A terminal for a circuit breaker

Abstract

This utility model belongs to the field of circuit breaker technology, specifically a circuit breaker terminal block. It includes an insulating shielding shell installed on the wiring slot of the circuit breaker body. Inside the insulating shielding shell is a terminal module for connecting external conductors to the circuit breaker contacts. The terminal module contains copper terminals, each with a connecting part for inserting external conductors. A spring plate and a clamping block are sequentially mounted via a rotating rod along the conductor insertion direction. A screw with its locking direction aligned with the conductor insertion direction is also provided. The periphery has a threaded part that engages with the screw hole on the copper terminal and a sliding part with a diameter smaller than the screw hole. A limiting guide rail is located inside the insulating shielding shell. The copper terminal has a matching limiting guide groove. There are snap-fit ​​parts on both sides of the top of the copper terminal. The limiting guide rail has elastic buckles through through holes. This utility model solves the problems of limited wiring space and inconvenient operation in traditional wiring methods, improving connection reliability and convenience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of circuit breaker technology, specifically a circuit breaker terminal block. Background Technology

[0002] Molded case circuit breakers are common circuit protection devices that can quickly interrupt fault currents such as overload and short circuits to ensure the safety of circuits and equipment. They are widely used in industrial, building and power distribution systems. The plastic casing makes them easy to install and they are suitable for various power distribution scenarios. They are an important protective component in power systems.

[0003] Existing molded case circuit breakers mainly consist of the following parts: housing, moving and stationary contact system, grid-type arc-extinguishing chamber, operating mechanism, trip unit, and terminals. Working principle: Under normal conditions, the contacts are closed to conduct current; when the circuit is overloaded, the bimetallic strip is heated and bent, pushing the trip unit; when a short circuit occurs, the electromagnet generates a strong magnetic force to trigger the trip unit. Both of these will drive the operating mechanism to quickly open the contacts, and the arc-extinguishing chamber extinguishes the arc inside the plastic housing, cutting off the faulty circuit.

[0004] Currently, existing molded case circuit breakers have the following drawbacks: When connecting wires, the screw tightening direction of the existing circuit breaker terminals is perpendicular to the insertion direction of the external wire, which requires space in two directions for wiring operations, making it difficult to perform in confined installation environments and resulting in poor adaptability; furthermore, there is a lack of effective initial fixing structure after the wire is inserted, requiring the operator to hold a screwdriver in one hand and support the wire with the other to maintain its position, increasing the difficulty and intensity of wiring operations; therefore, a new type of circuit breaker terminal is proposed to address the above problems. Utility Model Content

[0005] To address the shortcomings of existing molded case circuit breakers, a new type of circuit breaker terminal block is proposed.

[0006] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve its technical problem is as follows: The wiring terminal of the circuit breaker of this utility model includes an insulating shield shell installed on the wiring groove of the circuit breaker body. The insulating shield shell is equipped with a terminal module for connecting external wires and circuit breaker contacts. The terminal module includes a copper terminal. The copper terminal is provided with a connecting part for inserting and connecting external wires. The copper terminal is equipped with a spring plate and a clamping block in sequence along the insertion direction of the external wire via a rotating rod. It also includes a screw that is rotatably set on the copper terminal through a threaded engagement to drive the spring plate and the clamping block to rotate so that they press the conductive end of the external wire at the connecting part. The tightening direction of the screw is consistent with the direction of insertion of the external wire into the connecting part. The circumference of the screw is provided with a threaded part that engages with the screw hole on the copper terminal, and a sliding part with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the screw hole. When the screw passes through the screw hole, the screw pushes the spring plate to swing and initially fixes the conductive end of the external wire. When the screw hole and the threaded part engage, the screw pushes the clamping block to swing and firmly fix the conductive end of the external wire.

[0007] Preferably, a limiting guide rail is provided inside the insulating shielding shell, and a limiting guide groove that cooperates with the limiting guide rail is provided on the copper terminal.

[0008] Preferably, the copper terminal has a snap-fit ​​portion on both sides of its top end, and when the copper terminal is assembled with the circuit breaker contact, the snap-fit ​​portion snaps into both sides of the circuit breaker contact.

[0009] Preferably, the inner wall thickness of the snap-fit ​​part is one millimeter less than the thickness of the circuit breaker contact, and the inlet of the snap-fit ​​part is provided with a bevel.

