Junction box

Abstract

The utility model discloses a junction box, which is used for connecting a first joint of an inverter and a direct current cable of a photovoltaic module, and comprises a shell, a fire extinguisher and a trigger assembly, and the first joint and the direct current cable are inserted in the shell and are connected in the shell; the fire extinguisher is arranged in the shell, and the triggering assembly is arranged in the shell and is configured to trigger the fire extinguisher under the condition that the first connector and / or the direct-current cable is on fire. According to the junction box provided by the invention, the triggering assembly and the fire extinguisher are arranged in the shell, and when a fire occurs in the shell due to abnormal current state and the like, the triggering assembly triggers the fire extinguisher to complete the fire extinguishing action, so that the spreading of a larger fire is prevented, and the property loss caused by not timely fire extinguishing is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of electronic equipment technology, and more specifically, to a junction box. Background Technology

[0002] After photovoltaic (PV) modules generate electricity, they need to be converted from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) by an inverter. Currently, PV modules are connected to the inverter via DC cables and MC4 connectors. Because the MC4 connector and DC cable are in-line connections, if the connection is not tight enough or the current is abnormal, a fire can easily occur. If the fire cannot be extinguished in time, it can cause significant damage. Utility Model Content

[0003] This application provides a junction box to solve at least one of the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0004] The junction box of this application embodiment, used to connect the first connector of the inverter to the DC cable of the photovoltaic module, includes:

[0005] The housing, the first connector and the DC cable are inserted into and connected within the housing;

[0006] Fire extinguisher, housed within the casing;

[0007] A triggering component, disposed within the housing, is configured to trigger the fire extinguisher in the event of a fire in the first connector and / or the DC cable.

[0008] The junction box provided in this application, by setting a triggering component and a fire extinguisher inside the housing, will trigger the fire extinguisher when a fire occurs inside the housing due to abnormal current conditions or other reasons, thereby completing the fire extinguishing action, preventing the spread of a larger fire, and avoiding property damage caused by failure to extinguish the fire in time.

[0009] In some embodiments, the housing includes a main housing and a cover plate, the cover plate being detachably mounted on the main housing and closing the main housing. The main housing includes side plates and a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a bottom wall, a third side wall, and a fourth side wall connected sequentially along the edge of the side plates. The second side wall and the third side wall are inclined, and the length of the bottom wall is less than the length of the top wall, so that the distance between the second side wall and the third side wall narrows towards the bottom. The top wall is used to dock with the inverter and has an opening for inserting the first connector. The bottom wall has an inlet for inserting the DC cable.

[0010] In this way, the main housing and the cover plate can form a sealed cavity to protect the first connector and the straight cable. The inclined second and third side walls, together with the funnel-shaped side plates, form an approximate triangle inside the housing, which helps to improve the structural strength of the housing. The larger top wall against the inverter helps to make the housing more securely installed. The second and third side walls are constricted, which can limit the range of motion of the DC cable and facilitate the connection of the DC cable to the first connector.

[0011] In some embodiments, the junction box includes a fastener for connection to the inverter, and the side of the first sidewall and / or the fourth sidewall has a through hole near the top wall, the fastener extending at least partially through the through hole to below the window to control the opening degree of the window.

[0012] Thus, the fixing component can be slidably mounted on the housing, allowing the junction box to be adapted to and installed on a wider variety of inverter models and sizes, improving the suitability of the junction box. At the same time, the fixing component can change the size of the protruding part in the opening by sliding to change the opening degree of the opening, thereby limiting the range of motion of the first connector or fixing the first connector, facilitating the connection of the first connector and the DC cable.

[0013] In some embodiments, the fire extinguisher is fixed to the first sidewall, and the fire extinguisher has a nozzle that is oriented toward the center of the housing.

[0014] Thus, since the first connector and the DC cable are both concentrated in the middle of the casing, when the fire extinguisher is activated, the internal aerosol can be sprayed directly at the point where the first connector and the DC cable are concentrated, which is conducive to better fire extinguishing.

[0015] In some embodiments, the triggering assembly includes a telescopic spring rod that is telescopic along its length, one end of which is fixed to the first sidewall. The telescopic spring rod is configured to extend or retract to trigger the fire extinguisher in the event of a fire at the first connector and / or the DC cable.

[0016] Thus, the telescopic spring rod is a purely mechanical device that uses a spring to provide power. In the event of a fire, its action will not be affected by high temperatures, resulting in a lower probability of failure. Furthermore, the telescopic spring rod is responsive and acts quickly, which can trigger the fire extinguisher more stably, thus improving the reliability of the junction box.

