Terminal block

Abstract

To ensure contact pressure with a minimal number of components. [Solution] The busbar 10 has a terminal connection portion 11 and a busbar connection portion 12 that physically and electrically connects the mating busbar connection portion 112. The case 20 has a housing chamber 21 for housing the busbar, a fitting portion 22 that exposes the busbar connection portion inward and presses the mating busbar connection portion, which is inserted and fitted inside it, against the busbar connection portion along the insertion and fitting direction, and a busbar locking portion 23 that locks the terminal connection portion from the insertion and fitting direction side of the mating busbar connection portion to maintain it in the housing completed position. The busbar connection portion is formed in a cantilever shape that protrudes from the terminal connection portion in a direction perpendicular to the insertion and fitting direction, and has a corrugated portion 13 in which peaks 13a and valleys 13b alternately line up in the protruding direction. The corrugated portion has the peaks of the peaks as contact points with the mating busbar connection portion and is stretched in the protruding direction within the elastic range by receiving a pressing force from the mating busbar connection portion.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a terminal block includes a bus bar that is electrically connected to one electrical device, and a case that houses the bus bar. This terminal block electrically connects the two electrical devices by fitting and connecting a mating terminal block on the other electrical device side. This terminal block includes an elastic member for pressing the bus bar against the mating bus bar of the mating terminal block in order to ensure the contact pressure between the bus bar and the mating bus bar. This type of technology is disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 below.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in the conventional terminal block, in order to ensure the contact pressure, many components are required, such as the bus bar being in a form integrated by combining a plurality of plate-like members, or providing a member for holding the elastic member in the case.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a terminal block that can ensure contact pressure with a small number of component configurations.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention comprises a busbar and a case for housing the busbar, wherein the busbar has a terminal connection portion for physically and electrically connecting terminal fittings of an electrical device and a busbar connection portion for physically and electrically connecting the inter-busbar connection portion of an inter-busbar on an inter-terminal block, and the case has a housing chamber for housing the busbar in a completed housing position, and the inter-busbar connection portion in the completed housing position is exposed internally, and the inter-busbar connection portion inserted and fitted inside is pressed against the inter-busbar connection portion in the completed housing position along the insertion and fitting direction to make contact with the inter-busbar connection portion in the completed housing position The busbar connection comprises a fitting portion and a busbar locking portion that locks the terminal connection portion from the insertion fitting direction side of the mating busbar connection portion to maintain the completed housing position, wherein the busbar connection portion is formed in a cantilever shape that protrudes from the terminal connection portion in a direction perpendicular to the insertion fitting direction of the mating busbar connection portion, and has a corrugated portion in which peaks and valleys alternately line in the protruding direction, wherein the peaks of the corrugated portion are in contact with the mating busbar connection portion, and are stretched in the protruding direction within an elastic range by receiving a pressing force from the mating busbar connection portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The terminal block according to the present invention elastically deforms the corrugated portion in the direction of protrusion of the busbar connection portion by the pressing force from the mating busbar connection portion, and applies a reaction force from the corrugated portion to the mating busbar connection portion, thereby ensuring contact pressure between the busbar connection portion and the mating busbar connection portion. In other words, this terminal block can ensure contact pressure between the busbar connection portion and the mating busbar connection portion simply by providing the busbar connection portion with the corrugated portion on the busbar (in other words, with fewer parts than conventional terminals), without having to separately prepare an elastic member to ensure contact pressure between the busbar connection portion and the mating busbar connection portion. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the terminal block and mating terminal block of the embodiment before mating connection. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the terminal block and mating terminal block of the embodiment, seen from a different angle, before mating connection. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a terminal block of an embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the terminal block of the embodiment from a different angle. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the terminal block of the embodiment. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the terminal block of the embodiment, seen from a different angle. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a plan view of the busbar seen from the side. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the mating connection in progress, illustrating the terminal block and mating terminal block of the embodiment. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in Figure 9. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the terminal block and mating terminal block of the embodiment after mating connection. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in Figure 11. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] An embodiment of the terminal block according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, this embodiment does not limit the present invention.

