JP2018116773A - Connection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent unintended cancellation of connection status.SOLUTION: The operation unit 5 of a connection device 1 changes the shape of an elastic member 4 by moving along a traveling route 24 provided in a case 2. The elastic member 4 can deform between connection status that sandwiches an electrical wire 91 with a terminal 3, and release status that deflects the electrical wire 91 more than the connection status and releases sandwich of the electrical wire 91 with the terminal 3. The operation unit 5 is movable along a traveling route 24 connecting a first position in contact with the elastic member 4 in the connection status, and a second position in contact with the elastic member 4 in the release status. Surface of the operation unit 5 located at the first position is farther inside of the case 2 than the area around the operation unit 5 out of the surface of the case 2, or is on the same plane as the area. The operation unit 5 located at a second position can be locked to the case 2. With such an arrangement, unintended cancellation of the connection status due to intended movement of the operation unit 5 can be prevented.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a connection device to which an electric wire is connected.

  Conventionally, so-called push-in type connection devices are used as connection devices to which electric wires are connected in a control panel or the like. In the connection device, when the electric wire is inserted into the insertion hole of the case, the electric wire is pressed against the conduction terminal by the leaf spring provided in the case and is electrically connected.

  In the electric wire connection device of Patent Document 1, a rod-like operation button that can be moved back and forth with respect to the housing is provided. In the electric wire connecting device, when the rod-like operation button is pushed toward the housing, the leaf spring in the housing is elastically deformed and separated from the conductive metal fitting. The tip of the rod-like operation button is engaged with the leaf spring to maintain the shape of the leaf spring. Thereby, the open state in which the leaf spring is separated from the conductive metal is maintained. And after inserting an electric wire in the open electric wire connection apparatus, a leaf | plate spring is elastically restored by pulling out a rod-shaped operation button from a housing, and the said electric wire is clamped between conduction | electrical_connection metal fittings.

  Similarly to the above, the electric wire fixing mechanism in the plug of Patent Document 2 is provided with a button member that can be advanced and retracted relative to the housing. In the electric wire fixing mechanism, when the button member is pushed toward the housing, the spring in the housing is elastically deformed, and the spring is in an open state separated from the terminal fitting. The housing is provided with a recess for holding the pressed button member. The housing is also provided with another recess for holding the button member when it returns to its original position.

Japanese Patent No. 4202125 Japanese Patent No. 3357245

  By the way, in patent document 1, a part of rod-shaped operation button protrudes from the housing. For this reason, when the wire is clamped between the leaf spring and the conductive metal fitting, if the tool hits the rod-like operation button accidentally and the rod-like operation button is pushed in, the wire connection state is released unintentionally. There is a risk. Further, in the open state where the leaf spring is separated from the conductive metal fitting, if the rod-like operation button is pulled out by mistake, the open state is released unintentionally, and there is a possibility that the wire connection work is hindered. Also in patent document 2, since a part of button member protrudes from a housing, there exists a possibility that a connection state and an open state may be cancelled | released contrary to the intention.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said subject, and aims at preventing the cancellation | release which the connection state does not intend in the connection apparatus to which an electric wire is connected.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a connection device to which an electric wire is connected, and is connected to a case, a conductive terminal portion fixed to the case, and the terminal portion. An elastic member that presses and clamps the elastic member, and an operation unit that changes a shape of the elastic member by moving along a movement path provided in the case, and the elastic member connects the electric wire to the terminal unit. Between the connection state sandwiched between and the released state in which the wire is sandwiched between the terminal portion and bent more than the connection state, and the operation unit is The operation that is movable along the movement path connecting the first position that contacts the elastic member in the connected state and the second position that contacts the elastic member in the released state, and is positioned at the first position The surface of the part of the case Of the surface, the operation unit located inside the case than the region around the operation unit or on the same plane as the region and located in the second position can be locked to the case. It is.

  Invention of Claim 2 is a connection apparatus of Claim 1, Comprising: The surface of the said operation part located in the said 2nd position is more than the area | region around the said operation part among the surfaces of the said case It is located inside the case or on the same plane as the region.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the connection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the elastic member is a leaf spring.

  Invention of Claim 4 is the connection apparatus as described in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 3, Comprising: The said case is provided with the level | step-difference part extended in the direction which cross | intersects the said movement path from the said movement path, In the second position, the operation portion is locked to the step portion of the case.