[0010] Preferably, the limiting guide rail is provided with an elastic buckle through a through hole, and the elastic buckle has an angled opening in the assembly direction of the copper terminal.

[0011] Preferably, the end face of the clamping block that contacts the conductive part of the external wire is provided with a toothed groove.

[0012] The beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0013] This utility model provides a circuit breaker terminal block. By setting the screw tightening direction to be consistent with the direction of external wire insertion into the connection part, the wire fixing operation can be completed simply by following the wiring direction, greatly reducing the space required for operation and perfectly adapting to narrow installation environments. It solves the space limitation problem caused by the perpendicularity of the operation direction to the wiring direction in traditional terminal blocks. The spring plate and the screw sliding part cooperate to achieve initial wire fixing, and the operator can complete subsequent operations without holding the wire, reducing the difficulty of wiring. The toothed groove of the clamping block and the screw thread work together to form a high-strength, anti-loosening, and stable clamping of the wire, ensuring low-resistance electrical connection between the wire and the copper terminal, improving connection reliability and stability. The overall structure improves the ease of operation, space adaptability, and connection safety. Attached Figure Description

[0014] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description thereof, serve to explain the present invention and do not constitute an undue limitation thereof. In the drawings:

[0015] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional view of the structure of this utility model after it is assembled with the circuit breaker body;

[0016] Figure 2 This is a sectional view of the assembly structure of the terminal module, circuit breaker contacts, and wiring groove of this utility model;

[0017] Figure 3 This is an exploded sectional view of the terminal module, insulating shield, and circuit breaker contacts of this utility model;

[0018] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the structure of this utility model where the screw does not push the spring plate and clamping block to rotate.

[0019] Legend:

[0020] 01. Circuit breaker body; 02. Circuit breaker contacts; 03. Wiring groove; 1. Insulating shield; 2. Terminal module; 201. Copper terminal; 2011. Connecting part; 2012. Screw hole; 2013. Snap-fit ​​part; 202. Spring plate; 203. Clamping block; 204. Screw; 3. Threaded part; 4. Sliding part; 5. Limiting guide rail; 6. Limiting guide groove; 7. Bevel; 8. Elastic buckle; 9. Gear. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0022] Specific implementation examples are given below.

