JP2009093925A - Terminal structure of circuit breaker unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a terminal structure of a circuit breaker unit in which a quick connection spring installed in a terminal is not deformed beyond an elastic range regardless of insertion way of an electric wire. <P>SOLUTION: The quick connection spring 6, which has: a pushing portion 6a to press an inserted electric wire 2 to a terminal fitting 4; and a locking portion 6b to lock and prevent coming-off of the inserted electric wire 2 is provided in an wire connection space 5 formed by the terminal fittings 4. A projection part 10, which contacts the quick connection spring 6 when it is deformed a prescribed amount or more and restricts deformation of the quick connection spring, is installed from a portion being a side face in the wire connection space 5 toward the inside of the wire connection space 5 of the terminal fitting 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a terminal structure of a circuit breaker, and more particularly to a terminal structure that does not require screw tightening.

2. Description of the Related Art Circuit breakers equipped with so-called quick-connect terminals that can be connected simply by inserting an electric wire and do not require a screw tightening operation have become widespread due to the progress of the connection operation. A terminal structure including such a quick connection terminal of a conventional circuit breaker has a configuration as shown in, for example, the cross-sectional explanatory view of the main part in FIG.
In FIG. 4, reference numeral 20 denotes a terminal port into which the electric wire 23 is inserted, 21 denotes a terminal fitting for connection with the inserted electric wire 23, and 22 denotes a quick coupling spring for pressing the electric wire 23. The terminal fitting 21 is formed in a substantially U shape so as to cover the periphery of the quick connection spring 22 and the inserted electric wire 23, and the quick connection spring 22 presses the electric wire 23 inserted from the terminal port 20 against the terminal fitting 21. Thus, electrical connection is made and the wire is locked to prevent the wire from coming off (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2000-215780 A

However, in the terminal structure having the above-described conventional configuration, the quick coupling spring 22 may be greatly deformed and exceed the elastic limit as shown in FIGS. In this case, the quick-connection spring 22 is plastically deformed, so that the pressing force and the locking force are insufficient, and the contact failure between the electric wire 23 and the terminal fitting 21 occurs or the electric wire 23 comes off. .
Therefore, in view of such problems, the present invention provides a circuit breaker terminal structure in which a quick-connecting spring provided on a terminal does not deform beyond the elastic region regardless of how the electric wire is inserted. With the goal.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention of claim 1 is arranged and inserted in a terminal fitting for electrical connection with an electric wire inserted from a terminal opening, and an electric wire connection space formed by the terminal fitting. A circuit breaker terminal structure comprising: a pressing portion that presses the electric wire against the terminal metal fitting; and a quick-connection spring provided with a locking portion that locks the inserted electric wire and prevents the electric wire from coming off. A terminal structure for a circuit breaker, characterized in that a restricting means for restricting deformation of the quick coupling spring at a predetermined amount or more when the electric wire is inserted is provided in the connection space.
According to this configuration, the quick coupling spring is not deformed more than a predetermined amount by the limiting means. Therefore, if the predetermined amount is within the elastic limit of the quick coupling spring, the insertion direction of the electric wire is abnormal or the electric wire is deformed. Even if a large load is applied to the spring, the deformation of the quick spring does not exceed the elastic limit. Therefore, the elasticity of the quick coupling spring that holds the connection of the electric wires does not deteriorate.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the limiting means is a protrusion formed on a terminal fitting or a circuit breaker housing that forms a wall portion of the wire connection space.
According to this configuration, it is not necessary to separately provide a limiting means, and an inexpensive terminal structure can be achieved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the limiting means is provided for both the pressing portion and the locking portion of the quick coupling spring.
According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent plastic deformation of the quick coupling spring with respect to both the pressing portion and the locking portion, and it is possible to maintain both the pressing action on the terminal fitting of the electric wire and the retaining action.

According to the present invention, the quick coupling spring is not deformed more than a predetermined amount by the limiting means. Therefore, if the predetermined amount is within the elastic limit of the quick coupling spring, the insertion direction of the electric wire is abnormal or the electric wire is deformed. Even if a large load is applied to the spring, the deformation of the quick spring does not exceed the elastic limit. Therefore, the elasticity of the quick coupling spring that holds the connection of the electric wires does not deteriorate.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a principal part of a circuit breaker showing a terminal structure according to the present invention, and shows a structure of a secondary side terminal for connecting an electric wire forming a load side electric circuit. In FIG. 1, 1 is a synthetic resin case of a circuit breaker, 2 is an electric wire to be connected, 3 is a terminal port for guiding the insertion of the electric wire 2, and 4 is electrically connected to the electric wire 2 inserted into the terminal port 3. Terminal fittings 5 for connection are wire connection spaces formed by the terminal fittings 4, and 6 is a quick coupling spring. Reference numeral 8 denotes a release lever that is operated when the connected electric wire 2 is pulled out.
Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the terminal port forming surface of the case 1 will be described as the front surface of the circuit breaker, the front surface in the drawing as the left side surface, and the back surface as the right side surface.

  The terminal fitting 4 has an upper surface portion 4a, a side surface portion 4b, and a lower surface portion 4c that form three sides around the electric wire connection space 5, and is formed by being bent in a substantially U-shape to reach a contact (not shown) from one end. Is formed. In addition, an electric circuit reaching the primary side terminal formed on the back surface of the case 1 is further formed at the tip of the contact.

