Terminal block

Abstract

The present invention provides a terminal block capable of absorbing a tolerance between a first connection terminal and a second connection terminal. A terminal block (1) is provided with: a bus bar (10); a housing (20) provided with an insertion space portion (21) into which the second connection portion (12) of the bus bar (10) is inserted in the axial direction (X); a gasket (30) that is inserted into the insertion space section (21) together with the second connection section (12) and seals an annular space between the outer surface of the second connection section (12) and the inner surface of the insertion space section (21); and a pad holder (40) that has a bus bar insertion section (41) through which the second connection section (12) is inserted in the axial direction (X), and that is inserted into the insertion space section (21) in a state in which the second connection section (12) is inserted into the bus bar insertion section (41) and the pad (30) is supported in the axial direction (X), the bus bar insertion section (41) being configured so as to include a first gap (S1) for allowing deformation of the second connection section (12) in the plate thickness direction (Z).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a terminal block. BACKGROUND

[0002] As a technology related to the conventional terminal block, for example, a terminal block is disclosed in Patent Literature 1, which is provided with a bus bar having a first connecting portion connected with a first connecting terminal, a second connecting portion connected with a second connecting terminal, and an intermediate portion connected between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, and a housing provided with an insertion space portion into which the second connecting portion of the bus bar is inserted.

[0003] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

[0004] PATENT LITERATURE

[0005] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-024667 SUMMARY

[0006] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0007] However, in the terminal block described in Patent Literature 1 described above, there is room for further improvement, for example, in absorbing the tolerance between the first connecting terminal and the second connecting terminal.

[0008] The present application has been achieved in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a terminal block capable of absorbing the tolerance between a first connecting terminal and a second connecting terminal.

[0009] TECHNICAL MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM

[0010] To achieve the above object, a terminal block according to the present application includes: a bus bar having a first connecting portion extending in an axial direction and connected to a first connecting terminal, a second connecting portion extending in the axial direction and located at a position offset from the first connecting portion in the axial direction and a plate thickness direction intersecting the axial direction, and connected to a second connecting terminal, and an intermediate portion connected between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion and extending in the plate thickness direction; a housing provided with an insertion space portion into which the second connecting portion of the bus bar is inserted in the axial direction; a gasket inserted into the insertion space portion together with the second connecting portion and sealing a ring-shaped space between an outer surface of the second connecting portion and an inner surface of the insertion space portion; and a gasket holder having a bus bar insertion portion through which the second connecting portion is inserted in the axial direction, the gasket holder being inserted into the insertion space portion with the second connecting portion inserted into the bus bar insertion portion and the gasket holder supporting the gasket in the axial direction, the bus bar insertion portion being configured to include a first gap for allowing the second connecting portion to deform in the plate thickness direction.

[0011] Effects of the Invention

[0012] In the terminal block according to the present application, the bus bar insertion portion is configured to include a first gap for allowing the second connecting portion to deform in the plate thickness direction. According to this structure, the terminal block can allow the second connecting portion to deform in the plate thickness direction through the first gap, for example, when assembled with respect to the first connecting terminal and the second connecting terminal. As a result, the terminal block functions to absorb tolerances between the first connecting terminal and the second connecting terminal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 is an example of a perspective view of a terminal block according to an embodiment.

[0014] Figure 2 is an example of an exploded perspective view of a terminal block according to an embodiment.

[0015] Figure 3 is an example of a perspective view of a gasket of a terminal block according to an embodiment.

[0016] Figure 4 is an example of a perspective view of a gasket holder of a terminal block according to an embodiment.

[0017] Figure 5 is an example of a cross-sectional view of a terminal block according to an embodiment.

[0018] Figure 6is an exemplary cross-sectional view of a terminal block to which the embodiment relates, and is a view of a state after deformation of the bus bar.

