Spring-loaded terminal components, electromagnetic contactors, and overload relays

Abstract

The spring-type terminal component (24) comprises: a spring-type terminal (11, 21) having a conductive metal part (9a, 9b) screw-fastened to a screw-type terminal of an electromagnetic contactor or an overload relay by means of a screw (15, 14), and a spring (10a, 10b) engaging with the conductive metal part (9a, 9b) by means of elastic force; and a wire support component (19, 20) and an insertion port component (12) for holding the spring-type terminal (11, 21), wherein the wire support component (19) and the insertion port component (12) have interference portions (22, 23) for interfering with a hole or a groove of a screw head of the screw (15, 14) to suppress rotation of the screw (15, 14).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a spring terminal component having a spring terminal for securing conduction by clamping a conductor portion of an electric wire under pressure from a spring, and an electromagnetic contactor and an overload relay equipped with the spring terminal component. Background Art

[0002] Electromagnetic contactors, overload relays, and electromagnetic switches formed by combining electromagnetic contactors and overload relays are installed in the current path between the power supply and the load to open and close the current path.

[0003] In electromagnetic contactors, overload relays, and electromagnetic switches, screw-type terminals are used as terminals for fixing wires. These terminals clamp the ends of wires whose coverings have been removed with screws. However, spring-type terminals, which clamp the ends of wires whose coverings have been removed with the pressure of a spring, are also becoming used.

[0004] Spring-type terminals clamp the conductor of a wire between a fixed conductive metal fitting and a spring, ensuring electrical continuity between the wire and the conductive metal fitting. Spring-type terminals maintain a constant crimped connection through the action of the spring. Therefore, unlike screw-type terminals, spring-type terminals require no specialized wiring skills, ensuring stable electrical continuity regardless of who inserts the wire between the conductive metal fitting and the spring. Furthermore, spring-type terminals maintain their grip over time after wiring, simplifying maintenance compared to screw-type terminals.

[0005] While spring-loaded terminals offer the aforementioned advantages over screw-type terminals, when laws or safety standards mandate the use of screw-type terminals for electromagnetic contactors, overload relays, or electromagnetic switches, screw-type terminals are essential, even at the expense of wiring efficiency and maintenance frequency. Consequently, electromagnetic contactors, overload relays, and electromagnetic switches must be manufactured with both screw-type and spring-loaded terminal configurations. However, existing manufacturing equipment for these devices is specialized for screw-type terminals, making it difficult to reuse existing equipment to manufacture electromagnetic contactors, overload relays, and electromagnetic switches with spring-loaded terminals.

[0006] Therefore, attempts have been made to improve wiring workability and reduce maintenance work by attaching a spring-loaded terminal component having a spring-loaded terminal to an electromagnetic contactor, overload relay, or electromagnetic switch with a screw-type terminal. The spring-loaded terminal component is screwed to the screw-type terminal of the electromagnetic contactor, overload relay, or electromagnetic switch. However, if the screw securing the spring-loaded terminal component to the screw-type terminal loosens, the advantage of the spring type, which is that the screw does not loosen at the terminal, is lost. Therefore, it is required to prevent the screw securing the spring-loaded terminal component to the screw-type terminal from loosening.

[0007] Patent Document 1 discloses a structure for continuously applying torque in the screw tightening rotation direction to a screw that has stopped tightening at an arbitrary position. If a dedicated component for securing the screw is provided as disclosed in Patent Document 1, loosening of the screw securing the spring-type terminal component can be prevented.

[0008] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-336730 Summary of the Invention

[0009] However, if the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 is applied to a spring type terminal component, a dedicated element must be added to prevent loosening of the screw of the screw terminal of the object to which the spring type terminal component is mounted, which increases the number of components.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a spring-type terminal component capable of preventing loosening of a screw of a screw-type terminal to which an object is to be mounted without increasing the number of components.

[0011] To solve the aforementioned problems and achieve the objectives, the present invention provides a spring-type terminal component comprising: a spring-type terminal having a conductive metal member screwed to a screw-type terminal of an electromagnetic contactor or an overload relay; and a spring that engages the conductive metal member through elastic force; and a retaining component that retains the spring-type terminal. The retaining component has an interference portion that interferes with a hole or groove in a screw head of the screw to inhibit rotation of the screw.

