Nut press-fit structure

Abstract

The objective is to provide a nut press-fitting structure that can improve the workability when press-fitting nuts. [Solution] The nut press-fit structure 1 comprises a housing 10 having a press-fit recess 20 into which a nut 130 can be press-fitted along the press-fit direction Z. The press-fit recess 20 has an inner wall surface 22 that is erected along the press-fit direction Z, and a press-fit rib 30 formed on the inner wall surface 22 along the press-fit direction Z and interposed between the press-fitted nut 130 and the inner wall surface 22. The press-fit rib 30 is composed of a first rib 31 and a second rib 32. Furthermore, the first rib 31 is provided on the front side of the press-fit direction Z than the second rib 32, and its protrusion amount L1 from the inner wall surface 22 is formed to be smaller than the protrusion amount L2 from the inner wall surface 22 of the second rib 32. The second rib 32 is provided on the back side of the press-fit direction Z than the first rib 31, and its protrusion amount L2 from the inner wall surface 22 is formed to be larger than the protrusion amount L1 from the inner wall surface 22 of the first rib 31.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a nut press-fitting structure.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an electrical connection component including a nut, a housing having a press-fitting groove (press-fitting recess) into which the nut is press-fitted, and ribs formed on the inner side surface of the press-fitting recess and pressing against the nut.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in the nut press-fitting structure applied to the electrical connection component described in the above Patent Document 1, when the nut is press-fitted into the press-fitting recess, there is a risk that the position of the nut shifts before the nut contacts the rib, and there is room for further improvement in terms of workability.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a nut press-fitting structure capable of improving workability when press-fitting a nut.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above objective, the nut press-fitting structure according to the present invention comprises a housing having a press-fitting recess into which a nut can be press-fitted along the press-fitting direction, wherein the press-fitting recess has an inner wall surface erected along the press-fitting direction and a press-fitting rib formed on the inner wall surface along the press-fitting direction and interposed between the press-fitted nut and the inner wall surface, wherein the press-fitting rib comprises a first rib and a second rib, wherein the first rib is provided on the front side in the press-fitting direction of the second rib and is formed to protrude less from the inner wall surface than the second rib, and the second rib is provided on the back side in the press-fitting direction of the first rib and is formed to protrude more from the inner wall surface than the first rib. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The nut press-fitting structure according to the present invention has the effect of improving workability when press-fitting nuts. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a terminal block to which the nut press-fit structure according to this embodiment is applied. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the nut press-fitting structure according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the press-fit rib shown in Figure 2. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a schematic top view showing the nut press-fitting structure according to this embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the press-fit rib shown in Figure 4. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. Furthermore, some of the components in the following embodiments may be easily substituted or substantially identical to those that are easily substituted by those skilled in the art.

[0010] [Embodiment] The nut press-fit structure 1 according to this embodiment is applied to the conductive fixing portion 110 of a terminal block 100, as shown in Figure 1. The terminal block 100 referred to here is, for example, mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, and relays electrical connections between devices such as a motor and an inverter. The conductive fixing portion 110 is the part in which a conductive member 120 is positioned adjacent to a nut 130 that has been press-fitted into the housing 10, and the conductive member 120 and the mating member (not shown) to which the conductive member 120 is electrically connected are fixed together by a bolt (not shown) and a nut 130.

[0011] The conductive member 120 is a conductive material, such as a busbar formed in the shape of a plate from a metal material. The conductive member 120 has a bolt insertion hole 121 through which the shaft of a bolt fastened to the nut 130 is inserted.

[0012] Furthermore, the bolt (not shown) and nut 130 are conductive members, and are fastening members formed from, for example, a metal material. As shown in Figure 1, the nut 130 in this embodiment is a square nut, and its shape, when viewed along the thickness direction, is formed in a substantially rectangular shape. The nut 130 also has a bolt fastening hole 131 formed therein. The nut 130 can fasten the conductive member 120, which is sandwiched between the bolt and the mating member, when the shaft of the bolt is tightened into the bolt fastening hole 131.

