EP3952025A1

EP3952025A1 - Electrical equipment unit linking structure and electrical equipment

Info

Publication number: EP3952025A1
Application number: EP20783630.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Masakazu Iida; Hideo Niinai
Original assignee: Idec Corp
Current assignee: Idec Corp
Priority date: 2019-03-29
Filing date: 2020-03-24
Publication date: 2022-02-09
Also published as: JP2023053314A; JP7465049B2; EP3952025A4; CN113597714A; CN113597714B; JP2020167017A; JP7236907B2; WO2020203442A1

Abstract

The coupling structure for an electrical equipment unit enables a cost reduction and an easy rearrangement of the electrical equipment unit after coupling the electrical equipment unit. The terminal block units (or electrical equipment unit) 4, 4' include a wall portion 41. A wall surface 41A of the wall portion 41 has an engagement hook (or engagement portion) 42 and another wall surface 41B of the wall portion 41 has an engagement hole (or engaged portion) 44 that corresponds to the engagement hook 42. The engagement hole 44 of one terminal block unit 4 allows an entry and rotation of the engagement hook 42 of another terminal block unit 4', such that thereby the engagement hook 42 comes into engagement with the engagement hole 44.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a coupling structure for interconnecting an electrical equipment unit such as a terminal block, a breaker, a circuit protector, a relay, a relay socket, a power source or the like, and more particularly to an improvement of the structure.

BACKGROUND ART

As a coupling structure for interconnecting a terminal block, a screwing type using a screw and a nut for interconnection, or a press fitting type to press-fit a convex part into a concave part for interconnection has been used. In the screwing type, as shown in Japanese patent application publication No. 2005-340142 , a screw is prepared to go through a through hole formed in the terminal block, a plurality of terminal blocks are juxtaposed and the screw is inserted into the respective through holes of the terminal blocks, and a nut is fitted and fastened to the tip end of the bolt, such that thereby the respective terminal blocks are interconnected (see figure 13 and para. [0007] of the publication) . Also, in the press fitting type, as shown in the above-mentioned publication, the convex part is provided on one side of the terminal block and the concave part is provided on the other side of the terminal block, a plurality of terminal blocks are juxtaposed and the convex part of one terminal block is press-fitted into the concave part of another terminal block that is adjacent to the one terminal block, such that thereby the respective terminal blocks are interconnected (see figure 14 and para. [0008]).

PRIOR ART REFERENCES

Patent Documents

Patent Document 1: Japanese patent application publication No. 2005-340142 (see para. [0007], [0008], Figures 13 and 14).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Objects to be Achieved by the Invention

However, in the coupling structure of the screwing type, according to an increase or decrease of the number of poles of the terminal block, the length of the screw for use with the terminal block changes. Therefore, each time you must prepare a screw of a length according to the number of poles of the terminal block. If you try to stock screws corresponding to the number of poles a management cost occurs, which results in increase in cost. Also, according to the coupling structure of the press fitting type, a special jig, device or tool is generally required in order to perfectly press-fit the convex part into the concave part. Moreover, in the press fitting type, once the convex part is press-fitted into the concave part, it is hard to separate them from one other. Accordingly, a rearrangement of the terminal block after coupling is difficult.
The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances and its object is to provide a coupling structure for an electrical equipment unit that can decrease cost and facilitate a rearrangement after coupling.

Means of Achieving the Objects

In order to achieve the object, according to the coupling structure of the present invention for interconnecting the electrical equipment unit, the electrical equipment unit includes a wall portion, and one wall surface of the wall portion includes an engaging portion and the other wall surface of the wall portion includes an engaged portion that corresponds to the engaging portion. The engaged portion of one electrical equipment allows an entry and rotation of the engaging portion of another electrical equipment to cause the engaging portion to be engaged with the engaged portion.
In the present invention, when interconnecting the electric equipment unit with one another, the engaging portion of one wall surface of the wall portion of one electrical equipment unit enters and rotates relative to the engaged portion of another wall surface of the wall portion of another electrical equipment unit. Thereby, the engaging portion comes into engagement with the engaged portion, such that thereby the respective electric equipment units are interconnected to one another.
According to the present invention, all that you have to do in coupling the respective electric equipment units with one another is cause the engaging portion of one electric equipment unit to make an entry into and a rotation around the engaged portion of another electric equipment. Thereby, a screw for interconnection, a special jig tool and so on is not required, thus decreasing a cost. Moreover, without requiring a fastening work of a nut and a press-fitting work, an assembly of the electrical equipment is facilitated and a separation is also easy, such that thereby a rearrangement of the respective electrical equipment units can also be facilitated.
The electrical equipment unit may have a through hole that passes through the rotational center of the engaging portion.
The electrical equipment unit may include a support shaft with a cylindrical surface formed thereon having a center at the rotational center of the engaging portion.
The cylindrical surface of the support shaft may include a guide portion for guiding a circumferential position of the cylindrical surface at the time of engagement of the engaging portion with the engaged portion.
The coupling structure may comprise an axial movement restrictive means for restricting an axial movement of the engaging portion and the engaged portion in the direction away from one another and a rotational movement restrictive means for restricting a rotational movement of the engaging portion relative to the engaged portion on the side of reverse rotation.
The rotational movement restrictive means may include an interfering portion provided on either one of the engaging portion or the engaged portion and an interfered portion that is provided on either the other of the engaging portion or the engaged portion and interfered by the interfering portion at the time of reverse rotation of the engaging portion.
The electrical equipment of the present invention may be constructed by interconnecting a plurality electrical equipment units through the above-mentioned coupling structure.

