A terminal block, an electricity meter and an electricity meter assembly

Abstract

The present invention relates to a terminal block, which comprises a housing, a metal part, a contact part and a locking screw. The socket is located on the front side of the housing. Correspondingly, the threaded hole of the metal part is arranged on the front side wall of the metal part and communicates with the channel of the metal part in the front and back directions; the wiring port is located at the lower part of the housing. It is not necessary to remove the terminal block from the electricity meter and then reinstall it, and the operation is relatively convenient. The present invention also discloses an electricity meter applied with the terminal block and an electricity meter assembly applied with the electricity meter, which respectively have the advantages of facilitating wiring of the terminal block on the front side of the electricity meter and being able to conveniently remove the terminal block without removing the electricity meter from the meter box.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of electric energy meters, and in particular to a wiring terminal, an electric energy meter and an electric energy meter component. Background Art

[0002] An electric energy meter is an instrument used to measure electric energy. It is also called an electric meter, a fire meter, or a kilowatt-hour meter. It refers to an instrument that measures various electrical quantities. A general electric energy meter includes a meter body, a circuit board arranged in the meter body, and conductive parts electrically connected to the circuit board and the wiring terminals. The wiring terminals include a housing, a metal part, a contact part, and a locking screw.

[0003] For example, the Chinese utility model patent with application number CN201720795038.1 (public number CN206864651U) discloses "A wiring terminal", which is used to connect to electric wires. The wiring terminal includes a wiring seat, a wiring channel on the wiring seat, and a clamping mechanism compatible with the wiring channel is provided on the wiring channel. The clamping mechanism can contact the electric wire and can clamp the electric wire together with the bottom surface of the wiring channel. The bottom surface of the wiring channel and / or the clamping mechanism are provided with a protrusion for contacting the electric wire. When wiring is required, a thinner electric wire can be placed on the protrusion to compensate for the height difference between electric wires of different thicknesses. In this way, the patent can clamp electric wires of different thicknesses at the same time, reduce contact resistance, and avoid burning or the electric wire slipping out of the wiring channel and causing a circuit breaker.

[0004] But it has the following problems:

[0005] First, the above patent does not disclose the position relationship of the locking screw in the terminal block. Generally, the locking screw is located on the left or right side of the terminal block. When it is necessary to operate the external wire (for example, it is necessary to install the external wire on the terminal block or replace the old external wire, etc.), it is necessary to operate the left or right side of the terminal block. However, the left or right side of the terminal block is affected by the rest of the electric energy meter or the adjacent electric energy meter, and the operating space in the left and right directions is small, which is inconvenient for the tool to be placed and the operator to observe. Generally, it is necessary to remove the terminal block from the electric energy meter, then unscrew the locking screw, operate the external wire, and finally reconnect the terminal block to the conductive part of the electric energy meter, which is troublesome to operate.

[0006] Secondly, in order to prevent the wiring terminals from falling off the conductive parts, the two are connected by a connecting structure. The general process of removing the wiring terminals is: clamp the wiring terminals with pliers or other tools, and then pull the wiring terminals downward. When the electric energy meter is installed in the meter box, the wiring terminals are located at the lower part of the electric energy meter, and the operating space inside the meter box in the up and down directions is relatively small. It is not easy for the pliers to clamp the wiring terminals, nor is it easy to apply force downward with the pliers. At this time, the electric energy meter needs to be removed from the meter box, and then the wiring terminals are removed with pliers or other tools, and then the electric energy meter is reinstalled in the meter box. The operation is more troublesome.

[0007] Therefore, the wiring terminals, the electric energy meters and the electric energy meter components can be further improved. Summary of the invention

[0008] The first technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a connection terminal that is convenient for front-side connection according to the current state of the prior art.

[0009] The second technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an electric energy meter using the above-mentioned wiring terminals based on the current status of the prior art, which is also convenient for wiring the wiring terminals on the front side of the electric energy meter, and there is no need to remove the wiring terminals from the electric energy meter when operating the external wires.

[0010] The third technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an electric energy meter assembly using the above electric energy meter according to the current state of the prior art, so that the wiring terminals can be easily removed without removing the electric energy meter from the meter box.

