Terminal block

Abstract

To provide a terminal block that can properly seal water using a packing. [Solution] The terminal block 1 comprises a housing 3 that holds the terminals 2, a packing 4 assembled to the housing 3 to seal water between the housing 3 and the object to be fixed 90, and a fastening member 5 that fastens the housing 3 to the object to be fixed 90. The packing 4 is housed in a housing groove 34 formed in the housing 3, and a pressing portion 41 protruding from the housing groove 34 presses against the object to be fixed 90 to seal water. The packing is configured to be thinner the closer its thickness is to the fastening member 5 in the pressing direction.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a terminal block, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, a terminal block including a housing that holds terminals and a packing that is assembled to the housing is known. This terminal block is assembled to a fixed object by pressing the packing against the fixed object to prevent water leakage and fastening the housing to the fixed object with a fastening member.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In such a terminal block, there is room for improvement in that water leakage prevention by the packing may not be properly performed. For example, when fastening the housing to a fixed object, the pressing force of the packing tends to decrease at a position far from the fastening portion. That is, there is concern that the pressing force of the packing decreases at a position far from the fastening position compared to a position close to the fastening portion, and the water leakage prevention function deteriorates. On the other hand, if the fastening force is increased to increase the pressing force of the packing at a position far from the fastening portion, the pressing reaction force on the housing near the fastening portion increases, and high strength is required for the housing.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a terminal block capable of properly performing water leakage prevention by a packing.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In other words, the terminal block according to the present invention comprises a housing for holding terminals, a packing assembled to the housing to seal water between the housing and the object to be fixed, and a fastening member for fastening the housing to the object to be fixed. The packing is housed in a housing groove formed in the housing, and a pressing portion protruding from the housing groove presses against the object to be fixed to seal water, and is configured to be thinner the closer its thickness is to the fastening member in the pressing direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the terminal block of the present invention, water sealing by the packing can be properly performed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a terminal block according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the terminal block according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the terminal block according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the terminal block at IV-IV in Figure 1. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the terminal block at VV in Figure 4. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the terminal block at VI-VI in Figure 4. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram of the assembly of the terminal block according to the embodiment. [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] This embodiment relates to a terminal block. In the following description, of the three intersecting directions, the first direction is referred to as the "depth direction X," the second direction as the "width direction Y," and the third direction as the "assembly direction Z." Here, the depth direction X, the width direction Y, and the assembly direction Z are mutually orthogonal. Note that "orthogonal" here includes approximately orthogonal. The assembly direction Z corresponds to the direction in which the housing is assembled to the object to be fixed. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, each direction used in the following description represents the direction when each part is assembled to each other.

[0011] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the terminal block 1 is a component that holds terminals 2 and is used by being attached to the object to be fixed 90. The terminal block 1 is mounted on a vehicle, for example, and holds multiple terminals 2 arranged in a direction intersecting the assembly direction Z. Specifically, the terminal block 1 holds a total of four terminals 2, with two terminals 2 arranged along the depth direction X and the width direction Y. The object to be fixed 90 is a vehicle unit mounted on or provided on a vehicle, for example, a vehicle component, a part, material, or equipment mounted on a vehicle. Note that the number of terminals 2 installed may be other than four. The terminal block 1 includes a housing 3, a packing 4, and a fastening member 5.

[0012] The housing 3 is a component that holds the terminal 2 and is assembled to the object to be fixed 90. It is made of an insulator, for example, resin. The housing 3 has a main body 31 that holds the terminal 2. The main body 31 is rectangular in shape and is positioned to face the mounting surface 91 of the object to be fixed 90 and assembled to the object to be fixed 90. Here, the rectangle includes a substantially rectangular shape. The mounting surface 91 is the surface of the object to be fixed 90 and extends along the depth direction X and the width direction Y. The main body 31 holds the terminal 2 by passing it through along the assembly direction Z. The terminal 2 is a strip-shaped plate made of a conductive material.

[0013] A projection 32 is provided on the surface portion 31A of the main body portion 31. The surface portion 31A is the surface of the main body portion 31, and is the surface opposite to the back portion 31B that faces the object to be fixed 90. The projection 32 is a block-shaped portion that protrudes from the surface portion 31A. The projection 32 is provided at the through position of the terminal 2 and supports the end portion 21 of the terminal 2. For example, the end portion 21 of the terminal 2 is bent from the assembly direction Z toward the width direction Y, forming an insertion hole 211. The terminal 2 is configured so that a fastening member (not shown) can be inserted into the insertion hole 211 from the assembly direction Z and fastened to the projection 32. Multiple projections 32 are provided to support one or two terminals 2. Note that the support structure or holding structure for the terminal 2 in the housing 3 is not limited to the one described above.

