Terminal block

Abstract

The present invention provides a terminal block that can absorb the misalignment between the first and second devices, and that can be miniaturized while relaying the electrical connection between the first and second devices. [Solution] The terminal block 11 comprises a first busbar member 13 held in a housing 12, a second busbar member 14 formed separately from the first busbar member, a frame member 15 disposed within the housing and having a busbar insertion space formed inside, and a spring member 15B disposed within the busbar insertion space. The spring member elastically presses the second connection portion 14B of the second busbar member, which is movable relative to the frame member, toward the first connection portion 13B of the first busbar member, thereby causing the first and second connection portions to come into contact with each other, and the first and second busbar members to be electrically connected to each other.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a terminal block, and particularly to a terminal block for relaying the electrical connection between a first device and a second device.

Background Art

[0002] For example, as a terminal block for relaying the electrical connection between a motor device and an inverter device used in an electric vehicle, the terminal blocks shown in FIGS. 23 and 24 are disclosed in Patent Document 1. The terminal block has a housing 1, and a plurality of first terminals 2 and a plurality of second terminals 3 are respectively held in the housing 1. Conductors of the motor device are connected to the plurality of first terminals 2, and conductors of the inverter device are connected to the plurality of second terminals 3.

[0003] The plurality of second terminals 3 are respectively attached to a sub-housing 4 that is held movably with respect to the housing 1. Also, as shown in FIG. 25, each of the first terminals 2 and the second terminals 3 is connected by a conductive braided wire 5 having flexibility.

[0004] Since the terminal block has such a configuration, when there is a displacement between the conductor of the motor device connected to the first terminal 2 and the conductor of the inverter device connected to the second terminal 3, the sub-housing 4 to which the second terminal 3 is attached moves with respect to the housing 1, and the displacement is absorbed. At this time, the distance between the first terminal 2 and the second terminal 3 varies, but the distance between the first terminal 2 and the second terminal 3 is adjusted by the deformation of the flexible braided wire 5.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] Thus, according to the terminal block disclosed in Patent Document 1, even if there is a misalignment due to tolerances, etc., between the conductor of the motor device connected to the first terminal 2 and the conductor of the inverter device connected to the second terminal 3, the misalignment can be absorbed and the electrical connection between the motor device and the inverter device can be relayed. However, because the adjustment for the variation in the distance between the first terminal 2 and the second terminal 3 is performed by deforming the braided wire 5 that connects the first terminal 2 and the second terminal 3 to each other, the height of the terminal block from the first terminal 2 to the second terminal 3 increases, resulting in a problem of the terminal block becoming larger.

[0007] This invention was made to solve the problems of the conventional invention, and aims to provide a terminal block that can absorb the misalignment between the first and second devices and relay the electrical connection between the first and second devices while also being miniaturized. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The terminal block according to this invention is a terminal block for relaying the electrical connection between a first device and a second device, A housing formed from an insulating material, A conductive first busbar member is held in the housing and configured to be connected to the terminals of the first device, A conductive second busbar member is formed separately from the first busbar member and configured to be connected to the terminals of the second device, A frame member positioned inside the housing and having a busbar insertion space formed inside, A spring member placed within the busbar insertion space of the frame member and Equipped with, The first busbar member has a first connecting portion that extends along a predetermined first direction within the busbar insertion space of the frame member. The second busbar member has a second connecting portion that extends along a first direction so as to face the first connecting portion within the busbar insertion space of the frame member and is movably positioned relative to the frame member in the first direction. The spring member elastically presses the second connection portion toward the first connection portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, thereby causing the first and second connection portions to come into contact with each other, and the first busbar member and the second busbar member to be electrically connected to each other.

[0009] Preferably, the frame member is composed of a bent metal plate, and the spring member is formed by bending a portion of the metal plate into the busbar insertion space. Furthermore, it is preferable that the housing has a frame member housing portion with one end open along the first direction, the frame member has a cylindrical frame body extending along the first direction and having a busbar insertion space formed inside, and the frame body is housed within the frame member housing portion.

[0010] The frame member has a first claw portion that protrudes from the frame body in a second direction to the outside of the busbar insertion space, and the frame member can be configured to be fixed to the housing by fitting the first claw portion into a concave first claw portion receiving portion formed on the inner surface of the frame member housing portion.

