Terminal cover

Abstract

To suppress leakage of generated arc gas.SOLUTION: A terminal cover 30 has a two-part structure consisting of a pair of first cover component 31 and second cover component 32, and covers a load side terminal 11 to which electric wires 12 and 13 are connected. The first cover component 31 and the second cover component 32 are configured such that openings of notches (48A, etc.) formed in the respective electric wires 12, 13 to allow the electric wires 12, 13 to pass therethrough face each other, and at least the tip portions 361 and 362 of both side walls 36A and 36B in the width direction are arranged so as to overlap each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a terminal cover that covers a terminal to which an electric wire is connected.

Background Art

[0002] A circuit breaker is provided in a switchboard or the like, and connects and disconnects between a power supply side terminal and a load side terminal. It is desirable that the periphery of the terminal be covered with a cover so that foreign objects, tools, fingers, etc. (hereinafter also referred to as foreign objects, etc.) do not enter. Although the cover is provided with a notch for the electric wire to pass through, it is desirable that the gap between the notch and the electric wire be sufficiently narrow in order to prevent the entry of foreign objects, etc.

[0003] The terminal cover described in Patent Document 1 has a two-part structure including a first cover portion formed with a U-shaped notch groove for passing an electric wire on an end face, and a second cover portion that forms a pair with this first cover portion, and the open end of the notch groove formed in the first cover portion is closed by the second cover portion, so that the gap with the electric wire can be narrowed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the above terminal cover, the side walls in the width direction of the first cover section and the side walls in the width direction of the second cover section were abutting against each other. Therefore, when arc gas was generated when the circuit breaker interrupted a short-circuit current, the side walls of the first cover section and the side walls of the second cover section would bend due to the arc gas, and there was a risk that the arc gas would leak out. Such leakage of arc gas is undesirable because it can induce the arc gas to enter the area around the terminals of adjacent circuit breakers in the width direction, causing a short circuit between phases.

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a terminal cover that can suppress the leakage of generated arc gas. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the above objective, the terminal cover according to the present invention is a two-part structure consisting of a pair of first and second cover components, and is a terminal cover for covering a terminal to which an electric wire is connected, characterized in that the first and second cover components are arranged such that at least the tips of both side walls in the width direction overlap each other, with the openings of the notches formed in each component for inserting the electric wire facing each other.

[0008] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the terminal cover described above, the tip of one side wall of the first cover component and the second cover component has a step formed by the outer portion protruding further toward the other side wall of the first cover component and the second cover component than the inner portion, the tip of the other side wall of the first cover component and the second cover component has a step formed by the inner portion protruding further toward the one side wall of the first cover component and the second cover component than the outer portion, and the first cover component and the second cover component are arranged such that the outer portion of the tip of one side wall overlaps the inner portion of the tip of the other side wall.

[0009] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the terminal cover described above, the steps at the tip portions of the side walls of the first cover component and the second cover component are formed at different positions in the extending direction of the side walls which is perpendicular to the width direction.

[0010] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned terminal cover, the terminal is a terminal of a circuit breaker. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, the first cover component and the second cover component, which are two-part structures, are arranged such that the openings of the notches formed in each for inserting electric wires face each other, and at least the tips of the side walls in the width direction overlap each other. This improves the strength of the side walls, prevents the side walls of the first cover component and the side walls of the second cover component from bending due to the arc gas, and suppresses the leakage of the generated arc gas. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a circuit breaker to which a terminal cover, which is an embodiment of the present invention, is applied. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the circuit breaker shown in Figure 1 with some components removed. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the circuit breaker shown in Figure 1 with some components removed. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing an example of the use of the circuit breaker shown in Figure 1. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the circuit breaker shown in Figure 1 with the wires and busbar connected. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a front view showing a magnified portion of the terminal cover. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a front view showing the terminal covers shown in Figures 1 to 3 arranged in parallel. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a circuit breaker to which a modified example of the terminal cover according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, with some components removed. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a front view showing a case where the terminal covers shown in FIG. 8 are arranged in parallel.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the terminal cover according to the present invention will be described in detail.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a circuit breaker to which the terminal cover according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are exploded perspective views showing the circuit breaker shown in FIG. 1 with some components removed.