[0012] Effects of the Invention

[0013] The spring type terminal component according to the present invention has the effect of preventing the screw of the screw type terminal of the mounting object from loosening without increasing the number of components. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 It is a front view of the electromagnetic switch according to the first embodiment.

[0015] Figure 2This is a left side view of the electromagnetic switch according to the first embodiment.

[0016] Figure 3 It is a perspective view of the electromagnetic switch according to the first embodiment.

[0017] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the spring type terminal component according to the first embodiment.

[0018] Figure 5 It is a cross-sectional view of the spring type terminal component according to the first embodiment.

[0019] Figure 6 It is a perspective view showing a wire support assembly component of a spring-type terminal component and a screw of a screw-type terminal of an overload relay according to the first embodiment.

[0020] Figure 7 It is a diagram showing the interference state between the interference portion and the adjustment hole of the spring type terminal member according to the first embodiment.

[0021] Figure 8 It is a diagram showing the interference state between the interference portion and the adjustment hole of the spring type terminal member according to the first embodiment.

[0022] Figure 9 It is a perspective view showing the shape of an interference portion of a wire support member of a spring type terminal member according to a second embodiment.

[0023] Figure 10 It is a plan view showing the shape of an interference portion of a wire support member of a spring type terminal member according to a second embodiment.

[0024] Figure 11 It is a perspective view showing the shape of an interference portion of a wire support member of a spring type terminal member according to a third embodiment.

[0025] Figure 12 It is a plan view showing the shape of an interference portion of a wire support member of a spring type terminal member according to a third embodiment.

[0026] Figure 13 It is a cross-sectional view of a spring type terminal component according to a fourth embodiment.

[0027] Figure 14 It is a schematic cross-sectional view of a spring type terminal component according to the fifth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Hereinafter, the spring type terminal member, the electromagnetic contactor, and the overload relay according to the embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0029] Implementation method 1.

[0030] Figure 1 It is a front view of the electromagnetic switch according to the first embodiment. Figure 2 This is a left side view of the electromagnetic switch according to the first embodiment. Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the electromagnetic switch according to Embodiment 1. The electromagnetic switch 3 includes an electromagnetic contactor 1, an overload relay 2, and a spring-loaded terminal component 24. The electromagnetic contactor 1 includes a power supply-side wire insertion port 4, a load-side wire insertion port 5, and a wire insertion port 6 for driving the electromagnetic contactor 1. The power supply-side wire insertion port 4 and the load-side wire insertion port 5 each have five terminals. Three of the five terminals serve as the main circuit for switching the current to the load device, and two serve as auxiliary circuits for wiring signal lines. Depending on the product, four of the five terminals may serve as the main circuit for switching the current to the load device, while one may serve as the auxiliary circuit for wiring the signal line.

[0031] Overload relay 2 is a device that monitors the load condition of a load device (not shown). An example of a load device is an electric induction motor. Overload relay 2 monitors the load condition of the load device using current and issues a signal within a specified time period if the current exceeds a set value. Upon receiving the signal from overload relay 2, electromagnetic contactor 1 or other device shuts off the current to the load device, protecting it from burnout.

[0032] The spring-loaded terminal component 24 has three wire insertion openings 8 for connecting wires to the load instrument and four signal wire insertion openings 7. Two of the four signal wire insertion openings 7 are for contacts a, and the other two are for contacts b. The wire insertion openings 4, 5, and 6 have the same shape when viewed from the front. The front shapes of the wire insertion openings 7 and 8 lack the flat surfaces found on the sides of the wire insertion openings 4, 5, and 6, and instead appear to be rounded and pressed from both sides.

[0033] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the spring type terminal component according to the first embodiment. Figure 5 It is a cross-sectional view of the spring type terminal component according to the first embodiment. Figure 5 Shown Figure 1 The cross section along line VV in .

[0034] The overload relay 2, to which the spring-loaded terminal member 24 is mounted, has screw terminals 17 for connecting the wires connected to the load device and screw terminals 16 for connecting the signal wires. Screw terminals 16 have screws 14 for securing the wires. Screw terminals 17 have screws 15 for securing the wires.

