JP2021114414A - Terminal block - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a terminal block which can reliably protect each terminal from overheating even in a structure in which multiple terminals are provided and distances and arrangement between the respective terminals and a temperature sensor are different.SOLUTION: A terminal block includes: a body part; a plurality of metallic terminals inserted into the body part; a temperature sensor disposed in the body part; and a metallic heat transmission member. A material forming the body part is a material having heat conductivity lower than those of the terminals and the heat transmission member. The terminals each include: a first terminal provided close to the temperature sensor; and a second terminal provided spaced apart from the temperature center farther than the first terminal. The heat transmission member is arranged in a manner that one end is located close to the temperature sensor, the other end contacts with the second terminal, and the heat transmission member avoids contacting with the first terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a terminal block, particularly a terminal block for connecting a cable between an indoor unit and an outdoor unit of an air conditioner and a cable connection for a water heater or the like.

The terminal block described in Patent Document 1 is provided with a relay and a temperature sensor inside, and when the temperature limit temperature of the temperature sensor is exceeded, the detection signal of the temperature sensor activates the relay to cut off the power supply. As a result, an overheat protection function that can prevent a situation in which the temperature rises abnormally and a fire occurs due to an arc or damages to electrical equipment is realized.

Registered Utility Model No. 3135586

However, when a plurality of input ends are provided in the terminal block described in Patent Document 1, the temperature rise at the input ends where the temperature sensors are arranged in the vicinity is accurate due to the difference in the distance between each input end and the temperature sensor. On the other hand, the temperature rise at the input end located far from the temperature sensor could not be accurately detected, and there was a risk of overheating. In recent years, a form in which input ends are arranged three-dimensionally in order to efficiently provide a large number of input ends on a small terminal block has been proposed, and in such a form, an input in which accurate temperature sensing is difficult is difficult. The proportion of edges has increased, and there has been concern that the overheat protection function will not function sufficiently.

Therefore, in the present invention, a terminal block is provided with a plurality of terminals having input terminals, and each terminal can be reliably protected from overheating even if the distance and arrangement from each terminal to the temperature sensor are different. The purpose is to provide.

In order to solve the above problems, the terminal block of the present invention includes a main body, a plurality of metal terminals inserted into the main body, a temperature sensor arranged in the main body, and a metal transmission. The material provided with the heat member and constituting the main body is a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the terminal and the heat transfer member. On the other hand, it has a second terminal provided distal to the first terminal, and one end of the heat transfer member is close to the temperature sensor, the other end is in contact with the second terminal, and the heat transfer member is in the first terminal. The feature is that they are arranged so as not to come into contact with each other.

In the terminal block of the present invention, the first terminal is arranged at a position where at least a part overlaps with the temperature sensor in the vertical direction or at a position below the temperature sensor, and the second terminal is arranged in the vertical direction. It is preferable that the terminal is located above both the terminal and the temperature sensor.

In the terminal block of the present invention, it is preferable that the first terminal and the heat transfer member are arranged so that the heat transfer conditions for the temperature sensor are substantially the same.

In the terminal block of the present invention, it is preferable that the first terminal and the heat transfer member are arranged so that the thermal distance to the temperature sensor is substantially the same.

In the terminal block of the present invention, the main body portion includes an accommodating portion for accommodating the temperature sensor inside, the first terminal is in contact with the first wall portion constituting the accommodating portion, and one end of the heat transfer member is It is preferable that the second wall portion, which is different from the first wall portion, is in contact with the second wall portion constituting the accommodating portion.

In the terminal block of the present invention, it is preferable that the first wall portion and the second wall portion have substantially the same thickness, and the temperature sensor is in contact with the first wall portion and the second wall portion.

In the terminal block of the present invention, the temperature sensor is a fuse that is blown when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, and it is preferable that the electric circuit including a plurality of terminals is cut by the blowing.

In the terminal block of the present invention, the terminal and the heat transfer member are preferably made of brass or copper.

In the terminal block of the present invention, the main body is preferably made of polybutylene terephthalate.

According to the present invention, even if a plurality of terminals having input terminals are provided and the distances and arrangements from the terminals to the temperature sensor are different, it is possible to reliably protect each terminal from overheating.

