JP2006302767A - Engaging mechanism and engaging member - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an engaging member having a fuse function of eliminating electrical continuity between conductors. <P>SOLUTION: The engaging member 1 includes: two sandwiching parts 2a, 2b for sandwiching conductors; a connecting part 3 for connecting the sandwiching parts 2a, 2b to each other; and a projecting part 4 that is formed on an opposing surface 5 of the sandwiching part 2a and that melts by heat transmitted from the conductors. The first conductor 20 and the second conductor 30 having elasticity are sandwiched by the engaging member 1 such that the first conductor 20 is pushed against the second conductor 30, and are electrically connected to each other. When an abnormal current passes through the conductors 20, 30 to cause melting of the projecting part 4 that touches the first conductor 20, the force to push the first conductor 20 against the second conductor 30 is released to separate the conductors 20, 30 from each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an engagement mechanism and an engagement member that electrically connect conductors to each other.

As a method of electrically connecting the conductors, a method of connecting each other without considering the separation of the conductors after connection, such as soldering, bonding, ultrasonic welding, joining by heat caulking the connection member, etc. There is. Moreover, the system which can isolate | separate conductors after a connection, such as a volt | bolt and a nut, a snap fit, a clip, is mentioned. In the former case, labor is required for connection, but electrical connection can be ensured. However, when the conductors are separated from each other, the conductors may be destroyed. On the other hand, the latter also enables reliable electrical connection, and the operator can easily separate the conductors by loosening bolts and nuts, removing snap fits and clips (for example, see FIG. 1). 1) and the like.
JP 2003-163431 A

  However, in electronic devices and the like that are required to be smaller and lighter, the conventional connection method is only intended to electrically connect conductors to each other, while reducing the number of components. It is not something that has. Therefore, in the conventional method, the member for connecting the conductors is used exclusively for connection. For example, a fuse that is indispensable in a circuit configuration needs to be provided with a dedicated component that functions as a fuse.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention relates to an engagement mechanism and an engagement member, which have a fuse function for releasing electrical connection between conductors and electrically connect the conductors.

  In order to achieve the above object, the engagement mechanism according to the present invention includes an elastic conductor, another conductor, and an engagement in which each conductor is brought into contact with each other by pressing the elastic conductor against the other conductor. An engagement mechanism that electrically connects conductors with each other by an engagement member, wherein the engagement member includes at least two sandwiching portions that sandwich the conductors, and a connection portion that connects each sandwiching portion, A convex portion formed on the surface of the one sandwiching portion facing the conductor and melted by heat transfer from the conductor, and the conductors separated from each other by melting the convex portion in contact with the conductor It is characterized by.

  As described above, in the normal state, the engagement mechanism of the present invention sandwiches and electrically connects the conductor to be separated by the two sandwiching portions connected by the connection portion. On the surface facing the conductor of the engaging member used in the engaging mechanism of the present invention, a convex portion is provided so as to contact the conductor, and this convex portion is melted by heat transfer from the conductor. . In other words, the engaging member of the engaging mechanism of the present invention has a mechanism for electrically connecting the conductors in a normal state, but an abnormal current flows in the conductor and the conductor generates heat, so that the convex portion melts. By doing so, the force of pressing the conductors is released, and as a result, it can function as a fuse that separates the conductors.

  Further, the engagement mechanism of the present invention is an engagement mechanism in which conductors are electrically connected by an engagement member that abuts each conductor by sandwiching conductors stacked in a direction intersecting the horizontal direction. The joint member is melted by heat transfer from each conductor formed on the two sandwiching parts that sandwich the conductors, the connection part that connects each sandwiching part, and the surface of the at least one sandwiching part that faces the conductor. The protrusions that contact the conductors are melted so that the conductors stacked on the lower side in the gravitational direction are lowered by their own weight, and the conductors are separated from each other. .

  In this configuration, the conductors are overlapped in the direction intersecting the direction of gravity, the conductors generate heat due to abnormal current, and the convex part melts, so that the conductors stacked on the lower side in the direction of gravity are lowered by their own weight, Can be separated.

