Terminal block support structure and assembly method

Abstract

To provide a terminal block support structure and an assembly method which reduce the fastening load acting on a terminal holding portion.SOLUTION: A terminal block support structure 10 includes: a terminal block 1 having a terminal holding portion 20 that holds a terminal 2; a support object 12 having an insertion hole 120 into which the terminal holding portion is inserted; and fastening objects 13A, 13B that are arranged at a predetermined distance from the support object and are bolted to the terminal. The terminal block includes a ring-shaped gasket 4 provided between a periphery of the insertion hole and the terminal holding portion and filling a gap S that caused between the periphery of the insertion hole and the terminal holding portion, the terminal holding portion has no bolt fastening portions for the support object, and when the terminal holding portion is inserted in the insertion hole, the gasket fills the gap caused between the periphery of the insertion hole and the terminal holding portion, and the terminal is bolted to the fastening object.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a terminal block support structure and an assembly method. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art There is a conventional terminal block in which a flange portion extending outward from the outer periphery of a housing main body is fastened to an object to be fastened by bolting (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] The conventional terminal block disclosed in Patent Document 1 is bolted to a motor housing that accommodates an electric motor, is placed in the current path between the inverter and the electric motor, and functions as a current relay device.

[0004] This conventional terminal block includes a bus bar for connecting an inverter and an electric motor, a housing that supports the bus bar and is inserted into a mounting hole provided in the motor housing, and a packing that fills the gap between the mounting hole and the housing. The housing includes a housing main body that supports the bus bar and a flange portion that extends from the housing main body in a brim-like shape, and is fixed to the motor housing by bolting the flange portion to the motor housing with the housing main body inserted into the mounting hole of the motor housing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-161647 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, with conventional terminal blocks, a bus bar is positioned between the inverter and electric motor, and when the flange portion on the housing is bolted to the motor housing with the bus bar bolted to both, if the inverter, electric motor, and motor housing are misaligned due to dimensional tolerance errors, for example, there was a concern that the housing (terminal holding portion) would buckle due to the fastening load of the fasteners (bolts and nuts) because the housing is made of plastic.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal block support structure and an assembly method thereof which aim to reduce the fastening load acting on a terminal holding portion. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problem and achieve the object, the invention described in claim 1 is a terminal block support structure comprising: a terminal block having a terminal holding portion that holds a terminal; a support object having an insertion hole into which the terminal holding portion is inserted and supporting the terminal holding portion; and a fastening object that is arranged at a predetermined distance from the support object and is fastened to the terminal with a bolt, wherein the terminal block has a ring-shaped gasket that is provided between the periphery of the insertion hole and the terminal holding portion and fills a gap that occurs between the periphery of the insertion hole and the terminal holding portion, and the terminal holding portion does not have a bolt fastening portion for the support object, and when the terminal holding portion is inserted into the insertion hole, the gasket fills the gap that occurs between the periphery of the insertion hole and the terminal holding portion, and the terminal is fastened to the fastening object with a bolt. The invention described in claim 3 is a method for assembling the terminal block support structure described in claim 1, characterized in that the method successively includes a packing attachment process for attaching a packing to the terminal holding portion, a terminal holding portion insertion process for inserting the terminal holding portion into the insertion hole with the packing attached to the terminal holding portion and filling the gap generated between the periphery of the insertion hole and the terminal holding portion with the packing, and a terminal fastening process for bolt-fastening the terminal to the fastening object. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the fastening load acting on the terminal holding portion. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view showing, partially in cross section, a terminal block support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a terminal block constituting the terminal block support structure; [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a terminal block support structure 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, partially in cross section. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a terminal block 1 constituting the terminal block support structure 10. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part of Fig. 3. In Fig. 1, a wall of a housing located on one side of the terminal block 1 in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface is omitted.