[0010] [Embodiment] One embodiment of the terminal block according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 12.

[0011] Reference numeral 1 in Figures 1 to 7 indicates a terminal block of this embodiment. This terminal block 1 is assembled to the housing C1 on the electrical equipment side and is physically and electrically connected to the counterpart terminal block 101 which is assembled to the counterpart housing C2 on the counterpart electrical equipment side. By assembling housings C1 and C2, terminal block 1 and counterpart terminal block 101 are mated together and connected to each other, electrically connecting the electrical equipment and the counterpart electrical equipment.

[0012] The terminal block 1 includes a bus bar 10 (Figs. 1 to 12). The mating terminal block 101 includes a mating bus bar 110 (Figs. 1 to 3). The bus bar 10 and the mating bus bar 110 are plate-shaped conductive members formed by press molding with a metal plate as the base material.

[0013] The bus bar 10 has a terminal connection portion 11 for physically and electrically connecting a terminal fitting of an electrical device (not shown) (Figs. 1 to 12). This terminal connection portion 11 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. A circular through-hole (hereinafter referred to as a "male screw insertion hole") 11a is formed in this terminal connection portion 11, and a terminal fitting of an electrical device is clamped and fixed by a male screw member (not shown) and a female screw member (not shown) passed through this male screw insertion hole 11a.

[0014] The mating bus bar 110 has a mating terminal connection portion 111 for physically and electrically connecting a mating terminal fitting of a mating electrical device (not shown) (Figs. 1 to 3). This mating terminal connection portion 111 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. A circular through-hole (hereinafter referred to as a "male screw insertion hole") 111a is formed in this mating terminal connection portion 111, and a mating terminal fitting of a mating electrical device is clamped and fixed by a male screw member (not shown) and a female screw member (not shown) passed through this male screw insertion hole 111a.

[0015] The bus bar 10 has a bus bar connection portion 12 for physically and electrically connecting to the mating bus bar 110 (Figs. 2, 3, 5 to 8, 10, and 12). The mating bus bar 110 has a mating bus bar connection portion 112 for physically and electrically connecting to the bus bar 10 (Figs. 1 and 3). The bus bar 10 and the mating bus bar 110 physically and electrically connect to each other by bringing their bus bar connection portion 12 and the mating bus bar connection portion 112 into contact.

[0016] Specifically, the bus bar connection portion 12 and the mating bus bar connection portion 112 are brought into contact with each other along the fitting connection direction by fitting and connecting the terminal block 1 and the mating terminal block 101.

[0017] Therefore, the busbar connection portion 12 is formed in a cantilever shape that protrudes from the terminal connection portion 11 in a direction perpendicular to the mating connection direction of terminal block 1 and mating terminal block 101 (for example, the insertion and mating direction of the mating busbar connection portion 112, which will be described later) (Figures 3, 6 to 8, 10 and 12). This busbar connection portion 12 has a corrugated portion 13 in which peaks 13a and valleys 13b alternately line up in the direction of its protrusion (Figures 2, 3, 5 to 8, 10 and 12).

[0018] The corrugated portion 13 has peaks 13a that serve as contact points with the mating busbar connection portion 112. This corrugated portion 13 has at least two peaks 13a whose peaks serve as contact points. For example, the busbar connection portion 12 is press-formed into a corrugated shape with a series of peaks 13a and valleys 13b between the free and fixed ends of a rectangular flat plate. Therefore, the mating busbar connection portion 112 is provided with a contact surface 112a that is a plane perpendicular to its insertion and fitting direction and contacts the peaks 13a that serve as contact points (Figures 1, 3, 10, and 12).

[0019] The busbar connection portion 12 shown here has a corrugated portion 13 protruding from the other busbar connection portion 112 side beyond its free end and fixed end (Figures 3, 8, 10, and 12). In addition, the busbar connection portion 12 shown here has two peaks 13a that act as contacts (Figures 3, 8, 10, and 12).