  The engagement member of the present invention is an engagement member that is electrically connected by sandwiching and abutting between conductors, two sandwiching portions that sandwich the conductors, a connection portion that connects each sandwiching portion, and at least It has the convex part which is formed on the surface which faces the conductor of one clamping part, and fuse | melts by the heat transfer from each conductor, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  As for the engaging member of this invention, a convex part may consist of resin.

  According to the present invention, the engaging member that makes electrical connection between the conductors can be provided with a fuse function for releasing the electrical connection in the event of an abnormality, reducing the number of parts of the device and reducing the weight. And downsizing can be achieved.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
A method for engaging and releasing a conductor by the engagement mechanism of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1A is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the first conductor and the second conductor are sandwiched by the engaging member of the present embodiment and brought into electrical contact by abutting each other. . FIG. 1B shows a state in which the convex portion of the engaging member starts to melt and the electrical connection between the first conductor and the second conductor starts to be released. FIG. 1C shows a state in which the electrical connection between the first conductor and the second conductor is completely released because the convex portion is completely melted.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the engaging member as seen from the direction of arrow a in FIG. For simplicity, FIG. 2 does not show the holding portion, the first conductor, and the second conductor.
[Engagement member]
As shown in FIG. 1 (a), the engaging member 1 of the present embodiment has two sandwiching portions 2a and 2b, a connection portion 3 connecting these two sandwiching portions 2a and 2b, and the sandwiching portion 2b. And the convex part 4 formed on the opposing surface 5 of the sandwiching part 2a facing each other.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the connection part 3 is integrally provided in the center part of the opposing surface 5 of the clamping part 2a. Further, four convex portions 4 are provided on the peripheral edge portion 5 a that is the periphery of the connecting portion 3 on the facing surface 5. The convex portions 4 provided on the facing surface 5 are made of resin or the like, and are melted by heat transfer from the first conductor 20. In addition, this convex part 4 may be integrally provided in the clamping part 2a, and the clamping part 2a is also made of resin.

  As understood from FIGS. 1A and 2, the convex portion 4 has a conical shape. The convex part 4 makes point contact with the main surface 21 of the first conductor 20 at the top part. In this embodiment, in order to improve the heat responsiveness, the shape of the convex portion 4 is a conical shape as shown in FIG. 2, but is not limited to this, and a cylindrical shape as shown in FIG. 3. It may be other shapes, for example, an annular shape surrounding the connecting portion 3. Further, the number of convex portions 4 is not limited to four.

  The connecting portion 3 has at least a length equal to or greater than the thickness of the first conductor 20 and the second conductor 30 that are electrically connected to each other.

  The sandwiching portion 2b is formed by melting and caulking the end portion of the connection portion 3 extending from the lower surface 31 of the second conductor 30 with heat.

  In the present embodiment, the sandwiching portions 2 a and 2 b are configured integrally with the connection portion 3, but may be configured to be detachable from the connection portion 3. For example, it is good also as a structure by which the clamping part 2b is comprised so that attachment or detachment with respect to the connection part 3 is possible, and the clamping part 2a shown by the upper side is integrally provided with respect to the connection part 3. FIG. That is, when the first conductor 20 and the second conductor 30 are electrically connected, first, the connecting portion 3 of the engaging member 1 is inserted through the through hole 40, and then the lower clamping portion. By attaching 2b to the end of the connecting portion 3 protruding from the lower surface of the second conductor 30, the state shown in FIG.

  In addition, although the example in which the convex part 4 was formed in the clamping part 2a facing the 1st conductor 20 side was shown in FIG. 1, the structure opposite to this may be sufficient. That is, the convex part 4 is formed in the clamping part 2b which faces the 2nd conductor 30 side, and it is good also as a structure to which the clamping part 2a is heat caulked or attached later.

