JP3320055B2 - Automatic wire connection - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a high-current automatic connection device used for testing a watt-hour meter or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A manufactured watt-hour meter is supplied with an actual current before shipment, and is tested to determine whether the measurement accuracy satisfies a predetermined standard. As for the connection terminal of the instrument with small current capacity, the one that clamps the electric wire between the terminal plate and tightens with screws is used,
In an instrument with a rated current of 120 A used in a factory or the like, for example, a cylindrical terminal having an inner diameter of 12 mmφ corresponding to the diameter of an electric wire is used. I have.

[0003] When a watt hour meter having a cylindrical terminal for a large current is tested as described above, connecting the electric wires by hand increases the operation cost, so that an automatic connection device is generally used in many cases. .

In a conventional automatic connection device, a wedge-shaped current terminal is inserted and connected to a cylindrical connection terminal by a solenoid. As shown in FIG. 21, a plurality of watt-hour meters are positioned and supported. A plurality of automatic connection devices C corresponding to the positions of the cylindrical terminals of each watt-hour meter B supported on the test stand A
Are arranged, and at the start of the test, the solenoids D are simultaneously operated to perform connection.

[0005]

In the above-mentioned conventional automatic connection device, it is necessary to arrange a solenoid for each current terminal, and the size of the connection device is increased, and the number of solenoids is increased, so that the cost is increased. There was a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic connection device which can reduce the size of the automatic connection device and can suppress an increase in cost even if a number of automatic connection devices are arranged.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic connection device in which a current terminal for testing is connected to a cylindrical terminal for inserting an electric wire and fixing the electric wire with a screw inserted from an outer wall. In the automatic connection device to be inserted and connected, a cylindrical current terminal having a slightly smaller outer shape than the cylindrical terminal and having an axial split groove for dividing a tip end portion, and the split groove inside the current terminal. A bag-shaped tube inserted up to a position where the tube reaches a position, and a gas supply pipe for supplying / exhausting compressed gas to / from this tube, and when a current terminal is inserted into the cylindrical terminal, a compressed gas is supplied to the tube. It is characterized in that the electrical connection is made by expanding the tip portion, which is divided by the split groove of the current terminal, to elastically expand the diameter and press the inner terminal wall of the cylindrical terminal.

[0008] The automatic connection device according to claim 2 of the present invention,
In an automatic connection device that inserts and connects an electric current terminal for testing to a cylindrical terminal that inserts the electric wire and fixes the electric wire with a screw that is screwed in from the outer wall, the external terminal has a cylindrical shape slightly smaller in external shape than the cylindrical terminal, The tip is divided by the split groove in the axial direction, and the current terminal, into which the bag-shaped tube is inserted until it reaches the split groove inside, is inserted and held in the insulating block with the tip protruding upward. A current terminal fixing band attached to the lower part of the current terminal projecting downward, and two guide rails arranged in parallel, and the insulating block is formed between the guide rails. By fitting while adjusting the position with the set guide groove,
A connection device receiving base for slidably holding a plurality of the connection devices, and by sliding each connection device, at intervals between the cylindrical terminals of the watt hour meter that differ depending on the specification,
It is characterized in that the intervals between the current terminals are matched.

The invention according to claim 3 of the present invention is characterized in that, in the automatic connection device according to claim 1 or 2, the tip of the current terminal is divided into four or more by split grooves.

[0010] The invention according to claim 4 of the present invention is directed to the automatic connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The electric current terminal is characterized in that a concave portion having a shape surrounding the wire fixing screw protruding into the cylindrical terminal is formed at a tip end portion.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS.
In 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a connector mounting plate, on which an automatic wire connecting device is assembled and attached to a front plate of a test stand (not shown) which suspends and supports the watt-hour meter. 2
Is a frame-shaped connector holder mounted on the connector mounting plate 1, and two guide rails 3a, 3b are connected to the two side plates 4a, 4b.
b, they are fixed in parallel at a predetermined interval. Reference numerals 5, 5,... Are slidably mounted on the cradle receiving stand. The diaper 5 has a cylindrical current terminal 6 having an axial split groove formed at the end, as shown in FIG. The current terminal 6 is inserted and fixed in the insulating block 8 so that the tip protrudes, and a current terminal fixing band 9 is provided in a portion protruding below the insulating block.
Is fixed, and a gas supply pipe 10 for feeding air into the tube 7 is attached to the lowermost end of the projection.