Effects of the Invention

As above-mentioned, according to the coupling structure of the electrical equipment unit of the present invention, a cost can be reduced and a rearrangement after coupling can be easily conducted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of an example of the terminal block (the number of poles: 5P) as an electrical equipment coupled by the coupling structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the terminal block of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the terminal block of FIG. 2, illustrating an end block with a terminal, a terminal block unit (or electrical equipment unit), and an end block without a terminal that constitute the terminal block and showing an example of the terminal block with reduced number of poles of 3P for illustration purposes;
FIG. 4 is a view viewed from the direction shown by an arrow mark IV in FIG. 3, corresponding to a top plan view of the terminal block of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a view viewed from the direction shown by an arrow mark V in FIG. 3, corresponding to a bottom view of the terminal block of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a left-side view of the terminal block of FIG. 3, viewed from the direction shown by an arrow mark VI-VI in FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 is a right-side view of the terminal block of FIG. 3, viewed from the direction shown by an arrow mark VII-VII in FIG. 3;
FIG. 8 is a right-side view of the end block with the terminal of FIG. 3, viewed from the direction shown by an arrow mark VIII-VIII in FIG. 3;
FIG. 9 is a left-side view of the end block without a terminal of FIG. 3, viewed from the direction shown by an arrow mark IX-IX in FIG. 3;
FIG. 10 is a left-side view of the end block with a terminal of FIG. 3, viewed from the direction shown by an arrow mark X in FIG. 3;
FIG. 11 is a right-side view of the end block without a terminal of FIG. 3, viewed from the direction shown by an arrow mark XI in FIG. 3;
FIG. 12 is a drawing explaining in time-series manner the way of coupling when interconnecting the terminal block units in FIG. 3 to assemble the terminal block in FIG. 1, showing the terminal block unit with the engagement hook in a dash-and-dot line and the terminal block unit with the engagement hole in a solid line;
FIG. 13 is a drawing explaining in time-series manner the way of coupling when interconnecting the terminal block units in FIG. 3 to assemble the terminal block in FIG. 1, showing the terminal block unit with the engagement hook in a dash-and-dot line and the terminal block unit with the engagement hole in a solid line;
FIG. 14 is a drawing explaining in time-series manner the way of coupling when interconnecting the terminal block units in FIG. 3 to assemble the terminal block in FIG. 1, showing the terminal block unit with the engagement hook in a dash-and-dot line and the terminal block unit with the engagement hole in a solid line;
FIG. 15 is a drawing explaining in time-series manner the way of separating the terminal block in FIG. 1, showing the terminal block unit with the engagement hook in a dash-and-dot line and the terminal block unit with the engagement hole in a solid line;
FIG. 16 is a drawing explaining in time-series manner the way of separating the terminal block in FIG. 1, showing the terminal block unit with the engagement hook in a dash-and-dot line and the terminal block unit with the engagement hole in a solid line;
FIG. 17 is a drawing explaining in time-series manner the way of separating the terminal block in FIG. 1, showing the terminal block unit with the engagement hook in a dash-and-dot line and the terminal block unit with the engagement hole in a solid line;
FIG. 18 is a drawing explaining procedures when assembling the terminal block of FIG. 1 using a long pin, which is a perspective view viewed from the end block with a terminal;
FIG. 19 is a drawing explaining procedures when assembling the terminal block of FIG. 1 using a long pin, which is a perspective view viewed from the end block without a terminal; and
FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing the state in which the distance between the adjacent respective terminal blocks in FIG. 19 is decreased.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 to 20 illustrate a coupling structure of an electrical equipment unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 1 to 11 show a constitution of the electrical equipment and FIGS. 12 to 20 show procedures for interconnecting/separating the electrical equipment unit. Here, a terminal block is taken as an example of the electrical equipment. Also, a screw-type is shown as a terminal block.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the terminal block (or electrical equipment) 1 includes an end block 2 with a terminal disposed at a left end in the figure, an end block 3 without a terminal disposed at a right end in the figure, and four terminal block units (or electrical equipment units) 4 disposed therebetween. These blocks 2, 3 and 4 are formed of insulative resin. The end block 2 with the terminal and the terminal block units 4 respectively have a nut n for wire-connection. FIGS. 1 and 2 show an example in which the number of poles of the terminal block 1 is 5P.
The details of the terminal block unit 4, the end block 2 with the terminal and the end block 3 without the terminal that constitute the terminal block 1 will be explained using FIGS. 3 to 11. In these drawings, an example is shown in which the number of terminal block units 4 is two and the number of poles of the terminal block 1 is reduced to 3P for illustration purposes.
As shown in FIG. 3 (or a front elevational view), FIG. 4 (or a top plan view), and FIG. 5 (or a bottom view), the terminal block unit 4 includes a base portion 40, and a wall portion 41 extending upwardly from the base portion 40. In each drawing, two terminal block units 4 are shown. Since these units have a similar structure respectively, the explanation of the terminal block unit 4 can be applied to both of the terminal block units 4.
FIG. 6 (or a side view viewed from the arrow mark IV-IV in FIG. 3) and FIGS. 3 to 5, on one wall surface 41A of the wall portion 41, three engagement hooks (or engaging portion) 42 are provided that protrude from the wall surface 41A. Each of the engagement hooks 42 is composed of a shaft potion 42a that protrudes in the direction orthogonal to the wall surface 41A (hereinafter, referred to "axial direction" as necessary), and a bent portion 42b that bends in the direction parallel to the wall surface 41A from the tip end of the shaft portion 42a toward the circumferential edge portion of the wall surface 41A. The engagement hook 42 is thus generally L-shaped as viewed from the front. Each of the bent portion 42b is generally trapezoidal in this example as viewed from the side (see FIG. 6) . A support shaft portion 43 is provided that protrudes in the direction perpendicular to the wall surface 41A (or axial direction) at a generally central portion of the wall surface 41A. The outer circumferential surface of the support shaft portion 43 is formed of a cylindrical surface 43a that occupies a large part of the outer circumferential surface and a projecting portion (or guide portion) 43b that is formed at a part of the outer circumferential surface and that projects radially outwardly from the lower portion of the cylindrical surface 43a in a fan shape. The support shaft portion 43 has a through hole 43c formed thereinto, which penetrates the entire terminal block unit 4 through the support shaft portion 43. The center of the through hole 43c coincides with the center of the support shaft portion 43. As shown in FIG. 6, the engagement hooks 42 respectively extend radially outwardly from the center of the support shaft portion 43 on the wall surface 41A. In this exemplification, the distance from the center of the support shaft portion 43 differs between the engagement hook 42 disposed on the upper side and the two engagement hooks 42 disposed on the lower side. The respective engagement hooks 42 are circumferentially spaced generally 120 degrees apart from one another. An equal space is not necessary. Also, when drawing a vertical centerline C1 that passes through the center of the support shaft portion 43, in this exemplification, the upper-side engagement hook 42 is disposed not on the centerline C1 but at the position that is slightly rotated in the counterclockwise direction around the center of the support shaft portion 43.
