JP2019212488A - Connection device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a connection device which allows less complicated work for fitting a cover.SOLUTION: A connection device 10 comprises: a connection module 11 which has a terminal block 20 having an apparatus-side terminal connected to an apparatus and a connector 30 having a wire-side terminal connected to a wire, and which is provided with an opening that allows a connecting portion between the apparatus-side terminal and the wire side-terminal to be exposed therefrom; and a cover 40 fixed to the connection module 11 so as to cover the opening. The cover 40 has: a locking part 44 to be locked to the terminal block 20; and a third flange 43 provided with a fixing hole 431. The terminal block 20 has a first flange 242 provided with a fixing hole 243. The locking part 44 is configured such that, when it is locked to the terminal block 20, positions of the fixing holes 243 and 431 are matched.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a connection device for connecting a device and an electric wire.

  Patent Document 1 describes, as an example of a connection device, a device connector for connecting an electric wire extending from a power supply device such as an inverter to a device such as a motor. The device connector includes a terminal block attached to the motor case and a shield shell (cover) that covers a part of the terminal block. In the device connector, the terminal block includes a metal plate fixed to the motor case, a housing provided so as to be integrated with the metal plate, and a conductive plate (device-side terminal) held by the housing. The shield shell is fixed to the metal plate so as to cover the housing.

JP 2012-195066 A

  In the apparatus connector as described above, the metal plate and the shield shell are fastened with bolts that pass through the mounting holes formed in the metal plate and the bolt holes formed in the shield shell. For this reason, the operator needs to match the positions of the mounting hole and the bolt hole when fixing the shield shell to the metal plate. Therefore, depending on the arrangement angle of the terminal block with respect to the vertical direction, the operator needs to perform the shield shell mounting operation while supporting the shield shell so that the positions of the mounting hole and the bolt hole do not shift. An object of the present invention is to provide a connection device in which the work of attaching a cover is difficult.

  A connection device that solves the above problems is a connection device that connects a device and an electric wire, and includes a terminal block having a device-side terminal connected to the device, and a connector having a wire-side terminal connected to the wire. A connection module in which an opening that exposes a connection portion of the device side terminal and the wire side terminal is formed, and a cover that is fixed to the connection module so as to cover the opening. When one of the connection module and the cover is a first member and the other of the connection module and the cover is a second member, the first member is a locking portion that is locked to the second member; A first fixing portion in which a first fixing hole is formed, and the second member has a second fixing portion in which a second fixing hole is formed, and the locking portion of the first member is When the second member is locked, Position of Teiana and the first fixing hole is configured to fit.

  According to the above configuration, for example, when the cover is the first member and the connection module is the second member, the cover locking portion is locked to the connection module, so that the first fixing hole of the cover and the connection module The positions of the second fixing holes are aligned. Therefore, the operator can easily fix the cover to the connection module by passing the fastening member through the first fixing hole and the second fixing hole. Therefore, the connection device can prevent the cover mounting operation from being complicated.

  In the connection device, the locking portion extends along the axis of the first fixing hole, and the locking portion is formed with a locking hole in a direction intersecting with the axis of the first fixing hole. The second member preferably has a protruding portion that protrudes in a direction intersecting with the axis of the second fixing hole.

According to the said structure, the connection apparatus can align the position of a 1st fixing hole and a 2nd fixing hole by letting a protrusion part pass through the locking hole of a locking part.
In the connection device, it is preferable that the second fixing portion has a plate shape, and the locking portion has a hook shape that can be hooked on the second fixing portion.

According to the said structure, the connection apparatus can align the position of a 1st fixing hole and a 2nd fixing hole by latching a latching | locking part on a 2nd fixing | fixed part.
In the connection device, the second fixing portion has an engaging shaft extending along the axis of the second fixing hole, and the first fixing portion has an engaging recess that engages with the engaging shaft. Is preferably formed in a direction intersecting the axis of the first fixed hole.

