Terminal block

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a terminal block capable of appropriately reducing the scattering of foreign matter. A terminal block (1) is provided with: a bus bar (10) that extends in the axial direction (X) and is connected to an external terminal (2); a nut (40) to which a bolt (30) for fastening the bus bar (10) and the external terminal (2) in a fastening direction (T) intersecting the axial direction (X) is screwed; and a housing (20) that holds the bus bar (10) and that has a nut holding section (200) that holds the nut (40). The nut holding section (200) has: a nut disposition surface (210) which is formed in a ring shape around the fastening direction (T) and on which the nut (40) is disposed; and a bottomed recess (230) formed in a recessed shape from the nut placement surface (210) toward the side opposite to the bus bar (10) in the fastening direction (T), and having a peripheral surface (231) connected to an inner edge (211) of the nut placement surface (210) formed in an annular shape.

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, in Patent Literature 1, a terminal block is disclosed which is provided with a housing having a through-hole, a bus bar which is held as a terminal connected with an external terminal, and which has a cylindrical accommodation chamber in the axial direction of the through-hole, a nut which is accommodated in the accommodation chamber, and a holder which has a support portion which supports the nut and which is attached to the housing. The holder is provided with a recess which is formed in a concave shape from the support portion. The external terminal and the bus bar are fastened together with a bolt which is inserted through the through-hole of the bus bar and which is screwed with the nut. The nut is arranged so as to be able to abut against the bus bar or the support portion before being screwed with the bolt, and the nut abuts against the bus bar after being screwed with the bolt. The chips generated when the bolt is screwed with the nut are accommodated in the recess of the holder.

[0003] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

[0004] PATENT LITERATURE

[0005] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-1934 SUMMARY

[0006] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0007] However, in such a terminal block, for example, the recess which accommodates the chips and the like of foreign matter generated when the bolt is screwed with the nut is surrounded by the nut and the accommodation chamber which accommodates the nut, but there is room for further improvement in terms of preventing the scattering of foreign matter.

[0008] The present application was completed in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a terminal block which is capable of appropriately reducing the scattering of foreign matter.

[0009] MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the terminal block of the present application is provided with a bus bar which extends in an axial direction and which is connected with an external terminal, a nut which is screwed with a bolt which fastens the bus bar and the external terminal in a fastening direction which intersects the axial direction, and a housing which has a nut holding portion which holds the nut and which holds the bus bar, the nut holding portion having a nut arrangement surface which is formed in a ring shape around the fastening direction and which arranges the nut, and a bottomed recess which is formed in a concave shape from the nut arrangement surface toward a side opposite to the bus bar in the fastening direction and which is formed with a peripheral surface which connects with an inner edge of the nut arrangement surface which is formed in a ring shape

[0011] EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The terminal block of the present application has an effect of appropriately reducing scattering of foreign matter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a terminal block of an embodiment.

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

[0015] Figure 3 is a plan view showing a nut holding portion of a terminal block of an embodiment.

[0016] Figure 4 is an IV-IV sectional view of Figure 1

[0017] Figure 5 is a V-V sectional view of Figure 1

[0018] REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0019] 1: Terminal block

[0020] 2: External terminal

[0021] 10: Bus bar

[0022] 12b: Nut abutting surface

[0023] 20: Housing

[0024] 30: Bolt

[0025] 40: Nut

[0026] 41: Surface

[0027] 43: Surface

[0028] 200: Nut holding portion

[0029] 210: Nut arrangement surface

[0030] 211: Inner edge

[0031] 230: Bottomed recess

[0032] 231: Peripheral surface

[0033] D1: Distance (from nut arrangement surface to nut abutting surface)

[0034] H1: Height of nut

[0035] T: Tightening direction

[0036] X: Axial direction ​​DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] 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 this embodiment. In addition, the constituent elements in the following embodiment include elements that can be and are easily replaced by those skilled in the art, or substantially identical elements.

[0038] [EMBODIMENT]

[0039] Figure 1 and Figure 2 The terminal block 1 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is mounted to a mounting object 70, for example, a vehicle such as an electric automobile or a hybrid automobile, and relays electrical connection of a first device and a second device, which are not shown. The terminal block 1 of the present embodiment is configured to include three, i.e., a plurality of bus bars 10, and an external terminal of the first device is electrically connected to a first connecting portion 11 provided at one end portion of the plurality of bus bars 10. In addition, in the terminal block 1 of the present embodiment, an external terminal 2 of the second device, which is shown by a double-dot chain line, 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 is, for example, one of a motor and an inverter, and the second device is, for example, the other of the motor and the inverter. Further, the terminal block 1 is not limited to this example, and can be used, for example, for relay of the first device or the second device and a wiring material, relay of the wiring material and the wiring material, and the like.