[0017] In some embodiments, the telescopic spring rod includes a fixed section connected to the first sidewall and a telescopic section that is telescopic relative to the fixed section. The triggering assembly further includes a trigger rod, one end of which is connected to the telescopic section, and the other end of which is slidably disposed on the fire extinguisher along the telescopic direction of the telescopic spring rod. The fire extinguisher includes a trigger switch disposed on the sliding trajectory of the trigger rod.

[0018] Therefore, installing a trigger rod on the telescopic spring rod and activating the fire extinguisher by touching the trigger switch during movement of the trigger rod helps reduce the difficulty of triggering the fire extinguisher with the telescopic spring rod. At the same time, with one end of the trigger rod connected to the telescopic spring rod and the other end slidingly set on the fire extinguisher, it helps to avoid the trigger rod being unstable when one end is suspended in the air, and the suspended end swinging when subjected to vibration, which could lead to accidental activation of the trigger switch.

[0019] In some embodiments, the triggering assembly further includes a fusible sleeve fixed to one end of the telescopic spring rod away from the first sidewall. The fusible sleeve is annular and is fitted over the outside of the first connector and / or the DC cable. The fusible sleeve is configured to melt in the event of a fire in the first connector and / or the DC cable, thereby causing the telescopic spring rod to extend or retract to trigger the fire extinguisher.

[0020] In this way, the fusible sleeve responds quickly and accurately. Using the fusible sleeve to monitor whether a fire has occurred inside the junction box helps to make the fire extinguisher trigger more sensitive. At the same time, the fusible sleeve is easy to maintain, which helps to reduce assembly difficulty and maintenance costs.

[0021] In some embodiments, the DC cable is further connected to a second connector. The first connector has a snap fastener, and the second connector has a slot that engages with the snap fastener. The first connector and the second connector are connected via the snap fastener and the slot. The telescopic spring rod is configured such that when a connection error occurs between the first connector and the second connector, the telescopic spring rod can be inserted into the slot to push out the snap fastener and disconnect the first connector and the second connector.

[0022] Thus, the junction box has a small internal space and a large number of messy cables. Compared to disassembling the first and second connectors by hand, it is easier to disassemble the first and second connectors using a telescopic spring rod, making it more convenient for operators. In addition, the telescopic spring rod can be used not only to trigger the fire extinguisher but also to disassemble the connectors, achieving two uses in one.

[0023] In some embodiments, one end of the telescopic spring rod is connected to a disc-shaped slider, and a first groove that cooperates with the slider is provided on the first side wall along a direction perpendicular to the side plate. The telescopic spring rod is slidably disposed in the first groove through the slider, and the telescopic spring rod can rotate along the axis of the telescopic spring rod.

[0024] In this way, the telescopic spring rod can slide and rotate simultaneously, providing more degrees of freedom. This makes it more flexible to disassemble the joints using the telescopic spring rod, which helps to reduce the difficulty of disassembling the first and second joints.

[0025] In some embodiments, a photovoltaic PLC transceiver is also provided in the junction box. The photovoltaic PLC transceiver has a cable pass-through port. The photovoltaic PLC transceiver is located near the bottom wall. The cable pass-through port is located facing the inlet and is at least partially offset from the inlet. The DC cable includes a positive wire. When the first connector is connected to the DC cable, the positive wire passes through the cable pass-through port.

[0026] In this way, the photovoltaic PLC transceiver can monitor various parameters such as current and voltage inside the line passing through the cable opening. Setting up a photovoltaic PLC transceiver is beneficial for realizing real-time monitoring of various parameters of DC current inside the DC cable.

[0027] In some embodiments, the junction box further includes a desiccant box disposed within the housing.

[0028] In this way, the desiccant box can store desiccant, which helps to ensure a dry environment inside the junction box and prevents the internal components from getting damp.

[0029] Additional aspects and advantages of embodiments of this application will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of embodiments of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0030] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of this application will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein:

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the junction box according to an embodiment of this application;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the junction box according to an embodiment of this application;

[0033] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the junction box according to another embodiment of this application;

[0034] Figure 4This is a front view of the junction box according to an embodiment of this application;

[0035] Figure 5 This is a detailed enlarged view of the junction box according to an embodiment of this application.