(A) is a perspective view showing an overview of the terminal block according to the embodiment of the present invention, and (b) is a plan view of the terminal block shown in (a). (A) is a perspective view showing the configuration inside the main body according to the embodiment of the present invention, (b) is a perspective view showing the configuration of the first terminal, and (c) is a perspective view showing the configuration of the second terminal. (A) and (b) are perspective views of the structure of the heat transfer member according to the embodiment of the present invention viewed from different angles. (A) and (b) are views of the cross section taken along the line IV-IV'of FIG. 1 (b) as viewed from the left and right respectively. (A) and (b) are partially enlarged views of the cross section taken along the line IV-IV'of FIG. 1 (b), and (a) is before assembling the heat transfer member and the second screw to the main body. The figure which shows the state of (b) is the figure which shows the state which the assembly of (a) is completed. It is a circuit diagram in the terminal block which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, the terminal block according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The terminal block according to this embodiment is suitable for, for example, an air conditioner (air conditioner), a power conditioner, a water heater, a jet towel, and an electric toilet seat.
In each figure, XYZ coordinates are shown as reference coordinates. In the following description, the Z1-Z2 direction is referred to as a vertical direction, the X1-X2 direction is referred to as a front-rear direction, and the Y1-Y2 direction is referred to as a left-right direction. The X1-X2 direction and the Y1-Y2 direction are perpendicular to each other, and the XY plane including them is perpendicular to the Z1-Z2 direction. Further, a state in which the lower side (Z2 side) is viewed from the upper side (Z1 side) may be referred to as a plan view.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the appearance of the terminal block 10 according to the present embodiment, FIG. 1B is a plan view of the terminal block 10, and FIG. 2A shows a configuration inside the main body 20 of the terminal block 10. A perspective view, (b) is a perspective view showing the configuration of the first terminal 31, and (c) is a perspective view showing the configuration of the second terminal 32. 3 (a) and 3 (b) are perspective views of the configuration of the heat transfer member 60 as viewed from different angles. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are cross-sectional views taken along the line IV-IV'of FIG. 1 (b), and FIG. 4 (a) is viewed along the 4A and 4A' directions (directions from left to right). The cross-sectional view, (b) is a cross-sectional view seen along the 4B and 4B'directions (directions from right to left). 5 (b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of FIG. 4 (a), and FIG. 5 (a) is a cross-sectional view at the same position as (b), and heat is transferred to the main body 20. It is a figure which showed the state before assembling the member 60 and the 2nd screw 42. FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of the terminal block 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, or 2A, the terminal block 10 has a main body 20 and six terminals 31, 32, 33, 34 inserted into the main body 20. It includes 35 and 36, a temperature sensor 50, and a heat transfer member 60. Further, the terminal block 10 has a first screw 41 screwed into the front end portion of the first terminal 31, a second screw 42 screwed into the front end portion of the second terminal 32, and both ends of the third terminal 33. The third screw 43 and the seventh screw 47, which are screwed into each other, the fourth screw 44, which is screwed into the front end of the fourth terminal 34, and the fifth screw, which is screwed into the front end of the fifth terminal 35, respectively. It includes a 45 and a sixth screw 46 screwed into the front end of the sixth terminal 36. Here, the third terminal 33 is folded up and down, and two screws 43 and 47 are arranged at both ends thereof, respectively.

The terminal block 10 is provided with six terminals 31 to 36 and screws corresponding to them, but at least the first terminal 31 close to the temperature sensor 50 and the temperature sensor 50 are more than the first terminal 31. The number of terminals may be any number of 2 or more as long as it is provided with the second terminal 32 provided at the distal end.

A plurality of cables (not shown) are inserted into the terminal block 10 from the outside of the main body 20, and these cables are sandwiched between the corresponding terminals and the corresponding screw washers. For example, taking the first terminal 31 as an example, an input end that sandwiches the core wire of the cable between the first screw 41 and one end 31a (front end) (see FIG. 2B) of the first terminal 31. Is configured, and the other end 31b (rear end) of the first terminal 31 is configured as an output end (see FIGS. 2B and 6). Such a configuration is the same for terminals 32 other than the first terminal 31.