[0019] Symbol explanation

[0020] 1 Terminal block

[0021] 3 First connection terminal

[0022] 4 Second connection terminal

[0023] 10 Bus bar

[0024] 11 First connection portion

[0025] 12 Second connection portion

[0026] 13 Intermediate portion

[0027] 20 Housing

[0028] 21 Insertion space portion

[0029] 22a One end surface

[0030] 30 Gasket

[0031] 40 Gasket holder

[0032] 41 Bus bar insertion portion

[0033] D1 First device

[0034] D2 Second device

[0035] S1 First gap

[0036] S2 Second gap

[0037] W1 Opening width

[0038] W1 Thickness

[0039] X Axial direction

[0040] Z Thickness direction DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present application will be described in detail based on the drawings. In addition, the present application is not limited to the following embodiment. In addition, among the constituent elements of the following embodiment, there are included elements which can be substituted and which are easily substituted by those skilled in the art, or substantially identical elements. Furthermore, in the present specification, numerals are used only to distinguish elements, parts, sites, positions, directions, and the like, and do not indicate order, priority.

[0042] [EMBODIMENT]

[0043] Figure 1is a perspective view of the terminal block 1 of the embodiment. Figure 1 The terminal block 1 of the present embodiment shown is mounted on a vehicle such as an electric automobile, a hybrid automobile, or the like, for example, and relays electrical connection of the first device Dl and the second device D2. The terminal block 1 of the present embodiment is configured to include a plurality of bus bars 10, and the first connecting terminal 3 (see Figure 6 ) of the first device Dl is electrically connected to a first connecting portion 11 provided at one end portion of the plurality of bus bars 10. In the terminal block 1 of the present embodiment, the second connecting terminal 4 of the second device D2 is electrically connected to a second connecting portion 12 provided at the other end portion of the plurality of bus bars 10. The first device Dl is one of a motor and an inverter, for example, and the second device D2 is the other of the motor and the inverter, for example. Further, the terminal block 1 is not limited to this example, and can be used for relay of the first device Dl or the second device D2 and a wiring member, relay of a wiring member and a wiring member, or the like, for example.

[0044] Further, in the following description, the first direction among the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction that cross each other is referred to as an "axial direction X", the second direction is referred to as a "width direction Y", and the third direction is referred to as a "plate thickness direction Z". Here, the axial direction X, the width direction Y, and the plate thickness direction Z are substantially orthogonal to each other. The axial direction X typically corresponds to an extending direction of the plurality of bus bars 10, an insertion direction of the plurality of bus bars 10 with respect to the housing 20, a depth direction (front-rear direction) of the terminal block 1, or the like. The width direction Y typically corresponds to a width direction of the plurality of bus bars 10, a width direction (left-right direction) of the terminal block 1, or the like. The plate thickness direction Z typically corresponds to a plate thickness direction of the plurality of bus bars 10 (the first connecting portion 11 and the second connecting portion 12), a fastening direction of the plurality of bus bars 10 and the first connecting terminal 3 and the second connecting terminal 4, a height direction (up-down direction) of the terminal block 1, or the like. Further, each direction used in the following description is described as a direction in a state in which the terminal block 1 is assembled to the first connecting terminal 3 and the second connecting terminal 4 unless otherwise specified.

[0045] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the terminal block 1. As shown in Figure 2 , the terminal block 1 is configured to include the plurality of bus bars 10, the housing 20, the gasket 30, the gasket holder 40, and the sealing member 50, for example. The plurality of bus bars 10 is a terminal fitting configured of a metal material having electrical conductivity, and is electrically connected to the first connecting terminal 3 and the second connecting terminal 4 described above. In the present embodiment, three bus bars 10 are provided in a row in the width direction Y of the terminal block 1. Further, the number of the bus bars 10 is not limited to this example, and one, two, or four or more bus bars 10 can be provided, for example.

[0046] The bus bar 10 is configured to include, for example, a first connecting portion 11 provided at one end portion in the axis direction X, a second connecting portion 12 provided at the other end portion in the axis direction X, and an intermediate portion 13 provided between the first connecting portion 11 and the second connecting portion 12. The first connecting portion 11, the second connecting portion 12, and the intermediate portion 13 are integrally formed of a metal material having electrical conductivity. That is, the bus bar 10 is formed in a crank shape in which the portions are three-dimensionally integrated by performing various processes such as bending process on one metal sheet in shapes corresponding to the respective portions of the first connecting portion 11, the second connecting portion 12, and the intermediate portion 13.

