Connection terminal and circuit breaker comprising same

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of connecting terminal for connecting wire to electric switch device and circuit breaker comprising connecting terminal.Connecting terminal includes: terminal block, including multiple side walls and the cavity formed by multiple side walls, the cavity is opened at both ends opposite each other in the direction along wire insertion therein, multiple side walls include upper side wall and lower side wall opposite each other, and part of the upper side wall is formed with the first through-hole for screw passing;Terminal lug, including the terminal portion extending in terminal block, and terminal portion is arranged at another part of the upper side wall without forming first through-hole;Clamping piece is arranged in cavity, and clamping piece includes first part facing terminal portion and second part facing the first through-hole of upper side wall, and first part is arranged between terminal portion and lower side wall, and second part includes threaded hole corresponding with the first through-hole of upper side wall for screwing into by screw.The connecting terminal has simple structure and smaller overall size.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a connection terminal for connecting a wire to an electrical switching device, and a circuit breaker including the connection terminal. Background Technology

[0002] Circuit breaker terminals are electrical connection components on a circuit breaker used to connect wires to the electrical switching device, enabling the circuit breaker to connect to power lines and load lines, thereby achieving circuit control and protection functions. Typically, circuit breaker terminals are equipped with wiring screws to secure the wires. Tightening or loosening the wiring screws allows for the installation, securing, and removal of the wires. However, existing terminal structures are complex and large, hindering the installation of circuit breakers with a compact design. Utility Model Content

[0003] Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention provides a connection terminal for connecting a wire to an electrical switching device, and a circuit breaker including the connection terminal.

[0004] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a connection terminal for connecting a wire to an electrical switching device is provided. The connection terminal includes: a wiring frame comprising a plurality of sidewalls and a cavity formed by the plurality of sidewalls, the cavity having openings at opposite ends along the direction in which the wire is inserted; the plurality of sidewalls including an upper sidewall and a lower sidewall opposite to each other, a portion of the upper sidewall forming a first through hole for a screw to pass through; a wiring tab including a wiring portion extending within the wiring frame, the wiring portion being disposed at a portion of the upper sidewall where the first through hole is not formed; and a clamping member disposed within the cavity, the clamping member including a clamping member facing the wiring portion. The first part and the second part facing the first through hole on the upper sidewall, the first part being disposed between the wiring portion of the connector and the lower sidewall of the connector frame, the second part including a threaded hole corresponding to the first through hole on the upper sidewall for screwing in the screw, wherein the screw enters the cavity of the connector frame through the first through hole on the upper sidewall and is at least partially screwed into the threaded hole of the clamping member, as the screw is tightened in the threaded hole of the clamping member, the clamping member moves upward relative to the connector frame, thereby reducing the distance between the first part of the clamping member and the wiring portion, thereby pressing the wire extending into the connector frame.

[0005] In one embodiment, the wiring frame further includes a partition disposed in the chamber for dividing the chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein the clamping member includes a clearance groove located between the first portion and the second portion, thereby avoiding the partition when the clamping member moves, the wiring portion of the wiring tab and the first portion of the clamping member are located in the first chamber, the screw and the second portion of the clamping member are located in the second chamber, and the wire is inserted into the first chamber from the outside.

[0006] In one embodiment, the second portion of the clamping member has a greater thickness than the first portion.

[0007] In one embodiment, the clamping member is integrally formed of a metal plate, and a second portion of the clamping member includes a double-layer plate formed by folding a portion of the metal plate, with the threaded hole formed in the double-layer plate.

[0008] In one embodiment, the terminal block extends into the cavity from a first opening; the clamping member further includes an extension that bends downward toward the terminal frame from one end of the first portion and the second portion at a second opening in the cavity opposite to the first opening, such that the clamping member is L-shaped.

[0009] In one embodiment, the connection terminal further includes a shielding member mounted on the extension, extending downward toward the wiring frame, and moving up and down with the clamping member, wherein as the screw is tightened in the threaded hole of the clamping member, the shielding member moves upward relative to the wiring frame with the clamping member, thereby shielding at least a portion of the opening of the chamber.

[0010] In one embodiment, the shielding member is mounted on the portion of the extension corresponding to the first portion of the clamping member. When the shielding member moves upward relative to the wiring frame along with the clamping member, the shielding member blocks the portion of the second opening between the first portion and the lower sidewall of the wiring frame.

[0011] In one embodiment, the diameter of the first through hole is larger than the outer diameter of the screw to guide the screw.