  According to the said structure, a connection apparatus can make it easy to latch a latching | locking part on a 2nd fixing | fixed part by engaging an engaging shaft with an engaging recessed part.

  According to the connection device of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the cover mounting operation from being complicated.

The perspective view of the connection apparatus in 1st Embodiment. The disassembled perspective view of the connection apparatus in 1st Embodiment. The disassembled perspective view of the connection apparatus in 1st Embodiment. The side view which shows a mode that a cover is attached to a connection module in 1st Embodiment. The disassembled perspective view of the connector and cover in 2nd Embodiment. The disassembled perspective view of the connector and cover in 2nd Embodiment. The side view which shows a mode that a cover is attached to a connection module in 2nd Embodiment.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the connection device will be described. The connection device of the present embodiment is a device that connects a device such as a motor and an electric wire extending from a power supply device such as a battery or an inverter in an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the connection device 10 includes a terminal block 20 fixed to a case CS of a device to which power is supplied, a connector 30 provided at an end of an electric wire WR extending from the power supply device, and a terminal block. 20 and a cover 40 that covers the connection site of the connector 30. In the present embodiment, the terminal block 20 and the connector 30 are also referred to as “connection module 11”.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the terminal block 20 includes a base plate 21 that is fixed to the device case CS, a device-side terminal 22 that is electrically connected to the device, and a first housing that houses the device-side terminal 22. A housing 23 and a first shield shell 24 covering the first housing 23 are provided.

  The base plate 21 is a plate-like member made of a metal material. The base plate 21 has a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the case CS of the device to be fixed. The base plate 21 is fixed to the case CS of the device by a fastening member such as a bolt, for example.

  The device side terminal 22 is a plate-like member formed of a metal material such as copper. One end of the device side terminal 22 is exposed on the back surface of the base plate 21, and the other end of the device side terminal 22 is exposed from the housing. In this embodiment, the apparatus side terminal 22 is provided with two or more (three) according to the number of the electric wires WR.

  The first housing 23 is formed, for example, by injection molding a resin material. Specifically, the first housing 23 is formed integrally with the base plate 21 by insert molding. The first housing 23 has a first mounting portion 231 to which the connector 30 is mounted. The first mounting portion 231 includes a cylindrical outer peripheral wall 232 and a support base 233 that supports the other end of the device-side terminal 22. The outer peripheral wall 232 has an oval shape in plan view and extends in a direction intersecting with the thickness direction of the base plate 21. In the present embodiment, the extending direction of the outer peripheral wall 232 is the attaching / detaching direction of the connector 30 with respect to the terminal block 20.

  The first shield shell 24 includes a shell body 241 that covers the first housing 23, and a first flange 242 that extends from the shell body 241. The shell body 241 has a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the base plate 21 and the first housing 23. The first flange 242 is formed so as to make a pair with a portion of the shell main body 241 that covers the first mounting portion 231 of the first housing 23. In the connection device 10, if the direction intersecting (orthogonal) with both the thickness direction of the base plate 21 and the attachment / detachment direction of the connector 30 is defined as the “width direction”, it can be said that the first flange 242 extends outward in the width direction. . A fixing hole 243 is formed through the first flange 242 in a direction intersecting the protruding direction of the first flange 242. On the inner peripheral surface of the fixing hole 243, a screw thread into which a fastening member such as a bolt is screwed is formed. Further, the first flange 242 has a protruding portion 244 extending in a direction intersecting with the protruding direction of the first flange 242, that is, in a direction away from the base plate 21. The tip of the protrusion 244 is bent in a direction intersecting with the extending direction of the protrusion 244. And the 1st shield shell 24 is fixed to case CS of an apparatus with the base plate 21 in the state which covered the 1st housing 23 with fastening members, such as a volt | bolt.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the connector 30 includes a wire side terminal 31 connected to the wire WR, a second housing 32 that houses the wire WR and the wire side terminal 31, and a second cover that covers the second housing 32. A shield shell 33 and a cap 34 attached to the second housing 32 are provided.