[0012] 1 and 3, the terminal block support structure 10 of this embodiment includes a support structure part 11 (shown in FIG. 3) and a terminal block 1 supported by the support structure part 11. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the support structure part 11 includes a housing 12 (support object) having an elliptical insertion hole 120 that supports the terminal block 1, and a pair of devices 13A, 13B (a pair of connection objects, fastening objects, shown in FIG. 3) connected to both ends of the terminal block 1. The terminal block 1 is for electrically and mechanically connecting the pair of devices 13A, 13B, and is electrically and mechanically connected to both of the pair of devices 13A, 13B while being supported by the housing 12.

[0013] In the following, the direction in which the insertion hole 120 penetrates may be referred to as the "front-rear direction" and indicated by the "arrow Y", the long-diameter direction of the insertion hole 120 in which the terminals 2 are lined up may be referred to as the "left-right direction" and indicated by the "arrow X", and the short-diameter direction of the insertion hole 120 which is perpendicular to the arrows X and Y may be referred to as the "height direction" and indicated by the "arrow Z". Also, one side of the arrow Y (the front side in FIG. 1) may be referred to as the "front Y1", and the opposite other side (the back side in FIG. 1) may be referred to as the "rear Y2".

[0014] The housing 12 is configured in a box shape having at least one wall portion 121. As shown in Fig. 1, the wall portion 121 is provided with an insertion hole 120 having an elliptical shape as viewed from the front, into which the terminal holding portion 20 constituting the terminal block 1 is inserted.

[0015] 3, one of the pair of devices 13A, 13B (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the first device 13A) is disposed inside the housing 12 (front Y1 of the wall portion 121), and the other of the pair of devices 13A, 13B (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the second device 13B) is disposed outside the housing 12 (rear Y2 of the wall portion 121). The first device 13A and the second device 13B are disposed inside and outside the housing 12 with a predetermined distance from the housing 12.

[0016] 1 and 2, the terminal block 1 includes a terminal holding portion 20 that holds three terminals 2, a holder 3 that is attached to the terminal holding portion 20 and supports each terminal 2, a ring-shaped holding portion packing 4 (packing) that is interposed between the terminal holding portion 20 and the periphery of the insertion hole 120, and a ring-shaped terminal packing 5 (shown in FIG. 2) that is attached to each terminal 2. Moreover, in this terminal block 1, the terminal holding portion 20 is not provided with a bolt fastening portion for fastening to the housing 12.

[0017] The terminal holding portion 20 comprises three terminals 2 and a resin molded portion 6 that holds these three terminals 2, and these three terminals 2 are integrally formed by being insert molded into the resin molded portion 6.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, the three terminals 2 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction X. Each terminal 2 is formed by bending a rectangular metal plate into an L-shape, and includes a horizontal plate portion 2A and an orthogonal plate portion 2B that bends from the end of the rear Y2 of the horizontal plate portion 2A and extends downward in the up-down direction Z. The horizontal plate portion 2A is provided extending in a plane including the front-rear direction Y and the left-right direction X, and the orthogonal plate portion 2B is provided extending in a plane including the up-down direction Z and the left-right direction X. In addition, a first bolt hole 2a that is bolted to the first device 13A is provided at the front end (end portion away from the orthogonal plate portion 2B) of the horizontal plate portion 2A, and a second bolt hole 2b that is bolted to the second device 13B is provided at the lower end (end portion away from the horizontal plate portion 2A).

[0019] As shown in Figure 2, the resin molded portion 6 comprises a molded portion main body 61 in which each terminal 2 is embedded, three tubular portions 62 that are continuous with the front Y1 of the molded portion main body 61 and cover the periphery of each terminal 2, and a plate-shaped connecting plate 63 that connects adjacent tubular portions 62 to each other.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 3, the molded section main body 61 is configured by embedding three terminals 2, and is configured in a block shape and provided at the middle of the horizontal plate section 2A in the front-rear direction Y. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the molded section main body 61 is configured to be inserted into an insertion hole 120 provided in the housing 12 via a holding section packing 4 described later. As shown in FIG. 4, the resin molded section 6 is formed to have a dimension such that a gap S is generated between the resin molded section 6 and the insertion hole 120 provided in the housing 12. This gap S is configured to have a dimension that can be filled by the holding section packing 4 described later. In other words, the gap S is configured to have a dimension that can be absorbed by the crushing allowance S of the holding section packing 4.