[0015] The circuit breaker 1 exemplified here is, for example, a wiring breaker or a leakage breaker, etc., which detects the flow of a large current and automatically cuts off the circuit. More specifically, the circuit breaker 1 connects and disconnects between a power supply side terminal (not shown) and a load side terminal 11. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the circuit breaker 1 is used in a side-by-side arrangement adjacent to another circuit breaker 1.

[0016] Hereinafter, one circuit breaker 1 will be described. With the side where the load side terminal 11 is provided being the lower side and the opposite side being the upper side, and with the operation surface side where the lever L is provided being the front side and the opposite side being the back side, the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and the front-back direction, that is, the width direction of the circuit breaker 1 will be described as the left-right direction.

[0017] In addition to the lever L, a trip button T etc. are provided on the operation surface. In each figure, the direction is indicated by an arrow as appropriate, but these notations indicating the direction are for convenience in explanation and the mounting orientation of the circuit breaker 1 is not limited.

[0018] The circuit breaker 1 has an arc extinguishing device, a switching mechanism, a withdrawal mechanism, etc. inside the breaker body 20 covered by the front cover 20a and the back cover 20b. At the lower part of the back cover 20b, three load side terminals 11 are provided in parallel from left to right.

[0019] Here, the circuit breaker 1 is of a three-phase specification and has three load side terminals 11, but in the present invention, it may also be of a one-terminal type, two-terminal type, four-terminal type, etc. The three load side terminals 11 are covered by a terminal cover 30.

[0020] At the upper part of the back cover 2*b*, three power supply side terminals are provided in parallel from left to right. These power supply side terminals may also be covered by the terminal cover 30. The back cover 20b has, for example, a mounting portion 21 formed on the back surface that can be mounted on a predetermined rail or the like in a switchboard.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each load side terminal 11 is provided within a region partitioned by a pair of side wall portions 22 on both sides and an intermediate partition portion 23 between the load side terminals 11. The side wall portions 22 are continuously formed from the back cover 20b to the front cover 20a. The load side terminal 11 is of a screw type and is composed of a pedestal portion 11a and a screw 11b screwed into the screw hole of the pedestal portion 11a. <*

[0022] The screw 11b is screwed in toward the back side and comes out toward the front side. The load side terminal 11 may also be of a screw-up type, spring type, etc. The load side terminal 11 fixes and conducts an electric wire by means of the pedestal portion 11a and the head portion of the screw 11b.

[0023] According to a predetermined allowable specification, as shown in FIG. 5, a thick electric wire 12, a thin electric wire 13 having an outer diameter smaller than that of this thick electric wire 12, a bus bar 14, etc. can be fixed to each load side terminal 11. Also, for the thin electric wire 13, it is also possible to fix a plurality of them (two in the example of FIG. 5) together by stacking them in the front-back direction. The fixed electric wires 12, 13 extend along the vertical direction in the vicinity of the load side terminal 11.

[0024] Next, the terminal cover 30 will be described. The terminal cover 30 covers the three load-side terminals 11 and has a two-part structure consisting of a first cover component 31 and a second cover component 32. The first cover component 31 and the second cover component 32 are made of molded resin and have insulating properties. The gaps in each part of the terminal cover 30 are narrow enough to prevent foreign matter from entering and protect the load-side terminals 11. The protection rating of the terminal cover 30 is equivalent to IP20 as defined in JIS C 0920, for example.

[0025] The first cover component 31 and the second cover component 32 are used in combination with each other. The first cover component 31 covers the front side and the lower part near the front, with the load-side terminal 11 as the reference point. The second cover component 32 covers the back side and the lower part near the back, with the load-side terminal 11 as the reference point.