[0013] In the terminal block 100 shown in Figure 1, three sets of conductive fixing parts 110 are shown, and a nut press-fit structure 1 is provided for each of the three conductive fixing parts 110. Furthermore, in the nut press-fit structure 1, the nut 130 described above is press-fitted into a press-fit recess 20 formed in the housing 10. Inside the press-fit recess 20, a press-fit rib 30 for holding the press-fitted nut 130 is provided along the press-fitting direction. In this configuration, the nut press-fit structure 1 of this embodiment is configured such that the press-fit rib 30 provided in the press-fit recess 20 consists of two ribs of different sizes, namely a small first rib 31 located on the front side in the press-fitting direction and a large second rib 32 located on the back side in the press-fitting direction, thereby improving the workability when press-fitting the nut 130. The various components of the nut press-fit structure 1 will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 1 to 5, etc.

[0014] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view that visualizes the position of the nut press-fit structure 1 applied to the conductive fixing portion 110 of the terminal block 100 by showing the conductive member 120 in a disassembled state.

[0015] In the following explanation, of the three intersecting directions, the first direction is referred to as the "first width direction X," the second direction as the "second width direction Y," and the third direction as the "press-fit direction Z." Here, the first width direction X, the second width direction Y, and the press-fit direction Z are mutually orthogonal. The first width direction X typically corresponds to the depth direction of the terminal block 100, the extension direction of the conductive member 120, etc. The second width direction Y corresponds to the width direction of the terminal block 100, the width direction of the conductive member 120, etc. The press-fit direction Z corresponds to the height direction of the terminal block 100, the thickness direction of the conductive member 120, the press-fit direction of the nut 130 into the press-fit recess 20, the extension direction of the press-fit rib 30 provided in the press-fit recess 20, the fastening direction of the bolt to the nut 130 pressed into the press-fit recess 20, etc. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the directions used in the following explanation refer to the directions when the parts are assembled together.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the nut press-fit structure 1 includes a housing 10 having a press-fit recess 20 into which a nut 130 can be press-fitted along the press-fit direction Z.

[0017] The housing 10 is formed of, for example, an insulating resin material and is a member that holds the nut 130 housed in the press-fit recess 20. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the housing 10 is constructed by combining multiple members, for example, and includes a housing body 11 that is attached to the object to be mounted, and a front holder 12 that supports a conductive member 120 that is assembled to the housing body 11 to make an electrical connection with the mating member. The press-fit recess 20 is provided in the front holder 12, and three press-fit recesses 20 are formed on the upper surface of the front holder 12 (the surface opposite to the side where the housing body 11 is located). Here, the three press-fit recesses 20 are positioned side by side with spacing along the second width direction Y.

[0018] As shown in Figure 2, the press-fit recess 20 is composed of a bottom surface 21, an inner wall surface 22, and an opening 23. The bottom surface 21 is a substantially rectangular wall surface extending along the first width direction X and the second width direction Y, and is located opposite the opening 23 along the press-fit direction Z. The inner wall surface 22 is a substantially rectangular wall surface erected from each side of the bottom surface 21 along the press-fit direction Z. The opening 23 is formed by being surrounded by the edges of the inner wall surface 22 (edges located on the opposite side of the bottom surface 21 in the press-fit direction Z), and is formed to a size that allows the nut 130 to be inserted. In this embodiment, the inner wall surface 22 is erected from the four sides of the substantially rectangular bottom surface 21 along the press-fit direction Z. Therefore, in this embodiment, there are four inner wall surfaces 22, and the four inner wall surfaces 22 are arranged in a rectangular frame shape when viewed from the press-fit direction Z. Of the four inner wall surfaces 22, two extend along the first width direction X and the press-fit direction Z, and are positioned opposite each other in the second width direction Y. The remaining two inner wall surfaces 22 extend along the second width direction Y and the press-fit direction Z, and are positioned opposite each other in the first width direction X. The opening 23 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape by the edges of the four inner wall surfaces 22. Therefore, the press-fit recess 20 in this embodiment is formed as a substantially rectangular columnar concave space by the bottom surface 21, the four inner wall surfaces 22, and the opening 23.

