Connection device for terminal block

Abstract

To provide a connection device that can be fixed to a terminal block regardless of presence or absence of a recess for cover engagement.SOLUTION: A connection device for a terminal block comprises a connection device main body 110 including a connection terminal part 120 for screw, a first fixing device 200, and a second fixing device 201. The first fixing device 200 includes a first one-side clip 213 having a first one-side clip groove and a first other-side clip 214 having a first other-side clip groove. The second fixing device 201 includes a second one-side clip 213 having a second one-side clip groove and a second other-side clip 214 having a second other-side clip groove. The first fixing device 200 and the second fixing device 201 are arranged with a predetermined number of pairs of side partition walls interposed therebetween. The first fixing device 200 and the second fixing device 201 fix the connection device for a terminal block to the terminal block by fitting into the corresponding pairs of side partition walls located at positions separated by the predetermined number.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a terminal block connection device used to electrically connect to the wiring screws of a terminal block in order to measure or inspect the electrical characteristics of equipment etc. connected to the terminal block while it is still connected to the terminal block. [Background technology]

[0002] When measuring or inspecting a device connected via a terminal block, it takes a lot of time to remove the device from the terminal block. For this reason, terminal block connection devices have been known that allow the measurement or inspection to be performed while the device remains connected to the terminal block. An example of such a device is described in Patent Document 1. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 3800334 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a shorting plate for voltage withstanding tests as a specific example of a terminal block connection device. According to the technical explanation in Patent Document 1, elastic locking pieces 2b formed on a shorting plate body 1 of the shorting plate for voltage withstanding tests are locked into cover locking recesses 7 formed on a terminal block 5, thereby fixing the shorting plate body 1 to the terminal block 5. However, currently, there are few terminal block products equipped with the cover locking recesses 7. Therefore, when attempting to use the shorting plate for voltage withstanding tests disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is a problem in that only a limited number of terminal blocks can be used.

[0005] It is desirable to be able to fasten the above-mentioned terminal block connection device to widely used terminal blocks. However, simply fastening a terminal block connection device to a terminal block poses significant challenges. Widely used terminal blocks are designed for use in making electrical connections with electrical devices and the like. It is difficult to say that they are designed to hold and fasten terminal block connection devices for testing and other purposes. Therefore, while they have a suitable structure from the perspective of achieving electrical insulation, there are challenges to be overcome in terms of mechanical strength and other aspects from the perspective of holding and fastening a terminal block connection device.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a terminal block connection device that can be fixed to a terminal block regardless of whether or not it has a cover locking recess, and that can address issues such as not damaging the terminal block during this fixing process. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] [First invention] The first invention is a terminal connecting device fixed to a terminal block, The terminal block includes a long central partition wall, and pairs of side partition walls and pairs of wiring screws alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction of the central partition wall. the pair of side partition walls includes a first partition wall disposed on one side of the central partition wall and a second partition wall disposed on the other side of the central partition wall in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the central partition wall, with the central partition wall interposed therebetween, the pair of wiring screws includes a first wiring screw arranged on one side of the central partition wall and a second wiring screw arranged on the other side of the central partition wall in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the central partition wall, with the central partition wall in between, The terminal connecting device comprises a connecting device main body having an elongated shape along the longitudinal direction of the central bulkhead of the terminal block, a screw connecting terminal portion for electrically connecting to the one side wiring screw or the other side wiring screw of at least one of the wiring screw pairs provided on the terminal block, and a first fixing device and a second fixing device for fixing the terminal connecting device to the terminal block, the first fixing device and the second fixing device are provided at positions corresponding to a first pair of side partition walls and a second pair of side partition walls, respectively, among the pairs of side partition walls arranged in the longitudinal direction of the terminal block, and a predetermined number of the pairs of side partition walls are provided between the first pair of side partition walls corresponding to the first fixing device and the second pair of side partition walls corresponding to the second fixing device, the first fastening device has a first pair of clips for mating with the corresponding first pair of side bulkheads; the first clip pair comprises a first one-side clip having a first one-side clip groove for fitting into a corresponding one-side partition wall of the first-side partition wall pair, and a first other-side clip having a first other-side clip groove for fitting into a corresponding other-side partition wall of the first-side partition wall pair, the second fastening device has a second pair of clips for mating with the corresponding second pair of side bulkheads; The second clip pair includes a second one-side clip having a second one-side clip groove for fitting into a corresponding one-side partition wall of the second-side partition wall pair, and a second other-side clip having a second other-side clip groove for fitting into a corresponding other-side partition wall of the second-side partition wall pair. The terminal connecting device is characterized in that:

[0008] [Second Invention] The second invention is the terminal connecting device of the first invention, the first one-side clip groove of the first one-side clip and the first other-side clip groove of the first other-side clip of the first clip pair of the first fastening device each have an elongated shape that extends along the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the central partition wall, and further, the first one-side clip groove and the first other-side clip groove each have a shape that is open at both ends in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the central partition wall, the second one-side clip groove of the second one-side clip of the second clip pair of the second fastening device and the second other-side clip groove of the second other-side clip of the second clip pair each have an elongated shape extending along the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the central partition wall, and both ends of the shape are open in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the central partition wall; The terminal connecting device is characterized by the above.

[0009] [Third Invention] A third aspect of the present invention is the terminal connecting device of the second aspect of the present invention, the terminal block to which the terminal connecting device is fixed is provided with screw bases at the bases of the one-side wiring screw and the other-side wiring screw in order to fix the one-side wiring screw and the other-side wiring screw that constitute the wiring screw pair, the first one-side clip groove of the first one-side clip of the first clip pair of the first fixing device and the first other-side clip groove of the first other-side clip of the first clip pair are shaped to extend toward the screw bases located on both sides of the first-side bulkhead pair of the terminal block into which the first clip pair is fitted, the second one-side clip groove of the second one-side clip of the second clip pair of the second fixing device and the second other-side clip groove of the second other-side clip of the second clip pair are shaped to extend toward the screw bases located on both sides of the second-side bulkhead pair of the terminal block into which the second clip pair is fitted, the first one-side clip groove and the first other-side clip groove of the first clip pair, and the second one-side clip groove and the second other-side clip groove of the second clip pair, each have a non-pressurized portion having a width L2 wider than a thickness L18 of the side partition wall pair in the longitudinal direction on a side of the central partition wall that is closer to the connection device main body, which is a root side of the first one-side clip groove and the first other-side clip groove, and on a side of the second one-side clip groove and the second other-side clip groove that is closer to the connection device main body, the first one-side clip groove and the first other-side clip groove of the first clip pair, and the second one-side clip groove and the second other-side clip groove of the second clip pair each have a fitting portion having a width L3 narrower than the thickness L18 of the side bulkhead pair on a side farther from the connection device body than the non-pressurizing portion, The terminal connecting device is characterized by the above.

[0010] [Fourth Invention] A fourth aspect of the present invention is the terminal connecting device of the third aspect of the present invention, the first one-side clip groove and the first other-side clip groove of the first one-side clip of the first clip pair included in the first fastening device, and the second one-side clip groove and the second other-side clip groove of the second one-side clip of the second clip pair included in the second fastening device, each have a width at a tip of the groove that is wider than the width at the fitting portion, and the width of each groove gradually narrows from the tip of the groove toward the fitting portion of the groove; The terminal connecting device is characterized by the above.

[0011] [Fifth Invention] A fifth aspect of the present invention is the terminal connecting device of the third aspect of the present invention, the first fixing device and the second fixing device are fixed to the connection device main body, which has an elongated shape in the longitudinal direction, at positions separated by the predetermined number of side partition wall pairs, the connection device body is formed of an electrically conductive metal plate, the screw connection terminal portion for connection to one of the connection screws of the one-side wiring screw or the other-side wiring screw of the pair of wiring screws present between the first fixing device and the second fixing device is provided on one side or the other side of the connection device main body, a bent portion formed integrally with the connection device body is provided at a connection device body side end portion, which is a side end portion of the connection device body opposite to a side on which the screw connection terminal portion is provided, the bent portion is bent at the connection device main body side end portion of the connection device main body arranged in a position covering the pair of side partition walls, and extends toward a screw base on which a wiring screw is provided, the screw base being located on the opposite side of the terminal block from the side on which the screw connection terminal portion is provided. The terminal connecting device is characterized by the above.

[0012] [Sixth Invention] A sixth aspect of the present invention is the terminal connecting device of the third aspect of the present invention, the connection device body is a resin connection device body molded from insulating resin, the first fixing device and the second fixing device are provided on the resin connecting device body, separated by the predetermined number of pairs of side partition walls; the screw connection terminal portion is fixed to the resin connection device body in order to electrically connect to a connection target screw, which is one of the one-side wiring screws or the other-side wiring screws of a connection target wiring screw pair that is an electrical connection target among the wiring screw pair, the screw connection terminal portion has a contact end for electrically connecting to the connection target screw, a fixing tube for movably fixing the contact end to the resin connection device body, and a spring acting in a direction to move the contact end away from the resin connection device body, When the terminal connecting device is not fixed to the terminal block, the contact end is located farther from the resin connecting device body than the one-side clip and the other-side clip of the first fixing device and the second fixing device due to the action of the spring, Furthermore, when the terminal connecting device is fixed to the terminal block, the contact end comes into contact with the connection target screw, causing the spring to contract, and the contact end is positioned closer to the resin connecting device body than the tip of the one-side clip or the other-side clip of the first fixing device or the second fixing device. The terminal connecting device is characterized by the above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, a terminal block connection device can be provided that can be fixed to a terminal block regardless of whether it has a cover locking recess or not, and that can address issues such as not damaging the terminal block during this fixing process. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory view illustrating an example of a terminal block for fixing a terminal connecting device to which the present invention is applied; [Figure 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the terminal block shown in FIG. 1 along the line AA. [Figure 3] 1 is a plan view of a terminal connecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 is a bottom view of a terminal connecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] 2 is an explanatory view illustrating a state in which a terminal connecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention is fixed to the terminal block shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view of the explanatory diagram shown in FIG. 5 BB. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a bottom view of a fixing device provided in the terminal connecting device. [Figure 8] 8 is a cross-sectional view of the fixation device shown in FIG. 7 along CC line. [Figure 9] 10 is an explanatory view illustrating the relationship between the other-side clip of the fixing device base and the other-side partition wall in a state in which the terminal connecting device is fixed to the terminal block. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a plan view of another embodiment of a terminal connecting device. [Figure 11]FIG. 10 is a bottom view of another embodiment of a terminal connecting device. [Figure 12] 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams illustrating a screw connection terminal portion according to another embodiment. [Figure 13] 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the terminal connecting device is fixed to a terminal block. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] In the following embodiments, components with the same reference numerals have basically the same structure, perform the same actions, and achieve substantially the same effects. To avoid redundant explanations, descriptions of components with the same reference numerals may be omitted.

