Terminal structure

Abstract

To provide a structure capable of attaching and detaching a terminal board to and from a terminal block more easily without using a fastener.SOLUTION: A terminal structure including a terminal plate 2 to which an electric wire is connected at an end, and a main body 11 having a penetrating portion 62 through which the terminal plate can be inserted includes a first restricting portion that restricts the terminal plate from coming out of the through portion after the terminal plate is housed in the body in a state in which the terminal plate passes through the through portion, and a second restricting portion that restricts the terminal plate from being released from restriction by the first restricting portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a terminal structure. [Background technology]

[0002] Terminal blocks equipped with terminal plates are widely known, as described in Patent Document 1. Known methods for fixing the terminal plate to the terminal plate include clamping the terminal plate in a case constituting the terminal plate and using fasteners such as screws. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 08-171952

[0004] However, in the method using fasteners, the number of parts increases, making the installation work complicated. If a metal fastener is used, there is a risk of short circuit accidents or electric shock accidents occurring through the fastener. In contrast, in the method of clamping the terminal board with the terminal block case, the use of fasteners can be avoided. However, since loads are alternately connected to terminal blocks installed in temporary distribution boards and the like installed at construction sites, damage to the screw grooves of the terminal board may occur, and the terminal board may need to be replaced. If the method of clamping the terminal board with the terminal block case is adopted, there is a problem that it is time-consuming to replace the terminal board because it is necessary to remove the terminal board from the temporary distribution board and divide the terminal board when replacing it. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The inventors of the present invention have made extensive research into this issue and have attempted to solve the problem. The problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a structure that allows a terminal board to be more easily attached and detached to a terminal block without using a fastener. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, a terminal structure is provided which includes a terminal board to which an electric wire is connected at an end, and a main body having a through-portion through which the terminal board can be inserted, and which includes a first regulating portion which prevents the terminal board from slipping out of the through-portion after the terminal board has passed through the through-portion and a second regulating portion which prevents the terminal board from being released from the regulation by the first regulating portion after the terminal board is stored in the main body.

[0007] It is also preferable to change the angle after inserting the terminal board into the through-hole and restrict movement of the terminal board in the forward and backward directions, thereby restricting the terminal board from slipping out of the through-hole.

[0008] It is also preferable that a portion formed by the convex portion provided on the terminal plate and the concave portion provided on the inner surface of the through portion of the main body functions as the first restricting portion.

[0009] Also, it is preferable that a box terminal with a terminal screw arranged on the end side of the terminal board functions as the second restricting portion. Effect of the Invention

[0010] The present invention makes it possible to provide a structure that allows a terminal board to be more easily attached to and detached from a terminal block without using a fastener. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a terminal block including a terminal structure according to an embodiment, with a cover part in a closed state. [Diagram 2] 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a cover portion is removed from the terminal block shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the terminal block shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] A perspective view of a terminal block with a portion cut away, cut along the longitudinal direction of the terminal board at the right end, with the dashed ellipse showing the area near the penetration. [Diagram 5]This is a diagram showing an example of a circuit breaker and a terminal block connected together, where the connection between the circuit breaker and the terminal block is covered with a second cover. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state before the terminal board is inserted into the through-hole. [Figure 7] 13 is a diagram showing a state in which the terminal board is inserted into the through-hole. FIG. [Figure 8] 8 is a diagram showing a state in which the terminal board is moved further toward the terminal portion on the load side than the state shown in FIG. 7. FIG. [Figure 9] 9 is a diagram illustrating the state in which the inclination of the terminal board inserted to the state shown in FIG. 8 is changed to a horizontal state. [Figure 10] 10 is a diagram showing a state in which a box terminal is attached to the main body shown in FIG. 9. FIG. [Figure 11] 11 is a diagram showing a state in which a restricting member is attached to the main body shown in FIG. 10. FIG. [Figure 12] 10 is a diagram showing a state in which a screw used for wiring to a power source side is attached to the terminal board shown in FIG. 9. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] An embodiment of the invention will be described below. As can be understood from Fig. 1 to Fig. 4, the terminal structure of this embodiment includes a terminal board 2 to which an electric wire is connected at an end, and a main body 11 having a through-portion 62 through which the terminal board 2 can be inserted. This terminal structure also includes a first restricting portion that restricts the terminal board 2 from slipping out of the through-portion 62 after the terminal board 2 is housed in the main body 11 with the terminal board 2 passing through the through-portion 62, and a second restricting portion that restricts the terminal board 2 from being released from the restriction by the first restricting portion. This makes it possible to provide a structure that allows the terminal board 2 to be more easily attached to and detached from the terminal block 10 without using a fastener.