[0011] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the above-mentioned first technical problem is: a wiring terminal, comprising

[0012] The housing comprises a receiving cavity, an upper opening communicating with the receiving cavity, a socket communicating with the receiving cavity, and a wiring port communicating with the receiving cavity for inserting an external wire;

[0013] A metal part is arranged in the shell, and the metal part has a channel running through from top to bottom, and a threaded hole arranged on a side wall of the metal part and connected to the channel;

[0014] A contact piece is arranged in the housing, one side of the contact piece is exposed at the upper opening of the housing, and the other side of the contact piece is inserted into the channel of the metal piece;

[0015] A locking screw, the front end of which is exposed at the socket of the housing, and the rear end of which is threadedly connected to the threaded hole of the metal part;

[0016] Features:

[0017] The socket is located at the front side of the housing, and correspondingly, the threaded hole of the metal piece is arranged on the front side wall of the metal piece and is connected to the channel of the metal piece from front to back;

[0018] The wiring port is located at the lower part of the shell.

[0019] There may be multiple numbers of contact pieces, metal pieces, and locking screws, and the numbers of the contact pieces, metal pieces, and locking screws are the same, and there are at least two of each.

[0020] All contact members are arranged at intervals in the front-to-back direction;

[0021] All metal parts are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction;

[0022] All locking screws are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction.

[0023] The contact piece may have various structures. Preferably, the contact piece at the frontmost side is the first contact piece. All the contact pieces include a connected upper half and a lower half. The upper half includes a middle section extending left and right, a left elastic arm connected to the left side of the middle section and extending upward, and a right elastic arm connected to the right side of the middle section and extending upward. The left elastic arm and the right elastic arm are arranged opposite to each other and are used to clamp external pins.

[0024] The structure of the lower part can be various. Preferably, the lower part of the first contact piece is a lower extension part extending up and down and connected to the upper part, and the lower extension part is used to be inserted into the channel of the metal piece.

[0025] In order to increase the strength, the lower extension is connected to the middle section of the upper part. The lower extension is connected to the middle section, and the middle section has a relatively large area, so the area of ​​the position connected to the lower extension is larger, so the strength is greater and it is also easy to produce.

[0026] The structure of the lower part can be various. Preferably, the contact piece at the non-frontmost side is the second contact piece. The lower part of the second contact piece includes a transverse part connected to the upper part, and a vertical part connected to the transverse part and extending downward, and the vertical part is used to be inserted into the channel of the metal piece.

[0027] The housing comprises a left half housing and a right half housing connected to each other left and right, the right half housing is divided into an isolated upper housing and a lower housing, a connecting groove connecting left and right is provided between the left half housing and the lower housing, and the sum of the number of the left half housing and the right half housing is equal to the number of all the contact members;

[0028] The first contact member is disposed in the upper housing;

[0029] The upper half of the second contact piece is located in the lower shell, the transverse portion of the second contact piece passes through the communicating groove, and the vertical portion of the second contact piece is located in the left half shell.

[0030] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the above-mentioned second technical problem is: an electric energy meter using the above-mentioned wiring terminals, characterized in that: the electric energy meter includes a meter body, a circuit board arranged in the meter body, and a conductive member electrically connected to the circuit board and the wiring terminals respectively, and the conductive member is electrically connected to the contact member of the wiring terminals.

[0031] The conductive member may have various structures. Preferably, the conductive member has a pin, and there are at least two pins. The number of the pins corresponds to the number of the contact members, and all the pins are arranged on the electric energy meter with front and back intervals.

[0032] In order to facilitate the guiding and positioning when installing the terminal, the electric energy meter has a front guide convex edge extending up and down and a rear guide convex edge extending up and down on the side wall near the pin, and the front guide convex edge and the rear guide convex edge surround a guide groove for guiding the sliding of the terminal. In this way, when installing, the corresponding position of the terminal is placed in the position of the front guide convex edge and the rear guide convex edge, and then the terminal can be quickly pushed in, so as to be quickly aligned and connected with the conductive member.

[0033] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the third technical problem is: an electric energy meter assembly applied to the electric energy meter as described above, comprising a handle for removing a wiring terminal and extending forward and backward, wherein when the wiring terminal and the conductive member are plugged in place, the upper front side of the wiring terminal has a plugging slot extending backward for matching with the rear end of the handle, and the lower slot wall of the plugging slot is used to abut against the rear end of the handle in the upper and lower directions;

[0034] The rear end of the handle is wedge-shaped;

[0035] The front side of the electric energy meter is provided with an abutment portion extending downwards, the abutment portion is located in front of the wiring terminal and is used for abutting against the middle part of the handle.