[0011] Furthermore, the frame member may have a second claw portion that protrudes from the frame body into the busbar insertion space along a third direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions, and the second connecting portion of the second busbar member may have a groove portion that is open toward the third direction and extends toward the first direction, and the second connecting portion may be configured to be movable toward the first direction without coming out of the busbar insertion space when the second claw portion is inserted into the groove portion.

[0012] The second connecting portion has a pair of arms that protrude in a third direction beyond the frame body, and the housing has a pair of arm housings that face the frame member housing and house the pair of arms, and it is preferable that the second connecting portion is restricted from rotating around an axis along the first direction by the pair of arms being housed in the pair of arm housings.

[0013] The frame body preferably has a first connection receiving portion that contacts a part of the back surface of the first connection portion, which faces in the opposite direction to the second connection portion, and receives the first connection portion which is elastically pressed by a spring member. In this case, the first connecting portion receiving portion is made from a metal plate constituting the frame member that has been cut out and bent from the second direction to the third direction, and it is preferable that the corner of the first connecting portion facing the bent portion of the metal plate for forming the first connecting portion receiving portion has a chamfered portion so as not to interfere with the inner circumference of the bent portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to this invention, the device comprises a first busbar member held in a housing, a second busbar member formed separately from the first busbar member, a frame member disposed within the housing and having a busbar insertion space formed inside it, and a spring member disposed within the busbar insertion space of the frame member. The first busbar member has a first connecting portion extending along a predetermined first direction within the busbar insertion space of the frame member, and the second busbar member has a second connecting portion extending along a first direction so as to face the first connecting portion within the busbar insertion space of the frame member and being movably disposed in the first direction relative to the frame member. The spring member elastically presses the second connecting portion toward the first connecting portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, causing the first and second connecting portions to come into contact with each other, and the first and second busbar members to be electrically connected to each other. This makes it possible to absorb the misalignment between the first and second devices and to achieve miniaturization while relaying the electrical connection between the first and second devices. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] Perspective view showing the terminal block according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Plan view showing the terminal block according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] Front view showing the terminal block according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] Bottom view showing the terminal block according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] Exploded view of the terminal block according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] Perspective view showing the first bus bar member used in the terminal block of the embodiment. [Figure 7] Perspective view showing the second bus bar member used in the terminal block of the embodiment. [Figure 8] Side view showing the second bus bar member used in the terminal block of the embodiment. [Figure 9] Front view showing the second bus bar member used in the terminal block of the embodiment. [Figure 10] Perspective view showing the housing used in the terminal block of the embodiment. [Figure 11] Plan view showing the housing used in the terminal block of the embodiment. [Figure 12] Front view showing the housing used in the terminal block of the embodiment. [Figure 13] Enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 11. [Figure 14] Perspective view of the frame member used in the terminal block of the embodiment as seen obliquely from above. [Figure 15] Perspective view of the frame member used in the terminal block of the embodiment as seen obliquely from below. [Figure 16] Plan view showing the frame member used in the terminal block of the embodiment. [Figure 17] Front cross-sectional view showing the frame member used in the terminal block of the embodiment. [Figure 18] Side cross-sectional view showing the frame member used in the terminal block of the embodiment. [Figure 19]This is a partially broken perspective view showing a terminal block of an embodiment during assembly. [Figure 20] This is a partially broken perspective view showing a terminal block of an assembled embodiment. [Figure 21] This is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 3. [Figure 22] This is a partial perspective view showing the second busbar member and frame member with the housing omitted. [Figure 23] This is a perspective view of a conventional terminal block, seen from an oblique angle above. [Figure 24] This is a perspective view of a conventional terminal block, seen from a diagonal downward angle. [Figure 25] This is a perspective view showing the first and second terminals connected by braided wire in a conventional terminal block. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] Embodiments of this invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. Figures 1 to 4 show a terminal block 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The terminal block 11 has a housing 12, which holds three first busbar members 13 and three second busbar members 14. The three first busbar members 13 are arranged linearly along a predetermined direction, and the three second busbar members 14 are also arranged linearly along the same direction as the arrangement of the three first busbar members 13.