As shown in FIG. 7 (or a side view as viewed from the arrow mark VII-VII in FIG. 3), a mating hole 45 is formed on the other wall surface 41B of the wall portion 41 and sized so that the support shaft portion 43 can fit into the mating hole 45. The mating hole 45 is concentrically disposed relative to the through hole 43c. The inner circumferential surface of the mating hole 45 has substantially the same diameter as the cylindrical surface 43a of the support shaft portion 43, such that thereby the cylindrical surface 43a of the support shaft portion 43 is circumferentially slidable along the inner circumferential surface of the mating hole 45. The mating hole 45 has a projecting hole portion 45a that projects radially outwardly in a fan shape from the lower part of the inner circumferential surface. The projecting hole portion 45a corresponds to the projecting portion 43b of the support shaft portion 43, but the circumferential length of the projecting hole portion 45a is slightly greater than that of the projecting portion 43b. That is, the shape of the mating hole 45 and the projecting hole portion 45a is complementary to the cross-sectional shape of the support shaft portion 43 except that the circumferential length of the projecting hole portion 45a is slightly greater. Therefore, when the support shaft portion 43 of one terminal block unit 4 is fitted into the mating hole 45 of another terminal block unit 4 in coupling the respective terminal block units 4, the position of the projecting portion 43b of the support shaft portion 43 needs to be aligned with the position of the projecting hole portion 45a of the mating hole 45. In that sense, the projecting portion 43b of the support shaft portion 43 functions as a guide portion for guiding the circumferential position of the cylindrical surface 43a of the support shaft portion 43. Also, because the circumferential length of the projecting hole portion 45a is slightly greater than the circumferential length of the projecting hole portion 43b, the support shaft portion 43 is slightly rotatable around the center of the support shaft portion 43 (i.e. center of the through hole 43c) after fit into the mating hole 45.
Also, there are provided in the wall surface 41B three engagement holes (or engaged portions) 44 that respectively correspond to the engagement hooks 42 on the side of the wall surface 41A and that constitute the coupling structure according to the present invention in conjunction with the corresponding engagement hooks 42. Each of the engagement holes 44 is generally rectangular in cross section and is disposed opposite the engagement hook 42 with the wall portion 41 positioned therebetween. The respective engagement holes 44 are sized so that the corresponding engagement hooks 42 can enter the engagement holes 44 (that is, an entry into the engage holes 44 is permitted), but the circumferential width of the engagement hole 44 is greater than the circumferential width of the engagement hook 42. There is provided a restricting plate (or axial movement restrictive means) 44a at a corner potion that is disposed radially outwardly in the engagement hole 44 and that is located at the position where the rotational angle in the clockwise direction around the center of the through hole 43c is greater. The thickness of the restricting plate 44a is substantially the same as or slightly greater than the clearance between the bent portion 42b of the corresponding engagement hook 42 and the wall surface 41A. By such a structure, the respective engagement hooks 42 are circumferentially shiftable in the respective engagement holes 44 at the time of rotation of the support shaft portion 43 around the center (that is, the respective engagement holes 44 permit for the corresponding engagement hooks 42 to rotate) after having entered into the respective engagement holes 44 (at this time, the support shaft portion 43 is also fitted into the mating hole 45). Moreover, when the respective engagement hook 42 moves circumferentially, the restricting plate 44a axially fit into the clearance between the bent portion 42b of the engagement hook 42 and the wall surface 41A without a gap, such that thereby the respective engagement hooks 42 come into engagement with the engagement holes 44. At this time, the respective terminal block units 4 after coupling cannot move away (or be separated) from one another in the axial direction and no backlash or looseness in the axial direction will occur. In that sense, the restricting plate 44a functions as an axial movement restrictive means that restricts an axial movement of the engagement hook 42 and the engagement hole 44 away from one another. Also, when the support shaft portion 43 rotates around its center (i.e. the center of the through hole 43c), the respective engagement hook 42 rotates around the center of the through hole 43c, thereby the center of the through hole 43c coincides with the rotational center of the respective engagement hooks 42. In addition, the through hole 43c of the terminal block unit 4 is axially aligned with a through hole 21a of the end block 2 with a terminal (mentioned below in FIGS. 8 and 10) and a through hole 31a of the end block 3 without a terminal (FIGS. 9 and 11). The centerlines of these through holes are shown by a reference character CL in FIGS. 1, 3 to 5.
As shown in FIG. 6, there is provided at a lower portion of the wall surface 41A a circular-arc-shaped wall portion 46 that extends in a circular-arc shape between the respective engagement hooks 42 on the lower side below the support shaft portion 43 and that protrudes in the axial direction from the wall surface 41A. The circular-arc-shaped wall portion 46 is a thin wall-shaped member and its inner and outer circumferential surfaces are disposed concentrically with the center of the support shaft portion 43. At one end (or a left end in the drawing) of the circular-arc-shaped wall portion 46, an extension portion 46a is formed that protrudes to the inner circumferential side, and in the vicinity of the extension portion 46a, a convex portion (or interfering portion) 46b is formed that protrudes to the outer circumferential side. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, there is provided at a lower portion of the wall surface 41B a circular-arc-shaped wall portion 47 that extends in a circular-arc shape between the respective engagement holes 44 on the lower side below the mating hole 45 and that protrudes in the axial direction from the wall surface 41B. The circular-arc-shaped wall portion 47 is a thin wall-shaped member and its inner and outer circumferential surfaces are disposed concentrically with the center of the mating hole 45. At one end (or a right end in the drawing) of the outer circumferential surface of the circular-arc-shaped wall portion 47, a concave portion 47a is formed that corresponds to the extension portion 46a of the wall surface 41A. Also, there is provided an operation portion 48 below the circular-arc-shaped wall portion 47 with a circular-arc-shaped clearance e formed therebetween. The clearance e is sized so that the circular-arc-shaped wall portion 46 of the wall surface 41A can slidably fit into the clearance e. On one end side (or the right end side in the drawing) of the operation portion 48, a concave portion (or interfered portion) 48a is formed that corresponds to the convex portion 46b of the circular-arc-shaped