terminal block

Abstract

The present invention provides a terminal block that allows for easy assembly of a water-stopping component. The terminal block (1) comprises: a plurality of terminals (2) arranged side by side; a housing (3) having a main body (31) that holds the plurality of terminals through in the connection direction (X) and a terminal support (32) that is connected to the main body and extends in the connection direction; a front retainer (4) that is assembled to the terminal support and supports the ends of the plurality of terminals; and a water-stopping component (5) that is assembled to the outer periphery of the terminal support and performs water-stopping on the water-stopping surface of the terminal support. The front retainer has a rib (42) that is assembled in the terminal support at a position closer to the end of the assembly position of the water-stopping component and divides the arrangement space (41) of the plurality of terminals. The rib is formed to stand upright from the arrangement position side of the terminals toward the water-stopping surface side of the terminal support and has an inclined surface (421) that is inclined from the arrangement position of the plurality of terminals toward the water-stopping surface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to terminal blocks. Background Technology

[0002] Conventionally, as a solution involving terminal blocks, for example as described in Patent Document 1, there are known terminal blocks in which multiple terminals are arranged side by side with respect to the fixing part and have partition walls that separate the terminals.

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-162655 Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem that the invention aims to solve

[0007] In such terminal blocks, there is room for improvement in the difficulty of assembling the water-stopping component. For example, in the terminal blocks described above, sometimes annular water-stopping components are assembled around the outer periphery of the housing (fixed part) that holds multiple terminals to achieve water stoppage. However, since the housing has structures such as partition walls and has unevenness on its outer surface, it is not easy to assemble the water-stopping component to the water-stopping position.

[0008] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a terminal block that allows for easy assembly of water-stopping components.

[0009] Technical means for solving problems

[0010] That is, the terminal block according to the present invention comprises: a plurality of terminals arranged side by side; a housing having a main body and a terminal support, the main body being through which the plurality of terminals pass in a connection direction and holding the plurality of terminals, the terminal support being connected to the main body and extending in the connection direction; a front retainer being assembled to the terminal support and supporting the ends of the plurality of terminals; and a water-stopping member being assembled to the outer periphery of the terminal support and providing water-stopping for the water-stopping surface of the terminal support, the front retainer having a rib being assembled in the terminal support at a position closer to the end side than the assembly position of the water-stopping member and separating the arrangement space of the plurality of terminals, the rib being formed by rising from the arrangement position side of the terminals toward the water-stopping surface side of the terminal support and having an inclined surface that slopes from the arrangement position of the plurality of terminals toward the water-stopping surface of the water-stopping member.

[0011] Invention Effects

[0012] According to the terminal block of the present invention, the water-stopping components can be easily assembled. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the terminal block in the embodiment.

[0014] Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view of the terminal block in the embodiment.

[0015] Figure 3 This is a front view of the terminal block in the embodiment.

[0016] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the terminal block at IV-IV.

[0017] Figure 5 This is an explanatory diagram of the assembly of the terminal block in an embodiment.

[0018] Figure 6 This is an explanatory diagram of a modified example of the terminal block of the embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, the constituent elements in the following embodiments include elements that can and are easily substituted by those skilled in the art, or substantially the same elements.

[0020] [Example]

[0021] This embodiment relates to a terminal block. In the following description, the first direction among the intersecting first, second, and third directions is referred to as the "connection direction X," the second direction as the "width direction Y," and the third direction as the "height direction Z." Here, the connection direction X, width direction Y, and height direction Z are orthogonal to each other. Furthermore, orthogonality here includes approximately orthogonality. The connection direction X corresponds to the connection direction between the terminal block and the connected object, as well as the connection direction of the terminal. Additionally, unless otherwise specified, all directions used in the following description refer to the directions in the assembled state of the components.