  The electric wire side terminal 31 is a plate-like member formed of a metal such as copper, like the device side terminal 22. One end of the wire side terminal 31 is exposed from the second housing 32, and the other end of the wire side terminal 31 is disposed inside the second housing 32. In the present embodiment, a plurality (three) of the electric wire side terminals 31 are provided according to the number of electric wires WR.

  The second housing 32 is formed, for example, by injection molding a resin material. The 2nd housing 32 has the 2nd mounting part 321 with which the terminal block 20 (1st mounting part 231) is mounted | worn, and the protection part 322 which protects the connection part of the electric wire side terminal 31 and the electric wire WR.

  The second mounting portion 321 is configured to include a cylindrical inner peripheral wall 323. The inner peripheral wall 323 is formed to be slightly smaller than the outer peripheral wall 232 of the first mounting portion 231 so that the inner peripheral wall 323 can be inserted into the outer peripheral wall 232 of the first mounting portion 231. One end of the electric wire side terminal 31 that penetrates the inner peripheral wall 323 protrudes into the inner space of the inner peripheral wall 323. For this reason, one end of the electric wire side terminal 31 is exposed through the first opening 324 and the second opening 325 on both sides in the height direction of the inner peripheral wall 323. The protection part 322 extends from the inner peripheral wall 323 of the second mounting part 321. Inside the protection part 322, the other end of the electric wire side terminal 31 and the electric wire WR are connected. In the present embodiment, the second opening 325 corresponds to an example of an “opening” that exposes the connection portion of the device-side terminal 22 and the wire-side terminal 31.

  The second shield shell 33 includes an annular part 331 that covers the second mounting part 321 of the second housing 32, and a second flange 332 that extends from the annular part 331. The annular portion 331 surrounds the inner peripheral wall 323 of the second mounting portion 321 with the first opening 324 and the second opening 325 of the second mounting portion 321 exposed. The second flange 332 extends outward in the width direction from the annular portion 331 so as to form a pair. A fixing hole 333 is formed through the second flange 332 in a direction crossing the protruding direction of the second flange 332.

  The cap 34 includes a cap body 341 that covers the second opening 325 of the second mounting portion 321 and a locking wall 342 that locks to the inner peripheral wall 323 of the second mounting portion 321. The cap 34 is preferably provided with a seal member that fills a gap between the cap body 341 and the inner peripheral wall 323 when the cap 34 is locked to the second mounting portion 321.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cover 40 includes a bottom wall 41 having a substantially semi-oval shape, a side wall 42 extending from the bottom wall 41, a third flange 43 extending from the side wall 42, and a third flange 43. And a locking portion 44 that extends. The cover 40 is formed by, for example, pressing a metal plate. The cover 40 is provided for the purpose of blocking electromagnetic noise, like the first shield shell 24 and the second shield shell 33.

  The 3rd flange 43 is extended from the side wall 42 so that it may make a pair in the width direction. The third flange 43 has substantially the same shape as the first flange 242 and the second flange 332 in plan view. A fixing hole 431 is formed through the third flange 43 in a direction crossing the protruding direction of the third flange 43. The locking portion 44 extends along the axis of the fixing hole 431 of the third flange 43. A locking hole 441 having a rectangular shape in front view is formed through the locking portion 44 in a direction intersecting the axis of the fixing hole 431. The locking hole 441 is formed larger than the protrusion 244 of the shell body 241 of the terminal block 20.