The main body 20 is made of, for example, a resin material as a material having low thermal conductivity, heat resistance and electrical insulation. The thermal conductivity is preferably at least sufficiently lower than that of the six metal terminals 31 to 36 and the heat transfer member 60, and is preferably 0.5 W / m · K or less, for example. When polybutylene terephthalate is used for the main body 20, its thermal conductivity is about 0.25 W / m · K.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the main body 20 includes an accommodating portion 20a as a space for accommodating the temperature sensor 50 inside. The accommodating portion 20a surrounds the temperature sensor 50 from the front-rear direction (X1-X2 direction) and the vertical direction (Z1-Z2 direction), and the temperature sensor 50 is inserted into the accommodating portion 20a along the left-right direction. .. More specifically, the accommodating portion 20a is provided by four wall portions: a bottom wall portion 21 as a first wall portion, a rear wall portion 22 as a second wall portion, a front wall portion 23, and an upper wall portion 24. It surrounds the temperature sensor 50. The temperature sensor 50 has a rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, and the front and rear surfaces and the upper and lower surfaces are in contact with these four wall portions, respectively. Further, assuming that the thicknesses of these four wall portions are the same as each other, a member that contacts or is close to the wall portion, for example, a first terminal 31 that contacts the bottom wall portion 21 or a heat transfer member that contacts the rear wall portion 22. The thermal distance between the 60 and the temperature sensor 50 can be the same as each other. Here, the thermal distance means a distance corresponding to the heat conduction efficiency based on the thermal conductivity and thickness of the material or air interposed between the two members.

Further, depending on the design conditions of the terminal block 10, (1) the material and thickness of the four wall portions 21 to 24 constituting the accommodating portion 20a, and (2) a member in contact with or close to these wall portions, for example, the first. 1 By adjusting the material and thickness of the terminal 31 and the heat transfer member 60, the amount of gap between the wall portion, and (3) the facing area between these members and the wall portions 21 to 24, etc., to each terminal. The amount of heat dissipated (atmospheric heat amount) generated by applying a current can be made variable, and the heat transfer conditions for transmitting the amount of heat dissipated in each terminel to the temperature sensor 50 can be made the same.

It is also possible to arrange the temperature sensor 50 in the accommodating portion 20a so that there is a gap between the wall portions 21 to 24, and in this case, the amount of the gap between the wall portions is substantially the same. Then, the thermal distances of the members in contact with or close to each wall portion can be made substantially the same as each other.

As shown in FIG. 1B or FIG. 2A, six terminals 31 to 36 are inserted into the main body 20 so as to extend in the front-rear direction. These terminals are arranged in two upper and lower tiers, the first terminal 31 and the sixth terminal 36 are arranged in the lower tier, and the second terminal 32, the fourth terminal 34, and the fifth terminal 35 are arranged in the left-right direction in the upper tier. They are arranged in order. The second terminal 32 is arranged above the first terminal 31, and the fourth terminal 34 is arranged above the sixth terminal 36. Further, in the left-right direction, the third terminal 33 is arranged between the second terminal 32 and the fourth terminal 34, and the third terminal 33 is also formed in the upper stage by bending the rear end portion of the plate material extending back and forth in the lower stage. It is formed so as to extend back and forth. Further, the front end portions of the terminals 31, 33 (lower part) and 36 located in the lower stage are located on the front side of the front end portions of the terminals 32, 33 (upper part), 34 and 35 located in the upper stage.

The six terminals 31 to 36 are made of metal materials formed into elongated plates having the same thickness as each other. For example, they are made of brass and copper and have high thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity. The shapes of the six terminals can be arbitrarily set according to the design conditions of the terminal block 10.

The first terminal 31 shown in FIG. 2B has the same shape as the sixth terminal 36, and has a screw hole through which the first screw 41 passes through one end 31a (front end) in the longitudinal direction in the thickness direction. 31c is provided as an input end, and the other end 31b (rear end) is an output end as described above. The second terminal 32 shown in FIG. 2C has the same shape as the fourth terminal 34 and the fifth terminal 35, and the second screw 42 is attached to one end 32a (front end) in the longitudinal direction in the thickness direction. A screw hole 32c is provided so as to be an input end, and the other end 32b (rear end) is an output end as described above.

When the position of the rear end portion 31b of the first terminal 31 is aligned with the position of the rear end portion 32b of the second terminal 32 in the front-rear direction (X1-X2 direction), the front end portion 31a of the second terminal 32 It has a length that protrudes forward from the front end portion 32a. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1B, the first screw 41 inserted and screwed into the screw hole 31c of the first terminal 31 and the washer arranged between the first screw 41 and the first terminal 31. 41a is located in front of the second terminal 32 in a plan view. Here, the first screw 41 and the washer 41a are made of metal, for example, iron.

