Terminal Block

Abstract

To provide a terminal block which allows improvement in rigidity around a collar in a housing.SOLUTION: A terminal block 1 comprises: a tabular conductor 2 which has a first terminal part 21 and a second terminal part 22; a cylindrical collar 4A which is fixed to a device via a fastening member; and a housing 5 which is insert-molded with respect to the conductor and the collar. The conductor has: a connecting part 24 which connects the first terminal part to the second terminal part; and an extending part 25 which extends from the connecting part to the vicinity of the collar. The extending part 25 is integrated with the collar 4A by insert-molding.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, there have been terminal blocks with collars. Patent Document 1 discloses a terminal block that includes a plate-shaped base portion with a collar mounting hole formed therein, and a cylindrical collar that is mounted in the collar mounting hole. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-16447 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a terminal block in which a housing holds a collar, it is preferable that the area around the collar has high rigidity. If the rigidity around the collar is improved, the resistance of the housing to high vibrations and the like is improved.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal block that can improve the rigidity of the housing around the collar. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The terminal block of the present invention comprises a plate-shaped conductor having a first terminal portion and a second terminal portion, a cylindrical collar fixed to an apparatus by a fastening member, and a housing insert-molded onto the conductor and the collar, wherein the conductor has a connection portion connecting the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion, and an extension portion extending from the connection portion to the vicinity of the collar, and the extension portion is integrated with the collar by insert molding. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] In the terminal block according to the present invention, the conductor has a connecting portion that connects the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion, and an extending portion that extends from the connecting portion to a position near the collar. The terminal block according to the present invention has an effect that the extending portion can improve the rigidity around the collar. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a terminal block according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the terminal block according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first conductor and a second conductor according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a front view of the first conductor and the second conductor according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a primary molding part according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a front view of the primary molding part according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a first fixing part according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an extension portion according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another example of the extension portion according to the embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a reinforcing member according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, a terminal block according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiments include those that can be easily imagined by a person skilled in the art or those that are substantially the same.

[0010] [Embodiment] An embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 10. This embodiment relates to a terminal block. Figs. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a terminal block according to an embodiment, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a first conductor and a second conductor according to an embodiment, Fig. 4 is a front view of the first conductor and the second conductor according to an embodiment, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a primary molded portion according to an embodiment, Fig. 6 is a front view of the primary molded portion according to an embodiment, Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a first fixing portion according to an embodiment, Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an extension portion according to an embodiment, Fig. 9 is a diagram showing another example of an extension portion according to an embodiment, and Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a reinforcing member according to an embodiment.

[0011] 1 and 2, the terminal block 1 of this embodiment has a first conductor 2, a second conductor 3, a first collar 4A, a second collar 4B, and a housing 5. As shown in FIG. 7, the terminal block 1 is accommodated in a device 300 mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile. A first mating portion 51 and a second mating portion 52 of the terminal block 1 are exposed to the outside from the housing of the device 300. The first mating portion 51 mates with a first connector 100 shown in FIG. 2. The second mating portion 52 mates with a second connector 200.

[0012] The first conductors 2 and the second conductors 3 are plate-shaped conductors made of conductive metal plates, such as copper or aluminum.

[0013] 1, the first conductor 2 has a first terminal portion 21, a second terminal portion 22, and a third terminal portion 23. The second conductor 3 has a first terminal portion 31, a second terminal portion 32, and a third terminal portion 33. The first collar 4A and the second collar 4B are fixed to the device 300 by fastening members. The first collar 4A and the second collar 4B are each a cylindrical metallic member.

[0014] The housing 5 is insert-molded with the first conductor 2, the second conductor 3, the first collar 4A, and the second collar 4B. The housing 5 is molded from, for example, an insulating synthetic resin. The housing 5 has a main body 50, a first fitting portion 51, a second fitting portion 52, a first fixing portion 53, and a second fixing portion 54.