[0036] Key component symbols: Junction box 100, Housing 10, Main housing 11, Side plate 111, Top wall 112, Through hole 1121, Window 1122, Sealing ring 1123, First side wall 113, First slide groove 1131, Second side wall 114, Bottom wall 115, Cable inlet 1151, Cable tie ring 1152, Third side wall 116, Fourth side wall 117, Connecting post 118, Cover plate 12, Fire extinguisher 20, Nozzle 21, Trigger switch 22, Second slide groove 23, Trigger assembly 30, Telescopic spring rod 31, Fixed section 311, Telescopic section 312, Slider 313, Trigger rod 32, Connecting ring 321, Connecting rod 322, Fuse sleeve 33, Fixing piece 40, Connecting hole 41, Photovoltaic PLC transceiver 50, Cable threading port 51, Desiccant box 60. Detailed Implementation

[0037] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the present invention. In the description of the present invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0038] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection. They can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection. They can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, and they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0039] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0040] This disclosure provides many different embodiments or examples for implementing various structures of the invention. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described herein. These are merely examples and are not intended to limit the invention. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples; such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed. In addition, examples of various specific processes and materials are provided in this invention, but those skilled in the art will recognize the application of other processes and / or the use of other materials.

[0041] After photovoltaic (PV) modules generate electricity, they need to be converted from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) by an inverter. Currently, PV modules are connected to the inverter via DC cables and MC4 connectors. Because the MC4 connector and DC cable are in-line connections, if the connection is not tight enough or the current is abnormal, a fire can easily occur. If the fire cannot be extinguished in time, it can cause significant damage.

[0042] Please see Figure 1 This application provides a junction box 100 for connecting a first connector of an inverter to a DC cable of a photovoltaic module. The junction box includes a housing, a fire extinguisher 20, and a triggering component 30. The first connector and the DC cable are inserted into and connected within the housing. The fire extinguisher 20 is disposed within the housing, and the triggering component 30 is disposed within the housing and configured to trigger the fire extinguisher 20 in the event of a fire in the first connector and / or the DC cable.

[0043] The junction box 100 provided in this application, by setting a triggering component 30 and a fire extinguisher 20 inside the housing, will trigger the fire extinguisher 20 when a fire occurs inside the housing due to abnormal current conditions or other reasons, thereby completing the fire extinguishing action, thus preventing the spread of a larger fire and avoiding property damage caused by failure to extinguish the fire in time.

[0044] Specifically, junction box 100 is a box-shaped device for centrally connecting wires and cables. In this embodiment, junction box 100 is used to protect the first connector of the connected inverter and the DC cable of the photovoltaic module.

[0045] In this embodiment, the DC cable of the photovoltaic module is connected to a second connector that matches the first connector. Both the first and second connectors extend into the housing and are connected inside the housing. In other embodiments, the DC cable may also be directly connected to the first connector.

[0046] In this embodiment, the fire extinguisher 20 is a miniature aerosol fire extinguisher 20. An aerosol fire extinguisher 20 refers to a fire extinguisher 20 that uses a highly efficient aerosol-generating agent and a novel extinguishing composition to jointly produce an effective extinguishing substance. The extinguishing agent in the aerosol fire extinguisher 20 is non-conductive, therefore it can be safely used when an electrical circuit catches fire, avoiding the secondary injury to rescue personnel or equipment that may be caused by the conductivity risk of traditional water-based or dry powder fire extinguishers 20. Simultaneously, the extinguishing particles released by the aerosol fire extinguisher 20 can quickly penetrate into the fire source, rapidly reducing the temperature and oxygen concentration in the combustion zone through a dual action of chemical inhibition and physical cooling, thereby achieving a rapid fire extinguishing effect.

[0047] In other embodiments, other types of fire extinguishers 20 may also be selected. The specific type and model of the fire extinguisher 20 can be selected according to actual needs, which will not be elaborated here.

[0048] In this embodiment, the triggering component 30 is used to monitor whether a fire occurs inside the housing and to trigger the fire extinguisher 20 to extinguish the fire when a fire occurs. Optionally, the triggering component 30 can be a mechanical triggering component 30 or an electrically controlled triggering component 30. It should be noted that the triggering component 30 should be selected as little as possible from the temperature, or not affected by temperature, to avoid the triggering component 30 malfunctioning due to high temperature inside the housing when the circuit catches fire. If the triggering component 30 is an electrically controlled triggering component 30, the triggering component 30 should be provided with an independent power supply to avoid connection with DC cables or inverters, so as to avoid the triggering component 30 malfunctioning due to power failure of DC cables or inverters in the event of a fire.