[0016] 1. Description of the terminal block 10 to which the terminal connecting device 100 according to the present invention can be fixed FIG. 1 shows an example of a terminal block 10 to which a terminal connecting device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is fixed. A cross section taken along the line AA in FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2. The terminal block 10 has a large number of wiring screw pairs 22, each having a first wiring screw 25 and a second wiring screw 29, arranged along the longitudinal direction V. A pair of side bulkheads 16 is provided between adjacent wiring screw pairs 22 to provide electrical insulation between the wiring screw pairs 22. As shown in FIG. 2, one wiring 26 and another wiring 30 are connected to the first wiring screw 25 and another wiring screw 29, respectively, which constitute the wiring screw pair 22. However, the first wiring 26 and the other wiring 30 are not shown in FIG. 1 to avoid complication.

[0017] The cross-sectional structure of the terminal block 10 shown in FIG. 2 is an example, and the terminal block 10 may have other structures. Any terminal block 10 having a pair of side bulkheads 16 described below is a target for fixing the terminal connecting device 100 to which the present invention is applied. The terminal block 10 has a terminal block base 12 at its bottom, and further includes a screw base 23 having a one-side wiring screw base 24 and a other-side wiring screw base 28 for fixing one-side wiring screws 25 and the other-side wiring screws 29. In the example shown in FIG. 1, a short-circuiting metal plate 27 is provided inside the screw base 23 for electrically shorting the one-side wiring screws 25 and the other-side wiring screws 29 to each other. A one-side wiring 26 is fixed to the one-side wiring screw 25, and a other-side wiring 30 is connected to the other-side wiring screw 29. An electrical device (not shown) is connected to one or both of the one-side wiring 26 and the other-side wiring 30. By applying a predetermined voltage to the one-side wiring screw 25 or the other-side wiring screw 29 while the one-side wiring 26 or the other-side wiring 30 is connected to the electrical equipment or the like, electrical inspections can be performed on the electrical equipment or the like (not shown).

[0018] A central partition wall 14 having a width T is formed along the longitudinal direction V of the terminal block 10 at the center of the one-side wiring screw 25 and the other-side wiring screw 29. The central partition wall 14 acts to reinforce the entire terminal block 10, and also has the function of reinforcing the pair of side partition walls 16. Therefore, the pair of side partition walls 16 has a structure in which the portions close to the central partition wall 14 and the portions close to the one-side wiring screw base 24 and the other-side wiring screw base 28 have higher mechanical strength than the upper end 19 of the one-side partition wall and the upper end 21 of the other-side partition wall.

[0019] The primary purpose of the side bulkhead pair 16 of the terminal block 10 is to provide electrical insulation between adjacent wiring screw pairs 22, not to hold or secure the terminal connecting device 100. Therefore, the side bulkhead pair 16 itself is thin. If the thickness of the side bulkhead pair 16 in the longitudinal direction V were increased, the mechanical strength would increase, but the distance between adjacent wiring screw pairs 22 would increase, making the terminal block 10 longer than necessary in the longitudinal direction V. The side bulkhead pair 16 actually used has a thin shape in the longitudinal direction V, and may be damaged if a force is applied to the side bulkhead pair 16 in the longitudinal direction V. Furthermore, the side bulkhead pair 16 may also be damaged if a torsional force is applied to the side bulkhead pair 16. In the pair of side partition walls 16, the ends on one side or the other of the pair of side partition walls 16, which are near the upper end 19 of one side partition wall or the upper end 21 of the other side partition wall, or which are far from the central partition wall 14, are more susceptible to damage than the position near the screw base 23.

[0020] 2. Description of the terminal connecting device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention Fig. 3 is a plan view of a terminal connecting device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the terminal connecting device 100 shown in Fig. 3. The bottom view of Fig. 4 shows a state in which one side and the other side are reversed with respect to the plan view of Fig. 3, that is, a state in which Fig. 3 is rotated half a turn about the longitudinal direction V.

[0021] In these figures, the terminal connection device 100 includes a connection device main body 110, multiple screw connection terminal portions 120, a bent portion 113, and two external connection terminals 140 arranged on both sides of the connection device main body 110 in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the connection device main body 110 is provided with a first fixing device 200, a second fixing device 201, and a third fixing device 202 for fixing the terminal connection device 100 to the terminal block 10. These are merely examples, and the number of fixing devices may be two (first fixing device 200 and second fixing device 201), or a third fixing device 202 may be provided as in this embodiment, or even more fixing devices may be provided. The important thing is that there are at least two fixing devices. The fixing devices indicated as first fixing device 200, second fixing device 201, and third fixing device 202 will be described below using Figures 7 and 8, but in this embodiment, these fixing devices have the same structure and shape.

[0022] FIG. 5 shows the terminal connection device 100 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 secured to the terminal block 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 5. The connection device main body 110 of the terminal connection device 100, the numerous screw connection terminals 120 and the numerous external connection terminals 140 arranged along the longitudinal direction V of the terminal block 10, and the bent portion 113 are integrally formed from a single metal plate. The metal plate is conductive, and the wiring screw pairs 22 electrically connected by the numerous screw connection terminals 120 are at the same potential. Furthermore, when a voltage is applied to the external connection terminals 140 provided on the connection device main body 110, the same voltage is applied to the wiring screw pairs 22 electrically connected by the numerous screw connection terminals 120.

[0023] The connection device main body 110 of the terminal connection device 100 is elongated and extends in the longitudinal direction V of the terminal block 10, and a large number of screw connection terminal portions 120 are provided in the longitudinal direction V at positions corresponding to the one-side wiring screws 25 or the other-side wiring screws 29 that constitute the wiring screw pair 22. In this embodiment, as an example, they are provided so as to correspond to the other-side wiring screws 29 of each wiring screw pair 22. Figure 6 shows the shape of the screw connection terminal portions 120 and also shows the state in which the screw connection terminal portions 120 are connected to the corresponding other-side wiring screws 29.

[0024] The screw connection terminal portion 120 is required to fit between adjacent pairs of side partition walls 16 and contact the other-side wiring screw 29, and therefore has a narrow width in the longitudinal direction V. In this embodiment, the one-side clip 213 and the other-side clip 214 of the first fixing device 200, the second fixing device 201, and the third fixing device 202 are fitted into the corresponding pairs of side partition walls 16, thereby fixing the terminal connection device 100 to the terminal block 10. Therefore, the screw connection terminal portion 120 is not the only member that fits between adjacent pairs of side partition walls 16. When the other-side clip 214 of the first fixing device 200, the second fixing device 201, and the third fixing device 202 are fitted into the corresponding pairs of side partition walls 16, not only the corresponding screw connection terminal portion 120 but also one of the clips constituting the other-side clip 214 fits between adjacent pairs of side partition walls 16. Therefore, when the terminal connection device 100 to which the present invention is applied is fixed to the terminal block 10, the screw connection terminal portion 120 and the clip tip portion 216 or clip tip 217 constituting the other side clip 214 will be inserted between the adjacent upper partition wall pairs 16, and the screw connection terminal portion 120 is required to be even narrower in width than the elastic contact piece 3 described in Patent Document 1.

[0025] As will be described below, the connection device main body 110 of the terminal connection device 100 is provided with a first fixing device 200, a second fixing device 201, and a third fixing device 202, and the first fixing device 200, the second fixing device 201, and the third fixing device 202 each have a clip pair 212 including a one-side clip 213 and an other-side clip 214. Furthermore, the one-side clip 213 and the other-side clip 214 each have a one-side clip groove 222 and an other-side clip groove 223, and the one-side partition wall 18 and the other-side partition wall 20 of the corresponding side partition wall pair 16 fit into the one-side clip groove 222 and the other-side clip groove 223. In this way, the first fixing device 200, the second fixing device 201, and the third fixing device 202 are fixed to the corresponding side partition wall pair 16, respectively, and the terminal connection device 100 is fixed to the terminal block 10.

[0026] As described above, it is important that the thickness of the side partition wall pair 16 in the longitudinal direction V is thin and that no force is applied in the longitudinal direction V. If the positional relationship between the one-side clip 213 and the other-side clip 214 of the first fixing device 200, the second fixing device 201, and the third fixing device 202 changes even slightly, a force in the longitudinal direction V will be applied to the side partition wall pair 16. For this reason, the metal plate that constitutes the connection device main body 110 must be designed not to warp or deform. A bent portion 113 is formed on the side opposite to the side on which the screw connection terminal portion 120 of the connection device main body 110 is formed. 6, this bent portion 113 covers one-side partition wall upper end 19 of one-side partition wall 18 of side partition wall pair 16 on one side of connection device main body 110, i.e., the side opposite the side on which screw connection terminal portion 120 is provided, and further extends along one side edge of one-side partition wall 18 toward the side edge of one-side wiring screw base 24 to the vicinity of one-side wiring 26. By providing bent portion 113 that bends from connection device main body top surface 114 of connection device main body 110 at connection device main body side end 112 and extends perpendicular to connection device main body top surface 114 in this way, deformation such as warping in connection device main body 110 made of a metal plate can be suppressed.

