Terminal block

Abstract

To provide a terminal block which can properly attach a housing to an attachment target object.SOLUTION: A terminal block 1 includes: a housing 3 that holds a terminal 2; at least two fastener members 4 that fasten the housing 3 to an attachment target object 10; a first water stop member 5 that is provided in such a manner as to surround the fastener members 4, and stops water between the housing 3 and the attachment target object 10; and a second water stop member 6 that is formed into an annular shape in such a manner as to surround the terminal 2, and stops water between the housing 3 and the attachment target object 10. The fastener members 4 are provided at positions sandwiching the terminal 2, and the second water stop member 6 is provided in such a manner as to surround the terminal 2, the fastener members 4, and the first water stop member 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, a terminal block has been known in which a terminal is held in a housing (main body), two fastening parts are provided to sandwich the terminal, and an elastic member seals the gap between the housing and the object to which it is attached (the attachment part), as described in Patent Document 1. This terminal block is used by attaching the housing to the object to which it is attached using the two fastening parts. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-102063 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Such terminal blocks may not properly attach the housing to the object, leaving room for improvement. For example, in the above-described terminal block, when attaching the housing to the object using two fastening portions, one fastening portion is fastened first, and then the other fastening portion is fastened to attach the housing to the object. In this case, if one fastening portion is fastened first, a large gap may be created between the object and the housing at the other fastening portion. That is, because there is a waterproof elastic member between the first fastening portion and the other fastening portion, if one fastening portion is fastened too tightly, the housing at the other fastening portion will separate from the object, using the elastic member as a fulcrum. Therefore, in order to attach the housing parallel to the object, the other fastening portion must be fastened quite tightly, making it difficult to properly attach the housing to the object.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a terminal block that allows a housing to be properly attached to an attachment object. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In other words, the terminal block of the present invention comprises a housing that holds terminals, at least two fastening members that fasten the housing to the object to be attached, a first water-tight member that is arranged to surround the fastening members and that seals off water between the housing and the object to be attached, and a second water-tight member that is formed in a ring shape that surrounds the terminal and that seals off water between the housing and the object to be attached, and the fastening members are each arranged at a position that sandwiches the terminal, and the second water-tight member is arranged to surround the terminal, the fastening members, and the first water-tight member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the terminal block of the present invention, the housing can be appropriately attached to the attachment object. [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 cross-sectional view of the terminal block taken along line III-III in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the connection of the terminal block according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the connection of the terminal block according to the embodiment, showing a cross section of the terminal block taken along line VV in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a terminal block of a comparative example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiments include those that are easily replaceable by those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same.

[0010] [Embodiment] This embodiment relates to a terminal block. In the following description, of the first, second, and third directions that intersect with one another, the first direction is referred to as the "longitudinal direction X," the second direction is referred to as the "width direction Y," and the third direction is referred to as the "mounting direction Z." Here, the longitudinal direction X, width direction Y, and mounting direction Z are perpendicular to one another. Note that "orthogonal" here includes "approximately perpendicular." The longitudinal direction X corresponds to the direction in which the housing extends. The mounting direction Z corresponds to the direction in which the housing is mounted to the mounting object. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the directions used in the following description represent the directions in which the respective parts are assembled together.

[0011] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the terminal block 1 is a component that holds terminals 2, and is attached to an object 10 to which it is attached. The terminal block 1 is mounted, for example, on a vehicle, and holds a plurality of terminals 2 arranged along a longitudinal direction X. The object 10 to which it is attached is a vehicle unit that is mounted on or provided on the vehicle, such as a component part of the vehicle or a part, member, or device that is mounted on the vehicle. The terminal block 1 includes a housing 3, a fastening member 4, a first waterproofing member 5, and a second waterproofing member 6.

[0012] The housing 3 is a component that holds the terminals 2 and is fitted to the mounting object 10, and is configured, for example, by a protrusion 32 protruding from a main body 31. The main body 31 is plate-shaped and is disposed and attached so as to face the mounting surface 10A of the mounting object 10. The main body 31 is, for example, a rectangular plate that is longer in the longitudinal direction X than in the width direction Y. The protrusion 32 protrudes in the mounting direction Z from the surface of the main body 31 that faces the mounting object 10. When the terminal block 1 is attached to the mounting object 10, the protrusion 32 is inserted into a fitting portion 11 formed in the mounting object 10. The fitting portion 11 is a hole formed in the mounting object 10 and is formed by recessing the mounting surface 10A.