[0020] The busbar 10 shown here is formed in an L-shape with the terminal connection portion 11 and the inter-busbar connection portion 12 perpendicular to each other (Figures 3, 8, 10, and 12). Similarly, the mating busbar 110 shown here is formed in an L-shape with the mating terminal connection portion 111 and the inter-busbar connection portion 112 perpendicular to each other (Figures 3, 10, and 12). The inter-busbar connection portion 112 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape.

[0021] In the busbar connection portion 12, the mating busbar connection portion 112 is pressed against it along the insertion and fitting direction, and this pressing force from the mating busbar connection portion 112 maintains contact with the mating busbar connection portion 112. The corrugated portion 13 receives the pressing force from the mating busbar connection portion 112 and expands in the direction of protrusion of the busbar connection portion 12 within its elastic range (Figures 3, 10, and 12). In this corrugated portion 13, the pitch of adjacent peaks 13a is widened within its elastic range by the pressing force from the mating busbar connection portion 112 (Figure 12).

[0022] The terminal block 1 includes a case 20 for housing the busbar 10 (Figures 1 to 7). This case 20 includes a housing 30 having a housing chamber 21, a mating portion 22, and a busbar locking portion 23 (Figures 1 to 7 and 9 to 12). Furthermore, this case 20 includes a cover 40 that is assembled to the housing 30 in the completed assembly position (Figures 1 to 7 and 9 to 12). The housing 30 and the cover 40 are molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin.

[0023] The housing chamber 21 is a room for housing the busbar 10 in its completed housing position (Figures 3 and 6). In this housing chamber 21, the terminal connection portion 11 is made to protrude outward to house the busbar 10 in its completed housing position.

[0024] The fitting portion 22 is a chamber that exposes the busbar connection portion 12 in the completed position and inserts and fits the mating busbar connection portion 112 into it (Figure 3). In this fitting portion 22, the mating busbar connection portion 112, which is inserted and fitted into it, is pressed against the busbar connection portion 12 in the completed position along the insertion and fitting direction to bring them into contact.

[0025] The busbar locking portion 23 locks the busbar 10 in the fully housed position so as not to shift position due to the pressing force when the busbar connection portion 12 is subjected to a pressing force from the mating busbar connection portion 112. This busbar locking portion 23 is a locking projection that locks the terminal connection portion 11 from the insertion fitting direction side of the mating busbar connection portion 112 and maintains it in the fully housed position, and is provided in the housing chamber 21 (Figures 3 and 6).

[0026] The housing 30 has a cylindrical portion 31 that is allocated to a housing chamber 21 and a fitting portion 22 (Figures 3, 5 to 7, 10 and 12). The housing 30 shown here has a cylindrical portion 31 formed in a rectangular shape, with the internal space at one end of the cylindrical portion 31 in the direction of the cylindrical axis used as the housing chamber 21, and the internal space at the other end of the cylindrical portion 31 in the direction of the cylindrical axis used as the fitting portion 22.

[0027] The busbar locking portion 23 is provided on the wall surface of the housing chamber 21 inside the cylinder portion 31 (Figures 3 and 6). In the housing chamber 21, the busbar locking portion 23 is provided on one of a pair of opposing inner wall surfaces. The busbar locking portion 23 has a cantilevered shaft portion 23a suspended from one of the inner wall surfaces, and a claw portion 23b provided at the free end of the shaft portion 23a (Figures 3 and 9). The terminal connection portion 11 has a through hole through which the busbar locking portion 23 is inserted from the claw portion 23b side, and a locking hole 11b is provided between the claw portion 23b and one of the inner wall surfaces of the housing chamber 21 to lock the periphery of the hole to the shaft portion 23a (Figures 3, 6, 7, 10 and 12).