[0036] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are: the socket is located on the front side of the shell, and correspondingly, the threaded hole of the metal part is arranged on the front side wall of the metal part and is connected with the channel of the metal part front and back, and the wiring port is located at the lower part of the shell, which is convenient for operation on the front side of the terminal block. The front side is convenient for tool placement and operator observation. The locking screw can be directly unscrewed, and then the external wire can be operated. There is no need to remove the terminal block from the electric energy meter and then reinstall it, which is convenient to operate.

[0037] The electric energy meter with the wiring terminals is also convenient for wiring the wiring terminals at the front side of the electric energy meter, and there is no need to remove the wiring terminals from the electric energy meter when operating the external wires.

[0038] The electric energy meter assembly using the above-mentioned electric energy meter is provided with a handle extending forward and backward for removing the terminal block. The front side of the electric energy meter has an abutment portion extending downward. When the terminal block needs to be removed, the handle is inserted into the insertion slot and abutted against the abutment portion. The handle is then applied upward, and the rear end of the handle will act downward on the terminal block to remove the terminal block. In this way, the terminal block can be removed conveniently without removing the electric energy meter from the meter box. It is also convenient to operate on the front side of the electric energy meter. The front operating space of the electric energy meter is relatively large, and the operation is relatively convenient. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of an electric energy meter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram from another angle;

[0041] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram after removing the terminal housing;

[0042] Figure 4 The figure is a schematic diagram of the assembly of one of the contact pieces and the electric energy meter;

[0043] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the assembly of two contact pieces and an electric energy meter;

[0044] Figure 6 An exploded view of an electric energy meter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 7 for Figure 6 Schematic diagram from another angle;

[0046] Figure 8 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a connection terminal in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] Fig. 9 for Figure 8 Schematic diagram from another angle;

[0048] Fig.10 for Figure 8 Exploded diagram of

[0049] Fig.11 for Fig. 9 Exploded diagram of

[0050] Fig.12 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a second contact member in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0051] Fig.13 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a first contact member in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0052] Fig.14 is a cross-sectional view of the connection terminal in the upper and lower directions according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0053] Fig.15 is a cross-sectional view of another direction in the up-down direction of the connection terminal in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0054] Fig.16 is an exploded view of a terminal block in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0055] Fig.17 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a housing of a terminal block in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0056] Fig.18 It is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the housing and two contact members of the terminal block in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] Fig.19 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of an electric energy meter assembly in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0058] Fig. 20 for Fig.19 Schematic diagram from another angle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] The present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0060] like Figure 1 to Figure 7 As shown, a preferred embodiment of the electric energy meter with wiring terminals of the present invention is shown.

[0061] An electric energy meter 200 using a connection terminal 100 includes a meter body 201, a circuit board (not shown) disposed in the meter body 201, and a conductive member 202 electrically connected to the circuit board and the connection terminal 100, respectively.

[0062] The terminal block 100 includes a housing 1, a metal part 2, a contact part 3 and a locking screw 4.

[0063] The housing 1 has a receiving cavity, an upper opening 11 communicating with the receiving cavity, a socket 12 communicating with the receiving cavity, and a wiring port 14 communicating with the receiving cavity for inserting an external wire. The socket 12 is located at the front side of the housing 1, and correspondingly, the threaded hole 22 of the metal member 2 is arranged on the front side wall of the metal member 2 and communicates with the channel 21 of the metal member 2 from front to back.

[0064] The metal component 2 is disposed in the housing 1 , and has a channel 21 penetrating from top to bottom, and a threaded hole 22 disposed on a side wall of the metal component 2 and communicating with the channel 21 .

