Terminal board

Abstract

To enable reduction of an installation area of a terminal board that is fixed to an installation surface using mounting screws.SOLUTION: The present invention is a terminal board 1 including a screw terminal portion 2, a screwless terminal portion, a case 6 having an insertion opening into which an electric wire connected to the screwless terminal portion is inserted, and a conductive bar 7 that electrically connects the screw terminal portion and the screwless terminal portion. The terminal board 1 is configured such that a head portion 211 of a terminal screw 21 of the screw terminal portion is positioned on one end side of the case, and a head portion 51 of a mounting screw 5 used for mounting the terminal board with a mounting surface 62 of the case facing an installation surface is positioned on the other end side of the case.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] A terminal block equipped with both screw terminals and screwless terminals (quick-connect terminals) is known, as described in Patent Document 1. Such a terminal block can connect electric wires of various sizes and electric wires with various types of crimp terminal shapes. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-181397

[0004] However, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, if the mounting screws used to attach the terminal block are arranged in the same row as the screw terminals and screwless terminals, the area required to install the terminal block will increase by the amount of the mounting screws. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The inventors of the present invention have made extensive research into this issue and have attempted to solve it. The problem that the present invention aims to solve is to reduce the installation area of ​​a terminal block that is fixed to an installation surface using mounting screws. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, a terminal block is provided which includes a screw terminal portion, a screwless terminal portion, a case having an outlet into which an electric wire to be connected to the screwless terminal portion is inserted, and a conductive bar which electrically connects the screw terminal portion and the screwless terminal portion, wherein the head of a terminal screw for the screw terminal portion is located on one end side of the case, and the head of a mounting screw used to mount the terminal block with the mounting surface facing the installation surface is located on the other end side of the case.

[0007] It is also preferable that the electrical connector has a first path having a conductive bar, a second path having a conductive bar, a first screw terminal portion electrically connected to the first path, a first screwless terminal portion electrically connected to the first path, a second screw terminal portion electrically connected to the second path, and a second screwless terminal portion electrically connected to the second path, and that the first path is not electrically connected to the second path.

[0008] It is also preferable that the screwless terminal section be provided with a connection indicator that indicates that the electric wire has been properly connected.

[0009] It is also preferable that at least one side of the case has an opening that allows the conductive bar to be exposed, and that the side of the case with the opening has a connecting portion that can be used to connect to an adjacent terminal block. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the installation area of ​​the terminal block that is fixed to the installation surface using mounting screws. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an electrical / electronic device storage box equipped with a terminal block, with the door of the housing open. [Figure 2] 2 is a diagram showing an example of a rail member and the like removed from the housing of the electrical and electronic equipment storage box shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a terminal block. [Figure 4] 4 is a perspective view of the terminal block shown in FIG. 3, seen from a different direction. [Figure 5] 4 is a diagram showing an example in which electric wires are connected to screwless terminal portions of the terminal block shown in FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 5. [Figure 8] 4 is a diagram showing the terminal block shown in FIG. 3 with the cover removed, with the screw terminals omitted. [Figure 9] 4 is an exploded perspective view of the terminal block shown in FIG. 3 with the screw terminal portion removed. FIG. [Figure 10] 4 is a plan view of the terminal block shown in FIG. 3, with the screw terminal portion omitted. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the terminal block shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 12] 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XII-XII in FIG. 3. [Figure 13] 4 is a perspective view showing an attempt to add another terminal block to a state in which two terminal blocks shown in FIG. 3 have been attached side by side to the rail member. FIG. [Figure 14] 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which three terminal blocks shown in FIG. 3 are attached side by side to a rail member. [Figure 15] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which two terminal blocks of the type shown in FIG. 3 are arranged in different directions. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example in which two terminal blocks having a structure different from that shown in FIG. 15 are arranged in different directions. [Figure 17] 10 is a diagram showing an example in which a plurality of terminal blocks are arranged near a branch breaker group including a plurality of branch breakers. FIG. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the structure shown in FIG. 17 as viewed from a different direction. [Figure 19] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a terminal block having only one screw terminal portion and four screwless terminal portions as terminal portions. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] An embodiment of the invention is described below. Terminal block 1 of this embodiment includes screw terminal units 2, screwless terminal units 3, a case 6 having an outlet 61 into which an electric wire 91 to be connected to screwless terminal unit 3 is inserted, and a conductive bar 7 that electrically connects screw terminal units 2 and 3. In this terminal block 1, heads 211 of terminal screws 21 of screw terminal units 2 are located at one end of case 6, and heads 51 of mounting screws 5 used to mount terminal block 1 with mounting surface 62 facing the installation surface are located at the other end of case 6. This makes it possible to reduce the installation area of ​​terminal block 1, which is fixed to the installation surface using mounting screws 5.