[0040] In addition, in the following description, a direction in which the bus bar 10 extends is set as an axis direction X, a direction orthogonal to the axis direction X and in which the plurality of bus bars 10 are arranged is set as a width direction Y, and a direction orthogonal to the axis direction X and the width direction Y, respectively, is set as a height direction Z. In addition, one side of the axis direction X is set as one side XI, and the other side is set as the other side X2. Similarly, in the width direction Y, one side Yl and the other side Y2 are set, and in the height direction Z, one side Zl and the other side Z2 are set.

[0041] The bus bar 10 has the first connecting portion 11 and the second connecting portion 12 formed by bending a metal material such as a metal plate material at a right angle from the first connecting portion 11, and is integrally formed in a substantially L shape in three dimensions by performing various processes such as bending processing on the metal material in accordance with the shape of each portion. The first connecting portion 11 extends along the height direction Z and is formed in a plate shape with a plate surface facing the axis direction X. The second connecting portion 12 extends along the axis direction X and is formed in a plate shape with a plate surface facing the height direction Z. A connecting hole 11a that penetrates along the axis direction X is provided at the other side Z2 of the first connecting portion 11 in the height direction Z. Similarly, a connecting hole 12a that penetrates along the height direction Z is provided at the one side XI of the second connecting portion 12 in the axis direction X. The external terminal of the first device described above is connected to the connecting hole 11a of the first connecting portion 11, and the external terminal 2 of the second device described above is connected to the connecting hole 12a of the second connecting portion 12.

[0042] The external terminal 2 is formed in a plate shape substantially parallel to the second connecting portion 12, and is provided with a connecting hole 2a that penetrates in the height direction Z. The external terminal 2 and the second connecting portion 12 of the bus bar 10 are connected by a bolt 30 inserted through the connecting hole 2a of the external terminal 2 and the connecting hole 12a of the second connecting portion 12, and a nut 40 that is held to the housing 20. Here, the direction of the axis of the bolt 30 is a tightening direction T that tightens the external terminal 2 and the bus bar 10. The tightening direction T is a direction along the height direction Z. In addition, the nut 40 is a square nut that is square.

[0043] The housing 20 has a housing main body 21 and a bus bar holding portion 22 including a plurality of nut holding portions 200, and is formed integrally of a synthetic resin material or the like having insulating properties. The housing main body 21 is formed in a substantially long rectangular plate shape with the width direction Y as the length direction. The face of one side XI of the axis direction X of the housing main body 21 becomes a substantially flat mounting face 21a that abuts against the face of the other side X2 of the axis direction X of the mounting object 70. A mounting hole 21b is provided near the end portions of one side Yl and the other side Y2 of the width direction Y of the housing main body 21. The mounting hole 21b is a hole that penetrates in the axis direction X, into which a bolt (not shown) is inserted, and by which the terminal block 1 is fixed to the mounting object 70 via the mounting hole 21b.

[0044] The bus bar holding portion 22 of the housing 20 is provided at substantially the central portion of the width direction Y of the housing main body 21. The bus bar holding portion 22 is formed so as to protrude from the mounting face 21a of the housing main body 21 toward one side XI of the axis direction X. The bus bar holding portion 22 holds a plurality of bus bars 10 that extend in the axis direction X in a manner that intersects the mounting face 21a. The substantially rounded rectangular cross section of the base portion 22a of the bus bar holding portion 22, which is on the side of the housing main body 21, is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape that extends in the axis direction X. The other side X2 of the axis direction X of the base portion 22a is connected to the housing main body 21.

[0045] A plurality of bus bar insertion portions 22c are provided in the base portion 22a, and are shown as flat holes that penetrate the housing main body 21 from the face of one side XI of the base portion 22a toward the other side X2. The second connecting portion 12 of each bus bar 10 is fixed to each bus bar insertion portion 22c by insert molding. Therefore, in this embodiment, no terminal seal is provided between the second connecting portion 12 of the bus bar 10 and the bus bar insertion portion 22c, but each bus bar insertion portion 22c can be formed as an insertion hole and a terminal seal can be provided. In addition, a seal member 50 is provided in a ring-shaped groove portion on the outer periphery of the base portion 22a of the bus bar holding portion 22.