[0019] Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the press-fitting recess 20 has press-fitting ribs 30 formed linearly along the press-fitting direction Z on the inner wall surface 22. Two press-fitting ribs 30 are formed on each of the four inner wall surfaces 22 constituting the press-fitting recess 20 (see FIG. 4). That is, eight press-fitting ribs 30 are provided in each press-fitting recess 20. Among the eight press-fitting ribs 30, the four press-fitting ribs 30 provided on the pair of inner wall surfaces 22 extending in the first width direction X as viewed from the press-fitting direction Z are positioned opposite to each other in the second width direction Y. Also, the four press-fitting ribs 30 provided on the pair of inner wall surfaces 22 extending in the second width direction Y as viewed from the press-fitting direction Z are positioned opposite to each other in the first width direction X. And the eight press-fitting ribs 30 are respectively interposed between the nut 130 press-fitted into the press-fitting recess 20 and the inner wall surface 22 (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

[0020] And as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the press-fitting rib 30 of the present embodiment includes a first rib 31 and a second rib 32. And the press-fitting rib 30 is formed as one rib by continuously forming the first rib 31 and the second rib 32 along the press-fitting direction Z.

[0021] The first rib 31 is a rib provided on the front side of the second rib 32 in the press-fitting direction Z, that is, on the opening 23 side, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The first rib 31 is formed from the edge of the inner wall surface 22 forming the opening 23 toward the press-fitting direction Z. Also, the first rib 31 protrudes from the inner wall surface 22 toward the inner side of the press-fitting recess 20 and protrudes along a direction intersecting the inner wall surface 22.

[0022] Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the first rib 31 has a triangular cross-sectional shape as viewed from the press-fitting direction Z, and has a pair of inclined surfaces 31a formed by a plane and a vertex 31b positioned between the pair of inclined surfaces 31a.

[0023] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the first rib 31 is formed such that, before the nut 130 is pressed into the press-fit recess 20, the amount of protrusion L1 from the inner wall surface 22 is smaller than the amount of protrusion L2 from the inner wall surface 22 of the second rib 32. Also, as shown in Figure 3, the width W1 of the first rib 31 along the direction intersecting the press-fit direction Z is smaller than the width W2 of the second rib 32 along the direction intersecting the press-fit direction Z. Therefore, the cross-sectional shape of the first rib 31, when viewed from the press-fit direction Z, is relatively smaller compared to the second rib 32.

[0024] On the other hand, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the second rib 32 is a rib provided further in the press-fit direction Z than the first rib 31, that is, on the bottom surface 21 side. The second rib 32 is formed to protrude inward from the inner wall surface 22 into the press-fit recess 20 and to protrude along a direction intersecting the inner wall surface 22.

[0025] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the second rib 32 has a roughly triangular cross-sectional shape when viewed from the press-fitting direction Z, and has a pair of inclined surfaces 42a formed by a flat surface and a top surface 32b located between the pair of inclined surfaces 31a and formed by a curved surface.

[0026] Furthermore, as described above, the second rib 32, before the nut 130 is pressed into the press-fit recess 20, has a protrusion amount L2 from the inner wall surface 22 that is greater than the protrusion amount L1 from the inner wall surface 22 of the first rib 31. Also, the width W2 of the second rib 32 along the direction intersecting the press-fit direction Z is greater than the width W1 of the first rib 31 along the direction intersecting the press-fit direction Z. Therefore, the cross-sectional shape of the second rib 32, when viewed from the press-fit direction Z, is relatively larger than that of the first rib 31.

[0027] Furthermore, the protrusion amount L1 of the first rib 31 configured as described above is set so that when the nut 130 is press-fitted into the press-fit recess 20, the apex 31b of the first rib 31 contacts the outer surface 130S of the nut 130 (see Figure 5). In other words, the protrusion amount L1 of the first rib 31 is set so that the distance between a pair of first ribs 31 facing each other along the first width direction X (or second width direction Y) is approximately equal to the width of the nut 130 along the first width direction X (or second width direction Y). Therefore, the first rib 31 in this embodiment can function as a guide rib to correct the position of the nut 130 in order to hold the nut 130 in the correct position within the press-fit recess 20 when it is press-fitted into the press-fit recess 20.