[0035] The spring-type terminal component 24 includes wire support assemblies 25 and 26, which are retaining components for the spring-type terminals 11 and 21, and the insertion port component 12. The wire support assembly 25 includes a wire support component 20 and a spring-type terminal 21. The spring-type terminal 21 includes a conductive metal member 9a and a spring 10a that elastically engages the conductive metal member 9a. The conductive metal member 9a is retained by the wire support component 20. The spring-type terminal 21 clamps the conductor portion of the wire between the fixed conductive metal member 9a and the movable spring 10a, ensuring electrical continuity between the conductor portion of the wire and the conductive metal member 9a. The spring-type terminal 21 is designed to allow wiring by directly clamping the stripped wire with the spring 10a. The spring-type terminal 21 is located deep within the wire insertion port 8. The spring-type terminal 21, located deep within the wire insertion port 8, ensures a constant crimped connection.

[0036] The wire support assembly 26 includes a wire support component 19 and a spring-type terminal 11. The spring-type terminal 11 includes a conductive metal member 9b and a spring 10b that engages with the conductive metal member 9b through elastic force. The conductive metal member 9b is retained by the wire support component 19. The spring-type terminal 11 clamps the conductor portion of the wire between the conductive metal member 9b, which is fixed to the wire support, and the movable spring 10b, ensuring electrical continuity between the conductor portion of the wire and the conductive metal member 9b. The spring-type terminal 11 is structured so that wiring can be performed by directly clamping the wire with the coating stripped off by the spring 10b. The spring-type terminal 11 is located deep inside the wire insertion port 7. The spring-type terminal 11, located deep inside the wire insertion port 7, always ensures a crimped connection.

[0037] The wire insertion ports 7 and 8 are provided with an insertion port member 12 having a cylindrical portion 12a. When the end of the wire is inserted into the cylindrical portion 12a, the end of the wire is guided between the conductive metal member 9a and the spring 10a or between the conductive metal member 9b and the spring 10b.

[0038] The wire support member 19 includes a press-fit portion 18 for pressing the screw head of the screw 15 and an interference portion 22 for interfering with the hole or groove of the screw head of the screw 15. The press-fit portion 18 applies pressure to the screw head of the pressed screw 15 from the outer peripheral side. Figure 6This is an oblique view showing the wire support assembly component of the spring-type terminal component involved in Embodiment 1 and the screw of the screw-type terminal of the overload relay. In Embodiment 1, an adjustment hole 15a is formed in the screw head of the screw 15. In addition, the hole or groove in the screw head can be exemplified by a triangular hole, a hexagonal hole and a straight slot, but the hole or groove in the screw head can also be a shape other than these. The press-in portion 18 is a shape obtained by dividing a cylindrical surface having an inner diameter smaller than the diameter of the screw head of the screw 15 at intervals in the circumferential direction. In other words, the press-in portion 18 is a shape that is in contact with a part of the outer periphery of the screw 15. The press-in portion 18 is a shape having an axis as the center. If the screw head of the screw 15 is pressed into the press-in portion 18, a force in the axial direction is applied to the screw head. The press-in portion 18 is a shape that is in contact with a part of the outer periphery of the screw head of the screw 15, thereby making it easy for the screw 15 to be pressed into by the press-in portion 18. In addition, the press-fit portion 18 may be a cylindrical shape having an inner diameter smaller than the diameter of the screw head of the screw 15. That is, the press-fit portion 18 may be in a shape that contacts the entire circumference of the outer circumference of the screw head of the screw 15. Figure 5 15 and the axial direction of the press-fit portion 18, the angle between the axial direction of the screw 15 and the axial direction of the press-fit portion 18 is not limited to a specific angle. In addition, the axial direction of the screw 15 and the axial direction of the press-fit portion 18 may also be consistent.

