JP2015056438A - Terminal box for solar cell module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a terminal box for a solar cell module which enables a filler to be easily injected into a space between a bottom wall and the solar cell module.SOLUTION: A terminal box for a solar cell module includes a box body 1 attached to a solar cell module. The box body 1 includes: a bottom wall; and a storage space 13a which is partially defined by the bottom wall and stores a terminal board 3. A solar cell module side surface of the bottom wall includes a recessed part defining an injection space 16 into which a filler is injected. The bottom wall includes an injection hole 11d which allows the storage space 13a to communicate with the injection space 16. The injection space 16 includes: a first injection space 16a which overlaps with the storage space 13a in a plan view; and a second injection space 16b which does not overlap with the storage space 13a in the plan view. The box body 1 includes a communication space 18 which allows the storage space 13a to communicate with the second injection space 16b.

Description

  The present invention relates to a solar cell module terminal box connected to a solar cell module, and more particularly to a solar cell module terminal box having a bottom wall on a side fixed to the solar cell module.

  A terminal box for a solar cell module (hereinafter abbreviated as “terminal box”) includes a terminal plate therein. An output tab from the solar cell module is connected to the terminal board. An output cable connected to an external load is connected to the terminal board. Thereby, the solar cell module and the external load are electrically connected, and the electric power generated by the solar cell module can be supplied to the external load.

  Generally, since the solar cell module is installed outdoors, the terminal box is also installed outdoors. Therefore, there is a possibility that water such as rainwater may enter the terminal box. In order to prevent the intrusion of water and to protect the electrical connection portion of the terminal board, filling the inside of the terminal box is performed.

  Moreover, generally a terminal box is fixed to the back surface of a solar cell module. The terminal box is fixed by, for example, bonding the lower surface of the bottom wall of the terminal box (the surface fixed to the solar cell module) and the solar cell module with an adhesive or a filler (hereinafter referred to as an adhesive or the like). A method is known (see Patent Document 1). In the method of Patent Document 1, a filler is injected into a space between the bottom wall of the terminal box and the solar cell module (hereinafter referred to as a filling space) from the accommodation space side in which the terminal plate or the like is accommodated. Yes.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-055520

  In order to prevent the terminal box from falling off the back surface of the solar cell module, it is necessary to supply a sufficient amount of filler to the filling space. However, when the filler is supplied from the accommodation space to the filling space through the through-hole formed in the bottom wall as in Patent Document 1 described above, depending on the viscosity of the filler and the size of the through-hole, There is a possibility that the filler does not spread throughout the filling space. In this case, an air pocket is formed in the filling space, which causes poor adhesion, which is not preferable. In such a case, the above-described problem may be solved if a sufficiently large through hole is formed.

  Some terminal boxes have a filling space formed not only in a portion overlapping the accommodation space but also in a portion not overlapping the accommodation space in plan view. In such a terminal box, even if the size of the through hole is increased, it is difficult to supply the filler to the filling space portion that does not overlap the accommodation space in plan view. Therefore, in such a terminal box, an air pocket tends to be formed in the filling space, and adhesion failure is likely to occur. In order to solve this problem, it is conceivable to increase the accommodation space, but this is not preferable because the size of the terminal box increases and the amount of filler used increases.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said subject, The objective is to provide the terminal box for solar cell modules which is easy to fill the space between a bottom wall and a solar cell module with a filler.

  In one preferred embodiment of the terminal box for a solar cell module of the present invention, the solar cell module includes a box body attached to the solar cell module, the box body being partially defined by a bottom wall and the bottom wall, and a terminal A space for accommodating a plate, and the surface of the bottom wall on the solar cell module side includes a recess defining a filling space into which a filler is injected, and the bottom wall includes the housing space and the filling The box body includes a filling hole that communicates with a space, and the filling space includes a first filling space that overlaps the accommodation space in a plan view and a second filling space that does not overlap the accommodation space in a plan view. The terminal box for solar cell modules provided with the communication space which connects the said accommodation space and the said 2nd filling space.

