Terminal block

The terminal block design with pivotally supported covers and a regulating member ensures only one cover can be opened at a time, addressing the risk of simultaneous contact with multiple terminals, enhancing safety in high current or high voltage environments.

JP7860061B2Active Publication Date: 2026-05-15YAZAKI CORP
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
YAZAKI CORP
Filing Date
2023-12-25
Publication Date
2026-05-15

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Conventional terminal blocks allow simultaneous opening of multiple covers, posing a risk of unintentional simultaneous contact with multiple terminals, especially in high current or high voltage environments.

Method used

A terminal block design featuring pivotally supported covers with a regulating member that restricts the rotation of other covers when one cover is opened, using meshing portions and an elastic mechanism to ensure only one cover can be opened at a time, preventing simultaneous access to multiple terminals.

Benefits of technology

Prevents simultaneous opening of multiple covers, ensuring safe operation by preventing unintended contact with multiple terminals, enhancing safety in high current or high voltage environments.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

To provide a terminal block for appropriately restrain other covers from being opened when one cover is being opened or has been opened.SOLUTION: A terminal block 1 includes a plurality of terminals 10, a housing 20, a plurality of covers 30, and a regulating member 40. When all of the plurality of covers 30 are in a closed position, the regulating member 40 is located at an initial position where each of a plurality of engaged portions 43 and each of engaging portions 34 can engage with each other. When one cover 30 is rotated in an opening direction, the engaging portion 34 and the engaged portion 43 of the one cover 30 engage with each other, the regulating member 40 is displaced in an axial direction from the initial position as the one cover 30 rotates from a closed position to an opened position, whereby the engaging portion 34 and the engaged portion 43 of each of the plurality of other covers 30 cannot engage with each other and as a result, the plurality of covers 30 cannot rotate from the closed position to the opened position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9
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Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there has been proposed a terminal block including a plurality of terminals each to be connected to a counterpart terminal, a housing having a plurality of working openings for the plurality of terminals, and a plurality of opening / closing covers each capable of opening and closing the working opening. This type of terminal block is often used in an environment such as high current or high voltage, and is configured so that a plurality of terminals (specifically, contacts with a counterpart member) cannot be touched simultaneously from the viewpoints of safety (such as electric shock prevention) and short-circuit prevention.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a terminal block including a pair of terminals, a housing having a pair of working openings, and a pair of opening / closing covers. One of the pair of opening / closing covers is configured to be opened while falling toward the other opening / closing cover side so that the other cover is not opened. That is, in the terminal block of Patent Document 1, the pair of opening / closing covers are not opened simultaneously, and the pair of terminals cannot be touched simultaneously.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the terminal block described in Patent Document 1, if there are three or more terminals, the structure allows two or more covers to be opened simultaneously, which could lead to unintentionally touching multiple terminals at the same time. Therefore, when there are multiple terminals (especially three or more), it is desirable to configure the terminal block so that two or more covers cannot be opened simultaneously.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a terminal block in which the opening of one cover or the opening of another cover is properly prevented when one cover is open. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the aforementioned objectives, the terminal block according to the present invention has the following features. Multiple terminals connected to the other terminal, A housing having multiple openings corresponding to the multiple terminals, Multiple covers pivotally supported by the housing so as to be rotatable between an open position and a closed position relative to each of the aforementioned openings, A restricting member housed in the housing restricts the rotation of the other covers (excluding the first cover) in the opening direction when one of the multiple covers rotates in the opening direction, A terminal block equipped with, The aforementioned multiple covers are, Each pivot shaft is provided with a meshing portion that can engage with each of the multiple meshing portions provided on the regulating member, and the meshing portion is configured to be rotatable from the closed position to the open position only when it is meshed with the meshing portion. The terminal block in question is, When all of the aforementioned covers are in the closed position, the regulating member is positioned in an initial position where the aforementioned multiple interlocking portions and each of the interlocking portions can engage. When one cover is rotated in the opening direction, the interlocking portion and the interlocking portion of the first cover engage. As the first cover rotates from the closed position to the open position, the regulating member is displaced axially from its initial position, preventing the interlocking of the interlocking portions and the interlocking portions of the other covers. It must be a terminal block. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, when all of the multiple covers are in the closed position so as to block the opening, the regulating member is positioned in an initial position where the multiple interlocking parts and each interlocking part can engage. When one cover is rotated in the opening direction, the interlocking part and the interlocking part of the one cover engage. As the one cover rotates from the closed position to the open position, the regulating member is displaced axially from its initial position, preventing the interlocking of the interlocking parts and the interlocking parts of the other multiple covers. Here, since the cover is configured to be rotatable from the closed position to the open position only when the interlocking part is engaged with the interlocking part, the other multiple covers are unable to rotate from the closed position to the open position. In other words, according to the present invention, when one cover is open, or when it is open, the opening of the other covers can be properly prevented.

