AU2018100619A4 - Junction box - Google Patents

Abstract

A junction box is configured to conductively connect two cables each having multiple wires. The junction box includes a support base and multiple conductive members arranged on the support base and spaced apart from each other. Each of the conductive members includes two clamping plates and an intermediate plate in connection with the two clamping plates. The intermediate plate is arranged on the support base, and the two clamping plates correspond to the two cables, respectively. Compared with the prior art, the junction box of the present application can not only fix the cables but also function in conductively connecting two cables. The junction box can be used to easily connect different cables into original cable lines, and it is very convenient for the arrangement of the cable lines. 1/'t

Description

JUNCTION BOX

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to the electrotechnics field, and more particularly to a junction box.

BACKGROUND

At present, wiring methods for fixing cables within buildings are very mature in many countries and recorded in wiring guidelines of these countries. A principle of wiring is to reduce the amount of loosen cables as many as possible, moreover, an installer should use cables that are arranged as neatly and tightly as possible. A common practice includes mounting the cable on a wooden beam and fixing the cable by a fixing device, so that the movement of the cable is limited. However, such practice reduces the flexibility of an original layout of cable lines and increases the workload of re-wiring.

SUMMARY

It is one object of the present application to provide a junction box, which aims to solve the problem in the prior art that the fixing device for the cable is not conducive to the re-arrangement of cables.

To achieve the above object, in accordance with one embodiment of the present application, there is provided a junction box configured to conductively connect two cables each having multiple wires. The junction box comprises a support base and multiple conductive members arranged on the support base and spaced apart from each other. Each of the conductive members comprises two clamping plates and an intermediate plate in connection with the two clamping plates. The intermediate plate is arranged on the support base, and the two clamping plates correspond to the two cables, respectively.

In one embodiment, multiple through holes are defined on the support base, and the intermediate plate of each of the conductive members passes through each of the multiple through holes to connect with the support base.

In one embodiment, the support base has a first side and a second side that are opposite to each other, one of the clamping plates of each of the conductive members is arranged on the first side of the support base, and the other of the clamping plates is arranged on the second side of the support base.

In one embodiment, each of the clamping plates is provided with a fitting groove configured to allow a wire to be fitted therein, and the fitting groove extends from a middle of each of the clamping plates to a periphery thereof.

In one embodiment, an inner wall of the fitting groove forms a cutting edge configured to cut a cladding layer of the wire.

In one embodiment, the fitting groove comprises a first groove section and a second groove section extending from the first groove section to the periphery of each of the clamping plates, the first groove section is circular, and a diameter of the first groove section is greater than a width of the second groove section.

In one embodiment, the top cover covers the first side of the support base, and the top cover and the first side are enclosed to form a first internal space allowing one of the cables to pass through. The bottom cover covers the second side of the support base, and the bottom cover and the second side are enclosed to foim a second internal space allowing the other of the cables to pass through.

In one embodiment, locking members are formed on both the first side and the second side of the support base, and locking recesses are respectively formed on the top cover and the bottom cover to fit with the locking members.

In one embodiment, convex structures are formed on each of the top cover and the bottom cover to press the wires into the fitting grooves.

In one embodiment, each of the first side and the second side of the support base is provided with four partitions, the four partitions of the same side are arranged to be spaced apart from each other, and every two adjacent partitions form a space receiving one of the wires.

In one embodiment, a fixing structure configured to fix one of the wires is arranged between every two adjacent partitions.

The junction box in accordance with embodiments of the present application has the following advantages: compared with the prior art, the junction box of the present application can not only fix the cables but also function in conductively connecting two cables. The junction box can easily connect different cables into original cable lines, neither are the original cables or the newly connected cables required to be cut off, nor are the existing wiring system required to be replaced, therefore, it is convenient for the arrangement of the cable lines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solution in embodiments of the present application, the following drawings, which are to be used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art, will be briefly described. It will be apparent that the drawings described in the following description are merely embodiments of the present application. Other drawings may be obtained by those skilled in the art without paying creative labor. FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a junction box in accordance with one embodiment of the present application; FIG. 2 is an assembled structural view of the junction box in accordance with one embodiment of the present application after removing a top cover and a bottom cover; FIG. 3 is a first side view of a support base of the junction box in accordance with one embodiment of the present application; FIG. 4 is a second side view of the support base of the junction box in accordance with one embodiment of the present application; FIG. 5 is a front view of the support base shown in FIG. 4; and FIG. 6 is a side view of a conductive member of the junction box in accordance with one embodiment of the present application.