[0021] 4, the molding body 61 is provided with a packing attachment part 610 to which the retaining part packing 4 is attached. The packing attachment part 610 is provided at the front end part of the molding body 61 (the end part of the molding body 61 on the side of the three cylindrical parts 62), and is configured by cutting out the entire circumference of the outer circumferential surface of the molding body 61 in the shape of a concave groove, so that the retaining part packing 4 is accommodated. As shown in FIG. 4, the depth (dimension) of the concave groove of the packing attachment part 610 is configured to be smaller than the diameter dimension of the string part 40 constituting the retaining part packing 4, and when the retaining part packing 4 is attached to the packing attachment part 610, a part of the retaining part packing 4 is provided protruding from the outer circumferential surface of the molding body 61.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the connecting plate 63 is formed in a plate shape and configured to have a thickness that allows it to be clamped by a clamping portion provided in the holder 3, which will be described later.

[0023] As shown in Figure 2, the holder 3 comprises a holder main body 31 having three terminal insertion holes 30 into which each terminal 2 is inserted, three holder tubular portions 32 that are continuous with the rear Y2 of the holder main body 31 and are provided continuous with each terminal insertion hole 30, into which each terminal 2 is inserted, and a clamping portion 33 that is provided between adjacent holder tubular portions 32 and clamps the connecting plate 63 of the resin molded portion 6.

[0024] 2, the packing 4 for the holding part is configured with a string part 40 that is continuous in an annular shape. The string part 40 is configured to have a diameter dimension that can fill the gap S that occurs between the periphery of the insertion hole 120 and the terminal holding part 20 when the terminal holding part 20 is inserted into the insertion hole 120 of the housing 12. That is, the diameter dimension of the string part 40 in the packing 4 for the holding part is configured to be the same dimension from the bottom of the packing attachment part 610 to the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 120, or a dimension slightly larger than the dimension from the bottom of the packing attachment part 610 to the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 120.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 2, the number of terminal packings 5 ​​provided is the same as the number of terminals 2 (three). As shown in Fig. 3, each terminal packing 5 is configured to be fitted onto the horizontal plate portion 2A of each terminal 2 and to be positioned inside the internal space 6S of each cylindrical portion 62 provided in the resin molded portion 6. Such terminal packings 5 ​​are provided in close contact with the inner peripheral surfaces of each terminal 2 and each internal space 6S, and are configured to prevent water from entering the internal space 6S rearward Y2.

[0026] Next, an assembly procedure (assembly method) for assembling the terminal block support structure 10 will be described.

[0027] First, the terminal holding portion 20, the holder 3, the packing 4 for the holding portion, and the packing 5 for the terminal are manufactured. The terminal holding portion 20 is formed by insert molding the three terminals 2 into the resin molded portion 6. That is, the three terminals 2 and the resin molded portion 6 are integrally formed.

[0028] Next, when assembling the terminal block 1, first, the packing 4 for the holding portion is fitted onto the terminal holding portion 20, and the packing 4 for the holding portion is housed in the packing attachment portion 610. As a result, the packing 4 for the holding portion is attached to the packing attachment portion 610 of the terminal holding portion 20 (packing attachment process).

[0029] Further, the terminal packing 5 is fitted onto the horizontal plate portion 2A of each terminal 2 provided in the terminal holding portion 20, and the terminal packing 5 is pressed toward the rear end of each cylindrical portion 62. In this manner, each terminal packing 5 is positioned inside the internal space 6S of each cylindrical portion 62 provided in the resin molding portion 6. As a result, the terminal packing 5 comes into close contact with each terminal 2 and the inner peripheral surface of each internal space 6S, preventing water from entering the rear Y2 from the internal space 6S.

