System and method for identifying connections in an industrial enclosure

摘要

The subject matter disclosed herein describes a system for connecting devices mounted to and within an industrial enclosure. The conductors for a device having multiple electrical conductors are bundled together. A first color coded element, such as a sleeve, is slid over the bundle providing a first identifier. The ends of the conductors are terminated at a single plug for insertion into a receptacle. A second color coded element, such as a label, which corresponds to the first color coded element, identifies into which receptacle each plug is to be inserted. In addition, each pole of the plug and/or receptacle includes a key or a corresponding space to receive a key. Various combinations of keys and spaces are defined such that each plug may be inserted into a single receptacle.

主权项

1. An interconnection system for an industrial enclosure, wherein the industrial enclosure includes a plurality of externally accessible electronic devices and a plurality of internally mounted electronic devices, the interconnection system comprising:
a plurality of electrical conductors having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each electrical conductor is electrically connected to one of the externally accessible electronic devices; a plurality of plugs, each plug having a plurality of terminals and a mating portion, wherein each of the plurality of terminals is configured to receive the second end of one of the electrical conductors; a plurality of terminal blocks, each terminal block having a first terminal and a second terminal electrically connected to the first terminal, wherein the first terminal is configured to engage the mating portion of one of the plugs and the second terminal is electrically connected to one of the internally mounted electronic devices; a plurality of first color coded elements, wherein each of the first color coded elements identifies a portion of the plurality of electrical conductors connected between one of the externally accessible electronic devices and one of the plurality of plugs; and a plurality of second color coded elements, wherein each of the second color coded elements identifies a portion of the terminal blocks and wherein each of the second color coded elements corresponds to one of the first color coded elements providing a visual indication of which of the first terminals on the terminal blocks the mating portion of each plug engages.