  In the above-described configuration, the filling space for filling the filler is defined by the concave portion of the bottom wall and the solar cell module, and the filling space includes the first filling space that overlaps the accommodation space in plan view and the accommodation space in plan view. And a second filling space that does not overlap. Moreover, the bottom wall is provided with the filling hole which connects the accommodation space and the filling space. In such a configuration, the filler injected into the accommodation space flows into the first filling space via the filling hole. However, since the second filling space does not overlap the accommodation space in plan view, no filling hole is formed on the second filling space. Therefore, it is difficult for the filler to flow into the second filling space. In order to solve this problem, the above-described configuration includes a communication space that connects the accommodation space and the second filling space. Thereby, the filler injected into the accommodation space is likely to flow into the second filling space via the communication space. Therefore, it becomes easy to fill the filling space with the filler, and the terminal box can be firmly fixed to the solar cell module.

  In one preferred embodiment of the terminal box for a solar cell module of the present invention, the communication space is configured such that the height decreases as the communication space moves away from the accommodation space.

  By configuring the height of the communication space in this manner, the filler can easily flow into the second filling space via the communication space.

  In one preferred embodiment of the terminal box for a solar cell module of the present invention, a connection pin for electrically connecting an output cable connected to an external load and the terminal plate, and a connection pin holding for holding the connection pin The connection pin includes a locked portion formed by cutting and raising, and the connection pin holding portion opens into the filling space and locks the locked portion. The locking hole is formed at a position overlapping the filling space in plan view.

  When the locking hole as described above is provided, rainwater or the like may flow into the accommodation space through the locking hole. Therefore, in the above-described configuration, the locking hole is formed at a position overlapping the filling space in plan view. As described above, since the filling space is filled with the filler, the periphery of the opening of the locking hole is surrounded by the filler by this configuration. Therefore, rainwater or the like can be prevented from flowing into the box body via the locking hole.

  In one preferred embodiment of the terminal box for a solar cell module of the present invention, the bottom wall includes a regulating wall around the opening of the locking hole.

  According to this configuration, the restriction wall can prevent the filler from flowing into the locking hole.

It is a partially exploded upper perspective view of the terminal box for solar cell modules. It is a bottom view of the terminal box for solar cell modules. It is sectional drawing in the III-III sectional line of FIG. It is sectional drawing in the IV-IV sectional line of FIG. It is sectional drawing in the VV sectional line of FIG.

  The solar cell module terminal box (hereinafter abbreviated as a terminal box) in the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a partially exploded upper perspective view of a terminal box in the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a bottom view. 3 and 5 are cross-sectional views taken along the line III-III and the line VV, respectively, of FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG.

  As shown in the figure, the terminal box includes a box body 1 made of an insulator such as resin and a lid 2 made of an insulator such as resin. In use, it is attached to the back surface of the solar cell module (not shown) in the posture shown in FIG. In the following description, the lid 2 side is defined as the upper side, and the side attached to the solar cell module is defined as the lower side.

  The box body 1 is roughly divided into a housing part 13, an output cable holding part 14, and a connection pin holding part 15. The accommodating part 13 is comprised by the side wall 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d standing from the bottom wall 11, and the accommodation space 13a opened upwards by these is prescribed | regulated. A terminal plate 3 (an example of a storage member) and a diode 4 (an example of a storage member) are stored in the storage space 13a. In addition, when it is not necessary to distinguish side wall 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, these are named the side wall 12 generically.

  The lid 2 is configured to be able to close the accommodation space 13a from above. The lid 2 is configured such that its outer peripheral surface is in contact with the inner surface of the side wall 12. That is, the lid body 2 is configured to fit inside the side wall 12. Moreover, the cover body 2 is formed with a pair of locking claws 2a facing outwards on the opposing circumferential surfaces. On the other hand, a pair of locking holes 19 are formed in the side walls 12b and 12d, respectively. When the lid 2 is attached to the box body 1, the locking claw 2 a of the lid 2 is fitted into the locking hole 19 of the box body 1 and locked. Thereby, the cover body 2 does not come off easily.

  The lid 2 is formed with an injection hole 2b as a through hole for injecting a filler into the accommodation space 13a.

  As will be described later, an output tab (not shown) from the solar cell module and an output cable from an external load are connected to the terminal plate 3 to electrically connect the solar cell module and the external load. In the present embodiment, two terminal boards 3 are provided.

  The diode 4 includes a substantially cylindrical main body 4a and a pair of leads 4b extending from both ends of the main body 4a. Each lead 4 b is connected to each terminal board 3. Thus, the diode 4 electrically connects the terminal plates 3 to each other.

