Terminal Block

Abstract

To provide a terminal block that suppresses shaking of a bus bar.SOLUTION: A bus bar 2 includes a first connection part 21 to be connected to a first terminal, a second connection part 22 to be connected to a second terminal, and a third connection part 23 to be connected to the first connection part 21 and the second connection part 22. A housing 5 is provided with a bus bar housing part 51 for housing the bus bar 2. An inner wall of the bus bar housing part 51 is provided with first press-fit ribs 513 brought into contact with a first surface S1 of one side in the plate thickness direction (vertical direction) of the bus bar 2, and a second press-fit ribs 514 brought into contact with a second surface S2 on the other side in the plate thickness direction of the bus bar 2. The first press-fit ribs 513 and the second press-fit ribs 514 are different in a position of crossing direction (horizontal direction) crossing both the press-fit direction and the plate thickness direction of the bus bar 2 to the bus bar housing part 51.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] As the above-mentioned terminal block, for example, one disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. The terminal block disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a bus bar and a terminal block main body that houses the bus bar.

[0003] Conventional terminal blocks have a gap between the bus bar and the terminal block body, which causes the bus bar to shake and rattle when vibration occurs. Furthermore, if the bus bar rattles, it can come into contact with the terminal block body, potentially scraping the terminal block body. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-327184 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a terminal block in which vibration of a bus bar is suppressed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the terminal block according to the present invention has the following features. a bus bar having a first connection portion connected to a first mating terminal, a second connection portion connected to a second mating terminal, and a coupling portion coupling the first connection portion and the second connection portion; a housing provided with a bus bar accommodating portion that accommodates the bus bar, an inner wall of the bus bar accommodating portion is provided with a first press-fit protrusion that abuts against a first surface of the bus bar on one side in a plate thickness direction, and a second press-fit protrusion that abuts against a second surface of the bus bar on the other side in the plate thickness direction; The first press-fit protrusion and the second press-fit protrusion are positioned at different positions in a cross direction that crosses both the press-fit direction of the bus bar into the bus bar accommodating portion and the plate thickness direction. the law of nature , The connecting portion has a first portion that is elongated in the intersecting direction, the first portion is accommodated in the bus bar accommodating portion, the first press-fit protrusion and the second press-fit protrusion abut against the first portion; It is a terminal block. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a terminal block in which vibration of a bus bar is suppressed.

[0008] The present invention has been briefly described above. The details of the present invention will become clearer by reading the following detailed description of the invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a terminal block of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the terminal block shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the periphery of the bus bar receiving portion shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the terminal block of the present invention. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the terminal block shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the periphery of the bus bar accommodating portion shown in Fig. 1.

[0012] The terminal block of this embodiment is typically mounted on an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or the like, and is used to connect a high-voltage battery and a motor. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the terms "front-rear direction," "left-right direction," "up-down direction," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "up," and "down" are defined as shown in Figures 1 to 4. The "front-rear direction," "left-right direction," and "up-down direction" are perpendicular to each other.

[0013] 1 and 2, the terminal block 1 includes a plurality of bus bars 2 to 4, a housing 5 that accommodates the plurality of bus bars 2 to 4, and a nut accommodating portion 7 that accommodates a square nut 6 (see FIG. 2). The bus bars 2 to 4 are manufactured by stamping and bending a conductive metal plate. The bus bars 2 to 4 each have a first connecting portion 21, 31, 41 that is connected to a first mating terminal (not shown), a second connecting portion 22, 32, 42 that is connected to a second mating terminal (not shown), and connecting portions 23, 33, 43 that connect the first connecting portions 21, 31, 41 to the second connecting portions 22, 32, 42.