[0047] The first connecting portion 11 is a portion that is electrically and mechanically connected to the first connecting terminal 3. The first connecting portion 11 extends in the axis direction X. The first connecting portion 11 is provided with a mounting hole 11a for mounting a bolt 61 of a fastening member 60 that fastens the bus bar 10 and the first connecting terminal 3 (see FIG. 2). Figure 6 ) The mounting hole 11a is a through hole that penetrates the first connecting portion 11 in the plate thickness direction Z, and is configured as a circular hole having a diameter larger than that of the shaft portion 61b of the bolt 61.

[0048] The second connecting portion 12 is a portion that is electrically and mechanically connected to the second connecting terminal 4. The second connecting portion 12 extends in the axis direction X, and is located at a position offset from the first connecting portion 11 in the axis direction X and the plate thickness direction Z. The second connecting portion 12 is provided with a mounting hole 12a for mounting a bolt 71 of a fastening member 70 that fastens the bus bar 10 and the second connecting terminal 4 (see FIG. 2). Figure 6 ) The mounting hole 12a is a through hole that penetrates the second connecting portion 12 in the plate thickness direction Z, and is configured as a circular hole having substantially the same diameter as that of the shaft portion 71b of the bolt 71.

[0049] The intermediate portion 13 is a portion that connects between the first connecting portion 11 and the second connecting portion 12. The intermediate portion 13 extends in the plate thickness direction Z, and constitutes a step between the first connecting portion 11 and the second connecting portion 12. The intermediate portion 13 is bent at an angle of 90° with respect to the first connecting portion 11 and the second connecting portion 12, for example. The thickness direction of the intermediate portion 13 is the axis direction X that intersects the plate thickness direction Z of the first connecting portion 11 and the second connecting portion 12.

[0050] The housing 20 holds the second connecting portions 12 of the three bus bars 10 arranged in the width direction Y, and is formed of a synthetic resin material having insulating properties. The housing 20 has a housing main body 22 and a housing protruding portion 23 protruding from the housing main body 22 in the axis direction X to the side opposite to the bus bar 10, for example. The housing 20 is integrally formed with the housing main body 22 and the housing protruding portion 23.

[0051] An insertion space portion 21 into which the second connecting portion 12 of the bus bar 10 is inserted in the axial direction X is provided inside the housing main body 22 and the housing protruding portion 23. The insertion space portion 21 penetrates the housing main body 22 and the housing protruding portion 23 in the axial direction X. In the present embodiment, three insertion space portions 21 are provided in the housing 20 corresponding to the bus bar 10, and the three insertion space portions 21 are separated from each other in the width direction Y.

[0052] Further, the housing main body 22 has an end surface 22a on one side in the axial direction X (the bus bar 10 side) and an end surface 22b on the other side in the axial direction X. The end surface 22a is a portion that opposes the intermediate portion 13 of the bus bar 10 in the axial direction X at a peripheral portion of the insertion space portion 21. The end surface 22b is a portion in which a recess portion 24 for holding the sealing member 50 is provided at a peripheral portion of the housing protruding portion 23. The recess portion 24 is recessed from the end surface 22b toward one side in the axial direction X and is open toward the other side in the axial direction X. The recess portion 24 is formed, for example, in a substantially elliptical ring shape along the outer shape of the sealing member 50.

[0053] The sealing member 50 suppresses entry of foreign matter such as moisture from a ring-shaped gap between the housing 20 and a not-illustrated cylindrical portion of the second device D2 into the inside of the terminal block 1. The sealing member 50 is formed of a member that can be elastically deformed, such as rubber or resin. The sealing member 50 is formed, for example, in a substantially elliptical cylindrical shape and is fitted in the above-described recess portion 24. In a state in which the terminal block 1 is connected to the second device D2, the sealing member 50 is sandwiched between the end surface 22b of the housing main body 22 and an end surface of the not-illustrated cylindrical portion of the second device D2.