The structure of the connector receiver 2 and the connector 5 is as follows.
Further explanation will be given. The connector receiver 2 has an assembly structure as shown in FIGS. The guide rails 3a, 3b are formed with guide grooves 11 at the upper and lower ends for slidingly fitting the insulating block 8. One of the guide rails 3a is fixed by screws along the connector mounting plate 1, and two side plates 4a and 4b are arranged on both sides thereof, and are fixed by screws to the connector mounting plate 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the other guide rail 3b is in a state parallel to the front end of the two side plates 4a and 4b with a certain distance from the one guide rail 3a, with the insulating block 8 interposed therebetween. , Fixed with screws.

The connection device 5 is configured by combining components as shown in FIGS. FIG. 9 shows the current terminal 6, which is manufactured by cutting or the like using a chromium copper or brass bar, for example.

The current terminal 6 has a cylindrical shape, and has a cylindrical terminal contact portion 6a slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical terminal of the watt hour meter at the tip end. This cylindrical terminal contact portion 6a includes:
A split groove 6b in the axial direction is formed at the tip, and is divided into four, so that the tip can elastically expand and contract in diameter. The length of the cylindrical terminal contact portion 6a is
The part divided by is elastically expanded with a small force.
It is determined so that the diameter can be reduced.

The smaller the number of divisions by the dividing groove 6b, the easier the processing and the higher the durability. However, if the number of divisions is not increased to some extent, the contact resistance with the cylindrical terminal increases, and it is necessary to take measures against heat generation. Occurs. The number of divisions 4 is selected in order to reduce the contact resistance and ensure the easiness of processing and the durability. A concave portion 6c having a substantially semicircular cross section is formed on the distal end surface so as to surround an electric wire fixing screw protruding into the cylindrical terminal, and the distal end edge 6d is chamfered. To ensure smooth insertion.

A large-diameter portion 6e for externally mounting the current terminal fixing band 9 is formed on the base side. The corner of the large diameter portion 6e on the side of the cylindrical terminal contact portion also functions as a positioning portion for the insulating block 8. A screw 6f for connecting the gas supply pipe 10 is cut on the outer periphery of the end of the base. A hole 6g is formed in the current terminal 6 from the end on the side of the base until it reaches near the distal end surface, and forms a space for housing the tube 7 therein. The hole 6g is cut to the deepest portion with the same diameter so that the tip of the current terminal 6 is easily bent.

FIG. 10 shows a tube 7, which is made of, for example, ethylene propylene rubber and is formed in a shape closely contacting the hole 6g of the current terminal 6. This open end 7
The diameter of a is so large that it does not enter the hole 6g and does not become higher than the root of the screw 6f, and this portion functions as a seal. This material may be a flexible material having a certain strength, but it is soft to some extent for efficient use of air pressure, and may have heat resistance because there is a risk of heat generation at the contact portion. preferable.

FIG. 11 shows a rectangular parallelepiped insulating block 8 made of, for example, Duracon, which is an insulating material, and a through-hole in which the cylindrical terminal contact portion 6a of the current terminal 6 is fitted closely at the longitudinal center thereof. 8a are formed, and grooves 8b, 8b are formed on the sides thereof to slide into guide rails 3a, 3b having guide grooves 11, 11, respectively. Also, groove 8
A screw hole 8c for screwing a rotation stopper (not shown) is formed in one of the holes b. The sharp portion of the detent tip screwed into the screw hole 8c is inserted into the base of the split groove 6b formed in the current terminal 6, and keeps the posture of the current terminal 6 relative to the insulating block 8 in the rotation direction constant. . This is for maintaining the direction of the concave portion 6c formed on the end face of the current terminal 6 in a direction following the wire fixing screw screwed into the cylindrical terminal.

FIG. 12 shows a current terminal connection band 9, which is connected to one end of a thick copper band at the large diameter portion 6e of the current terminal.
In order to form a through hole 9a that fits into the hole 9a and a forked portion 9b, a cut 9c formed from one side so as to be connected to the through hole 9a, and a screw hole 9d that passes through the forked portion 9b are formed. At the end, a screw hole 9e for connecting an electric wire extending from a power source for testing is formed. The current terminal connection band 9 is covered with the large-diameter portion 6e of the current terminal 6 by slightly opening the forked portion 9b, and is tightened by a male screw (not shown) screwed into the screw hole 9d to reduce contact resistance. Is connected to the current terminal 6 mechanically and electrically.