[0009] The present invention has been briefly described above. Furthermore, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by referring to the attached drawings and reading through the embodiments for carrying out the invention described below (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments"). [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a terminal block according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which all of the multiple covers are in the closed position. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the terminal block shown in Figure 1 with one cover in the open position. [Figure 3]FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the terminal block shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a top view of the terminal block shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a rear view of the terminal block shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a rear view of the terminal block shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a side view of the cover shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 5 in the aspect of FIG. 1. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 5 in the aspect of FIG. 2. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 5 in an aspect where another cover is in the open position. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 5 in an aspect where another cover is in the open position.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, the terminal block 1 will be described with reference to the drawings in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, as shown in FIG. 1 and the like, “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “upper” and “lower” are defined. The “front-rear direction”, the “left-right direction” and the “up-down direction” are orthogonal to each other. The left-right direction corresponds to the “axial direction” of the present invention. Further, the rotation direction in which the cover 30 moves from the closed position to the open position is referred to as the “open direction”, and the rotation direction in which the cover moves from the open position to the closed position is referred to as the “closed direction”.

[0013] The terminal block 1 is installed in, for example, an electric device (not shown), and is for connecting the electric device to a counterpart electric device by making the terminal 10 in this electric device conductively connected to the counterpart terminal 51.

[0014] The terminal block 1 includes a plurality of terminals 10 connected to the mating terminals 51, a housing 20 provided with a plurality (in this example, three) of opening cylindrical portions 22 corresponding to the plurality (in this example, three) of terminals 10, a plurality (in this example, three) of covers 30 pivotally supported by the housing 20 between an open position and a closed position with respect to each opening cylindrical portion 22, and a regulating member 40 housed in the housing 20 that regulates the pivotal movement in the opening direction of a plurality (in this example, two) of the other covers 30 among the plurality of covers 30 as one of the covers 30 rotates in the opening direction. Hereinafter, the terminals 10, housing, covers 30, and regulating member 40 that constitute the terminal block 1 will be described in order.

[0015] First, the terminals 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the terminals 10 are formed of, for example, a plate-like member having conductivity. The terminals 10 are provided with bolt insertion holes (reference numerals omitted) penetrating in the vertical direction, and bolts 52 are inserted into the bolt insertion holes when connecting the terminals 10 to the mating terminals 51 (see FIGS. 2 to 3).

[0016] Next, the housing 20 will be described. The housing 20 has a housing body 21 provided with opening cylindrical portions 22 penetrating in the vertical direction. The opening cylindrical portions 22 (22A to 22C) are working openings for the terminals 10 (10A to 10C) connected to the mating terminals 51 and are arranged corresponding to the respective terminals 10.

[0017] At the rear end of the housing body 21, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 4, a housing portion 23 for housing the regulating member 40 is provided. The housing portion 23 defines a housing space at the rear end of the housing body 21 by a front wall portion 23a and a rear wall portion (reference numeral omitted).

[0018] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the front wall portion 23a has multiple (three in this example) notches 24 formed therein, corresponding to each of the meshing portions 34 of the multiple covers 30, which will be described later. The notches 24 are groove-shaped, with the upper surface of the front wall portion 23a cut downwards, and are formed so as not to interfere with the meshing portions 34 when the cover 30 rotates (see Figures 2 and 9 to 11).