[0013] The terminals 2 are members formed from a conductive material, and for example, plate-shaped terminal fittings are used. The terminals 2 are provided facing the mounting direction Z and penetrate the main body 31 along the mounting direction Z. That is, the main body 31 holds the terminals 2 by penetrating them in the mounting direction Z. A plurality of terminals 2 are provided, for example, three terminals 2 arranged side by side along the longitudinal direction X. The terminals 2 are formed, for example, bent in a crank shape. That is, the terminals 2 are formed by bending from the mounting direction Z to the width direction Y and then bending from the width direction Y back to the mounting direction Z. The portion of the terminals 2 bent in the width direction Y abuts against the surface of the main body 31, and the portion bent from the width direction Y to the mounting direction Z penetrates the main body 31 and is arranged along the protrusion 32.

[0014] The fastening members 4 are members that fasten the housing 3 to the attachment object 10, and are, for example, bolts having a head and a threaded portion. Two fastening members 4 are provided, one at a position sandwiching the terminal 2. For example, the fastening members 4 are arranged spaced apart in the longitudinal direction X and attached to both sides of all three terminals 2 arranged along the longitudinal direction X so as to sandwich the terminals 2. The fastening members 4 are inserted through attachment holes 33 formed in the main body 31 of the housing 3 and inserted into and screwed into attachment holes 12 in the attachment object 10. The attachment holes 33 are holes that penetrate the main body 31 of the housing 3 in the attachment direction Z. The attachment holes 33 are formed at positions sandwiching the terminals 2. The attachment holes 12 are provided corresponding to the positions of the attachment holes 33, and have threaded grooves formed on their inner surfaces.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 3 , the first waterproofing member 5 is a member that seals off water between the housing 3 and the attachment object 10, and is provided to surround the fastening member 4. For example, the first waterproofing member 5 is provided concentrically with the fastening member 4. The first waterproofing member 5 is made of an annular elastic member and seals off water between the installation space of the fastening member 4 and the interior of the terminal block 1. A first waterproofing member 5 is provided for each of the two fastening members 4. The first waterproofing members 5 are attachable to the housing 3. For example, the first waterproofing members 5 are attached by being fitted into first grooves 34 formed in the main body 31. The first grooves 34 are grooves that are recessed in the back surface 31A of the main body 31 along the attachment direction Z, and are formed according to the shape and size of the first waterproofing member 5.

[0016] The second waterproofing member 6 is a member that seals off water between the housing 3 and the attachment object 10 and is provided to surround the terminal 2, the fastening member 4, and the first waterproofing member 5. The second waterproofing member 6 is composed of an annular elastic member and seals off water between the exterior and interior of the terminal block 1. The second waterproofing member 6 is provided, for example, along the outer edge of the main body 31. The second waterproofing member 6 is attachable to the housing 3. For example, the second waterproofing member 6 is attached by fitting into a second groove 35 formed in the main body 31. The second groove 35 is a groove recessed in the back surface 31A of the main body 31 along the attachment direction Z and is formed to surround the protrusion 32, the attachment hole 33, and the first groove 34. In FIG. 2, the second waterproofing member 6 is formed in a rectangular frame shape, but it may be formed in a shape other than a rectangle.

[0017] Next, the connection of the terminal block 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0018] The connection of the terminal block 1 in this embodiment to the object 10 to be attached is performed, for example, by sequentially fitting the first waterproofing member 5 and the second waterproofing member 6 into the housing 3, fitting the housing 3 to the object 10 to be attached, and fastening the fastening member 4.

[0019] 3 , fitting the first water-stopping member 5 and the second water-stopping member 6 is a process of attaching the first water-stopping member 5 and the second water-stopping member 6 to the housing 3. That is, the first water-stopping member 5 is fitted into the first groove 34 of the housing 3, and the second water-stopping member 6 is fitted into the second groove 35. This brings the first water-stopping member 5 and the second water-stopping member 6 into a state attached to the housing 3.