[0014] The main body portion 31 has fastening holes 33. The fastening holes 33 are holes for inserting the fastening member 5, and are formed between the front surface portion 31A and the back surface portion 31B of the main body portion 31, penetrating the main body portion 31 along the assembly direction Z. The fastening holes 33 are formed, for example, at each of the four corner portions of the rectangular main body portion 31. The mounting surface 91 of the object to be fixed 90 has fastening holes 93. The fastening holes 93 are holes for inserting the fastening member 5 that penetrates the main body portion 31, and are formed at positions corresponding to the fastening holes 33.

[0015] The fastening member 5 is a member that fastens the terminal block 1 to the object to be fixed 90, and for example, a bolt is used. The fastening member 5 is provided by passing through the main body portion 31 of the housing 3 and fastens the terminal block 1 by pressing it against the object to be fixed 90. The fastening member 5 may also be a stud bolt or the like that is provided protruding from the object to be fixed 90 and passes through the main body portion 31. In Figures 2 and 3, the fastening member 5 is installed by being inserted through the respective fastening holes 33, but for the sake of explanation, the illustration of the fastening member 5 has been omitted as appropriate.

[0016] The terminal 2 extends from the back surface portion 31B and is formed to be bent. That is, the terminal 2 is electrically connected inside the object 90 to be fixed and is formed to be bent as needed. Note that the terminal 2 may extend linearly. The object 90 to be fixed forms an opening 92 for inserting the terminal 2.

[0017] The packing 4 is a water-stop member that stops water between the housing 3 and the object 90 to be fixed, and is composed of an elastically deformable material. For example, the packing 4 is formed in an annular shape, and is formed in a rectangular shape according to the shape of the main body portion 31 of the housing 3, and is provided so as to surround the opening 92.

[0018] The packing 4 is housed and held in a housing groove 34 formed in the housing 3. The housing groove 34 is a groove formed by recessing the back surface portion 31B of the main body portion 31 in the assembling direction Z. The housing groove 34 is formed in a shape corresponding to the packing 4, and is formed in a rectangular shape, for example. Also, the housing groove 34 is formed so as to surround the periphery of the terminal 2 penetrating the main body portion 31. The packing 4 is formed thicker than the depth of the housing groove 34, and projects a pressing portion 41 from the housing groove 34 in a state of being housed in the housing groove 34. In the packing 4, the pressing portion 41 protruding from the housing groove 34 abuts against the mounting surface 91 of the object 90 to be fixed when the terminal block 1 is assembled to the object 90, presses the mounting surface 91, and stops water.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 4, the packing 4 is formed such that the thickness T along the pressing direction varies in the extending direction. The pressing direction is the same direction as the assembling direction Z. The thickness T of the packing 4 in the pressing direction is formed thinner as it is closer to the fastening member 5. In other words, the thickness T of the packing 4 in the pressing direction is formed thicker as it is farther from the fastening member 5. For example, the thickness T of the packing 4 gradually increases from the end closer to the fastening member 5 toward the central portion, and is thickest at the central portion.

[0020] In the terminal block 1 according to this embodiment, the corner portions of the rectangular packing 4 are respectively arranged in the vicinity of the fastening member 5 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). Therefore, in the side portions between the corner portions of the packing 4, the thickness T increases from the end portion toward the central portion. That is, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the thickness T at the central portion of the packing 4 is defined as the thickness T1 and the thickness T at the end portion of the packing 4 is defined as T2, the thickness T is set such that T1>T2. In FIG. 4, only one side portion between the corner portions of the packing 4 is illustrated, but in other side portions, the thickness T also increases from the end portion in the vicinity of the corner portion toward the central portion.

[0021] In the terminal block 1, the depth D of the accommodation groove 34 is formed to have the same depth in the direction in which the accommodation groove 34 extends. That is, the depth D of the accommodation groove 34 does not change in the direction in which the accommodation groove 34 extends. Therefore, as described above, due to the difference in the thickness T of the packing 4 in the extending direction, the protruding lengths of the pressing portions 41 where the packing 4 protrudes from the accommodation groove 34 are different in the extending direction. For example, in the side portions between the corner portions of the packing 4, the protruding length becomes longer from the end portion toward the central portion. That is, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the protruding length of the pressing portion 41 at the central portion of the packing 4 is defined as L1 and the protruding length of the pressing portion 41 at the end portion of the packing 4 is defined as L2, the protruding length of the pressing portion 41 is set such that L1>L2. In FIG. 4, only one side portion between the corner portions of the packing 4 is illustrated, but in other side portions, the protruding length of the pressing portion 41 also becomes longer from the end portion in the vicinity of the corner portion toward the central portion.