[0023] Please see Figures 1-4The present invention discloses a circuit breaker terminal block, comprising an insulating shield 1 installed in the wiring slot 03 on the circuit breaker body 01. The insulating shield 1 contains a terminal module 2 for connecting external conductors to circuit breaker contacts 02. The terminal module 2 includes a copper terminal 201, within which a connecting portion 2011 for inserting external conductors is provided. A spring plate 202 and a clamping block 203 are sequentially mounted within the copper terminal 201 along the direction of external conductor insertion via a rotating rod. Both the spring plate 202 and the clamping block 203 are provided with torsion springs to elastically reset them, creating space for the connecting portion 2011. The terminal module also includes a drive spring rotatably mounted on the copper terminal 201 via a threaded connection. The plate 202 and the clamping block 203 rotate to press the screw 204 at the conductive end of the external wire at the connection part 2011. The locking direction of the screw 204 is consistent with the direction in which the external wire is inserted into the connection part 2011. The screw 204 has a threaded part 3 that engages with the screw hole 2012 on the copper terminal 201, and a sliding part 4 with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the screw hole 2012. When the screw 204 passes through the screw hole 2012, the screw 204 pushes the spring plate 202 to swing and initially fix the conductive end of the external wire. When the screw hole 2012 engages with the threaded part 3, the screw 204 pushes the clamping block 203 to swing and firmly fix the conductive end of the external wire. The end face of the clamping block 203 that contacts the conductive part of the external wire is provided with a toothed groove 9.During operation, after the conductive end of the external wire is inserted into the connecting part 2011 of the copper terminal 201, the screw 204 is pushed into the screw hole 2012 of the copper terminal 201 along the wire insertion direction. First, the sliding part 4, whose diameter is smaller than that of the screw hole 2012, passes into the screw hole 2012 without thread resistance, and its front end contacts one end of the spring plate 202. As the screw 204 continues to be pushed in, the spring plate 202 rotates around the rotating rod, and the end away from the rotating rod swings towards the inside of the connecting part 2011, gradually adhering to the surface of the conductive end of the wire, until the elastic potential energy generated by the deformation of the spring plate 202 forms a stable clamping force, completing the initial fixation. Continue to push the screw 204 in. When the threaded part 3 enters the range of the screw hole 2012, the operator slightly... Temporarily fix screw 204 by adding rotating screw 204, and then rotate screw 204 with a screwdriver to make the threaded part 3 engage with the internal thread of the screw hole 2012. At this time, the axial pushing force of screw 204 is further enhanced through thread transmission. As screw 204 continues to be screwed in, its end passes over spring plate 202 and contacts the force-bearing end of clamping block 203, pushing clamping block 203 to rotate around the rotating rod. The clamping end of clamping block 203 is embedded in the surface layer of the conductive end of the wire through surface groove 9 to form multi-contact engagement. When screw 204 is screwed to the preset stroke, clamping block 203 cooperates with the inner wall of connecting part 2011 to tightly clamp the conductive end of the wire, realizing a low-resistance electrical connection between the conductive end of the wire and copper terminal 201. Throughout the process, the direction of screw 204's advancement and rotation is always consistent with the direction of wire insertion. The external wire connection and fixing method can also be as follows: During installation, the terminal module 2 can be installed without first fixing it to the insulating shield 1. Instead, the terminal module 2 and the external wire can be fixed and connected in an open space. Then, the terminal module 2 with the wire connected can be inserted into the insulating shield 1 for assembly. This design avoids the cumbersome process of simultaneously operating the wire and terminal module within the confined space inside the insulating shield 1. It is particularly suitable for scenarios where the external wire is thick or rigid, significantly reducing the installation difficulty in confined spaces, improving the flexibility and efficiency of installation operations, and reducing the impact of space limitations. This design minimizes wire connection deviations and ensures assembly quality. Through the cooperation of the above structures, the initial fixation of the sliding part 4 and the spring plate 202 facilitates the pre-positioning of external wires. At this time, the spring plate 202 forms a stable clamp on the conductive part of the wire, allowing the operator to operate with one hand without needing to hold a screwdriver in one hand and support the wire in the other, significantly reducing wiring difficulty. It is especially suitable for operation in confined spaces. The threaded part 3 drives the clamping block 203 to achieve high-strength clamping, which, together with the toothed groove 9, prevents wire loosening and ensures stable electrical connection. Furthermore, the design of the screw 204 aligning with the wire insertion direction requires only operation along the wiring direction, greatly reducing the required space and perfectly adapting to confined installation environments, solving the problem of insufficient vertical operating space.

[0024] Furthermore, the insulating shield 1 is provided with a limiting guide rail 5, and the copper terminal 201 is provided with a limiting guide groove 6 that cooperates with the limiting guide rail 5. Both sides of the top of the copper terminal 201 are provided with a snap-fit ​​part 2013. When the copper terminal 201 is assembled with the circuit breaker contact 02, the snap-fit ​​part 2013 snaps into both sides of the circuit breaker contact 02. The inner wall thickness of the snap-fit ​​part 2013 is one millimeter less than the thickness of the circuit breaker contact 02, and the entrance of the snap-fit ​​part 2013 is provided with a bevel 7. During operation, in the initial assembly stage, the insulating shield 1 is first fixed in the wiring groove 03 of the circuit breaker body 01 using a preset connector to ensure accurate relative positioning with the circuit breaker contact 02. Then, the copper terminal 201 is held so that the limiting guide grooves 6 on both sides form a sliding fit with the limiting guide rail 5 on the inner wall of the insulating shield 1, moving parallel to the circuit breaker contact. The copper terminal 201 is smoothly pushed in at point 02. During the pushing process, the bevel 7 at the entrance of the snap-fit ​​portion 2013 on both sides of the top of the copper terminal 201 first contacts the end of the circuit breaker contact 02. The inclination angle of the bevel 7 guides the circuit breaker contact 02 to slide into the inside of the snap-fit ​​portion 2013 along the slope. Since the distance between the inner walls of the snap-fit ​​portion 2013 is less than 1 mm thicker than the circuit breaker contact 02, as the copper terminal 201 continues to push in, the elastic deformation of the snap-fit ​​portion 2013 gradually increases, forming a radial clamping force on the circuit breaker contact 02. When the copper terminal 201 is fully in place, the snap-fit ​​portion 2013 and the circuit breaker contact 02 form an interference fit, and the contact surface undergoes plastic deformation, realizing the mechanical fixation and large-area electrical conduction of the two. Through the cooperation of the above structure, it is ensured that the copper terminal 201 is accurately connected to the circuit breaker contact 02. The interference fit design eliminates the contact gap, reduces the contact resistance, and improves the conductivity reliability.