  Invention of Claim 5 is a connection apparatus of Claim 4, Comprising: At the said 2nd position, at least one part of the said operation part cross | intersects the said movement path | route with the restoring force of the said elastic member The operation portion is locked to the step portion.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is the connection device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, and is located on the opposite side of the second position across the first position of the movement path. In the third position, a part of the operation part is locked to a part of the case, so that the movement of the operation part in a direction away from the second position is limited. The part of the portion is pressed against the part of the case by the restoring force of the elastic member.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the connection device according to claim 6, wherein a surface of the operation portion located at the third position is more than a region around the operation portion of the surface of the case. It is located inside the case or on the same plane as the region.

  In the present invention, unintentional release of the connection state can be prevented.

It is sectional drawing of the connection apparatus which concerns on one embodiment. It is sectional drawing of a connection apparatus. It is a disassembled perspective view of a connection apparatus. It is sectional drawing of a connection apparatus. It is sectional drawing of a connection apparatus. It is sectional drawing of a connection apparatus. It is sectional drawing of a connection apparatus. It is a perspective view of a connection apparatus. It is sectional drawing of another connection apparatus. It is sectional drawing of another connection apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a connection device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connection device 1 taken along the line II-II in FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the connection device 1. The connection device 1 is a push-in type connection device to which an electric wire is connected. 1 and 2 show a state in which the electric wire is not inserted into the connection device 1. The connection device 1 is used for a terminal block such as a control panel, for example.

  In the following description, the vertical direction and the horizontal direction in FIG. 1 are also simply referred to as “vertical direction” and “horizontal direction”. Further, a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1 is also referred to as a “thickness direction”. The said up-down direction, the left-right direction, and the thickness direction do not necessarily need to correspond with the attachment direction when the connection apparatus 1 is used. Moreover, the said up-down direction does not necessarily need to correspond with the gravity direction.

  The connection device 1 includes a case 2, a terminal unit 3, an elastic member 4, and an operation unit 5. The case 2 accommodates the terminal part 3, the elastic member 4, and the operation part 5 inside. Case 2 is made of resin, for example. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the case 2 is provided with two insertion holes 21 into which electric wires can be inserted. The case 2 accommodates two terminal portions 3, two elastic members 4, and two operation portions 5. In other words, the connection device 1 includes two sets of the terminal portion 3, the elastic member 4, and the operation portion 5. In addition, the connection apparatus 1 may be provided with the terminal part 3, the elastic member 4, and the operation part 5 of 1 set or 3 sets or more.

  Each set of the terminal portion 3, the elastic member 4, and the operation portion 5 is disposed corresponding to the insertion hole 21. The two sets of terminal portions 3, the elastic member 4, and the operation portion 5 have the same shape, size and the like, and are arranged in opposite directions. When attention is paid to the right insertion hole 21 in FIG. 1, the terminal portion 3 is located on the right side of the lower end portion of the insertion hole 21 and extends downward from the lower end portion of the insertion hole 21. The elastic member 4 extends from the lower end of the insertion hole 21 to the left side, and further extends downward. The operation unit 5 is disposed on the left side of the insertion hole 21 and above the elastic member 4.

  The terminal portion 3 is a conductive member fixed to the case 2. The terminal part 3 is made of metal, for example. The right terminal portion 3 in FIG. 1 is electrically connected to the left terminal portion 3 in FIG. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the two terminal portions 3 are a single member. Specifically, the lower end portions of the two terminal portions 3 are connected by a conductive terminal connection portion 32 extending in the left-right direction.

  The elastic member 4 is an elastically deformable member attached to the case 2. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the elastic member 4 is a substantially strip-shaped leaf spring. The elastic member 4 is made of metal, for example. The elastic member 4 may be formed of a conductive material or an insulating material such as a resin. The elastic member 4 has, for example, a shape bent into a substantially L shape, a substantially V shape, or a substantially U shape at the central portion 41 in the longitudinal direction. The elastic member 4 is attached to the case 2 with both ends thereof being directed substantially downward by sandwiching the central portion 41 between the cases 2. In the following description, the portion 22 of the case 2 that is in contact with the central portion 41 from below is referred to as a “support portion 22”. The support portion 22 extends substantially downward from the central portion 41 of the elastic member 4.