[0039] The interference portion 22 interferes with the adjustment hole 15 a of the screw 15 when the wire support assembly 26 is assembled to the overload relay 2 . Figure 7 and Figure 8 1 is a diagram showing the interference state between the interference portion and the adjustment hole of the spring type terminal component involved in the first embodiment. Figure 7 and Figure 8 The tightening angle of the screw 15 is different. Figure 7 and Figure 8 In the figure, the portion of the interference portion 22 that enters the adjustment hole 15a of the screw head of the screw 15 is indicated by hatching. The interference portion 22 is pressed against the screw head of the screw 15, causing the resin interference portion 22 to deform and conform to the adjustment hole 15a, entering the adjustment hole 15a. The interference portion 22 entering the adjustment hole 15a hinders the rotation of the screw 15, preventing loosening.

[0040] The interference portion 22 is a plate-like convex shape, and the thickness of the interference portion 22 is thicker than the width of the adjustment hole 15a. Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the interference portion 22 interferes with the adjustment hole 15 a regardless of the tightening angle of the screw 15 .

[0041] The insertion port 12 is provided with a tool insertion port 13 for inserting or removing the electric wire. The spring type terminal 24 inserts the operating tool into the tool insertion port 13 to release or relax the crimping of the springs 10a and 10b, and then inserts or removes the electric wire. Figure 5 As shown, the insertion port member 12 has an interference portion 23 that interferes with the hole or slot of the screw head of the screw 14. In the first embodiment, the screw head of the screw 14 is formed with an adjustment hole 14a. The interference portion 23, like the interference portion 22, is a plate-like protrusion. Therefore, the interference between the interference portion 23 and the hole or slot of the screw head of the screw 14 is the same as the interference between the interference portion 22 and the hole or slot of the screw head of the screw 15.

[0042] The procedure for attaching the spring-type terminal member 24 to the overload relay 2 is described below. First, the wire support assembly 25, which integrates the wire support member 20 and the four spring-type terminals 21, is assembled to the overload relay 2. The conductive metal member 9a is fastened to the screw-type terminal 17 using the screw 15.

[0043] Next, the wire support assembly 26, which integrates the wire support component 19 and the three spring-type terminals 11, is assembled so as to fit into the wire support assembly 25, and the conductive metal member 9b is fastened to the screw-type terminal 16 by the screw 14. When the wire support assembly 26 is fitted into the wire support assembly 25, the screw 15 is pressed in by the press-fit portion 18 of the wire support component 19. The press-fit portion 18 applies pressure in the axial direction to the pressed screw 15. As a result, the screw 15 is prevented from rotating, preventing it from loosening. In addition, when the wire support assembly 26 is assembled to the overload relay 2, the interference portion 22 interferes with the adjustment hole 15a of the screw 15. As a result, the screw 15 is prevented from rotating, preventing it from loosening.

[0044] The interference width of the press-fit portion 18 and the interference dimension of the interference portion 22 can be appropriately changed in accordance with the hardness of the resin forming the material of the press-fit portion 18 and the interference portion 22 .

[0045] Next, by assembling the insertion port member 12 to the wire support assembly 26, the spring terminal member 24 is mounted on the overload relay 2 having the screw terminals 16 and 17. When the insertion port member 12 is fixed to the wire support assembly 26, the springs 10a and 10b, which are part of the spring terminals 21 and 11, are retained by the insertion port member 12, preventing the springs 10a and 10b from falling off the conductive metal members 9a and 9b.

[0046] When assembling the insertion port member 12, which is a holding member for holding the spring terminals 11 and 21, the interference portion 23 interferes with the adjustment hole 14a, thereby hindering the screw 14 from rotating and preventing it from loosening.

[0047] The spring-type terminal member 24 according to the first embodiment prevents loosening of the screws 14 and 15 by means of the wire support member 19 and the insertion port member 12, which are the retaining members for the spring-type terminals 21 and 11. This prevents loosening of the screws 14 and 15 of the screw-type terminals 16 and 17 while suppressing an increase in the number of components. Furthermore, there is no need to apply an additional step such as adhesive to the threads to prevent loosening of the screws, making it easier to attach the spring-type terminal member 24 to the overload relay 2.

[0048] Implementation method 2.