[0014] The first connection portions 21, 31, 41 and the second connection portions 22, 32, 42 are overlapped with the first mating terminals and second mating terminals, and are electrically connected by being fastened with bolts (not shown) and nuts 6. The plate thickness direction of the first connection portions 21, 31, 41 is arranged along the vertical direction, and bolt holes 21a, 31a, 41a are provided for inserting the bolts. The first connection portions 21, 31, 41 of the three bus bars 2 to 4 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction on the same plane perpendicular to the vertical direction. The plate thickness direction of the second connection portions 22, 32, 42 is arranged along the left-right direction, and bolt holes 22a, 32a, 42a are provided for connecting the bolts. The second connection portions 22, 32, 42 of the three bus bars 2 to 4 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction on the same plane perpendicular to the left-right direction, and are inclined so that they approach the upper side toward the rear.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, the connecting portions 23, 33, 43 include first portions 231, 331, 431, second portions 232, 332, 432, and third portions 233, 333, 433. The first portions 231, 331, 431 are arranged such that their thickness direction is aligned with the vertical direction and are elongated in the left-right direction (intersecting direction). In this embodiment, the first portions 231, 331, 431 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction. The right ends of the first portions 231, 331, 431 are located closer to the right as they are positioned lower. The left ends of the first portions 231, 331, 431 are located closer to the left as they are positioned higher.

[0016] The second portions 232, 332, 432 protrude from the right ends of the front ends of the first portions 231, 331, 431, and are continuous with the first connection portions 21, 31, 41. A grommet 10 is attached to each of the second portions 232, 332, 432. Also, a grommet holder 11 is attached to each of the second portions 232, 332, 432, which holds the three grommets 10 together by clamping them in the vertical direction.

[0017] The second portions 232, 332, 432 are formed by bending them at multiple locations so that the first connection portions 21, 31, 41 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction on the same plane perpendicular to the up-down direction. The left-right width of the second portions 232, 332, 432 is shorter than the left-right length of the first portions 231, 331, 431 and is approximately the same as the front-rear width.

[0018] The third portions 233, 333, 433 protrude from the left ends of the rear ends of the first portions 231, 331, 431, and are continuous with the second connecting portions 22, 32, 42. The third portions 233, 333, 433 are bent to provide inclined portions along the inclination direction. The inclined portions of the third portions 233, 333, 433 are punched out to form a substantially L-shape. As a result, the second connecting portions 22, 32, 42 are arranged side by side in the inclined direction on the same plane perpendicular to the left-right direction.

[0019] 2 and 3, the housing 5 is made of synthetic resin and is formed in a generally flat plate shape that is long in the left-right direction. The housing 5 has bus bar accommodating portions 51, 52, and 53 (see FIG. 3) that accommodate the connecting portions 23, 33, and 43 of the bus bars 2 to 4, a guide portion 54 (see FIG. 2), a locking projection 55 (see FIG. 2), and an attachment portion 56.

[0020] The busbar accommodating portions 51, 52, and 53 are provided to penetrate in the front-rear direction, and the busbars 2 to 4 are press-fitted or inserted from rear to front in the front-rear direction. That is, in this embodiment, the press-fitting direction is the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 3 , the busbar accommodating portion 51 has a wide portion 511 that accommodates the front end of the first portion 231 of the busbar 2, and a narrow portion 512 that accommodates the rear end of the second portion 232. The wide portion 511 is provided with a width in the left-right direction that is narrower than that of the narrow portion 512.

[0021] The wide portion 511 has a length in the left-right direction that is slightly greater than the length of the first portion 231 in the left-right direction, and a height in the up-down direction that is slightly greater than the thickness of the busbar 2. The narrow portion 512 has a length in the left-right direction that is slightly greater than the width of the second portion 232 in the left-right direction, and a height in the up-down direction that is slightly greater than the thickness of the busbar 2.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 6 , the inner surface of the wide portion 511 is provided with a first press-fit rib 513 (first press-fit protrusion) that abuts against the upper first surface S1 of the first portion 231 of the bus bar 2, and a second press-fit rib 514 (second press-fit protrusion) that abuts against the lower second surface S2 of the bus bar 2. The first and second press-fit ribs 513, 514 are configured as ribs with semicircular cross sections that extend along the front-rear direction. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the first and second press-fit ribs 513, 514 are crushed by press-fitting the bus bar 2. The first press-fit rib 513 and the second press-fit rib 514 are positioned at different positions in the left-right direction of the bus bar accommodating portion 51. In this embodiment, the first press-fit ribs 513 and the second press-fit ribs 514 are arranged alternately along the left-right direction.

[0023] The bus bar accommodating portions 52, 53 accommodate the second portions 332, 432 of the bus bars 3, 4. The bus bar accommodating portions 52, 53 have a length in the left-right direction that is slightly larger than the width in the left-right direction of the second portions 332, 432, and a height in the up-down direction that is slightly larger than the plate thickness of the bus bars 3, 4. No press-fit ribs are formed on the inner surfaces of the bus bar accommodating portions 52, 53.