[0012] In one embodiment, a second through hole is formed on the lower sidewall of the wiring frame corresponding to the first through hole on the upper sidewall, through which a screw passes. The end of the screw is located in the second through hole or exposed outside the lower sidewall through the second through hole. The diameter of the second through hole is larger than the outer diameter of the end of the screw to guide the screw.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a circuit breaker includes connection terminals as described above.

[0014] In one embodiment, the circuit breaker further includes: a housing, in which the connection terminal is located; and an arc-extinguishing chamber disposed in the housing, wherein the connection terminal is located above the arc-extinguishing chamber and at least partially overlaps the arc-extinguishing chamber in the vertical direction.

[0015] The connecting terminal according to embodiments of this utility model has fewer components, a simpler structure, and a smaller overall size, and can achieve a stable and reliable electrical connection with the conductor. Furthermore, as the conductor is connected to the connecting terminal, the opening of the connecting terminal changes from an open state to a closed state, thereby preventing accidental electric shock or short circuits due to accidental contact and improving the safety of the connecting terminal. Additionally, when the connecting terminal according to this utility model is applied to a circuit breaker, because the small-sized connecting terminal can be stacked and installed with the arc-extinguishing chamber into the circuit breaker housing, the overall size of the circuit breaker can be reduced, resulting in a compact and small-sized circuit breaker. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The above and other features and advantages of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way, wherein:

[0017] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram showing a connection terminal for connecting a wire to an electrical switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 This is an exploded structural diagram showing a connection terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection terminal in a closed state according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram showing the transition of a connection terminal from an open state to a closed state according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 5 This is a perspective view showing a circuit breaker according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this disclosure clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings represent the same components. It should be noted that the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the described embodiments of this disclosure without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0023] Compared to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, feasible embodiments within the scope of this disclosure may have fewer components, other components not shown in the drawings, different components, components arranged differently, or components with different connections, etc. Furthermore, two or more components in the drawings may be implemented in a single component, or a single component shown in the drawings may be implemented as multiple separate components.

[0024] Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used herein shall have the ordinary meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. The terms “first,” “second,” and similar terms used in this patent application specification and claims do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Where the number of components is not specified, the number of components may be one or more; similarly, the terms “a,” “the,” “described,” and similar terms do not necessarily indicate a quantity limitation. The terms “comprising,” “including,” or “including,” and similar terms mean that the element or object preceding the word encompasses the element or object listed following the word and its equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. The terms “install,” “set,” “connect,” or “link,” and similar terms are not limited to physical or mechanical installation, setting, or connection, but may include electrical installation, setting, or connection, whether direct or indirect. “Above,” “below,” “left,” “right,” etc., are used only to indicate the relative positional relationship of the equipment during use or the positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings; when the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0025] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram showing a connection terminal for connecting a wire to an electrical switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 This is an exploded structural diagram showing a connection terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 According to one embodiment of the present invention, a connecting terminal is used to connect a wire to an electrical switching device. The connecting terminal includes a wiring frame 10, a wiring piece 20, a clamping member 30, and a screw 40.

[0027] The terminal block 10 may include a plurality of sidewalls and a cavity 11 formed by the plurality of sidewalls. The cavity 11 may have openings at opposite ends in the direction in which a wire (not shown) is inserted, allowing the wire to pass through. The plurality of sidewalls of the terminal block 10 may include an upper sidewall 12 and a lower sidewall 13 opposite to each other, a portion of the upper sidewall 12 may have a first through hole 14 through which a screw 40 passes. The terminal piece 20 may include a terminal portion 21 extending within the terminal block 10. The terminal portion 21 may be disposed at another portion of the upper sidewall 12 where the first through hole 14 is not formed. A clamping member 30 may be disposed in the cavity 11 and may include a first portion 31 facing the terminal portion 21 and a second portion 32 facing the first through hole 14 of the upper sidewall 12. The first part 31 of the clamping member 30 may be disposed between the wiring portion 21 of the connector 20 and the lower sidewall 13 of the connector frame 10. The second part 32 of the clamping member 30 may include a threaded hole 33 corresponding to the first through hole 14 of the upper sidewall 12 for screwing in a screw 40. The screw 40 can enter the cavity 11 of the connector frame 10 through the first through hole 14 of the upper sidewall 12 and be at least partially screwed into the threaded hole 33 of the clamping member 30.