wall portion 46, and on the other end side (or the left end side in the drawing) of the operation portion 48, a pressing portion 48b is provided for a person to operate by pressing with a finger and the operation portion 48 is connected to the base 40 through a connection portion 48c. Additionally, in FIG. 6, the operation portion 48 on the side of the wall surface 41B is seen from the side of the wall surface 41A. In the state that the terminal block units 4 are interconnected to one another, the circular-arc wall portion 46 on the side of the wall surface 41A of one terminal block unit 4 is fitted into the clearance e on the side of the wall surface 41B of another terminal block unit 4. At this time, the extension portion 46a of the circular-arc wall portion 46 is engaged with the concave portion 47a of the circular-arc wall portion 47 and the convex portion 46b of the circular-arc wall portion 46 is engaged with the concave portion 48a of the operation portion 48. In this state, the circular-arc wall portion 46 is locked in the rotational direction in the clearance e, thereby restricting a rotational movement of the support portion 43 around the center of the axis. In that sense, the convex portion 46b and the concave portion 48a function as a rotational movement restrictive means that restricts a rotational movement of the engagement hook 42 to the side in which the engagement state between the engagement hook 42 and the engagement hole 44 is disengaged (that is, to the side of a reverse rotation of the engagement hook 42).
As shown in FIG. 3 (or a front elevational view), FIG. 4 (or a top plan view) and FIG. 5 (or a bottom view), the end block 2 with the terminal includes a base portion 20, and a wall portion 21 extending upwardly from the base portion 20. The base portion 20 has a notch 20a formed therein that a mounting screw for installation to the control panel, etc. is inserted into.
As shown in FIG. 10 (or a side view as viewed from the arrow mark X in FIG. 3), there are no engagement hook and support shaft portion at one wall surface 21A of the wall portion 21, but a through hole 21a is formed that passes through the end block 2 with the terminal in the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 8 (or a side view as viewed from the arrow mark VIII-VIII in FIG. 3), an engagement hole 25 is formed at the other wall surface 21B of the wall portion 21. The engagement hole 25 has a structure similar to the mating hole 45 of the terminal block unit 4, disposed concentrically with the through hole 21a and has substantially the same inner diameter as the cylindrical surface 43a of the support portion 43. The engagement hole 25 includes a projecting hole portion 25a that projects radially outwardly in a fan-shape. The projecting hole portion 25a has a circumferential length that is slightly greater than a circumferential length of the projection portion 43b of the support shaft portion 43.
Also, three engagement holes 24 are provided in the wall surface 21B. The respective engagement holes 24 have a similar structure to that of the respective holes 44 of the terminal block unit 4, are generally rectangular-shaped in cross section and sized so that the corresponding respective engagement hooks 42 of the terminal block unit 4 can enter, but the circumferential length of the respective engagement holes 24 is greater than the circumferential length of the respective engagement hooks 42. There is provided a restricting plate 24a at a corner potion disposed radially outwardly in the engagement hole 24. By the restricting plate 24a, the respective engagement hooks 42 are circumferentially shiftable in the respective engagement holes 24 at the time of rotation of the support shaft portion 43 around the center of the axis after having entered the corresponding respective engagement holes 24 (at this time, the support shaft portion 43 is also fitted into the engagement hole 25). Moreover, when the respective engagement hook 42 moves circumferentially, the restricting plate 24a axially fit into the clearance between the bent portion 42b of the engagement hook 42 and the wall surface 41A without a gap, such that thereby the respective engagement hooks 42 come into engagement with the engagement holes 24. At this time, the end block 2 with the terminal and the terminal block unit 4 after coupling cannot move away (or be separated) from one another in the axial direction and no backlash or looseness in the axial direction will occur. When the support shaft portion 43 rotates around the center of the through hole 21a in the engagement hole 25, the engagement hook 42 rotates around the center of the through hole 21a, and the center of the through hole 21a coincides with the rotational center of the respective engagement hooks 42.
There is provided at a lower portion of the wall surface 21B a circular-arc-shaped wall portion 27 that extends in a circular-arc shape below the engagement hole 25 and that protrudes in the axial direction from the wall surface 21B. The circular-arc-shaped wall portion 27 has a similar structure to that of the circular-arc-shaped wall portion 47 of the terminal block unit 4, is a thin wall-shaped member and its inner and outer circumferential surfaces are disposed concentrically with the center of the engagement hole 25. At one end (or a right end in the drawing) of the outer circumferential surface of the circular-arc-shaped wall portion 27, a concave portion 27a is formed that corresponds to the extension portion 46a of the circular-arc-shaped wall portion 46 on the side of the terminal block unit 4. There is provided an elastic plate portion 28 below the circular-arc-shaped wall portion 27 with a clearance e formed therebetween. The clearance e is sized so that the circular-arc-shaped wall portion 46 of the terminal block unit 4 can slidably fit into the clearance e. The elastic plate portion 28 has a similar structure to that of the operation portion 48 of the terminal block unit 4. On one end side (or the right end side in the drawing) of the elastic plate portion 28, a concave portion 28a is formed that corresponds to the convex portion 46b of the circular-arc-shaped wall portion 46, and the other end (or the left end in the drawing) of the elastic plate portion 28 is elastically supported by the base 20 through the connection portion 28c. At the other end side (or the left end side in the drawing), there is not provided a pressing portion for a person to operate by pressing with a finger. It may have such a structured that a person can operate by pressing with a finger. In the state that the terminal block unit 4 is connected to the end block 2 with the terminal, the circular-arc wall portion 46 on the side of the wall surface 41A of the terminal block unit 4 is fitted into the clearance e on the side of the wall surface 21B of the end block 2 with the terminal. At this time, the extension portion 46a of the circular-arc wall portion 46 is engaged with the concave portion 27a of the circular-arc wall portion 27 and the convex portion 46b of the circular-arc wall portion 46 is engaged with the concave portion 28a of the elastic plate portion 28. In this state, the circular-arc wall portion 46 is locked in the rotational direction in the clearance e, thereby restricting a rotational movement of the support portion 43 around the center of the axis.
As shown in FIG. 3 (or a front elevational view), FIG. 4 (or a top plan view) and FIG. 5 (or a bottom view), the end block 3 without the terminal includes a base portion 30, and a wall portion 31 extending upwardly from the base portion 30. The base portion 30 has a notch 30a formed therein that a mounting screw for installation to the control panel, etc. is inserted into.
