Terminal board

Abstract

To provide a terminal board capable of reducing a load that a nut applies to a housing.SOLUTION: A terminal board 1 includes: a busbar having a through hole; a nut 4 having a screw hole 4h; a housing 2 having a holding part that holds the busbar and a recess 23 that holds the nut with the screw hole facing the through hole; and a bolt screwed into the nut accommodated in the recess. The shape of the nut when viewed from a direction along the central axis 4x of the screw hole is a rectangle having a long side 41 and a short side 42, and the screw hole is displaced to one side along the direction of the longer side with respect to the center of the nut, and the recess has a latching surface 23a facing the longer side and restricting rotation of the nut.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a terminal block. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is a technology for fastening two conductive members together with a nut and a bolt. Patent Document 1 discloses a housing having a nut holding portion that holds a nut. The terminal portion of the conductor held by the housing is fastened together with the mating terminal by the bolt and the nut. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-89881 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When the bolt is threaded onto the nut, the housing abuts against the nut to restrict its rotation. If the load on the housing from the nut is large at this time, the housing must be made thicker, which leads to an increase in the size of the housing.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal block capable of reducing the load that the housing receives from the nut. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The terminal block of the present invention comprises a housing having a bus bar with a through hole, a nut with a threaded hole, a holding portion that holds the bus bar, and a recess that holds the nut with the threaded hole facing the through hole, and a bolt that is screwed onto the nut housed in the recess, wherein the shape of the nut when viewed from the direction of the central axis of the threaded hole is a rectangle with long and short sides, the threaded hole is positioned offset to one side along the direction of the long side relative to the center of the nut, and the recess has a locking surface that faces the long side and restricts rotation of the nut. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] In the terminal block according to the present invention, the nut has a rectangular shape with long and short sides, and the screw hole is positioned offset to one side along the long side relative to the center of the nut. The recess that holds the nut has a locking surface that faces the long side and restricts rotation of the nut. The terminal block according to the present invention has the effect of reducing the inclination angle of the long side relative to the locking surface, thereby reducing the load that the housing receives from the nut. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a terminal block according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the terminal block according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a housing according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a front view of the housing according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a housing according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the nut according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the nut according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a front view of the housing holding the nut. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the housing holding the nut. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the terminal block according to the embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the terminal block according to the embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the terminal block according to the embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the terminal block according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, a terminal block according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiments include those that can be easily imagined by a person skilled in the art or those that are substantially the same.

[0010] [Embodiment] An embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13. This embodiment relates to a terminal block. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the terminal block according to the embodiment, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the terminal block according to the embodiment, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a housing according to the embodiment, FIG. 4 is a front view of the housing according to the embodiment, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the housing according to the embodiment, FIG. 6 is a plan view of a nut according to the embodiment, FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the nut according to the embodiment, FIG. 8 is a front view of the housing holding the nut, FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the housing holding the nut, and FIGS. 10 to 13 are cross-sectional views of the terminal block according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 shows a cross-section VV of FIG. 4. FIG. 9 shows a cross-section IX-IX of FIG. 8. FIG. 13 shows a cross-section XIII-XIII of FIG. 9.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the terminal block 1 of this embodiment includes a housing 2 and three bus bars 3. The bus bars 3 electrically connect, for example, a first device and a second device. The two devices may be a motor and an inverter mounted on a vehicle. The housing 2 is fixed to, for example, the housing of the first device. A first terminal portion 31 of the bus bars 3 is connected to a terminal 110 of the first device.

[0012] 2, the terminal block 1 has a nut 4 held by the housing 2 and a bolt 5 that screws into the nut 4. The bus bar 3 and the terminal 110 are fastened together by the nut 4 and the bolt 5. The terminal block 1 of this embodiment is configured to reduce the load on the housing 2 when the bolt 5 is screwed into the nut 4.

[0013] The busbars 3 are formed from a conductive metal plate. As shown in FIG. 2 , each busbar 3 has a first terminal portion 31 and a second terminal portion 32. The first terminal portion 31 is one end portion of the busbar 3 in the longitudinal direction. The second terminal portion 32 is the other end portion of the busbar 3 in the longitudinal direction. Both the first terminal portion 31 and the second terminal portion 32 have a flat plate shape. The first terminal portion 31 and the second terminal portion 32 are provided with circular through holes 31 a, 32 a.