[0026] In the following explanation, for ease of understanding, the reference numerals of the components of the first cover component 31 will be appropriately denoted as "A," and the reference numerals of the corresponding components of the second cover component 32 will be appropriately denoted as "B." Furthermore, in the explanation of the terminal cover 30 alone, the "front" of the terminal cover 30 will be the lower surface shown in Figures 1 to 3.

[0027] The first cover component 31 is comprised of a front wall 34, a pair of left and right side walls 36A, a pair of intermediate spacing walls 38A, and a front section 40A.

[0028] The front wall 34 is designed to cover the front side of the three load-side terminals 11 (in other words, the direction in which the screws 11b are removed). The front wall 34 is provided with operating holes 34a at positions corresponding to the three load-side terminals 11, as well as a snap-fit ​​portion 34b.

[0029] The operating hole 34a is a circular through-hole that allows a rod-shaped instrument such as a voltage tester or screwdriver to be inserted and come into contact with a part of the load-side terminal 11, while also guiding the rod-shaped instrument to the correct orientation so that it contacts the head of the screw 11b. By inserting a rod-shaped instrument through these operating holes 34a and making contact with a part of the load-side terminal 11, operations such as voltage testing and tightening can be performed.

[0030] Such an operating hole 34a prevents a rod-shaped device from coming into contact with the mounting screw that attaches the external operating handle device to the circuit breaker 1 when the external operating handle device is attached to the surface of the circuit breaker 1, thereby preventing ground faults and electric shocks to workers when the circuit is energized. The snap-fit ​​portion 34b is the mounting portion to the circuit breaker body 20.

[0031] The left and right pair of side walls 36A each form an extension of the side wall portion 22 and are intended to separate the external area from the load-side terminal 11. These side walls 36A each extend from both the left and right ends of the front wall 34 toward the rear side, with the left side wall 36A extending further toward the rear than the right side wall 36A. Here, in the left and right pair of side walls 36A, the direction in which they are close to each other will be referred to as the inside, and the direction in which they are separated will be referred to as the outside.

[0032] These side walls 36A have an extended end on the back side that forms a tip portion 361, and at this tip portion 361, the outer portion 361a protrudes further back than the inner portion 361b, forming a step 361c.

[0033] In other words, on both side walls 36A, at each tip portion 361a, the outer portion 361a protrudes further toward the back than the inner portion 361b, forming a step 361c, and the step 361c is formed at different positions in the extending direction (front-back direction) of the both side walls 36A.

[0034] The intermediate spacing wall 38A forms an extended surface of the intermediate spacing wall section 23 and is intended to separate the load-side terminals 11 from each other. A projection 381 is formed at the back end of the intermediate spacing wall 38A, projecting toward the back.

[0035] The front section 40A is the part where the front side is connected to the front wall 34 and both sides are connected to the side walls 36A, and has three wire diameter adjustment sections 42A provided corresponding to each load-side terminal 11. The three wire diameter adjustment sections 42A are arranged in parallel corresponding to the arrangement of the load-side terminals 11. The parts of the front section 40A other than the wire diameter adjustment sections 42A form the outer frame 44A.

[0036] The terminal cover 30 has insertion sections 46 (see Figures 1 and 5) for inserting the electric wires 12 and 13. The insertion sections 46 are individually provided for the three load-side terminals 11, and are arranged so that each can face the load-side terminal 11. The wire diameter adjustment section 42A is a part that adjusts the area of ​​the insertion section 46 according to the diameter and number of electric wires 12 and 13 connected to the load-side terminals 11.

[0037] Figure 6 is a front view showing an enlarged portion of the terminal cover 30. As shown in Figure 6, the wire diameter adjustment section 42A in the first cover component 31 includes an outer frame notch 48A formed in the outer frame 44A, a first inner frame 50A provided inside the outer frame notch 48A, a first inner frame notch 52A formed in the first inner frame 50A, a second inner frame 54A provided inside the first inner frame notch 52A, a second inner frame notch 56A formed in the second inner frame 54A, a third inner frame 58A provided inside the second inner frame notch 56A, and a third inner frame notch 60A formed in the third inner frame 58A.