[0022] like Figures 1-3As shown, the terminal block 1 is a component for holding the terminals 2. For example, it is installed on an installation object (not shown) and used after being mounted on a vehicle. The terminal block 1 includes terminals 2, a housing 3, a front holding member 4, and a water-stop member 5. The terminals 2 are terminal fittings for electrical connection. For example, they are formed by shaping a conductive metal into a plate shape. A plurality of terminals 2 are provided and arranged side by side in the width direction Y that intersects the connection direction X. The terminals 2 extend in the connection direction X and are arranged in a direction that intersects the height direction Z. For example, three terminals 2 are provided, but the number of terminals 2 is not limited to this. A through-hole 21 is formed at one end of the terminals 2 in the connection direction X. The through-hole 21 is a hole for inserting a fastening member to fix the terminals 2 to the front holding member 4. The terminals 2 are formed to extend linearly, but for example, they may be bent from the connection direction X to the height direction Z, or may be bent back from the height direction Z to the connection direction X to form a crank shape.

[0023] The housing 3 is a component for holding the terminals 2 and installing on an installation object, and is formed of an insulating material, for example, formed of resin. The housing 3 has a main body portion 31 and a terminal support portion 32. The main body portion 31 is formed into a plate shape or a block shape and is arranged in a direction that intersects the connection direction X. The main body portion 31 is formed to be longer in the width direction Y than in the height direction Z, and allows a plurality of terminals 2 arranged side by side in the width direction Y to penetrate and hold the plurality of terminals 2 in the connection direction X. The main body portion 31 has a flange portion 311. The flange portion 311 is a part for fixing the housing 3 to an installation object and is provided at both ends of the main body portion 31 in the width direction Y respectively. A fixing hole 311A penetrating in the connection direction X is formed in the flange portion 311.

[0024] The terminal support portion 32 is a part for supporting or fixing the terminals 2. For example, it supports or fixes the terminals 2 via the front holding member 4. The terminal support portion 32 is provided connected to the main body portion 31 and extends from the main body portion 31 in the connection direction X. The terminal support portion 32 is, for example, integrally formed with the main body portion 31, and has an elliptical or oblate (in Japanese: kozukai type) cross-sectional shape in a direction that intersects the connection direction X. The terminal support portion 32 is, for example, formed to be longer in the width direction Y than in the height direction Z, similarly to the main body portion 31.

[0025] The terminal support portion 32 forms a retaining groove 321 and an assembly portion 322. The retaining groove 321 is a groove for retaining the water-stopping member 5, and is formed in an annular shape along the outer periphery of the terminal support portion 32. The retaining groove 321 is formed on the base end side of the terminal support portion 32 compared to the assembly portion 322. The outer peripheral surface 32A of the terminal support portion 32 becomes a water-stopping surface. The retaining groove 321 is formed to a size and depth such that the water-stopping member 5 protrudes from the outer peripheral surface 32A when it is housed. Thus, water is properly stopped between the housing 3 and the object to be installed by the water-stopping member 5. The assembly portion 322 is a recess for assembling the front retainer 4, and is formed by recessing the end side of the terminal support portion 32 from the retaining groove 321 along the outline of the front retainer 4. A plurality of terminals 2 protruding through the main body portion 31 protrude from the assembly portion 322. The assembly portion 322 is formed, for example, by recessing more than half of the terminal support portion 32.

[0026] The front retainer 4 is a component assembled to the terminal support portion 32 and supporting the end of the terminal 2. The front retainer 4 is formed of an insulating material, such as resin. The front retainer 4 is assembled in the terminal support portion 32 at a position further to the end than the assembly position of the water-stopping component 5. That is, the front retainer 4 is assembled to the assembly portion 322 of the terminal support portion 32. As described above, the assembly portion 322 is formed at the end of the terminal support portion 32 compared to the retaining groove 321 that accommodates the water-stopping component 5, therefore the front retainer 4 assembled to the assembly portion 322 is positioned further to the end than the water-stopping component 5.