[0049] The spring type terminal member 24 according to the second embodiment is the same as the spring type terminal member 24 according to the first embodiment, except that the wire support members 19 and 20 include an interference portion 27 instead of the interference portions 22 and 23 . Figure 9 It is a perspective view showing the shape of an interference portion of a wire support member of a spring type terminal member according to a second embodiment. Figure 10 This is a top view showing the shape of the interference portion of the wire support member of the spring-type terminal component according to Embodiment 2. The interference portion 27 of the spring-type terminal component 24 according to Embodiment 2 is cylindrical. The diameter of the interference portion 27 is smaller than the width of the rounded portion of the center of the adjustment hole 15a. Furthermore, a cross-shaped recess 15b is formed inside the adjustment hole 15a, into which the tip of a Phillips screwdriver fits. Therefore, the interference portion 27 fits into the center of the adjustment hole 15a, interfering with the recess 15b within the adjustment hole 15a, with the tip of the screwdriver entering the recess 15b. The insertion of the tip of the interference portion 27 into the recess 15b hinders the rotation of the screw 15, preventing it from loosening. While the effect of the interference portion 27 of the wire support component 19 preventing the screw 15 from loosening has been described here, the effect of the interference portion 27 of the insertion port component 12 preventing the screw 14 from loosening also applies.

[0050] Since the interference portion 27 of the spring-type terminal member 24 according to the second embodiment is cylindrical, the force exerted by the interference portion 27 to inhibit the rotation of the screws 14 and 15 is constant regardless of the rotation angle of the screws 14 and 15. In other words, the spring-type terminal member 24 according to the second embodiment can stably inhibit the rotation of the screws 14 and 15.

[0051] Implementation method 3.

[0052] The spring type terminal member 24 according to the third embodiment is the same as the spring type terminal member 24 according to the first embodiment, except that the wire support members 19 and 20 include an interference portion 28 instead of the interference portions 22 and 23 . Figure 11It is a perspective view showing the shape of an interference portion of a wire support member of a spring type terminal member according to a third embodiment. Figure 12 This is a top view showing the shape of the interference portion of the wire support component of the spring-type terminal component involved in Embodiment 3. The interference portion 28 of the spring-type terminal component 24 involved in Embodiment 3 is cylindrical. The diameter of the interference portion 28 is larger than the width of the chamfered portion in the center of the adjustment hole 15a. Therefore, the interference portion 28 hits the surface of the screw head of the screw 15, and the front end interferes with the adjustment hole 15a and enters the adjustment hole 15a. The front end of the interference portion 28 enters the adjustment hole 15a, thereby hindering the rotation of the screw 15 and preventing it from loosening. Here, the effect of the interference portion 28 of the wire support component 19 in preventing the screw 15 from loosening is described, but the same applies to the effect of the interference portion 28 of the insertion port component 12 in preventing the screw 14 from loosening.

[0053] Since the interference portion 28 of the spring-type terminal member 24 according to the third embodiment is cylindrical, the force exerted by the interference portion 28 to inhibit the rotation of the screws 14 and 15 is constant regardless of the rotation angle of the screws 14 and 15. In other words, the spring-type terminal member 24 according to the second embodiment can stably inhibit the rotation of the screws 14 and 15.

[0054] Implementation method 4.

[0055] Figure 13 : is a cross-sectional view of a spring type terminal member according to Embodiment 4. The spring type terminal member 24 according to Embodiment 4 differs from the spring type terminal member 24 according to Embodiment 1 in that the wire support member 19 does not have an interference portion. Figure 13 Shown Figure 1 : This is a cross section of the spring type terminal component 24 at a position corresponding to the XIII-XIII line in FIG. Figure 1 Since there is no wire insertion port 8 at the position where the line XIII-XIII in FIG. 1 passes, the wire support assembly 25 does not exist in this portion, and only the wire support assembly 26 and the insertion port member 12 exist.

[0056] Since the wire support member 19 of the spring type terminal member 24 according to the fourth embodiment does not have an interference portion, a mold for producing the wire support member 19 can be simplified.

[0057] Implementation method 5.