As shown in FIG. 9 (or a side view as viewed from the arrow mark IX in FIG. 3), there are provided at one wall surface 31A of the wall potion 31 three engagement hooks 32 that protrude from the wall surface 31A. The respective engagement hooks 32 have a similar structure to that of the respective engagement hooks 42 of the terminal block unit 4, include an axial portion 32a extending axially and a bent portion 32b that is bent in the direction parallel to the wall surface 31A toward the circumferential edge portion of the wall surface 31A from the tip end of the shaft portion 32a, and are generally L-shaped as viewed from the front. A support shaft portion 33 is provided that protrudes in the axial direction at a generally central portion of the wall surface 31A. The support shaft portion 33 has a similar structure to that of the support shaft portion 43 of the terminal block unit 4 and the outer circumferential surface of the support shaft portion 33 is formed of a cylindrical surface 33a that occupies a large part of the outer circumferential surface and a projecting portion 33b that is formed at a part of the outer circumferential surface and that projects radially outwardly from the lower portion of the cylindrical surface 33a in a fan shape. The support shaft portion 33 has a through hole 31a formed thereinto, which penetrates the entire terminal block unit 3 through the support shaft portion 33. The center of the through hole 31a coincides with the center of the support shaft portion 33. Also, there is provided at a lower portion of the wall surface 31A a circular-arc-shaped wall portion 36 that has a similar structure to that of the circular-arc-shaped wall portion 46 of the terminal block 4. At one end of the circular-arc-shaped wall portion 36, an extension portion 36a is formed and in the vicinity of the extension portion 36a, a protruding portion 36b is formed. At the other wall surface 31B of the wall surface 31, there are not provided an engagement hook or a support shaft portion as shown in FIG. 11 (or a side view as viewed from the arrow mark XI in FIG. 3), but a through hole 31a is formed that penetrates the end block 3 without the terminal in the axial direction.
Next, actions and effects of the present invention will be explained hereinafter using FIGS. 12 to 20.
FIGS. 12 to 17 show procedures when connecting/separating the terminal block units 4 and FIGS. 18 to 20 show procedures when connecting the end block 2 with the terminal, the terminal block units 4 and the end block 3 without the terminal. Additionally, in FIGS. 12 to 17, the respective two terminal block units to be interconnected are referred to reference characters 4, 4' for illustration purposes. Also, in FIGS. 12 to 17, in the state that the wall surface 41B of one terminal block unit 4 is disposed at the position out of the page (see a solid line), the positions of the respective engagement hooks 4, the support shaft portion 43 and the circular-arc-shaped wall portion 46 are shown (see a dash-and-dot line) when another terminal block unit 4' to be connected to the one terminal block unit 4 is viewed from the side of the wall surface 41B.
When connecting the terminal block units 4, 4', as shown in FIG. 12, in the state that relative to one terminal block unit 4 shown by the solid line, another terminal block unit 4' shown by the dash-and-dot line is slightly rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the terminal block units 4, 4' are approached to one another in the axial direction. Then, the support shaft portion 43 and the projecting portion 43b on the side of the wall surface 41A of the terminal block unit 4' are respectively fitted into the mating hole 45 and the projecting hole portion 45a on the side of the wall surface 41B of the terminal block unit 4. The respective engagement hooks 42 of the terminal block unit 4' enter the respective corresponding engagement holes 44 of the terminal block unit 4, and the circular-arc-shaped wall portion 46 of the terminal block unit 4' enters the circular-arc-shaped clearance e of the terminal block unit 4.
At this time, the projecting portion 43b is fitted into the projecting hole portion 45a with a gap formed on the left side in the drawing relative to the projecting hole portion 45a, and the respective engagement hooks 42 enter the side on which the restricting plate portion 44a is not formed in the respective engagement holes 44 (i.e. the left side of the restricting plate portion 44a shown in the drawing) . Also, the extension portion 46a of the circular-arc-shaped portion 46 is not fitted into the concave portion 47a of the circular-arc-shaped portion 47 and convex portion 46b of the circular-arc-shaped portion 46 is not fitted into the concave portion 48a of the operation portion 48. In the state shown in FIG. 12, the respective terminal block units 4, 4' are contacted and united with one another without an axial gap, but in such a state if the respective terminal block units 4, 4' are moved in the axial direction away from one another they will be disengaged and separated from one another. Therefore, both the terminal block units 4, 4' are in the temporary assembled state.
In addition, when bringing the terminal block units 4, 4' close to one other, in the event that the rotational angle of the terminal block unit 4' is too great or too small to the contrary, the projection portion 43b cannot enter the projecting hole portion 45a and thus the respective terminal blockunits4, 4'cannot be brought close to one other. Therefore, the projecting portion 43b acts as a guiding portion to guide the circumferential position of the cylindrical surface 43a of the support shaft portion 43 at the time of connection by collaborating with the projecting hole portion 45a, that is, to guide the terminal block unit 4' to an appropriate rotational position relative to the terminal block unit 4.
From the state shown in FIG.12, the terminal block unit 4' is caused to be rotated in the clockwise direction in the drawing relative to the terminal block unit 4. Then, the state of FIG. 12 is shifted to the state shown in FIG. 14 through the state shown in FIG. 13. In the state of FIG. 13, as shown in the drawing, the support shaft portion 43 is rotated in the mating hole 45 clockwise in the drawing. The projecting portion 43b is moved toward the left side in the drawing in the projecting hole portion 45a, such that thereby the projecting portion 43b forms a gap on the right side in the drawing relative to the projecting hole portion 45a. The respective engagement hooks 42 are rotated clockwise in the drawing in the engagement holes 44 to move to the position of the restricting plate portion 44a. At this juncture, the respective restricting plates 44a enter the space between the respective bent portions 42b of the respective engagement hooks 42 and the wall surface 41A. Also, the extension portion 46a of the circular-arc wall portion 46 is in a nearly engaged state with the concave portion 47a of the circular-arc wall portion 47, but the projection portion 46b of the circular-arc wall portion 46 is not engaged with the concave portion 48a of the operation portion 48 to depress the right end (in the drawing) of the operation portion 48 downwardly, such that thereby the right end (in the drawing) of the operation portion 48 is elastically deformed downwardly.
In the state shown in FIG. 14, as shown in the drawing, the terminal block unit 4' is caused to further rotate a slight amount clockwise from the state of FIG. 13. At this time, the respective engagement hooks 42 further rotate clockwise in the respective engagement holes 44 to contact the sidewall of the respective holes 44. Also, the extension portion 46a of the circular-arc wall portion 46 is perfectly fitted into the concave portion 47a of the circular-arc wall portion 47. Moreover, the convex portion 46b of the circular-arc wall portion 46 climbs over the right end (in the drawing) of the operation portion 48, and as a result, the operation portion 48 returns to the state prior to the elastic deformation, in which the convex portion 46b is perfectly fitted into the concave portion 48a of the operation portion 48.