[0017] The housing 12 has a flat plate portion 12A, and each of the three first busbar members 13 has a first connecting portion 13A exposed on the lower side of the flat plate portion 12A, and each of the three second busbar members 14 has a second connecting portion 14A exposed on the upper side of the flat plate portion 12A.

[0018] Each of the three first busbar members 13 is configured to be connected to a first device (not shown) via a first connecting portion 13A, and each of the three second busbar members 14 is configured to be connected to a second device (not shown) via a second connecting portion 14A. For example, a motor device for a vehicle may be used as the first device, and an inverter device for driving and controlling the motor device may be used as the second device. The terminal block 11 according to this embodiment electrically connects the motor device and the inverter device.

[0019] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, a waterproof member 16 made of, for example, rubber is arranged on the lower surface of the flat plate portion 12A of the housing 12 so as to surround the three first busbar members 13. Figures 1 to 4 show three first nuts N1 for connecting the first connecting portions 13A of the three first busbar members 13 to the first device, and three second nuts N2 for connecting the second connecting portions 14A of the three second busbar members 14 to the second device.

[0020] For convenience, the plane on which the flat plate portion 12A of the housing 12 extends will be called the XY plane, the arrangement direction of the three first busbar members 13 and the three second busbar members 14 will be called the Y direction, and the direction perpendicular to the XY plane and moving from the first busbar member 13 toward the second busbar member 14 will be called the +Z direction.

[0021] Three cylindrical portions 12B are formed along the Y direction on the +Z direction side of the flat plate portion 12A of the housing 12. Each of the three cylindrical portions 12B protrudes in the +Z direction from the +Z direction surface of the flat plate portion 12A, and houses and holds the frame member 15 inside. Each of the three second busbar members 14 is held by the corresponding frame member 15. On the other hand, the three first busbar members 13 are directly held by the housing 12 by becoming integrated with the housing 12.

[0022] Figure 5 shows an exploded view of the terminal block 11. The terminal block 11 consists of a housing 12, three first busbar members 13, three second busbar members 14, and three frame members 15.

[0023] As shown in Figure 6, the first busbar member 13 is formed from a conductive material such as metal and has a flat plate shape extending in the Z direction (first direction) along the YZ plane. A first connecting portion 13A is formed at the -Z end of the first busbar member 13, and a first connecting portion 13B is formed at the +Z end of the first busbar member 13 for connecting to the corresponding second busbar member 14. A holding portion 13C, which is integrally held by the housing 12, is positioned between the first connecting portion 13A and the first connecting portion 13B.

[0024] Furthermore, the first connecting portion 13A has a through hole 13D formed therein for screwing into the first nut N1 shown in Figure 4 through a bolt (not shown) used to connect the first connecting portion 13A to the first device. Furthermore, chamfered portions 13E extending in the Z direction are formed at the +X direction corners of the +Y direction end and -Y direction end of the first connecting portion 13B.

[0025] As shown in Figures 7 to 9, the second busbar member 14 is formed from a conductive material such as metal and has an L-shaped flat plate form. A second connecting portion 14A extending along the XY plane is formed at the +Z end of the second busbar member 14, and a second connecting portion 14B extends in the Z direction (first direction) along the YZ plane, bending in the -Z direction from the -X end of the second connecting portion 14A. The second connecting portion 14A has a through hole 14D formed therein for screwing into the second nut N2 shown in Figure 1 through a bolt (not shown) used to connect the second connecting portion 14A to the second device.

[0026] Two ribs 14E are formed on the surface of the second connecting portion 14B on the +X direction side, each protruding in the +X direction and extending linearly in the Z direction. Furthermore, a pair of grooves 14F are formed at both ends of the second connecting portion 14B in the Y direction (third direction) near the -Z direction end. Each of the pair of grooves 14F is open toward the Y direction and extends along the Z direction for a predetermined length. Furthermore, a pair of arm portions 14G are formed at both ends of the second connecting portion 14B near its +Z end, projecting in the Y direction (third direction).

[0027] As shown in Figures 10 to 12, the housing 12 is made of an insulating resin and is integrally molded with respect to the three first busbar members 13, for example, by an insert molding method. The three cylindrical portions 12B formed on the +Z direction side of the flat plate portion 12A of the housing 12 each extend in the Z direction and have a rectangular cross-section, and a frame member housing portion 12C that is open toward the +Z direction is formed inside each cylindrical portion 12B. The frame member housing portion 12C has a space that is substantially rectangular in shape and extends in the Z direction.