[0014] The bus bar 3 has bent portions 3a and 3b formed between a first terminal portion 31 and a second terminal portion 32. The bus bar 3 is bent at right angles at the two bent portions 3a and 3b. The two bent portions 3a and 3b are formed so that the two terminal portions 31 and 32 protrude in opposite directions. The first terminal portion 31 is connected to a terminal 110 of a first device, and the second terminal portion 32 is connected to a terminal of a second device, etc.

[0015] The housing 2 is a member having a holding portion that holds the busbar 3 and a recess 23 that holds the nut 4. The housing 2 is molded, for example, from an insulating synthetic resin. The housing 2 has a main body 20 and a support wall 21. The main body 20 is a portion that is fixed to the first device and has a generally flat plate shape. Metal collars 2c are disposed on both ends of the main body 20. The housing 2 is fixed to the first device by bolts that are inserted into the collars 2c.

[0016] The support wall 21 stands upright from the main body 20 in the thickness direction of the main body 20. The multiple bus bars 3 are inserted into the housing 2 so as to penetrate the main body 20 and the support wall 21. The housing 2 holds the multiple bus bars 3 in a line. In this specification, the direction in which the bus bars 3 are inserted into the housing 2 is referred to as the first direction X, and the direction in which the multiple bus bars 3 are arranged in the housing 2 is referred to as the second direction Y. In addition, the direction perpendicular to both the first direction X and the second direction Y is referred to as the third direction Z. The third direction Z is the thickness direction of the bus bars 3 held by the housing 2. The bolt 5 is screwed into the nut 4 held by the housing 2 along the third direction Z.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 3, the support wall 21 protrudes from the main body 20 in a first direction X. The width direction of the support wall 21 is a second direction Y, and the thickness direction of the support wall 21 is a third direction Z. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the shape of the support wall 21 when viewed from the third direction Z is substantially rectangular.

[0018] 3, the support wall 21 is provided with three through holes 22 and three recesses 23. The three through holes 22 and the three recesses 23 are arranged at intervals along the second direction Y. The three through holes 22 open into the recess 20a of the main body 20.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 5, the through hole 22 penetrates the housing 2 along the first direction X. One end of the through hole 22 opens into a recess 20a of the main body 20. The recess 20a opens toward the side opposite to the support wall 21. The through hole 22 has an accommodating portion 22a and a holding portion 22b. The accommodating portion 22a is a portion that accommodates the packing 6 attached to the bus bar 3. As shown in FIG. 2, a holder 7 and an annular packing 6 are attached to the bus bar 3. Multiple bus bars 3 are inserted into one holder 7. The holder 7 holds three bus bars 3 in a line.

[0020] The packing 6 is disposed between the first terminal portion 31 and the holder 7. The busbar unit including the busbar 3, the holder 7, and the packing 6 is inserted into the housing 2 with the first terminal portion 31 at the front. At this time, the holder 7 is accommodated in the recess 20a of the main body 20 while supporting the end face of the packing 6, and the packing 6 is inserted into the accommodating portion 22a. The packing 6 seals the gap between the wall surface of the accommodating portion 22a and the busbar 3.

[0021] The holding portions 22b shown in FIG. 5 are portions that hold the bus bars 3. Each bus bar 3 is held by a corresponding holding portion 22b. The bus bars 3 may be press-fitted into the holding portions 22b. The holding portions 22b have, for example, ribs for holding the bus bars 3. In this case, the ribs protrude from the inner wall surfaces of the holding portions 22b in the third direction Z. The ribs for holding the bus bars 3 may be crushed ribs.

[0022] 3 to 5, the recesses 23 are disposed at the tip end of the support wall 21 in the first direction X. In other words, the recesses 23 are disposed at the end of the support wall 21 that is farther from the main body 20. The housing 2 of this embodiment has three recesses 23 aligned in the second direction Y. The recesses 23 are open toward the third direction Z. When viewed from the third direction Z, the shape of the recesses 23 is a rectangle with long sides aligned along the first direction X.