[0065] The contact member 3 is arranged in the shell 1, and one side of the contact member 3 is exposed to the upper opening 11 of the shell 1, and the other side of the contact member 3 is inserted into the channel 21 of the metal member 2. In this embodiment, the number of contacts 3, metal members 2, and locking screws 4 are the same, and there are two of them. In other embodiments, the number of contacts 3, metal members 2, and locking screws 4 can also be adjusted as needed. In this embodiment, all contacts 3 are arranged at intervals in the front-to-back direction, all metal members 2 are arranged at intervals in the left-to-right direction, and all locking screws 4 are arranged at intervals in the left-to-right direction. The contact member 3 at the frontmost side is the first contact member 3a, and all contacts 3 include a connected upper half 31 and a lower half 32. The upper half 31 includes a middle section 311 extending left and right, a left elastic arm 312 connected to the left side of the middle section 311 and extending upward, and a right elastic arm 313 connected to the right side of the middle section 311 and extending upward. The left elastic arm 312 and the right elastic arm 313 are arranged opposite to each other and are used to clamp the external pin 202a. In this embodiment, see Fig.13 The lower half of the contact member 3 (i.e., the first contact member 3a) located at the front side is a lower extension portion 321 extending up and down and connected to the upper half 31. The lower extension portion 321 is used to be inserted into the channel 21 of the metal member 2. The lower extension portion 321 is connected to the middle section 311 of the upper half 31; see Fig.12 , the contact piece 3 at the non-frontmost side is the second contact piece 3b, the lower half 32 of the second contact piece 3b includes a transverse portion 322 connected to the upper half 31, and a vertical portion 323 connected to the transverse portion 322 and extending downward, the vertical portion 323 is used to be inserted into the channel 21 of the metal member 2; the shell 1 has a left half shell 1a and a right half shell 1b connected to each other left and right, the right half shell 1b is divided into an isolated upper shell 1c and a lower shell 1d, and a connecting groove 1e connecting left and right is provided between the left half shell 1a and the lower shell 1d, and the sum of the number of the left half shell 1a and the right half shell 1b is equal to the number of all the contacts 3; the first contact piece 3a is arranged in the upper shell 1c; the upper half 31 of the second contact piece 3b is located in the lower shell 1d, the transverse portion 322 of the second contact piece 3b passes through the connecting groove 1e, and the vertical portion 323 of the second contact piece 3b is located in the left half shell 1a.

[0066] The front end of the locking screw 4 is exposed at the socket 12 of the housing 1 , and the rear end 301 of the locking screw 4 is threadedly connected to the threaded hole 22 of the metal component 2 .

[0067] The conductive member 202 is electrically connected to the contact member 3 of the terminal block 100. Specifically, the conductive member 202 has a plug pin 202a. In this embodiment, there are two plug pins 202a, and the number of the plug pins 202a corresponds to the number of the contact member 3. All the plug pins 202a are arranged on the electric energy meter 200 at intervals from front to back. In other embodiments, the number of the plug pins 202a can also be adjusted as needed.

[0068] In order to facilitate the guiding and positioning of the terminal block 100 when installing it, the electric energy meter 200 has a front guide convex edge 203 extending up and down and a rear guide convex edge 204 extending up and down on the side wall near the pin 202a, and the front guide convex edge 203 and the rear guide convex edge 204 form a guide groove for guiding the sliding of the terminal block 100. In this way, when installing, the corresponding position of the terminal block 100 is placed between the front guide convex edge 203 and the rear guide convex edge 204, and then the terminal block 100 can be quickly pushed in, so as to be quickly aligned and connected with the conductive member 202.

[0069] Fig.18 , Fig.19 The utility model discloses an electric energy meter assembly for use with an electric energy meter, comprising a handle 300 extending forward and backward and used for removing a terminal block 100; when the terminal block 100 is plugged into a conductive member 202, the upper front side of the terminal block 100 has a plug-in slot 13 extending backward and used for cooperating with a rear end 301 of the handle 300; a lower slot wall 131 of the plug-in slot 13 is used for abutting against the rear end 301 of the handle 300 in the upper and lower directions; in order to facilitate the insertion of the handle 300 into the plug-in slot 13, the rear end 301 of the handle 300 is wedge-shaped; the front side of the electric energy meter 200 has a downwardly extending abutting portion 205, which is located in front of the terminal block 100 and is used for abutting against the middle part of the handle 300.

[0070] The usage principle and working process of the electric energy meter assembly are as follows.

[0071] When it is necessary to operate the external wire (not shown in the figure), unscrew the locking screw 4. Because the locking screw 4 is located on the front side, that is, on the front side of the electric energy meter 200, it is convenient to operate on the front side of the terminal block 100. The front side is convenient for inserting tools and for the operator to observe. The locking screw 4 can be directly unscrewed, and then the external wire can be operated. There is no need to remove the terminal block 100 from the electric energy meter 200 and then reinstall it, which is more convenient to operate.

[0072] If you need to remove the terminal block 100, refer to Fig.18 , Fig.19 , insert the handle 300 into the insertion slot 13 and abut against the abutment portion 205, then act upward on the front end of the handle 300, and the middle part of the handle 300 uses the abutment portion 205 as a fulcrum, and the rear end 301 of the handle 300 acts downward on the wiring terminal 100, thereby removing the wiring terminal 100. In this way, the wiring terminal 100 can be easily removed without removing the electric energy meter 200 from the meter box. The operation is more convenient and it is also convenient to operate on the front of the electric energy meter 200.