[0013] The terminal structure of the embodiment will be described below using a terminal block 10 used at construction sites as an example. The terminal block 10 shown in Fig. 1 includes a main body 11 in which a box terminal 3 and the like are incorporated, and a cover section 12 that covers the upper side of the main body 11. The cover section 12 in the embodiment includes a first cover 13 that is provided on the load side and covers the box terminal 3, and a second cover 14 that covers the power supply side. Note that in the embodiment, the first cover 13 can be rotated to switch between a state in which the box terminal 3 and the like are covered and a state in which they are not covered.

[0014] As can be seen from Figs. 2 to 4, the main body 11 incorporates box terminals 3 for the number of poles (three for three poles in the example shown in Fig. 2 and other figures), terminal plates 2 inserted into the terminal fittings 32 of each box terminal 3, and restricting members 4 restricting the movement of the box terminals 3 in the forward and backward directions. The terminal plates 2 have electric wires or the like connected to both ends and serve as part of a path for transmitting power to a load. The terminal plates 2 can be connected and fixed to electric wires continuing to the load side inside the box terminals 3. With the terminal plates 2 as a reference, the side on which the box terminals 3 are provided is the load side, to which a load device is connected. The opposite side is the power source side, to which a power source device is connected. An example of a power source device connected to the power source side is a power distribution device such as a breaker 91 (see Fig. 5).

[0015] The second cover 14 may be capable of covering both the power supply side terminal portion 19 of the terminal block 10 and the terminal portion of the breaker after they are connected with a copper bar or the like. This second cover 14 may be formed so as to extend substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the terminal block 10, etc., but the power supply side of the terminal block 10 may be inclined, and the second cover 14 may be formed at an incline to reduce the vertical size of the terminal block 10, etc. (see FIG. 5).

[0016] The box terminal 3 of the embodiment allows the terminal plate 2 to be inserted inside, and includes a terminal fitting 32 with a screw hole on the upper surface side, and a terminal screw 31 that is attached by engaging with a screw groove in the screw hole. The head of the terminal screw 31 is provided with a tool hole (not shown) for rotating the screw with a tool such as a screwdriver, and a washer 33 is fixed to the tip of the terminal screw 31 so as to be positioned inside the terminal fitting 32. The washer 33 can be moved up and down by rotating the terminal screw 31.

[0017] When the box terminal 3 is disposed in the terminal portion 15, one end of the terminal plate 2 is located in the space between the lower part of the terminal fitting 32 and the washer 33. From this state, the electric wire of the load device is inserted between the terminal plate 2 and the washer 33, and then the washer 33 presses the electric wire against the terminal plate 2, thereby fixing the terminal plate 2 and the electric wire in an electrically connected state.

[0018] In the example shown in Fig. 3, terminal board 2 has a shape in which the end on the power supply side is wider in the left-right direction than the end on the load side, and when attached to main body 11, it is inserted from the power supply side of main body 11 to the load side (see Figs. 6 to 9). This attachment operation results in one end of terminal board 2 being positioned within terminal portion 15 provided on main body 11. As can be seen from Figs. 8 and 9, the structure for fixing terminal board 2 to main body 11 is such that protrusion 21 provided on terminal board 2 is housed in recess 61 on the inside and above through-hole portion 62 of main body 11, thereby restricting the movement of terminal board 2 in the front-rear direction, and it is preferable to fix terminal board 2 to main body 11 without using fasteners such as screws.

[0019] In the embodiment, the through-hole 62 into which the terminal board 2 is inserted is provided in the main body 11. More specifically, the through-hole 62 is provided in the center of the main body 11 in the front-rear direction. In the embodiment, three through-holes 62 are provided for three poles.

[0020] When the terminal board 2 is incorporated into the main body 11, the terminal board 2 is inserted into the through portion 62 from the terminal portion 19 on the power source side. Note that the terminal board 2 in the embodiment is formed so that the left-right width of the load side end is smaller than the through portion 62 provided in the main body 11, and the left-right width of the power source side end is larger than the through portion 62. When the terminal board 2 is inserted into the through portion 62, the terminal board 2 is inserted up to the position where the end on the power source side abuts against the periphery of the through portion 62. Note that the vertical width of the through portion 62 is larger on the load side than on the power source side.

[0021] A recess 61 is formed on the upper inner surface of through-hole 62 on the power supply side to accommodate protrusion 21 of terminal board 2 when terminal board 2 is installed. In order to prevent contact between protrusion 21 of terminal board 2 and the upper part of through-hole 62 when terminal board 2 is inserted into through-hole 62, it is preferable to form a slope or a recess on the upper side of through-hole 62.