[0027] The front retainer 4 forms a configuration space 41 for arranging multiple terminals 2 respectively, and supports the ends of the multiple terminals 2. The configuration space 41 is a space for arranging terminals 2 that extend through the main body 31, and is formed in the front retainer 4 according to each terminal 2. The main body 31 side of the configuration space 41 in the connection direction X is separated by a side wall 411. An insertion hole 412 is formed in the side wall 411. The insertion hole 412 is a hole for the terminal 2 to be inserted. The terminal 2 extending from the main body 31 enters the configuration space 41 through the insertion hole 412.

[0028] Adjacent configuration spaces 41 are separated by ribs 42. Ribs 42 extend in the connection direction X and rise in the height direction Z, and are provided between configuration spaces 41. Ribs 42 improve the insulation of terminals 2 by separating the configuration spaces 41 of terminals 2. Ribs 42 rise from the side where terminals 2 are installed toward the water-stopping surface side of the terminal support 32. In addition, ribs 42 are not only provided between configuration spaces 41, 41, but also on the outside of configuration spaces 41 formed at the end position in the width direction Y. By providing ribs 42 in this way, the assemblability of the water-stopping component 5 can be improved.

[0029] like Figure 4As shown, the rib 42 forms an inclined surface 421. That is, the end face of the rib 42 in the vertical height direction Z forms an inclined surface 421. The inclined surface 421 is inclined towards the water-stopping surface (outer peripheral surface 32A) as it moves from the end side of the terminal support 32 towards the base side. In other words, the inclined surface 421 is inclined in such a way that the rib 42 is higher as it moves from the end side of the terminal support 32 towards the base side. For example, the end face of the rib 42 extends straight from the end side to the base side and is formed obliquely by the inclined surface 421. By forming the inclined surface 421 on the rib 42, the terminal block 1 can easily assemble the water-stopping member 5 when assembling it from the end side of the terminal support 32 to the retaining groove 321.

[0030] like Figure 2 As shown, a receiving portion 413 is formed in the arrangement space 41 of the front retainer 4. The receiving portion 413 is a space for receiving the nut 6, and is formed by recessing the bottom plate of the arrangement space 41. The nut 6 has a threaded hole 61 with threaded teeth formed on its inner circumferential surface. The receiving portion 413 is formed in the connection direction X and the width direction Y at the position where the through hole 21 of the terminal 2 is located. The receiving portion 413 is formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the nut 6, for example, it is formed as a rectangular cross-section. In addition, the shape of the nut 6 and the shape of the receiving portion 413 are not limited to a rectangular cross-section. With the nut 6 received in the receiving portion 413, a fastening member such as a bolt is inserted through the through hole 21 of the terminal 2 and screwed into the nut 6, thereby fastening and fixing the terminal 2 to the front retainer 4 by fastening the fastening member to the nut 6.

[0031] The water-stopping component 5 is a component used to stop water from flowing between the housing 3 and the object to be installed, and is assembled into the retaining groove 321 of the housing 3. The water-stopping component 5 is an annular seal, for example, made of an elastic member. The water-stopping component 5 is assembled relative to the terminal support 32, to which the front retainer 4 is assembled, for example, by surrounding the terminal support 32 from the end side.

[0032] Next, the assembly of the terminal block 1 in this embodiment will be described.

[0033] The terminal block 1 is assembled by sequentially assembling the terminal 2 and the front retainer 4 relative to the housing 3, and assembling the water-stopping component 5 relative to the housing 3.

[0034] like Figure 2 As shown, first, terminal 2 is assembled to housing 3. Terminal 2 is assembled relative to housing 3 in a manner that passes through the main body 31. At this time, terminal 2 is assembled such that the end with the through hole 21 is located on the side of terminal support 32.

[0035] Next, the front retainer 4 is assembled to the housing 3. First, the nuts 6 are received in the receiving portion 413 of the front retainer 4, and with the nuts 6 received, the front retainer 4 is assembled to the assembly portion 322 of the terminal support portion 32. At this time, the terminal 2 extending from the main body portion 31 is inserted into the through hole 412, and the front retainer 4 is assembled to the assembly portion 322. Alternatively, the assembly relative to the housing 3 can be performed in the order of the front retainer 4 and the terminal 2. Then, the fastening member is inserted into the through hole 21 of the terminal 2 and screwed into the threaded hole 61 of the nut 6, thereby fixing the terminal 2 to the front retainer 4 and the housing 3.