  When attention is paid to the elastic member 4 on the right side in FIG. 1, a portion 42 of the elastic member 4 extending from the central portion 41 to the left side of the support portion 22 is sandwiched between the support portion 22 and another portion of the case 2. Is fixed. Further, a portion 43 of the elastic member 4 that extends from the central portion 41 to the right side of the support portion 22 is in contact with the terminal portion 3 that extends in the vertical direction. When the portion 43 of the elastic member 4 is pushed downward by the operation portion 5 or the like, it is elastically deformed with the upper end portion of the support portion 22 as a fulcrum and bent downward. Further, when the downward pressing force against the part 43 disappears, the part 43 returns to the original state by the restoring force (that is, elastically returns). In the following description, the part 42 and the part 43 of the elastic member 4 are referred to as a “fixed part 42” and a “movable part 43”, respectively. The fixed portion 42 and the movable portion 43 are substantially line symmetric with respect to the center line passing through the central portion 41.

  In the state shown in FIG. 1, the distal end of the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 contacts the terminal portion 3 below the insertion hole 21 as described above, and closes the lower end portion of the insertion hole 21 from the lower side. ing. In the following description, the state shown in FIG. 1 is referred to as an “insertion hole closed state”. The insertion hole closed state is a state before the electric wire is inserted into the insertion hole 21, that is, an initial state before the connection device 1 is used.

  The elastic member 4 in the insertion hole closed state (that is, the initial state) is slightly bent in a direction in which the fixed portion 42 and the movable portion 43 approach each other. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the elastic member 4 from dropping from the case 2. On the left side in FIG. 1, the elastic member 4 without bending is indicated by a two-dot chain line. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the support portion 22 of the case 2 serves as a stopper that limits the bending of the elastic member 4 in the direction in which the fixed portion 42 and the movable portion 43 approach (that is, the bending of the elastic member 4). Fulfill.

  The operation unit 5 is a substantially columnar or substantially plate-like member extending in the vertical direction. The operation unit 5 is located inside a hole provided in the case 2 that extends in the vertical direction (hereinafter referred to as “movement path 24”). The operation unit 5 can move in the vertical direction along the movement path 24. The movement path 24 opens to the upper surface 25 of the case 2 and extends substantially downward from the upper surface 25.

  The operation unit 5 includes an upper end portion 51, a connecting portion 52, and a lower end portion 53. The upper end portion 51, the connecting portion 52, and the lower end portion 53 are a single member that is connected in this order from the upper side to the lower side. The operation unit 5 is made of resin, for example. The upper end 51 of the operation unit 5 is, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped part. The upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 is a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction. A concave portion 512 that is recessed downward is provided at the center of the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51. The connecting portion 52 extends downward from the lower end of the upper end portion 51 and connects the upper end portion 51 and the lower end portion 53. The connecting portion 52 is, for example, a substantially plate-shaped portion whose width in the thickness direction is larger than the width in the left-right direction. The lower end portion 53 extends downward from the lower end of the connecting portion 52. The lower end 53 is, for example, a substantially plate-like or substantially columnar part.

  The width of the upper end 51 in the left-right direction is substantially constant over substantially the entire length of the upper end 51 in the vertical direction. The width of the connecting portion 52 in the left-right direction is substantially constant over substantially the entire length of the connecting portion 52 in the up-down direction. The width in the left-right direction of the lower end 53 is substantially constant at the upper end of the lower end 53, and gradually decreases from the upper end toward the lower side. The width of the upper end portion 51 in the left-right direction is larger than the width of the connecting portion 52 in the left-right direction. The width of the upper end of the lower end portion 53 in the left-right direction is larger than the width of the lower end of the connecting portion 52 in the left-right direction. The side surfaces on both the left and right sides of the connecting portion 52 are substantially perpendicular to the left-right direction and extend substantially parallel to the up-down direction.

  When attention is paid to the operation unit 5 on the right side in FIG. The left side surface of the lower end 53 extends downward from the upper end substantially parallel to the vertical direction, and then toward the right as it goes downward. The elastic member 4 partially contacts the left side surface of the connecting portion 52 or the lower end portion 53. In the following description, the left side surfaces of the connecting portion 52 and the lower end portion 53 are collectively referred to as the “elastic member contact surface 54” of the operation portion 5. The lower end portion 53 of the operation unit 5 protrudes from the lower end of the connecting portion 52 to the right side. Thereby, the operation step part 55 which protrudes to the right side is formed in the lower end (namely, upper end of the lower end part 53) of the connection part 52. As shown in FIG.