[0015] The main body 50 is a portion that holds the first conductors 2 and the second conductors 3. The main body 50 is bent in a V-shape at a bent portion 50c in the center. The main body 50 has a first block 50a and a second block 50b. The first block 50a is located on one side of the bent portion 50c, and the second block 50b is located on the other side of the bent portion 50c. The main body 50 is bent so that the angle between the first block 50a and the second block 50b is an obtuse angle. The first block 50a has a rectangular shape in a plan view. In the following description, the longitudinal direction of the first block 50a is referred to as the "first direction X." The main body 50 has a first end portion 50d located at one end in the first direction X and a second end portion 50e located at the other end in the first direction X.

[0016] The first fitting portion 51 protrudes from a first end portion 50d of the first block 50a. The second fitting portion 52 protrudes from a second end portion 50e of the first block 50a. The first fitting portion 51 and the second fitting portion 52 protrude in the same direction from the first block 50a. In the following description, the direction in which the first fitting portion 51 and the second fitting portion 52 extend is referred to as the "second direction Y." The second direction Y is perpendicular to the first direction X.

[0017] The first fitting portion 51 accommodates the first terminal portion 21 of the first conductor 2 and the first terminal portion 31 of the second conductor 3. More specifically, the first fitting portion 51 has a rectangular cylindrical shape and surrounds the first terminal portions 21, 31. The internal space of the first fitting portion 51 is partitioned into an accommodation chamber 51a that accommodates the first terminal portion 21 and an accommodation chamber 51b that accommodates the first terminal portion 31.

[0018] The second fitting portion 52 accommodates the second terminal portion 22 of the first conductor 2 and the second terminal portion 32 of the second conductor 3. More specifically, the second fitting portion 52 has a rectangular cylindrical shape and surrounds the second terminal portions 22, 32. The internal space of the second fitting portion 52 is partitioned into an accommodation chamber 52a that accommodates the second terminal portion 22 and an accommodation chamber 52b that accommodates the second terminal portion 32.

[0019] The third terminal portions 23, 33 protrude from a first end portion 50d of the second block 50b. The first fixing portion 53 is a portion that holds the first collar 4A. The first fixing portion 53 protrudes in the first direction X from a second end portion 50e of the second block 50b. The second fixing portion 54 is a portion that holds the second collar 4B. The second fixing portion 54 protrudes in the first direction X from the first end portion 50d of the second block 50b. That is, the first collars 4A and the second collars 4B are arranged one on each end of the housing 5 in the first direction X.

[0020] 2, the first fitting portion 51 is configured to be connectable to the first connector 100. The first connector 100 has cylindrical insertion portions 101a and 101b that are inserted into the accommodation chambers 51a and 51b of the first fitting portion 51. Female terminals corresponding to the first terminal portions 21 and 31 are accommodated inside the insertion portions 101a and 101b, respectively.

[0021] The second fitting portion 52 is configured to be connectable to the second connector 200. More specifically, the second connector 200 has cylindrical insertion portions 201a and 201b that are inserted into the accommodation chambers 52a and 52b of the second fitting portion 52. Female terminals corresponding to the second terminal portions 22 and 32 are accommodated inside the insertion portions 201a and 201b, respectively. The terminal block 1 electrically connects the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 via the first conductor 2 and the second conductor 3.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 3 , the first conductor 2 has a bus bar 2A and a bus bar 2B. The bus bar 2A and the bus bar 2B are each formed of a metal plate. The bus bar 2A and the bus bar 2B are joined by a fastening member 2C. The bus bar 2A has a first terminal portion 21, a third terminal portion 23, a connecting portion 24, and an extending portion 25. The connecting portion 24 is a portion that connects the first terminal portion 21 and the second terminal portion 22. The first conductor 2 is bent in a V shape between the first terminal portion 21 and the second terminal portion 22 and the connecting portion 24.

[0023] The connecting portion 24 has a main body 24a and a branch portion 24b. The main body 24a extends along the first direction X. The main body 24a is covered by the second block 50b of the housing 5. The first terminal portion 21 and the third terminal portion 23 are connected to the main body 24a. The first terminal portion 21 protrudes from a first end portion 24c of the main body 24a along the second direction Y. The third terminal portion 23 protrudes from the first end portion 24c toward the side opposite to the first terminal portion 21. The protruding direction of the third terminal portion 23 is perpendicular to the first direction X and inclined with respect to the second direction Y.