The operation of the first embodiment will be described. Specifically, the operation when the operator connects the connector 30 to the terminal block 20 from below vertically will be described.
When connecting the terminal block 20 and the connector 30, the operator inserts the second mounting portion 321 of the connector 30 into the first mounting portion 231 of the terminal block 20. Then, the operator inserts a tool from the second opening 325 of the second housing 32, and screws the device side terminal 22 of the terminal block 20 and the electric wire side terminal 31 of the connector 30 to the support base 233. Thus, the terminal block 20 and the connector 30 are connected. In addition, after connecting the device-side terminal 22 and the wire-side terminal 31, the worker attaches the cap 34 to the second mounting portion 321 so as to close the second opening 325 of the second mounting portion 321. As a result, the space that accommodates the connection portions of the device-side terminal 22 and the wire-side terminal 31 is a closed space.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4, in order to fix the cover 40 to the connection module 11, the operator moves the cover 40 toward the connection module 11 in a direction intersecting the vertical direction. Then, the operator passes the protruding portion 244 of the terminal block 20 through the locking hole 441 formed in the locking portion 44 of the cover 40. Then, the locking portion 44 of the cover 40 is locked to the terminal block 20, and the cover 40 does not fall off the terminal block 20 even if the operator releases his / her hand from the cover 40. That is, the cover 40 is temporarily held with respect to the terminal block 20. Further, in the state in which the cover 40 is temporarily held, the axes of the terminal block 20, the connector 30, and the fixing holes 243, 333, and 431 of the cover 40 substantially coincide. Therefore, the operator screws a fastening member BT such as a bolt passed through the fixing holes 333 and 431 of the cover 40 and the connector 30 into the fixing hole 243 of the terminal block 20. Thus, the terminal block 20, the connector 30, and the cover 40 are fastened together. Further, in the state where the cover 40 is fixed to the connection module 11, the cover 40 covers the second opening 325 to which the cap 34 is attached.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the terminal block 20 of the connection module 11 corresponds to the “second member”, and the first flange 242 of the terminal block 20 and the second flange 332 of the connector 30 are “second fixed”. The fixing holes 243 and 333 of the first flange 242 and the second flange 332 correspond to “second fixing holes”. The cover 40 corresponds to a “first member”, the third flange 43 of the cover 40 corresponds to a “first fixing portion”, and the fixing hole 431 of the third flange 43 corresponds to a “first fixing hole”. .

The effects of the first embodiment will be described.
(1) Since the locking portion 44 of the cover 40 is locked to the connection module 11, the axes of the fixing holes 243 and 333 of the connection module 11 and the fixing holes 431 of the cover 40 coincide to some extent. For this reason, the operator can easily fix the cover 40 to the connection module 11 by passing the fastening member BT through the fixing holes 243, 333 and 431. In other words, the operator can perform the mounting operation of the cover 40 without supporting the cover 40 with one hand so that the axes of the fixing holes 243, 333, and 431 coincide. Therefore, the connection device 10 can suppress the installation work of the cover 40 from becoming complicated.

  (2) Specifically, the operator can align the fixing holes 243 and 333 of the connection module 11 and the fixing hole 431 of the cover 40 by passing the protruding portion 244 through the locking hole 441 of the locking portion 44. Further, since the tip of the projecting portion 244 is bent, the locking portion 44 is caught on the tip of the projecting portion 244, and the cover 40 is difficult to be removed from the connection module 11.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the connection device will be described. The connection device 10 </ b> A (connection module 11 </ b> A) of the second embodiment is different in configuration related to temporary holding of the cover 40 when compared to the connection device 10 (connection module 11) of the first embodiment. For this reason, in the following description, a different part from 1st Embodiment is demonstrated, about the structure which is common in 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the connection device 10 </ b> A includes a terminal block 20, a connector 30 </ b> A, and a cover 40 </ b> A.
In the connector 30A, the second flange 334 of the second shield shell 33A has a plate shape. The second flange 334 includes an engagement shaft 335 extending from the first surface of the second flange 334 along the axis of the fixing hole 333, and a spacer 336 extending from the second surface of the second flange 334. The engagement shaft 335 is formed at a position closer to the base end than the fixing hole 333 in the second flange 334. The spacer 336 extends along the axis of the fixing hole 333 so as to surround the periphery of the fixing hole 333. The spacer 336 forms a gap between the first flange 242 and the second flange 334 when the connector 30 </ b> A is attached to the terminal block 20.

