JPH11250958A - Terminal block - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily miniaturize a terminal block while securing the prescribed insulation property and avoid the mutual erroneous contact between adjacent connecting terminals by providing projections protruded along the aligning direction of connected terminal sections at least on one of end faces nearly perpendicular to the aligning direction of the connected terminal sections on side wall sections. SOLUTION: A hoe-shaped terminal 50 made of a metal has a notch section 50a coupled with a connecting screw 38. Projections 52 protruded along the aligning direction of connected terminal sections 34Ri are formed integrally with the side wall sections 34Bi face to face. Even when the thickness of the side wall sections 34Bi is made thinner, the creep distance of an insulator between conductor sections of the connected terminal sections 34Ri can be easily set relatively long, thus a terminal block can be easily miniaturized while securing the prescribed insulation property. When the adjacent connected terminal sections 34Ri are moved nearby, such a situation that they are erroneously brought into contact with each other can be avoided by the projections 52.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a terminal block having a connected terminal portion to which a connection terminal provided at one end of a lead wire is connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In some cases, a terminal block is provided on a wiring board in order to collect a plurality of terminals attached to ends of a plurality of lead wires for electrically connecting electronic components to one another. The terminal block 2 is, for example, shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, a base portion disposed on a wiring board PCB and having a plurality of connected terminal portions 6Ri and 8Ri (i = 1 to n, n is an integer) formed parallel to each other along the longitudinal direction. 4 and an input / output contact portion 10 composed of an array of a plurality of contacts provided on a surface of the base portion 4 facing the wiring board PCB.

[0003] The base portion 4 is provided with screws B through through holes provided at both ends thereof and through holes on the wiring board PCB.
The S1 and the BS2 are inserted and fastened by nuts, thereby being fixed on the wiring board PCB.

The input / output contact portion 10 of the base portion 4 formed of a plastic material is constituted by contacts electrically connected to the connected terminal portions 6Ri and 8Ri, respectively. Each contact is connected to a conductor on the wiring board PCB.

The connected terminal portions 6Ri of the base portion 4 are arranged in the same row as the screw BS2 along the left-right direction between the right end portion 4RS and the left end portion 4LS in FIG. . In addition, the connected terminal portion 8Ri is located in the same row as the screw BS1 in the left-right direction along the left and right direction between the right end portion 4RS and the left end portion 4LS above the connected terminal portion 6Ri in FIG. Are arranged.

Each of the connected terminal portions 6Ri is provided with a metal washer 14 for holding a hoe terminal 24 described later in cooperation with the conductor portion, and a female screw portion of the conductor portion through a through hole of the washer 14. And a metal connection screw 12 screwed into the screw. The connected terminal portions 6Ri adjacent to each other between the right end portion 4RS and the left end portion 4LS are connected to the side wall 6R.
It is partitioned by Bi (i = 1 to n-1). Also,
Similarly, the connected terminal portions 8Ri adjacent to each other also have side walls 8Bi.
(I = 1 to n-1).

The connection terminals connected to the connected terminal portions 6Ri and 8Ri respectively include lead wires 16, 18, 20, and as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, for example.
A hoof-shaped terminal 24 is connected to one end of the crimp 22 by caulking. The hoof terminal 24 has a notch 24 a that is engaged with the connection screw 12. When connecting the hoof terminal 24 to each of the connected terminal portions 6Ri and 8Ri, the connecting screw 12 is cut out of the hoof terminal 24 in a loosened state as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. The portion 24a is engaged with the connection screw 12 along the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 6 and is connected between the washer 14 and the conductor.

The electrical insulation on the side walls 6Bi and 8Bi of the terminal block 2 must meet predetermined industrial standard dimensions from the viewpoint of safety. For example,
In the UL standard, the distance between the edge of the insulator and the distance in the air between the connected terminals must be equal to or larger than predetermined dimensions. The edge distance of the insulator is shown in FIG.
, The distance L from one end face of the side walls 6Bi and 8Bi to the contact portion of the washer 14 is shown.
a, the sum of the thickness Lb of the side walls 6Bi and 8Bi and the distance Lc from the end of the other end surface of the side walls 6Bi and 8Bi to the contact portion of the washer 14 (= L
a + Lb + Lc).

[0009]

In the terminal block as described above, if it is desired to reduce the size of the terminal block, it is conceivable to make the side wall thinner. When the thickness is reduced, the edge surface distance becomes short, and there is a possibility that the above-mentioned industrial standard may not be satisfied.

Further, when the connection wiring is made by the crease type terminal 24 as described above, as shown in FIG. There is a possibility that the metal parts of the mold terminals 24 are left in contact with each other.