[0036] Then, as Figure 5 As shown, the water-stopping component 5 is assembled to the housing 3. The water-stopping component 5 is installed surrounding the end side of the terminal support 32, and moves towards the base end side of the terminal support 32 along the connection direction X while in contact with the terminal support 32 and the front retainer 4, and is received in the retaining groove 321. At this time, the water-stopping component 5 moves in contact with the end face of the rib 42, but by forming an inclined surface 421 on the rib 42, it can be easily assembled into the retaining groove 321. That is, when the water-stopping component 5 is assembled to the end portion of the terminal support 32 and moves towards the base end side, its diameter expands by the inclined surface 421, thereby smoothly being received into the retaining groove 321. In this case, the water-stopping component 5 can be assembled to the housing 3 without using a fixture for receiving the water-stopping component 5 into the retaining groove 321. Then, after assembling the water-stopping component 5 to the housing 3, the assembly of the terminal block 1 is completed.

[0037] As explained above, the terminal block 1 of this embodiment ensures the insulation of adjacent terminals 2 by forming ribs 42 that separate the arrangement space 41 of terminals 2 in the front retainer 4. In addition, the terminal block 1 of this embodiment can easily assemble the water-stopping component 5 to the housing 3 by forming inclined surfaces 421 in the ribs 42.

[0038] Furthermore, the terminal block involved in this invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims. The terminal block 1 of this embodiment can also be constructed by appropriately combining the constituent elements of the various embodiments and modifications described above.

[0039] For example, in the terminal block 1 described in the above embodiments, a second water-stopping component 7 may also be provided to stop water flow between the terminal 2 and the housing 3 or the front retainer 4. That is, as... Figure 6As shown, terminal block 1A is provided with a second water-stopping member 7 for each of the plurality of terminals 2. The second water-stopping member 7 is an annular seal surrounding the outer periphery of the terminal 2. The second water-stopping member 7, for example, prevents water from entering between the housing 3 and the terminal 2. Ribs 42 are also formed in terminal block 1A to ensure the insulation of adjacent terminals 2 from each other. Furthermore, the ribs 42 of terminal block 1A do not have an inclined surface 421, but an inclined surface 421 may be formed. According to this terminal block 1A, similar to the terminal block 1 described above, the insulation of adjacent terminals 2 can be ensured by forming ribs 42 in the front retainer 4. In addition, by forming an inclined surface 421 in the ribs 42 in terminal block 1A, the water-stopping member 5 can be easily assembled to the housing 3.

[0040] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0041] 1: Terminal block

[0042] 2: Terminal

[0043] 3: Casing

[0044] 4: Front retainer

[0045] 5: Water-stopping components

[0046] 31: Main body

[0047] 32: Terminal support portion

[0048] 41: Configuration Space

[0049] 42: Ribs

[0050] 421: Inclined surface

[0051] X: Connection direction

Claims

1. A terminal block, characterized in that, have: Multiple terminals, wherein the multiple terminals are arranged side by side; A housing having a main body and a terminal support, the main body holding the plurality of terminals through in a connection direction, the terminal support being connected to the main body and extending in the connection direction; A front retainer, which is assembled to the terminal support and supports the ends of a plurality of the terminals; as well as A water-stopping component is assembled on the outer periphery of the terminal support portion and performs water-stopping on the water-stopping surface of the terminal support portion. The front retainer has ribs that are assembled in the terminal support portion at a position further to the end than the assembly position of the water-stopping component. The ribs separate the arrangement space of the plurality of terminals. The rib is formed by rising from the configuration position of the terminal towards the water-stopping surface of the terminal support, and has an inclined surface that slopes from the configuration positions of the plurality of terminals toward the water-stopping surface of the water-stopping member.

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