  When the connection of the output tab, the output cable C, and the connection pin 5 is completed with respect to the terminal plate 3, as described above, the storage space 13a is closed by the lid body 2, and the filler is filled from the injection hole 2b to the storage space 13a. Injected. Thereby, protection of the electrical connection part of the terminal board 3 and infiltration of rain water etc. to the accommodation space 13a can be prevented.

  An output cable holding portion 14 is formed so as to be adjacent to the side wall 12a. A through hole 14a is formed in the output cable holding portion 14, and the output cable C is inserted into the through hole 14a, and the end of the output cable C is introduced into the accommodating space 13a. At this time, the exposed core wire at the end of the output cable C is connected to the terminal plate 3.

  A sealing member 6 made of an elastic member is provided on the accommodation space 13a side of the through hole 14a. The seal member 6 is formed in a substantially pipe shape, and is configured to be externally fitted so as to be in close contact with the output cable C and to be closely fitted to the inner wall of the through hole 14a. As a result, the gap between the output cable C and the through hole is sealed to prevent rainwater or the like from entering the housing space 13a via the through hole 14a.

  A connection pin holding portion 15 that holds the connection pin 5 is formed on the side wall 12c side. The connection pin holding portion 15 is formed from the outside of the side wall 12c to the inside of the accommodation space 13a. A large-diameter hole 15a and a small-diameter hole 15b are formed adjacent to the connection pin holding portion 15 in order from the outside. In addition, a thin rectangular insertion hole 15c that connects the small diameter hole 15b and the accommodation space 13a is formed in the side wall of the connection pin holding portion 15 in the accommodation space 13a.

  On the other hand, the connection pin 5 includes a main body part 5a and a connection part 5b having a smaller diameter than the main body part 5a. The main body portion 5a is held in close contact with the small-diameter hole 15b of the connection pin holding portion 15. The connection part 5b is positioned so as to face the large-diameter hole 15a of the connection pin holding part 15, and is configured not to contact the inner surface of the large-diameter hole 15a. A connection plug connected to an output cable (not shown) is inserted into the large-diameter hole 15a, and the connection plug and the connection portion 5b are connected. Thereby, the connection pin 5 and the output cable are electrically connected.

  A plate-like tongue piece 5d is formed from the main body 5a toward the accommodation space 13a. The tongue 5 d is introduced into the accommodation space 13 a through the insertion hole 15 c and connected to the terminal plate 3. The inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 15c and the tongue piece 5d are configured to be in close contact over the entire circumference. Thereby, even if the accommodating space 13a is filled with the filler, it is possible to prevent the filler from flowing out of the accommodating space 13a through the insertion hole 15c into the small diameter hole 15b or the like.

  In addition, a pair of locked portions 5c are formed as cut-up pieces on the peripheral surface of the main body portion 5a at opposing positions. The locked portion 5c is locked to a locking portion 17 described later. This prevents the connection pin 5 from coming out of the connection pin holding portion 15 when the connection plug is pulled out.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom wall 11 of the box body 1 is provided with a pair of output tab introduction holes 11a for introducing the output tabs into the accommodation space 13a, and a plurality of filling holes 11d formed as through holes. ing. A lower regulation wall 11 b is formed on the lower surface of the bottom wall 11. A recess is formed on the lower surface of the bottom wall 11 by the restriction wall 11 b, and a space between the recess and the solar cell module becomes a filling space 16. By filling the filling space 16 with a filler, the box body 1 and the solar cell module are bonded.

  The restriction wall 11b is partially cut to form a plurality of gaps 11c. The gap 11 c functions as a confirmation window for confirming whether or not a sufficient amount of filler has been injected into the filling space 16 and air removal when the filler is injected into the filling space 16.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the double-sided tape 7 is attached to the lower surface of the output cable holding portion 14 and the lower surface of the connection pin holding portion 15. Thereby, a terminal box can be temporarily fixed with respect to a solar cell module.

  The filling space 16 includes a first filling space 16a that overlaps the accommodation space 13a in plan view, and a second filling space 16b that does not overlap the accommodation space 13a in plan view. As described above, since the output tab introduction hole 11a and the plurality of filling holes 11d are formed in the bottom wall 11, the filler injected into the accommodation space 13a passes through these into the first filling space 16a. Can flow in. However, in this route, it is difficult to inject a sufficient amount of filler into the second filling space 16b.