[0027] In order to improve the effect of suppressing deformation of the connection device main body 110, it is preferable to increase the ratio of the length of the bending portion 113 along the longitudinal direction V to the length of the connection device main body 110 along the longitudinal direction V. It is also preferable to position the bending portion 113 near the center of the connection device main body 110 in the longitudinal direction V. Using FIG. 3 as an example, the length L11 of the bending portion 113 along the longitudinal direction V is longer than half the length L10 of the connection device main body 110 along the longitudinal direction V. In addition, the bending portion 113 is located approximately in the center of the length range of the connection device main body 110 along the longitudinal direction V. Therefore, the bending portion 113 has a significant suppressing effect against deformation of the connection device main body 110.

[0028] 3. Description of the state in which the terminal connection device 100 is fixed to the terminal block 10 FIG. 5 shows the terminal connection device 100 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 attached to the terminal block 10. A cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 taken along the line B-B is shown in FIG. 6. In these figures, a first fixing device 200, a second fixing device 201, and a third fixing device 202 are fixed to the connection device body 110 of the terminal connection device 100. The first fixing device 200, the second fixing device 201, and the third fixing device 202 can be fixed to the connection device body 110 by any suitable method, such as screw fastening or adhesive. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the distance between the first fixing device 200 and the third fixing device 202 is long, so the third fixing device 202 is used, resulting in three fixing devices. When actually using the terminal connection device 100, it is important to provide at least two fixing devices. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the first fixing device 200 and the second fixing device 201 are sufficient. To further strengthen the fixing force, it is advisable to increase the number of fixing devices, such as by providing a third fixing device 202.

[0029] 4. Description of the first fixing device 200, the second fixing device 201, and the third fixing device 202 The first fastening device 200, second fastening device 201, and third fastening device 202 have the same shape and configuration, and are shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the first fastening device 200, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along CC in FIG. 7. The first fastening device 200 will be described as a representative of the first fastening device 200, second fastening device 201, and third fastening device 202. The second fastening device 201 and third fastening device 202 have the same functions and effects. The first fastening device 200 has a one-side clip 213 and an other-side clip 214 that fit correspondingly to the one-side partition wall 18 and the other-side partition wall 20, respectively, provided on both sides of the central partition wall 14. The one-side clip 213 and the other-side clip 214 have a one-side clip groove 222 and an other-side clip groove 223 that are elongated in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction V.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 1, the pair of side partition walls 16 provided on the terminal block 10 has a first partition wall 18 on one side of the central partition wall 14 and a second partition wall 20 on the other side. When the terminal connecting device 100 is fixed to the terminal block 10 as shown in Fig. 5, the first fixing device 200, the second fixing device 201, and the third fixing device 202 fixed to the connecting device main body 110 have a first clip 213 and a second clip 214, respectively. As shown in Fig. 7, there is a gap between the first clip 213 and the second clip 214. When the terminal connecting device 100 is fixed to the terminal block 10, the central partition wall 14 fits into this gap as shown in Fig. 5. The one-side clip 213 and the other-side clip 214 provided on the first fixing device 200 are provided at positions corresponding to the one-side partition 18 and the other-side partition 20 located on both sides of the central partition 14, and the one-side clip groove 222 of the one-side clip 213 and the other-side clip groove 223 of the other-side clip 214 have a shape that extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction V of the terminal block 10, and both ends of the one-side clip groove 222 and the other-side clip groove 223 each have a shape that is open in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction V.

[0031] 5. Effect of suppressing force applied to the pair of side bulkheads 16 The connection device main body 110 of the terminal connection device 100 is provided with a first fixing device 200 and a second fixing device 201. As described above, the first fixing device 200 and the second fixing device 201 have one-side clips 213 and other-side clips 214. The first fixing device 200 and the second fixing device 201 are provided with a predetermined number of wiring screw pairs 22 and side partition wall pairs 16 between them, and are attached to the connection device main body 110 in a positional relationship spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other.

[0032] The first fixing device 200 and the second fixing device 201 have one-side clips 213 and other-side clips 214 that fit into the one-side partition wall 18 and the other-side partition wall 20, respectively, that are provided on both sides of the central partition wall 14 in the terminal block 10, thereby fixing the terminal connecting device 100 to the terminal block 10. With this structure, the first fixing device 200 itself is unlikely to generate force in the longitudinal direction V against the corresponding pair of side partition walls 16. However, the terminal connecting device 100 itself has an elongated shape in the longitudinal direction V. For this reason, the second fixing device 201 is provided on the connecting device main body 110 at a position spaced a predetermined distance from the position of the first fixing device 200. If only the first fixing device 200 were provided, without the second fixing device 201 or the third fixing device 202, when a force having a component perpendicular to the longitudinal direction V were applied, even if the force was small, a large force would act on one partition wall 18 or the other partition wall 20 of the side partition wall pair 16 due to the principle of leverage. This could result in damage to the side partition wall pair 16. However, if the second fixing device 201 or the third fixing device 202 is provided in addition to the first fixing device 200, the amplification of the force due to the principle of leverage can be suppressed. Therefore, in this embodiment, by providing at least two fixing devices, the first fixing device 200 and the second fixing device 201, it is possible to suppress the application of torsional forces to the mating side partition wall pair 16.

[0033] As described above, in an embodiment to which the present invention is applied, the second fastening device 201 is provided at a position distant from the first fastening device 200. The second fastening device 201 has basically the same structure as the first fastening device 200 and provides the same functions and effects. That is, the one-side clip 213 and the other-side clip 214 of the second fastening device 201 have a space between them for the central partition wall 14 to fit in. In this manner, the one-side clip 213 and the other-side clip 214 are provided at a predetermined distance apart in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction V, in a positional relationship that utilizes the space for the central partition wall 14. This structure prevents the first fastening device 200 and the second fastening device 201 from moving in a direction deviating from the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction V of the central partition wall 14 or from moving in a twisting direction. Therefore, torsional forces and the like are prevented from being applied to the pair of side partition walls 16 used for fastening, thereby reducing the possibility of damaging the pair of side partition walls 16.

[0034] As described above, the one-side clip groove 222 and the other-side clip groove 223 provided on the one-side clip 213 and the other-side clip 214 of the first fixing device 200 and the second fixing device 201 are elongated in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction V, and both ends of the one-side clip groove 222 and the other-side clip groove 223 are open. Therefore, as long as they are aligned along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction V, they can tilt, for example, rotate slightly around the longitudinal direction V. This structure allows tilting within a predetermined range when fixing the terminal connecting device 100 to the terminal block 10 or removing the terminal connecting device 100 from the terminal block 10, improving workability. Furthermore, because movement in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction V is possible, movement in other directions is suppressed. Note that in FIG. 5, the third fixing device 202 also functions similarly to the first fixing device 200 and the second fixing device 201.

[0035] When the connection device main body 110 is long, as described above, the bent portion 113 is provided to prevent warping of the connection device main body 110. In addition to this, by providing the third fixing device 202 between the first fixing device 200 and the second fixing device 201, the state of the terminal connection device 100 held by the terminal block 10 can be stabilized. Furthermore, this also has the effect of maintaining a good state of electrical connection between each screw connection terminal portion 120 of the connection device main body 110 and the corresponding screw.

[0036] 6. Protection of the upper end 19 of one bulkhead and the other bulkhead 20 of the pair of side bulkheads 16 The first clip 213 and the second clip 214 of the first fixing device 200, the second fixing device 201, and the third fixing device 202 of the connection device main body 110 of the terminal connection device 100 are fitted into the corresponding one-side partition wall 18 and the other-side partition wall 20 of the side partition wall pair 16, thereby fixing the terminal connection device 100 to the terminal block 10. As described above, the side partition wall pair 16 is thin and has low mechanical strength. However, the portions near the base of the side partition wall pair 16 are connected to the one-side wiring screw base 24 and the other-side wiring screw base 28, and this structure makes the mechanical strength higher than that of other portions. However, the top end 19 of the one-side partition wall and the top end 21 of the other-side partition wall of the side partition wall pair 16 are not reinforced and have low mechanical strength. For this reason, the top end 19 of the one-side partition wall and the top end 21 of the other-side partition wall shown in FIG. 6 are particularly susceptible to breakage. A solution for preventing damage to the upper end 19 of the bulkhead on one side and the upper end 21 of the bulkhead on the other side will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG.

[0037] The one-side clip 213 and the other-side clip 214 of the first fastening device 200, the second fastening device 201, and the third fastening device 202 are substantially the same in terms of the state of engagement with the one-side partition wall 18 and the other-side partition wall 20 of the corresponding side partition wall pair 16, the configuration for achieving this, and the effect of preventing damage to the side partition wall pair 16. Therefore, we will avoid describing these separately, and will instead describe the one-side clip 213 of the third fastening device 202 and the corresponding one-side partition wall 18 as representatives, and then explain the above-mentioned state of engagement and the effect of preventing damage. Note that Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along CC in Fig. 7, and Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along DD in Fig. 5.