In the drawings, the following reference numerals are used: 1: Support base; 11: Through hole; 12: Partition; 13: Locking member; 2: Conductive member; 21: Clamping plate; 211: Fitting groove; 22: Intermediate plate; 23: Arc opening; 3: Top cover; 4: Bottom cover; 5: Cable; 51: Wire; 6: Locking recess; and 7: Convex structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In order to make the purposes, technical solutions, and advantages of the present application clearer and more understandable, the present application will be further described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are only intended to illustrate but not to limit the present application.

It should be noted that when an element is described as “fixed” or ’’arranged” on/at another element, it means that the element can be directly or indirectly fixed or arranged on/at another element. When an element is described as “connected” to/with another element, it means that the element can be directly or indirectly connected to/with another element.

Please refer to FIGS. 1-6, a junction box provided by the present application is described herein. The junction box is used to conductively connect two cables 5, and main components of the junction box comprise: a support base 1, multiple conductive members 2 arranged on the support base 1, a top cover 3 arranged on a first side of the support base 1, and an bottom cover 4 arranged on a second side of the support base 1 opposite to the first side. Each of the multiple conductive members 2 comprises two clamping plates 21 and an intermediate plate 22 connected with the two clamping plates 21. The clamping plates 21 are configured to electrically connect with wires 51 of the cables 5. In this embodiment, each cable 5 has three wires 51, i. e., a ground wire, a neutral wire, and a fire wire, therefore, the support base 1 is correspondingly provided with three conductive members 2, and each conductive member 2 functions in connecting wires 51 of the same functions from the two different cables 5.

The junction box of the present application can not only fix the cables, but also function in connecting the two cables 5. The use of the junction box can easily connect different cables into original cable lines, neither are the original cables or the newly connected cables required to be cut off, nor are the existing wiring system required to be replaced, therefore, it is convenient for the arrangement of the cable lines.

Further, please refer to FIGS. 2-5, multiple through holes 11 are defined on the support base 1, the intermediate plate 22 of each of the conductive members 2 passes through each of the multiple through holes 11 and is embedded in the support base 1. The through holes 11 may be straight holes or curved holes, and shapes of the intermediate plates 22 match with shapes of the corresponding through holes 11. The support base 1 is made of an insulating material, and different conductive members 2 are arranged on the support base 1 and spaced apart from each other, so that the support base 1 functions in insulating different conductive members 2. The two clamping plates 21 of the same conductive member 2 are respectively located at the first side and the second side of the support base 1. When two different cables 5 are connected into the junction box, one cable 5 is introduced to the first side to be connected with the clamping plates 21 located at the first side, and the other cable 5 is introduced to the second side to be connected with the clamping plates 21 located at the second side. Such a structure is more compact, facilitates a miniaturized arrangement of the junction box, and reduces the mounting space occupied by the junction box.

Further, please refer to FIGS. 2-4, four partitions 12 are formed on a middle region of each of the first side and the second side of the support base 1. The four partitions 12 are spaced apart from each other at equivalent intervals, forming three slots for accommodating the three wires 51 of each cable 5, in this way, it is well ensured that neither short circuits nor mutual winding of the wires 51 occurs, and the installation is very convenient.

Further, please refer to FIGS. 2-4, locking members 13 are formed on both the first side and the second side of the support base 1 and configured to connect with the top cover 3 and with the bottom cover 4, respectively, and locking recesses 6 are correspondingly formed on the top cover 3 and the bottom cover 4 for allowing corresponding locking members 13 to be inserted therein. When the top cover 3 or the bottom cover 4 are assembled with the support base 1, the locking members 13 are inserted into the locking recesses by an assembly force, thereby realizing fixation of the top cover 3 or the bottom cover 4. Such a structure is simple and convenient to be assembled.

Further, please refer to FIGS. 2-6, the clamping plate 21 is a flat plate provided with a fitting groove 211 for allowing a wire 51 of the cable 5 to be fitted therein. The fitting groove comprises a first groove section and a second groove section extending from the first groove section to a periphery of the clamping plate. Edges of the fitting groove 211 form cutting edges. When connecting the cable 5, an outermost cladding layer of the cable 5 is removed firstly to expose three wires 51 with separate cladding layers, then each wire 51 is pressed into corresponding fitting groove 211. Since the width of the fitting groove 211 is between 1 mm and 2.5 mm, which is smaller than a diameter of each wire 51 covered with the cladding layer, the fitting groove 211 provided with the cutting edges can automatically cut the cladding layer of each wire 51 to contact with the wire 51, in this way, connection between the wire 51 and the conductive member 2 is achieved.