[0022] In the packing 4, the difference in thickness (T1-T2) between the thickness T1 of the central part away from the fastening member 5 and the thickness T2 of the end near the fastening member 5 is set according to the rigidity of the housing 3. The difference in thickness is the absolute value of the difference. For example, in the packing 4, the difference in thickness T1 of the central part away from the fastening member 5 and the thickness T2 of the end near the fastening member 5 is set to be smaller the higher the rigidity of the housing 3, and larger the lower the rigidity of the housing. That is, the higher the rigidity of the housing 3, the less the housing 3 deflects, so when the terminal block 1 is fastened to the object to be fixed 90, the amount of deflection of the central part of the main body 31 in the assembly direction Z is small. Therefore, even if the difference in thickness between the thickness T1 of the central part away from the fastening member 5 and the thickness T2 of the end near the fastening member 5 is small, it becomes easier to equalize the pressing force of the packing 4, and water sealing by the packing 4 can be properly performed. On the other hand, the lower the rigidity of the housing 3, the greater the deflection of the housing 3, so when the terminal block 1 is fastened to the object to be fixed 90, the amount of deflection of the central part of the main body 31 in the assembly direction Z is large. Therefore, by increasing the difference in thickness between the central part T1 away from the fastening member 5 and the end part T2 near the fastening member 5, the pressing force of the packing 4 can be made more uniform, and water sealing by the packing 4 can be properly performed.

[0023] Furthermore, in the packing 4, for example, the difference in protrusion length (L1-L2) between the protrusion length L1 of the central pressing portion 41 away from the fastening member 5 and the protrusion length L2 of the pressing portion 41 at the end near the fastening member 5 is set according to the rigidity of the housing 3. The difference in protrusion length is the absolute value of the difference. For example, in the protrusion length from the housing groove 34 of the packing 4, the difference in protrusion length L1 of the central portion away from the fastening member 5 and the protrusion length L2 of the pressing portion 41 at the end near the fastening member 5 is set to be smaller the higher the rigidity of the housing 3, and larger the lower the rigidity of the housing. That is, the higher the rigidity of the housing 3, the smaller the deflection of the housing 3, so when the terminal block 1 is fastened to the object to be fixed 90, the amount of deflection of the central part of the main body 31 in the assembly direction Z is small. Therefore, even if the difference between the protruding length L1 of the central part away from the fastening member 5 and the protruding length L2 of the pressing part 41 at the end near the fastening member 5 is small, it becomes easier to equalize the pressing force of the packing 4, and water sealing by the packing 4 can be properly performed. On the other hand, the lower the rigidity of the housing 3, the greater the deflection of the housing 3, so when the terminal block 1 is fastened to the object to be fixed 90, the amount of deflection of the central part of the main body 31 in the assembly direction Z becomes large. Therefore, by increasing the difference between the protruding length L1 of the central part away from the fastening member 5 and the protruding length L2 of the pressing part 41 at the end near the fastening member 5, it becomes easier to equalize the pressing force of the packing 4, and water sealing by the packing 4 can be properly performed.

[0024] Next, the assembly of the terminal block 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0025] In this embodiment, the terminal block 1 is assembled to the object to be fixed 90, for example, by positioning the terminal block 1 facing the object to be fixed 90 and fastening the terminal block 1 to the object to be fixed 90 with fastening members 5.

[0026] In Figures 2 and 3, the terminal block 1 is assembled by attaching the terminals 2 and packing 4 to the housing 3. The terminal block 1 is positioned so that the back surface 31B of the main body 31 of the housing 3 faces the mounting surface 91 of the object to be fixed 90.

[0027] Then, as shown in Figure 7, the back surface 31B of the main body 31 is brought close to the mounting surface 91 of the object to be fixed 90, and the pressing portion 41 of the packing 4 is brought into contact with the mounting surface 91. In this state, the fastening member 5 is inserted through the fastening hole 33 of the main body 31, and fastening is performed by the fastening member 5. The tip of the fastening member 5 is inserted into the fastening hole 93 of the object to be fixed 90, and the fastening presses the main body 31 against the object to be fixed 90. As a result, the packing 4 is pressed against the mounting surface 91, sealing the gap between the object to be fixed 90 and the housing 3.