  The cover 40 </ b> A includes a bottom wall 41, a side wall 42, a third flange 45, and a locking portion 46 that extends from the third flange 45 in a bowl shape. A fixing hole 451 is formed through the third flange 45 in a direction crossing the protruding direction of the third flange 43. Further, an engagement recess 452 is formed in the third flange 45 in a direction intersecting with the axis of the fixing hole 451. The formation position of the engagement recess 452 in the third flange 45 corresponds to the protruding position of the engagement shaft 335 in the second flange 334. The locking portion 46 is substantially U-shaped in a side view and is formed in a size corresponding to the thickness of the second flange 334 of the connector 30A.

  The operation of the second embodiment will be described. Specifically, the operation when the operator connects the connector 30A to the terminal block 20 from vertically below will be described. The operation until the second mounting portion 321 of the connector 30A is connected to the first mounting portion 231 of the terminal block 20 and the cap 34 is mounted on the second mounting portion 321 is the same as in the first embodiment. Is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when fixing the cover 40A to the connection module 11A, the operator approaches the cover 40A toward the connector 30A in a direction intersecting the vertical direction. Then, the engagement shaft 335 formed on the second shield shell 33A of the connector 30A engages with the engagement recess 452 formed on the cover 40A, and the relative positional relationship between the connector 30A and the cover 40A is determined to some extent. The Thereafter, when the engagement shaft 335 reaches the bottom of the engagement recess 452, the tip of the locking portion 46 of the cover 40A enters a gap formed between the first shield shell 24 and the second shield shell 33A. That is, the locking portion 46 is hooked on the second flange 334 of the second shield shell 33A. As a result, the cover 40A is temporarily held with respect to the connection module 11A.

  In the state in which the cover 40A is temporarily held, the axes of the terminal block 20, the connector 30A, and the fixing holes 243, 333, and 451 of the cover 40A substantially coincide. Therefore, the worker screws the fastening member BT such as a bolt passed through the fixing holes 333 and 451 of the cover 40A and the connector 30A into the fixing hole 243 of the terminal block 20. Thus, the terminal block 20, the connector 30A, and the cover 40A are fastened together.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the connector 30A of the connection module 11A corresponds to the “second member”, and the first flange 242 of the terminal block 20 and the second flange 334 of the connector 30A are “second fixing portions”. The fixing holes 243 and 333 of the first flange 242 and the second flange 334 correspond to the “second fixing hole”. Further, the cover 40A corresponds to a “first member”, the third flange 45 of the cover 40A corresponds to a “first fixing portion”, and the fixing hole 451 of the third flange 45 corresponds to a “first fixing hole”. .

The effect of 2nd Embodiment is described. According to the second embodiment, in addition to the effect (1) of the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(3) The operator can temporarily hold the cover 40 </ b> A by hooking the locking portion 46 to the second flange 334.

  (4) The operator engages the engaging shaft 335 with the engaging recess 452 before the engaging portion 46 is engaged with the second flange 334, so that the engaging portion 46 is engaged with the second flange 334. Easy to stop.

  In addition, the said embodiment can be changed and implemented as follows. The above embodiment and the following modification examples can be implemented in combination with each other within a technically consistent range.

  In each embodiment, it is only necessary that the locking portions 44 and 46 of the covers 40 and 40 </ b> A can be locked to any part of the connection module 11. For example, in the first embodiment, the locking portion 44 of the cover 40 may be locked to the second flange 332 of the connector 30. In the second embodiment, the locking portion 46 of the cover 40A is a terminal block. It may be locked to the 20 first flanges 242.

In the first embodiment, the protrusion 244 may not protrude from the first flange 242 as long as it protrudes from the first shield shell 24.
-In 1st Embodiment, if the latching | locking part 44 protrudes from the cover 40, it does not need to protrude from the 3rd flange 43. FIG. The same applies to the locking portion 46 in the second embodiment.