[0028] The housing chamber 21 has an opening 21a positioned opposite the busbar connection portion 12 at the completed housing position (Figure 6). This opening 21a is an opening at one end of the rectangular cylindrical portion 31. The housing chamber 21 allows the terminal connection portion 11 to protrude from this opening 21a.

[0029] The cover 40 has a cap-shaped cover body 41 that encloses one end (the side with the housing chamber 21) of the rectangular cylindrical portion 31 from the outside (Figures 1 to 7 and 9 to 12). The cover body 41 is provided with a lid portion 41a that closes the opening 21a at one end of the cylindrical portion 31 (Figures 1, 3, 4, 6 and 9 to 12). The lid portion 41a has a through hole (hereinafter referred to as the "terminal insertion hole") 41b through which the terminal connection portion 11 is inserted (Figure 6).

[0030] Furthermore, the cover 40 is inserted into the housing chamber 21 and, at the completed assembly position with respect to the housing 30, abuts against the free end and fixed end of the busbar connection portion 12 at the completed assembly position. It has a receiving portion 42 that returns the pressing force received from the opposing busbar connection portion 112 via the busbar connection portion 12 as a reaction force to the busbar connection portion 12 (Figures 3, 7, 10, and 12). This receiving portion 42 protrudes from the inner wall surface of the lid portion 41a and is inserted into the housing chamber 21 from the opening 21a on one end of the cylindrical portion 31 when assembling the cover 40 to the housing 30. The receiving portion 42 shown here is formed in a rectangular shape, and the rectangular plane at its tip abuts against the free end and fixed end of the busbar connection portion 12.

[0031] The housing 30 shown here has three rectangular cylindrical sections 31 (a combination of a housing chamber 21, a fitting section 22, and a busbar locking section 23) arranged in a direction perpendicular to the cylindrical axis. The housing 30 has an oval-shaped flange section 32 provided to hold these three cylindrical sections 31 (Figures 1 to 7). This flange section 32 is provided on the outer wall surface of the cylindrical section 31 on the fitting section 22 side.

[0032] The cover 40 shown here has a cap-shaped cover body 41 that encloses one end (the side facing the housing chamber 21) of each of its three cylindrical portions 31 from the outside. Therefore, the lid portion 41a has terminal insertion holes 41b provided at each opening 21a of the cylindrical portion 31. The housing 30 and the cover 40 are provided with a locking mechanism 24 that holds each other in place by hooking the locking portion of the other onto the claw portion of the other (Figures 4 to 6).

[0033] The terminal block 1 includes a metal plate member 50 that is positioned to overlap the plane of the flange portion 32 on the cover 40 side (Figures 1 to 7). This plate member 50 is an annular flat plate member whose outer peripheral edge protrudes beyond the outer peripheral edge of the flange portion 32. The terminal block 1 is attached to the housing C1 by screwing the outer peripheral edge of the plate member 50 to the housing C1 with a male screw member 61 (Figures 1 and 2). In the case 20, for example, the plate member 50 is placed in a mold, and the housing 30 is insert-molded using liquid synthetic resin material poured into the mold.

[0034] In this terminal block 1, for example, a busbar 10 is inserted into the housing chamber 21 through the opening 21a of the housing 30. In the housing chamber 21, the busbar locking portion 23 is inserted into the locking hole 11b of the busbar 10 from the claw portion 23b, and the busbar 10 is assembled to the completed housing position. In this terminal block 1, after all the busbars 10 have been assembled into the housing chamber 21, the cover 40 is assembled onto the housing 30. In the cover 40, a receiving portion 42 is inserted into each housing chamber 21, and each receiving portion 42 is brought into contact with the free end and fixed end of the inter-busbar connection portion 12 of each housing chamber 21 (Figure 3).

[0035] On the other hand, the mating terminal block 101 includes a mating housing 120 that accommodates the mating busbar 110 (Figures 1 to 3 and 9 to 12). This mating housing 120 is molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin.