[0028] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, the protrusion amount L2 of the second rib 32 is set so that when the nut 130 is pressed into the press-fit recess 20, the top surface 32b of the second rib 32 makes contact with the outer surface 130S of the nut 130, causing it to be scraped by the nut 130. In other words, the protrusion amount L2 of the second rib 32 is set so that the distance between a pair of second ribs 32 facing each other along the first width direction X (or second width direction Y) is smaller than the width of the nut 130 along the first width direction X (or second width direction Y). Therefore, the second rib 32 in this embodiment can function as a crushing rib that guides the nut 130 pressed into the press-fit recess 20 along the press-fit direction Z, and is plastically deformed and scraped by the nut 130. In addition, the second rib 32 can function as a pressing rib that generates frictional force to hold the nut 130, which has been pressed into the depths of the press-fit recess 20, within the press-fit recess 20.

[0029] The nut press-fitting structure 1 described above comprises a housing 10 having a press-fitting recess 20 into which a nut 130 can be press-fitted along the press-fitting direction Z. The press-fitting recess 20 has an inner wall surface 22 that is erected along the press-fitting direction Z, and a press-fitting rib 30 formed on the inner wall surface 22 along the press-fitting direction Z and interposed between the press-fitted nut 130 and the inner wall surface 22. The press-fitting rib 30 is composed of a first rib 31 and a second rib 32. The first rib 31 is provided on the front side of the press-fitting direction Z than the second rib 32, and its protrusion amount L1 from the inner wall surface 22 is formed to be smaller than the protrusion amount L2 from the inner wall surface 22 of the second rib 32. The second rib 32 is provided on the back side of the press-fitting direction Z than the first rib 31, and its protrusion amount L2 from the inner wall surface 22 is formed to be larger than the protrusion amount L1 from the inner wall surface 22 of the first rib 31.

[0030] With this configuration, when the nut 130 is pressed into the press-fit recess 20, the nut press-fit structure 1 first allows the nut 130 to be lightly pressed in by contacting the first rib 31, which has a small protrusion, and the position of the nut 130 can be corrected by the first rib 31. Then, with the position of the nut 130 corrected by the first rib 31, the nut press-fit structure 1 allows the nut 130 to be pressed further in, and when the nut 130 comes into contact with the second rib 32, which has a large protrusion, the nut press-fit structure 1 can be fully pressed in at the correct position within the press-fit recess 20. Therefore, by providing the first rib 31 in front of the second rib 32, the nut press-fit structure 1 of this embodiment can suppress misalignment of the nut 130 that occurs during press-fitting. Accordingly, the nut press-fit structure 1 of this embodiment can improve the workability when pressing in the nut 130.

[0031] Furthermore, since the nut press-fitting structure 1 allows the position of the nut 130 to be corrected by the first rib 31, there is no need to prepare a separate jig for correcting the position of the nut 130. For example, the worker can manually place the nut 130 and then simply push it into the press-fitting recess 20, thereby press-fitting the nut 130 into the correct position within the press-fitting recess 20. Therefore, the nut press-fitting structure 1 of this embodiment can reduce the number of man-hours required when press-fitting the nut 130 and simplify the work procedure, thereby further improving work efficiency.

[0032] Furthermore, the press-fit rib 30 described above is formed such that the first rib 31 and the second rib 32 are continuously formed along the press-fit direction Z. With this configuration, the nut press-fit structure 1 can press-fit the nut 130 into the press-fit recess 20 more smoothly because the first rib 31 and the second rib 32 are connected. Therefore, the nut press-fit structure 1 of this embodiment can further suppress misalignment of the nut 130 that occurs during press-fitting. Consequently, the nut press-fit structure 1 of this embodiment can further improve the workability when press-fitting the nut 130.

[0033] Furthermore, the first rib 31 described above is formed such that the width W1 along the direction intersecting the press-fitting direction Z is smaller than the width W2 along the direction intersecting the press-fitting direction Z of the second rib 32, and the second rib 32 is formed such that the width W2 along the direction intersecting the press-fitting direction Z is larger than the width W1 along the direction intersecting the press-fitting direction Z of the first rib 31. With this configuration, the nut press-fitting structure 1 can press-fit the nut 130 with less force and hold the nut 130 with less force because the protrusion amount L1 and width W1 of the first rib 31 are smaller than the protrusion amount L2 and width W2 of the second rib 32. Also, the nut press-fitting structure 1 can press-fit the nut 130 with more force and hold the nut 130 with more force because the protrusion amount L2 and width W2 of the second rib 32 are larger than the protrusion amount L1 and width W1 of the first rib 31. Therefore, the nut press-fitting structure 1 of this embodiment can further suppress misalignment of the nut 130 after press-fitting by the second rib 32. Consequently, the nut press-fitting structure 1 of this embodiment can further improve workability when press-fitting the nut 130.