[0030] Thereafter, the holder 3 is moved backward Y2 so that each holder cylindrical portion 32 approaches the tip of each terminal 2 and the terminal 2 is inserted into each holder cylindrical portion 32. As a result, each holder cylindrical portion 32 is accommodated in the internal space 6S of each cylindrical portion 62, and the clamping portion 33 clamps the connecting plate 63 of the resin molded portion 6. As a result, the holder 3 is assembled to the resin molded portion 6 while supporting each terminal 2. In this manner, the assembly of the terminal block 1 is completed.

[0031] Next, when installing the terminal block 1 in the housing 12, the front end of the terminal holding portion 20 of the terminal block 1 is inserted close to the rear end of the insertion hole 120 in the housing 12 (terminal holding portion insertion process). In this state, i.e., in a state where the terminal holding portion 20 is inserted into the insertion hole 120, the holding portion packing 4 fills the gap S generated between the periphery of the insertion hole 120 and the terminal holding portion 20. In this manner, the assembly of the terminal block 1 to the housing 12 is completed.

[0032] Next, when connecting the terminal block 1 and the pair of devices 13A and 13B, the first bolt hole 2a at the front end (one end) of the terminal 2 and the first connection part of the first device 13A are overlapped and bolted together, and the second bolt hole 2b at the rear end (other end) of the terminal 2 and the second connection part of the second device 13B are overlapped and bolted together (terminal fastening step). In this state, the terminal block 1 is not bolted to the housing 12, but is supported in the insertion hole 120 via the retaining part packing 4, and one end (one end of the terminal 2) is bolted to the first device 13A, and the other end (the other end of the terminal 2) is bolted to the second device 13B.

[0033] Here, even if misalignment occurs in the installation positions of the first device 13A, the second device 13B, and the housing 12 due to, for example, a tolerance dimensional error, the retaining portion packing 4 is compressed, displacing the terminal retaining portion 20. In other words, the misalignment (the misalignment dimension) due to the tolerance dimensional error is absorbed by the deformation of the retaining portion packing 4, and the stress generated in the first device 13A and the second device 13B during fastening is alleviated.

[0034] In this way, the terminal block 1 is electrically and mechanically connected to both of the pair of devices 13A, 13B, and the terminal block 1 is supported by the housing 12, the first device 13A, and the second device 13B, thereby completing the assembly of the terminal block support structure 10.

[0035] According to the above-mentioned embodiment, the terminal holder 20 does not have a bolt fastening portion for the housing 12 (support object), and when the terminal holder 20 is inserted into the insertion hole 120, the packing 4 for the holder (packing) fills the gap S generated between the periphery of the insertion hole 120 and the terminal holder 20, and the terminal 2 is fastened to the devices 13A and 13B (fastening objects) by bolts. According to this, even if a tolerance dimensional error occurs in the arrangement positions of the housing 12 and the devices 13A and 13B, the packing 4 for the holder is compressed, so that the error is absorbed and the terminal block 1 is supported by the housing 12 and the devices 13A and 13B. Furthermore, since the terminal holder 20 does not have a bolt fastening portion for the housing 12 (support object), the fastening load acting on the terminal holder 20 can be reduced while the terminal block 1 can be supported by the housing 12 and the devices 13A and 13B.

[0036] The first device 13A and the second device 13B (fastening object) have the first device 13A and the second device 13B (a pair of connection objects) connected to both ends of the terminal 2, and the first device 13A and the second device 13B are arranged on the inside (one side) and the outside (the other side) of the insertion hole 120 in the housing 12 (support object), and the first device 13A (one of the pair of connection objects) is bolted to one end of the terminal 2, and the second device 13B (the other of the pair of connection objects) is bolted to the other end of the terminal 2. With this, both ends of the terminal 2 are bolted to the first device 13A and the second device 13B, so that the terminal block 1 can be supported by the housing 12, the first device 13A, and the second device 13B in a stable state.

