Terminal block

Abstract

To provide a terminal block that allows for easy connection of wire harnesses. [Solution] The terminal block has a base that is fastened to the terminal portion of the wire harness via bolts, a substantially cylindrical shape with a central axis along the fastening direction between the base and the terminal portion, a claw portion that fits onto the base provided on the outer circumferential wall, and a holding portion that holds the terminal portion inside the outer circumferential wall, the outer circumferential wall extending in the fastening direction so that both ends of the terminal portion are inserted into it, and a pair of substantially L-shaped slits further extending in the circumferential direction so that the inserted ends engage when they rotate in the circumferential direction of the outer circumferential wall.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Regarding terminal blocks, for example, Patent Document 1 describes bolting the terminal portion of a wire harness to a grounding member using a power tool.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003] [[ID=二十]]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] [[ID=三十五]]In the operation of connecting a wire harness to a terminal block, not only does the wire harness rotate as the bolt rotates, but there is also a risk of excessive load being applied to the terminal block due to the inclination of the bolt's posture with respect to the terminal block. In response, the operator fixes the terminal portion of the wire harness at the fastening position of the terminal block with one hand and bolts the terminal portion of the wire harness by operating a power tool with the other hand. However, since it is necessary to operate the power tool with one hand, the operation is difficult.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a terminal block that can easily connect a wire harness.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The terminal block of the present invention comprises a base that is fastened to the terminal portion of a wire harness via bolts, a holding portion having a substantially cylindrical shape with a central axis along the fastening direction between the base and the terminal portion, a claw portion that fits onto the base provided on the outer circumferential wall, and the outer circumferential wall enclosed by the holding portion that holds the terminal portion, the outer circumferential wall extending in the fastening direction so that both ends of the terminal portion are inserted into it, and a pair of substantially L-shaped slits further extending in the circumferential direction so that the inserted ends engage when they rotate in the circumferential direction of the outer circumferential wall. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, a wire harness can be easily connected to a terminal block. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figures 1(a) and 1(b) are perspective views showing an example of terminal block 1. [Figure 2] Figure 2(a) is a front view showing an example of terminal block 1, and Figure 2(b) is a top view showing an example of terminal block 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3(a) is a side view showing an example of terminal block 1, and Figure 3(b) is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 2(a). [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Figures 1(a) and 1(b) are perspective views showing an example of a terminal block 1. Figure 1(a) shows the terminal portion 40 of the wire harness 4 being temporarily held in the holding portion 3 of the terminal block 1, and Figure 1(b) shows the temporarily held terminal portion 40 being fastened to the base portion 2 of the terminal block 1 via bolts 5.

[0010] Furthermore, Figure 2(a) is a front view showing an example of terminal block 1, and Figure 2(b) is a top view showing an example of terminal block 1. Figure 2(a) shows terminal block 1 viewed from the front from the fastening direction with the terminal portion 40 temporarily held, and Figure 2(b) shows terminal block 1 viewed from the front from a direction perpendicular to the fastening direction and the direction in which the wire harness 4 extends, with the terminal portion 40 temporarily held.

[0011] Figure 3(a) is a side view showing an example of terminal block 1, and Figure 3(b) is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 2(a). Figure 3(a) shows terminal block 1 viewed from the front, from a direction opposite to the direction in which the wire harness 4 extends, with the terminal portion 40 temporarily held in place. Here, a portion of the terminal portion 40 of the wire harness 4 is shown in cross-section (see hatched area). In Figure 3(b), bolts 5 connected inside terminal block 1 are shown by dotted lines, viewed from the front, from a direction opposite to the direction in which the wire harness 4 extends.

[0012] Figures 1(a) to 3(b) show the mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z directions. Here, the X direction coincides with the fastening direction. The following explanation will refer to each figure.

[0013] (Terminal block configuration) The terminal block 1 is attached, for example, to the housing (not shown) of an in-vehicle device and connected to the wire harness 4. The terminal block 1 has a base 2 and a holding part 3. The base 2 has a resin plate-shaped part 21 with a pair of fastening holes 21a on both sides in the X direction for bolting to the surface of the housing of the in-vehicle device, a resin cylindrical cover part 20, and a metal plate connecting end 200.