[0022] Here, the procedure for attaching terminal board 2 in the embodiment will be described in more detail. First, terminal board 2 is inserted into through-hole 62 provided in main body 11 in a state inclined at a certain angle compared to the final fixed state (see Figs. 6 to 8). After moving the end of terminal board 2 on the power supply side until it abuts against the periphery of through-hole 62, terminal board 2 is tilted to the same angle as in the fixed state (hereinafter referred to as "horizontal state"). In this horizontal state, the extension direction of terminal board 2 is approximately parallel to the installation surface of terminal block 10 (see Fig. 9).

[0023] In the embodiment, by placing terminal board 2 in a horizontal state, convex portion 21 of terminal board 2 is stored in concave portion 61 provided on the inner upper surface of through-hole 62 of main body 11, and the movement of terminal board 2 in the front-rear direction is restricted. In this manner, it is preferable that the angle of terminal board 2 is changed after insertion to restrict the movement of terminal board 2 in the front-rear direction, thereby restricting terminal board 2 from slipping out of through-hole 62. It is also preferable that a terminal structure be used in which a portion formed by convex portion 21 provided on terminal board 2 and concave portion 61 provided within the surface of through-hole 62 of main body 11 functions as a first restricting portion.

[0024] Furthermore, the movement of the terminal board 2 in the front-rear direction may be restricted so that a rib 68 formed on an end of the terminal portion 19 on the power source side of the main body 11 functions as a first restricting portion. The movement of the terminal board 2 in the front-rear direction may be restricted by abutting the main body 11 against a flange 28 formed below the terminal board 2 by burring the end of the terminal board 2 on the power source side. In the embodiment, the movement in the front-rear direction is restricted at a plurality of points.

[0025] After the terminal board 2 is brought into a horizontal position, the box terminal 3 is inserted into the load-side terminal portion 15 of the main body 11 from the front-rear direction so that the load-side end of the terminal board 2 is located between the washer 33 and the lower part of the box terminal 3 (see FIG. 10). This box terminal 3 functions as a second restricting portion. More specifically, by attaching the box terminal 3 with the terminal screw 31 to the load-side terminal portion 15, it is possible to restrict the terminal board 2 from tilting from the horizontal position around an axis in the left-right direction, so that the restriction of the terminal board 2 in the front-rear direction is maintained. It is preferable that the box terminal 3 with the terminal screw 31 arranged on the end side of the terminal board 2 in this manner functions as the second restricting portion.

[0026] In addition, since it is sufficient for the second restricting portion to restrict the tilt of terminal plate 2 about an axis in the left-right direction, a member for restricting the tilt of terminal plate 2 may be attached below terminal portion 15 on the load side. For example, a nut or the like may be attached below terminal portion 15 on the load side.

[0027] After the box terminal 3 is installed in the main body 11, the restricting member 4 is inserted so as to be aligned with the guide 16 extending in the vertical direction provided on the terminal portion 15 on the load side of the main body 11. By attaching the restricting member 4, the movement of the box terminal 3, which serves as a second restricting portion, is restricted, and it is possible to prevent the box terminal 3 and the terminal board 2 from falling off from the main body 11 (see FIG. 11).

[0028] After the restricting member 4 is attached to the main body 11, the cover portion 12 is rotated to cover the terminal portion 15 on the load side of the main body 11. The steps for removing each part can be performed by retracing the steps described above.

[0029] Here, an example of a form in which terminal board 2 is attached to main body 11 without tilting it from the horizontal state will be described. First, terminal board 2 is inserted into through-portion 62 in a horizontal state relative to main body 11. After terminal board 2 is inserted until it abuts against the periphery of through-portion 62 on the power supply side, terminal board 2 is moved downward and placed on main body 11. If ribs 68 or the like are formed on the end of terminal portion 19 on the power supply side of main body 11, the movement of terminal board 2 in the front-rear direction when placed on main body 11 can be restricted.

[0030] After the first regulating portion is put into operation, a second regulating portion is put into operation to regulate the upward movement of terminal board 2. An example of the second regulating portion is one in which terminal board 2 is inserted into box terminal 3 with terminal screw 31, and washer 33 or the like regulates the upward movement of terminal board 2. However, this example is not limiting. For example, a hole may be provided in terminal board 2 and a protrusion may be provided in main body 11, and when terminal board 2 is placed on main body 11, the hole may be pressed into the protrusion to regulate the upward movement of terminal board 2.

[0031] By attaching each part according to these procedures, terminal board 2 can be firmly attached to main body 11 without using screws. However, when replacing terminal board 2, etc., terminal board 2 can be removed from main body 11 by simply removing regulating member 4 and box terminal 3.