[0037] The method for assembling the terminal block support structure 10 sequentially includes a packing attachment step of attaching a packing 4 (packing) for holding portion to the terminal holding portion 20, a terminal holding portion insertion step of inserting the terminal holding portion 20 into the insertion hole 120 with the packing 4 for holding portion attached to the terminal holding portion 20 and filling a gap S generated between the periphery of the insertion hole 120 and the terminal holding portion 20 with the packing 4 for holding portion, and a terminal fastening step of fastening the terminals 2 to the first device 13A and the second device 13B (objects to be fastened) with bolts. This allows the terminal holding portion 20 to support the terminal block 1 on the housing 12, the first device 13A and the second device 13B while reducing the fastening load acting on the terminal holding portion 20 without fastening the terminal holding portion 20 with bolts to the housing 12 (object to be supported).

[0038] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but includes other configurations that can achieve the object of the present invention, and the following modified examples are also included in the present invention.

[0039] In the above embodiment, the fastening object is configured to have the first device 13A and the second device 13B (a pair of connection objects), but the present invention is not limited to this. The fastening object may be configured to be only one of the first device 13A and the second device 13B. In that case, only one end of the terminal block 1 is bolted to the terminal block 1, and the other end is free, but since the terminal block 1 can be supported by the housing 12 and one of the first device 13A and the second device 13B, this configuration is also included in the scope of the present invention.

[0040] In the embodiment, three terminals 2 are provided, but the present invention is not limited to this. At least one terminal 2 may be provided, and two terminals, or four or more terminals may be provided.

[0041] In addition, the best configurations and methods for implementing the present invention are disclosed in the above description, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the present invention has been mainly illustrated and described with reference to specific embodiments, but those skilled in the art can make various modifications to the above-described embodiments in terms of shape, material, quantity, and other detailed configurations without departing from the scope of the technical idea and purpose of the present invention. Therefore, the descriptions limiting the shapes, materials, etc. disclosed above are illustrative descriptions for the purpose of facilitating understanding of the present invention, and do not limit the present invention, and therefore descriptions of the names of components that are free of some or all of the limitations on the shapes, materials, etc. are included in the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1 Terminal block 10 Terminal block support structure 12 Chassis (support object) 120 Insertion hole 13A First device (one of a pair of fastening objects, connection objects) 13B Second equipment (the other of a pair of fastening objects, connection objects) 20 Terminal holding part 4. Retaining part packing (packing) S Squeeze allowance (gap)

Claims

1. A terminal block support structure including: a terminal block having a terminal holding portion for holding a terminal; a support object having an insertion hole into which the terminal holding portion is inserted and supporting the terminal holding portion; and a fastening object disposed at a predetermined distance from the support object and fastened to the terminal with a bolt, the terminal block includes a ring-shaped packing provided between a periphery of the insertion hole and the terminal holding portion to fill a gap generated between the periphery of the insertion hole and the terminal holding portion, The terminal holding portion does not have a bolt fastening portion for fastening to the support object, A terminal block support structure characterized in that, when the terminal holding portion is inserted into the insertion hole, the gasket fills the gap that occurs between the periphery of the insertion hole and the terminal holding portion, and the terminal is bolted to the fastening object.

2. the fastening object has a pair of connection objects electrically connected to both ends of the terminal, the pair of connection objects are respectively disposed on one side and the other side of the insertion hole of the support object, One of the pair of connection objects is fastened to one end of the terminal by a bolt, 2. The terminal block support structure according to claim 1, wherein the other of the pair of connection objects is fastened to the other end of the terminal by a bolt.

3. A method for assembling the terminal block support structure according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: a packing mounting step of mounting the packing on the terminal holding portion; a terminal holding portion inserting process in which, with the packing attached to the terminal holding portion, the terminal holding portion is inserted into the insertion hole to fill a gap generated between a periphery of the insertion hole and the terminal holding portion with the packing; and a terminal fastening step of fastening the terminal to the object to be fastened with a bolt.

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