[0028] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 10, a through-hole 12D is formed in the wall of the cylindrical portion 12B on the +X side, and the through-hole 12D forms a concave first claw receiving portion on the inner surface of the frame member housing portion 12C on the +X side. Although not shown in Figure 10, a through-hole 12D is also formed in the wall of the cylindrical portion 12B on the -X side, at the same Z-direction position as the through-hole 12D in the wall on the +X side, and this through-hole 12D forms a concave first claw receiving portion on the inner surface of the frame member housing portion 12C on the -X side.

[0029] Each of the three first busbar members 13 is held in the housing 12 such that the first connecting portion 13A protrudes from the housing 12 toward the -Z direction, and the first connecting portion 13B protrudes toward the +Z direction within the corresponding frame member housing portion 12C. As shown in Figure 13, when viewed from the Z direction, the first connecting portion 13B of the first busbar member 13 is positioned off-center to the +X direction within the frame member housing 12C, and is close to the inner surface 12E on the +X direction side of the frame member housing 12C. However, the first connecting portion 13B does not come into contact with any of the inner surfaces of the frame member housing 12C, and gaps are formed between the first connecting portion 13B and the inner surfaces on all four sides of the frame member housing 12C.

[0030] As shown in Figures 14 and 15, the frame member 15 is made up of a single bent metal plate and has a cylindrical frame body 15A extending in the Z direction and a spring member 15B connected to the frame body 15A. The frame body 15A is formed by bending a metal plate into a cylindrical shape with a rectangular cross-section when viewed from the Z direction, such that the first side plate portion S1 on the +X direction side, the second side plate portion S2 on the -Y direction side, the third side plate portion S3 on the -X direction side, and the fourth side plate portion S4 on the +Y direction side are connected in sequence, and connecting both ends of the metal plate with a crimped portion 15C on the fourth side plate portion S4. A busbar insertion space 15D is formed inside the frame body 15A. The spring member 15B is formed by bending a portion of a metal plate from the +Z direction end of the third side plate portion S3 of the frame body 15A into the busbar insertion space 15D.

[0031] Furthermore, the first side plate portion S1 of the frame body 15A has a first claw portion 15E that protrudes from the frame body 15A to the outside of the busbar insertion space 15D in the +X direction, and the fourth side plate portion S4 of the frame body 15A has a second claw portion 15F that protrudes from the frame body 15A to the inside of the busbar insertion space 15D along the Y direction (third direction). These first claw portion 15E and second claw portion 15F are formed by cutting a cantilevered shape out of the metal plate constituting the frame body 15A and bending the tip portion.

[0032] Furthermore, within the busbar insertion space 15D, a pair of first connection part receiving portions 15G are formed, extending along the YZ plane at a position offset to the -X direction from the inner surface of the first side plate portion S1. The first connection part receiving portions 15G are made from a metal plate constituting the frame body 15A, which has been cut out and bent from the X direction to the Y direction. Such first connection part receiving portions 15G are formed at the corners between the first side plate portion S1 and the second side plate portion S2, and at the corners between the first side plate portion S1 and the fourth side plate portion S4, respectively.

[0033] Furthermore, arm accommodating sections 15H are provided at the +Z-direction ends of the second side plate section S2 and the fourth side plate section S4 of the frame body 15A, respectively, formed by cutting out a rectangular section from the metal plate constituting the frame body 15A. These arm accommodating sections 15H are sized to correspond to the arm sections 14G that protrude in the Y direction from the second connection section 14B of the second busbar member 14, and are intended to accommodate the pair of arm sections 14G of the second busbar member 14 when the terminal block 11 is assembled. As shown in Figures 16 and 17, the first claw portion 15E is formed on the first side plate portion S1 and the third side plate portion S3 of the frame body 15A, respectively, and the second claw portion 15F is formed on the second side plate portion S2 and the fourth side plate portion S4 of the frame body 15A, respectively.