[0011] In view of the above problems, the present invention is a terminal block having a connected terminal portion to which a connection terminal provided at one end of a lead wire is connected. It is another object of the present invention to provide a terminal block which can easily perform the above-mentioned steps and can avoid a situation in which adjacent connection terminals come into contact with each other by mistake.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, a terminal block according to the present invention has a plurality of connected terminal portions to which connection terminals are connected and which are electrically connected to a circuit. An end face comprising a base portion, and a side wall portion formed of an insulating material so as to surround a periphery of the conductor portion of the connected terminal portion in the base portion, and an end surface substantially orthogonal to an arrangement direction of the connected terminal portions in the side wall portion. At least one has a protruding portion protruding along the arrangement direction of the connected terminal portions.

Further, both end surfaces of the side wall portion, which are substantially perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the connected terminal portions, may each have a projection projecting along the arrangement direction of the connected terminal portions.

The protrusion may be provided so that the cross-sectional shape of the side wall portion separating the adjacent connected terminal portions is L-shaped.

[0015]

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show an example of a terminal block according to the present invention, together with a wiring board on which the terminal block is provided.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, the terminal block 30 is
A plurality of connected terminal portions 32 disposed on a wiring board PCB '
Ri and 34Ri (i = 1 to n, n is an integer) are formed in a straight line parallel to each other along the longitudinal direction, and a wiring board PC in the base 36.
And an input / output contact portion 54 having an arrangement of a plurality of contacts provided on the surface facing B '.

The input / output contact portion 54 of the base portion 36 formed of an insulating material, for example, a plastic material,
It is composed of a plurality of contacts that are electrically connected to the conductors of the connected terminal portions 32Ri and 34Ri, respectively. Each contact is connected to a conductor of a circuit on the wiring board PCB '.

The base portion 36 is formed on the wiring board PCB 'by inserting the screws BS3 and BS4 through the through holes provided at both ends thereof and the through holes on the wiring board PCB' and fastening them with nuts. It is fixed to.

The connected terminal portions 34Ri of the base portion 36 are arranged between the right end portion 36RS and the left end portion 36LS in FIG. For example, they are arranged with an interval of 3.2 (mm) or more. The connected terminal portions 3 adjacent to each other between the right end portion 36RS and the left end portion 36LS.
4Ri is formed by being partitioned by a plate-like side wall 34Bi (i = 1 to n-1) extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the arrangement direction.

On the other hand, the connected terminal portion 32Ri is arranged in a step-like manner above the connected terminal portion 34Ri and has a right end 3R.
6RS and the left end portion 36LS, in the left-right direction, in the same row as the screw BS3, in a straight line and the connected terminal portion 34Ri.
Are arranged at an interval similar to that of. At this time, the connected terminal portion 32Ri is, as shown in FIG.
It is arranged to be at a position facing i.

The connected terminal portions 32Ri are also separated by side walls 32Bi (i = 1 to n-1), similarly to the connected terminal portions 34Ri. Since the configuration of the connected terminal portion 32Ri and the configuration of the connected terminal portion 34Ri are the same, the connected terminal portion 34Ri will be described, and the connected terminal portion 3Ri will be described.
Description of the configuration of 2Ri is omitted.

Each of the connected terminal portions 34Ri is provided with a metal washer 40 for holding a hoe terminal 50 described later in cooperation with the conductor portion, and a female screw portion of the conductor portion through a through hole of the washer 40. And a metal connection screw 38 that is screwed into the connection screw 38.

The connection terminals connected to the respective connected terminal portions 34Ri are, for example, hoes-shaped terminals 50 as shown in FIG. The metal-shaped terminal 50 has a notch 50 a that is engaged with the connection screw 38. Further, the hog-shaped terminals 50 which are respectively caulked and connected to one ends of the lead wires 42, 44, 46 and 48 to be wired are connected to the respective connected terminal portions 34Ri by connecting screws 38, for example. However, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3, the cut-out portion 50a of the hoe-shaped terminal 50 is loosened and the connection screw 3 is inserted along the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG.
After being engaged with 8, the connection screw 38 is tightened, so that each hoof-shaped terminal 50 is connected between the washer 40 and the conductor in each connected terminal portion 34Ri.

The thickness of one side wall 34Bi that partitions between adjacent connected terminal portions 34Ri is, for example, about 1.6.
(Mm). The lower surface and the rear surface of one side wall 34Bi are formed integrally with the base 36, respectively.