Furthermore, it is good also as what is called a snap fit the side in which the convex part 4 is not formed.
[conductor]
In the present embodiment, the first conductor 20 has a higher resistance than the second conductor 30 because the cross-sectional area of the first conductor 20 with which the convex portion 4 contacts is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the second conductor 30. That is, since the resistance value of the first conductor 20 is higher than that of the second conductor 30, the first conductor 20 generates a higher amount of heat than the second conductor 30 even when the same current flows. Yes. For example, the first conductor 20 is a conductor pattern formed on a substrate or a film, and the second conductor 30 is a bus bar.

Further, the first conductor 20 has elasticity, and is sandwiched so as to be pressed against the second conductor 30 by the engaging member 1 of the present invention. That is, in a state before being sandwiched by the engaging member 1, the first conductor 20 is warped with respect to the second conductor 30 so that the first conductor 20 is separated from the second conductor 30. In addition, the board | substrate or film in which the 1st conductor 20 was formed may replace the 1st conductor 20, and may have elasticity.
[Electrical connection by engaging member]
Next, a method for electrical connection between the first conductor 20 and the second conductor 30 by the engaging member 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

  First, the first conductor 20 and the second conductor 30 are overlapped so that the through holes 40 of the first conductor 20 and the second conductor 30 are aligned. Next, the connecting portion 3 of the engaging member 1 is inserted into the through hole 40 and inserted. In this state, the first conductor 20 warps with respect to the second conductor 30, and the first conductor 20 and the second conductor 30 are in a separated state.

  Next, the first conductor 20 is brought into contact with each other so as to press against the second conductor 30. Next, in this state, the end portion of the connection portion 3 extending from the lower surface 31 of the second conductor 30 is heated and melted to form the sandwiching portion 2b. Note that heat at the time of forming the sandwiching portion 2b by heat caulking does not transmit to the convex portion 4 and melt the convex portion 4.

As described above, the first conductor 20 and the second conductor 30 come into contact with each other, and electrical connection between them is made.
[Release electrical connection by engaging member]
As described above, the first conductor 20 and the second conductor 30 are electrically connected by the engaging member 1, but some abnormality occurs, and the first conductor 20 and the second conductor 30 are When an abnormal current flows, the engaging member 1 of the present embodiment functions as a fuse, and releases the electrical connection between the first conductor 20 and the second conductor 30.

  When an abnormal current flows, the first conductor 20 and the second conductor 30 generate Joule heat. When the first conductor 20 generates heat, the convex portion 4 that is in point contact with the main surface 21 of the first conductor 20 is melted as shown in FIG. Thereby, the first conductor 20 having elasticity starts to warp in the direction of the arrow a, and the first conductor 20 and the second conductor 30 that have been in contact with each other start to separate.

  Finally, as shown in FIG. 1C, the convex portion 4 is melted and the opposing surface 5 of the sandwiching portion 2 a comes into contact with the main surface 21 of the first conductor 20. With such a state, the electrical connection between the first conductor 20 and the second conductor 30 is surely released.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the first conductor 20 has a cross-sectional area smaller than that of the second conductor 30, so that the amount of heat generated by the first conductor 20 is larger than that of the second conductor 30. Moreover, since the convex part 4 is in point contact with the main surface 21 of the first conductor 20 at the top, the convex part 4 melts with high responsiveness to the temperature rise of the first conductor 20. That is, the engaging member 1 of this embodiment is a fuse having high responsiveness that can immediately release the conduction between the first conductor 20 and the second conductor 30 when an abnormal current flows. Function.

  In the present embodiment, the first conductor 20 has elasticity, and an example in which the conductors are separated by causing the first conductor 20 to warp has been described, but the coupling mechanism of the present invention is not that the conductor has elasticity, It can also be applied to forms using gravity. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, when the first conductor 20 and the second conductor 30 are used in a direction intersecting with the horizontal direction, the convex portion 4 is caused by heat transfer from the first conductor 20. The height of the convex part 4 becomes low by melting. Since the height of the convex portion 4 is lowered, the second conductor 30 is lowered in the direction of the arrow b by its own weight, and the electrical connection between the first conductor 20 and the second conductor 30 is released. Is done.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when an abnormal current flows through the first conductor 20 and the second conductor 30 and the conductor generates heat, the protrusions of the sandwiching member that sandwiched and contacted each conductor by this heat. When 4 melts, it can function as a fuse that separates them.
(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing the structure of the engaging member of this embodiment.