In such a manner, in the state shown in FIG. 14, the respective restriction plate portions 44a are fitted into the space between the respective bent portions 42b of the respective engagement hooks 42 and the wall surface 41A, such that thereby the respective engagement hooks 42 cannot be pulled out from the respective engagement holes 44 in the axial direction and the terminal block unit 4' is in the axially lock state relative to the terminal block unit 4. Also, the convex portion 46b of the circular-arc wall portion 46 is engaged with the concave portion 48a of the operation portion 48, such that thereby the circular-arc wall portion 46 cannot rotate counterclockwise and the terminal block unit 4' is thus in the rotationally lock state relative to the terminal block unit 4. Therefore, in the state shown in FIG. 14, the coupling or assembly of both the terminal block units 4, 4' is completed. Additionally, in FIG. 14, the extension portion 46a of the circular-arc wall portion 46 is engaged with the concave portion 47a of the circular-arc wall portion 47, thus preventing a rotational backlash or looseness.
Then, when separating the terminal block units 4, 4', in the state shown in FIG. 14, the pressing portion 48b of the operation portion 48 is pushed. Then, the operation portion 48 rotates clockwise in the drawing around the connection portion 48c and the right end of the operation portion 48 in the drawing moves downwardly. From this state, the terminal block unit 4' is rotated counterclockwise in the drawing relative to the terminal block unit 4. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 16, the convex portion 46b of the circular-arc wall portion 46 moves to the position immediately before the position in which the convex portion 46b of the circular-arc wall portion 46 climbs over the right end of the operation portion 48 in the drawing. In addition, FIG. 15 illustrates the state in which even if the terminal block unit 4' is caused to be rotated counterclockwise relative to the terminal block unit 4 without pushing the pressing portion 48b, the convex portion 46b of the circular-arc wall portion 46 interferes with the concave portion 48a of the operation portion 48 to block rotation of the terminal block unit 4'.
When the terminal block unit 4' is further rotated counterclockwise in the drawing from the state of FIG. 16, the state of the terminal block 1 changes into the state shown in FIG. 17. In FIG. 17, the convex portion 46b of the circular-arc wall portion 46 climbs over the right end of the operation portion 48, such that thereby the convex portion 46b is disengaged from the concave portion 48a of the operation portion 48 and the extension portion 46a of the circular-arc wall portion 46 is disengaged from the concave portion 47a of the circular-arc wall portion 47. Also, the respective engagement hooks 42 moves away from the respective restriction plate portion 44a toward the left side in the respective engagement holes 44. At the same time, the support shaft portion 43 moves counterclockwise in the mating hole 45 and the projecting portion 43b moves toward the right side in the projecting hole portion 45a thus forming a gap on the left side in the projecting hole portion 45a. From this state, when moving the respective terminal block units 4, 4' away from one another in the axial direction, the respective terminal block units 4, 4' can be separated.
In FIGS. 12 to 17, an example was explained in which the terminal block units 4, 4' are interconnected /separated from one another, but a similar procedure can be conducted when the end block 2 with the terminal is connected to/separated from the terminal block unit 4 and when the end block 3 without the terminal is connected to/separated from the terminal block unit 4'. Although there is not provided a member corresponding to the pressing portion 48b of the operation portion 48 at the elastic plate portion 28 of the end block 2 with the terminal, the terminal block 1 is structured such that when rotating the end block 2 with the terminal and the terminal block unit 4 in the direction of separation at the time of separating the end block 2 with the terminal from the terminal block unit 4 after interconnection, the elastic plate portion 28 of the end block 2 with the terminal receives a pressing force from the convex portion 46b of the circular-arc wall portion 46 of the terminal block unit 4, thus elastically deforming to cause the convex portion 46b of the circular-arc wall portion 46 to be disengaged from the concave portion 28a of the elastic plate portion 28. In addition, the elastic plate portion 28 of the end block 2 with the terminal may have a press-operatable structure.
Next, the way to connect the terminal blocks 1 with many poles will be explained using FIGS. 18 to 20.
Here, an example is shown in which four terminal block units 4 are to be connected to one another between the end block 2 with the terminal and the end block 3 without the terminal.
First, a long pin PN is prepared. The pin PN is a long round rod. It has an outer diameter that is slightly smaller than an inner diameter of a through hole 21a of the end block 2 with the terminal, a through hole 31a of the end block 3 without the terminal and the respective through holes 43c of the respective terminal blocks 4.
Then, in the state that one end (e.g. a right end in FIG. 18) of the pin PN is fixed to a jig (now shown), the other end (e.g. a left end in FIG. 18) of the pin PN is inserted into the through hole 31a of the end block 3 without the terminal, the respective through holes 43c of the four terminal block units 4, and the through holes 21a of the end block 2 with the terminal in order. At this juncture, the respective wall surfaces 21B, 31B and 41B of the respective blocks 2, 3 and 4 are disposed on one end side of the pin PN. By aligning the orientations of the respective blocks 2, 3 and 4 with one another in such a manner, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the wall surface 21B of the end block 2 with the terminal faces the wall surface 41A of the terminal block unit 4, the wall surface 41B of the terminal block unit 4 faces the wall surface 41A of the adjacent terminal block unit 4, and the wall surface 31A of the end block 3 without the terminal faces the wall surface 41B of the terminal block unit 4.
Then, as shown in FIG. 20, the respective adjacent blocks 2, 3 and 4 are put close to one another. With the engagement hook of one block inserted into the corresponding engagement hole of another block, the respective terminal block units 4 and the end block 2 with the terminal are rotated together relative to the end block 3 without the terminal, such that thereby the entire blocks 2, 3 and 4 can be connected to one another at one time (see FIG. 1). In this case, by utilizing the respective through holes 21a, 31a and 43c formed in the respective blocks 2, 3 and 4, the terminal block units 4 with many poles can be assembled efficiently and easily.
According to the present embodiment, all you need to do is insert the engagement hook 42 of one terminal block unit 4 into the engagement hole 44 of another terminal block unit 4 and rotate it when interconnecting the terminal block units 4, which eliminates the necessity of preparing screws, special jigs and the like for interconnection thus reducing a cost. Moreover, without requiring a nut fastening work and a press fitting work of the convex part and the concave part, the terminal block unit can be assembled with ease and an disengagement is also easy, thus facilitating a rearrangement (e.g. addition, deletion and exchange for an increase or decrease of poles, and recombination in case of mis-assembly) of the respective terminal block units.
As mentioned above, the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been explained, but the application of the present invention is not restricted to such an embodiment and the current invention includes various alternative embodiments. Some of the alternative embodiments will be given hereinafter.