  In the closed insertion hole state shown in FIG. 1, the operation step portion 55 of the operation portion 5 is locked to a part of the case 2, so that the upward movement of the operation portion 5 is restricted. The elastic member contact surface 54 of the operation part 5 is in contact with the movable part 43 of the elastic member 4 as described above, and the operation step part 55 is pressed against the part of the case 2 by the restoring force of the elastic member 4. . Thereby, since the operation part 5 is latched by the case 2, it is prevented that the operation part 5 moves to the upper side rather than the position shown in FIG. When assembling the connection device 1, the operation unit 5 is first arranged in a region where the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 in an unbent state (that is, an uncompressed state) should exist, and the elastic member 4. Is attached to the case 2 in a bent state. Thereby, the above structure is realized.

  In the closed state of the insertion hole shown in FIG. 1, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 is positioned on substantially the same plane as the region around the operation unit 5 on the upper surface 25 of the case 2. Alternatively, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 is located inside the case 2 (that is, below the region) of the upper surface 25 of the case 2 relative to the region around the operation unit 5. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, both side surfaces 513 in the thickness direction of the operation unit 5 are positioned inside the case 2 more than regions around the operation unit 5 on both side surfaces 26 in the thickness direction of the case 2. Or, it is located on substantially the same plane as the region. The same applies to the other surfaces of the operation unit 5. In other words, in the closed state of the insertion hole shown in FIG. 1, the surface of the operation unit 5 is closer to the case 2 than the region around the operation unit 5 in the surface of the case 2 (that is, the region around the movement path 24). It is located inside or substantially on the same plane as the area.

  The case 2 is provided with a step 241 extending from the movement path 24 in a direction intersecting the movement path 24 below the upper surface 511 of the operation unit 5 shown in FIG. In other words, at the position of the step portion 241 in the vertical direction, the width in the left-right direction of the movement path 24 is rapidly expanded. In the movement path 24 on the right side in FIG. 1, the stepped portion 241 extends leftward from the movement path 24 extending in the vertical direction. In other words, the moving path 24 is provided with a concave portion that extends leftward on the lower side of the stepped portion 241. In the left movement path 24 in FIG. 1, the stepped portion 241 extends rightward from the movement path 24 extending in the vertical direction.

  Next, the flow of the connection of the electric wire with respect to the connection apparatus 1 is demonstrated, referring FIG.1, FIG.4 and FIG.5. In addition, below, the mode at the time of connecting an electric wire to the insertion hole 21 of the right side in a figure is demonstrated. In the case where an electric wire is connected to the insertion hole 21 on the left side in the figure, the operation of the worker is substantially the same except that it is in the opposite direction.

  First, the operation unit 5 is pushed into the case 2 from the closed insertion hole state illustrated in FIG. 1 and moves downward along the movement path 24. When the operation unit 5 is pushed in, for example, an operator brings the tip of a normal minus driver or the like into contact with the concave portion 512 of the upper end 51 of the operation unit 5, and the operation unit 5 is directed downward through the minus driver. Apply power. As the operation portion 5 moves downward, the elastic member 4 is bent and the shape of the elastic member 4 is changed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 is pushed downward by the lower end portion 53 of the operation portion 5 and separated from the terminal portion 3 to the left side. Thereby, the lower end part of the insertion hole 21 is open | released. In the following description, the state shown in FIG. 4 is referred to as “insertion hole open state”.

  In the open state of the insertion hole shown in FIG. 4, the operation portion 5 is locked to the case 2 and is prevented from returning to the position shown in FIG. Specifically, when the upper surface 511 of the operation unit 5 moves downward and is positioned at substantially the same position in the vertical direction as the stepped portion 241 described above, the lower end portion 53 of the operation unit 5 is restored by the restoring force of the elastic member 4. Is pushed rightward, and the operation unit 5 is slightly tilted. As a result, the lower end 53 of the operation unit 5 moves to the right, which is the direction intersecting the movement path 24, and the upper end 51 of the operation unit 5 moves to the left, the direction intersecting the movement path 24. The left end portion of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 enters the lower side of the step portion 241, and the upper surface 511 of the operation unit 5 is pressed against the lower surface of the step portion 241 from the lower side. As a result, the operation portion 5 is locked to the step portion 241.

  4, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 is located inside the case 2 (that is, lower than the region around the operation unit 5) on the upper surface 25 of the case 2. Located on the side). Alternatively, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 may be located on substantially the same plane as the region around the operation unit 5 in the upper surface 25 of the case 2. The same applies to the other surfaces of the operation unit 5. In other words, in the open state of the insertion hole shown in FIG. 4, the surface of the operation unit 5 is closer to the case 2 than the region around the operation unit 5 in the surface of the case 2 (that is, the region around the movement path 24). It is located inside or substantially on the same plane as the area.