FIGS. 13A and 13B show a hose joint connected to the base opening of the current terminal 6. The hose joint 12 is a cylindrical body having an annular projection 12a at one end, and is made of, for example, Duracon. FIG.
(C) shows a nut 13 with a locking flange for fixing the hose joint 12 to the current terminal 6. As shown in FIG. 4, the hose joint 12 is fixed by inserting a bag-shaped tube 7 into the hole 6g of the current terminal 6 so that the large-diameter portion 7a at the open end of the tube 7 has the open end (screw) of the hole 6g. 6
f), the hose joint 12
Is inserted into the tube, and a nut 13 with a flange is fitted to a screw 6f at the base end of the current terminal 6, and the flange 12
By tightening the large-diameter portion 7a while compressing it with a, the airtight fixing is performed.

FIG. 14 shows an elbow 14 attached to the hose joint 12 for supplying compressed air from the side.
Is shown. This uses a commercial product for compressed air piping.

The automatic connection device 15 having the above-described configuration is similar to that shown in FIG.
Then, in the state shown in FIG. 16, the connection of the watt hour meter 16 to the cylindrical terminal is made. The terminal 17 of the watt hour meter 16
As shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, the metallic cylindrical terminal 18
Are embedded in the insulating material 19 in a predetermined arrangement, and have a structure in which two male screws 20 are screwed into each cylindrical terminal at a time to hold down and fix the electric wire.

As shown in FIG. 18, on a front panel 21 of the test table, a hook 24 is supported by a guide mechanism 22 so as to be vertically movable and urged upward by a spring 23.
Is protruding. On the other hand, on the back of the top of the watt hour meter 16,
Locking member 1 having a hole to be hooked on hook 24
6a is attached. Therefore, the watt hour meter 16
Is hooked on the hook 24 and lowered by its own weight. As shown in FIG. 15 and FIG.
, The current terminal 6 becomes as shown in FIG.
It is inserted into the cylindrical terminal 18 of the watt hour meter.

Before the test, the watt-hour meter has a male screw 20 for fixing the electric wire protruding into the cylindrical terminal in preparation for shipment. Therefore, the current terminal 6 is inserted only halfway, as shown in FIG. However, at the tip of the current terminal 6, a concave portion 6c having a shape surrounding the male screw 20 is formed.
The current terminal 6 is inserted into the cylindrical terminal 18 up to near the center of the male screw 20.

In this state, when the common air pump simultaneously supplies air pressure to each tube 7 to expand it, the four-part cylindrical terminal contact portion 6a of the current terminal 6 expands, and As shown in FIG. 19B, the cylindrical terminal 18 is pressed against the inner surface. Since this pressure welding is performed on all of the four divided surfaces, the contact resistance can be reduced even if the length of insertion into the cylindrical terminal is short. The connection state is the same as the connection state. The air pressure is, for example, 5 kg / cm square.

When the test of the watt-hour meter 16 is completed, the pipe that has supplied compressed air to each current terminal 6 is opened to the atmosphere. As a result, the tube 7 contracts, and the distal end portion 6a of the current terminal 6 is reduced in diameter to a state as shown in FIG. Thus, the watt hour meter 16 can be removed from the test stand to end the test.

In the structure in which the tube 7 is housed in the current terminals 6 having the split grooves 6b as described above, it is only necessary to pipe each current terminal 6 from an air pump, and it is necessary to arrange a solenoid for each current terminal. The area around the current terminals can be reduced. Further, the connection operation only needs to open and close the common air valve, and the opening and closing control mechanism is simplified.

In the watt-hour meter to be tested, the arrangement of the tubular terminals 18 is slightly different depending on the manufacturer. Therefore, in the present invention, the plurality of connection devices 5 are slidably held on the connection device receiving base 2 so that alignment can be easily performed.

This positioning can be easily performed by using a positioning jig 25 as shown in FIG. The positioning jig 25 is provided at both ends 25a, 25a of the flat strip.
Is bent into an L-shape so as to fit from both sides of the connector holder 2 from above, and the flat plate portion 25b is arranged in accordance with the arrangement interval of the cylindrical terminals 18 of the watt hour meter to be positioned. Current terminal fitting inlets 25c, 25c,... Are formed. The arrangement intervals a, b, c, d,
e is adapted to the type of watt hour meter. In other words, a positioning jig 25 is prepared for each type of watt-hour meter, and when the type of watt-hour meter to be tested is changed, a matching positioning jig 25 is fitted to the connector receiver 2 from above, and Each current terminal 6
The insulating block 8 is slid left and right so that the current terminal fits into the current terminal fitting inlets 25c. In order to test a large number of watt-hour meters simultaneously, a large number of automatic connection devices 5 are arranged on the test stand. Therefore, if the positioning jig 25 is used when changing the test target model, the time required for changing the test target model can be greatly reduced, and the test cost can be reduced.