[0046] The housing 20 is installed with the bus bar holding portion 22 inserted into the mounting hole 71 through in the mounting object 70 with the base portion 22a positioned in the mounting hole 71. At this time, the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 71 of the mounting object 70 and the outer periphery of the base portion 22a of the housing 20 are sealed by the sealing member 50 (refer to Figure 4 ).

[0047] The bus bar holding portion 22 is provided with a substantially flat end portion 22b on one side X1 of the axis direction X of the base portion 22a. A plurality of nut holding portions 200 are provided in the end portion 22b. Each nut holding portion 200 is provided corresponding to each bus bar 10. In the present embodiment, the nut holding portion 200 is formed integrally with the housing 20.

[0048] As shown in Figure 3 , the nut holding portion 200 is formed in a substantially ring shape around the fastening direction T, and is provided with a nut arrangement surface 210 formed in a flat surface shape in order to arrange the nut 40. Two side walls 201 having wall surfaces facing the width direction Y are provided on one side Y1 and the other side Y2 of the width direction Y of the nut arrangement surface 210. The other side X2 of the axis direction X of the two side walls 201 is connected by a rear wall 202 provided with a wall surface facing the axis direction X. A rectangular parallelepiped-shaped nut pressing portion 220 is protrusively provided on one side X1 of the axis direction X of the rear wall 202.

[0049] In addition, on the wall surface of the nut arrangement surface 210 side of the two side walls 201, nut pressing protrusions 221 protruding toward the nut arrangement surface 210 are provided in opposition in the width direction Y. The nut pressing protrusions 221 are provided long in the axis direction X. One side X1 of the axis direction X of the nut pressing protrusions 221 is formed in a tapered shape. By this, the nut 40 is inserted from one side X1 of the axis direction X, positioned in the width direction Y by the two nut pressing protrusions 221, and fixed by being sandwiched. That is, the two nut pressing protrusions 221 as the nut fixing portion fix the nut 40 in a state where the nut 40 and the nut arrangement surface 210 are in contact. The nut 40 inserted from one side X1 of the axis direction X is in contact with the nut pressing portion 220, and is positioned in the axis direction X.

[0050] An inclined surface 203 is provided on one side X1 of the axis direction X of the nut arrangement surface 210, and a base surface 204 is provided on one side X1 of the inclined surface 203. The base surface 204 is a flat surface parallel to the nut arrangement surface 210, and is positioned at a position on the other side Z2 of the height direction Z from the nut arrangement surface 210. The inclined surface 203 is inclined from the other side X2 to one side X1 of the axis direction X, and from one side Z1 to the other side Z2 of the height direction Z.

[0051] As shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, the nut holding portion 200 has a bottomed recess 230 formed in a recessed shape from the nut arrangement surface 210 toward the side opposite to the bus bar 10 in the tightening direction T, and a peripheral surface 231 connected to the inner edge 211 of the nut arrangement surface 210 formed in a ring shape. In the present embodiment, the bottomed recess 230 is a bottomed circular recess formed with a bottom surface 232, and is formed in a recessed shape from the nut arrangement surface 210 toward the other side Z2 of the height direction Z. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the edge 203a of the other side X2 of the axis direction X of the inclined surface 203 is connected in a state of substantially overlapping the inner edge 211 of the nut arrangement surface 210 (i.e., the edge of the one side Z1 of the height direction Z of the bottomed recess 230) formed in a ring shape. Therefore, the edge 203a of the inclined surface 203 abuts against the surface 41 of the other side Z2 of the height direction Z of the nut 40 described later. Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the edge 203a of the other side X2 of the axis direction X of the inclined surface 203 is connected in a state of substantially overlapping the inner edge 211 of the nut arrangement surface 210 (i.e., the edge of the one side Z1 of the height direction Z of the bottomed recess 230) formed in a ring shape. Therefore, the edge 203a of the inclined surface 203 abuts against the surface 41 of the other side Z2 of the height direction Z of the nut 40 described later.

[0052] As shown, the edge 203a of the other side X2 of the axis direction X of the inclined surface 203 is connected in a state of substantially overlapping the inner edge 211 of the nut arrangement surface 210 (i.e., the edge of the one side Z1 of the height direction Z of the bottomed recess 230) formed in a ring shape. Therefore, the edge 203a of the inclined surface 203 abuts against the surface 41 of the other side Z2 of the height direction Z of the nut 40 described later. Figure 4 As shown, the nut 40 is arranged so that the axis is coincident with the tightening direction T, and the surface 41 of the other side Z2 of the height direction Z abuts against and is in close contact with the nut arrangement surface 210. In more detail, the surface 41 of the other side Z2 of the height direction Z of the nut 40 abuts against and is in close contact with the inner edge 211 of the nut arrangement surface 210 (the inner edge 211 including the edge 203a of the inclined surface 203). In other words, the inner edge 211 of the nut arrangement surface 210 is located outward of the diameter Da of the root of the internal thread of the nut 40 and within the projected area of the nut 40. In further other words, the diameter Da of the root of the internal thread of the nut 40 is smaller than the diameter Db of the bottomed recess 230. Therefore, the bottomed recess 230 is in a substantially closed state.