[0013] The terminal block 1 of the present invention is mainly used in an electrical / electronic device storage box 8 such as a distribution board or switchboard. In the example shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the terminal block 1 is installed so as to face the load side terminal of a branch breaker 82 arranged inside a housing 81 of the electrical / electronic device storage box 8. This terminal block 1 can be used as an earth terminal block to which an earth wire used for grounding is connected.

[0014] Typically, the terminal block 1 is fixed to a rail member 83 provided in the electrical / electronic device storage box 8 or to a base member 84 to which the electrical / electronic device is fixed. The terminal block 1 is arranged so that the mounting surface 62 faces the installation surface of the desired installation location, and is fixed using a mounting screw 5. The mounting screw 5 of this embodiment has a shaft portion 52 that can protrude from the mounting surface 62 side, and can be inserted into a hole provided in the rail member 83 or the base member 84. The terminal block 1 can be fixed to the installation location by tightening the mounting screw 5 inserted into the hole using a tool such as a screwdriver.

[0015] The terminal block 1 of the embodiment has a screw terminal unit 2 and a screwless terminal unit 3 (see FIGS. 3 to 6 ) to accommodate various connection methods for the earth wire (such as connection by quick connection or connection by crimp terminal). The screw terminal unit 2 is a terminal to which a crimp terminal or the like can be fixed using a screw. On the other hand, the screwless terminal unit 3 is a terminal that can hold an electric wire 91 inserted into a socket 61 using a conductive member such as a leaf spring 31 to maintain the electric connection of the electric wire 91 (see FIGS. 5 and 6 ). Therefore, when fixing the electric wire 91 to the screw terminal unit 2, it is necessary to turn a screw, but when fixing the electric wire 91 to the screwless terminal unit 3, it is sufficient to move the electric wire 91 toward the back of the socket 61.

[0016] The terminal block 1 is provided with a case 6, and is configured so that the connection point of the electric wire 91 to the screwless terminal portion 3 is inside the case 6. The case 6 of the terminal block 1 also houses all or most of the conductive bar 7 that is electrically connected to both the screw terminal portion 2 and the screwless terminal portion 3. In the embodiment, the head 51 of the mounting screw 5 used to fix the terminal block 1 to the mounting surface 62 is also configured to be housed in the case 6 (see FIG. 7), and when the terminal block 1 is fixed so that it is in contact with the installation surface, it is possible to make it difficult to detect the presence of the mounting screw 5 from outside the terminal block 1.

[0017] The case 6 of the embodiment includes a first component 601 having an attachment surface 62 and a second component 602 having a socket 61 (see FIG. 8). The first component 601 can be fixed to an installation location using attachment screws 5 before the second component 602 is attached. The second component 602 can be connected to the first component 601 fixed to the installation location (see FIG. 9). The terminal screws 21 and terminal nuts 22 used for the screw terminal unit 2 can be attached to the case 6 in which the first component 601 and the second component 602 are combined.

[0018] Such an attachment method is not essential. For example, the attachment screw 5 may be able to be inserted and removed while the first component 601 and the second component 602 are connected. In the embodiment, a cutout portion 71 is provided in a part of the conductive bar 7 to provide an introduction path for the attachment screw 5 (see FIGS. 8 to 10). In the embodiment, after the attachment screw 5 is used to fix the conductive bar 7 to the installation location, the terminal screw 21 and the terminal nut 22 are attached, and these are attached so as to overlap with the introduction path for the attachment screw 5 (see FIG. 11), which prevents the attachment screw 5 from being accidentally removed.