[0028] In this embodiment, the terminal block 1 has a longer protruding length L1 of the pressing portion 41 in the central part of the packing 4, which is further away from the fastening member 5, compared to the protruding length L2 of the pressing portion 41 at the end of the packing 4 near the fastening member 5. Therefore, the packing 4 can properly stop water leakage.

[0029] In other words, when the terminal block 1 is fastened to the object to be fixed 90 by the fastening member 5, the main body 31 of the housing 3 is strongly pressed against the object to be fixed 90 at the position of the fastening member 5. As a result, the packing 4 is pressed against the object to be fixed 90, but the main body 31 receives a reaction force from the object to be fixed 90 via the packing 4. Therefore, the main body 31 deforms, and the central part of the main body 31 may bend in the opposite direction to the fastening direction (downward in Figure 7) (upward in Figure 7). The amount of this bending of the main body 31 depends on the rigidity of the main body 31 and the housing 3. Therefore, if the protruding length of the packing 4 is the same length along the extending direction, the pressing force against the object to be fixed 90 will be low in the central part of the packing 4, making it difficult to ensure sufficient watertightness.

[0030] In contrast, in the terminal block 1 according to this embodiment, the packing 4 is formed to be thinner in the assembly direction Z as it approaches the fastening member 5, and the protruding length of the pressing portion 41 of the packing 4 is shorter as it approaches the fastening member 5. Conversely, the packing 4 is formed to be thicker in the assembly direction Z as it approaches the fastening member 5, and the protruding length of the pressing portion 41 of the packing 4 is longer as it approaches the fastening member 5. Therefore, the terminal block 1 according to this embodiment can increase the pressing force of the packing 4 at positions far from the fastening member 5, and can properly stop water leakage by the packing 4. Furthermore, the terminal block 1 according to this embodiment can suppress the pressing force of the packing 4 and the reaction force from the object to be fixed 90 in the vicinity of the fastening member 5, thereby reducing the strength and rigidity required of the housing 3, and enabling miniaturization and cost reduction of the housing 3.

[0031] Then, as shown in Figure 1, once the terminal block 1 is fastened to the object to be fixed 90 using the fastening member 5, the assembly of the terminal block 1 to the object to be fixed 90 is completed.

[0032] As described above, in the terminal block 1 according to this embodiment, the packing 4 is formed to be thinner the closer it is to the fastening member 5, so that the protruding length of the pressing portion 41 of the packing 4 is shorter the closer it is to the fastening member 5. Therefore, the terminal block 1 according to this embodiment can suppress the reaction force to the packing's pressing in the vicinity of the fastening member 5 while increasing the pressing force of the packing 4 at positions far from the fastening member 5, thereby enabling proper water sealing by the packing 4.

[0033] Furthermore, in the terminal block 1 according to this embodiment, the housing groove 34 is formed with the same depth in the direction of extension along the pressing direction, which allows the protruding length of the pressing portion 41 of the packing 4 to be shorter closer to the fastening member 5 and longer further away from the fastening member 5. Therefore, the terminal block 1 according to this embodiment can suppress the reaction force from the object to be fixed 90 near the fastening member 5 while increasing the pressing force of the packing 4 at a position far from the fastening member 5, thereby enabling proper water sealing by the packing 4.

[0034] It should be noted that the terminal block according to the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. The terminal block 1 according to this embodiment may be constructed by appropriately combining the components of each embodiment and modified example described above.

[0035] For example, although the terminal block 1 according to the embodiment described above was described in the context of being mounted on a vehicle, it may also be used in objects other than vehicles. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] 1:Terminal block 2: Terminals 3: Housing 4: Gasket 5: Fastening member 34: Storage groove 41: Pressing part 90: Fixed object D: Depth T1, T2: thickness

Claims

1. A housing that holds the terminals, A packing assembled to the housing to seal the gap between the housing and the object to be fixed, The housing comprises a fastening member for fastening it to the object to be fixed, The packing is housed in a housing groove formed in the housing, and a pressing portion protruding from the housing groove presses against the object to be fixed to stop water flow, and the thickness in the pressing direction is formed to be thinner as it approaches the fastening member. terminal block.

2. The receiving groove is formed with a depth in the pressing direction that is the same in the extending direction. The terminal block according to claim 1.

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