Therefore, each connected terminal portion 3 adjacent to each other
The space of 4Ri is surrounded by a pair of opposed end surfaces of the side wall 34Bi that are adjacent to each other, a connecting surface that connects the pair of end surfaces on the back side, and a bottom surface, and is opened upward and forward. It is formed.
In FIGS. 2 and 3, the space of the connected terminal portion 34Ri closest to the rightmost end portion 36RS includes one end surface of the side wall 34Bi, the inner wall surface of the right end portion 36RS facing the end surface, and one inner surface. It is formed so as to be surrounded by a connecting surface and a bottom surface connecting the wall surface on the back side and open upward and forward. Further, the space of the connected terminal portion 34Ri closest to the left end portion 36LS in FIGS. 2 and 3 includes the other end surface of the side wall 34Bi, the inner wall surface of the left end portion LS opposing the end surface, and one end surface. It is formed so as to be surrounded by a connecting surface and a bottom surface connecting the wall surface on the back side and open upward and forward.

On both end surfaces on the front side of the side wall 34Bi, projections 52 protruding along the direction in which the connected terminal portions 34Ri are arranged are formed integrally with the side wall 34Bi so as to face each other. I have. 2 and 3, the connected terminal portion 3 closest to the rightmost end portion 36RS.
4Ri, the protruding portions 52 are provided corresponding to the inner wall surface on the right end portion 36RS side and the end surface of the opposing side wall 34Bi, respectively, and further, the connected terminal portion closest to the left end portion 36LS in FIGS. In 34Ri, the projections 52 are provided corresponding to the inner wall surface on the left end portion 36LS side and the end surface of the opposed side wall 34Bi, respectively.

The projection 52 has, for example, a substantially rectangular cross section, and extends in the vertical direction in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the lengths L′ a and L′ c of one side in the cross section of the projection 52 are, for example,
It is about 1.2 (mm). Further, a length L′ b from one end to the other end of the protruding portions 52 opposed to each other across the side wall 34Bi is, for example, about 4.8 (mm). Further, in FIG. 3, the height of the protruding portion 52 along the up-down direction is, for example, at least about 8 (mm) or more.
When two are connected to Ri, the length of the connection screw 38 is set so that the tip of the head of the connection screw 38 does not exceed the protrusion 52.

As a result, the adjacent connected terminal portion 34R
i, the distance between the edges of the insulator is L′ a
And L′ c and the length L′ b are added, so that it is about 7.2 (mm). Therefore, in the UL standard, the allowable edge surface distance and space insulation distance of the insulator are 6.4 and 3.2 (mm) or more, respectively, so that the terminal block 30 compares the thickness of the side wall. Therefore, the terminal block can be easily reduced in size, and the UL standard can be satisfied.

Also, the connection screw 38 is loosened,
Even if 0 is accidentally rotated around the connection screw 38, the hoes 50 are interfered with the projections 52, so that the adjacent hoes 50 are prevented from contacting each other. .

In the above-described example, the cross-sectional shape of the projection 52 is substantially rectangular. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, another cross-sectional shape such as a semicircle may be used. Good. Further, the connection terminal is the hoof terminal 50, but is not limited to such an example, and it is a matter of course that the connection terminal may be another type of connection terminal.

[0031]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the terminal block of the present invention, the side wall formed of an insulating material surrounds the periphery of the conductor of the terminal to be connected in the base. Since at least one of the end faces substantially orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the connected terminal portions has a protrusion projecting along the arrangement direction of the connected terminal portions, even if the thickness of the side wall portion is further reduced, the connected terminal portion Since it is easy to set the edge distance of the insulator between the conductors of the parts relatively long, it is possible to easily reduce the size of the terminal block while securing a predetermined insulating property. In addition, when the adjacent connected terminal portions come close to each other, a part of the connected terminal portion interferes with the projection, so that it is possible to avoid a situation where the adjacent connection terminals accidentally come into contact with each other.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially enlarged view showing an essential part of an example of a terminal block according to the present invention, together with connection terminals used therein.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an overall configuration of an example of a terminal block according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the example shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the entire configuration of a conventional terminal block.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the example shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view showing an essential part of an example of a conventional terminal block together with connection terminals used therein.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 30 Terminal block 32 Ri, 34 Ri Connected terminal part 32 Bi, 34 Bi Side wall part 36 Base part 52 Projection part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A base portion on which a plurality of connected terminal portions to which connection terminals are connected and electrically connected to a circuit are arranged, and a periphery of a conductor portion of the connected terminal portion in the base portion. A side wall portion formed of an insulating material so as to surround the at least one end surface of the side wall portion substantially orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the connected terminal portions along the arrangement direction of the connected terminal portions. A terminal block having a protruding projection. 2. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein both end surfaces of the side wall portion substantially orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the connected terminal portions have projections protruding along the arrangement direction of the connected terminal portions. Item 1. The terminal block according to item 1. 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is provided such that a cross-sectional shape of a side wall that partitions between adjacent ones of the connected terminal portions is L-shaped.
The terminal block described.