[0038] A fin 62 is provided between the outermost part of the outer frame notch 48A and the outer frame 44A. The fin 62 is a part on which to place your fingers when removing the first cover component 31 from the circuit breaker body 20.

[0039] The first inner frame 50A, the second inner frame 54A, and the third inner frame 58A are each U-shaped. The first inner frame 50A, the second inner frame 54A, and the third inner frame 58A are progressively smaller in this order and are roughly similar in shape, forming a so-called nested structure.

[0040] The gaps between the outer frame 44A and the first inner frame 50A, the gap between the first inner frame 50A and the second inner frame 54A, and the gap between the second inner frame 54A and the third inner frame 58A are all approximately the same width and are narrow enough to prevent foreign objects from entering.

[0041] The outer frame notch 48A, the first inner frame notch 52A, the second inner frame notch 56A, and the third inner frame notch 60A are each approximately similar U-shapes and open on the back side. The outer frame notch 48A, the first inner frame notch 52A, the second inner frame notch 56A, and the third inner frame notch 60A become smaller in this order.

[0042] The first inner frame 50A is connected to the outer frame 44A at three points: a pair of opening connecting pieces 64A located at both ends of the opening side (back side in Figure 6) of the outer frame notch 48A, and a rear connecting piece 66A at the innermost part. This connection provides adequate strength and stability.

[0043] Furthermore, the opening connecting piece 64A is positioned slightly recessed from the opening end of the outer frame notch 48A, creating a gap. The gap is created by cutting the edges short so that it can be formed even with weak cutting force when separating with the cutting tool described later. The first inner frame 50A is connected to the outer frame 44A at its innermost part via a rear connecting piece 66A and a fin 62.

[0044] The opening connecting piece 64A and the rear connecting piece 66A have portions that can be cut with a non-powered cutting tool such as nippers or a cutter. When such portions are cut, the first inner frame 50A separates from the outer frame 44A.

[0045] The connection between the first inner frame 50A and the second inner frame 54A, and between the second inner frame 54A and the third inner frame 58A, is the same as the connection between the outer frame 44A and the first inner frame 50A. That is, the second inner frame 54A is connected to the first inner frame 50A at three points: the pair of opening connecting pieces 68A on the opening side of the first inner frame notch 52A, and the rear connecting piece 70A at the innermost part. The third inner frame 58A is connected to the second inner frame 54A at three points: the pair of opening connecting pieces 72A on the opening side of the second inner frame notch 56A, and the rear connecting piece 74A at the innermost part.

[0046] The opening connecting piece 68A, the rear connecting piece 70A, the opening connecting piece 72A, and the rear connecting piece 74A have portions formed therein that can be cut with a cutting tool.

[0047] Next, the second cover component 32 will be described. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the second cover component 32 is composed of a back wall 35, a pair of left and right side walls 36B, a pair of intermediate spacing walls 38B, and a front section 40B.

[0048] The back wall 35 is intended to cover the back sides of the three load-side terminals 11 together. Although not explicitly shown in the diagram, cut-out walls are formed on the back side of each of the three screws 11b in the back wall 35. The busbar 14 can be inserted through the cut-out wall using a cutting tool or the like and connected to the load-side terminals 11. Since the busbar 14 is generally installed in the distribution panel so as to extend behind the circuit breaker 1, making it possible to insert it through the cut-out wall of the back wall 35 makes connection easier. The back wall 35 should preferably have at least a portion of it formed as a cut-out wall depending on the cross-sectional area of ​​the conductive material such as the busbar 14 to which it is expected to be connected.