[0034] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 18, the spring member 15B extends into the busbar insertion space 15D from the +Z end of the third side plate portion S3 of the frame body 15A, but the middle portion of the spring member 15B in the Z direction forms a convex portion 15J that protrudes in the +X direction within the busbar insertion space 15D. The convex portion 15J is formed to be elastically displaceable in the X direction (second direction). Here, in a natural state where no external force acts on the spring member 15B, the distance D1 in the X direction between the convex portion 15J of the spring member 15B and the first connecting portion receiving portion 15G is set to be smaller than the sum of the thickness in the X direction of the first connecting portion 13B of the first busbar member 13 and the thickness in the X direction of the second connecting portion 14B of the second busbar member 14.

[0035] Furthermore, the frame body 15A of the frame member 15 has dimensions slightly smaller than the frame member housing portion 12C formed in the cylindrical portion 12B of the housing 12, and is configured to be housed in the frame member housing portion 12C by being inserted from the +Z direction.

[0036] When assembling the terminal block 11 according to this embodiment, first, as shown in Figure 19, the frame member 15 is inserted into the frame member housing portion 12C of the cylindrical portion 12B of the housing 12 from the +Z direction, thereby housing the frame member 15 within the frame member housing portion 12C. At this time, a pair of first claw portions 15E that protrude outward from the +X direction side and the -X direction side of the frame member 15 fit into a pair of through holes 12D (first claw portion receiving portions) formed in the wall portion on the +X direction side and the wall portion on the -X direction side of the cylindrical portion 12B of the housing 12. The pair of first claw portions 15E catch on the pair of through holes 12D, preventing the frame member 15 from coming out of the frame member housing portion 12C in the +Z direction.

[0037] Furthermore, by housing the frame member 15 within the frame member housing portion 12C, the first side plate portion S1 of the frame member 15 on the +X direction side is inserted into the gap between the inner surface 12E on the +X direction side of the frame member housing portion 12C of the housing 12 shown in Figure 13 and the first connection portion 13B of the first busbar member 13, and the -X direction side surfaces of the pair of first connection portion receiving portions 15G of the frame member 15 shown in Figure 16 contact or are close to the +X direction side surface of the first connection portion 13B of the first busbar member 13. In this way, the first connection portion 13B of the first busbar member 13 is inserted into the busbar insertion space 15D of the frame member 15.

[0038] Next, when the second connecting portion 14B of the second busbar member 14 is inserted into the busbar insertion space 15D of the frame member 15 from the +Z direction, as shown in Figure 20, the second connecting portion 14B of the second busbar member 14 is inserted within the busbar insertion space 15D between the first connecting portion 13B of the first busbar member 13 and the spring member 15B of the frame member 15.

[0039] At this time, a pair of second claw portions 15F, which protrude into the busbar insertion space 15D from the +Y and -Y sides of the frame member 15 shown in Figure 17, are inserted into a pair of groove portions 14F formed on both ends of the second busbar member 14 in the Y direction, as shown in Figure 9. Since each of the pair of groove portions 14F extends for a predetermined length along the Z direction, when the second claw portions 15F are inserted into the groove portions 14F, the second connecting portion 14B of the second busbar member 14 becomes movable in the Z direction along the Z-direction length of the groove portion 14F without coming out of the busbar insertion space 15D of the frame member 15. In this way, the assembly of terminal block 11 is completed.

[0040] Figure 21 shows a cross-section of the assembled terminal block 11. Within the busbar insertion space 15D of the frame member 15, the first connection portion 13B of the first busbar member 13 and the second connection portion 14B of the second busbar member 14 are inserted between the convex portion 15J of the spring member 15B of the frame member 15 and the first connection portion receiving portion 15G, overlapping each other.

[0041] Here, as shown in Figure 18, in a natural state where no external force acts on the spring member 15B, the distance D1 in the X direction between the convex portion 15J of the spring member 15B and the first connecting portion receiving portion 15G is set to be smaller than the sum of the thickness in the X direction of the first connecting portion 13B of the first busbar member 13 and the thickness in the X direction of the second connecting portion 14B of the second busbar member 14. Therefore, the elastic force of the spring member 15B presses the second connection portion 14B of the second busbar member 14 toward the first connection portion 13B of the first busbar member 13 in the +X direction. As a result, the two ribs 14E of the second connection portion 14B of the second busbar member 14 come into contact with the first connection portion 13B of the first busbar member 13, and the first busbar member 13 and the second busbar member 14 become electrically connected to each other.