[0014] The plate-shaped portion 21 is provided so as to protrude mainly from the outer circumferential surface of the cover portion 20 to the positive and negative sides in the X direction. As shown in Figure 2(b), the cover portion 20 extends to the positive and negative sides in the Z direction, sandwiching the plate-shaped portion 21, and the connecting end 200 protrudes from the negative end in the Z direction of the cover portion 20. The cover portion 20 and the connecting end 200 are inserted into the housing of the in-vehicle device, and the connecting end 200 is connected to a terminal inside the housing. The cover portion 20 covers a metal current-carrying portion 201 which is integrally formed with the connecting end 200. The current-carrying portion 201 is filled inside the cover portion 20. The plate-shaped portion 21 and the cover portion 20 are integrally molded, and the current-carrying portion 201 is insert-molded into the cover portion 20.

[0015] Furthermore, the holding portion 3 is a substantially cylindrical resin member provided on the positive side in the Z direction of the plate-shaped portion 21, and holds the wire harness 4. The wire harness 4 has a plate-shaped terminal portion 40 and a main body portion 41 made of copper wire covered with resin. The terminal portion 40 includes an annular-shaped annular portion 40a and a pair of ends 40b, 40c protruding from the side surface of the annular portion 40a. The ends 40b, 40c are provided so as to face each other in the same straight line with the annular portion 40a in between. A central hole 400 for passing a bolt 5 is formed in the center of the annular portion 40a.

[0016] The base portion 2 is fastened to the terminal portion 40 of the wire harness 4 via a bolt 5 (see reference numeral Dc in Figure 1(b)). As shown in Figure 3(b), the energized portion 201 has a fastening hole 202 that extends from the positive side to the negative side in the Z direction. The bolt 5 is inserted through the central hole 400 of the terminal portion 40 and then coupled to the fastening hole 202.

[0017] The fastening work is performed using a power tool. If the retaining part 3 is not present, the worker will need to fasten the bolt 5 by holding the terminal part 40's central hole 400 in alignment with the fastening hole 202 of the base part 2 with one hand, while operating the power tool with the other hand.

[0018] On the other hand, the terminal block 1 is provided with a holding portion 3 for holding the terminal portion 40 of the wire harness 4. The holding portion 3 has a substantially cylindrical shape with a central axis along the Z direction, which is the fastening direction of the base portion 2 and the terminal portion 40. As shown in Fig. 3(b), claw portions 31 fitted to the base portion 2 are provided on the outer peripheral wall 30, and the terminal portion 40 is held inside the area surrounded by the outer peripheral wall 30. The claw portions 31 are formed at two symmetric positions sandwiching the central axis among the edges on the negative side in the Z direction of the outer peripheral wall 30, and have a shape convex toward the center of the cylinder. On the other hand, as shown in the enlarged portion M, the cover portion 20 is provided with a recess 22a between the surface on the positive side in the Z direction of the plate-like portion 21. The recess 22a is open to the outside when viewed from the central axis and fits with the claw portions 31.

[0019] Thereby, the holding portion 3 is fixed so as not to rotate with respect to the base portion 2 during the fastening operation. Note that the number of the claw portions 31 and the recesses  22a is not limited.

[0020] In addition, a pair of substantially L-shaped slits 32 and 33 that engage with the terminal portion 40 are provided on the outer peripheral wall 30 of the holding portion 3. The slits 32 and 33 are formed at symmetric positions sandwiching the central axis of the holding portion 3.

[0021] The slits 32 and 33 extend in the fastening direction of the bolt 5 so that the end portions 40b and 40c of the terminal portion 40 can be inserted, and further extend in the circumferential direction so as to engage when the inserted end portions 40b and 40c rotate in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral wall 30. Thereby, since the wire harness 4 is temporarily held with respect to the terminal block 1, the operator does not need to fix the wire harness 4 with one hand during the fastening operation of the bolt 5.

[0022] The slit 32 has a wide slit 32a and a narrow slit 32b, and the slit 33 has a wide slit 33a and a narrow slit 33b. The wide slits 32a and 33a extend from the edge of the opening surface of the outer peripheral wall 30 to the negative side in the Z direction, that is, the fastening direction. The wide slits 32a and 33a have a width capable of receiving the end portions 40b and 40c inserted in the fastening direction when the terminal portion 40 is maintained in a posture parallel to the plate surface of the plate-like portion 21 (see the symbol Da in Fig. 1(a)).