[0036] The mating housing 120 has a mating fitting portion 121 on which the mating busbar connection portion 112 of the mating busbar 110 is placed, and which is fitted into the fitting portion 22 of the housing 30 together with the mating busbar connection portion 112 (Figures 1, 3, 10, and 12). This mating fitting portion 121 is formed in a rectangular shape.

[0037] The mating housing 120 has a mating fitting portion 121 for each fitting portion 22, and has an oval-shaped mating flange portion 122 provided to hold these three mating fitting portions 121 (Figures 1 to 3). On the plane of the mating flange portion 122 on the side of the three mating fitting portions 121, an oval-shaped groove is formed surrounding them, and an oval-shaped sealing member 130 is fitted into this groove (Figures 1 and 3). This sealing member 130 is in close contact with the plane of the flange portion 32 of the housing 30 that is opposite to the cover 40 side, ensuring waterproofing for the busbar connection portion 12 and the mating busbar connection portion 112 in contact.

[0038] The mating terminal block 101 includes a metal, flat plate-shaped mating plate member 140 that protrudes in an annular shape from the outer surface of the mating flange portion 122 (Figures 1 to 3). The mating terminal block 101 is attached to the mating housing C2 by screwing the outer edge of the mating plate member 140 to the mating housing C2 with a male screw member 151 (Figures 1 and 2).

[0039] For example, the mating housing 120 is insert-molded using a liquid synthetic resin material poured into a mold in which the mating busbar 110 and mating plate member 140 are positioned.

[0040] The mating terminal block 101 is mated and connected to terminal block 1. During this mating connection, the mating busbar connection portion 112 of the mating busbar 110 and the mating mating portion 121 of the mating housing 120 are fitted into the mating portion 22 (Figures 9 and 10). The mating connection between terminal block 1 and the mating terminal block 101 is completed when the assembly of housing C1 and the mating housing C2 is completed (Figures 11 and 12).

[0041] In terminal block 1, during the mating connection with the mating terminal block 101, the contact surface 112a of the mating busbar connection portion 112 of the mating busbar 110 comes into contact with the peak portion 13a of the corrugated portion 13 of the busbar connection portion 12 of the busbar 10 (Figures 9 and 10). In this terminal block 1, as the mating connection progresses, a pressing force is applied from the contact surface 112a of the mating busbar connection portion 112 to the peak portion 13a.

[0042] Here, in the busbar 10, the busbar connection portion 12 is locked to the receiving portion 42 of the cover 40 in the direction of the pressing force. Therefore, the receiving portion 42 receives the pressing force acting on the peak portion 13a from the contact surface 112a of the mating busbar connection portion 112 from the free end and fixed end of the busbar connection portion 12, and returns the reaction force of that pressing force to the free end and fixed end of the busbar connection portion 12. As a result, in the busbar connection portion 12, the corrugated portion 13 extends in its protruding direction within the elastic range upon receiving the pressing force from the mating busbar connection portion 112, and the reaction force accompanying this elastic deformation acts on the mating busbar connection portion 112 and the receiving portion 42 (Figures 11 and 12). In this way, the contact pressure between the busbar connection portion 12 and the mating busbar connection portion 112 can be ensured in this terminal block 1.

[0043] As described above, the terminal block 1 of this embodiment secures contact pressure between the busbar connection portion 12 and the other busbar connection portion 112 by elastically deforming the corrugated portion 13 in the direction of protrusion of the busbar connection portion 12 due to the pressing force from the mating busbar connection portion 112, and by applying the reaction force accompanying this elastic deformation from the corrugated portion 13 to the mating busbar connection portion 112. In other words, this terminal block 1 can secure contact pressure between the busbar connection portion 12 and the other busbar connection portion 112 simply by providing the busbar connection portion 12 with the corrugated portion 13 on the busbar 10 (in other words, with fewer parts than conventional terminal blocks), without having to separately prepare an elastic member to secure contact pressure between the busbar connection portion 12 and the mating busbar connection portion 112. Accordingly, the terminal block 1 of this embodiment can be made smaller and lighter.