  In the first embodiment, the convex portion 4 is provided only on the side of the sandwiching portion 2a, but the engaging member 100 of this embodiment is provided with convex portions 104a and 104b on both the sandwiching portions 102a and 102b. Is different. In the case of the present embodiment, either the sandwiching portion 102 a or the sandwiching portion 102 b is configured as a separate body from the connection portion 103.

In the case of the present embodiment, the electrical connection between the first conductor 120 and the second conductor 130 can be released more quickly by starting the melting of both the convex portion 104a or the convex portion 104b.
(Third embodiment)
In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the first and second conductors are formed with through holes, and the shape in which the connection portion of the engaging member is inserted into the through holes has been described as an example. However, in the present embodiment, an engagement member having a shape applicable when no through hole is formed in the first and second conductors will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing the structure of the engaging member of the present embodiment.

  The shape of the engaging member 200 of the present embodiment is a U-shape when the connecting portion 203 connects one end sides of the holding portion 202a and the holding portion 202b. In other words, the engagement member 200 has a so-called clip shape, and the superimposed first conductor 220 and second conductor 230 are sandwiched between end faces. Similarly to the engaging members 1 and 100 of the first and second embodiments, the engaging member 200 of the present embodiment is provided with a convex portion 204 on the facing surface 205 of the sandwiching portion 202a, and an abnormal current flows through the conductor. Thus, the conductor generates heat and the convex portion 204 is melted, so that the electrical connection between the first conductor 220 and the second conductor 230 is released.

  The embodiments described above may be combined as appropriate.

It is explanatory drawing about the engagement of the conductor by the engagement mechanism of the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and its cancellation | release method. It is a top view of the engaging member seen from the arrow a direction in Fig.1 (a). It is a side view of the engaging member which has a cylindrical-shaped convex part in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of the engaging member of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of the engaging member of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Engagement member 2a, 2b Clamping part 3 Connection part 4 Convex part 5 Opposing surface 5a Peripheral part 20 Conductor 21 Main surface 30 Conductor 31 Lower surface 40 Through-hole

Claims (4)

A conductor having elasticity, another conductor, and an engaging member that abuts each conductor by sandwiching the conductor having elasticity to press against the other conductor; In the engagement mechanism that electrically connects the conductors,
The conductor, wherein the engaging member is formed on two sandwiching portions that sandwich the conductors, a connection portion that connects the sandwiching portions, and a surface of the at least one sandwiching portion that faces the conductor. And a protrusion that melts by heat transfer from the conductor, and the protrusions that are in contact with the conductor are melted to separate the conductors from each other. In an engagement mechanism that electrically connects the conductors by an engagement member that abuts the conductors by sandwiching the conductors stacked in a direction intersecting the horizontal direction,
Each of the engaging members is formed on a surface facing the conductor of at least one of the sandwiching portions, two sandwiching portions that sandwich the conductors, a connecting portion that connects the sandwiching portions, A convex portion that melts due to heat transfer from the conductor, and the convex portion that is in contact with the conductor is melted so that, among the conductors, the conductor stacked on the lower side in the gravity direction is lowered by its own weight, An engagement mechanism characterized in that the conductors are separated from each other. In the engaging member that conducts electrically by sandwiching and contacting the conductors,
By heat transfer from each of the conductors formed on two sandwiching parts that sandwich the conductors, a connection part that connects the sandwiching parts, and a surface of the sandwiching part that faces the conductors. An engaging member having a convex portion that melts.   The engagement member according to claim 3, wherein the convex portion is made of resin.

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