[0024] The guide portion 54 is provided to guide the nut accommodating portion 7 in the front-rear direction. The guide portion 54 is provided in a cylindrical shape that protrudes rearward. A guide portion 72 provided in the nut accommodating portion 7, which will be described later, can be slidably inserted into this cylindrical guide portion 54. In this embodiment, three guide portions 54 are provided.

[0025] The locking protrusions 55 are provided to lock the nut accommodating portion 7. The locking protrusions 55 protrude upward and are locked in the front-rear direction with locking portions 73 provided on the nut accommodating portion 7. In this embodiment, three locking protrusions 55 are provided.

[0026] The mounting portions 56 are provided for mounting the housing 5 to the vehicle body. A plurality of mounting portions 56 protrude from the side surface of the housing 5, and each mounting portion 56 is provided with a bolt hole 56a through which a bolt is passed.

[0027] The nut accommodating portion 7 is formed in a substantially flat plate shape, and the square nut 6 is accommodated on the left side surface. The nut accommodating portion 7 includes a main body portion 71 having an L-shaped groove 711 formed therein, into which the inclined portions of the bus bars 2 to 3 are fitted, a guide portion 72, and a locking portion 73. The main body portion 71 is disposed at an angle along the inclination direction, and a press-fit hole into which the square nut 6 is press-fitted is provided at the left end of the main body portion 71. The main body portion 71 is provided with a bus bar locking protrusion 712 that locks the bus bars 2 to 4 in the plate thickness direction. By fitting the bus bars 2 to 3 into the L-shaped groove 711 and locking them with the bus bar locking protrusion 712 in this manner, vibrations of the bus bars 2 to 3 in the lengthwise, widthwise, and plate thickness directions can be suppressed.

[0028] The guide portion 72 is provided in a columnar shape protruding forward from the main body portion 71. By sliding the guide portion 72 into the cylindrical guide portion 54 provided in the housing 5, the nut accommodating portion 7 can be guided forward in the front-to-rear direction. In this embodiment, three guide portions 72 are provided.

[0029] The locking portion 73 is locked in the front-rear direction with a locking protrusion 55 provided on the housing 5. The locking portion 73 protrudes forward, and a locking hole 73a is provided in an arm portion that is flexible in the up-down direction, into which the locking protrusion 55 is inserted. In this embodiment, three locking portions 73 are provided. Note that the above-mentioned guide portion 72 protrudes further forward than the locking portion 73.

[0030] Next, the assembly procedure for the terminal block 1 configured as described above will be described. First, the inclined portions of the bus bars 2 to 4 are fitted into the grooves 711 provided in the nut accommodating portion 7. When the bus bars 2 to 4 are fitted into the grooves 711, the second connection portions 22, 32, and 42 are arranged opposite the square nut 6 in the left-right direction. Then, the first connection portions 21, 31, and 41 of the bus bars 2 to 4 are inserted through the rear openings of the bus bar accommodating portions 51 to 53. When the bus bars 2 to 4 are then moved from rear to front, the first connection portions 21, 31, and 41 protrude from the front openings of the bus bar accommodating portions 51 to 53. At this time, the second portion 232 of the bus bar 2 is accommodated in the narrow portion 512, and the first portion 231 is press-fitted into the wide portion 511. Furthermore, the second portions 332 and 432 of the bus bars 3 and 4 are accommodated in the bus bar accommodating portions 52 and 53.

[0031] Furthermore, when the bus bars 2 to 4 are moved from the rear to the front, the guide portion 72 provided in the nut accommodating portion 7 is slidably inserted into the guide portion 54 provided in the housing 5. When the nut accommodating portion 7 is moved forward while being guided by the guide portions 54 and 72, the locking protrusion 55 is inserted into the locking hole 73a of the locking portion 73, and the housing 5 and the nut accommodating portion 7 are locked together.

[0032] Thereafter, the grommet 10 and the grommet holder 11 are attached to the second portions 232, 332, 432 of the bus bars 2 to 4, and the terminal block 1 is completed.