[0054] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a gasket 30 of the terminal block 1. As shown in Figure 3 The gasket 30 has, for example, an insertion hole 31 through which the second connecting portion 12 of the bus bar 10 is inserted in the axial direction X, and seals around the second connecting portion 12. In the present embodiment, three gaskets 30 are provided in the terminal block 1 corresponding to the bus bar 10. The three gaskets 30 are connected to each other, for example, via a connecting portion 34 provided between two gaskets 30 adjacent in the width direction Y. The gasket 30 is formed of a member that can be elastically deformed, such as rubber. The gasket 30 is also referred to as a terminal gasket, a rubber plug, a bushing, or the like.

[0055] A plurality of outer peripheral side lips 32 and a plurality of inner peripheral side lips 33 are provided in the gasket 30. The outer peripheral side lip 32 is a water stop portion that is formed in a substantially circular ring shape along an outer peripheral surface of the gasket 30 in a crimped shape. In the present embodiment, two outer peripheral side lips 32 are respectively provided in the gasket 30 in alignment in the axial direction X. The inner peripheral side lip 33 is a water stop portion that is formed in a substantially circular ring shape along an inner peripheral surface of the gasket 30 in a crimped shape. In the present embodiment, two inner peripheral side lips 33 are respectively provided in the gasket 30 in alignment in the axial direction X. Figure 5The outer peripheral side lip portion 32 is in contact with the inner surface of the insertion space portion 21 and seals the annular space between the outer peripheral side lip portion 32 and the inner surface in a state in which the second connecting portion 12 of the bus bar 10 is inserted into (press-fitted into) the insertion hole 31. The outer peripheral side lip portion 32 is configured to be in close contact with the inner surface of the insertion space portion 21 by elastic deformation, and seal the annular space between the inner surface and the outer peripheral surface of the gasket 30.

[0056] The inner peripheral side lip portion 33 is a gasket portion in a substantially annular shape formed in a corrugated shape along the inner peripheral surface of the gasket 30. In the present embodiment, two inner peripheral side lip portions 33 are provided in the gasket 30, respectively, in alignment along the axis direction X (see FIG. 2). Figure 5 The inner peripheral side lip portion 33 is in contact with the outer surface of the second connecting portion 12 and seals the annular space between the inner peripheral side lip portion 33 and the outer surface in a state in which the second connecting portion 12 of the bus bar 10 is inserted into (press-fitted into) the insertion hole 31. The inner peripheral side lip portion 33 is configured to be in close contact with the outer surface of the second connecting portion 12 by elastic deformation, and seal the annular space between the outer surface and the inner peripheral surface of the gasket 30.

[0057] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a gasket holder 40 of the terminal block 1, Figure 5 is a sectional view of the terminal block 1. As shown in Figure 4 , Figure 5 indicated, the gasket holder 40 has, for example, a bus bar insertion portion 41 through which the second connecting portion 12 of the bus bar 10 is inserted in the axis direction X, and supports the periphery of the second connecting portion 12, and supports the gasket 30 in the axis direction X. In the present embodiment, the gasket holder 40 is provided with three bus bar insertion portions 41 corresponding to the bus bar 10. The three bus bar insertion portions 41 are separated from each other in the width direction Y, for example, via a partition wall 42 provided between two bus bar insertion portions 41 adjacent in the width direction Y. The gasket holder 40 is formed of, for example, a synthetic resin material having insulating properties.

[0058] In addition, the gasket holder 40 has, for example, a protruding portion 43 provided at one end surface in the axis direction X. The protruding portion 43 protrudes from the gasket holder 40 to one side in the axis direction X, and supports the intermediate portion 13 (see Figure 5 ) of the bus bar 10. That is, the protruding portion 43 supports the intermediate portion 13 in a state separated from the one end surface of the gasket holder 40 in the axis direction X. The gasket holder 40 is inserted into the insertion space portion 21 of the housing 20 in a state in which the second connecting portion 12 is inserted into the bus bar insertion portion 41 and the gasket 30 is supported in the axis direction X. The gasket holder 40 functions as a portion that presses the gasket 30 toward the other side (inner side) in the axis direction X when assembled into the insertion space portion 21.