[0019] The housing section 23 is provided with a plurality of bearing sections 25 (four in this example) that rotatably support the pivot shaft section 33 of each of the plurality of covers 30, which will be described later. In this example, a pair of bearing sections 25A and 25B support cover 30A, a pair of bearing sections 25B and 25C support cover 30B, and a pair of bearing sections 25C and 25D support cover 30C (see Figures 4 to 6).

[0020] As shown in Figures 1 to 6 and Figures 8 to 11, the left end of the housing section 23 is provided with an elastic section 26 that pushes the regulating member 40 back to its initial position (see Figures 1, 4 to 5, and 8) when, as will be described later, one cover 30 is displaced from the open position to the closed position and all of the multiple covers 30 are in the closed position.

[0021] As shown in Figure 3, the elastic portion 26 is formed in a cantilevered shape, with an elastic portion 26a extending vertically and a contact portion 26b extending to the right from the upper end of the elastic portion 26a being integrally constructed. The elastic portion 26 undergoes elastic deformation at the elastic portion 26a and contacts the regulating member 40 at the contact portion 26b. As a result, the elastic portion 26 makes elastic contact with the regulating member 40 when one cover is in the open position (see Figures 6 and 9 to 11), and deforms to return to its original position when pushing the regulating member 40 back to its initial position.

[0022] Next, the cover 30 will be described. As shown in Figures 3 and 7, the cover 30 has a roughly rectangular plate-shaped cover body 31. As shown in Figures 3 and 7, the cover body 31 is formed by cutting inward both the left and right side walls of the rear end 32, and the rear end 32 is provided with a pivot shaft portion 33 that extends in the left-right direction and is pivotally supported by each bearing portion 25.

[0023] The pivot shaft portion 33 is provided with a helical meshing portion 34 that corresponds to the rotation of the cover 30 around the pivot shaft portion 33. The meshing portion 34 is configured to mesh with a meshed portion 43 of a restricting member 40, which will be described later. The restricting member 40 allows the cover 30 to rotate from the closed position to the open position only when the meshing portion 34 is meshed with the meshed portion 43.

[0024] As shown in Figures 3 and 7, one end 34a of the spirally formed interlocking portion 34 is integrally molded with the rear end 32, and the other end 34b is formed so as to be positioned behind the rear end surface of the protrusion 41 of the restricting member 40, which will be described later, when the cover 30 is in the closed position (see Figures 8 to 11). Because the interlocking portion 34 is spirally formed, the other end 34b is located to the right of the one end 34a.

[0025] Next, the restricting member 40 will be described. The restricting member 40 integrally has a plurality of (three in this example) convex portions 41 (41A to 41C) that are convex in the forward direction and a plurality of (three in this example) concave portions 42 that are concave in the forward direction, and the convex portions 41 and concave portions 42 are alternately connected in the left-right direction.

[0026] As will be described later, the protrusion 41 has the function of restricting the rotation of the other covers 30 of the multiple covers 30 in the opening direction when one of the multiple covers 30 rotates in the opening direction. The recess 42 is formed so that the restricting member 40 does not interfere with the bearing portion 25 in the housing portion 23.

[0027] The protrusion 41 is provided with a engaged portion 43 that can engage with the engaging portion 34 of the cover 30, corresponding to the engaging portion 34 of the cover 30. The engaged portion 43 is formed in the shape of a groove in which the upper surface of the protrusion 41 is cut downward. When the engaging portion 34 engages with the engaged portion 43, the cover 30 becomes rotatable. In addition, the engagement between the engaged portion 43 and the engaging portion 34 causes the restricting member 40 to be displaced in the left-right direction (specifically to the left) as the cover 30 rotates.

[0028] In this example, the initial position is when the regulating member 40 is housed in the housing 23, and when the regulating member 40 is in the initial position, all of the multiple covers 30 are in the closed position (see Figures 1, 4-5, and 8). Also, when the regulating member 40 is in the initial position, each of the multiple covers 30's engagement portions 34 is in a state where it can engage with each of the engaged portions 43 (see Figure 8).

[0029] The terminals 10, housing, cover 30, and restricting member 40 that constitute the terminal block 1 have been described above. The restricting structure in the terminal block 1 (i.e., the structure that prevents the rotation of other covers 30 when one cover 30 is in a rotated or open position) will be described below. In the following description, the left cover 30A will be referred to as "one cover," and the center cover 30B and the right cover 30C will be referred to as "multiple other covers."