The temperature sensor 50 is a fuse that blows when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, and is connected to the detection unit 53 via the wirings 51 and 52 (see FIG. 6). The predetermined temperature is set higher than the temperature when a normal amount of current is passed through each terminal, and is set to a temperature sufficiently lower than the heat resistant temperature and melting point of the material constituting the main body 20. For example, a current enters the temperature sensor 50 from the third terminal 33 via the wiring 51, and the current passing through the temperature sensor 50 reaches the detection unit 53 via the wiring 52. When the temperature sensor 50 exceeds the predetermined temperature, the current does not flow to the detection unit 53 because it is blown, so that it is detected that the inside of the main body 20 has reached a high temperature. This detection result is output to a control unit (not shown) of the device provided with the terminal block 10, and the electric circuit including the terminals 31 to 36 is disconnected.

The predetermined temperature is set as a temperature corresponding to the amount of heat radiated when a large current of a predetermined amount or more flows through the terminal and becomes overheated. Since the temperature sensor 50 melts when the temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature set in this way, it is possible to realize protection from overheating. In addition, if the screws are not sufficiently tightened with respect to the terminal, the contact between the two becomes unstable, and the current may concentrate and flow in a region with a small contact area, resulting in an overheated state. In this case as well, the temperature sensor 50 melts when the temperature corresponding to the amount of heat radiated exceeds the above-mentioned predetermined temperature, so that the overheat protection function functions reliably.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the heat transfer member 60 is formed by bending a metal plate having a certain thickness, and when arranged in the main body 20, the heat transfer member 60 is arranged in the front-rear direction (X1). An upper surface portion 61 extending along a surface including the −X2 direction) and a left-right direction (Y1-Y2 direction), and a connecting portion 62 extending downward (Z2 direction) from the right end (Y1 side end) of the upper surface portion 61. A lower surface portion 63 extending from the front end (end on the X1 side) of the connecting portion 62 to the left side (Y2 direction) is provided. The heat transfer member 60 is made of, for example, brass or copper, and has a high thermal conductivity.

The shape of the heat transfer member 60 is not limited to that shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. For example, a connecting portion is provided so as to extend downward from the left end of the upper surface portion 61, and the front end of the connecting portion is provided. It is also possible to provide a lower surface portion so as to extend from the to the right side.

As shown in FIGS. 2A, 4A, 4B, or 5B, when the heat transfer member 60 is arranged in the main body 20, the upper surface 61 is the second terminal 32. The connecting portion 62 and the lower surface portion 63 are inserted into the space 20b adjacent to the rear of the accommodating portion 20a, and the lower surface portion 63 is in surface contact with the rear wall portion 22. .. Therefore, the lower surface portion 63 is arranged to face the temperature sensor 50 via the rear wall portion 22 and is close to the temperature sensor 50. Further, the lower end of the lower surface portion 63 is not in contact with the first terminal 31 due to the bottom wall 25 of the space 20b. That is, the heat transfer member 60 is arranged so that one end is close to the temperature sensor 50 and the other end is in contact with the second terminal 32 and not with the first terminal 31.

Here, the second screw 42 and the washer 42a are made of metal, for example, iron, and the other screws 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 and the washers corresponding to these are also the second screw 42 and the washer 42a. Consists of the same metal as.

If the heat transfer conditions from the terminal 1 31 to the temperature sensor 50 and the heat transfer conditions between the heat transfer member 60 and the temperature sensor 50 are the same or substantially the same, the lower surface portion 63 of the heat transfer member 60 May be arranged so as to come into contact with the temperature sensor 50, or the upper surface portion 61 of the heat transfer member 60 may be arranged so as to be close to the second terminal 32. The heat transfer conditions are substantially the same when the fusing temperature of the temperature sensor 50 is within a range that can be regarded as substantially the same in view of the specifications of the terminal block 10.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the second terminal 32 is inserted from the rear side to the front side with respect to the main body portion 20 into which the first terminal 31 and the first screw 41 are previously inserted, and the space 20b is above. It is arranged so as to cover from (see FIG. 5 (b)). Next, as shown in FIG. 5A again, the heat transfer member 60 is inserted from top to bottom, and further, the second screw 42 is inserted downward from above the heat transfer member 60. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5B, in the heat transfer member 60, the upper surface portion 61 is in surface contact with the upper surface of the second terminal 32, and the lower surface portion 63 is in surface contact with or close to the rear wall portion 22. .. The core wire (not shown) of the cable inserted through and screwed in the second screw 42 in the vertical direction and further inserted into the main body 20 from the outside with respect to the heat transfer member 60 and the second terminal 32 in this state. The cable and the second terminal 32 are placed between the washer 42a of the second screw 42 and the upper surface portion 61, and the second screw 42 is screwed and tightened with respect to the heat transfer member 60 and the second terminal 32. Are electrically conductive with each other. At this time, the second screw 42, the upper surface portion 61, and the second terminal 32 are thermally connected to each other, and the heat generated when a current is applied from the cable through the second terminal 32 is generated through the upper surface portion 61 on the lower surface. It conducts to the portion 63, and further conducts to the temperature sensor 50 via the front wall portion 23.