[0024] The branch portion 24b protrudes from the second end portion 24d of the main body 24a in the second direction Y. The tip of the branch portion 24b is connected to the second terminal portion 22 by the fastening member 2C. The second terminal portion 22 extends in the second direction Y from the connection portion with the branch portion 24b.

[0025] The extending portion 25 extends from the second end 24d of the main body 24a in the first direction X. The extending portion 25 has a main body 25a and an enclosing portion 25b. The main body 25a is connected to the main body 24a of the connecting portion 24 and extends in the first direction X. The width of the main body 25a is the same as the width of the main body 24a. In other words, the main bodies 24a, 25a form a single continuous rectangular metal plate. The enclosing portion 25b is disposed at the tip of the main body 25a. The enclosing portion 25b is ring-shaped. The enclosing portion 25b has a circular through-hole 25c that corresponds to the first collar 4A.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 4, the surrounding portion 25b surrounds the entire first collar 4A. A gap is provided between the surrounding portion 25b and the outer peripheral surface of the first collar 4A. The surrounding portion 25b is preferably positioned concentrically with the first collar 4A. The extension portion 25 can improve the rigidity and strength of the housing 5. For example, when the first collar 4A is fixed to the device 300 with a fastening member, stress due to an impact or the like acts on the first collar 4A and the resin surrounding the first collar 4A. Furthermore, vibrations of the device 300 are transmitted from the first collar 4A to the resin.

[0027] The extension portion 25 improves the rigidity of the housing 5 around the first collar 4A, and can suppress deformation of the housing 5. The extension portion 25 also suppresses tilting or misalignment of the first collar 4A caused by contraction of the housing 5 during cooling. The extension portion 25 and the connection portion 24 also form the framework of the housing 5, and can improve the dimensional accuracy of the housing 5.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3 , the second conductor 3 has a bus bar 3A and a bus bar 3B. The bus bar 3A and the bus bar 3B are each formed of a metal plate. The bus bar 3A and the bus bar 3B are connected by a fastening member 3C. The bus bar 3A has a first terminal 31, a third terminal 33, and a connecting portion 34. The connecting portion 34 connects the first terminal 31 and the second terminal 32. The second conductor 3 is bent in a V-shape between the first terminal 31 and the connecting portion 34 and the third terminal 33. The connecting portion 34 protrudes from the base end of the first terminal 31 along the first direction X. The tip of the connecting portion 34 is connected to the second terminal 32 by the fastening member 3C. The second terminal 32 extends from the connecting portion with the connecting portion 34 along the second direction Y.

[0029] Here, the insert molding of the housing 5 will be described. The housing 5 of this embodiment is molded in two stages: primary molding and secondary molding. Figures 5 and 6 show primary molded portions 55A, 55B, and 55C formed by primary molding. The primary molded portion 55A is insert molded into the extension portion 25 and the first collar 4A. More specifically, the primary molded portion 55A covers the entire side surface of the first collar 4A, the entire surrounding portion 25b of the extension portion 25, and the tip of the main body 25a of the extension portion 25. The primary molded portion 55A has a flat plate shape perpendicular to the axial direction of the first collar 4A. The primary molded portion 55A includes a first fixing portion 53. The presence of the surrounding portion 25b surrounding the first collar 4A suppresses defects such as voids in the primary molded portion 55A and tilting of the first collar 4A.

[0030] The primary molded portion 55B is insert-molded with respect to the connecting portion 24, the first terminal portions 21 and 31, the third terminal portions 23 and 33, and the second collar 4B. More specifically, the primary molded portion 55B covers the entire side surface of the second collar 4B and exposes the tip portions of the first terminal portions 21 and 31 and the tip portions of the third terminal portions 23 and 33. The primary molded portion 55B includes the second fixing portion 54.

[0031] The primary molded portion 55C is insert molded into the branched portion between the connecting portion 24 and the extending portion 25. In other words, the primary molded portion 55C covers the branched portion between the main body 24a and the branch portion 24b of the connecting portion 24 and the base end portion of the extending portion 25.