[0025] Furthermore, the limiting guide rail 5 is provided with an elastic buckle 8 through a through hole. The elastic buckle 8 has an oblique opening in the assembly direction of the copper terminal 201. During operation, as the copper terminal 201 is pushed into the insulating shield 1 along the limiting guide rail 5, the front edge of the copper terminal 201 first contacts the oblique surface of the elastic buckle 8 facing the assembly direction. As the pushing force increases, the oblique surface is subjected to an axial component force, forcing the elastic buckle 8 to undergo elastic deformation along the through hole, making way for the copper terminal 201. When the copper terminal 201 is fully inserted into the insulating shield 1, the squeezing force of the copper terminal 201 on the elastic buckle 8 disappears, and the elastic buckle 8 rebounds rapidly under the action of its own material elastic potential energy. The end block of the elastic buckle 8 is locked on one side of the copper terminal 201 to form an axial limit. Combined with the radial constraint of the limiting guide rail 5 and the limiting guide groove 6, the copper terminal 201 is firmly locked in the insulating shield 1 to prevent it from axial displacement under vibration or impact conditions.

[0026] In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "an embodiment," "example," "specific example," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. 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.

[0027] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of this utility model. Those skilled in the art should understand that this utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of this utility model. Various changes and modifications can be made to this utility model without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the claimed utility model.

Claims

1. A terminal for a circuit breaker, characterized by: The circuit breaker includes an insulating shield (1) installed in the wiring slot (03) on the circuit breaker body (01). The insulating shield (1) contains a terminal module (2) for connecting external conductors to the circuit breaker contacts (02). The terminal module (2) includes a copper terminal (201). The copper terminal (201) contains a connecting part (2011) for inserting external conductors. The copper terminal (201) contains a spring plate (202) and a clamping block (203) rotatably mounted on a rotating rod along the direction of external conductor insertion. The circuit breaker also includes components rotatably mounted on the copper terminal (201) via a threaded connection. 01) The screw (204) is used to drive the spring plate (202) and the clamping block (203) to rotate so that they press against the conductive end of the external wire at the connecting part (2011). The locking direction of the screw (204) is consistent with the direction in which the external wire is inserted into the connecting part (2011). When the screw (204) passes through the screw hole (2012), the screw (204) pushes the spring plate (202) to swing and initially fixes the conductive end of the external wire. When the screw hole (2012) and the threaded part (3) are engaged, the screw (204) pushes the clamping block (203) to swing and firmly fix the conductive end of the external wire.

2. A terminal for a circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that: The screw (204) has a threaded portion (3) on its periphery that engages with the screw hole (2012) on the copper terminal (201), and a sliding portion (4) with a diameter smaller than that of the screw hole (2012).

3. A terminal for a circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that: The insulating shield shell (1) is provided with a limiting guide rail (5), and the copper terminal (201) is provided with a limiting guide groove (6) that cooperates with the limiting guide rail (5).

4. An electrical terminal for a circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein: The copper terminal (201) has a snap-fit ​​part (2013) on both sides of its top end. When the copper terminal (201) is assembled with the circuit breaker contact (02), the snap-fit ​​part (2013) snaps onto both sides of the circuit breaker contact (02).

5. A terminal for a circuit breaker according to claim 4, wherein: The inner wall thickness of the snap-fit ​​part (2013) is one millimeter less than the thickness of the circuit breaker contact (02), and the inlet of the snap-fit ​​part (2013) is provided with a bevel (7).

6. An electrical terminal for a circuit breaker according to claim 3, wherein: The limiting guide rail (5) is provided with an elastic buckle (8) through a through hole, and the elastic buckle (8) is provided with an oblique opening in the assembly direction of the copper terminal (201).

7. The wiring terminal of a circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that: The end face of the clamping block (203) that contacts the conductive part of the external wire is provided with a toothed groove (9).

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