[0020] 4, the housing 3 is fitted to the object 10. That is, the housing 3 is positioned with the protruding portion 32 facing the object 10, and is fitted to the object 10 so that the protruding portion 32 is inserted into the fitting portion 11. At this time, the housing 3 is fitted so that the mounting hole 33 coincides with the position of the mounting hole 12 of the object 10.

[0021] Then, as shown in FIG. 5 , the fastening members 4 are fastened. First, one of the two fastening members 4 is inserted through the mounting hole 33, and then inserted into the mounting hole 12 and screwed together. At this time, the second waterproofing member 6 is provided so as to surround the fastening members 4, so the second waterproofing member 6 is positioned outside the fastening members 4 that are being fastened. In other words, the second waterproofing member 6 is not positioned between one fastening member 4 and the other fastening member 4 that are being fastened. For this reason, even if the fastening members 4 are fastened tightly, the housing 3 is unlikely to tilt relative to the mounting object 10, and the housing 3 can be properly mounted to the mounting object 10.

[0022] For example, as shown in FIG. 6 , a comparative terminal block 100 is shown in which the second waterproofing member 6 is arranged to surround the terminal 2 but not the fastening member 4. In this terminal block 100, there is a risk that the housing 3 may tilt relative to the attachment object 10 when the fastening member 4 is fastened. That is, when one fastening member 4 is fastened, a large gap may be created between the attachment object 10 and the housing 3 at the location of the other fastening member 4. Because the second waterproofing member 6 is located between the first fastening member 4 and the other fastening member 4, if one fastening member 4 is fastened too tightly, the housing 3 tilts around the second waterproofing member 6 as a fulcrum, and the location of the other fastening member 4 moves away from the attachment object 10. If an attempt is made to fasten the other fastening member 4 in this state, the fastening torque of the fastening member 4 increases, making fastening difficult and applying a large stress to the housing 3. Therefore, with the terminal block 100, it is difficult to properly attach the housing 3 to the attachment object 10 using the fastening member 4.

[0023] In contrast, in the terminal block 1 according to this embodiment, the second waterproofing member 6 is provided so as to surround the fastening member 4, thereby suppressing tilt of the housing 3 and enabling the fastening member 4 to be attached with an appropriate fastening torque. Therefore, in the terminal block 1 according to this embodiment, the housing 3 can be appropriately attached to the attachment object 10 by the fastening member 4.

[0024] When all the fastening members 4 have been fastened, the connection of the terminal block 1 according to this embodiment to the attachment object 10 is complete.

[0025] As described above, in the terminal block 1 according to this embodiment, the second waterproofing member 6 is provided so as to surround the terminal 2, the fastening member 4, and the first waterproofing member 5, so that when the housing 3 is attached to the attachment object 10 with the fastening member 4, tilting of the housing 3 is suppressed and the fastening member 4 can be fastened with an appropriate fastening torque. Therefore, in the terminal block 1 according to this embodiment, the housing 3 can be appropriately attached to the attachment object 10 with the fastening member 4.

[0026] The terminal block according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. The terminal block 1 according to this embodiment may be configured by appropriately combining the components of the above-described embodiments and modifications.

[0027] For example, although the terminal block 1 according to the above embodiment has been described as being mounted on a vehicle, it may also be used without being mounted on a vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 1:Terminal block 2: Terminal 3: Housing 4: Fastening member 5: First waterproofing material 6: Second waterproofing member 10: Mounting object

Claims

[Claim 1] a housing for holding the terminals; At least two fastening members are provided to fasten the housing to an object to be attached; a first waterproofing member that is provided to surround the fastening member and that prevents water from entering between the housing and the attachment object; a second waterproofing member formed in an annular shape so as to surround the terminal and which prevents water from entering between the housing and the attachment object; The fastening members are provided at positions sandwiching the terminals, The second waterproofing member is provided to surround the terminal, the fastening member, and the first waterproofing member. terminal block.

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