[0049] Please see Figures 1 to 4 In some embodiments, the housing includes a main housing 11 and a cover plate 12. The cover plate 12 is detachably installed on the main housing 11 and closes the main housing 11. The main housing 11 includes a side plate 111 and a top wall 112, a first side wall 113, a second side wall 114, a bottom wall 115, a third side wall 116, and a fourth side wall 117 connected sequentially along the edge of the side plate 111. The second side wall 114 and the third side wall 116 are inclined. The length of the bottom wall 115 is less than the length of the top wall 112 so that the distance between the second side wall 114 and the third side wall 116 narrows towards the bottom. The top wall 112 is used to dock with the inverter and has an opening 1122 for inserting a first connector. The bottom wall 115 has an inlet 1151 for inserting a DC cable.

[0050] Thus, the main housing 11 and the cover plate 12 can form a sealed cavity to protect the first connector and the straight cable. The inclined second side wall 114 and the third side wall 116, together with the funnel-shaped side plate 111, form an approximate triangle inside the housing, which helps to improve the structural strength of the housing. The larger top wall 112 abuts against the inverter, which helps to make the housing more securely installed. The second side wall 114 and the third side wall 116 are constricted, which can limit the range of motion of the DC cable and facilitate the connection of the DC cable to the first connector.

[0051] Specifically, in this embodiment, the main housing 11 is groove-shaped, and both the main housing 11 and the cover plate 12 are integrally formed structures.

[0052] In this embodiment, the side plate 111 is funnel-shaped, and the top wall 112, the first side wall 113, the second side wall 114, the bottom wall 115, the third side wall 116, and the fourth side wall 117 are connected sequentially around the side plate 111. The first side wall 113 and the fourth side wall 117 are perpendicular to the top wall 112.

[0053] In this embodiment, a sealing ring 1123 is provided on the top wall 112 near the inverter. The sealing ring 1123 surrounds the window 1122. Thus, when the top wall 112 is placed against the inverter, the sealing ring 1123 will form a seal between the top wall 112 and the inverter, thereby preventing moisture or dust from entering the junction box 100 from between the top wall 112 and the inverter, which would cause the first connector and DC cable inside the junction box 100 to rust or leak due to moisture erosion.

[0054] Furthermore, to facilitate the installation of the sealing ring 1123 and prevent the sealing ring 1123 from shifting due to vibration or other reasons during installation or use, in this embodiment, the top wall 112 near the inverter has a mounting groove for installing the sealing ring 1123. The width of the mounting groove is slightly smaller than the width of the sealing ring 1123 so that the mounting groove and the sealing ring 1123 form an interference fit, thereby making it difficult for the sealing ring 1123 installed in the mounting groove to fall off.

[0055] It is easy to understand that the depth of the mounting groove should be less than the thickness of the sealing ring 1123. If the depth of the mounting groove is greater than the thickness of the sealing ring 1123, the sealing ring 1123 will be completely submerged in the mounting groove, thus failing to produce elastic deformation and therefore failing to provide a sealing effect. Preferably, in the embodiment of this application, the depth of the mounting groove is approximately equal to half the thickness of the sealing ring 1123.

[0056] For further details, please refer to Figure 4The main housing 11 also has connecting posts 118 inside. The cover plate 12 is installed on the main housing 11 by connecting to the connecting posts 118. There are multiple connecting posts 118, which are spaced apart. Further, there are four connecting posts 118. Two connecting posts 118 are located at both ends of the top wall 112 near the first side wall 113 and the fourth side wall 117, respectively. The other two connecting posts 118 are located near the middle of the second side wall 114 and the middle of the third side wall 116, respectively.

[0057] In this embodiment of the application, a cable tie 1152 is provided on the bottom wall 115. The cable tie 1152 is connected to the cable inlet 1151. The diameter of the cable tie 1152 and the cable inlet 1151 is equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the DC cable.

[0058] Furthermore, the thickness of the wire loop 1152 is basically the same as the thickness of the bottom wall 115 to facilitate product demolding.

[0059] Please see Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some embodiments, the junction box 100 includes a fastener 40 for connection to an inverter. The sides of the first sidewall 113 and / or the fourth sidewall 117 have through holes 1121 near the top wall 112. The fastener 40 extends at least partially through the through holes 1121 to below the opening 1122 to control the opening degree of the opening 1122.