[0038] 9, a fixing device base 210 of a third fixing device 202 is fixed to a connection device main body 110 of a terminal connecting device 100, and a one-side clip 213 is fixed to the fixing device base 210. One-side partition walls 18 of a pair of side partition walls 16 that are arranged at equal intervals are fixed to a one-side wiring screw base 24 and a terminal block base 12. One-side wiring screws 25 are provided between adjacent one-side partition walls 18. When the terminal connecting device 100 is fixed to the terminal block 10, one-side partition wall 18 corresponding to one-side clip 213 of one-side partition walls 18 shown in FIG. 9 fits into one-side clip groove 222 of one-side clip 213 fixed to the fixing device base 210, and the one-side clip groove 222 and the corresponding one-side partition wall 18 are fitted together.

[0039] The one-side clip 213 has a clip base 211, which is provided with a one-side clip piece 225 and an other-side clip piece 226. The one-side clip piece 225 and the other-side clip piece 226 form a one-side clip groove 222. As shown in Fig. 7, the one-side clip groove 222 extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction V of the central partition wall 14, and both ends are open. One-side partition wall 18 of the pair of side partition walls 16 is inserted into this one-side clip groove 222, and the one-side partition wall 18 and the one-side clip groove 222 are fitted together.

[0040] The shapes of the one-side clip piece 225 and the other-side clip piece 226 for forming the one-side clip groove 222, and the shape of the formed one-side clip groove 222 will be described in detail with reference to Figure 8. The one-side clip piece 225 and the other-side clip piece 226 for forming the one-side clip groove 222 are provided in the center of the clip base 211. The one-side clip groove 222 has a length L1 from the clip base 211 to the clip tip 217, and the width of the one-side clip groove 222, which is the length of the one-side clip groove 222 in the longitudinal direction V, is length L2 over a range longer than half of length L1 from the clip base 211. This length L2 is wider than the thickness L18 of the side partition wall pair 16 in the longitudinal direction V, as shown in Figure 9. 9, the structure is such that no force is applied from the one-side clip piece 225 or the other-side clip piece 226 to the one-side partition wall 18 of the pair of side partition walls 16 within a range of at least half the length L1 from the clip base 211. In this specification, this is referred to as a non-pressure portion 228. As described above, this structure is the same in the one-side clip 213 and the other-side clip 214 provided in the first fastening device 200, the second fastening device 201, and the third fastening device 202, and each has a non-pressure portion 228 on the base side of each groove, i.e., the side of the clip base 211. As described above, the effects described below are also substantially the same in the grooves and the one-side clip groove 222 and the other-side clip groove 223 provided in the first fastening device 200, the second fastening device 201, and the third fastening device 202.

[0041] In the one-side clip groove 222, the width in the longitudinal direction V of the one-side clip groove 222 abruptly narrows to a width L3 in a portion located further toward the clip tip 217 from the range of length L5. Width L3 is slightly narrower than the thickness L18 of the pair of side partition walls 16 in the longitudinal direction V. This range of thickness L3 continues for a short distance, as indicated by length L6. The portion of length L6 shown in FIG. 8 is the portion where the thickness of the one-side clip groove 222 is slightly narrower than the thickness L18 of the pair of side partition walls 16 in the longitudinal direction V. As shown in FIG. 9, the portion of length L6 of the one-side clip groove 222 is the portion that sandwiches the one-side partition wall 18 from both sides, and is referred to herein as the fitting portion 230. After the portion of length L6, the width of the one-side clip groove 222 in the longitudinal direction V gradually expands from this portion toward the clip tip 217 within the range of the clip tip portion 216 shown in FIG. 8. Therefore, when the one-side partition wall 18 of the pair of side partition walls 16 is inserted into the one-side clip groove 222 and the terminal connecting device 100 is fixed to the terminal block 10, the one-side clip piece 225 and the other-side clip piece 226 are slightly spread apart by the one-side partition wall 18 of the pair of side partition walls 16 in the portion of the one-side clip groove 222 with length L6 shown in Fig. 8. The clip base 211, the one-side clip piece 225, and the other-side clip piece 226 are formed of resin and are elastic. Therefore, even if the one-side clip piece 225 and the other-side clip piece 226 are slightly spread apart in the portion of the one-side clip groove 222 with length L6, the deformation of the one-side clip piece 225 and the other-side clip piece 226 absorbs the change in shape, and pressure is applied from both sides to the inserted one-side partition wall 18, thereby fixing the one-side partition wall 18.

[0042] In the process of fastening the terminal connecting device 100 to the terminal block 10, the one-side bulkhead upper end 19 of the one-side bulkhead 18 of the pair of side bulkheads 16 corresponding to the one-side clip groove 222 is guided into the one-side clip groove 222 from the clip tip 217 shown in FIG. 8. The width of the one-side clip groove 222 gradually narrows at the clip tip 216. In FIG. 5, in all of the one-side clips 213 and other-side clips 214 of the first fastening device 200, the second fastening device 201, and the third fastening device 202, the width of the one-side clip groove 222 or the other-side clip groove 223 in the longitudinal direction V narrows relative to the one-side bulkhead upper end 19 or the other-side bulkhead upper end 21 of the corresponding pair of side bulkheads 16, thereby determining the positional relationship between the terminal connecting device 100 and the terminal block 10.

[0043] Since the terminal connecting device 100 has at least two fixing devices, the first fixing device 200 and the second fixing device 201, the positional relationship between the terminal connecting device 100 and the terminal block 10 is determined by at least the one-side clip 213 and the other-side clip 214 of the first fixing device 200 and the one-side clip 213 and the other-side clip 214 of the second fixing device 201, and therefore, the application of a force having a component in the longitudinal direction V to the pair of side partition walls 16 that contribute to fixing is suppressed. This suppresses damage to the pair of side partition walls 16 that contribute to fixing.

[0044] Once the upper ends 19 and 21 of the side bulkheads 16, which contribute to the fastening, pass the region of length L6 in FIG. 8, they enter a region of length L2, where the length of the clip groove 222 in the longitudinal direction V is greater than the thickness L18 of the side bulkheads 16. Therefore, no force is applied to the upper ends 19 and 21 of the side bulkheads, which have low mechanical strength. This structure prevents damage to the side bulkheads 16. The contact area between the clip groove 222 and the side bulkheads 16 is near the base of the side bulkheads 16, and this portion near the base is where the side bulkheads 16 are reinforced by the wiring screw base 24 and the terminal block base 12. Therefore, the side bulkheads 16 are less likely to be damaged. Of course, as mentioned above, since two or more fixing devices are used, such as the first fixing device 200 and the second fixing device 201, it is important to have a structure that makes it difficult for force to be applied to the side partition wall pair 16 in the longitudinal direction V.

[0045] 8 and 9, the clip root portion 215 has a curved end on the clip base portion 211 side of the one-side clip groove 222. This prevents stress concentration at the clip root portion 215, even if the one-side clip piece 225 or the other-side clip piece 226 deforms slightly in a widening direction at the fitting portion 230. This effectively prevents damage. Furthermore, the one-side clip piece 225 and the other-side clip piece 226 gradually increase in thickness from the clip tip 217 on their outer surfaces opposite the one-side clip groove 222, and furthermore, the clip root portion 215 has a curved shape that is integrated with the clip base portion 211. These shapes also effectively prevent stress concentration and prevent damage. The same applies to the connecting portion between the non-pressurized portion 228 of the one-side clip groove 222 and the fitting portion 230, which is connected via a curved surface to avoid corners. This has the effect of preventing damage to the one-side clip piece 225 and the other-side clip piece 226 even under conditions where the gap between the one-side wiring screw 25 and the one-side partition wall 18 is extremely small, as shown in Figure 9, i.e., the one-side clip piece 225 and the other-side clip piece 226 cannot be made thick.

[0046] 7. Description of Other Embodiments Another embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 10 to 13. In the above-described embodiment, the connection device body 110 is made of a conductive metal plate. However, depending on the application, it may be necessary to configure the connection device body 110 from an insulating plate. In this embodiment, instead of using a metal connection device body 110, a resin connection device body 111 manufactured by molding a resin material with insulating properties is used to ensure that the screw connection terminal portion 120 for connecting to the wiring screw pair 22 provided on the terminal block 10 is insulated from other screw connection terminal portions 120 for connecting to other wiring screw pairs 22. The connection device body 110 and the resin connection device body 111 are substantially identical in terms of, for example, function and effect, except for the electrical insulation. Note that in this specification, the term "molding" is used to include all methods, such as manufacturing using a mold, manufacturing by cutting, and even manufacturing using a 3D printer.

[0047] 10 is a plan view, and FIG. 11 is a bottom view. However, FIG. 11 shows the terminal connecting device 100 shown in FIG. 10 rotated about its longitudinal direction V. Therefore, the configurations shown on the left and right sides of FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are reversed. In these figures, the first fixing device 200, the second fixing device 201, and the third fixing device 202 have the same structure, action, and effect as previously described. The configurations and action and effect of the first fixing device 200, the second fixing device 201, and the third fixing device 202 are very important, but since they have already been described, a detailed description will be omitted here.

[0048] The resin connecting device body 111 of the terminal connecting device 100 has an elongated shape along the longitudinal direction V, and a first fixing device 200, a second fixing device 201, and a third fixing device 202 are fixed to it. As in the previous embodiment, the first fixing device 200 and the second fixing device 201 are provided at both ends or positions close to both ends in the longitudinal direction V of the connecting device body 110. This arrangement makes it possible to suppress the generation of a force in a twisting direction with respect to the longitudinal direction V on the connecting device body 110, as described in the previous embodiment. As in the previous embodiment, the third fixing device 202 is provided between the first fixing device 200 and the second fixing device 201. The configuration and effects thereof are as described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9.