[0019] In addition, when the mounting screw 5 is used to fix the device to the installation location, the mounting screw 5 may be in contact with the conductive bar 7. In this way, the installation location and the conductive bar 7 can be electrically connected.

[0020] As can be seen from FIG. 6 and other figures, the terminal block 1 shown in FIG. 3 has two paths of conductive bars 7 that are not electrically connected to each other. Each path of the conductive bars 7 may be made up of one conductive bar 7, or may be made up of multiple conductive bars 7. In either case, there are two clearly distinguished paths (two paths that are not electrically connected to each other) through which electricity can pass. However, the number of paths through which electricity can pass does not need to be limited to two. It is possible to have one or more paths through which electricity can pass.

[0021] For example, if two or more paths capable of carrying electricity are provided, the number of earth wires that can be connected can be increased. Also, if two or more paths capable of carrying electricity are provided, the paths capable of carrying electricity can be divided depending on the electrical electronic equipment or circuit. For example, a path for an ELCB and a path for an MCCB can be set up. The path for an ELCB (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker) is a path for grounding an earth leakage circuit breaker, and the path for an MCCB (Mold Case Circuit Breaker) is a path for grounding a molded-case circuit breaker. Setting up separate paths for the ELCB and the MCCB allows the circuit breakers to be used appropriately.

[0022] The terminal block 1 shown in Fig. 3 has two paths through which electricity can pass. In one path, a first screw terminal unit 2 and a first screwless terminal unit 3 electrically connected to a conductive bar 7 provided in the path are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the conductive bar 7. In the other path, a second screw terminal unit 2 and a second screwless terminal unit 3 electrically connected to a conductive bar 7 provided in the path are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the conductive bar 7. In this embodiment, one path and the other path extend parallel to each other, and the longitudinal directions of the conductive bars 7 provided in each path are also parallel to each other.

[0023] As can be understood from these descriptions, the terminal block 1 preferably comprises a first path ER1 having a conductive bar 7, a second path ER2 having a conductive bar 7, a first screw terminal portion 2A electrically connected to the first path ER1, a first screwless terminal portion 3A electrically connected to the first path ER1, a second screw terminal portion 2B electrically connected to the second path ER2, and a second screwless terminal portion 3B electrically connected to the second path ER2, and the first path ER1 is not electrically connected to the second path ER2.

[0024] When multiple paths are provided, it is preferable to differentiate the paths for ease of use by making the heights of the paths different or by changing the color of the case 6 around the paths. In the example shown in Fig. 3, the case 6 is configured so that the height of the receptacle 61 for the first screwless terminal 3A used in the first path ER1 is different from the height of the receptacle 61 for the second screwless terminal 3B used in the second path ER2. In addition, the height of the first screw terminal 2A used in the first path ER1 is also different from the height of the second screw terminal 2B used in the second path ER2.

[0025] 3 is configured so that the height of the surface having the receptacle 61 for the first screwless terminal portion 3A is different from the height of the surface having the receptacle 61 for the second screwless terminal portion 3B. Since the first path ER1 is located on the front side and the second path ER2 is located on the rear side, the surface having the receptacle 61 for the first screwless terminal portion 3A is located on the front side, and the surface having the receptacle 61 for the second screwless terminal portion 3B is located on the rear side.

[0026] The surface having the insertion port 61 for the screwless terminal unit 3 is provided with a release operation hole 63. By inserting a tool or the like into this release operation hole 63, the pull-out prevention force that the leaf spring 31 provided in the screwless terminal unit 3 applies to the electric wire 91 can be suppressed or released.

[0027] 3, the surface having the receptacle 61 for the first screwless terminal unit 3A and the surface having the receptacle 61 for the second screwless terminal unit 3B are configured to be parallel to the mounting surface 62. Therefore, when inserting the electric wire 91 into each receptacle 61, the direction in which the electric wire 91 is moved is perpendicular to the mounting surface 62. This makes it easier to insert the electric wire 91 into the receptacle 61.