[0049] The left and right pair of side walls 36B each form an extension of the side wall portion 22 and are intended to separate the external area from the load-side terminal 11. These side walls 36B each extend from both the left and right ends of the back wall 35 toward the front side, with the right side wall 36B extending toward the front side more than the left side wall 36B. Here, in this pair of left and right side walls 36B, as with the side walls 36A that constitute the first cover component 31 described above, the direction in which they are close to each other will be referred to as the inside, and the direction in which they are separated will be referred to as the outside.

[0050] These side walls 36B have an extended end on the front side that forms a tip portion 362, and at this tip portion 362, the inner portion 362b protrudes outward more than the outer portion 362a, forming a step 362c.

[0051] In other words, in both side walls 36B, at each tip portion 362, the inner portion 362b protrudes outward more than the outer portion 362a, forming a step 362c, and the step 362c is formed at different positions in the extending direction (front-back direction) of the both side walls 36B.

[0052] The intermediate spacing wall 38B partially overlaps with the intermediate spacing wall 38A to form an extended surface of the intermediate spacing wall portion 23, and is intended to separate the load-side terminals 11 from each other. A recess 382 that can fit into the projection 381 is formed at the front end of the intermediate spacing wall 38B.

[0053] The front section 40B is the part where the back side is connected to the back wall 35 and both sides are connected to the side walls 36B, and has three wire diameter adjustment sections 42B provided corresponding to each load-side terminal 11. The three wire diameter adjustment sections 42B are arranged in parallel corresponding to the arrangement of the load-side terminals 11. The parts of the front section 40B other than the wire diameter adjustment sections 42B form the outer frame 44B.

[0054] As shown in Figure 6, the wire diameter adjustment section 42B is basically symmetrical to the wire diameter adjustment section 42B, except for minor details. The components of the wire diameter adjustment section 42B are labeled "B" where the components of the wire diameter adjustment section 42B labeled "A" are labeled "B", making them easily identifiable, so a detailed explanation of each component is omitted.

[0055] The terminal cover 30 is formed when the first cover component 31 and the second cover component 32 are fitted together by a projection 381 formed on the back end of the intermediate spacing wall 38A entering into a recess 382 formed on the front end of the corresponding intermediate spacing wall 38B, with the outer portion 361a of the tip 361 of the left side wall 36A overlapping with the inner portion 362b of the tip 362 of the left side wall 36B, and the outer portion 361a of the tip 361 of the right side wall 36A overlapping with the inner portion 362b of the tip 362 of the right side wall 36B.

[0056] In this case, in the initial state in which none of the first inner frames 50A, 50B, the second inner frames 54A, 54B, or the third inner frames 58A, 58B have been cut out, the openings of the innermost third inner frame notches 60A, 60B face each other to form an insertion portion 46, the back end face of the outer portion 361a at the tip 361 of the left side wall 36A abuts against the front end face of the outer portion 362a at the tip 362 of the left side wall 36B, and the back end face of the outer portion 361a at the tip 361 of the right side wall 36A abuts against the front end face of the outer portion 362a at the tip 362 of the right side wall 36B.

[0057] In other words, the terminal cover 30 is a two-part structure consisting of a pair of first cover components 31 and second cover components 32. The first cover component 31 and the second cover component 32 are arranged such that the openings of the notches formed in each are opposite to each other, and the tips 361 and 362 of the side walls 36A and 36B in the width direction overlap each other.

[0058] Then, depending on the diameter of the electric wires 12 and 13 connected to the load-side terminal 11, the terminal cover 30 is made by cutting the corresponding part of the connecting piece so that an insertion portion 46 slightly larger than the diameter of the electric wires 12 and 13 is formed by the notched opening, thereby allowing the electric wires 12 and 13 to be inserted through the insertion portion 46. This makes it possible to sufficiently narrow the gap between the electric wires 12 and 13 and the insertion portion 46, thereby preventing foreign objects from entering.