[First Alternative Embodiment]

In the above-mentioned embodiment, an example was shown in which the engagement hooks 42 of the terminal block unit 4 are provided at three positions on the wall surface 41A, the engagement hook 42 may be disposed at one position, alternatively, at two or four or more positions. Also, an example was shown in which the bent portion 42b of the engagement hook 42 extends radially outwardly from the distal end of the shaft portion 42a, but the bent portion 42b may extend radially inwardly from the shaft portion 42a. In this case, the restriction plate portion 44a provided at the engagement hole 44 is disposed at a radially inward corner portion in the engagement hole 44. Furthermore, when interconnecting the terminal block units 4, the rotational direction of the terminal block units 4 may be opposite to the direction shown in the above-mentioned embodiment, and it may be alternatively different from one another in the respective terminal block units 4.

[Second Alternative Embodiment]

In the above-mentioned embodiment, an example was shown in which the terminal block unit 4 has the support shaft portion 43 with the through hole 43c, either the through hole 43c or the support shaft portion 43 may be omitted. In the event that the through hole 43c is omitted, the pin PN cannot be used at the time of assembling the terminal block units 4. However, even in such a case, by rotation-sliding the support shaft portion 43 in the engagement hole 45, the respective engagement hooks 42 can be rotated in the respective engagement holes 44 around the center of the support shaft portion 43. Also, in the event that the support shaft portion 43 is omitted, by inserting the pin PN into the through hole 43c, the respective engagement hooks 42 can be rotated in the respective engagement holes 44 around the center of the pin PN.