  As shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4, the electric wire 91 is inserted into the insertion hole 21 of the connection device 1 in the insertion hole open state. The electric wire 91 may be a single wire or a stranded wire. Moreover, the electric wire 91 may be a stranded wire in which a rod-shaped crimp terminal or the like is provided at the tip.

  Subsequently, the worker brings the tip of a normal minus driver or the like into contact with the recess 512 of the upper end 51 of the operation unit 5 and moves the upper end 51 to the right. As a result, the upper end portion 51 is pulled out from the lower concave portion of the step portion 241 to the movement path 24, and the locking of the operation unit 5 by the step portion 241 is released. When the locking of the operation portion 5 by the step portion 241 is released, the movable portion 43 moves to the upper right due to the restoring force of the elastic member 4, and contacts the electric wire 91 from the left as shown in FIG. The movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 presses the electric wire 91 against the terminal portion 3 and sandwiches it with the terminal portion 3. Thereby, the electric wire 91 and the terminal part 3 are electrically and mechanically connected. In the following description, the state shown in FIG. 5 is referred to as a “connection state”. As described above, the elastic member 4 in the connected state holds the electric wire 91 between the terminal portion 3.

  In the connection state shown in FIG. 5, the operation unit 5 is moved upward from the insertion hole open state shown in FIG. 4 by the restoring force of the elastic member 4. The elastic member contact surface 54 of the operation unit 5 is in contact with the movable part 43 of the elastic member 4. The upper surface 511 of the operation unit 5 in the connected state is located above the stepped portion 241.

  In the connection state shown in FIG. 5, the upper surface 511 of the upper end 51 of the operation unit 5 is inside the case 2 (that is, lower than the region) of the upper surface 25 of the case 2 than the region around the operation unit 5. Located in. Alternatively, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 may be located on substantially the same plane as the region around the operation unit 5 in the upper surface 25 of the case 2. The same applies to the other surfaces of the operation unit 5. In other words, in the connection state shown in FIG. 5, the surface of the operation unit 5 is more inside the case 2 than the region around the operation unit 5 in the surface of the case 2 (that is, the region around the movement path 24). Located on the same plane as the region.

  In the connection state shown in FIG. 5, when the connection device 1 is arranged so that the upper side in FIG. 5 is the lower side in the gravitational direction, the operation unit 5 is moved upward from the elastic member 4 in the figure by gravity. Separate. And the operation level difference part 55 of the operation part 5 is latched by a part of case 2 similarly to the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 1, and the upward movement of the operation part 5 is restrict | limited. Accordingly, the operation unit 5 is prevented from moving upward from the position shown in FIG.

  When the electric wire 91 is removed from the connection device 1, for example, an operator brings the tip of a normal minus driver or the like into contact with the concave portion 512 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5, and enters the operation unit 5 via the minus driver. Apply downward force. Then, the operation unit 5 is moved downward to make the insertion hole open as shown in FIG. In the state where the insertion hole is opened, as described above, the operation portion 5 is locked to the step portion 241, the elastic member 4 is bent, and the movable portion 43 is separated from the electric wire 91 to the left side.

  In the open state of the insertion hole shown in FIG. 4, the distance in the left-right direction between the distal end of the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 and the terminal portion 3 is the diameter of the distal end portion of each type of electric wire 91 that can be connected to the connection device 1. Bigger than. Therefore, the insertion hole open state is a state where the wire 91 is not sandwiched between the elastic member 4 and the terminal portion 3 even when the electric wire 91 is inserted into the insertion hole 21. In other words, the insertion hole open state is a released state in which the elastic member 4 is bent more than the connected state and the holding of the electric wire 91 between the terminal portion 3 and the elastic member 4 is released. In the connection device 1 in the released state, the electric wire 91 can be easily detached from the connection device 1 by pulling out the electric wire 91 from the insertion hole 21.

  In the connection device 1, the elastic member 4 can be deformed between the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 1, the insertion hole open state shown in FIG. 4, and the connection state shown in FIG. In the following description, as shown in FIG. 5, the position of the operation unit 5 that contacts the elastic member 4 in the connected state is referred to as a “first position”. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the position of the operation unit 5 that contacts the elastic member 4 in the insertion hole open state (that is, the release state) is referred to as a “second position”. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, the position of the operation portion 5 where the operation step portion 55 is locked to a part of the case 2 is referred to as a “third position”.