[0059] As described above, according to the terminal cover 30, which is an embodiment of the present invention, the first cover component 31 and the second cover component 32 are arranged such that the tip portions 361 and 362 of the widthwise side walls 36A and 36B overlap each other, with the openings of the notches formed for inserting the electric wires 12 and 13 facing each other. This improves the strength of the side walls 36A and 36B. As a result, even if arc gas is generated when the circuit breaker 1 interrupts a short-circuit current, it is possible to prevent the side walls 36A of the first cover component 31 and the side walls 36B of the second cover component 32 from bending due to the arc gas, and to suppress the leakage of the generated arc gas.

[0060] With the above-described terminal cover 30, the outer portion 361a of the step 361c formed on the tip portion 361 of both side walls 36A of the first cover component 31 is arranged to overlap with the inner portion 362b of the step 362c formed on the tip portion 362 of both side walls 36B of the second cover component 32. This suppresses an increase in the thickness dimension of the overlapping portions and prevents the terminal cover 30 itself from becoming larger.

[0061] Furthermore, with the above-described terminal cover 30, steps 361c and 362c are formed at different positions in the extending direction (front-to-back direction) of both side walls 36A and 36B of the first cover component 31 and the second cover component 32. As shown in Figure 7, when the circuit breakers 1 are arranged in parallel from left to right, and the terminal covers 30 are also arranged in parallel from left to right in contact with each other, the outer portion 361a of the first cover component 31 will contact a portion of the other terminal cover 30 that has a sufficiently greater thickness on the base end side (front side) than the step 361c of the first cover component 31. This prevents the side walls 36A and 36B, including the outer portion 361a, from bending. As a result, arc gas will not enter the other terminal cover 30, and there will be no risk of causing a phase-to-phase short circuit.

[0062] Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of a circuit breaker 1a to which a modified example of the terminal cover 30, an embodiment of the present invention, is applied, with some components removed. Note that components identical to those in the terminal cover 30 and the circuit breaker 1 equipped therewith, as described above, are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted as appropriate.

[0063] The terminal cover 30a illustrated here has a two-part structure consisting of a first cover component 31a and a second cover component 32a. The first cover component 31a and the second cover component 32a are molded resin products and have insulating properties. The gaps between each part of the terminal cover 30a are narrow enough to prevent foreign matter from entering and protect the load-side terminal 11. The protection rating of the terminal cover 30a is equivalent to IP20 as defined in JIS C 0920, for example.

[0064] The first cover component 31a and the second cover component 32a are used in combination with each other. The first cover component 31a covers the front side and the lower part near the front, with respect to the load-side terminal 11. The second cover component 32a covers the back side and the lower part near the back, with respect to the load-side terminal 11.

[0065] The first cover component 31a is composed of a front wall 34, a pair of left and right side walls 36A', a pair of intermediate spacing walls 38A, and a front surface 40A. The pair of left and right side walls 36A' each form an extended surface of the side wall portion 22 and are for separating the external area from the load-side terminal 11. These side walls 36A' each extend from both the left and right ends of the front wall 34 toward the rear side. The extended ends on the rear side of these side walls 36A' form the tip portion 361'.

[0066] The second cover component 32a is composed of a back wall 35, a pair of left and right side walls 36B', a pair of intermediate spacing walls 38B, and a front section 40B. The pair of left and right side walls 36B' each form an extension of the side wall section 22 and are for separating the external area from the load-side terminal 11. These side walls 36B' each extend from both the left and right ends of the back wall 35 toward the front side. These side walls 36B' are provided with reinforcing plates 363 integrally joined to the inside, and the front ends of these reinforcing plates 363 protrude further outward than the front ends of the side walls 36B', with these front ends of the reinforcing plates 363 forming the tip portions 363' of both side walls 36B.

[0067] In a terminal cover 30a having such a first cover component 31a and a second cover component 32a, in the initial state in which none of the first inner frames 50A, 50B, the second inner frames 54A, 54B, or the third inner frames 58A, 58B have been cut out, the openings of the innermost third inner frame notches 60A, 60B face each other, and the front end of the reinforcing plate material 363 is installed inside the tip 361' of the side walls 36A' of the first cover component 31a, so that the tip 361', 363' of the side walls 36A', 36B' in the width direction overlap each other.