[0023] The recess 23 has a pair of locking surfaces 23a, a pair of opposing surfaces 23b, and one bottom surface 23c. The pair of locking surfaces 23a and the pair of opposing surfaces 23b form a rectangular frame that accommodates the nut 4. The pair of locking surfaces 23a face each other in the second direction Y. The pair of opposing surfaces 23b face each other in the first direction X. The locking surfaces 23a are the long sides of the rectangular frame, and the opposing surfaces 23b are the short sides of the rectangular frame. The locking surfaces 23a and the opposing surfaces 23b face the side surfaces of the nut 4. The bottom surface 23c is a surface that supports the end surface of the nut 4 that is inserted into the recess 23. The bottom surface 23c is connected to the locking surfaces 23a and the opposing surfaces 23b, and forms the bottom surface of the accommodation chamber that accommodates the nut 4.

[0024] The support wall 21 is provided with an accommodating hole 24 that is connected to the recess 23. The accommodating hole 24 opens to a bottom surface 23c of the recess 23 and penetrates the support wall 21 along the third direction Z. The cross-sectional shape of the accommodating hole 24 in a plane perpendicular to the third direction Z is circular. The accommodating hole 24 is disposed closer to the tip of the support wall 21 than the center of the recess 23. In other words, the accommodating hole 24 is disposed away from the center position of the recess 23 in the first direction X, on the side farther from the main body 20.

[0025] 3 and 5, the through hole 22 has an opening 22c. The first terminal portion 31 of the busbar 3 protrudes from the opening 22c into the external space. The opening 22c is disposed adjacent to one of the opposing surfaces 23b of the recess 23. The first terminal portion 31 protruding from the opening 22c faces the bottom surface 23c of the recess 23 in the third direction Z.

[0026] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the nut 4 of this embodiment has a rectangular shape. More specifically, as shown in Figure 7, the nut 4 has a rectangular main body 40 and a protruding portion 43. The main body 40 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The nut 4 has a screw hole 4h that penetrates the main body 40 and the protruding portion 43.

[0027] When viewed from the direction of the central axis 4x of the screw hole 4h, the shape of the main body 40 is a rectangle having long sides 41 and short sides 42. The four corners of the main body 40 are chamfered. The main body 40 has a front surface 4a and a back surface 4b. The front surface 4a is one of the two main surfaces of the main body 40. The front surface 4a faces the bus bar 3 and the mating terminal 110. The back surface 4b is the other of the two main surfaces of the main body 40. The back surface 4b faces the bottom surface 23c of the recess 23.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 6, the body 40 of the nut 4 has a longitudinal direction LD, which is the direction of the long sides 41, and a transverse direction SD, which is the direction of the short sides 42. The longitudinal direction LD and the transverse direction SD are perpendicular to each other. The screw hole 4h is disposed offset to one side along the longitudinal direction LD with respect to a center 4c of the body 40. The center 4c of the nut 4 is the center position of the body 40 in the longitudinal direction LD and the transverse direction SD. The central axis 4x of the screw hole 4h is offset in the longitudinal direction LD with respect to the center 4c. That is, in the longitudinal direction LD, the distance L1 from the central axis 4x to one short side 42 is longer than the distance L2 from the central axis 4x to another short side 42.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 7, the protrusion 43 has a cylindrical shape. The protrusion 43 protrudes from the back surface 4b of the nut 4. The protrusion 43 is disposed concentrically with the central axis 4x of the screw hole 4h. A thread groove corresponding to the bolt 5 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the protrusion 43. In other words, the screw hole 4h is formed in both the main body 40 and the protrusion 43.

[0030] 8 and 9, the nut 4 is housed in the recess 23 of the housing 2. The nut 4 is inserted into the recess 23 so that the long side 41 of the main body 40 faces the locking surface 23a of the recess 23. The short side 42 of the main body 40 faces the opposing surface 23b of the recess 23. The main body 40 may be press-fitted into the recess 23.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 9 , the protrusion 43 of the nut 4 is inserted into the receiving hole 24 of the support wall 21. In the terminal block 1 of this embodiment, incorrect assembly of the nut 4 is suppressed. When the nut 4 is inserted upside down into the recess 23, the front surface 4a of the nut 4 faces the bottom surface 23c of the recess 23. In this case, the protrusion 43 protrudes outward from the recess 23. As a result, when the bus bar 3 is inserted into the through hole 22, the protrusion 43 interferes with the bus bar 3, and incorrect assembly of the nut 4 is detected.

[0032] 10 shows the bus bar 3 held by the housing 2. The holding portion 22b of the housing 2 holds the bus bar 3. The holder 7 is inserted into a recess in the main body 20 and determines the position of the bus bar 3 in the first direction X. The first terminal portion 31 of the bus bar 3 faces the nut 4 and the recess 23 in the third direction Z. The through hole 31a of the first terminal portion 31 faces the screw hole 4h of the nut 4.