[0044] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the terminal block 1 elastically deforms the corrugated portion 13 in a direction perpendicular to the direction of pressing from the mating busbar connection portion 112 to the busbar connection portion 12, and then applies the reaction force resulting from this elastic deformation from the corrugated portion 13 to the mating busbar connection portion 112. Therefore, this terminal block 1 can absorb tolerance variations and assembly variations of each component in its pressing direction.

[0045] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the corrugated portion 13 of the terminal block 1 undergoes elastic deformation, the peak portion 13a slides over the contact surface 112a of the mating busbar connection portion 112. Therefore, even if an oxide film is formed on the peak portion 13a or the contact surface 112a of this terminal block 1, the oxide film can be destroyed by the sliding of the peak portion 13a and by the force generated between the peak portion 13a and the contact surface 112a. Consequently, this terminal block 1 can suppress the occurrence of poor contact between the busbar 10 and the mating busbar 110, and ensure stable current flow between them.

[0046] In this embodiment, the terminal block 1 may have an indentation (not shown) that bulges out towards the mating busbar connection portion 112, instead of the waveform portion 13, provided on the busbar connection portion 12. However, the indentation has a narrower contact range with respect to the contact surface 112a of the mating busbar connection portion 112 compared to the peak portion 13a of the waveform portion 13. Therefore, if a better contact state is desired between the busbar 10 and the mating busbar 110, such as an expanded contact range or an expanded oxide film removal range, it is preferable to provide the waveform portion 13 on the busbar connection portion 12 rather than the indentation. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0047] 1 Terminal block 10 Busba 11 Terminal connection section 12 Busbar connection section 13 Waveform section 13a Yamabe 13b Tanibe 20 cases 21 Confinement Chambers 22 Fitting part 23 Busbar locking section 30 Housing 40 Cover 42 Receiving part 101 Mutual terminal block 110 Opponent Busba 112 Interconnection section between opposing busbars

Claims

1. Bassba and, A case for housing the aforementioned busbar, Equipped with, The busbar has a terminal connection portion for physically and electrically connecting the terminal fittings of an electrical device, and a busbar connection portion for physically and electrically connecting the inter-busbar connection portion of the inter-busbar The case comprises a housing chamber for housing the busbar in the completed housing position, a fitting portion that exposes the busbar connection portion in the completed housing position and presses the mating busbar connection portion, which is inserted and fitted inside therein, against the busbar connection portion in the completed housing position along the insertion and fitting direction, and a busbar locking portion that locks the terminal connection portion from the insertion and fitting direction side of the mating busbar connection portion to maintain it in the completed housing position. The busbar connection portion is formed in a cantilever shape that protrudes from the terminal connection portion in a direction perpendicular to the insertion fitting direction of the mating busbar connection portion, and has a corrugated portion in which peaks and valleys alternately follow in the direction of protrusion. The terminal block is characterized in that the waveform portion has the peak of the peak as a contact point with the mating busbar connection portion, and is stretched in the protruding direction within an elastic range by receiving a pressing force from the mating busbar connection portion.

2. The terminal block according to claim 1, characterized in that the waveform portion has at least two peaks whose vertices serve as contact points, and the pitch between adjacent peaks is widened within an elastic range by a pressing force from the mating busbar connection portion.

3. The busbar connection portion has the waveform portion protruding from the other busbar connection portion side beyond its free end and fixed end. The case comprises a housing having the housing chamber, the fitting portion and the busbar locking portion, and a cover that is assembled to the housing in the completed assembly position. The terminal block according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cover is inserted into the housing chamber and, at the completed assembly position, abuts against the free end and the fixed end of the busbar connection portion at the completed housing position, and has a receiving portion that returns to the busbar connection portion the pressing force received from the mating busbar connection portion via the busbar connection portion as a reaction force.

Images