[Third Alternative Embodiment]

In the above-mentioned embodiment, an example was shown in which the projecting portion 43b is provided at the support shaft portion 43 and the projecting hole portion 45a is formed at the mating hole 45, but these projecting portion 43b and the projecting hole portion 45a may be omitted. In this case, there is no member to guide a circumferential position of the support shaft portion 43. However, if the positions of the base portions 40 of the respective terminal block units 4 to be connected to one another are aligned to a certain degree, the respective engagement hooks 42 can be inserted into the corresponding respective engagement holes 44.

[Fourth Alternative Embodiment]

In the above-mentioned embodiment, an example was shown in which as a guide portion to guide the circumferential position of the support shaft portion 43, the projecting portion 43b is provided that protrudes convexly radially outwardly from a part of the outer circumferential surface of the support shaft portion 43, but the application of the present invention is not restricted to such an example. The guide portion may be a concave portion that is depressed concavely radially inwardly from a part of the outer circumferential surface of the support shaft portion 43.

[Fifth Alternative Embodiment]

In the above-mentioned embodiment, an example was shown in which the circular-arc wall portion 46 is provided on the side of the wall surface 41A having the engagement hooks 42 and the clearance e for an engagement of the circular-arc wall portion 46 is provided on the side of the wall surface 41B having the mating hole 45, but the application of the present invention is not restricted to such an example. The circular-arc wall portion 46 may be provided on the side of the wall surface 41B and the clearance e may be provided on the side of the wall surface 41A.

[Sixth Alternative Embodiment]

In the above-mentioned embodiment, an example was shown in which the extension portion 46a is formed on the inner circumferential side of the circular-arc wall portion 46 and the convex portion 46b is formed on the outer circumferential side of the circular-arc wall portion 46. To the contrary, the extension portion 46a may be formed on the outer circumferential side of the circular-arc wall portion 46 and the convex portion 46b may be formed on the inner circumferential side of the circular-arc wall portion 46.

The above-mentioned respective embodiments and the respective alternative embodiments should be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains may make modifications and other embodiments employing the principles of this invention without departing from its spirit and essential characteristics particularly upon considering the foregoing teachings, even if there are no explicit explanations in the description.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, an example was shown in which the coupling structure for an electrical equipment unit according to the present invention was applied to the terminal block of the screwing type, but the present invention also has application to the terminal block of a screwless type without a screw. Also, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the terminal block with the number of poles of 3P or 5P was taken as an example, but it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the terminal block with the number of poles other than 3P and 5P. Moreover, the application of the present invention is not restricted to the terminal block and the present invention can be also applied to an electrical equipment unit such as a breaker, a circuit protector, a relay, a relay socket, a power source or the like.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As mentioned above, the present invention is of use to the coupling structure for an electrical equipment unit, especially to the coupling structure that can facilitate assembly and disassembly thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1: terminal block (electrical equipment)
4, 4': terminal block unit (electrical equipment unit)
41: wall portion
41A, 41B: wall surface
42: engagement hook (engagement portion)
43: support shaft portion
43a: cylindrical surface
43b: projecting portion (guide portion)
43c: through hole
44: engagement hole (engaged portion)
44a: restriction plate portion (axial movement restricting means)
46b: convex portion (interfering portion) (rotational movement restrictive means)
48a: concave portion (interfered portion) (rotational movement restrictive means)

Claims

A coupling structure for interconnecting an electrical equipment unit,
wherein said electrical equipment unit includes a wall portion, and said wall portion includes an engaging portion at a wall surface of said wall portion and an engaged portion that corresponds to said engaging portion at the other wall surface of the said wall portion; and

wherein said engaged portion of one electrical equipment unit allows an entry and rotation of said engaging portion of another electrical equipment unit to cause said engaging portion to be engaged with said engaged portion.
The coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein said electrical equipment unit includes a through hole that passes through a center of said rotation of said engaging portion.
The coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein said electrical equipment unit includes a support portion with a cylindrical surface formed thereon having its center at a center of said rotation of said engaging portion.
The coupling structure according to claim 3, wherein said cylindrical surface of said support portion includes a guide portion for guiding a circumferential position of said cylindrical surface at the time of engagement of the engaging portion with said engaged portion.
The coupling structure according to claim 1 further comprising:
an axial movement restrictive means for restricting an axial movement of said engaging portion and said engaged portion away from one another after coupling of said electrical equipment unit; and

a rotational movement restrictive means for restricting a rotational movement of said engaging portion relative to said engaged portion toward a reverse rotation.
The coupling structure according to claim 5, wherein said rotational movement restrictive means comprises an interfering portion that is provided on either side of said engaging portion or said engaged portion and an interfered portion that is provided on the other side of said engaging portion or said engaged portion and that is interfered with by said interfering portion at said reverse rotation of said engaging portion.
An electrical equipment in which a plurality of said electrical equipment units are interconnected to one another by said coupling structure according to claim 1.