[0060] Thus, the fixing member 40 can be slidably mounted on the housing, allowing the junction box 100 to be adapted to and installed on more types and sizes of inverters, improving the applicability of the junction box 100. At the same time, the fixing member 40 can change the opening degree of the opening 1122 by sliding to change the size of the protruding part in the opening 1122, thereby limiting the range of motion of the first connector or fixing the first connector, facilitating the connection between the first connector and the DC cable.

[0061] Specifically, there are two fasteners 40. The fasteners 40 are plate-shaped pieces. The top wall 112 has through holes 1121 on the side near the first side wall 113 and the fourth side wall 117. The fasteners 40 are set one-to-one with the through holes 1121.

[0062] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when using the housing, the first connector of the inverter and the DC cable of the photovoltaic module should first be inserted into the housing. At this time, the fixing member 40 can be slidable to reduce the opening of the window 1122, thereby using the fixing member 40 to clamp the first connector within the window 1122, so as to facilitate the connection between the first connector and the DC cable. After the connection between the first connector and the DC cable is completed, the fixing member 40 is slidable again to match the mounting dimensions on the inverter, thereby installing the module on the inverter.

[0063] In this embodiment, the fixing member 40 has a connection hole 41, and the housing is detachably fixed to the inverter by fasteners passing through the connection hole 41. Furthermore, each fixing member 40 has multiple connection holes 41, which are spaced apart.

[0064] In this embodiment of the application, the width of the through hole 1121 should be greater than the width of the window 1122. That is, the two sides of the window 1122 along the width direction should be provided with a portion of the through hole 1121. In this way, when the fastener 40 slides, the two sides are always kept in the through hole 1121 and will not detach from the through hole 1121 at the same time, causing the fastener 40 to be suspended at one end of the window 1122. This would result in the part of the fastener 40 located at the window 1122 having weak structural strength and being damaged or broken.

[0065] Furthermore, the width of the side of the fastener 40 away from the top wall 112 should be greater than the width of the through hole 1121 and / or the thickness of the side away from the top wall 112 should be greater than the height of the through hole 1121, so as to avoid the fastener 40 being completely submerged in the through hole 1121 and unable to be used for fixing to the inverter.

[0066] Furthermore, a limiting part should be provided on the fastener 40. The limiting part is used to restrict the fastener 40 so that the fastener 40 cannot completely detach from the through hole 1121 during the process of the fastener 40 sliding away from the top wall 112 in the through hole 1121.

[0067] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 4 In some embodiments, the fire extinguisher 20 is fixed to the first side wall 113 and has a nozzle 21 that is oriented toward the center of the housing.

[0068] Thus, since the first connector and the DC cable are both concentrated in the middle of the housing, when the fire extinguisher 20 is activated, the aerosol inside can be sprayed directly at the point where the first connector and the DC cable are concentrated, which is conducive to better fire extinguishing.

[0069] Specifically, in this embodiment, the fire extinguisher 20 is cylindrical, with one end fixed to the first side wall 113, and a nozzle 21 provided at the end of the fire extinguisher 20 away from the first side wall 113. The nozzle 21 is positioned toward the center of the housing so that when the fire extinguisher 20 is triggered, it can accurately spray aerosol onto the DC cable and the first nozzle where the fire occurs.

[0070] Please see Figure 4 and Figure 5In some embodiments, the triggering assembly 30 includes a telescopic spring rod 31 that is telescopic along its length. One end of the telescopic spring rod 31 is fixed to the first sidewall 113. The telescopic spring rod 31 is configured to extend or retract to trigger the fire extinguisher 20 in the event of a fire in the first connector and / or DC cable.

[0071] Thus, the telescopic spring rod 31 is a purely mechanical device that uses a spring to provide power. In the event of a fire, its action will not be affected by high temperature, so the probability of failure is lower. Furthermore, the telescopic spring rod 31 is responsive and acts quickly, which can trigger the fire extinguisher 20 more stably, thus improving the reliability of the junction box 100.

[0072] Specifically, the telescopic spring rod 31 includes a fixed section 311 and a telescopic section 312 that extends and retracts relative to the fixed section 311. In this embodiment, when the first connector is connected to the DC cable of the photovoltaic module, the telescopic section 312 of the telescopic spring rod 31 is stretched outward and fixed on the first connector or DC cable. When a fire occurs on the first connector or DC cable, the telescopic section 312 is detached from the first connector or DC cable and retracts inward. During the recovery process, the fire extinguisher 20 is triggered, causing the fire extinguisher 20 to start and complete the fire extinguishing.