[0068] With this terminal cover 30a, the first cover component 31a and the second cover component 32a are arranged such that the openings of the notches formed for inserting the electric wires 12 and 13 face each other, and the tips 361' and 363' of the side walls 36A' and 36B' in the width direction overlap each other, thereby improving the strength of the side walls 36A' and 36B'. As a result, even if arc gas is generated when the circuit breaker 1a interrupts a short-circuit current, it is possible to prevent the side walls 36A' of the first cover component 31a and the side walls 36B' of the second cover component 32a from bending due to the arc gas, and to suppress the leakage of the generated arc gas.

[0069] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9, even when the circuit breakers 1a are arranged in parallel on the left and right, and the terminal covers 30a are also arranged in parallel on the left and right in contact with each other, arc gas will not enter the other terminal covers 30a, and there is no risk of causing a phase short circuit.

[0070] Although preferred embodiments and typical modifications of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made.

[0071] In the embodiments described above, the tip portions 361 of the side walls 36A of the first cover component 31 have a step 361c formed by the outer portion 361a protruding further back than the inner portion 361b, and the tip portions 362 of the side walls 36B of the second cover component 32 have a step 362c formed by the inner portion 362b protruding further front than the outer portion 362a. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the tip portions of the side walls of the first cover component may have a step formed by the inner portion protruding further back than the outer portion, and the tip portions of the side walls of the second cover component may have a step formed by the outer portion protruding further front than the inner portion.

[0072] In the embodiment described above, steps 361c and 362c were formed on the tip portions 361 of both side walls 36A of the first cover component 31 and on the tip portions 362 of both side walls 36B of the second cover component 32. However, in the present invention, steps do not need to be formed.

[0073] In the embodiments described above, steps 361c and 362c were formed at different positions in the extending direction (front-to-back direction) of both side walls 36A and 36B of the first cover component 31 and the second cover component 32. However, in the present invention, the steps may be formed at the same position in the extending direction of both side walls.

[0074] In the embodiments described above, each connecting piece was described as being cut with a cutting tool. However, in the present invention, depending on the design conditions, the part may be formed so that it can be cut by bending or twisting by hand.

[0075] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be freely modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 1...Circuit breaker, 11...Load side terminal, 12,13...Electric wire, 20...Circuit breaker body, 20a...Front cover, 20b...Back cover, 30...Terminal cover, 31...First cover component, 32...Second cover component, 34...Front wall, 34a...Operation hole, 34b...Snap-fit ​​part, 35...Back wall, 36A,36B...Side walls, 361,362...Tip part, 361a,362a...Outer part, 361b,362b...Inner part, 361c,362c...Step, 38A,38B...Intermediate spacing wall, 40A,40B...Front part, 42A,42B...Electric wire diameter adjustment part, 46...Insertion part.

Claims

1. A terminal cover having a two-part structure consisting of a pair of first and second cover components, and for covering terminals to which electric wires are connected, The first cover component and the second cover component are arranged such that their respective notched openings for inserting the electric wires face each other, and at least the tips of both side walls in the width direction overlap each other. The tip of one side wall of the first cover component and the second cover component has a step formed by the outer portion protruding further toward the other side of the first cover component and the second cover component than the inner portion. The tip portions of the other side walls of the first cover component and the second cover component are stepped by having the inner portion protrude further toward one of the first cover component and the second cover component than the outer portion. The terminal cover is characterized in that the first cover component and the second cover component are arranged such that the outer portion at the tip of one side wall overlaps the inner portion at the tip of the other side wall, and the steps at the tips of the side walls are formed at different positions in the extending direction of the side walls perpendicular to the width direction.

2. The terminal cover according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforementioned terminal is a terminal of a circuit breaker.

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