  The movement path 24 described above connects the third position, the first position, and the second position of the operation unit 5 in this order. The third position is located on the opposite side of the movement path 24 from the second position across the first position. At the third position, as described above, the operation stepped portion 55 is locked to a part of the case 2 so that the upward movement of the operation portion 5 (that is, movement away from the second position) is restricted. Is done. In addition, in the 3rd position, a part of operation part 5 should just be latched to a part of case 2, and the operation level | step-difference part 55 does not necessarily need to latch to a part of case 2. FIG.

  As described above, the connection device 1 to which the electric wire 91 is connected includes the case 2, the terminal unit 3, the elastic member 4, and the operation unit 5. The terminal portion 3 is conductive and is fixed to the case 2. The elastic member 4 is attached to the case 2. The elastic member 4 presses and holds the electric wire 91 against the terminal portion 3 by a restoring force. The operation unit 5 changes the shape of the elastic member 4 by moving along the movement path 24 provided in the case 2. The elastic member 4 has a connection state in which the electric wire 91 is held between the terminal portion 3 and an insertion hole open state in which the holding of the electric wire 91 between the terminal portion 3 and the bent state is released. , The release state). The operation unit 5 is movable along a movement path 24 that connects a first position in contact with the elastic member 4 in the connected state and a second position in contact with the elastic member 4 in the insertion hole open state.

  In the connected device 1, the surface of the operation unit 5 located at the first position is located inside the case 2 rather than a region around the operation unit 5 on the surface of the case 2, or is located in the same plane as the region. To do. Thus, since the operation part 5 does not protrude from the case 2 in a state in which the electric wire 91 is connected to the connection device 1, the elastic member 4 is connected in a state where a tool or the like hits the operation part 5 by mistake. Can be prevented from being deformed. As a result, it is possible to prevent unintentional release of the connection state due to unintended movement of the operation unit 5. In the connected device 1, the operation unit 5 located at the second position can be locked to the case 2. Thereby, the insertion hole open state can be maintained without continuously applying force to the operation unit 5. As a result, the insertion of the electric wire 91 into the insertion hole 21 and the removal of the electric wire 91 from the insertion hole 21 can be easily performed.

  In the connection device 1, the thickness of the electric wire to be connected is not limited to that shown in FIG. 5 and may be variously changed within a predetermined range. 6 shows a connection state in which an electric wire 91a thinner than the electric wire 91 shown in FIG. FIG. 7 shows a connection state in which an electric wire 91b thicker than the electric wire 91 shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, when the thickness of the electric wire is different, the first position of the operation unit 5 is also different in the vertical direction, but in any case, the surface of the operation unit 5 located at the first position is Of the surface of the case 2, it is located inside the case 2 rather than the area around the operation unit 5, or is located substantially on the same plane as the area. Thereby, the unintentional cancellation | release of the connection state by the movement which the operation part 5 does not intend can be prevented similarly to the above.

  For example, when the electric wire 91 is a single wire, or when a rod-like crimp terminal or the like is provided at the tip of the electric wire 91, the connecting device 1 is not opened, as shown in FIG. And the terminal part 3 may be connected. Specifically, the electric wire 91 is inserted into the insertion hole 21 of the connection device 1 in the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 1, and the distal end portion of the electric wire 91 moves downward while pushing down the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4. Accordingly, the connection state shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 (that is, the state where the electric wire 91 and the terminal portion 3 are electrically connected) may be realized.

  As described above, the elastic member 4 of the connection device 1 is a leaf spring. Thereby, the manufacturing cost of the connection apparatus 1 can be reduced. The elastic member 4 may be various members other than the leaf spring (for example, a string spring).

  In the connected device 1, the surface of the operation unit 5 located at the second position is also located inside the case 2 than the region around the operation unit 5 on the surface of the case 2, or on the same plane as the region. To position. Thus, since the operation part 5 does not protrude from the case 2 even in the insertion hole opened state, the elastic member 4 is prevented from being deformed from the insertion hole opened state due to a tool or the like accidentally hitting the operation part 5. can do. As a result, unintentional release of the insertion hole open state can be prevented. Thereby, for example, the unintended connection of the electric wire 91 during the connection work of the electric wire 91 can be prevented.