[0034] Furthermore, the inner wall surfaces 22 described above are arranged in a rectangular frame shape when viewed from the press-fitting direction Z, and the press-fitting ribs 30 are provided on each of the opposing inner wall surfaces 22. With this configuration, the opposing press-fitting ribs 30 are positioned to sandwich the nut 130, allowing the nut 130 to be pressed into the press-fitting recess 20 in a stable position. Therefore, the nut press-fitting structure 1 of this embodiment can further suppress displacement of the nut 130 that occurs during press-fitting. Consequently, the nut press-fitting structure 1 of this embodiment can further improve the workability when press-fitting the nut 130.

[0035] Furthermore, the nut press-fitting structure 1 is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0036] For example, although the nut press-fit structure 1 was described above as being applicable to a terminal block 100, it may also be applied to devices that relay electrical connections between equipment mounted on a vehicle (for example, an electrical junction box).

[0037] Furthermore, the first rib 31 and the second rib 32 may be formed with an interval between them along the press-fit direction Z.

[0038] Furthermore, the first rib 31 and the second rib 32 do not necessarily have to be aligned with respect to the width direction of the inner wall surface 22 (in this embodiment, the first width direction X or the second width direction Y), and may be formed at positions offset from the said width direction.

[0039] Furthermore, the shapes of the first rib 31 and the second rib 32 are not limited to those shown in Figure 3, etc.

[0040] Furthermore, the width W1 of the first rib 31 may be smaller than the width W2 of the second rib 32.

[0041] Furthermore, the shape of the press-fit recess 20 when viewed from the press-fit direction Z is not particularly limited and can be set to match the shape of the nut 130 that is press-fitted into the press-fit recess 20.

[0042] Furthermore, the number of press-fit ribs 30 provided on the inner wall surface 22 of the press-fit recess 20, and the position of the press-fit ribs 30 are not particularly limited.

[0043] Furthermore, although it was explained above that the housing 10 is composed of two components, the housing body 11 and the front holder 12, and that the press-fit recess 20 is provided in the housing body 11, the housing 10 may be composed of a single component, and the press-fit recess 20 may be provided in that component.

[0044] Furthermore, the nut press-fitting structure 1 according to this embodiment may be constructed by appropriately combining the components of the embodiments described above. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0045] 1. Nut press-fit structure 10 Housing 20 Press-fit recess 21 Bottom 22 Interior wall surface 23 Opening 30 Press-fit ribs 31. First Rib 32. Second Rib 100 terminal block 110 Continuity fixing part 120 Conductive member 130 Nut L1 Protrusion amount of the first rib L2 Protrusion amount of the second rib W1 Width of the first rib W2 Width of the second rib X 1st width direction Y Second width direction Z-press-fit direction

Claims

1. The housing has a press-fit recess into which a nut can be press-fitted along the press-fitting direction, The aforementioned press-fit recess is An inner wall surface erected along the aforementioned press-fitting direction, The inner wall surface has a press-fit rib formed along the press-fit direction, which is interposed between the press-fitted nut and the inner wall surface. The press-fit rib is composed of a first rib and a second rib, The first rib is provided on the front side in the press-fitting direction of the second rib, and its protrusion from the inner wall surface is smaller than that of the second rib. The second rib is provided further in the press-fitting direction than the first rib, and is characterized in that its protrusion from the inner wall surface is greater than that of the first rib. Nut press-fit structure.

2. The press-fit rib is formed such that the first rib and the second rib are formed continuously along the press-fit direction. The nut press-fitting structure according to claim 1.

3. The first rib is formed such that its width along the direction intersecting the press-fit direction is smaller than the width of the second rib along the direction intersecting the press-fit direction. The second rib is formed with a width in the direction intersecting the press-fitting direction that is greater than the width of the first rib in the direction intersecting the press-fitting direction. The nut press-fitting structure according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The inner wall surface is arranged in a rectangular frame shape when viewed from the press-fitting direction. The press-fit ribs are provided on each of the inner wall surfaces that are located opposite each other. The nut press-fitting structure according to claim 1 or 2.

Images