[0033] FIG. 11 shows the terminal block 1 fixed to the housing 120 of the first device 100. The gap between the main body 20 of the housing 2 and the housing 120 is sealed by an annular face seal 2p. The first terminal portion 31 is accommodated in the internal space of the housing 120. The terminal 110 of the first device 100 is disposed in a position facing the first terminal portion 31 and the nut 4. The through hole 110a of the terminal 110 faces the through hole 31a and the screw hole 4h in the third direction Z. The bolt 5 is inserted through the two through holes 110a, 31a and threadedly engages with the screw hole 4h of the nut 4.

[0034] 12 shows the bolt 5 fastened to the nut 4. As shown in FIG. 12, the terminal 110 and the first terminal portion 31 are fastened together by the bolt 5 and the nut 4. The bus bar 3 is fixed to the terminal 110, and electrically connects the first device 100 and the second device.

[0035] The recess 23 of this embodiment is configured to be able to restrict rotation of the nut 4 against torque received from the bolt 5. FIG. 13 shows contact points P1, P2, P3, and P4 where the recess 23 contacts the nut 4. When the bolt 5 is screwed into the nut 4, a torque T1 acts on the nut 4. The torque T1 is a torque around the central axis 4x of the screw hole 4h. The recess 23 can restrict rotation of the nut 4 by the contact points P1 and P2.

[0036] The contact point P1 is a point where one locking surface 23a contacts one long side 41 of the nut 4. The contact point P2 is a point where the other locking surface 23a contacts another long side 41 of the nut 4. Of the two contact points P1 and P2, the contact point P1 is located relatively far from the central axis 4x.

[0037] The nut 4 of this embodiment has a rectangular shape having a long side 41 and a short side 42. This reduces the inclination angle of the long side 41 relative to the locking surface 23a. The length of the long side 41 is, for example, greater than the length determined by a standard based on the diameter of the screw hole 4h. The length of the long side 41 is, for example, greater than the standard dimension of one side for a square nut. In the nut 4, the length of the short side 42 may be equal to the standard dimension of one side for a square nut.

[0038] The ratio of the length of the long side 41 to the length of the short side 42 may be 1.1 or more, or may be 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, or some other value.

[0039] The terminal block 1 of this embodiment can increase the contact area between the long side 41 of the nut 4 and the housing 2 when the recess 23 restricts the rotation of the nut 4. Therefore, the terminal block 1 of this embodiment can reduce the load on the housing 2 and the stress generated in the housing 2 when the bolt 5 is screwed into the nut 4.

[0040] Furthermore, in the terminal block 1 of this embodiment, the central axis 4x of the screw hole 4h is offset in the longitudinal direction LD from the center 4c of the nut 4. This allows for a larger distance L3 in the first direction X from the central axis 4x to the contact point P1. This reduces the inclination angle of the long side 41 relative to the locking surface 23a. For example, compared to when the central axis 4x is aligned with the center 4c of the nut 4, the inclination angle of the long side 41 relative to the locking surface 23a is smaller.

[0041] Furthermore, in the terminal block 1 of this embodiment, the distance L3 is long, which reduces the reaction force required at the contact point P1 to restrict the rotation of the nut 4. In this way, in the terminal block 1 of this embodiment, by using the rectangular nut 4, it is possible to reduce the load on the housing 2 when the bolt 5 is screwed into the nut 4.

[0042] The recess 23 of this embodiment can further restrict rotation of the nut 4 by contact points P3 and P4. The contact point P3 is a point where one opposing surface 23b contacts one short side 42 of the nut 4. The contact point P4 is a point where another opposing surface 23b contacts another opposing surface 23b of the nut 4. Therefore, the recess 23 of this embodiment can restrict rotation of the nut 4 by four contact points P1, P2, P3, and P4.

[0043] Furthermore, the recess 23 of this embodiment can also restrict rotation of the nut 4 against torque in the opposite direction to torque T1. In this case, the terminal block 1 of this embodiment can reduce the load on the housing 2 when the bolt 5 rotates relative to the nut 4. In other words, the recess 23 of this embodiment can reduce the load on the housing 2 both when the nut 4 and the bolt 5 are tightened together and when the nut 4 and the bolt 5 are loosened.