  As described above, the case 2 includes the step portion 241 that extends from the movement path 24 in the direction intersecting the movement path 24. And in the 2nd position, the operation part 5 latches to the level | step-difference part 241 of case 2. As shown in FIG. Thereby, the lock | rock to case 2 of the operation part 5 located in a 2nd position is easily realizable.

  Specifically, at the second position, the upper end portion 51 of the operation portion 5 moves in a direction intersecting the movement path 24 by the restoring force of the elastic member 4, so that the operation portion 5 is locked to the step portion 241. . As described above, in the connected device 1, the operation unit 5 is automatically locked by the restoring force of the elastic member 4 by moving the operation unit 5 to the second position. Therefore, the locking of the operation unit 5 located at the second position to the case 2 can be more easily realized. Note that the part of the operation unit 5 that moves in the direction intersecting the movement path 24 by the restoring force of the elastic member 4 at the second position is not necessarily limited to the upper end 51, and may be a part of the operation unit 5. Good. Also in this case, similarly to the above, it is possible to more easily realize the locking of the operation unit 5 located at the second position to the case 2.

  In the connected device 1, a part of the operation unit 5 (for example, the operation step part 55) is a part of the case 2 at the third position that is opposite to the second position across the first position of the movement path 24. The movement of the operation unit 5 in the direction away from the second position is restricted by being locked. In the third position, the part of the operation unit 5 is pressed against the part of the case 2 by the restoring force of the elastic member 4. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the operation unit 5 from falling off the case 2.

  In the connected device 1, the surface of the operation unit 5 located at the third position is also located inside the case 2 than the region around the operation unit 5 on the surface of the case 2, or on the same plane as the region. To position. Thus, since the operation part 5 does not protrude from the case 2 even in the insertion hole closed state (that is, in the initial state), the operation part 5 of the connection device 1 is accidentally pushed and the elastic member 4 is in the insertion hole closed state. Can be prevented from being deformed. As a result, it is possible to prevent unnecessary force from being applied to the elastic member 4 at the time of shipment or the like.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a large-sized connection device 10 in which a plurality of connection devices 1 are connected in the thickness direction. In the example shown in FIG. 10, five connection devices 1 are coupled in the thickness direction, and the side surface of the connection device 1 on the foremost side in the figure is covered with a thin plate-like end plate 11. In the connection device 10, a plurality of electric wires 91 bundled by a binding band or the like (not shown) may be connected to the plurality of insertion holes 21 arranged in the thickness direction. In this case, in each connection device 1, the plurality of electric wires 91 can be simultaneously inserted into the insertion hole 21 by locking the operation unit 5 to the case 2 at the second position in advance. As a result, the connection between the plurality of electric wires 91 and the connecting device 10 can be easily performed without bending the electric wires 91. Also, when removing the plurality of electric wires 91 from the connection device 10, in each connection device 1, the operation unit 5 is locked in advance in the case 2 at the second position, thereby simultaneously inserting the plurality of electric wires 91. It can be removed from the hole 21. As a result, it is possible to easily remove the plurality of electric wires 91 from the connecting device 10 without bending the electric wires 91.

  Various changes can be made in the connection device 1 described above.

  For example, in the connection device 1, the shapes of the terminal unit 3, the elastic member 4, and the operation unit 5 may be variously changed.

  In the connected device 1, the surface of the operation unit 5 located at the first position, the second position, and the third position is located inside the case 2 rather than the area around the operation unit 5 on the surface of the case 2, or Although it is preferable to be located on substantially the same plane as the region, a part of the operation unit 5 located at the second position and the third position may protrude from the surface of the case 2 to the outside.

  In the connected device 1, when the upper end 51 of the operation unit 5 is locked to the stepped portion 241 of the case 2 in the second position, the operation unit 5 does not necessarily have to be tilted. The upper end portion 51 may be locked to the stepped portion 241 by moving horizontally.

  The upper end portion 51 of the operation portion 5 in the second position is not necessarily locked to the step portion 241 by the restoring force of the elastic member 4. For example, an operator may move and lock a part of the upper end portion 51 to the lower side of the step portion 241 by moving the tip of a flathead screwdriver or the like in the left-right direction. Further, a portion other than the upper end portion 51 of the operation portion 5 may be locked to the step portion 241. Furthermore, the operation unit 5 located at the second position may be locked to a portion other than the stepped portion 241 as long as it is locked to the case 2. For example, the operation unit 5 located at the second position may be locked to the case 2 by being pressed against the case 2 by the restoring force of the elastic member 4 and being sandwiched between the elastic member 4 and the case 2. .