[0023] The narrow slits 32b and 33b extend in the circumferential direction substantially orthogonal to the Z direction from the innermost part of the wide slits 32a and 33a. The narrow slits 32b and 33b have a width that can receive the end portions 40b and 40c inserted to the innermost part of the wide slits 32a and 33a when the end portions 40b and 40c are rotated in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral wall 30 (see reference symbol Da in Fig. 1(a) and Fig. 3(a)). The width of the wide slits 32a and 33a is narrower than the width of the narrow slits 3e and 33b.

[0024] Note that the narrow slits 32b and 33b extend on the clockwise side in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral wall 30 so as to engage with the end portions 40b and 40c rotated clockwise when the terminal block 1 is viewed from the front, in accordance with the rotation direction of the bolt 5 by the electric tool during the fastening operation. However, when the rotation direction of the bolt 5 is opposite to this, the narrow slits 32b and 33b extend on the counterclockwise side in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral wall 30 so as to engage with the end portions 40b and 40c counterclockwise.

[0025] (Connection method of wire harness) First, as shown in Fig. 1(a), the terminal portion 40 is placed in a posture parallel to the plate surface of the plate-like portion 21 of the terminal block 1, and is pushed in the fastening direction (negative side in the Z direction) so that the end portions 40b and 40c of the terminal portion 40 are inserted into the wide slits 32a and 33a (see reference symbol Da). Next, the terminal portion 40 inserted to the innermost part of the wide slits 32a and 33a is rotated clockwise when the terminal block 1 is viewed from the front. Thereby, the rotated end portions 40b and 40c are engaged with the narrow slits 32b and 33b. At this time, even if the end portions 40b and 40c abut against the innermost part of the narrow slits 32b and 33b, as shown in Fig. 3(b), since the holding portion 3 is fitted to the base portion 2 by the claw portion 31, it will not rotate any further.

[0026] Next, as shown in Fig. 1(b), the bolt 5 is coupled to the central hole 400 of the terminal portion 40 and the fastening hole 202 of the base portion 2 by an electric tool not shown (see reference symbol Dc). Thereby, as shown in Fig. 3(b), the wire harness 4 is fastened to the base portion 2 via the bolt 5.

[0027] At this time, since the holding part 3 is fitted to the base part 2 by the claw part 31, the rotation of the holding part 3 due to the rotation of the bolt 5 is suppressed. Also, as shown in Figures 1(b), 2(a), and 3(a), the ends 40b and 40c of the terminal part 40 are engaged with the slits 32 and 33, respectively, so that the wire harness 4 is held in the fastening position of the terminal block 1 by the holding part 3 without the need for the worker's hands. Furthermore, this engagement maintains the terminal part 40 in a position facing the terminal block 1, so that the tilt of the power tool does not impose an excessive load from the bolt 5 on the terminal block 1 and the vehicle-mounted device to which it is attached. Therefore, the terminal block 1 can easily connect the wire harness 4.

[0028] Note that the positions of the slits 32 and 33 in the holding portion 3 are not limited to this example. The slits 32 and 33 should be formed in positions that follow the path direction of the main body portion 41, according to the wiring of the wire harness 4. Therefore, the terminal block 1 can accommodate various wiring configurations of the wire harness 4 by changing only the positions of the slits 32 and 33 in the holding portion 3.

[0029] The embodiments described above are preferred examples of the present invention. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0030] 1 Terminal block, 2 Base, 3 Holding part, 4 Wire harness, 5 Bolt, 30 Outer wall, 31 Claw part, 32,33 Slit

Claims

[Claim 1] The base is fastened to the terminal portion of the wire harness via a bolt, The base portion and the terminal portion have a substantially cylindrical shape with a central axis along the fastening direction, a claw portion that fits into the base portion is provided on the outer circumferential wall, and a holding portion that holds the terminal portion is enclosed within the outer circumferential wall. The outer periphery wall extends in the fastening direction so that both ends of the terminal portion are inserted into it, and is provided with a pair of substantially L-shaped slits that extend further in the circumferential direction so that they engage when the inserted ends rotate in the circumferential direction of the outer periphery wall. terminal block.

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