[0030] First, before explaining the restricting structure in terminal block 1, it is necessary to rotate cover 30A from the closed position to the open position. At this time, since all of the multiple covers 30 are in the closed position, the restricting member 40 is in its initial position, and each of the multiple meshing portions 34 of the multiple covers 30 is in a state where it can mesh with each of the meshed portions 43 (see Figure 8).

[0031] First, when the cover 30A is lifted and rotated in the opening direction, the meshing portion 34 of the cover 30A engages with the engaged portion 43 of the protrusion 41A of the restricting member 40 when lifted or at the beginning of rotation. Then, in this state, the cover 30A is rotated to the closed position. At this time, due to the meshing of the spirally formed meshing portion 34 and the engaged portion 43, the restricting member 40 is displaced to the left from its initial position as the cover 30 rotates. Furthermore, when the restricting member 40 is displaced to the left from its initial position, the restricting member 40 pushes the elastic portion 26 to the left, causing the elastic portion 26a of the elastic portion 26 to elastically deform, and the left end face of the restricting member 40 and the contact portion 26b of the elastic portion 26 to elastically contact (see Figures 2, 6, and 9).

[0032] In this way, as the cover 30A rotates in the opening direction, the restricting member 40 is displaced to the left from its initial position, causing the engaging portions 43 of the protrusions 41B and 41C to also be displaced to the left. As a result, the engaging portions 34 of the cover 30B and 30C and the engaging portions 43 of the protrusions 41B and 41C become misaligned, making engagement impossible (see Figures 6 and 9).

[0033] More specifically, when the restricting member 40 is displaced to the left from its initial position, and the covers 30B and 30C are rotated in the opening direction, the other end 34b of the engaging portion 34 on the covers 30B and 30C interferes with the rear end surface of the protrusions 41B and 41C, thereby restricting the rotation of the covers 30B and 30C by the restricting member 40.

[0034] Similarly, when cover 30B is rotated or in the open position, the meshing portion 34 of covers 30A, 30C and the engaged portion 43 of protrusions 41A, 41C become misaligned, making meshing impossible. When covers 30A, 30C are rotated in the open direction, the other end 34b of the meshing portion 34 on covers 30A, 30C interferes with the rear end face of protrusions 41A, 41C, and the rotation of covers 30A, 30C is restricted by the restricting member 40 (see Figure 10).

[0035] Similarly, when the cover 30C is rotated or in the open position, the meshing portion 34 of the covers 30A and 30B and the engaged portion 43 of the protrusions 41A and 41B become misaligned, making meshing impossible. When the covers 30A and 30B are rotated in the open direction, the other end 34b of the meshing portion 34 on the covers 30A and 30B interferes with the rear end face of the protrusions 41A and 41B, and the rotation of the covers 30A and 30B is restricted by the restricting member 40 (see Figure 11).

[0036] In this way, when one cover 30 is rotated or in the open position, the rotation of the other covers 30 is properly restrained by the restricting member 40.

[0037] When the cover 30, which is in the open position, is rotated in the closing direction to return it to the closed position, the regulating member 40 is displaced from the displaced position to just before the initial position due to the engagement of the engagement portion 34 and the engaged portion 43 as the cover 30 rotates. Then, when the cover 30 reaches the closed position, the regulating member 40 is pushed back from just before the initial position to the initial position by the elastic force due to the return deformation of the elastic portion 26. As a result, each engagement portion 34 of the multiple covers 30 becomes capable of engaging with each engaged portion 43 (see Figure 8). The regulating structure of the terminal block 1 has now been explained.