[0053] As described above, the side surface 42a of the other side X2 of the axis direction X of the nut 40 abuts against the surface 220a of the one side XI of the axis direction X of the nut pressing portion 220. In addition, as described above, as shown in FIG. 2, the two side surfaces 42b of the width direction Y of the nut 40 respectively abut against the nut pressing protrusions 221 of the side wall 201. Therefore, the nut 40 is sandwiched and fixed by the nut pressing protrusions 221 opposite in the width direction Y. Therefore, the nut 40 is held to the nut holding portion 200 of the housing 20. By fixing the nut 40 as a square nut by the nut pressing protrusions 221, even at the time of tightening with the bolt 30, after the tightening with the bolt 30, it is easy to reduce the case where the nut 40 is displaced to the one side Z1 of the height direction Z. Therefore, the abutting state of the nut arrangement surface 210 and the surface 41 of the other side Z2 of the height direction Z of the nut 40 in the state of tightening with the bolt 30 is more reliably maintained. Figure 5 As shown, the edge 203a of the other side X2 of the axis direction X of the inclined surface 203 is connected in a state of substantially overlapping the inner edge 211 of the nut arrangement surface 210 (i.e., the edge of the one side Z1 of the height direction Z of the bottomed recess 230) formed in a ring shape. Therefore, the edge 203a of the inclined surface 203 abuts against the surface 41 of the other side Z2 of the height direction Z of the nut 40 described later.

[0054] Figure 4 ​As shown, the face 43 on the one side Z1 of the nut 40 held by the nut holding portion 200 in the height direction Z is in close contact with the face, i.e., the nut abutting face 12b on the other side Z2 of the second connecting portion 12 of the bus bar 10 in the height direction Z. Here, the distance D1 from the nut arrangement face 210 to the nut abutting face 12b in the tightening direction T is equal to the height H1 of the nut 40 in the tightening direction T (also refer to FIG. 2). Therefore, in the tightened state of the bolt 30 to the nut 40 fixed by the nut holding portion 200, the face 41 on the other side Z2 of the nut 40 in the height direction Z is always in close contact with the nut arrangement face 210. Figure 2 )Thus, in the tightened state of the bolt 30 to the nut 40 fixed by the nut holding portion 200, the face 41 on the other side Z2 of the nut 40 in the height direction Z is always in close contact with the nut arrangement face 210.

[0055] Further, even if the structure in which the distance D1 is not equal to the height H1 of the nut 40, as long as the nut arrangement face 210 is always in close contact with the face 41 on the other side Z2 of the nut 40 in the height direction Z in the tightened state of the nut 40 to the bolt 30, other structures can also be employed. For example, a spacer member such as a washer can be interposed between the face 43 on the one side Z1 of the nut 40 in the height direction Z and the nut abutting face 12b of the second connecting portion 12 of the bus bar 10 to tighten the bolt 30 and the nut 40.

[0056] The face 12c on the one side Z1 in the height direction Z of the second connecting portion 12 of the bus bar 10 is in abutment with the face 2b on the other side Z2 in the height direction Z of the external terminal 2. Further, the connecting hole 12a of the second connecting portion 12 is aligned with the connecting hole 2a of the external terminal 2, and the bolt 30 is inserted therethrough. Further, the bolt 30 is tightened by screwing with the nut 40. The nut 40 is stopped by the nut pressing protrusion 221. In this way, the external terminal 2 is connected to the second connecting portion 12 of the bus bar 10. In addition, the end portion of the bolt 30 enters the inside of the bottomed recess 230.

[0057] When the bolt 30 is screwed into the nut 40, sometimes foreign matter such as plating dross and burrs is generated from the threaded portions of the bolt 30 and the nut 40. In the terminal stand 1 of the present embodiment, such foreign matter is accommodated in the inside of the bottomed recess 230. Further, since the bottomed recess 230 is provided in a substantially closed state, the foreign matter is less likely to leak to the outside of the bottomed recess 230.