[0042] As described above, when the second claw portion 15F of the frame member 15 is inserted into the groove portion 14F of the second busbar member 14, the second connecting portion 14B of the second busbar member 14 is movable in the Z direction over the Z-direction length of the groove portion 14F. At any Z-direction position within the movable range, as shown in Figure 21, the elastic force of the spring member 15B causes the second connecting portion 14B of the second busbar member 14 to contact the first connecting portion 13B of the first busbar member 13, and the first busbar member 13 and the second busbar member 14 are electrically connected to each other. Furthermore, the movable range of the second connection portion 14B of the second busbar member 14 in the Z direction is defined by the Z-direction length of the groove portion 14F of the second busbar member 14, thereby preventing movement beyond what is necessary and ensuring the reliability of the terminal block 11.

[0043] In this way, each of the three second busbar members 14 becomes movable in the Z direction relative to the corresponding first busbar member 13. Therefore, for example, if the first connecting portions 13A of the three first busbar members 13 are each connected to a first device consisting of a motor device using a first nut N1, and the second connecting portions 14A of the three second busbar members 14 are each connected to a second device consisting of an inverter device using a second nut N2, then even if there is a positional misalignment between the first and second devices due to tolerances or the like, the three second busbar members 14 will move in the Z direction, absorbing the misalignment and allowing the electrical connection between the first and second devices to be relayed.

[0044] Furthermore, since a waterproof member 16 is arranged on the -Z-direction side of the flat plate portion 12A of the housing 12 so as to surround the three first busbar members 13, when the terminal block 11 is attached to a first device, such as a motor device, via the housing 12, waterproofing can be ensured between the terminal block 11 and the first device.

[0045] In the terminal block 11 according to this embodiment, the first busbar member 13 connected to the first device and the second busbar member 14 connected to the second device are formed as separate parts, and the first connection portion 13B of the first busbar member 13 and the second connection portion 14B of the second busbar member 14, which extend in the Z direction, are directly pressed together by a spring member 15B. Therefore, as in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, there is no need to connect the first busbar member 13 and the second busbar member 14 using a flexible braided wire, and it is possible to reduce the size, in particular the height in the Z direction, while absorbing the positional misalignment between the first and second devices and relaying the electrical connection between the first and second devices.

[0046] When the assembly of the terminal block 11 is complete, as shown in Figure 22, a pair of arms 14G protruding in the Y direction from the second connection portion 14B of the second busbar member 14 are housed in the pair of arms housing portions 15H of the frame member 15. This restricts the rotation of the second connection portion 14B of the second busbar member 14 around the axis along the Z direction, improving the reliability of the contact between the first connection portion 13B of the first busbar member 13 and the second connection portion 14B of the second busbar member 14.

[0047] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 21, when the elastic force of the spring member 15B presses the second connection portion 14B of the second busbar member 14 toward the first connection portion 13B of the first busbar member 13 in the +X direction, the recoil causes the pair of first connection portion receiving portions 15G of the frame member 15 to press toward the first connection portion 13B of the first busbar member 13. Here, as shown in Figure 6, chamfered portions 13E extending in the Z direction are formed at the +Y direction end and the +Y direction end corners on the +X direction side of the first connection portion 13B of the first busbar member 13.

[0048] Therefore, the corner of the first connecting portion 13B does not interfere with the inner circumference of the bent portion of the metal plate that forms the first connecting portion receiving portion 15G, and the surface of the first connecting portion 13B of the first busbar member 13 on the +X direction side comes into close contact with the surface of the pair of first connecting portion receiving portions 15G of the frame member 15 on the -X direction side. Therefore, the reaction force of the spring member 15B can be received only by the pair of first connecting part receiving parts 15G of the frame member 15, which is a metal member, rather than by the housing 12 which is made of resin material, thereby improving durability.

[0049] As shown in Figures 14 and 15, the frame body 15A of the frame member 15 is formed by bending a single metal plate into a cylindrical shape and connecting both ends of the metal plate with a crimping portion 15C located on the fourth side plate portion S4 that extends along the XZ plane. In other words, since the crimping portion 15C is located on the fourth side plate portion S4 that extends parallel to the X direction on which the reaction force of the spring member 15B acts, even if a large reaction force acts on the spring member 15B, there is little risk of the cylindrically bent frame body 15A being damaged, such as opening, and the reliability of the terminal block 11 is improved.