[0049] The resin connection device body 111 is provided with a screw connection terminal portion 120 at a position corresponding to the wiring screw pair 22 of the terminal block 10. FIG. 12 shows the state of the screw connection terminal portion 120 before the terminal connection device 100 is fixed to the terminal block 10. The resin connection device body 111 is provided with a hole 116 for fixing the screw connection terminal portion 120, and a fixing tube 134 for fixing the screw connection terminal portion 120 is inserted into this hole 116 and fixed to the resin connection device body 111 with a nut 128. A moving shaft 124 having a contact end 122 for connecting to, for example, the other wiring screw 29 of the wiring screw pair 22 is provided inside the fixing tube 134 and fixed with the nut 128. The moving shaft 124 passes through the fixing tube 134, and a spring 130 biases the contact end 122 in a direction away from the connection device body 110. The spring 130 biases the moving shaft 124 that penetrates the inside of the fixed tube 134, causing the contact end 122 to move in a direction away from the plastic connection device main body 111. The movement of the moving shaft 124 is stopped when a stopper 125 provided on the moving shaft 124 comes into contact with the end of the fixed tube 134. With the movement of the moving shaft 124 stopped, the contact end 122 is held. The maximum length of the contact end 122 from the plastic connection device main body 111 can be set by adjusting the position of the stopper 125 provided on the moving shaft 124.

[0050] FIG. 12 shows the state of the screw connection terminal portion 120 before the terminal connection device 100 is fixed to the terminal block 10. In this configuration, the hole 116 is provided on the one-side clip 213, and the contact end 122 provided at the tip of the moving shaft 124 is electrically connected to the other-side wiring screw 29 of the wiring screw pair 22, as described below. In a configuration in which the contact end 122 provided at the tip of the moving shaft 124 is electrically connected to the one-side wiring screw 25 of the wiring screw pair 22, the hole 116 is provided on the one-side clip 213. Other configurations and effects are the same whether the connection device main body side end portion 112 is connected to the other-side wiring screw 29 or the one-side wiring screw 25. As a representative of these configurations, a configuration in which the hole 116 is received on the other-side wiring screw 29, as shown in FIG. 12, will be described.

[0051] 12, in which the contact end 122 provided at the tip of the moving shaft 124 is connected to the other-side wiring screw 29 of the wiring screw pair 22, before the terminal connecting device 100 is fixed to the terminal block 10, the contact end 122 provided at the tip of the moving shaft 124 is maintained in a position slightly protruding from the one-side clip 213. When fixing the terminal connecting device 100 to the terminal block 10, when the contact end 122 is to be electrically connected to a predetermined screw, for example, the other-side wiring screw 29 of the predetermined wiring screw pair 22, the positional relationship between the terminal connecting device 100 and the terminal block 10 is manually adjusted so that the contact end 122 is in correct contact with the other-side wiring screw 29, and then the terminal connecting device 100 is fixed to the terminal block 10. In a configuration in which the contact ends 122 protrude significantly beyond the tip of the one-side clip 213, the protruding contact ends 122 present various obstacles to the fixing operation when the terminal connecting device 100 is fixed to the terminal block 10. Normally, a large number of contact ends 122 are connected to the other-side wiring screws 29 of the corresponding wiring screw pairs 22, and therefore each of the largely protruding contact ends 122 is brought into contact with the corresponding other-side wiring screws 29, and each contact end 122 is moved toward the resin connecting device body 111 against the spring pressure of each spring 130, which makes the terminal connecting device 100 prone to wobble. This wobble applies a longitudinal force to the side bulkhead pairs 16 used for fixing, which may damage the side bulkhead pairs 16.

[0052] If the contact end 122 is positioned closer to the resin connecting device body 111 than the tip of the other-side clip 214 before the terminal connecting device 100 is fixed to the terminal block 10, it becomes difficult to increase the change in length of the spring 130 between the state before the contact end 122 is connected to the corresponding other-side wiring screw 29 and the state after the contact end 122 is connected to the corresponding other-side wiring screw 29. As a result, the force with which the contact end 122 contacts the corresponding other-side wiring screw 29 and presses the other-side wiring screw 29 becomes smaller when the terminal connecting device 100 is fixed to the terminal block 10. To maintain a sufficient electrical connection, it is desirable for the contact end 122 to press the other-side wiring screw 29 with a pressure equal to or greater than a predetermined pressure. However, if the change in the spring 130 is small, it becomes difficult to maintain the pressing force within a stable range.

[0053] Before terminal connecting device 100 is fixed to terminal block 10, contact end 122 protrudes slightly from one-side clip 213 or other-side clip 214, and when terminal connecting device 100 is fixed to terminal block 10, spring 130 is compressed by other-side wiring screw 29, and contact end 122 is positioned closer to resin connecting device body 111 than the tip of one-side clip 213 or other-side clip 214. This configuration allows the amount of change in length of spring 130 to be an appropriate value, and an appropriate pressing force to be obtained in the connected state. For example, it is desirable that the amount of protrusion of contact end 122 from the tip of one-side clip 213 or other-side clip 214 before terminal connecting device 100 is fixed to terminal block 10 be approximately several millimeters. Since there are often many contact ends 122 that are electrically connected to the corresponding other-side wiring screws 29, the contact ends 122 protrude slightly from the tips of the one-side clips 213 and the other-side clips 214 before the terminal connecting device 100 is fixed to the terminal block 10, and after the one-side terminal connecting device 100 is fixed to the terminal block 10, the contact ends 122 are configured to be positioned closer to the resin connecting device main body 111 than the tips of the one-side clips 213 and the other-side clips 214.This makes it easier to detect any abnormality that may occur in the contact ends 122, springs 130, etc.

[0054] When removing the terminal connecting device 100 fixed to the terminal block 10, if the contact end 122 protrudes too far, it will interfere with the work. A configuration in which it protrudes only slightly from the one-side clip 213 and the other-side clip 214 will not interfere with the work. The external lead wire 142 shown in FIG. 13 is an external lead wire 142 for measurement, inspection, etc. Various reference symbols are used in FIGS. 12 and 13. The components indicated by these reference symbols have already been described in the previous embodiment. Components with the same reference symbols perform the same functions and achieve the same effects. Therefore, the functions, effects, and advantages of the components with these reference symbols are the same as those described in the previous embodiment. Therefore, their description in this embodiment will be omitted. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, multiple screw connection terminals 120 are provided. The screw connection terminals 120 have the same configuration as those described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, respectively, and achieve the above-mentioned effects.

[0055] 8. Features and effects of the above two embodiments The features of the above-mentioned two embodiments will be described, and furthermore, the effects based on each feature will be described for each feature with reference to the configuration of the embodiment.

[0056] [Terminal connection device having the first feature] The terminal connection device 100 having the first feature is a terminal connection device 100 fixed to a terminal block 10, The terminal block 10 includes a long central bulkhead 14, a pair of side bulkheads 16 and a pair of wiring screws 22 arranged alternately along the longitudinal direction of the central bulkhead 14. The pair of side partition walls 16 includes a first partition wall 18 arranged on one side of the central partition wall 14 and a second partition wall 20 arranged on the other side of the central partition wall 14 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the central partition wall 14, with the central partition wall 14 in between, the wiring screw pair 22 includes a first wiring screw 25 arranged on one side of the central partition wall 14 and a second wiring screw 29 arranged on the other side of the central partition wall 14 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the central partition wall 14, with the central partition wall 14 in between; The terminal connecting device 100 comprises a connecting device main body 110 having an elongated shape along the longitudinal direction of the central bulkhead 14 of the terminal block 10, a screw connecting terminal portion 120 for electrically connecting with one side wiring screw 25 or the other side wiring screw 29 of at least one wiring screw pair 22 of the terminal block 10, and a first fixing device 200 and a second fixing device 201 for fixing the terminal connecting device 100 to the terminal block 10; The first fixing device 200 and the second fixing device 201 are provided at positions corresponding to the first and second side partition wall pairs 16 among the side partition wall pairs 16 arranged in the longitudinal direction of the terminal block 10, respectively, and a predetermined number of side partition wall pairs 16 are provided between the first side partition wall pair 16 corresponding to the first fixing device 200 and the second side partition wall pair 16 corresponding to the second fixing device 201, The first fastening device 200 has a first pair of clips 212 for mating with a corresponding first pair of side bulkheads 16; The first clip pair 212 includes a first one-side clip 213 having a first one-side clip groove 222 for fitting into one-side partition wall 18 of the corresponding first-side partition wall pair 16, and a first other-side clip 214 having a first other-side clip groove 223 for fitting into the other-side partition wall 20 of the corresponding first-side partition wall pair 16, The second fastening device 201 has a second pair of clips 212 for engaging with a corresponding pair of second side partition walls 16; The second clip pair 212 includes a second one-side clip 213 having a second one-side clip groove 222 for fitting into one-side partition wall 18 of the corresponding second-side partition wall pair 16, and a second other-side clip 214 having a second other-side clip groove 223 for fitting into the other-side partition wall 20 of the corresponding second-side partition wall pair 16. It is characterized by:

[0057] [Operational effects of the terminal connecting device 100 having the first feature] The terminal block 10 includes pairs of wiring screws 22 and pairs of side bulkheads 16 arranged alternately along the longitudinal direction V. The main purpose of the pairs of side bulkheads 16 is to provide electrical insulation between the pairs of wiring screws 22 arranged along the longitudinal direction V. Almost all commercially available terminal blocks 10 include these pairs of side bulkheads 16, and by using these pairs of side bulkheads 16 to fasten the terminal connection device 100 to the terminal block 10, it is possible to provide a terminal connection device 100 that can be widely used in many products. However, if the pair of side bulkheads 16 is to be used to fasten the terminal connection device 100 for a purpose other than its original purpose, it becomes necessary to solve an issue related to mechanical strength.