[0032] 2, the housing 5 has a secondary molded portion 56 that is insert-molded with respect to the primary molded portions 55A, 55B, and 55C. The secondary molded portion 56 includes the first block 50a, the second block 50b, the first fitting portion 51, and the second fitting portion 52 of the main body 50.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 7 , the first fixing portion 53 is fixed to the support wall 301 by a fastening member 6. The support wall 301 is a part of the device 300, for example, a part of the housing of the device 300. The support wall 301 may be a member separate from the housing of the device 300. The illustrated fastening member 6 includes a bolt 61 and a nut 62. The bolt 61 may be a stud bolt disposed in the support wall 301. The second fixing portion 54 is fixed to the support wall of the device 300 by the fastening member 6, similar to the first fixing portion 53.

[0034] The terminal block 1 is housed inside the device 300 and connected to the device 300. The third terminal portions 23, 33 of the terminal block 1 are electrically connected to the device 300. The device 300 is, for example, a PCU (Power Control Unit) interposed between a power source and a driving motor. The terminal block 1 is fixed to the device 300 with the first fitting portion 51 and the second fitting portion 52 of the housing 5 exposed to the outside of the device 300. One of the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 may be a connector connected to a power source of a vehicle. The other of the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 may be a connector connected to an electrical load mounted on the vehicle. In this case, the terminal block 1 can distribute power supplied from the power source to the device 300 and the electrical load.

[0035] In the terminal block 1 of this embodiment, the extension portion 25 extends from the connection portion 24 to the vicinity of the first collar 4A. The extension portion 25 increases the rigidity of the housing 5 around the first collar 4A. The extension portion 25 can improve the resistance of the housing 5 to high vibrations, for example. Furthermore, the extension portion 25 can suppress deformation of the housing 5 during cooling and improve dimensional accuracy.

[0036] As described above, the terminal block 1 according to this embodiment has the plate-shaped first conductor 2, the cylindrical first collar 4A, and the housing 5. The first conductor 2 has the first terminal portion 21 and the second terminal portion 22. The first collar 4A is fixed to the device 300 by the fastening member 6. The housing 5 is insert-molded into the first conductor 2 and the first collar 4A.

[0037] The first conductor 2 has a connecting portion 24 that connects the first terminal portion 21 and the second terminal portion 22, and an extending portion 25. The extending portion 25 extends from the connecting portion 24 to the vicinity of the first collar 4A. The extending portion 25 is integrated with the first collar 4A by insert molding. The terminal block 1 of this embodiment can improve the rigidity around the first collar 4A by using the extending portion 25.

[0038] In this embodiment, the extension portion 25 has a surrounding portion 25b that surrounds the first collar 4A. The entire surrounding portion 25b is integrated with the first collar 4A by insert molding. The surrounding portion 25b can improve the rigidity around the first collar 4A.

[0039] The surrounding portion 25b of this embodiment has an annular shape and surrounds the entire circumference of the first collar 4A. The annular surrounding portion 25b can improve the rigidity around the first collar 4A.

[0040] The housing 5 of this embodiment has a primary molded portion 55A and a secondary molded portion 56. The primary molded portion 55A is a portion that is insert molded into the extension portion 25 and the first collar 4A. The secondary molded portion 56 is a portion that is insert molded into the primary molded portion 55A. This configuration makes it easy to design the shape of the primary molded portion 55A so that molding defects are less likely to occur.

[0041] The shape of the extension portion 25 is not limited to the illustrated shape. For example, as shown in Fig. 8, the surrounding portion 25b does not have to be closed. In other words, the shape of the surrounding portion 25b may be an arc shape. The shape of the surrounding portion 25b shown in Fig. 8 is a C-shape with a circumferentially open portion.

[0042] As shown in Fig. 9, the extending portion 25 does not have to have the surrounding portion 25b. The extending portion 25 shown in Fig. 9 has a rectangular main body 25a. The main body 25a is integrated with the first collar 4A by a primary molded portion 55A. A tip 25d of the main body 25a may be located farther from the first collar 4A as viewed from the connecting portion 24. In other words, the main body 25a may protrude in the first direction X to a position beyond the first collar 4A.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 10 , the terminal block 1 may have a reinforcing member 7 instead of the extension portion 25. The reinforcing member 7 is independent of the first conductor 2 and the second conductor 3 and is not in contact with either the first conductor 2 or the second conductor 3. The illustrated reinforcing member 7 is a ring-shaped member surrounding the first collar 4A. The reinforcing member 7 may be formed of a metal plate similar to the first conductor 2. The reinforcing member 7 may be formed of a material having the same rigidity as the metal plate. The primary molded portion 55A is insert-molded into the reinforcing member 7 and the first collar 4A. That is, the reinforcing member 7 is integrated with the first collar 4A by insert molding. The secondary molded portion 56 of the housing 5 is insert-molded into the primary molded portion 55A.