The assembling process of the second terminal 32, the contact state of each member, and the electrical contact are the same for the first terminal 31 and other terminals. In the first terminal 31, the heat generated when the first screw 41 and the first terminal 31 are thermally connected to each other and a current is applied through the first terminal 31 from a cable (not shown) sandwiched between them. Is conducted to the temperature sensor 50 via the bottom wall portion 21.

By making the heat transfer conditions from the first terminal 31 to the temperature sensor 50 and the heat transfer conditions from the heat transfer member 60 to the temperature sensor 50 the same or substantially the same, the heat generated by the current flowing through the second terminal 32 The amount of heat radiated from the above can be detected by the temperature sensor 50 in the same manner as the amount of heat radiated by the heat generated by the current flowing through the terminal 1. Therefore, by providing the heat transfer member 60, it is possible to detect the temperature change due to heat in the same manner quickly and surely regardless of the distance from the temperature sensor 50 or the arrangement with respect to the temperature sensor 50.

Here, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the temperature sensor 50 is located above the first terminal 31 in the vertical direction (Z1-Z2 direction) and is located above the second terminal 32. Although it is arranged below the temperature sensor 50, the effect of being able to detect the temperature change due to heat in the same manner quickly and reliably regardless of the distance from the temperature sensor 50 or the arrangement with respect to the temperature sensor 50 is the first effect. It is also obtained when one or both of Terminal 1 31 and Terminal 2 32 are in a position where they partially overlap with the temperature sensor 50 in the vertical direction.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the above-described embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be improved or modified within the purpose of improvement or the idea of the present invention.

As described above, the terminal block according to the present invention is provided with a plurality of terminals, and even if the distance and arrangement from each terminal to the temperature sensor are different, each terminal is surely protected from overheating. It is useful in that it can be done.

10 Terminal block 20 Main body 20a Storage 20b Space 21 Bottom wall 22 Rear wall 23 Front wall 24 Top wall 25 Bottom wall 31 Terminal 1 31a Front end 31b Rear end 31c Screw hole 32 Terminal 2 32a Front end Part 32b Rear end 32c Screw hole 33 Terminal 3 34 Terminal 4 35 Terminal 5 36 Terminal 6 41 1st screw 41a Washer 42 2nd screw 42a Washer 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 Screw 50 Temperature sensor 51 , 52 Wiring 53 Detection part 61 Upper surface part 62 Connecting part 63 Lower surface part

Claims (9)

With the main body
A plurality of metal terminals inserted into the main body,
The temperature sensor arranged in the main body and
Equipped with a metal heat transfer member,
The material constituting the main body is a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the terminal and the heat transfer member.
The terminal has a first terminal provided close to the temperature sensor and a second terminal provided distal to the first terminal with respect to the temperature sensor.
The terminal block is characterized in that one end thereof is close to the temperature sensor and the other end of the heat transfer member is arranged so as to be in contact with the second terminal and not to be in contact with the first terminal. The terminal 1 is arranged at a position where at least a part of the temperature sensor overlaps or a position below the temperature sensor in the vertical direction.
The terminal block according to claim 1, wherein the second terminal is arranged at a position above both the first terminal and the temperature sensor in the vertical direction. The terminal block according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first terminal and the heat transfer member are arranged so that the heat transfer conditions for the temperature sensor are substantially the same. The terminal block according to claim 3, wherein the terminal 1 and the heat transfer member are arranged so that the thermal distance to the temperature sensor is substantially the same. The main body includes an accommodating portion for accommodating the temperature sensor inside.
The terminal 1 is in contact with the first wall portion constituting the housing portion, and is in contact with the first wall portion.
The terminal block according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein one end of the heat transfer member is in contact with a second wall portion constituting the accommodating portion, which is different from the first wall portion. .. The first wall portion and the second wall portion have substantially the same thickness and have substantially the same thickness.
The terminal block according to claim 5, wherein the temperature sensor is in contact with the first wall portion and the second wall portion. The terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the temperature sensor is a fuse that is blown when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, and the electric circuit including the plurality of terminals is cut by the blowing. The stand. The terminal block according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the terminal and the heat transfer member are made of brass or copper. The terminal block according to claim 8, wherein the main body is made of polybutylene terephthalate.

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