a substantially constant lateral thickness between left and right planar walls that may abut corresponding planar walls of adjacent terminal blocks mounted on the rail;
• a plurality of terminals accessible at upper and lower edges of the terminal block housing for receiving electrical conductors communicating electrical signals to a relay held by the terminal block housing;
• a terminal block socket for receiving a relay having relay pins insertable into the terminal block socket from a front surface of the terminal block housing;
• an in-plane fuse adapter including:
• (a) an insulating adapter housing;
• (b) a component within the adapter housing having terminals;
• (c) conductive pins collectively having:
• first ends extending from a rear surface of the adapter housing and receivable by the terminal block socket, portions within the adapter housing attached to terminals of the component, and housing receptacles receiving the relay pins of a relay at a front surface of the housing;
• and
• wherein when the conductive pins are received by the terminal block socket, the housing lies substantially between planes of the left and right planar walls of the terminal block housing;
• and
• wherein the housing includes upper and lower forward extending stabilizing means having inner surfaces aligned with and parallel to upper surface and lower surface of the relay so as to receive upper edge and lower edge of the relay therebetween when the relay pins are inserted into the housing receptacles.