  In the first embodiment, the terminal block 20 or the connector 30 may have a configuration corresponding to the locking portion 44, and the cover 40 may have a configuration corresponding to the protruding portion 244. In this case, the terminal block 20 or the connector 30 corresponds to a “first member”, and the cover 40 corresponds to a “second member”.

  In the second embodiment, the terminal block 20 or the connector 30 </ b> A may have a configuration corresponding to the locking portion 46. In this case, the terminal block 20 or the connector 30A corresponds to the “first member”, and the cover 40A corresponds to the “second member”.

  -The lock | rock aspect with respect to the connection modules 11 and 11A of the cover 40 and 40A may be another aspect, if the cover 40 can be temporarily hold | maintained to the connection modules 11 and 11A. For example, the locking mode may be a mode in which the cover is temporarily held by the connection module by fitting the shaft into the hole, or the plate-shaped member is passed through the groove-shaped guide, thereby covering the connection module. May be temporarily held.

When the cover 40 does not need to have a function of blocking electromagnetic noise, the cover 40 may be formed of a resin material or the like.
In the connection devices 10 and 10A, the mounting direction of the connectors 30 and 30A with respect to the terminal block 20 may not be vertically upward. The mounting direction changes appropriately depending on the fixed angle of the terminal block 20 with respect to the case CS.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10,10A ... Connection apparatus 11, 11A ... Connection module (an example of 2nd member), 20 ... Terminal block, 21 ... Base plate, 22 ... Equipment side terminal, 23 ... 1st housing, 231 ... 1st mounting part, 232 ... outer peripheral wall, 233 ... support base, 24 ... first shield shell, 241 ... shell body, 242 ... first flange (an example of second fixing portion), 243 ... fixing hole (an example of first fixing hole), 244 ... Projection, 30, 30A ... connector, 31 ... electric wire side terminal, 32 ... second housing, 321 ... second mounting part, 322 ... protection part, 323 ... inner peripheral wall, 324 ... first opening, 325 ... second opening , 33, 33A ... second shield shell, 331 ... annular portion, 332 ... second flange (an example of second fixing portion), 333 ... fixing hole (an example of second fixing hole), 334 ... second flange (second An example of 2 fixing parts), 35 ... engaging shaft, 336 ... spacer, 34 ... cap, 341 ... cap body, 342 ... locking wall, 40, 40A ... cover (an example of a first member), 41 ... bottom wall, 42 ... side wall, 43 ... first 3 flanges (an example of the first fixing part), 431... Fixing hole (an example of the first fixing hole), 44... Locking part, 441. 451: Fixing hole (an example of a first fixing hole), 452: Engaging recess, 46: Locking part, BT: Fastening member, CS: Case, WR: Electric wire.

Claims (4)

A connection device for connecting a device and an electric wire,
An opening having a terminal block having a device-side terminal connected to the device and a connector having a wire-side terminal connected to the wire, and exposing a connection portion of the device-side terminal and the wire-side terminal. A connection module formed with,
A cover fixed to the connection module so as to cover the opening,
When one of the connection module and the cover is a first member and the other of the connection module and the cover is a second member,
The first member includes a locking portion that is locked to the second member, and a first fixing portion in which a first fixing hole is formed,
The second member has a second fixing portion in which a second fixing hole is formed,
The connecting device configured such that the locking portion of the first member is configured so that the second fixing hole and the first fixing hole are aligned when locked to the second member. The locking portion extends along the axis of the first fixing hole,
The locking portion is formed with a locking hole in a direction intersecting with the axis of the first fixing hole,
The connection device according to claim 1, wherein the second member has a protruding portion that protrudes in a direction intersecting with the axis of the second fixing hole. The second fixing portion has a plate shape,
The connection device according to claim 1, wherein the locking portion has a hook shape that can be hooked on the second fixing portion. The second fixing portion has an engagement shaft extending along the axis of the second fixing hole,
The connection device according to claim 3, wherein an engagement recess that engages with the engagement shaft is formed in the first fixing portion in a direction that intersects with an axis of the first fixing hole.