[0058] The pair of side bulkheads 16 provided on the terminal block 10 are thin in thickness in the longitudinal direction V of the terminal block 10. If the thickness of the pair of side bulkheads 16 in the longitudinal direction V were increased, the spacing between the pairs of wiring screws 22 provided along the longitudinal direction V of the terminal block 10 would have to be increased. This would result in a problem of increasing the length of the entire terminal block 10 in the longitudinal direction V. As described above, the main purpose of providing the pair of side bulkheads 16 is to provide electrical insulation. For this purpose, even if the pair of side bulkheads 16 has a thin shape, the original purpose can be sufficiently achieved.

[0059] To secure the terminal connecting device 100 to the terminal block 10, the terminal connecting device 100 includes a first fixing device 200 and a second fixing device 201, each equipped with a one-side clip 213 and an other-side clip 214 for clamping the pair of side bulkheads 16. However, as described above, the pair of side bulkheads 16 provided on the terminal block 10 are thin in the longitudinal direction V. Therefore, it is necessary to solve the problem of insufficient mechanical strength against forces applied to the pair of side bulkheads 16 in the longitudinal direction V. To achieve this, the terminal connecting device 100 must be structured to prevent forces from acting in the longitudinal direction V on the pair of side bulkheads 16 of the terminal block 10. It is also necessary to have a structure that prevents torsional forces from being applied to the pair of side bulkheads 16. It is important to configure the side bulkhead pair 16 so that longitudinal force V or torsional force is unlikely to act on it, not only when the terminal connection device 100 is fixed to the terminal block 10, but also during the process of fixing the terminal connection device 100 to the terminal block 10 or during the process of removing the terminal connection device 100 from the terminal block 10.

[0060] The terminal connecting device 100 having the first characteristic has a configuration that makes it difficult for a force in the longitudinal direction V or a torsional force to be generated on the one-side partition wall 18 and the other-side partition wall 20 that make up the side partition wall pair 16. In order to fix the terminal connecting device 100 to the terminal block 10, the connecting device main body 110 of the terminal connecting device 100 is provided with at least two fixing devices, a first fixing device 200 and a second fixing device 201, at positions spaced apart by a predetermined number of side partition wall pairs 16. Furthermore, the first fixing device 200 and the second fixing device 201 each have a one-side clip 213 and an other-side clip 214.

[0061] In a terminal connecting device 100 having the first characteristic, a first one-side clip 213 of a first fixing device 200 has a first one-side clip groove 222, and fits into one-side partition wall 18 of the first-side partition wall pair 16 at a position corresponding to the first one-side clip 213. A first other-side clip 214 having a first other-side clip groove 223 fits into the other-side partition wall 20 of the first-side partition wall pair 16. The one-side partition wall 18 of the first-side partition wall pair 16 and the other-side partition wall 20 of the first-side partition wall pair 16 are arranged with the central partition wall 14 in between, and a configuration is provided in which rotational movement of the first fixing device 200 is suppressed.

[0062] In addition, as described above, the second fixing device 201 is provided, and like the first fixing device 200, the second fixing device 201 also includes a second one-side clip 213 and a second other-side clip 214. The second one-side clip 213 and the second other-side clip 214 of the second fixing device 201 are fitted to the second one-side partition wall 18 and the second other-side partition wall 20 of the second side partition wall pair 16, respectively, which are located at corresponding positions. With this structure, the terminal connecting device 100 suppresses force acting in the longitudinal direction V on the fitted side partition wall pair 16. Furthermore, the first fixing device 200 and the second fixing device 201 are fixed at positions spaced apart from each other by a predetermined number of side partition wall pairs 16. Therefore, the terminal connecting device 100 is configured to be less likely to twist in the longitudinal direction V of the terminal block 10.

[0063] In particular, with the above configuration, when fixing the terminal connecting device 100 to the terminal block 10 or removing the terminal connecting device 100 from the terminal block 10, the first fixing device 200 and the second fixing device 201 prevent longitudinal forces from being applied to the side bulkhead pair 16. In addition, they also prevent rotational forces from being applied to the side bulkhead pair 16. As a result, the side bulkhead pair 16 of the terminal block 10 can be used to fix the terminal connecting device 100.

[0064] [Regarding the terminal connecting device 100 having the second feature] The terminal connection device 100 having the second feature is the terminal connection device 100 having the first feature, a first one-side clip groove 222 of a first one-side clip 213 of a first clip pair 212 of a first fastening device 200 and a first other-side clip groove 223 of a first other-side clip 214 of a first clip pair 212 of a first fastening device 200 each have an elongated shape extending along the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the central partition wall 14, and further, each of the first one-side clip groove 222 and the first other-side clip groove 223 has a shape that is open at both ends in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the central partition wall 14, the second one-side clip groove 222 of the second one-side clip 213 of the second clip pair 212 of the second fastening device 201 and the second other-side clip groove 223 of the second other-side clip 213 each have an elongated shape extending along the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the central partition wall 14, and both ends thereof are open in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the central partition wall 14; It is characterized by:

[0065] [Regarding the effects of the terminal connecting device 100 having the second feature] In the terminal block 10 to which the terminal connecting device 100 having the second feature is fixed, each of the pair of side partition walls 16 has a thin, wide shape in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the central partition wall 14. The first one-side clip groove 222 and the first other-side clip groove 223 of the first fixing device 200 and the second one-side clip groove 222 and the second other-side clip groove 223 of the second fixing device 201 fit into these thin, wide portions, thereby fixing the terminal connecting device 100 to the terminal block 10. The pair of side partition walls 16 of the terminal block 10 have a shape that is relatively strong against forces in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction V of the central partition wall 14. However, they have the drawback of having poor mechanical strength against forces in the longitudinal direction V of the central partition wall 14. Therefore, the terminal connecting device 100 is required to have a structure that makes it difficult for the terminal connecting device 100 to move in the longitudinal direction V of the central partition wall 14 when the terminal connecting device 100 is fixed or removed.

[0066] The first one-side clip groove 222 and the first other-side clip groove 223 of the first fastening device 200, and the second one-side clip groove 222 and the second other-side clip groove 223 of the second fastening device 201, each have an open end in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the central bulkhead 14. This shape facilitates rotation of the terminal connecting device 100 in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction V of the central bulkhead 14 during the process of fastening the terminal connecting device 100 having the second feature to the terminal block 10. As a result, movement in the longitudinal direction of the central bulkhead 14 is unlikely during the process of fastening the terminal connecting device 100 having the second feature to the terminal block 10. In other words, a structure that does not allow movement in any direction would easily result in movement in an unexpected direction. However, a structure that allows movement in one direction has the effect of easily suppressing movement in other directions. As a result, in the terminal connection device 100 having the second feature, the longitudinal force of the central partition wall 14 applied to the first side partition wall pair 16 and the second side partition wall pair 16 that hold the first fixing device 200 and the second fixing device 201 can be suppressed, thereby reducing the possibility of damage to the first side partition wall pair 16 and the second side partition wall pair 16 used for fixing.

[0067] [Regarding the terminal connecting device 100 having the third feature] The terminal connection device 100 having the third feature is the terminal connection device 100 having the second feature, The terminal block 10 to which the terminal connecting device 100 is fixed is provided with screw bases 24 and 28 at the bases of the one-side wiring screw 25 and the other-side wiring screw 29 in order to fix the one-side wiring screw 25 and the other-side wiring screw 29 that constitute the wiring screw pair 22, the first one-side clip groove 222 of the first one-side clip 213 of the first clip pair 212 of the first fixing device 200 and the first other-side clip groove 223 of the first other-side clip 213 are shaped to extend toward the screw bases 24 or 28 located on both sides of the first side bulkhead pair 16 of the terminal block 10 into which the first clip pair 212 is fitted, the second one-side clip groove 222 of the second one-side clip 213 of the second clip pair 212 of the second fixing device 201 and the second other-side clip groove 223 of the second other-side clip 214 are shaped to extend toward the screw bases 24 or 28 located on both sides of the second-side bulkhead pair 16 of the terminal block 10 into which the second clip pair 212 is fitted, The first one-side clip groove 222 and the first other-side clip groove 223 of the first clip pair 212, and the second one-side clip groove 222 and the second other-side clip groove 223 of the second clip pair 212 each have a non-pressurizing portion 228 having a width L2 that is wider in the longitudinal direction of the central partition wall 14 on the side closer to the connection device main body 110, which is the root side of the first one-side clip groove 222 and the first other-side clip groove 223, and on the side closer to the connection device main body 110, which is the root side of the second one-side clip groove 222 and the second other-side clip groove 223, The first one-side clip groove 222 and the first other-side clip groove 223 of the first clip pair 212, and the second one-side clip groove 222 and the second other-side clip groove 223 of the second clip pair 212 each have a fitting portion 230 having a width L3 narrower than the thickness L18 of the side partition wall pair 16, on the side farther from the connection device main body 110 than the non-pressurizing portion 228, It is characterized by:

[0068] [Operational effects of the terminal connecting device 100 having the third feature] Each pair of side partition walls 16 of the terminal block 10 has a shape in which its mechanical strength is reinforced by the one-side wiring screw base 24 and the other-side wiring screw base 28. In addition, since each is integrated with the central partition wall 14, its mechanical strength is reinforced by the central partition wall 14. However, the one-side partition wall upper end 19 of the one-side partition wall 18 and the other-side partition wall upper end 21 of the other-side partition wall 20 are located away from the one-side wiring screw base 24 and the other-side wiring screw base 28, and their mechanical strength is weak. In the terminal connecting device 100 having the third feature, the first one-side clip groove 222 and the first other-side clip groove 223 of the first clip pair 212 of the first fixing device 200, and the second one-side clip groove 222 and the second other-side clip groove 223 of the second clip pair 212 of the second fixing device 201, are positioned such that when the terminal connecting device 100 is fixed to the terminal block 10, the upper ends 19 and 21 of the one-side partition walls of the side partition wall pair 16 are located at the non-pressure portions 228 of the first one-side clip groove 222 and the first other-side clip groove 223 of the first clip pair 212 of the first fixing device 200. Therefore, the shape makes it difficult for the two to come into contact with each other. Even if they do come into contact, the shape is such that almost no force is applied. That is, in the above embodiment, a non-pressure-reducing portion 228 is formed, and this non-pressure-reducing portion 228 is shaped so that no force is applied to the upper end 19 of one bulkhead of the side bulkhead pair 16 or the upper end 21 of the other bulkhead of the side bulkhead pair 16 when the terminal connecting device 100 is fixed to the terminal block 10. The same applies to the one-side clip 213 and the other-side clip 214 of the second fixing device 201 and the third fixing device 202. Therefore, it is possible to prevent damage to the upper end 19 of one bulkhead of the side bulkhead pair 16 or the upper end 21 of the other bulkhead of the side bulkhead pair 16 of the terminal block 10, which are the weakest parts.