[0073] In other embodiments, when the first connector is connected to the DC cable of the photovoltaic module, the telescopic section 312 of the telescopic spring rod 31 can be compressed inward and fixed on the first connector or DC cable. When a fire occurs on the first connector or DC cable, the telescopic section 312 detaches from the first connector or DC cable and extends outward. During the extension process, the fire extinguisher 20 is triggered, causing the fire extinguisher 20 to start and complete the fire extinguishing.

[0074] In some embodiments, the telescopic spring rod 31 includes a fixed section 311 connected to the first sidewall 113 and a telescopic section 312 that is telescopic relative to the fixed section 311. The trigger assembly 30 also includes a trigger rod 32, one end of which is connected to the telescopic section 312, and the other end is slidably disposed on the fire extinguisher 20 along the telescopic direction of the telescopic spring rod 31. The fire extinguisher 20 includes a trigger switch 22, which is disposed on the sliding trajectory of the trigger rod 32.

[0075] Thus, by installing a trigger rod 32 on the telescopic spring rod 31, and activating the fire extinguisher 20 by touching the trigger switch 22 during movement, it is easier to trigger the fire extinguisher 20 with the telescopic spring rod 31. At the same time, with one end of the trigger rod 32 connected to the telescopic spring rod 31 and the other end slidably mounted on the fire extinguisher 20, it is easier to avoid the trigger rod 32 becoming unstable when one end is suspended in the air, and the suspended end swinging when subjected to vibration, which could lead to accidental activation of the trigger switch 22.

[0076] Specifically, in the embodiments of this application, please refer to Figure 5The trigger rod 32 includes a connecting ring 321 and a connecting rod 322. The connecting ring 321 is sleeved on the telescopic section 312 so that the trigger rod 32 can slide as the telescopic section 312 extends or retracts. One end of the connecting rod 322 is connected to the connecting ring 321, and the other end is slidably mounted on the fire extinguisher 20.

[0077] Furthermore, the connecting ring 321 is sleeved on the telescopic section 312, and the connecting ring 321 and the telescopic section 312 are rotatably connected, that is, the telescopic spring rod 31 can rotate within the connecting ring 321 along its axis.

[0078] Furthermore, a second sliding groove 23 is provided on the side wall of the fire extinguisher 20, and at least part of the end of the connecting rod 322 away from the telescopic spring rod 31 is inserted into the second sliding groove 23 so that the connecting rod 322 can be slidably mounted on the fire extinguisher 20.

[0079] Furthermore, the cross-section of the portion of the connecting rod 322 inserted into the second slide groove 23 is non-circular. The opening width of the second slide groove 23 is smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the cross-section of the portion of the connecting rod 322 inserted into the second slide groove 23, but larger than the minimum outer diameter of the cross-section of the portion of the connecting rod 322 inserted into the second slide groove 23. Thus, the connecting rod 322 will not rotate when sliding within the second slide groove 23, thereby preventing the connecting rod 322 from rotating and causing the connecting ring 321 to twist, which would otherwise cause the telescopic spring rod 31 to be jammed by the connecting ring 321 and unable to extend or retract.

[0080] Please see Figure 4 In some embodiments, the triggering assembly 30 further includes a fuse sleeve 33, which is fixed to the end of the telescopic spring rod 31 away from the first sidewall 113. The fuse sleeve 33 is annular and is sleeved on the outside of the first connector and / or DC cable. The fuse sleeve 33 is configured to melt and break in the event of a fire in the first connector and / or DC cable, thereby causing the telescopic spring rod 31 to extend or retract to trigger the fire extinguisher 20.

[0081] Thus, the fuse sleeve 33 has a fast response and high accuracy. Using the fuse sleeve 33 to monitor whether a fire has occurred inside the junction box 100 helps to make the triggering of the fire extinguisher 20 more sensitive. At the same time, the fuse sleeve 33 is easy to maintain, which helps to reduce assembly difficulty and maintenance costs.

[0082] Specifically, the fusible sleeve 33 typically refers to a wire or strip that can melt and form a ring structure when exposed to open flame or excessively high temperature. In this embodiment, the fusible sleeve 33 is U-shaped. In use, one end of the fusible sleeve 33 is first connected to the telescopic section 312 of the telescopic spring rod 31. After the first connector is connected to the DC cable, the fusible sleeve 33 is wrapped around the first connector and / or the DC cable at least once before the other end is reconnected to the telescopic section 312 of the telescopic spring rod 31 to form a ring structure. If a fire occurs at the first connector and / or the DC cable, the fusible sleeve 33 will melt and release the telescopic spring rod 31, thereby triggering the fire extinguisher 20.