[0059] Further, in a state where the gasket holder 40 is assembled in the insertion space portion 21, a second gap S2 is provided between the intermediate portion 13 and an end surface of the gasket holder 40 in the axis direction X, and between the intermediate portion 13 and the end surface 22a of the housing 20. The second gap S2 is a gap for allowing the intermediate portion 13 to deform in the axis direction X.

[0060] In this embodiment, the busbar insertion portion 41 is configured to include a first gap S1 for allowing the second connecting portion 12 to deform in the plate thickness direction Z. The first gap S1 is, for example, a gap between an inner surface on the other side of the busbar insertion portion 41 in the plate thickness direction Z and the second connecting portion 12 in a state where the second connecting portion 12 abuts against the inner surface on one side of the busbar insertion portion 41 in the plate thickness direction Z. In this embodiment, an opening width W1 of the first gap S1 in the plate thickness direction Z is set to be larger than a thickness W2 of the second connecting portion 12 in the plate thickness direction Z. The busbar insertion portion 41 has an opening width that is the sum of the opening width W1 of the first gap S1 and the thickness W2 of the second connecting portion 12.

[0061] Next, a structure that absorbs tolerances at the time of assembly of the terminal block 1 with respect to the first connecting terminal 3 and the second connecting terminal 4 will be described. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the terminal block 1, and is a view of a state after the busbar 10 is deformed. As shown in Figure 6 In the case of assembling the terminal block 1 with the first connecting terminal 3 and the second connecting terminal 4, first, the second connecting portion 12 of the busbar 10 and the second connecting terminal 4 of the second device D2 are fastened and fixed by the fastening member 70.

[0062] Specifically, in this embodiment, the fastening member 70 is configured to include a bolt 71 and a nut 72, and the nut 72 is pre-installed and fixed to the tip portion of the housing protruding portion 23 in a state where mounting holes 12a of the second connecting portion 12 are aligned in the plate thickness direction Z. The bolt 71 has a shaft portion 71b in which an external thread portion that engages with an internal thread portion of the nut 72 is provided on an outer peripheral surface, and a head portion 71a whose diameter is larger than that of the shaft portion 71b. Further, in a state where the second connecting terminal 4 and the second connecting portion 12 are sandwiched between the head portion 71a and the nut 72, the shaft portion 71b of the bolt 71 penetrates the second connecting terminal 4 and the second connecting portion 12 in the plate thickness direction Z and is fastened with the nut 72.

[0063] Next, the first connecting portion 11 of the bus bar 10 and the first connecting terminal 3 of the first device Dl are fastened and fixed by the fastening member 60. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the fastening member 60 is configured to include a bolt 61 and a nut 62, and the mounting hole 11a in which the shaft portion 61b of the bolt 61 is to be mounted of the first connecting terminal 3 is configured to be a round hole for absorbing the dimensional tolerance between the first connecting terminal 3 and the second connecting terminal 4 to some extent. Also, in a state where the first connecting terminal 3 and the first connecting portion 11 are sandwiched between the head portion 61a and the nut 62, the shaft portion 61b of the bolt 61 penetrates the first connecting terminal 3 and the first connecting portion 11 in the plate thickness direction Z and is fastened to the nut 62.

[0064] At this time, in the present embodiment, in a case where the dimensional tolerance between the first connecting terminal 3 and the second connecting terminal 4 is large, an external force in a diagonal downward direction between the axis direction X and the plate thickness direction Z is generated in the bus bar 10, and stress is concentrated in the vicinity of the intermediate portion 13, causing the base end portion 12c of the second connecting portion 12 to deform in the plate thickness direction Z. The base end portion 12c is an end portion of the second connecting portion 12 on the side of the intermediate portion 13. In addition, there can be a case where the intermediate portion 13 deforms in the axis direction X due to stress concentrated in the vicinity of the intermediate portion 13. As a result, the terminal base 1 is able to absorb the dimensional tolerance between the first connecting terminal 3 and the second connecting terminal 4.