[0044] As described above, the terminal block 1 of this embodiment includes the bus bar 3 having the through hole 31a, the nut 4 having the threaded hole 4h, the housing 2, and the bolt 5. The housing 2 includes the retaining portion 22b that holds the bus bar 3, and the recess 23. The recess 23 holds the nut 4 with the threaded hole 4h facing the through hole 31a. The bolt 5 is screwed into the nut 4 housed in the recess 23.

[0045] When viewed from the direction of the central axis 4x of the screw hole 4h, the shape of the nut 4 is a rectangle having long sides 41 and short sides 42. The screw hole 4h is positioned offset to one side along the direction of the long side 41 with respect to the center 4c of the nut 4. The recess 23 has a locking surface 23a that faces the long side 41 and restricts rotation of the nut 4. The terminal block 1 of this embodiment can reduce the load on the housing 2 when the bolt 5 is screwed into the nut 4. By reducing the load on the housing 2, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the housing and thereby make the housing 2 more compact.

[0046] The nut 4 of this embodiment has a rectangular main body 40 having long sides 41 and short sides 42, and a protruding portion 43 protruding from the main body 40 in the direction of the central axis 4x. A threaded hole 4h is formed in the main body 40 and the protruding portion 43. The housing 2 has an accommodating hole 24 that opens into the recessed portion 23. The nut 4 is accommodated in the recessed portion 23 with the protruding portion 43 inserted into the accommodating hole 24. This configuration prevents the nut 4 from being incorrectly assembled to the housing 2.

[0047] If the nut 4 does not have the protrusion 43, it becomes possible to insert the nut 4 into the recess 23 in a position different from the normal position. For example, in the terminal block 1 of this embodiment, the normal position of the nut 4 is a position in which the screw hole 4h is located on the tip side of the support wall 21, as shown in FIG. 8. If the nut 4 does not have the protrusion 43, there is a possibility that the nut 4 will be placed in the recess 23 with the screw hole 4h located on the side closer to the main body 20. In contrast, a nut 4 having the protrusion 43 can prevent such incorrect assembly from occurring.

[0048] Furthermore, the nut 4 having the protrusion 43 can position the center of torque received from the bolt 5. The rotation center of the nut 4 is positioned by inserting the protrusion 43 into the receiving hole 24 of the housing 2. The housing 2 may hold the protrusion 43 so as to restrict rotation of the nut 4 mainly at the contact point P1 among the multiple contact points.

[0049] The number of bus bars 3 included in the terminal block 1 is not limited to three as illustrated. The numbers of nuts 4, bolts 5, and recesses 23 are determined according to the number of bus bars 3.

[0050] The contents disclosed in the above embodiments can be implemented in appropriate combinations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1:Terminal block 2: Housing, 2c: Color 3: bus bar, 3a, 3b: bending portion 4: Nut 4a: Front, 4b: Back, 4c: Center, 4h: Screw hole, 4x: Center axis 5: Bolt 6: Packing 7: Holder 20: Main body, 21: Support wall 22: through hole, 22a: accommodation portion, 22b: holding portion, 22c: opening 23: recess, 23a: locking surface, 23b: support surface, 23c: bottom surface 24: Storage hole 31: First terminal part, 31a: Through hole, 32: Second terminal part, 32a: Through hole 40: Main body, 41: Long side, 42: Short side, 43: Protruding part 110: Terminal LD: Longitudinal direction, SD: Shortitudinal direction P1,P2,P3,P4: Contact points X: first direction, Y: second direction, Z: third direction

Claims

1. a bus bar having a through hole; a nut having a threaded hole; a housing including a holding portion that holds the bus bar and a recess that holds the nut with the screw hole facing the through hole; a bolt that is threadedly engaged with the nut housed in the recess; Equipped with The shape of the nut when viewed from the direction of the central axis of the screw hole is a rectangle having long sides and short sides, The screw hole is disposed offset to one side along the long side with respect to the center of the nut, The recess has a locking surface that faces the long side and restricts rotation of the nut. A terminal block characterized by:

2. The nut has a rectangular body having the long side and the short side, and a protrusion protruding from the body in the direction of the central axis, the screw holes are formed in the main body and the protrusion; the housing has a receiving hole that opens into the recess, The nut is accommodated in the recess with the protrusion inserted into the accommodation hole. The terminal block according to claim 1 .

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