[0038] As described above, according to this embodiment, when all of the multiple covers 30 are in the closed position so as to close the opening cylindrical portion 22, the restricting member 40 is in an initial position in which each of the engaged portions 43 of the restricting member 40 and each of the engaged portions 34 of the multiple covers 30 can engage. When one cover 30 is rotated in the opening direction, the engaged portion 34 of the one cover 30 and the corresponding engaged portion 43 engage. As the one cover 30 rotates from the closed position to the open position, the restricting member 40 is displaced to the left from its initial position, making it impossible for each of the engaged portions 34 of the other multiple covers 30 to engage with their corresponding engaged portions 43. Here, since the cover 30 is configured to be rotatable from the closed position to the open position only when the engaged portion 34 is engaged with the engaged portion 43, the other multiple covers 30 are unable to rotate from the closed position to the open position. In other words, according to this embodiment, when one cover 30 is open or is open, the opening of the other cover 30 can be properly prevented.

[0039] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the meshing portion 34 is formed in a helical shape corresponding to the rotation of the cover 30 around the pivot shaft portion 33. As a result of the meshing of the meshing portion 34 and the meshed portion 43, the restricting member 40 is displaced from its initial position in the left-right direction as the cover 30 rotates from the closed position to the open position. Thus, according to this embodiment, the restricting member 40 can be displaced from its initial position in the left-right direction with a simple structure.

[0040] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, when the restricting member 40 is displaced axially from its initial position, if the other covers 30 are rotated in the opening direction, the meshing portions 34 of the other covers 30 interfere with the restricting member 40, making it impossible for the other covers 30 to rotate from the closed position to the open position.

[0041] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the housing 20 is provided with an elastic part 26 that elastically contacts the regulating member 40 when one cover 30 is in the open position, and pushes the regulating member 40 back to its initial position when the one cover 30 is displaced from the open position to the closed position and all of the multiple covers 30 are in the closed position. As a result, after completing work on one terminal 10 via the opening cylindrical part 22 corresponding to one cover 30, returning the one cover 30 to the closed position causes the regulating member 40 to be pushed back to its initial position by the elastic part 26, making it easy to move on to work on the other terminals 10 via the opening cylindrical part 22 corresponding to the other covers 30.

[0042] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified, improved, etc., as appropriate. In addition, the material, shape, dimensions, number, placement, etc. of each component in the embodiments described above are arbitrary and not limited, as long as they can achieve the present invention.

[0043] Here, the features of the embodiments of the terminal block according to the present invention described above are briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [4].

[0044] [1] Multiple terminals (10) connected to the other terminal (51), A housing (20) is provided with multiple openings (opening cylindrical portions 22) corresponding to the multiple terminals (10), Multiple covers (30) are pivotally supported on the housing (20) so as to be rotatable between an open position and a closed position relative to each of the aforementioned openings (opening cylindrical portion 22), A restricting member (40) is housed in the housing (20) and, when one of the plurality of covers (30) rotates in the opening direction, restricts the rotation of the plurality of other covers (30) excluding the one cover (30) in the opening direction, A terminal block (1) equipped with, The aforementioned multiple covers (30) are Each pivot shaft portion (33) is provided with a plurality of engaging portions (43) on the regulating member (40), and the engaging portion (34) is configured to be rotatable from the closed position to the open position only when it is engaged with the engaging portion (43). The terminal block (1) is, When all of the plurality of covers (30) are in the closed position, the restricting member (40) is in an initial position in which the plurality of engaged portions (43) and each of the engaged portions (34) can engage. When one cover (30) is rotated in the open direction, the engaged portion (34) and the engaged portion (43) of the one cover (30) engage. As the one cover (30) rotates from the closed position to the open position, the restricting member (40) is displaced axially (left-right) from its initial position, preventing engagement between each of the engaged portions (34) and each of the engaged portions (43) of the other plurality of covers (30). Terminal block (1).

[0045] According to the configuration described in [1] above, when all of the multiple covers are in the closed position so as to block the opening, the regulating member is positioned in an initial position in which the multiple interlocking parts and each interlocking part can engage. When one cover is rotated in the opening direction, the interlocking part and the interlocking part of the one cover engage. As the one cover rotates from the closed position to the open position, the regulating member is displaced axially from its initial position, preventing the interlocking of each interlocking part and each interlocking part of the other multiple covers. Here, since the cover is configured to be rotatable from the closed position to the open position only when the interlocking part is engaged with the interlocking part, the other multiple covers are unable to rotate from the closed position to the open position. In other words, with this configuration, when one cover is open, or when it is open, the opening of the other covers can be properly prevented.