[0044] The configuration of the terminal block 1 will be described below when it has a reinforcing member 7 independent of the first conductor 2 and the second conductor 3, as shown in FIG. 10 . This terminal block 1 has a conductor having a terminal portion, a cylindrical first collar 4A, a reinforcing member 7 surrounding the first collar 4A, and a housing 5. The conductor may be a bus bar or a conductor different from the bus bar. The housing 5 is insert-molded with the first collar 4A and the reinforcing member 7. Note that the shape of the reinforcing member 7 does not have to be a closed shape and may be, for example, an arc shape. The reinforcing member 7 can improve the rigidity of the housing 5 around the first collar 4A.

[0045] [Modification of the embodiment] The first conductor 2 may be such that the first terminal 21 and the second terminal 22 are integrally formed. That is, in the first conductor 2, the first terminal 21, the connection portion 24, and the second terminal 22 may be formed from a single metal plate. Similarly, the second conductor 3 may be such that the first terminal 31 and the second terminal 32 are integrally formed.

[0046] The first conductor 2 does not necessarily have to have the third terminal portion 23. Similarly, the second conductor 3 does not necessarily have to have the third terminal portion 33.

[0047] The entire housing 5 may be molded at one time. That is, the primary molded portions 55A, 55B, and 55C and the secondary molded portion 56 of the above embodiment may be manufactured by a single molding operation. For example, if the first conductors 2 and the second conductors 3 are not bent in a V shape, the entire housing 5 may be molded at one time.

[0048] The first conductor 2 or the second conductor 3 may have a surrounding portion that surrounds the second collar 4B. For example, the surrounding portion that surrounds the second collar 4B may be provided on the third terminal portion 23 of the first conductor 2.

[0049] The contents disclosed in the above-described embodiments and modifications can be implemented in appropriate combinations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1 Terminal block 2: first conductor, 2A, 2B: bus bar, 2C: fastening member 3: Second conductor; 3A, 3B: Bus bar; 3C: Fastening member 4A: First color, 4B: Second color 5: Housing; 6: Fastening member; 7: Reinforcing member 21: First terminal section, 22: Second terminal section, 23: Third terminal section 24: Connection portion, 24a: Main body, 24b: Branch portion 25: extension portion, 25a: main body, 25b: surrounding portion 31: First terminal part, 32: Second terminal part, 33: Third terminal part 50: Main body, 50a: First block, 50b: Second block 50c: bent part, 50d: first end, 50e: second end 51: First fitting portion, 51a, 51b: Receiving chamber 52: second fitting portion, 52a, 52b: accommodation chamber 53: First fixing part, 54: Second fixing part, 55A, 55B, 55C: Primary molding part 56:Secondary molding part 61: Bolt, 62: Nut 100: first connector, 101a, 101b: insertion portion 200: second connector, 201a, 201b: insertion portion 300:Equipment, 301:Supporting wall X: first direction, Y: second direction

Claims

1. a plate-shaped conductor having a first terminal portion and a second terminal portion; a cylindrical collar that is fixed to the device by a fastening member; a housing insert molded onto the conductor and the collar; Equipped with the conductor has a connection portion that connects the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion along a first direction, and an extension portion that extends from the connection portion along the first direction to a position near the collar, the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion extend from the connection portion along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, The extension is integrated with the collar by insert molding. A terminal block characterized by:

2. the extension portion has a surrounding portion that surrounds the collar, The entire surrounding portion is integrated with the collar by insert molding. The terminal block according to claim 1 .

3. The surrounding portion has an annular shape and surrounds the collar over its entire circumference. The terminal block according to claim 2 .

4. The housing has a primary molded portion that is insert molded onto the extension and the collar, and a secondary molded portion that is insert molded onto the primary molded portion. The terminal block according to claim 2 or 3.

Images