[0033] According to the above-described embodiment, the inner wall of the busbar accommodating portion 51 is provided with a first press-fit rib 513 that abuts against the first surface S1 on one side in the thickness direction of the busbar 2, and a second press-fit rib 514 that abuts against the second surface S2 on the other side in the thickness direction of the busbar 2. This allows the busbar 2 to be press-fitted, thereby suppressing vibration of the busbar 2. Furthermore, the first press-fit rib 513 and the second press-fit rib 514 are positioned at different positions in a cross direction (left-right direction) that intersects both the press-fit direction (front-back direction) and the thickness direction (up-down direction) of the busbar 2 into the busbar accommodating portion 51. This reduces resistance when the busbar 2 is press-fitted into the busbar accommodating portion 51, allowing the busbar 2 to be press-fitted smoothly into the busbar accommodating portion 51.

[0034] Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, the first press-fit ribs 513 and the second press-fit ribs 514 are arranged alternately in the left-right direction, which prevents distortion of the busbar 2 due to pressure from the first press-fit ribs 513 and the second press-fit ribs 514, thereby further suppressing vibration of the busbar.

[0035] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the first portion 231 that is long in the left-right direction is accommodated in the bus bar accommodating portion 51, and the first press-fit rib 513 and the second press-fit rib 514 abut against the first portion 231. By abutting the first press-fit rib 513 and the second press-fit rib 514 against the first portion 231 that is long in the left-right direction, more press-fit ribs 513, 514 can be abutted against the bus bar 2, and vibration of the bus bar 2 can be further suppressed.

[0036] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified, improved, etc. Furthermore, the material, shape, size, number, location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary and not limited as long as they can achieve the present invention.

[0037] In the above-described embodiment, the first press-fit rib 513 and the second press-fit rib 514 are provided only in the bus bar accommodating portion 51, but this is not limited thereto. The first press-fit rib 513 and the second press-fit rib 514 may be provided in the bus bar accommodating portions 52 and 53.

[0038] In the above-described embodiment, the first press-fit ribs 513 and the second press-fit ribs 514 are arranged alternately in the left-right direction, but this is not limitative. The first press-fit ribs 513 and the second press-fit ribs 514 only need to be positioned at different positions in the left-right direction, and do not have to be arranged alternately.

[0039] In the above-described embodiment, the first press-fit rib 513 and the second press-fit rib 514 abut against the first portion 231 of the busbar 2, but this is not limited thereto. The first press-fit rib and the second press-fit rib only need to abut against the connecting portion 23 of the busbar 2, and may be provided so as to abut against the second portion 232.

[0040] In the above-described embodiment, the first press-fit rib 513 and the second press-fit rib 514 are provided in a semi-cylindrical shape, but the present invention is not limited to this. The first press-fit rib 513 and the second press-fit rib 514 may have any shape that allows the bus bar 2 to be press-fitted, and may have, for example, a triangular prism shape or a quadrangular prism shape. Furthermore, the first press-fit rib 513 and the second press-fit rib 514 do not necessarily have to be configured as ribs extending in the front-rear direction, and may have any shape that allows the bus bar 2 to be press-fitted.

[0041] Here, the features of the above-described embodiments of the terminal block according to the present invention will be briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [3]. [1] a busbar (2) having a first connection portion (21) connected to a first mating terminal, a second connection portion (22) connected to a second mating terminal, and a connecting portion (23) connecting the first connection portion (21) and the second connection portion (22); a housing (5) provided with a bus bar accommodating portion (51) for accommodating the bus bar (2), An inner wall of the bus bar accommodating portion (51) is provided with a first press-fit protrusion (513) that abuts against a first surface (S1) on one side in a thickness direction (vertical direction) of the bus bar (2), and a second press-fit protrusion (514) that abuts against a second surface (S2) on the other side in the thickness direction of the bus bar (2), The first press-fit protrusion (513) and the second press-fit protrusion (514) are positioned differently in a cross direction (left-right direction) that crosses both a press-fit direction (front-rear direction) of the bus bar (2) into the bus bar accommodating portion (51) and the plate thickness direction. Terminal block (1).

[0042] According to the configuration [1] above, the inner wall of the busbar accommodating portion 54 is provided with a first press-fit protrusion 513 that abuts against a first surface S1 on one side in the thickness direction of the busbar 2, and a second press-fit protrusion 514 that abuts against a second surface S2 on the other side in the thickness direction of the busbar 2. This allows the busbar 2 to be press-fitted, thereby suppressing vibration of the busbar 2. Furthermore, the first press-fit protrusion 513 and the second press-fit protrusion 514 are positioned at different positions in a cross direction that intersects both the press-fit direction of the busbar 2 into the busbar accommodating portion 54 and the thickness direction of the busbar 2. This reduces resistance when the busbar 2 is press-fitted into the busbar accommodating portion 54, allowing the busbar 2 to be press-fitted smoothly into the busbar accommodating portion 54.