[0028] In contrast, the shaft 212 of the terminal screw 21 of the screw terminal portion 2 is approximately parallel to the direction in which the socket 61 penetrates, and the orientation of the end of the electric wire 91 fixed to this terminal screw 21 is different from the orientation of the end of the electric wire 91 fixed to the screwless terminal portion 3.

[0029] In the embodiment, the connection indicator 11 is provided, a portion of which protrudes outside the case 6 to indicate that the electric wire 91 is connected to the screwless terminal unit 3. The connection indicator 11 in the embodiment has an inclined portion 111 that is inclined with respect to the direction in which the socket 61 penetrates. When the electric wire 91 inserted through the socket 61 of the screwless terminal unit 3 abuts against the inclined portion 111, the connection indicator 11 moves and a portion of it protrudes outside the case 6. Note that FIG. 12 shows the state of the connection indicator 11 before it is moved by the electric wire 91. In contrast to this, FIG. 6 shows the state of one connection indicator 11 after it has been moved by the electric wire 91.

[0030] The connection indicator 11 in the embodiment moves so as to protrude in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the electric wire 91. This makes it easy to check whether the connection indicator 11 protrudes outside the case 6, even from the top surface side of the terminal block 1. There is a high possibility that many electric wires 91 will be wired around electrical and electronic devices, and in such cases, there is a particularly high demand for ease of checking.

[0031] When there are multiple paths each having a conductive bar 7, it is preferable that the connection indicators 11 protrude in different directions or that the colors of the connection indicators 11 be different. This makes it possible to confirm which path's screwless terminal 3 the electric wire 91 is properly connected to. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 6 , the connection indicator 11 for the first path ER1 protrudes in the opposite direction to the connection indicator 11 for the second path ER2. While the connection indicators 11 do not have to be of this type, it is preferable to have a configuration including a connection indicator 11 that indicates that the electric wire 91 is properly connected to the screwless terminal 3.

[0032] The number of electrical and electronic devices stored inside the electrical and electronic device storage box 8 varies depending on the scale of the facility. Therefore, it is preferable that the terminal block 1 has a structure that allows it to be connected. In this way, it can accommodate a variety of numbers of electrical and electronic devices.

[0033] In this embodiment, the terminal blocks 1 are coupled together to electrically connect the paths of the terminal blocks 1 (see FIGS. 13 and 14). Therefore, the conductive bar 7 forming the first path ER1 and the conductive bar 7 forming the second path ER2 both extend in the left-right direction. More specifically, both conductive bars 7 extend to the vicinity of the left and right ends of the case 6. The conductive bars 7 are exposed from the side surfaces (left and right side surfaces) of the case 6, and the exposed side surfaces are provided with coupling portions 65 that can engage with adjacent terminal blocks 1 (see FIG. 15).

[0034] To make this possible, it is preferable that at least one side surface of the case 6 is provided with an opening 64 that allows the conductive bar 7 to be exposed, and that the side surface of the case 6 with the opening 64 is provided with a connecting portion 65 that can be used to connect to an adjacent terminal block 1. In this case, it is preferable that the screw terminal portions 2 and the screwless terminal portions 3 are arranged in a row along the conductive bar 7. It is also preferable that the opening 64 is provided on a side surface located in the direction in which the row of the screw terminal portions 2 and the screwless terminal portions 3 extends.

[0035] 15, the conductive bar 7 of the adjacent terminal block 1 is exposed from an opening 64 provided on the side surface of the case 6 so as to be in surface contact with the conductive bar 7, but this is not a limitation. The conductive bar 7 may be protruded from the side surface of the case 6 and engaged with a receiving portion (engaging portion) provided on the adjacent terminal block 1 and electrically connected to the conductive bar 7 (see FIG. 16). In this case, the plate spring 31 used to secure the electric wire 91 inserted from the socket 61 may be used as the receiving portion (engaging portion).