[0069] On the other hand, in the first fastening device 200, the second fastening device 201, and the third fastening device 202, the position at which the one-side clip 213 or the other-side clip 214 fits with the corresponding side partition wall pair 16 is closer to the tip end of the one-side clip groove 222 or the other-side clip groove 223 of the one-side clip 213 or the other-side clip 214 than the non-pressurized portion 228. In other words, it is closer to the one-side wiring screw base 24 or the other-side wiring screw base 28 of the corresponding side partition wall pair 16. The location at which force acts on the side partition wall pair 16 can be a location that avoids the one-side partition wall upper end 19 and the other-side partition wall upper end 21, which have weak mechanical strength as described above.

[0070] [Regarding the terminal connecting device 100 having the fourth feature] The terminal connection device 100 having the fourth feature is the terminal connection device 100 having the third feature, the first one-side clip groove 222 and the first other-side clip groove 223 of the first one-side clip 213 of the first clip pair 212 of the first fastening device 200, and the second one-side clip groove 222 and the second other-side clip groove 223 of the second one-side clip 213 of the second clip pair 212 of the second fastening device 201, each have a width at a tip of the groove wider than the width at the fitting portion 230, and the width of the groove gradually narrows from the tip of the groove toward the fitting portion 230 of the groove, It is characterized by:

[0071] [Operational effects of the terminal connecting device 100 having the fourth feature] As described above, the upper end 19 of the one-side bulkhead pair 16 and the upper end 21 of the other-side bulkhead pair 16 are weak in strength against the force in the longitudinal direction V of the terminal block 10. Therefore, when fixing the terminal connecting device 100 to the terminal block 10, it is desirable to prevent the force in the longitudinal direction V of the terminal block 10 from being applied to the upper end 19 of the one-side bulkhead pair 16 and the upper end 21 of the other-side bulkhead pair 16.

[0072] In the configuration having the fourth characteristic, after the first fixing device 200 of the terminal connecting device 100 and each of the one-side clips 213 and the other-side clips 214 of the first fixing device 200 are slightly inserted into the corresponding pair of side partition walls 16, a force is gradually applied to the upper end 19 of the one-side partition wall and the upper end 21 of the other-side partition wall. By applying force gradually, the positional relationship between the terminal connecting device 100 and the terminal block 10 in the longitudinal direction V is stably determined without being disturbed. Therefore, the configuration is such that a sudden large force is prevented from being applied to the upper end 19 of the one-side partition wall and the upper end 21 of the other-side partition wall in the longitudinal direction V of the terminal block 10.

[0073] 8, the first one-side clip groove 222 and the first other-side clip groove 223, the second one-side clip groove 222 and the second other-side clip groove 223 have wide distal ends, and as the upper ends 19 and 21 of the corresponding one-side partition walls of the pair of side partition walls 16 are inserted, their relative positions become accurate. This configuration makes it possible to prevent large longitudinal forces from being applied to the upper ends 19 and 21 of the corresponding one-side partition walls of the pair of side partition walls 16.

[0074] [Regarding the terminal connecting device 100 having the fifth feature] The terminal connection device 100 having the fifth feature is the terminal connection device 100 having the third feature, The first fixing device 200 and the second fixing device 201 are fixed to the connecting device main body 110 having an elongated shape in the longitudinal direction at positions spaced apart by the predetermined number of side partition wall pairs 16, The connection device body 110 is formed of an electrically conductive metal plate. a screw connection terminal portion 120 for connection to one of the connection screws of the wiring screw pair 22, which is present between the first fixing device 200 and the second fixing device 201, either one of the wiring screws 25 on one side or the wiring screw 29 on the other side, is provided on one side or the other of the connecting device main body 110; A bent portion 113 formed integrally with the connection device main body 110 is provided at a connection device main body side end 112, which is the side end of the connection device main body 110 opposite to the side where the screw connection terminal portion 120 is provided, The bent portion 113 is bent at the connection device main body side end portion 112 of the connection device main body 110 arranged in a position covering the top of the side partition wall pair 16, and extends toward the screw base 24 on which the wiring screw 25 is provided, which is located on the opposite side of the terminal block 10 from the side on which the screw connection terminal portion 120 is provided. It is characterized by:

[0075] [Regarding the effects of the terminal connecting device 100 having the fifth feature] When the connection device body 110 of the terminal connection device 100 is a metal plate, the connection device body 110 may warp or undergo other deformations over time or due to temperature changes. As described above, if the positional relationship between the one-side clip groove 222 and the other-side clip groove 223 of the first fastening device 200 and the second fastening device 201 provided on the connection device body 110 and the corresponding one-side partition wall 18 and the other-side partition wall 20 of the side partition wall pair 16 changes, a force in the longitudinal direction V or a twisting force may be applied to the one-side partition wall 18 and the other-side partition wall 20. If such a force is applied, as described above, there is a risk of damage to the side partition wall pair 16 used for fastening.

[0076] In terminal connection device 100 having the fifth feature, connection device body 110 made of a metal plate has bent portion 113 that is bent by a predetermined length along connection device body side end portion 112. This bent portion 113 prevents connection device body 110 from warping, twisting, or other deformation of itself. This prevents changes in the positional relationship between first fixing device 200 and second fixing device 201 provided on connection device body 110, thereby preventing the above-mentioned damage to side bulkhead pair 16 of terminal block 10.

[0077] [Regarding the terminal connecting device 100 having the sixth feature] The terminal connection device 100 having the sixth feature is the terminal connection device 100 having the third feature, The connection device body 110 is a resin connection device body 111 molded from insulating resin. A first fixing device 200 and a second fixing device 201 are provided on a resin connecting device body 111, separated by a predetermined number of side partition wall pairs 16, a screw connection terminal portion 120 is fixed to a resin connection device body 111 in order to electrically connect to a connection target screw, which is one of the one-side wiring screws 25 or the other-side wiring screws 29 of the connection target wiring screw pair 22, which is an electrical connection target among the wiring screw pair 22; The screw connection terminal portion 120 has a contact end 122 for electrically connecting to the connection target screw 22, a fixing tube 134 for movably fixing the contact end 122 to the resin connection device body 111, and a spring 130 that acts in a direction to move the contact end 122 away from the resin connection device body 111, When the terminal connecting device 100 is not fixed to the terminal block 10, the contact end 122 is located farther from the resin connecting device body 111 than the one-side clip 213 and the other-side clip 214 of the first fixing device 200 and the second fixing device 201 due to the action of the spring 130. Furthermore, when the terminal connecting device 100 is fixed to the terminal block 10, the contact end 122 comes into contact with the screw to be connected, causing the spring 130 to contract, and the contact end 122 is positioned closer to the resin connecting device main body 111 than the tips of the one-side clip 213 and the other-side clip 214 of the first fixing device 200 and the second fixing device 201. It is characterized by:

[0078] [Operational effects of the terminal connecting device 100 having the sixth feature] It is required that the screw connection terminal portion 120 of the first fixing device 200 or the second fixing device 201 be electrically connected reliably to the connection target screw. It is also desirable to facilitate the task of fixing the terminal connection device 100 to the terminal block 10 and to prevent misconnections when fixing the terminal connection device 100 to the terminal block 10. Therefore, before the terminal connection device 100 having the sixth feature is fixed to the terminal block 10, the contact end 122 of the screw connection terminal portion 120 protrudes outward from the tips of the one-side clip 213 and the other-side clip 214 of the first fixing device 200 or the second fixing device 201, i.e., far from the resin connection device body 111. This facilitates alignment of the contact end 122 with the connection target screw. Because the terminal block 10 fixing the terminal connection device 100 having this feature has low mechanical strength, it is desirable to avoid applying force to the terminal block 10 in an unnecessary direction as much as possible. Therefore, it is desirable that the positional relationship between contact end 122 of screw connection terminal portion 120 and the screw to be connected be easily understood. Furthermore, when terminal connection device 100 is fixed to terminal block 10, contact end 122 of screw connection terminal portion 120 comes into contact with the screw to be connected, compressing spring 130, and causing the tips of one-side clip 213 and other-side clip 214 to protrude beyond contact end 122 of screw connection terminal portion 120. As a result, contact end 122 of screw connection terminal portion 120 can be electrically connected to the screw to be connected in a good condition. Furthermore, it is possible to visually confirm that spring 130 and other components are operating normally, which leads to improved reliability.