Further, please refer to FIG. 6, the first groove section is an arc opening 23, which has a diameter greater than a width of the second groove section. Because the width of the second groove section of the fitting groove 211 is smaller than the diameter of the wire 51 covered with the cladding layer, when the wire 51 is inserted into the fitting groove 211, defoimation of the clamping plate 21 is caused, and the arc opening 23 formed at an terminal end of the fitting groove 211 effectively prevents the clamping plate 21 from being tom under the action of the insertion of the wire 51.

Further, please refer to FIG. 1, the junction box further comprises: the top cover 3 and the bottom cover 4. Both the top cover 3 and the bottom cover 4 are made of insulating materials, thereby ensuring no electrical leakage of the junction box outwards. The top cover 3 covers the first side of the support base 1 to form a first internal space allowing one of the cables 5 to pass through. The bottom cover 4 covers the second side of the support base 1 to form a second internal space allowing the other of the cables to pass through. Convex structures 7 are formed on inner sides of both the top cover 3 and the bottom cover 4. When the top cover 3 covers the support base 1, positions of the convex structures 7 of the top cover 3 are aligned with positions of the fitting grooves 211 of the clamping plates 21 located at the first side of the support base 1; and when the bottom cover 4 covers the support base 1, positions of the convex structures 7 of the bottom cover 4 are aligned with positions of the fitting grooves 211 of the clamping plates 21 located at the second side of the support base 1. In use, the wires 51 are aligned with openings of the fitting groove 211, and the wires 51 can be pressed into the fitting grooves 211 by pressing the top cover 3 and the bottom cover 4.

Further, please refer to FIG. 1, the top cover 3 and the bottom cover 4 are made of a transparent plastic material, such that internal structures of the junction box can be observed by installers when installing the top cover 3 and the bottom cover 4, thereby facilitating installation by the installers.

Further, please refer to FIG. 1, the top cover 3 is further provided with two mounting holes, configured to fix the top cover 3 on a wall. The mounting holes can be screw holes or holes of other forms.

Further, please refer to FIGS. 2-3, a fixing structure configured to fix each wire is arranged between every two adjacent partitions 12. After the wires are mounted between adjacent partitions, the wires are fixed by the fixing structures, thereby effectively preventing the wires from being loosened.

The aforementioned embodiments are only preferred embodiments of the present application, and are not intended to limit the present application. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, and so on, which are made within the spirit and the principle of the present application, should be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims (11)

1. A junction box configured to conductively connect two cables each having multiple wires, wherein the junction box comprises a support base and multiple conductive members arranged on the support base and spaced apart from each other; each of the conductive members comprises two clamping plates and an intermediate plate in connection with the two clamping plates; and the intermediate plate is arranged on the support base, and the two clamping plates correspond to the two cables, respectively.

2. The junction box of claim 1, wherein multiple through holes are defined on the support base, and the intermediate plate of each of the conductive members passes through each of the multiple through holes to connect with the support base.

3. The junction box of claim 2, wherein the support base has a first side and a second side that are opposite to each other, one of the clamping plates of each of the conductive members is arranged on the first side of the support base, and the other of the clamping plates is arranged on the second side of the support base.

4. The junction box of any of claims 1-3, wherein each of the clamping plates is provided with a fitting groove configured to allow a wire to be fitted therein, and the fitting groove extends from a middle of each of the clamping plates to a periphery thereof.

5. The junction box of claim 4, wherein an inner wall of the fitting groove forms a cutting edge configured to cut a cladding layer of the wire.

6. The junction box of claim 5, wherein the fitting groove comprises a first groove section and a second groove section extending from the first groove section to the periphery of each of the clamping plates, the first groove section is circular, and a diameter of the first groove section is greater than a width of the second groove section.

7. The junction box of claim 6, wherein the top cover covers the first side of the support base, and the top cover and the first side are enclosed to form a first internal space allowing one of the cables to pass through; and the bottom cover covers the second side of the support base, and the bottom cover and the second side are enclosed to form a second internal space allowing the other of the cables to pass through.

8. The junction box of claim 7, wherein locking members are formed on both the first side and the second side of the support base, and locking recesses are respectively formed on the top cover and the bottom cover to fit with the locking members.

9. The junction box of claim 8, wherein convex structures are formed on each of the top cover and the bottom cover to press the wires into the fitting grooves.

10. The junction box of any of claims 5-9, wherein each of the first side and the second side of the support base is provided with four partitions, the four partitions of the same side are arranged to be spaced apart from each other, and every two adjacent partitions form a space receiving one of the wires.

11. The junction box of claim 10, wherein a fixing structure configured to fix one of the wires is arranged between every two adjacent partitions.