Pass-through transition enclosure
A system including an enclosure is described herein, the enclosure having a housing and a lid coupled to the housing, the housing defining a first aperture and a second aperture. The system may include a pass-through connector coupled to an interior surface of the enclosure. The pass-through connector may comprise a body having an interior curved edge; a cap coupled to the body and comprising a pivot pin, wherein the pivot pin and the interior curved edge define a channel in the interior; a contact spring positioned in part within the channel; a terminal having a fastening region and a contact region; and an actuator having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is in contact with the contact spring.
1 . A system comprising:
an enclosure comprising:
a housing defining a first aperture and a second aperture; and
a lid removably coupled to the housing; and
a pass-through connector coupled to an interior surface of the enclosure, the pass-through connector comprising:
a body having an interior curved edge;
a cap coupled to the body and defining an interior between the body and the cap, the cap comprising a pivot pin, wherein the pivot pin and the interior curved edge define a channel in the interior;
a contact spring positioned in part within the channel;
a terminal having a fastening region and a contact region, wherein the fastening region is positioned exterior to the interior defined by the body and the cap, and wherein the contact region is positioned within the interior defined by the body and the cap; and
an actuator having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is in contact with the contact spring.
2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an extension conductor coupled to the fastening region of the terminal and extending through the second aperture to an exterior of the housing, the extension conductor having a conductive socket configured to receive a conductive connector from a photovoltaic module.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the lid is hingedly coupled to the housing.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cap further comprises a recess, and wherein the actuator further comprises a protrusion configured to physically engage the recess in a holding position and physically disengage the recess in a receiving position.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein when the actuator is in the holding position, the actuator applies a force on the contact spring so that the contact spring pivots about the pivot pin toward the contact region of the terminal.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises (i) a cap protrusion configured to physically engage with a cap recess in the cap and (ii) a housing protrusion configured to physically engage with a mounting recess in the housing.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the contact spring comprises a prong that engages a conductor inserted into the body of the pass-through connector when the actuator is in a holding position and applying a force onto an end of the contact spring opposite the prong.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to have bimodal stability with a first stable position in a receiving position and a second stable position in a holding position.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the housing and lid have a height of less than 22 millimeters when coupled together.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the terminal further comprises at least one wing at the fastening region, wherein the at least one wing is configured to couple to a conductor positioned proximate to the fastening region.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the terminal further comprises a locating region positioned between the cap and the body, wherein the locating region includes a first bend positioned proximate a wall of the body.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cap further comprises a first indication and the actuator comprises a second indication a distance from the first indication, wherein the distance is 20-25 millimeters.
13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator further comprises a fulcrum and a spring stop at the second end, wherein the spring stop and the fulcrum form a fork in the second end.
14 . A pass-through connector comprising:
a body having an interior curved edge;
a cap coupled to the body and defining an interior between the body and the cap, the cap comprising a pivot pin, wherein the pivot pin and the interior curved edge define a channel in the interior;
a contact spring positioned in part within the channel;
a terminal having a fastening region and a contact region, wherein the fastening region is positioned exterior to the interior defined by the body and the cap, and wherein the contact region is positioned within the interior defined by the body and the cap; and
an actuator having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is in contact with the contact spring.
15 . The pass-through connector of claim 14 , wherein the terminal further comprises a locating region positioned between the cap and the body, wherein the locating region includes a first bend proximate a wall of the body.
16 . The pass-through connector of claim 14 , wherein the cap further comprises a recess, and wherein the actuator further comprises a protrusion configured to physically engage the recess in a holding position and physically disengage the recess in a receiving position.
17 . The pass-through connector of claim 16 , wherein when the actuator is in the holding position, the actuator applies a force on the contact spring such that the contact spring pivots about the pivot pin toward the contact region of the terminal.
18 . The pass-through connector of claim 14 , wherein the terminal further comprises at least one wing at the fastening region, wherein the at least one wing is configured to couple to a conductor positioned proximate to the fastening region.
19 . The pass-through connector of claim 14 , wherein the actuator is configured to have bimodal stability with a first stable position in a receiving position and a second stable position in a holding position.
20 . A method comprising:
inserting a conductor into an enclosure, the enclosure comprising:
a housing defining a first aperture and a second aperture, wherein the conductor is inserted into the first aperture;
a lid removably coupled to the housing; and
a pass-through connector coupled to an interior surface of the enclosure, the pass-through connector comprising:
a body having an interior curved edge;
a cap coupled to the body and defining an interior between the body and the cap, the cap comprising a pivot pin, wherein the pivot pin and the interior curved edge define a channel in the interior;
a contact spring positioned in part within the channel;
a terminal having a fastening region and a contact region, wherein the fastening region is positioned exterior to the interior defined by the body and the cap, and wherein the contact region is positioned within the interior defined by the body and the cap; and
an actuator having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is in contact with the contact spring;
inserting the conductor into the pass-through connector; and
actuating the actuator to apply a force to the contact spring to engage the conductor.