[0028] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the transition of a connection terminal from an open state to a closed state according to an embodiment of the present invention. (See reference) Figure 4 As the screw 40 is tightened in the threaded hole 33 of the clamping member 30, the clamping member 30 can move upward relative to the terminal frame 10, reducing the distance between the first portion 31 of the clamping member 30 and the wiring portion 21 of the terminal piece 20, thereby clamping the wire extending into the terminal frame 10. Since the screw 40 is located in the terminal frame 10 when no wire is connected, and does not need to move downward from outside the terminal frame as in the prior art, the connection terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention can have a smaller size, for example, a smaller height, thus achieving a small-sized connection terminal.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the wiring frame 10 may further include a separator 50 disposed in the chamber 11 for dividing the chamber 11 into a first chamber 110 and a second chamber 120. The clamping member 30 may further include a clearance groove 34 located between the first portion 31 and the second portion 32, thereby clearing the separator 50 when the clamping member 30 moves. The wiring portion 21 of the connector 20 and the first portion 31 of the clamping member 30 may be located in the first chamber 110, and the screw 40 and the second portion 32 of the clamping member 30 may be located in the second chamber 120. The wire is inserted into the first chamber 110 from the outside. As the screw 40 is tightened in the threaded hole 33 of the clamping member 30, the clamping member 30 may move upward relative to the wiring frame 10, thereby reducing the distance between the first portion 31 of the clamping member 30 and the wiring portion 21 of the connector 20 to press the wire within the wiring frame 10. Since the separator 50 confines the wire in the first chamber 110, the wire will not move into the second chamber 120 when it is pressed by the first part 31 of the clamping member 30 and the wiring part 21 of the connector 20, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the wire electrical connection.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the second part 32 of the clamping member 30 may have a greater thickness than the first part 31, thereby giving the second part 32 of the clamping member 30 higher mechanical strength. Therefore, during the tightening of the screw 40 in the threaded hole 33 of the clamping member 30, the second part 32 of the clamping member 30 is less prone to deformation, thus improving the reliability and durability of the connecting terminal.

[0031] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the clamping member 30 can be integrally formed from a metal plate, and the second part 32 of the clamping member 30 can include a double-layer plate, which can be formed by folding a portion of the metal plate. A threaded hole 33 can be formed in the double-layer plate, allowing a screw 40 to be screwed into the threaded hole 33. Thus, the manufacturing process of the clamping member 30 is simplified, and the mechanical strength of different parts of the clamping member 30 can be easily controlled.

[0032] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the chamber 11 may have openings at both ends opposite to each other in the direction in which the wire is inserted, such that the chamber 11 may include a first opening 16 and a second opening 17 opposite to each other in the direction in which the wire is inserted. The connector 20 may extend into the chamber 11 from the first opening 16. The clamping member 30 may also include an extension 35 that bends downward toward the junction box 10 from one end of the first portion 31 and the second portion 32 at the second opening 17 of the chamber 11, such that the clamping member 30 is L-shaped. Thus, the clamping member 30 can be easily installed and abutted against the edge of the lower sidewall 13 of the junction box 10 at the second opening 17, ensuring accurate positioning of the clamping member 30 and easy alignment of the threaded hole 33 of the clamping member 30 with the first through hole 14 of the junction box.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the connecting terminal may further include a shielding member 60, which can be mounted on the extension 35 of the clamping member 30, extending downward toward the wiring frame 10, and moving up and down together with the clamping member 30. (See reference) Figure 3 and Figure 4 As the screw 40 is tightened in the threaded hole 33 of the clamping member 30, the shielding member 60 can move upward relative to the wiring frame 10 along with the clamping member 30, thereby shielding at least a portion of the second opening 17 of the chamber 11. Thus, with the wire fixed to the connection terminal, the second opening 17 of the wiring frame 10 can be at least partially closed by the shielding member 60, preventing the user from accidentally touching the electrical connection components inside the connection terminal, thereby preventing accidental electric shock or short circuit.

[0034] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the blocking member 60 can be installed on the portion of the extension 35 of the clamping member 30 corresponding to the first portion 31 of the clamping member, and extends downward toward the wiring frame 10. For example, a portion of the upper end of the blocking member 60 can be inserted into the relief groove 34 of the clamping member 30 and installed on the portion of the extension 35 of the clamping member 30 corresponding to the first portion 31 of the clamping member by a snap-fit ​​connection. When the blocking member 60 moves upward relative to the wiring frame 10 along with the clamping member 30, the blocking member 60 can block the portion of the second opening 17 between the first portion 31 and the lower side wall 13 of the wiring frame, for example, blocking the portion of the second opening 17 corresponding to the first chamber 110. Therefore, with the wire fixed to the connection terminal, a portion of the second opening 17 of the wiring frame 10 corresponding to the first chamber 110 can be at least partially closed by the shield 60, thereby preventing the user from accidentally touching the electrical connection components inside the connection terminal, such as the wire in the connected state, the wiring portion 21 of the connector 20 and the first portion 31 of the clamp 30, and thus preventing accidental electric shock or short circuit caused by accidental contact.