[0032] The terminal structure of this embodiment includes a terminal plate 2 having an end portion to which an electric wire is connected, and a box terminal 3 with a terminal screw 31 in a terminal portion 15. The box terminal 3 is moved in the front-rear direction relative to the terminal portion 15 to position one end portion of the terminal plate 2 inside, and a restricting member 4 that restricts the front-rear movement of the box terminal 3 is moved in the up-down direction along a guide portion 16 provided on the terminal portion 15 to be attached to the terminal portion 15. This makes it possible to prevent the box terminal 3 from unintentionally falling off the terminal portion 15, and to provide a terminal structure that facilitates replacement of the box terminal 3.

[0033] In the embodiment, the load-side end of the terminal board 2 is provided with two projections extending in the left-right direction, one at the tip end and the other at the center. The distance between the two projections in the front-rear direction is preferably at least greater than the front-rear width of the washer 33 so that the washer 33 can be placed therebetween. The projection 22 on the tip side catches the electric wire when the electric wire is connected to the box terminal 3, so that the fixed electric wire is unlikely to come off. The projection 23 on the center side is intended to prevent the terminal board 2 from coming off the main body 11, and is designed so that the terminal board 2 that attempts to move gets caught on the main body 11.

[0034] Here, the attachment of the box terminal 3 will be described in detail. When the box terminal 3 is attached to the terminal portion 15, one end of the terminal plate 2 is assembled so as to be positioned inside the box terminal 3 by moving it in the front-rear direction with respect to the terminal portion 15. At this time, one end of the terminal plate 2 is positioned between the lower portion of the box terminal 3 and the washer 33. In this state, since partition walls provided in the main body 11 are positioned on the left and right sides of the box terminal 3, the box terminal 3 is restricted from moving in the left-right direction. In addition, the terminal plate 2 positioned inside the box terminal 3 also restricts the box terminal 3 from moving in the left-right direction. The terminal plate 2 positioned inside the box terminal 3 also restricts the box terminal 3 from moving in the up-down direction. The movement of the box terminal 3 toward the rear side is restricted by the main body 11. For this reason, the box terminal 3 is detached from the terminal portion 15 of the main body 11 only when the box terminal 3 moves forward. Therefore, in order to restrict the box terminal 3 from moving forward, a restricting member 4 is disposed in front of the box terminal 3.

[0035] The restricting member 4 is slid up and down to be disposed in front of the box terminal 3. In this way, the direction in which the restricting member 4 moves is different from the direction in which the box terminal 3 is removed, so that the box terminal 3 will not fall off from the terminal portion 15 even if the restricting member 4 moves slightly.

[0036] To achieve this structure, in this embodiment, guide protrusions 41 extending in the vertical direction are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the regulating member 4, and a guide portion 16 is provided at the end of the load side terminal of the main body 11. The regulating member 4 can be attached to the main body 11 by moving the guide protrusions 41 in the vertical direction along the guide portion 16. Of course, other embodiments are also possible, such as providing a groove in the regulating member 4 and providing a protrusion on the main body 11 that fits into the groove.

[0037] It is preferable that the restricting member 4, which restricts the movement of the box terminal 3, does not impede the connection between the box terminal 3 and the electric wire. Therefore, as can be seen from Fig. 3, the restricting member 4 in this embodiment is substantially U-shaped with an electric wire insertion hole 42 provided at the upper part. In addition, a tongue portion 43 that protrudes downward is provided at the lower part of the restricting member 4. This tongue portion 43 is inserted into a hole portion 17 provided on the load side of the main body 11 (see Fig. 11).

[0038] In addition, in order to make the regulating member 4 difficult to remove when attached to the terminal portion 15, the regulating member 4 in the embodiment has an engagement portion 44 on the tongue portion 43. This engagement portion 44 can be hooked on the main body 11, and prevents the regulating member 4 from falling off from the main body 11. The engagement portion 44 in the embodiment has an engagement portion 44 extending forward, but it may also extend backward or to the left or right.

[0039] Incidentally, it is preferable that the terminal structure is structured in consideration of removal of the regulating member 4. For example, it is preferable that the tool groove 18 into which a tool can be inserted is provided at a position where a force for moving the regulating member 4 upward can be applied by inserting and moving the tool. In the terminal structure shown in FIG. 2, the tool groove 18 into which a tool can be inserted is provided on the lower side of the regulating member 4. In this example, the tool groove 18 is a tool groove into which a Phillips-shaped tool can be inserted, and the regulating member 4 can be moved upward using a Phillips screwdriver. Note that the shape of the tool groove 18 is not limited to this embodiment, and the tool groove 18 may be a tool groove 18 corresponding to any tool. In addition, the tool groove 18 can be provided at a desired position within a range where the above function can be exerted.