[0079] As described above, the pair of side partition walls 16 has low mechanical strength, particularly at the upper ends 19 and 21 of the one-side partition wall, which are located far from the one-side wiring screw base 24 and the other-side wiring screw base 28 of the pair of side partition walls 16. The bases of the pair of side partition walls 16 are integrated with the one-side wiring screw base 24 and the other-side wiring screw base 28, for example, and have higher mechanical strength than other portions. Therefore, it is desirable that the one-side clip 213 and the other-side clip 214 of the first fastening device 200 and the second fastening device 201 extend as close to the wiring screw base 28 as possible. When the terminal connection device 100 having the sixth feature is fixed to the terminal block 10, the tip portions of the one-side clip 213 and the other-side clip 214 extend to the vicinity of the one-side wiring screw 25 and the other-side wiring screw 29, and the position at which the force applied to the one-side partition wall 18 and the other-side partition wall 20 acts can be positioned far from the upper end 19 of the one-side partition wall and the upper end 21 of the other-side partition wall, which have low mechanical strength.

[0080] If the contact end 122 is positioned closer to the resin connector body 111 than the tip of the other-side clip 214 before the terminal connector 100 is fixed to the terminal block 10, it becomes difficult to increase the change in length of the spring 130 between the state before the terminal connector 100 is fixed to the terminal block 10 and the state after the terminal connector 100 is fixed to the terminal block 10. As a result, the force with which the contact end 122 presses the corresponding other-side wiring screw 29 when the terminal connector 100 is fixed to the terminal block 10 becomes smaller. To maintain a sufficient electrical connection, it is desirable for the contact end 122 to press the other-side wiring screw 29 with a pressure equal to or greater than a predetermined pressure. However, if the change in the spring 130 is small, it becomes difficult to maintain the pressing force within a stable range. By making the contact end 122 protrude slightly from the one-side clip 213 or the other-side clip 214 before the terminal connection device 100 is fixed to the terminal block 10, the amount of change in length of the spring 130 can be increased, and the pressing force when the contact end 122 is connected to the other-side wiring screw 29 can be increased, resulting in a reliable and stable electrical connection. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 10 Terminal block, 12 Terminal block base, 14 Central partition wall, 16 Side partition wall pair, 18 One side partition wall, 19 One side partition wall top end, 20 Other side partition wall, 21 Other side partition wall top end, 22 Wiring screw pair, 23 Screw base, 24 One side wiring screw base, 25 One side wiring screw, 26 One side wiring, 2 7... Short-circuit metal plate, 28... Other side wiring screw base, 29... Other side wiring screw, 30... Other side wiring, 100... Terminal connection device, 110... Connection device main body, 111... Resin connection device main body, 112... Connection device main body side end, 113... Bent portion, 114... Connection device main body top surface, 116... Hole, 120... Screw connection terminal portion, 122...contact end, 124...moving axis, 126...holding device, 128...nut, 130...spring, 134...fixing tube, 140...external connection terminal, 142...external lead wire, 200...first fixing device, 208...mounting portion, 210...fixing device base, 211...clip base, 212...clip pair, 213...one side clip, 214...other side clip, 215...clip base portion, 216...clip tip portion, 217...clip tip, 220...clip groove, 222...one side clip groove, 223...other side clip groove, 225...one side clip piece, 226...other side clip piece.

Claims

1. A terminal connecting device fixed to a terminal block, The terminal block includes a long central partition wall, and pairs of side partition walls and pairs of wiring screws alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction of the central partition wall. The pair of side partition walls includes a first partition wall disposed on one side of the central partition wall and a second partition wall disposed on the other side of the central partition wall in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the central partition wall, with the central partition wall sandwiched therebetween. the pair of wiring screws includes a first wiring screw arranged on one side of the central partition wall and a second wiring screw arranged on the other side of the central partition wall in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the central partition wall, with the central partition wall in between, The terminal connecting device comprises a connecting device main body having an elongated shape along the longitudinal direction of the central bulkhead of the terminal block, a screw connecting terminal portion for electrically connecting to the one side wiring screw or the other side wiring screw of at least one of the wiring screw pairs provided on the terminal block, and a first fixing device and a second fixing device for fixing the terminal connecting device to the terminal block, the first fixing device and the second fixing device are provided at positions corresponding to a first pair of side partition walls and a second pair of side partition walls, respectively, among the pairs of side partition walls arranged in the longitudinal direction of the terminal block, and a predetermined number of pairs of side partition walls are provided between the first pair of side partition walls corresponding to the first fixing device and the second pair of side partition walls corresponding to the second fixing device, the first fastening device has a first pair of clips for mating with a corresponding pair of the first side bulkheads; the first clip pair includes a first one-side clip having a first one-side clip groove for fitting into a corresponding one-side partition wall of the first-side partition wall pair, and a first other-side clip having a first other-side clip groove for fitting into a corresponding other-side partition wall of the first-side partition wall pair, the second fastening device includes a second pair of clips for engaging with a corresponding pair of the second side bulkheads; The second clip pair includes a second one-side clip having a second one-side clip groove for fitting into the corresponding one-side partition wall of the second-side partition wall pair, and a second other-side clip having a second other-side clip groove for fitting into the corresponding other-side partition wall of the second-side partition wall pair. A terminal connecting device characterized by:

2. 2. The terminal connecting device according to claim 1, the first one-side clip groove of the first one-side clip of the first clip pair of the first fastening device and the first other-side clip groove of the first other-side clip of the first clip pair each have an elongated shape extending along the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the central partition wall, and further, the first one-side clip groove and the first other-side clip groove each have a shape with both ends open in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the central partition wall, the second one-side clip groove of the second one-side clip of the second clip pair of the second fastening device and the second other-side clip groove of the second other-side clip of the second clip pair each have an elongated shape extending along the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the central partition wall, and both ends of the shape are open in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the central partition wall; A terminal connecting device characterized by:

3. 3. The terminal connecting device according to claim 2, the terminal block to which the terminal connecting device is fixed is provided with screw bases at the bases of the one-side wiring screw and the other-side wiring screw in order to fix the one-side wiring screw and the other-side wiring screw that constitute the wiring screw pair, the first one-side clip groove of the first one-side clip of the first clip pair of the first fixing device and the first other-side clip groove of the first other-side clip of the first clip pair are shaped to extend toward the screw bases located on both sides of the first-side bulkhead pair of the terminal block into which the first clip pair is fitted, the second one-side clip groove of the second one-side clip of the second clip pair of the second fixing device and the second other-side clip groove of the second other-side clip of the second clip pair are each shaped to extend toward the screw bases located on both sides of the second-side bulkhead pair of the terminal block into which the second clip pair is fitted, the first one-side clip groove and the first other-side clip groove of the first clip pair, and the second one-side clip groove and the second other-side clip groove of the second clip pair, each have a non-pressurized portion having a width L2 wider than a thickness L18 of the side partition wall pair in the longitudinal direction on a side of the central partition wall that is closer to the connection device main body, which is a root side of the first one-side clip groove and the first other-side clip groove, and on a side of the second one-side clip groove and the second other-side clip groove that is closer to the connection device main body, the first one-side clip groove and the first other-side clip groove of the first clip pair, and the second one-side clip groove and the second other-side clip groove of the second clip pair each have a fitting portion having a width L3 narrower than the thickness L18 of the side partition wall pair on a side farther from the connection device body than the non-pressurizing portion, A terminal connecting device characterized by:

4. 4. The terminal connecting device according to claim 3, the first one-side clip groove and the first other-side clip groove of the first one-side clip of the first clip pair included in the first fastening device, and the second one-side clip groove and the second other-side clip groove of the second one-side clip of the second clip pair included in the second fastening device, each have a width at a tip of the groove that is wider than the width at the fitting portion, and the width of each groove gradually narrows from the tip of the groove toward the fitting portion of the groove, A terminal connecting device characterized by:

5. 4. The terminal connecting device according to claim 3, the first fixing device and the second fixing device are fixed to the connection device main body, which has an elongated shape in the longitudinal direction, at positions spaced apart by the predetermined number of pairs of side partition walls, the connection device body is formed of an electrically conductive metal plate, the screw connection terminal portion for connection to one of the connection screws of the one side wiring screw or the other side wiring screw of the pair of wiring screws present between the first fixing device and the second fixing device is provided on one side or the other side of the connection device main body, a bent portion formed integrally with the connection device body is provided at a connection device body side end portion, which is a side end portion of the connection device body opposite to a side on which the screw connection terminal portion is provided, the bent portion is bent at the connection device main body side end portion of the connection device main body arranged in a position covering the top of the pair of side partition walls, and extends toward a screw base on which a wiring screw is provided, the screw base being located on the opposite side of the terminal block from the side on which the screw connection terminal portion is provided. A terminal connecting device characterized by:

6. 4. The terminal connecting device according to claim 3, the connection device body is a resin connection device body molded from insulating resin, the first fixing device and the second fixing device are provided on the resin connecting device body, separated by the predetermined number of pairs of side partition walls; the screw connection terminal portion is fixed to the resin connection device body in order to electrically connect to a connection target screw, which is one of the one-side wiring screws or the other-side wiring screws of a connection target wiring screw pair that is an electrical connection target among the wiring screw pair, the screw connection terminal portion has a contact end for electrically connecting to the connection target screw, a fixing tube for movably fixing the contact end to the resin connection device body, and a spring acting in a direction to move the contact end away from the resin connection device body, When the terminal connecting device is not fixed to the terminal block, the contact end is located farther from the resin connecting device body than the one-side clip and the other-side clip of the first fixing device and the second fixing device due to the action of the spring, Furthermore, when the terminal connecting device is fixed to the terminal block, the contact end comes into contact with the connection target screw, causing the spring to contract, and the contact end is positioned closer to the resin connecting device body than the tip of the one-side clip or the other-side clip of the first fixing device or the second fixing device. A terminal connecting device characterized by:

Images