  In the connection device 1a illustrated in FIG. 9, the operation portion 5a shown on the right side in the drawing is slightly inclined at the second position by the restoring force of the elastic member 4, and the lower end portion 53 of the operation portion 5a is Locks to a part (that is, a stepped portion). In the connection device 1a, a protrusion 27 protruding from the case 2 toward the operation unit 5a is provided between the operation unit 5a and the insertion hole 21. The protruding portion 27 is in contact with the connecting portion 52 of the operation portion 5a, for example. When the locking of the operation unit 5a located at the second position is released, for example, an operator brings the tip of a normal flathead screwdriver or the like into contact with the recess 512 of the upper end 51 of the operation unit 5a, and the upper end 51 is moved in a direction approaching the insertion hole 21. Thereby, the lower end part 53 of the operation part 5a moves to the direction which leaves | separates from the insertion hole 21 by using the projection part 27 as a fulcrum, and the latching of the lower end part 53 and the case 2 is cancelled | released. The operating portion 5a moves upward by the restoring force of the elastic member 4, and the lower end portion 53 is locked to the protruding portion 27 as in the operating portion 5a shown on the left side in FIG. Thereby, the upward movement of the operation unit 5a located at the third position is restricted.

  In the connection device 1b illustrated in FIG. 10, the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5b is a resin spring that bends in the left-right direction. The upper end 51 includes a protrusion 56 that protrudes in the direction opposite to the insertion hole 21. In the operation portion 5b located at the third position shown on the left side in the figure, the upper end portion 51, which is a resin spring, is compressed in the left-right direction. As shown on the right side in the figure, when the operation portion 5b moves downward and is positioned at the second position, the upper end portion 51 expands in the left-right direction due to the restoring force, and the projection 56 of the operation portion 5b is the stepped portion of the case 2. Lock to 241.

  The connection devices 1, 1a, 1b described above may be used to connect electric wires in various devices. For example, the connected devices 1, 1a, 1b may be used as a relay socket or an operation switch.

  The configurations in the above-described embodiments and modifications may be combined as appropriate as long as they do not contradict each other.

1, 1a, 1b, 10 Connected device 2 Case 3 Terminal portion 4 Elastic member 5, 5a, 5b Operation portion 24 Movement path 25 Upper surface 26 (case) Both side surfaces 91, 91a, 91b Electric wire 241 Stepped portion 511 Upper surface 513 (of the operation unit) Both side surfaces (of the operation unit)

Claims (7)

A connecting device to which an electric wire is connected,
Case and
Conductive terminal portions fixed to the case;
An elastic member attached to the case and pressing and holding the electric wire against the terminal portion by a restoring force;
An operation unit for changing the shape of the elastic member by moving along a movement path provided in the case;
With
Between the connection state in which the elastic member holds the electric wire between the terminal portion and the release state in which the electric wire is not held between the terminal portion by bending more than the connection state. Is deformable,
The operation unit is movable along the movement path connecting the first position in contact with the elastic member in the connected state and the second position in contact with the elastic member in the released state;
The surface of the operation unit located at the first position is located inside the case from the region around the operation unit of the surface of the case, or is located on the same plane as the region,
The connection device, wherein the operation unit located at the second position can be locked to the case. The connection device according to claim 1,
The surface of the operation portion located at the second position is located inside the case relative to a region around the operation portion of the surface of the case, or located on the same plane as the region. A connected device that is characterized. The connection device according to claim 1 or 2,
The connecting device, wherein the elastic member is a leaf spring. The connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The case includes a stepped portion extending in a direction intersecting the moving route from the moving route,
In the second position, the operation portion is locked to the step portion of the case. The connection device according to claim 4,
In the second position, at least a part of the operation part moves in a direction intersecting the movement path by a restoring force of the elastic member, whereby the operation part is locked to the step part. Connected equipment. The connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
In a third position located on the opposite side of the second position across the first position of the movement path, a part of the operation portion is locked to a part of the case, thereby the second position. Movement of the operation unit in the direction away from the
In the third position, the part of the operation unit is pressed against the part of the case by a restoring force of the elastic member. The connection device according to claim 6,
The surface of the operation part located at the third position is located inside the case relative to the area around the operation part of the surface of the case, or located on the same plane as the area. A connected device that is characterized.

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