  Therefore, in the terminal box of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, a communication space 18 that connects the accommodation space 13 a and the second filling space 16 b is formed. In the present embodiment, the communication space 18 is formed in the upper part of the second filling space 16 b in the box body 1, that is, from the side wall 12 c of the box body 1 to the connection pin holding part 15. The height of the communication space 18 is configured to be lower as the communication space 18 is separated from the accommodation space 13a. By comprising in this way, the filler which flowed into the communication space 18 from the accommodation space 13a becomes easy to flow into the 2nd filling space 16b. Therefore, a sufficient amount of filler can be injected into the second filling space 16b.

  As described above, the box body 1 includes the locking portion 17 that locks the locked portion 5 c of the connection pin 5. The locking portion 17 is open on the small diameter hole 15 b side of the connection pin holding portion 15. The locked portion 5c is elastically deformed when the main body portion 5a of the connection pin 5 is inserted into the small diameter hole 15b, and is elastically restored when the locked portion 5c reaches the locking portion 17, and its end portion is engaged. Locked to the inner surface of the stop 17.

  Due to the structural limitations of the mold when forming the box body 1, such a locking portion 17 may be formed in a shape that opens to the bottom wall 11 side (see FIG. 4). In this case, it is necessary to prevent intrusion of rainwater or the like from the locking portion 17. Therefore, in the terminal box of the present embodiment, the locking portion 17 is formed at a position overlapping the filling space 16 in plan view. That is, the locking portion 17 is configured to open into the filling space 16. As described above, since the filling space 16 is filled with the filler, intrusion of rainwater or the like into the filling space 16 is prevented. Therefore, intrusion of rainwater or the like into the locking portion 17 is also prevented. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, since the regulation wall 11 b is also formed around the opening of the locking portion 17, the inflow of the filler from the filling space 16 to the locking portion 17 can be prevented. .

[Another embodiment]
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the communication space 18 is configured such that the height decreases as the distance from the accommodation space 13a increases. However, the height may be constant.

(2) Although the injection hole for injecting the filler is provided in the lid body 2 in the above-described embodiment, it may be provided in the box body 1. Further, the injection hole need not be provided. In this case, the lid body 2 may be attached after filling the accommodating space 13a and the filling space 16 with the filler.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, the regulation wall 11b is formed over substantially the entire circumference, but may be partially formed.

(4) In the above-described embodiment, the recess is formed in the bottom wall 11 by the regulation wall 11b. However, the recess may be formed in the bottom wall 11 by another configuration.

  The present invention can be used for a terminal box connected to a solar cell module.

C: Output cable 1: Box body 11: Bottom wall 11b: Restriction wall 11d: Filling holes 12, 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d: Side wall 13a: Housing space 15: Connection pin holding part 16: Filling space 16a: First filling Space 16b: Second filling space 17: Locking portion 18: Communication space 3: Terminal board 5: Connection pin 5c: Locked portion

Claims (4)

It has a box body that can be attached to the solar cell module,
The box body is
The bottom wall,
An accommodation space partially defined by the bottom wall and accommodating a terminal plate,
The solar cell module side surface of the bottom wall includes a recess that defines a filling space into which a filler is injected,
The bottom wall includes a filling hole that communicates the accommodating space and the filling space,
The filling space is
A first filling space overlapping the accommodation space in plan view;
A second filling space that does not overlap the accommodation space in plan view,
The said box main body is a terminal box for solar cell modules provided with the communication space which connects the said accommodation space and the said 2nd filling space.   2. The solar cell module terminal box according to claim 1, wherein the communication space is configured to have a height that decreases as the communication space moves away from the accommodation space. A connection pin for electrically connecting an output cable connected to an external load and the terminal board;
A connection pin holding part for holding the connection pin,
The connection pin includes a locked portion formed by cutting and raising,
The connection pin holding part includes a locking hole that opens into the filling space and locks the locked part,
The solar cell module terminal box according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking hole is formed at a position overlapping the filling space in plan view.   The solar cell module terminal box according to claim 3, wherein the bottom wall includes a regulating wall around the opening of the locking hole.

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