[0083] In some embodiments, the DC cable is also connected to a second connector. The first connector is provided with a buckle, and the second connector is provided with a slot that cooperates with the buckle. The first connector and the second connector are connected by the buckle and the slot. The telescopic spring rod 31 is configured so that when a connection error occurs between the first connector and the second connector, the telescopic spring rod 31 can be inserted into the slot to push out the buckle and disconnect the first connector and the second connector.

[0084] Thus, the junction box 100 has a small internal space and a large number of messy cables. Compared to disassembling the first and second connectors by hand, it is easier to disassemble the first and second connectors using the telescopic spring rod 31, making it easier for operators to operate. In addition, the telescopic spring rod 31 can not only be used to trigger the fire extinguisher 20, but also to disassemble the connectors, achieving two uses in one.

[0085] Specifically, in this embodiment, the first connector and the second connector are MC4 connectors. MC4 connectors are typically snap-fit ​​connections. The first connector is the male connector of the MC4 connector, which has a snap-fit ​​feature, and the second connector is the female connector of the MC4 connector, which has a slot. When the first connector and the second connector are connected, the snap-fit ​​is inserted into the second connector and snaps into the slot. Due to the limited internal space of the junction box 100, if the first connector and the second connector are connected incorrectly, such as by connecting two sets of cables in series, it is difficult to manually disassemble the first connector and the second connector because the slot is small and fingers cannot easily reach into it. In this case, the telescopic spring rod 31 located on the first side wall 113 can be pulled out, and the telescopic spring rod 31 can be inserted into the slot to remove the snap-fit ​​feature, thereby disconnecting the first connector and the second connector.

[0086] Furthermore, the telescopic spring rod 31 can be a pointed telescopic spring rod 31, which is advantageous for dealing with the first and second joints with smaller slot sizes.

[0087] In other embodiments, a slot may be provided on the first connector, and a buckle that engages with the slot may be provided on the second connector.

[0088] Please see Figure 5In some embodiments, one end of the telescopic spring rod 31 is connected to a disc-shaped slider 313. A first groove 1131 that cooperates with the slider 313 is provided on the first side wall 113 along a direction perpendicular to the side plate 111. The telescopic spring rod 31 is slidably disposed in the first groove 1131 through the slider 313, and the telescopic spring rod 31 can rotate along the axis of the telescopic spring rod 31.

[0089] In this way, the telescopic spring rod 31 can simultaneously slide and rotate, providing more degrees of freedom. This makes it more flexible to use the telescopic spring rod 31 to disassemble the joints, which helps to reduce the difficulty of disassembling the first and second joints by operating the telescopic spring rod 31.

[0090] Specifically, in this embodiment, the fixed section 311 of the telescopic spring rod 31 is connected to a disc-shaped slider 313. The slider 313 is slidably disposed in the first groove 1131. Since the slider 313 is disc-shaped, the first groove 1131 cannot restrict the rotation of the slider 313. Furthermore, the first groove 1131 also cannot restrict the rotation of the telescopic spring rod 31.

[0091] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 3 In some embodiments, a photovoltaic PLC transceiver 50 is also provided in the junction box 100. The photovoltaic PLC transceiver 50 has a wire insertion port 51. The photovoltaic PLC transceiver 50 is located near the bottom wall 115. The wire insertion port 51 is located facing the inlet port 1151 and the wire insertion port 51 is at least partially offset from the inlet port 1151. The DC cable includes a positive wire. When the first connector is connected to the DC cable, the positive wire is inserted into the wire insertion port 51.

[0092] In this way, the photovoltaic PLC transceiver 50 can monitor various parameters such as current and voltage inside the line passing through the cable opening 51. Setting up the photovoltaic PLC transceiver 50 is beneficial for realizing real-time monitoring of various parameters of DC current inside the DC cable.

[0093] Specifically, the photovoltaic PLC transceiver 50 is a transceiver device that combines photovoltaic technology and programmable logic controller (PLC) technology. It can monitor various parameters such as current and voltage inside the line passing through the cable entry port 51. In this embodiment, since the DC cable has multiple wires, only one positive wire needs to be passed through the photovoltaic PLC transceiver 50 to monitor current, voltage, and other parameters. Therefore, the cable entry port 51 and the inlet port 1151 should be at least partially offset to avoid the photovoltaic PLC transceiver 50 obstructing other wires that do not need to pass through the cable entry port 51, thus avoiding inconvenience to the connection between the first connector and the DC cable.