[0040] Furthermore, the tool groove 18 in this embodiment is not formed only by the regulating member 4, but is formed from the regulating member 4 to the main body 11. Therefore, by inserting a Phillips head screwdriver into the Phillips head-shaped tool groove 18 and then rotating the screwdriver, the regulating member 4 can be moved slightly upward as if lifted. Therefore, even if the regulating member 4 is caught on the main body 11, the regulating member 4 can be removed relatively easily by using a tool.

[0041] In addition, the restricting member 4 has contact portions 45 on the surface facing the box terminal 3, the contact portions 45 being capable of contacting the box terminal 3. In the example shown in Fig. 3, the restricting member 4 has four contact portions 45 since the restricting member 4 has contact portions 45 on the left, right, top, bottom, and right, but the number of contact portions 45 does not have to be four, and the positions and shapes of the contact portions are not limited to those shown in Fig. 3.

[0042] In the embodiment, the cover part 12 functions to prevent the regulating member 4 from moving when the cover part 12 covers the box terminal 3. In the embodiment, when the regulating member 4 is attached to the terminal part 15, the regulating member 4 moves from top to bottom, but the regulating member 4 may move from bottom to top and fall off from the terminal part 15. The cover part 12 can suppress such a movement of the regulating member 4. This is because the cover part 12 is arranged to cover the upper part of the regulating member 4, so that the regulating member 4 can be prevented from moving so as to fall off from the terminal part 15. In the embodiment, when the first cover 13 of the cover part 12 is changed from an open state to a closed state, the regulating member 4 can be prevented from moving so as to fall off from the terminal part 15. The first cover 13 is pivotally supported on a pivot part provided on the upper surface of the center of the main body 11 so as to be openable and closable.

[0043] In the above-described terminal structure, to connect an electric wire to the box terminal 3, the cover portion 12 is rotated to make the terminal screw 31 operable, and a space is secured in the box terminal 3 in which the electric wire can be inserted, and then the electric wire is inserted into the box terminal 3, and the terminal screw 31 is then tightened. To remove the electric wire, the reverse procedure is carried out.

[0044] When removing the box terminal 3 from the terminal portion 15 while the electric wire is connected to the box terminal 3, first, the electric wire is removed from the box terminal 3. Then, the restricting member 4 is removed and the box terminal 3 is moved. In the embodiment, the restricting member 4 and the box terminal 3 are provided for each pole, so that only the members (such as the electric wire) related to the pole having the box terminal 3 that needs to be replaced need to be removed, which makes the removal work easy. The removal procedure for each part can be performed by retracing the installation procedure.

[0045] As can be seen from FIG. 12, a screw 81 is attached to the terminal board 2 of the embodiment, and by using this screw 81, the copper bar on the power source side, etc. can be maintained in a state where it is electrically connected to the terminal board 2.

[0046] Although the present invention has been described above by taking the embodiment as an example, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be variously modified. For example, in the embodiment, a terminal block provided with a box terminal is exemplified as the terminal structure of the terminal block, but it is not necessary to be limited to such an embodiment. It is also possible to use the terminal structure of other power distribution devices such as a circuit breaker.

[0047] Further, although the terminal fittings in the embodiments are formed into a box shape by bending metal, they may be formed into a box shape by casting. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 2 Terminal board 3 Box Terminal 11 Main unit 21 Convex 31 Terminal screw 61 Recess 62 Penetration

Claims

1. A terminal structure including a terminal plate having an end portion to which an electric wire is connected, and a main body having a through-portion through which the terminal plate can be inserted, a first restriction portion that restricts the terminal board from coming out of the through-hole after the terminal board is accommodated in the main body while passing through the through-hole; a second restriction portion (excluding a fastener) that is attached after the terminal portion is restricted by the first restriction portion to restrict the terminal board from being released from the restriction by the first restriction portion; Equipped with The first restricting portion is a terminal structure in which a convex portion provided on the upper surface of the terminal plate is received in a concave portion provided in the main body, thereby restricting the terminal plate from coming out of the through portion.

2. A terminal structure as described in claim 1, wherein the angle of the terminal board is changed after the terminal board is inserted into the through-portion, and the first regulating portion regulates the forward / backward movement of the terminal board, thereby preventing the terminal board from slipping out of the through-portion.

3. 3. The terminal structure according to claim 1, wherein a box terminal with a terminal screw arranged on an end side of the terminal board functions as the second restricting portion.

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