[0043] [2] In the terminal block (1) described in [1], The first press-fit projections (513) and the second press-fit projections (514) are alternately arranged along the intersecting direction. Terminal block (1).

[0044] According to the configuration [2] above, the first press-fit projections 513 and the second press-fit projections 514 are alternately arranged in the intersecting direction, which prevents distortion of the bus bar 2 due to pressure from the first press-fit projections 513 and the second press-fit projections 514, and further suppresses vibration of the bus bar 2.

[0045] [3] In the terminal block (1) according to [1] or [2], The connecting portion (23) has a first portion (231) that is elongated in the intersecting direction, a second portion (232) that protrudes from an end portion of the first portion (231) on one side in the press-fitting direction and is continuous with the first connecting portion (21), and a third portion (233) that protrudes from an end portion of the first portion (231) on the other side in the press-fitting direction and is continuous with the second connecting portion (22), The first portion (231) is accommodated in the bus bar accommodating portion (51), The first press-fit projection (513) and the second press-fit projection (514) abut against the first portion (231). Terminal block (1).

[0046] According to the configuration [3] above, the first portion 231 elongated in the transverse direction is accommodated in the bus bar accommodating portion 51, and the first press-fit projection 513 and the second press-fit projection 514 abut against the first portion 231. By abutting the first press-fit projection 513 and the second press-fit projection 514 against the first portion 231 elongated in the transverse direction, more press-fit projections 513, 514 can be abutted against the bus bar 2, and vibration of the bus bar 2 can be further suppressed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1 Terminal block 2 Busbar 21 First connection part 22 Second connection part 23 Connecting part 51 Bus bar housing 231 Part 1 232 Part 2 233 Part 3 513 First press-fit rib (first press-fit protrusion) 514 Second press-fit rib (second press-fit protrusion) S1 1st page S2 side 2

Claims

1. a bus bar including a first connection portion connected to a first mating terminal, a second connection portion connected to a second mating terminal, and a coupling portion coupling the first connection portion and the second connection portion; a housing provided with a bus bar accommodating portion that accommodates the bus bar, an inner wall of the bus bar accommodating portion is provided with a first press-fit protrusion that abuts against a first surface of the bus bar on one side in a plate thickness direction, and a second press-fit protrusion that abuts against a second surface of the bus bar on the other side in the plate thickness direction; the first press-fit protrusion and the second press-fit protrusion are different in position in an intersecting direction that intersects both a press-fitting direction of the bus bar into the bus bar accommodating portion and the plate thickness direction, The connecting portion has a first portion that is elongated in the intersecting direction, the first portion is accommodated in the bus bar accommodating portion, the first press-fit protrusion and the second press-fit protrusion abut against the first portion; terminal block.

2. 2. The terminal block according to claim 1, The first press-fit protrusions and the second press-fit protrusions are alternately arranged along the intersecting direction. terminal block.

3. A busbar having a first connection portion connected to a first mating terminal, a second connection portion connected to a second mating terminal, and a connecting portion connecting the first connection portion and the second connection portion; a housing provided with a bus bar accommodating portion that accommodates the bus bar, an inner wall of the bus bar accommodating portion is provided with a first press-fit protrusion that abuts against a first surface of the bus bar on one side in a plate thickness direction, and a second press-fit protrusion that abuts against a second surface of the bus bar on the other side in the plate thickness direction; the first press-fit protrusion and the second press-fit protrusion are different in position in an intersecting direction that intersects both a press-fitting direction of the bus bar into the bus bar accommodating portion and the plate thickness direction, the connecting portion has a first portion provided long in the intersecting direction, a second portion protruding from an end portion of the first portion on one side in the press-fitting direction and connected to the first connecting portion, and a third portion protruding from an end portion of the first portion on the other side in the press-fitting direction and connected to the second connecting portion, the first portion is accommodated in the bus bar accommodating portion, the first press-fit protrusion and the second press-fit protrusion abut against the first portion; terminal block.

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