[0046] [2] The terminal block (1) described in [1] above, The meshing portion (34) is formed in a spiral shape corresponding to the rotation of the cover (30) with respect to the pivot shaft portion (33). Terminal block (1).

[0047] According to the configuration described in [2] above, the meshing portion is formed in a spiral shape corresponding to the rotation of the cover around the pivot axis, and the meshing of the meshing portion and the meshed portion causes the regulating member to be displaced axially from its initial position as the cover rotates from the closed position to the open position. Thus, with this configuration, the regulating member can be displaced axially from its initial position with a simple structure.

[0048] [3] The terminal block (1) described in [1] or [2] above, When the restricting member (40) is displaced in the axial direction from its initial position, and the plurality of other covers (30) are rotated in the opening direction, the interlocking portions (34) of the plurality of other covers (30) interfere with the restricting member (40). Terminal block (1).

[0049] According to the configuration described in [3] above, when the regulating member is displaced axially from its initial position, rotating the other covers in the opening direction causes the meshing portions of the other covers to interfere with the regulating member, making it impossible for the other covers to rotate from the closed position to the open position.

[0050] [4] A terminal block (1) described in any one of the above [1] to [3], The housing (20) is provided with an elastic portion (26) that elastically contacts the regulating member when the first cover (30) is in the open position, and pushes the regulating member (40) back to its initial position when the first cover (30) is displaced from the open position to the closed position and all of the multiple covers (30) are in the closed position. Terminal block (1).

[0051] According to the configuration described in [4] above, the housing is provided with an elastic part that elastically contacts a regulating member when one cover is in the open position, and pushes the regulating member back to its initial position when one cover is displaced from the open position to the closed position and all of the multiple covers are in the closed position. As a result, after completing work on one terminal through the opening corresponding to one cover, returning one cover to the closed position causes the regulating member to be pushed back to its initial position by the elastic part, making it easy to move on to work on other terminals through the openings corresponding to the other covers. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0052] 1 Terminal block Terminals 10, 10A, 10B, 10C 20 Housing 22 Opening tube (opening) 25,25A,25B,25C,25D Bearing part 26 Elastic part 30, 30A, 30B, 30C Cover 33. Rotating shaft section 34. Mating part 40 Regulating members 41, 41A, 41B, 41C protrusions 43 Meshing part 51. Opposite terminal 52 volts

Claims

1. Multiple terminals connected to the other terminal, A housing having multiple openings corresponding to the multiple terminals, Multiple covers pivotally supported by the housing so as to be rotatable between an open position and a closed position relative to each of the aforementioned openings, A restricting member housed in the housing restricts the rotation of the other covers (excluding the first cover) in the opening direction when one of the multiple covers rotates in the opening direction, A terminal block equipped with, The aforementioned multiple covers are, Each pivot shaft is provided with a meshing portion that can engage with each of the multiple meshing portions provided on the regulating member, and the meshing portion is configured to be rotatable from the closed position to the open position only when it is meshed with the meshing portion. The terminal block in question is, When all of the aforementioned covers are in the closed position, the regulating member is positioned in an initial position where the aforementioned multiple interlocking portions and each of the interlocking portions can engage. When one cover is rotated in the opening direction, the interlocking portion and the interlocking portion of the first cover engage. As the first cover rotates from the closed position to the open position, the regulating member is displaced axially from its initial position, preventing the interlocking of the interlocking portions and the interlocking portions of the other covers. terminal block.

2. A terminal block according to claim 1, The meshing portion is formed in a spiral shape corresponding to the rotation of the cover with respect to the pivot axis portion. terminal block.

3. A terminal block according to claim 1, When the restricting member is displaced in the axial direction from its initial position, and the plurality of other covers are rotated in the opening direction, the engagement portions of the plurality of other covers interfere with the restricting member. terminal block.

4. A terminal block according to claim 1, The housing is provided with an elastic portion that elastically contacts the regulating member when one cover is in the open position, and pushes the regulating member back to its initial position when the one cover is displaced from the open position to the closed position and all of the multiple covers are in the closed position. terminal block.