Claims

1. A terminal block, comprising a housing (1) having a receiving cavity, an upper opening (11) communicating with the receiving cavity, a socket (12) communicating with the receiving cavity, and a wiring port (14) communicating with the receiving cavity for inserting an external wire; a metal part (2) disposed within the housing (1), the metal part (2) having a vertically penetrating channel (21) and a threaded hole (22) disposed on the sidewall of the metal part (2) and communicating with the channel (21); a contact part (3) disposed within the housing (1), one side of the contact part (3) being exposed outside the upper opening (11) of the housing (1), and the other side of the contact part (3) being inserted into the channel (21) of the metal part (2); a locking screw (4) having a front end exposed outside the socket (12) of the housing (1) and a rear end (301) threadedly connected to the threaded hole (22) of the metal part (2); characterized in that: the socket (12) is located on the front side of the housing (1), correspondingly, the threaded hole (22) of the metal part (2) is disposed on the front sidewall of the metal part (2) and communicates with the channel (21) of the metal part (2) in the front and rear directions; the wiring port (14) is located at the lower part of the housing (1); the contact parts (3), metal parts (2), and locking screws (4) are all the same in number and each has at least two; all the contact parts (3) are arranged at intervals in the front and rear directions; all the metal parts (2) are arranged at intervals in the left and right directions; all the locking screws (4) are arranged at intervals in the left and right directions; the contact part (3) at the foremost side is the first contact part (3a), all the contact parts (3) include an upper half part (31) and a lower half part (32) connected to each other, the upper half part (31) includes an intermediate section (311) extending left and right, a left elastic arm (312) connected to the left side of the intermediate section (311) and extending upward, and a right elastic arm (313) connected to the right side of the intermediate section (311) and extending upward, the left elastic arm (312) and the right elastic arm (313) are oppositely arranged and are used for clamping an external pin (202a); the lower half part of the first contact part (3) is a lower extension part (321) extending vertically and connected to the upper half part (31), and the lower extension part (321) is used for inserting into the channel (21) of the metal part (2); the contact part (3) at a non-foremost side is the second contact part (3b), the lower half part (32) of the second contact part (3b) includes a transverse part (322) connected to the upper half part (31) and a vertical part (323) connected to the transverse part (322) and extending downward, and the vertical part (323) is used for inserting into the channel (21) of the metal part (2); the housing (1) has a left half housing (1a) and a right half housing (1b) connected to each other on the left and right, the right half housing (1b) is divided into a separated upper housing (1c) and a lower housing (1d), there is a left and right communicating groove (1e) between the left half housing (1a) and the lower housing (1d), and the sum of the numbers of the left half housing (1a) and the right half housing (1b) is equal to the number of all the contact parts (3); the first contact part (3a) is disposed in the upper housing (1c); The upper half (31) of the second contact member (3b) is located in the lower housing (1d), the lateral portion (322) of the second contact member (3b) passes through the communication groove (1e), and the vertical portion (323) of the second contact member (3b) is located in the left half housing (1a).

2. The terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lower extension portion (321) is connected to the middle section (311) of the upper half (31).

3. An electricity meter using the terminal according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The electricity meter includes a meter body (201), a circuit board disposed in the meter body (201), and a conductive member (202) electrically connected to the circuit board and the terminal (100) respectively, and the conductive member (202) is electrically connected to the contact member (3) of the terminal (100).

4. The electricity meter according to claim 3, characterized in that: The conductive member (202) has pins (202a), and there are at least two pins (202a). The number of the pins (202a) corresponds to the number of the contact members (3), and all the pins (202a) are arranged at intervals in the front and back directions on the electricity meter (200).

5. The electricity meter according to claim 4, characterized in that: The electricity meter (200) has a front guiding flange (203) extending vertically upward and a rear guiding flange (204) extending vertically upward on the side wall near the pins (202a). The front guiding flange (203) and the rear guiding flange (204) enclose a guiding groove for guiding the sliding of the terminal (100).

6. An electricity meter assembly using the electricity meter according to any one of claims 3 to 5, including a handle (300) for removing the terminal (100) and extending in the front and back directions. When the terminal (100) is inserted into place with the conductive member (202), a plugging groove (13) extending backward is provided on the front side of the upper part of the terminal (100) for cooperating with the rear end (301) of the handle (300). The lower groove wall (131) of the plugging groove (13) is used to abut against the rear end (301) of the handle (300) in the vertical direction; The rear end (301) of the handle (300) is wedge-shaped; The front side of the electricity meter (200) has an abutting portion (205) extending downward. The abutting portion (205) is located in front of the terminal (100) and is used to abut against the middle part of the handle (300).

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