Electrical power distribution system

A power track housing assembly for an electrical power distribution system, comprising:

• a housing;
• a plurality of conductors extending from a first end of the housing to a second end of the housing;
• a opening in a bottom of the housing assembly and extending continuously from the first end of the housing to the second end of the housing, said opening being arranged to receive a plug-in power tap anywhere along said length of said housing assembly;
• and
• additional end openings at said first and second ends of said housing, said additional openings being arranged to receive splice assemblies for connecting together multiple said housing assemblies,
• wherein said power track housing assembly is adapted to receive a portion of a plug-in power tap through said bottom opening, said plug-in power tap including a contact-extending device and a plurality of resilient spring members, said contact-extending device being positioned to engage and press at least one of said resilient spring members against respective said conductors after said plug-in power tap has been inserted into said housing to thereby establish an electrical connection between said resilient spring members and said conductors, and
• wherein said power track housing assembly further includes a compartment for carrying at least one data bus for establishing communications between a monitoring circuit in said plug-in power tap and a remote monitor or display.

A plug-in power tap for an electrical power distribution system including a power track housing assembly having a housing;

• a plurality of conductors extending from a first end of the housing to a second end of the housing;
• and an opening in a bottom of the housing assembly and extending continuously from the first end of the housing to the second end of the housing, said opening being arranged to receive said plug-in power tap anywhere along said length of said housing assembly, said plug-in power tap comprising:
• a contact-extending device including individual cams;
• and
• a plurality of resilient spring members,
• wherein said contact-extending device is positioned to engage and press at least one of said resilient spring members against respective said conductors after said plug-in power tap has been inserted into said housing, to thereby establish an electrical connection between said resilient spring members and said conductors, said plug-in power tap further including at least one receptacle connected to at least one of said resilient spring members for supplying power to equipment upon rotation of said cams into engagement with said resilient spring members and connection of said equipment to said receptacle.

A splice assembly for an electrical power distribution system including a power track housing assembly having a housing;

• a plurality of conductors extending from a first end of the housing to a second end of the housing;
• an opening in a bottom of the housing assembly and extending continuously from the first end of the housing to the second end of the housing, said opening being arranged to receive a plug-in power tap anywhere along said length of said housing assembly;
• and end openings for receiving said splice assembly, said splice assembly comprising:
• a plurality of resilient conductors;
• a support for supporting said plurality of resilient conductors;
• and
• a contact-extending mechanism arranged to engage and push said resilient conductors into engagement with said plurality of conductors of said power track housing assembly after insertion of said splice assembly into said one of said end openings of said power track housing assembly,
• wherein said splice assembly is arranged to be received in one of said end openings of said power track housing assembly to extend a length of said housing assembly by connecting the housing assembly to another said power track housing assembly.