[0094] Please see Figure 4In some embodiments, the junction box 100 further includes a desiccant box 60 disposed within the housing.

[0095] Thus, the desiccant box 60 can store desiccant, which helps to ensure a dry environment inside the junction box 100 and prevents the internal components from getting damp.

[0096] Specifically, in this embodiment, the desiccant box 60 is located on the fourth side wall 117 near the top wall 112. Since this location is close to the inverter, and closer to more electrical components than the DC cable insertion point on the bottom wall 115, the humidity requirements are higher here. Therefore, the desiccant box 60 is located here to meet these higher humidity requirements.

[0097] In the description of this specification, the references to "certain embodiments," "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples" refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with the described embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0098] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the stated features. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two or three, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0099] Although embodiments of this application have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting this application. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of this application, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A junction box for connecting a first connector of an inverter to a DC cable of a photovoltaic module, characterized in that, include: The housing includes a main housing and a cover plate. The cover plate is detachably mounted on the main housing and closes the main housing. The main housing includes side plates and a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a bottom wall, a third side wall, and a fourth side wall connected sequentially along the edge of the side plates. The second side wall and the third side wall are inclined. The length of the bottom wall is less than the length of the top wall so that the distance between the second side wall and the third side wall narrows towards the bottom. The top wall is used to dock with the inverter and has an opening for inserting the first connector. The bottom wall has an inlet for inserting the DC cable. The junction box includes a fixing member for connecting with the inverter. The side of the first side wall and / or the fourth side wall has a through hole near the top wall. The fixing member extends at least partially through the through hole to below the opening to control the opening degree of the opening. Fire extinguisher, housed within the casing; A triggering component, disposed within the housing, is configured to trigger the fire extinguisher in the event of a fire in the first connector and / or the DC cable.

2. The junction box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fire extinguisher is fixed to the first side wall and has a nozzle that is oriented toward the center of the housing.

3. The junction box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The triggering assembly includes a telescopic spring rod that is telescopic along its length. One end of the telescopic spring rod is fixed to the first sidewall. The telescopic spring rod is configured to extend or retract to trigger the fire extinguisher in the event of a fire at the first connector and / or the DC cable.

4. The junction box according to claim 3, characterized in that, The telescopic spring rod includes a fixed section connected to the first side wall and a telescopic section that is telescopic relative to the fixed section. The triggering assembly also includes a trigger rod, one end of which is connected to the telescopic section, and the other end of which is slidably disposed on the fire extinguisher along the telescopic direction of the telescopic spring rod. The fire extinguisher includes a trigger switch, which is disposed on the sliding trajectory of the trigger rod.

5. The junction box according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The triggering assembly also includes a fusible sleeve fixed to one end of the telescopic spring rod away from the first sidewall. The fusible sleeve is annular and is sleeved on the outside of the first connector and / or the DC cable. The fusible sleeve is configured to melt in the event of a fire in the first connector and / or the DC cable, thereby causing the telescopic spring rod to extend or retract to trigger the fire extinguisher.

6. The junction box according to claim 3, characterized in that, The DC cable is also connected to a second connector. The first connector is provided with a buckle, and the second connector is provided with a slot that cooperates with the buckle. The first connector and the second connector are connected through the buckle and the slot. The telescopic spring rod is configured such that when the first connector and the second connector are connected incorrectly, the telescopic spring rod can be inserted into the slot to push out the buckle, thereby disconnecting the first connector and the second connector.

7. The junction box according to claim 6, characterized in that, One end of the telescopic spring rod is connected to a disc-shaped slider. A first groove that cooperates with the slider is provided on the first side wall along a direction perpendicular to the side plate. The telescopic spring rod is slidably disposed in the first groove through the slider, and the telescopic spring rod can rotate along the axis of the telescopic spring rod.

8. The junction box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The junction box is also equipped with a photovoltaic PLC transceiver. The photovoltaic PLC transceiver has a wire insertion port. The photovoltaic PLC transceiver is located near the bottom wall. The wire insertion port is located facing the inlet and is at least partially offset from the inlet. The DC cable includes a positive wire. When the first connector is connected to the DC cable, the positive wire is inserted into the wire insertion port.

9. The junction box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The junction box also includes a desiccant box, which is disposed inside the housing.

Images