[0036] Incidentally, a cable formed by bundling multiple electric wires 91 is often routed close to an electrical electronic device and connected separately to the load terminal of the electrical electronic device, such as a branch breaker 82, and the terminal block 1. For this reason, it is preferable that the electrical electronic device and the terminal block 1 are installed in a position where their correspondence can be easily understood. Therefore, it is preferable that the width size (horizontal width) of the terminal block 1 be an integral multiple of the width size of the electrical electronic device. In the example shown in Fig. 17, the width size (horizontal width) of the terminal block 1 is set to be approximately the same as the width size (horizontal width) of two electrical electronic devices placed side by side.

[0037] Furthermore, the screw terminal portion 2 and the screwless terminal portion 3 are aligned in the left-right direction, with the screwless terminal portions 3 located on both the left and right sides of the screw terminal portion 2. As a result, the screwless terminal portion 3 located on one side of the screw terminal portion 2 can be used for one electrical / electronic device, and the screwless terminal portion 3 located on the other side can be used for the other electrical / electronic device. In this way, the correspondence between the electrical / electronic device and the screwless terminal portions 3 of the terminal block 1 can be easily understood.

[0038] In this embodiment, the mounting screws 5 are provided below the screw terminals 2 (on the mounting surface 62 side of the case 6). More specifically, the screw terminals 2 and the mounting screws 5 are arranged so as to overlap when viewed from above. This prevents the mounting surface 62 of the case 6 from becoming too large.

[0039] In the embodiment, only one mounting screw 5 is provided for each terminal block 1. In this case, when the terminal block 1 is fixed with the mounting screw 5, the terminal block 1 may rotate in accordance with the rotation of the mounting screw 5. To prevent this from happening, in the embodiment, a recessed portion 66 is provided in the lower part of the terminal block 1. By making the recessed portion 66 come into contact with a screw 99, a nut, or the like, it is possible to suppress rotation of the terminal block 1 (see FIGS. 14 and 18).

[0040] In addition, the recessed portion 66 in this embodiment is arranged so as to cut out the surface provided with the open portion 64, and one screw or nut can be used to prevent rotation of both adjacent terminal blocks 1.

[0041] The screw terminal portion 2 may be used to connect an electric wire 91 (earth wire) to connect the terminal block 1 to another terminal block 1 or the housing body or door of the housing 81, but it may also be used to measure the electrical characteristics of the terminal block 1 (current, voltage, insulation resistance, etc.).

[0042] Furthermore, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of electrical paths in one terminal block 1. As can be seen from Fig. 19, one terminal block 1 may be configured to have only one path.

[0043] While the present invention has been described above using the embodiments as examples, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be embodied in various ways. For example, the mounting screw may be located directly below the screwless terminal portion. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1 Terminal section 2 Screw terminals 3 Screwless terminal 5 Mounting screws 6 cases 7 Conductive Bar 11 Connection display section 21 Terminal screw 51 Mounting screw head 61 Outlet 62 Mounting surface 64 Open area 65 Connecting part 91 Electric wire 211 Terminal screw head 2A First screw terminal 2B Second screw terminal 3A First screwless terminal 3B Second screwless terminal

Claims

1. A terminal block comprising: a screw terminal portion, a screwless terminal portion, a case having an insertion port into which an electric wire to be connected to the screwless terminal portion is inserted, and a conductive bar electrically connecting the screw terminal portion and the screwless terminal portion, The head of the terminal screw of the screw terminal part is located on one end side of the case, A terminal block in which the head of a mounting screw used to mount the terminal block with its mounting surface facing the installation surface is located on the other end of the case.

2. a first path having a conductive bar; a second path having a conductive bar; a first screw terminal portion electrically connecting with the first path; a first screwless terminal portion electrically connecting with the first path; a second screw terminal portion electrically connecting with the second path; and a second screwless terminal portion electrically connecting with the second path; 2. The terminal block of claim 1, wherein the first path is not electrically connected to the second path.

3. 3. The terminal block according to claim 2, further comprising a connection indicator that indicates that the electric wire is properly connected to the screwless terminal.

4. An opening is provided on at least one side of the case to allow the conductive bar to be exposed; 4. The terminal block according to claim 1, wherein a connecting portion is provided on the side of the case having the opening, the connecting portion being usable for connecting to an adjacent terminal block.

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