[0065] As described above, in the terminal base 1 of the present embodiment, the bus bar insertion portion 41 is configured to include the first gap S1 for allowing the second connecting portion 12 to deform in the plate thickness direction Z. According to this structure, the terminal base 1 is able to allow the second connecting portion 12 to deform in the plate thickness direction Z through the first gap S1, for example, at the time of assembly with respect to the first connecting terminal 3 and the second connecting terminal 4. As a result, the terminal base 1 is able to absorb the tolerance between the first connecting terminal 3 and the second connecting terminal 4, and further reduce stress generated in the bus bar 10 at the time of assembly, thereby improving the assembly property with respect to the first connecting terminal 3 and the second connecting terminal 4.

[0066] In addition, in the terminal base 1 of the present embodiment, the opening width Wl of the first gap S1 in the plate thickness direction Z is larger than the thickness W2 of the second connecting portion 12 in the plate thickness direction Z. According to this structure, the terminal base 1 is able to ensure a space for the second connecting portion 12 to deform in the plate thickness direction Z more widely through the first gap S1, for example, at the time of assembly with respect to the first connecting terminal 3 and the second connecting terminal 4. In addition, for example, compared to a case where the opening width of the bus bar insertion portion 41 in the plate thickness direction Z including the first gap S1 is configured to be substantially the same as or slightly larger than the thickness W2 of the second connecting portion 12 in the plate thickness direction Z, that is, compared to a case where there is no space or the space is small for the second connecting portion 12 to deform in the plate thickness direction Z, it is possible to further reduce stress generated in the bus bar 10 at the time of assembly with respect to the first connecting terminal 3 and the second connecting terminal 4.

[0067] Further, in the terminal block 1 of the present embodiment, the housing 20 has an end surface 22a which opposes the intermediate portion 13 in the axis direction X at the peripheral portion of the insertion space portion 21, and a second gap S2 for allowing the intermediate portion 13 to deform in the axis direction X is provided between the end surface 22a and the intermediate portion 13. According to this structure, the terminal block 1 is able to allow the intermediate portion 13 to deform in the axis direction X by the second gap S2, for example, at the time of assembly with respect to the first and second connecting terminals 3 and 4. As a result, the terminal block 1 is able to absorb the tolerance between the first and second connecting terminals 3 and 4, and further improve the assembly property with respect to the first and second connecting terminals 3 and 4.

[0068] Further, in the present embodiment, a case where the second gap S2 for allowing the intermediate portion 13 to deform in the axis direction X is provided between the end surface 22a and the intermediate portion 13 is exemplified, but is not limited to this example, and for example, the second gap S2 can not be provided and be arranged in a state where the end surface 22a and the intermediate portion 13 are in abutment.

[0069] The above exemplifies the embodiments of the present application, but the above-described embodiments are one example and are not intended to limit the scope of the application. These embodiments can be implemented in other various ways, and various omissions, substitutions, combinations, modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the application. Further, the specifications (configuration, kind, direction, form, size, length, width, thickness, height, number, arrangement, position, material, etc.) of each structure, shape, etc. can be appropriately changed and implemented.

Claims

1. A terminal block, characterized in that, have: A busbar having: a first connecting portion extending along an axial direction and connected to a first connecting terminal; a second connecting portion extending along the axial direction and located offset from the first connecting portion in the axial direction and in a plate thickness direction intersecting the axial direction, and connected to a second connecting terminal; and an intermediate portion connecting the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion and extending along the plate thickness direction; The housing has an insertion space for the second connecting portion of the busbar to be inserted along the axial direction; A gasket, which, together with the second connecting portion, is inserted into the insertion space and seals the annular space between the outer surface of the second connecting portion and the inner surface of the insertion space; and A gasket retainer has a busbar insertion portion through which the second connecting portion passes along the axial direction. The gasket retainer is inserted into the insertion space with the second connecting portion inserted into the busbar insertion portion and the gasket retainer supporting the gasket in the axial direction. The busbar insertion portion is configured to include a first gap, which allows the second connection portion to deform in the plate thickness direction.

2. The terminal block according to claim 1, wherein, The opening width of the first gap along the plate thickness direction is greater than the thickness of the second connection portion along the plate thickness direction.

3. The terminal block according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The housing has an end face at the periphery of the insertion space that is opposite to the middle portion in the axial direction, and A second gap is provided between the end face and the middle portion to allow the middle portion to deform in the direction of the axis.

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