[0050] In the above embodiment, the three first busbar members 13 and the three second busbar members 14 are arranged linearly along the Y direction, but they do not necessarily have to be arranged linearly. Furthermore, although three first busbar members 13 and three second busbar members 14 are used, the number of first busbar members 13 and second busbar members 14 is not limited to three. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1 Housing, 2 First terminal, 3 Second terminal, 4 Sub-housing, 5 Braided wire, 11 Terminal block, 12 Housing, 12A Flat plate section, 12B Cylindrical section, 12C Frame member housing section, 12D Through hole (First claw receiving section), 12E Inner surface, 13 First busbar member, 13A First connecting section, 13B First connection section, 13C Holding section, 13D, 14D Through holes, 13E Chamfered section, 14 Second busbar member, 14A Second connecting section, 14B Second connection section, 14E Rib, 14F Groove section, 14G Arm section, 15 Frame member, 15A Frame body, 15B Spring member, 15C Crimping section, 15D Busbar insertion space, 15E First claw section, 15F Second claw section, 15G First connection receiving section, 15H Arm housing section, 15J protrusion, 16 waterproof member, N1 first nut, N2 second nut, S1 first side plate section, S2 second side plate section, S3 third side plate section, S4 fourth side plate section, D1 spacing.

Claims

1. A terminal block for relaying the electrical connection between the first device and the second device, A housing formed from an insulating material, A conductive first busbar member is provided, which is held in the housing and configured to be connected to the terminals of the first device. A conductive second busbar member is formed separately from the first busbar member and configured to be connected to the terminals of the second device, A frame member disposed within the housing and having a busbar insertion space formed inside, A spring member disposed within the busbar insertion space of the frame member and Equipped with, The first busbar member has a first connecting portion that extends along a predetermined first direction within the busbar insertion space of the frame member, The second busbar member has a second connecting portion that extends along a first direction so as to face the first connecting portion within the busbar insertion space of the frame member and is movably positioned relative to the frame member in the first direction. A terminal block in which the spring member elastically presses the second connecting portion toward the first connecting portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, thereby causing the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion to come into contact with each other, and the first busbar member and the second busbar member to be electrically connected to each other.

2. The frame member is made of a bent metal plate, The terminal block according to claim 1, wherein the spring member is formed by bending a part of the metal plate into the busbar insertion space.

3. The housing has a frame member housing portion with one end along the first direction open, The frame member has a cylindrical frame body that extends along the first direction and has a busbar insertion space formed inside, The terminal block according to claim 2, wherein the frame body is housed within the frame member housing portion.

4. The frame member has a first claw portion that protrudes from the frame body to the outside of the busbar insertion space in the second direction, The terminal block according to claim 3, wherein the frame member is fixed to the housing by the first claw portion fitting into a concave first claw portion receiving portion formed on the inner surface of the frame member housing portion.

5. The frame member has a second claw portion that protrudes from the frame body into the busbar insertion space along a third direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions, The second connecting portion of the second busbar member has a groove that is open toward the third direction and extends along the first direction, The terminal block according to claim 3, wherein the second claw portion is inserted into the groove portion, thereby the second connecting portion is positioned to be movable in the first direction without coming out of the busbar insertion space.

6. The second connecting portion has a pair of arms that protrude beyond the frame body in the third direction, The housing has a pair of arm housings that face the frame member housing and house the pair of arm housings, The terminal block according to claim 3, wherein the pair of arms are housed in the pair of arm housings, thereby restricting the second connecting portion from rotating around an axis along the first direction.

7. The terminal block according to claim 3, wherein the frame body has a first connection receiving portion that contacts a part of the back surface of the first connection portion facing in the opposite direction from the second connection portion and receives the first connection portion which is elastically pressed by the spring member.

8. The first connecting portion receiving portion is made of the metal plate constituting the frame member, which has been cut out and bent from the second direction to the third direction. The terminal block according to claim 7, wherein the corner of the first connecting portion facing the bent portion of the metal plate for forming the first connecting portion receiving portion has a chamfered portion formed so as not to interfere with the inner circumference of the bent portion.

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