[0058] Figure 14This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a spring-type terminal component according to Embodiment 5. The spring-type terminal component 30 according to Embodiment 5 includes a cover component 32 and a spring-type terminal 31 electrically connected to the contact 1b of the screw-type terminal of the electromagnetic contactor 1. The spring-type terminal 31 includes a conductive metal member 9c and a spring 10c. The conductive metal member 9c of the spring-type terminal 31 is fixed to the contact 1b by a screw 33. The cover component 32 includes a press-fit portion 34 for pressing the screw 33, an interference portion 35 for interfering with the screw 33, and a wire insertion opening 32a for guiding the wires into the spring-type terminal 31. The cover component 32 is fixed to the housing 1a of the electromagnetic contactor 1 by a recessed and projecting engagement (not shown).

[0059] When the cover member 32 is fixed to the housing 1 a of the electromagnetic contactor 1 , the spring-type terminal 31 is held by the cover member 32 , thereby preventing the spring 10 c , which is a part of the spring-type terminal 31 , from falling off from the conductive metal member 9 c .

[0060] The effect of the interference portion 35 and the press-fit portion 34 in preventing the screw 33 from loosening is the same as that of the above-described embodiments.

[0061] The spring type terminal member 30 according to the fifth embodiment prevents the screw 33 from loosening by the cover member 32 holding the spring type terminal 31 . This can prevent the screw 33 of the screw terminal of the electromagnetic contactor 1 from loosening while suppressing an increase in the number of components.

[0062] The configurations shown in the above embodiments are merely examples of the contents, and can be combined with other known technologies. Part of the configurations can also be omitted or modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0063] Description of the label

[0064] 1 Electromagnetic contactor, 1a Housing, 1b Contact, 2 Overload relay, 3 Electromagnetic switch, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 32a Wire insertion port, 9a, 9b, 9c Conductive metal part, 10a, 10b, 10c Spring, 11, 21, 31 Spring-type terminal, 12 Insertion port component, 12a Cylindrical portion, 13 Tool insertion port, 14, 15, 33 Screw, 14a, 15a Adjustment hole, 15b Recessed portion, 16, 17 Screw-type terminal, 18, 34 Press-fit portion, 19, 20 Wire support component, 22, 23, 27, 28, 35 Interference portion, 24, 30 Spring-type terminal component, 25, 26 Wire support assembly component, 32 Cover component.

Claims

1. A spring type terminal component, characterized in that: have: A spring-type terminal having a conductive metal member screwed to a screw-type terminal of an electromagnetic contactor or an overload relay, and a spring engaged with the conductive metal member by elastic force; and a holding component for holding the spring-type terminal, The holding member has a press-in portion for pressing the screw head of the screw, The press-fit portion applies a force in the axial direction of the screw to the outer peripheral portion of the pressed screw head.

2. The spring type terminal component according to claim 1, wherein The holding member includes an interference portion that interferes with the hole or the groove of the screw head of the screw to suppress rotation of the screw.

3. The spring type terminal component according to claim 2, characterized in that The holding member includes a member for fixing the conductive metal member and a member for preventing the spring from falling off from the conductive metal member. The interference portion is provided as a member for suppressing the spring from falling off from the conductive metal member.

4. The spring type terminal component according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: As the interference portion, a portion of the interference portion enters the hole or groove of the screw head.

5. The spring type terminal component according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that The interference portion is cylindrical, and an end surface thereof interferes with the hole or groove of the screw head.

6. The spring type terminal component according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The hole or slot of the screw head is formed with a recess inside, As the interference portion, a portion of the interference portion enters the recessed portion.

7. A spring type terminal component, characterized in that: have: A spring-type terminal having a conductive metal member screwed to a screw-type terminal of an electromagnetic contactor or an overload relay and a spring engaged with the conductive metal member by elastic force; and a holding component that holds the spring-type terminal, The holding member has a press-in portion for pressing the screw head of the screw, The press-fit portion is made of resin.

8. The spring type terminal component according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The press-fit portion partially contacts the outer peripheral portion of the screw head with a gap therebetween in a direction around the axis of the screw.

9. An electromagnetic contactor, characterized in that: The spring type terminal member according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is mounted on a screw type terminal.

10. An overload relay, characterized in that: The overload relay has screw terminals. The spring type terminal member according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is mounted on a screw type terminal.

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