[0035] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the diameter of the first through hole 14 in the upper side wall 12 of the wiring frame 10 can be larger than the outer diameter of the screw 40, so as to guide the screw 40 through it. For example, the first through hole 14 can be a guide hole.

[0036] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a second through hole 15 for a screw 40 to pass through can be formed in the portion of the lower sidewall 13 of the wiring frame 10 corresponding to the first through hole 14 of the upper sidewall 12. The end of the screw 40 can be located in the second through hole 15. Alternatively, the end of the screw 40 can pass through the second through hole 15 and be exposed outside the lower sidewall 13. The diameter of the second through hole 15 can be larger than the outer diameter of the end of the screw 40 to guide the screw 40. For example, the second through hole 15 can be a guide hole. The installation and positioning of the screw 40 can be constrained by the first through hole 14 and / or the second through hole 15, thereby improving the accuracy of the installation and positioning of the screw 40. At the same time, during the tightening process of the screw 40 in the threaded hole 33 of the clamping member 30, the screw is less likely to wobble excessively, improving the stability of the connection terminal.

[0037] Figure 1 and Figure 3 The diagram shows the connection terminals in an open state and a closed state according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 A schematic diagram showing the transition of a connection terminal from an open state to a closed state according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 1 and Figure 4 As shown, when the wire is not connected to the connection terminal, the clamping member 30 is positioned on the lower side wall 13 of the terminal frame 10. A screw 40 passes through the first through hole 14, and at least a portion of the end of the screw 40 is screwed into the threaded hole 33 of the clamping member 30. The second opening 16 of the chamber 11 is open to allow the wire to be inserted. Subsequently, when the wire is inserted into the chamber 11 of the terminal frame 10, the user begins to tighten the screw 40, continuously tightening it in the threaded hole 33 of the clamping member 30. Simultaneously, the clamping member 30 can move upwards relative to the terminal frame 10, gradually reducing the distance between the first portion 31 of the clamping member 30 and the wiring portion 21 of the connector 20, thereby clamping the wire inserted into the terminal frame 10. Figure 3As shown, when the clamping member 30 moves upward to the upper part of the chamber 11, the wire is pressed by the first part 31 of the clamping member 30 and the wiring part 21 of the connector 20 to electrically connect to the connection terminal. The blocking member 60 moves upward with the clamping member 30, thereby blocking at least a portion of the second opening 17 of the wiring frame 10, for example, blocking a portion of the second opening 17 corresponding to the first chamber 110 of the wiring frame 10. At this time, the wire is inserted into the connection terminal, and a stable electrical connection between the wire and the connection terminal is achieved. Since the screw 40 is located in the wiring frame 10 when no wire is inserted, it does not need to be moved downward from the outside of the wiring frame into the wiring frame as in the prior art. Therefore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the connection terminal can have a smaller size, for example, a smaller height, thereby realizing a small-sized connection terminal.

[0038] Figure 5 This is a perspective view showing a circuit breaker according to an embodiment of the present invention. The circuit breaker according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a housing 1, connecting terminals 2 disposed in the housing 1, and an arc-extinguishing chamber 3, wherein the connecting terminals 2 may be reference... Figures 1 to 4 The connecting terminals in the described embodiments are as follows. Connecting terminals 2 can be disposed above the arc-extinguishing chamber 3 and at least partially overlap with the arc-extinguishing chamber 3 in the vertical direction. For example, the circuit breaker may include two connecting terminals 2, respectively disposed on the left and right sides within the housing 1 and overlapping the arc-extinguishing chamber 3 above it. Compared to conventional circuit breakers, because the connecting terminals 2 have smaller dimensions, such as a smaller height, they can be disposed above the arc-extinguishing chamber 3 to overlap with it, thereby reducing the overall size of the circuit breaker and making its internal layout more compact, resulting in a compact and small-sized circuit breaker.

[0039] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the connecting terminal has fewer components, a simpler structure, and a smaller overall size, and can achieve a stable and reliable electrical connection with the conductor. Furthermore, as the conductor is connected to the connecting terminal, the opening of the connecting terminal changes from an open state to a closed state, thereby preventing accidental electric shock or short circuit due to accidental contact and improving the safety of the connecting terminal. Additionally, when the connecting terminal according to the present invention is applied to a circuit breaker, because the small-sized connecting terminal can be stacked and installed with the arc-extinguishing chamber into the circuit breaker housing, the overall size of the circuit breaker can be reduced, resulting in a compact and small-sized circuit breaker.