  The quick-connection spring 6 is a bent leaf spring, and a pressing portion 6a that presses the electric wire 2 inserted in one side against the terminal fitting 4 is formed in a substantially S shape, and the other is related to the inserted electric wire 2. A locking portion 6b that stops and prevents the locking is formed in a substantially V shape. The quick-connection spring 6 has a pressing portion 6 a disposed in the back of the electric wire connection space 5, a locking portion 6 b disposed in the vicinity of the terminal port 3, and acting between the upper surface portion 4 a of the terminal fitting 4. Arranged upwards. Thus, when the electric wire 2 is inserted between the upper surface portion 4a of the terminal fitting 4 and the quick-connection spring 6, the tip of the inserted electric wire 2 is pressed against the upper surface portion 4a, and the front side is locked to prevent it from coming off. It is comprised so that it may aim.

On the other hand, two boss-like protrusions 10 (10a, 10b) are formed on the side surface portion 4b of the terminal fitting 4 that forms the right side surface of the wire connection space 5 toward the wire connection space 5. The protrusion 10 abuts when the accommodated quick-connection spring 6 is deformed, and has a sufficient protrusion amount so that the deformation does not proceed beyond the protrusion 10.
One of the protrusions 10a is provided below the pressing portion 6a, and prevents the pressing portion 6a from being deformed beyond a predetermined amount, that is, exceeding an elastic limit upon receiving the insertion of the electric wire 2. . The other protrusion 6b is provided below the locking portion 6b, and prevents the locking portion 6b from being deformed beyond a predetermined amount, that is, exceeding the elastic limit upon receiving the insertion of the electric wire 2.

The operation of the terminal structure thus formed is as follows. FIG. 2 shows a state in which an electric wire is inserted, and FIG. 3 shows a state in which the connection is released.
The electric wire 2 inserted into the terminal port 3 enters between the terminal fitting 4 and the quick coupling spring 6 by being pushed in by an operator, and the quick coupling spring 6 is pressed and deformed downward. When this insertion operation is performed until the tip of the electric wire 2 reaches the inner part of the electric wire connection space 5, the electric wire 2 is pressed upward by the restoring force of the deformed pressing portion 6a, that is, pressed by the terminal fitting 4, and the electric wire 2 And the terminal metal fitting 4 have good electrical connection. At the same time, the restoring force of the deformed locking portion 6b acts so that the end portion of the quick coupling spring 6 bites into the electric wire 2, thereby preventing the electric wire 2 from coming off. Thus, the electric wire 2 is connected to the secondary terminal of the circuit breaker in the state shown in FIG.

  And the quick coupling spring 6 at this time tries to greatly deform as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 when the electric wire 2 is inserted from an abnormal direction or the tip of the electric wire 2 is deformed. Since the deformation is limited by the protrusion 10, the deformation does not occur more than a predetermined amount. In such a case, although the insertion of the electric wire 2 becomes difficult, it can be inserted by correcting the insertion direction of the electric wire 2 or by correcting the deformation of the electric wire 2, and the quick coupling spring 6 does not cause plastic deformation. Further, if the release lever 8 is released in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3, the pushing protrusion 8a formed on the release lever 8 pushes the locking portion 6b downward as shown in FIG. The stopping action is released. In this way, the inserted electric wire 2 can be pulled out smoothly.

As described above, since the quick coupling spring is not deformed by a predetermined amount or more due to the protrusion, if the predetermined amount is set within the elastic limit of the quick coupling spring, the wire insertion direction is unreasonable or the wire is deformed quickly. Even when a large load is applied, the deformation of the quick-binding spring does not exceed the elastic limit. Therefore, the elasticity of the quick coupling spring that holds the connection of the electric wires does not deteriorate, and it is not necessary to provide a limiting means for preventing the deformation of the quick coupling spring, and the limiting means can be manufactured at low cost.
Further, it is possible to prevent plastic deformation of both the pressing portion and the locking portion, and it is possible to maintain both the pressing action of the electric wire on the terminal fitting and the retaining action.

  In the above embodiment, the protrusion 10 is formed as a restricting means for restricting the deformation of the quick coupling spring on the terminal fitting 4, but the side surface of the wire connection space 5 is a resin surface integrally formed with the case 1. If formed, a protrusion may be formed on the resin surface. Further, although the protrusions 10 are formed only on one side surface, they may be formed on both the left and right sides. The protrusions 10 have a boss shape, but may have other shapes such as a belt shape. Further, the restricting means is not limited to the protrusion, but may be a rod-like body or a plate-like body that penetrates the electric wire connection space 5 in the left-right direction.

It is sectional explanatory drawing of the circuit breaker principal part which shows an example of the terminal structure which concerns on this invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a state where an electric wire is inserted into the circuit breaker of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the release lever of FIG. It is sectional explanatory drawing which shows the conventional terminal structure. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that the electric wire was inserted in the terminal of FIG. It is another explanatory drawing which shows a mode that the electric wire was inserted in the terminal of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  1 .... Case, 2 .... Wire, 3 .... Terminal port, 4 .... Terminal fitting, 5 .... Wire connection space, 6 .... Quick connection spring, 6a ... Pressing part, 6b ... Locking part, 10 (10a, 10b) .. Projection (restriction means).

Claims (3)

A terminal fitting for electrical connection with the electric wire inserted from the terminal opening, a pressing portion that is disposed in the electric wire connection space formed by the terminal fitting, and that presses the inserted electric wire against the terminal fitting, and is inserted A circuit breaker terminal structure having a quick-connection spring with a locking portion that locks to the wire and prevents the wire from coming off;
A terminal structure for a circuit breaker, characterized in that limiting means for limiting deformation of the quick coupling spring by a predetermined amount or more when the electric wire is inserted is provided in the electric wire connection space. 2. The circuit breaker terminal structure according to claim 1, wherein the restricting means is a terminal fitting forming a wall portion of the wire connection space or a protrusion formed on the breaker housing. The terminal structure of a circuit breaker according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the limiting means is provided for both the pressing portion and the locking portion of the quick coupling spring.

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