[0058] The terminal block 1 described above is provided with a bus bar 10 extending in the axial direction X and connected to the external terminal 2, a nut 40 in which a bolt 30 that fastens the bus bar 10 and the external terminal 2 in a fastening direction T intersecting the axial direction X is screwed, and a housing 20 that holds the bus bar 10 and has a nut holding portion 200 that holds the nut 40, the nut holding portion 200 having a nut arrangement surface 210 that is annularly formed around the fastening direction T and in which the nut 40 is arranged, and a bottomed recess 230 that is concavely formed from the nut arrangement surface 210 toward the side opposite the bus bar 10 in the fastening direction T and has a peripheral surface 231 that is connected to an inner edge 211 of the annularly formed nut arrangement surface 210.

[0059] Thus, the bottomed recess 230 that is formed in a substantially bag shape is formed integrally with the nut arrangement surface 210. Therefore, no gap is generated between the nut arrangement surface 210 and the bottomed recess 230. Also, the nut 40 can be arranged in abutment and close contact with the nut arrangement surface 210, so the bottomed recess 230 can be brought to a substantially closed state. Therefore, according to the terminal block 1 related to the present embodiment, it is possible to appropriately reduce the occurrence of scattering of foreign matter accommodated in the bottomed recess 230 to the outside of the terminal block 1 due to vibration or the like. Also, in the nut holding portion 200, since the nut arrangement surface 210 and the bottomed recess 230 are integrally formed, it is not necessary to increase the number of components in order to appropriately reduce the scattering of foreign matter, and it is possible to suppress an increase in cost and an increase in weight of the terminal block 1. Furthermore, each nut holding portion 200 can be provided in correspondence with each bus bar 10, so it is possible to easily cope with an increase or decrease in the number of bus bars 10.

[0060] In addition, the nut 40 is in abutment with the nut arrangement surface 210 in the fastened state with the bolt 30. Thus, even in the fastened state of the bolt 30 and the nut 40, it is possible to reliably bring the nut 40 into abutment with the nut arrangement surface 210, and further to appropriately reduce the scattering of foreign matter accommodated in the bottomed recess 230.

[0061] In addition, the bus bar 10 has a nut abutment surface 12b that is in abutment with the nut 40, and the distance D1 from the nut arrangement surface 210 to the nut abutment surface 12b in the fastening direction T is equal to the height H1 of the nut 40 in the fastening direction T. Thus, the nut 40 and the nut arrangement surface 210 can be brought into close contact abutment without using a spacer member such as a washer between the nut 40 and the bus bar 10, and further the bus bar 10 and the nut 40 are in close contact abutment, so it is possible to more reliably and appropriately reduce the scattering of foreign matter accommodated in the bottomed recess 230.

[0062] In addition, the nut holding portion 200 is integrally formed with the housing 20. Thus, it is not necessary to further increase the number of components, and it is possible to suppress an increase in cost and an increase in weight of the terminal block 1.

[0063] Furthermore, the terminal block according to the above-described embodiment of the present application is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope recited in the claims.

[0064] In the above description, the nut holding portion 200 is formed integrally with the housing 20, but is not limited thereto, and for example, the nut holding portion 200 can be assembled to the bus bar holding portion 22 as a separate member. In addition, the bottomed recess 230 is formed in a substantially circular recess shape, but can be formed as a bottomed recess of another shape such as a rectangular shape.

[0065] The terminal block according to the present embodiment can also be configured by appropriately combining the constituent elements of the above-described embodiments and modified examples.

Claims

1. A terminal block, characterized in that, have: A busbar, which extends along an axial direction and is connected to an external terminal; Nut, which is used to engage with bolts that fasten the busbar and the external terminal along a fastening direction intersecting the axis direction; as well as The housing has a nut retaining portion for retaining the nut and for retaining the busbar. The nut retaining portion has: a nut mounting surface, which is formed in an annular shape around the fastening direction for mounting the nut; and a bottomed recess, which is formed in a concave shape from the nut mounting surface on the side opposite to the busbar in the fastening direction, and has a circumferential surface connected to the inner edge of the annular nut mounting surface.

2. The terminal block according to claim 1, characterized in that, The nut abuts against the nut mounting surface when it is tightened with the bolt.

3. The terminal block according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The busbar has a nut-abutting surface that abuts against the nut. The distance from the nut mounting surface to the nut abutment surface along the fastening direction is equal to the height of the nut along the fastening direction.

4. The terminal block according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The nut retainer is integrally formed with the housing.

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