[0040] Although the present invention has been described in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings with reference to various embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that the above embodiments are merely preferred embodiments, and some technical features in the embodiments may not be necessary for solving specific technical problems, so these technical features may be omitted or omitted without affecting the solution to the technical problem or the formation of the technical solution; moreover, the features, elements and / or functions of one embodiment may be appropriately combined, combined or coordinated with the features, elements and / or functions of one or more other embodiments, unless such combination, combination or coordination is obviously not feasible.

Claims

1. A connecting terminal for connecting a conductor to an electrical switchgear device, characterized in that The connection terminal includes: A junction box includes multiple sidewalls and a cavity formed by the multiple sidewalls, the cavity being open at opposite ends in the direction in which a wire is inserted, the multiple sidewalls including an upper sidewall and a lower sidewall opposite to each other, a portion of the upper sidewall forming a first through hole for a screw to pass through; A connector includes a connector portion extending within the connector frame, the connector portion being disposed at another portion of the upper sidewall where the first through hole is not formed; A clamping member is disposed in the chamber. The clamping member includes a first portion facing the wiring portion and a second portion facing the upper sidewall with a first through hole. The first portion is disposed between the wiring portion of the wiring piece and the lower sidewall of the wiring frame. The second portion includes a threaded hole corresponding to the first through hole in the upper sidewall for screwing in the screw. The screw enters the cavity of the wiring frame through the first through hole in the upper side wall and is at least partially screwed into the threaded hole of the clamping member. As the screw is tightened in the threaded hole of the clamping member, the clamping member moves upward relative to the wiring frame, reducing the distance between the first part of the clamping member and the wiring part, thereby pressing the wire extending into the wiring frame.

2. The connecting terminal according to claim 1, characterized by The wiring frame also includes a partition disposed in the chamber for dividing the chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber. The clamping member includes a clearance groove located between the first portion and the second portion, thereby avoiding the separator when the clamping member moves. The wiring portion of the connector and the first portion of the clamping member are located in the first chamber, while the screw and the second portion of the clamping member are located in the second chamber. The wire is inserted into the first chamber from the outside.

3. The connection terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second part of the clamping member has a greater thickness than the first part.

4. The connecting terminal according to claim 3, characterized in that, The clamping member is integrally formed from a metal plate, and the second part of the clamping member includes a double-layer plate formed by folding a portion of the metal plate, with the threaded hole formed in the double-layer plate.

5. The connecting terminal according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that, The terminal block extends into the chamber from the first opening of the chamber; The clamping member further includes an extension that bends downward toward the wiring frame from one end of the first portion and the second portion at a second opening in the chamber opposite to the first opening, such that the clamping member is L-shaped.

6. The connection terminal according to claim 5, characterized by The connection terminal also includes a shielding member, which is mounted on the extension portion, extends downward toward the wiring frame, and moves up and down together with the clamping member. As the screw is tightened in the threaded hole of the clamping member, the blocking member moves upward relative to the wiring frame along with the clamping member, thereby blocking at least a portion of the opening of the chamber.

7. The connecting terminal according to claim 6, characterized by The shielding member is installed on the portion of the extension that corresponds to the first portion of the clamping member. When the blocking member moves upward relative to the wiring frame along with the clamping member, the blocking member blocks the portion of the second opening between the first portion and the lower sidewall of the wiring frame.

8. The connecting terminal according to claim 1, characterized by The diameter of the first through hole is larger than the outer diameter of the screw to guide the screw.

9. The connecting terminal according to claim 1, characterized by The lower sidewall of the wiring frame, corresponding to the first through hole in the upper sidewall, has a second through hole for a screw to pass through. The end of the screw is located in the second through hole, or passes through the second through hole and is exposed to the outside of the lower sidewall. The diameter of the second through hole is larger than the outer diameter of the end of the screw, so as to guide the screw.

10. A circuit breaker characterized by, The circuit breaker includes the connection terminal as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The circuit breaker of claim 10, wherein, The circuit breaker also includes: Housing, the connecting terminals are located within the housing; and The arc-extinguishing chamber is disposed within the housing. The connecting terminal is located above the arc-extinguishing chamber and at least partially overlaps with the arc-extinguishing chamber in the vertical direction.

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