Although the above description has been made with respect to the watt-hour meter, the connection device 5 according to the present invention is configured such that a round-core wire is inserted into a cylindrical terminal, and all the connection terminals to be pressed and fixed from the side with screws are connected. This can be applied to connection for testing.

[0031]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the tube in which the distal end portion of the current terminal divided by the split groove is applied is expanded by applying gas pressure to expand the diameter of the tube, and the inner surface of the cylindrical terminal is expanded. An electrical connection with low contact resistance is performed by close contact. Therefore, it suffices to provide only a compressed gas pipe to the connection device, and the structure around the connection device can be made simple, and handling such as alignment can be facilitated. In addition, since it is not necessary to separately arrange components such as solenoids, costs can be reduced, and maintenance work becomes easy by reducing the number of components.

In the invention according to claim 2 of the present invention, a plurality of connection devices are slidably held on the connection device receiving base.
It becomes possible to test a test object having a different arrangement of the cylindrical terminals with one connection device.

In the invention according to claim 3 of the present invention, the number of divisions by the split groove at the tip of the current terminal is set to four or more, so that the contact resistance with the cylindrical terminal at the time of connection is reduced, and Can be prevented.

According to the invention of claim 4 of the present invention, by forming a concave portion having a shape surrounding the screw for tightening the electric wire at the tip of the current terminal, the screw for tightening the electric wire is inserted into the cylindrical terminal. Connection allows for a connection that maximizes the contact area. This can also reduce the contact resistance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of an automatic connection device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing an embodiment of the automatic connection device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the automatic connection device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state where a tube is inserted into the current terminal of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing the terminal receiving base fixed to the connection device mounting plate in the automatic connection device of FIG. 1;

6 is a plan view of the mounting state of FIG. 5 as viewed from above.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the mounting state of FIG. 5 as viewed from the side.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the connector receiver of FIG. 5;

9 is a plan view (a), a front view (b), a bottom view (c), and a side view (d) showing a current terminal used in the automatic connection device of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a plan view (a) and a front view (b) showing a tube used in the automatic connection device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a plan view (a), a front view (b), and a side view (c) showing an insulating block used in the automatic connection device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a plan view (a), a front view (b), and a side view (c) showing a current terminal fixing band used in the automatic connection device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a plan view (a) and a front view (b) showing a hose joint used in the automatic connection device of FIG. 1;
The front view (c) which shows the nut which fixes this.

FIG. 14 is a front view showing an elbow used in the automatic connection device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is a front view showing a state where the automatic connection device of FIG. 1 is connected to a watt hour meter;

FIG. 16 is a side view showing the connection state of FIG. 15 as viewed from the side.

17A and 17B are a plan view and a bottom view showing a terminal plate of a watt hour meter.

FIG. 18 is a side view showing a structure for suspending and holding a watt hour meter on a test table.

19A and 19B are cross-sectional views illustrating a connection state of a current terminal to a cylindrical terminal, where FIG. 19A illustrates a state before the current terminal is expanded, and FIG. 19B illustrates a state after the expansion.

FIG. 20 is a plan view (a) and a side view (b) showing a positioning jig used to make the arrangement of the current terminals supported by the connector receiver corresponding to the watt hour meter to be tested. .

FIG. 21 is a front view showing an example of the arrangement of the automatic connection device on a test table.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wiring device mounting plate 2 Wiring device receiving stand 3a, 3b Guide rail 5 Wiring device 6 Current terminal 6a Cylindrical terminal contact part 6b Split groove 6c Semicircular recess 6d Tip edge 6e For exteriorizing current terminal fixing band 9 Large-diameter portion 6f Pipe connection screw 6g Hole for installing tube 7 Bag-shaped tube 8 Insulation block 8a Through hole 8b, 8b Groove 8c Screw hole 9 Current terminal fixing band 10 Compressed gas piping 15 Automatic connector 16 Watt hour meter 16a Locking member 17 Terminal part 19 Cylindrical terminal 20 Male screw 21 Front panel 22 Guide mechanism 23 Spring 24 Hook 25 Positioning jig

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Toyo Fukuda 3-45-15 Takeshima, Nishiyodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi Inside Fukuda Seiko Co., Ltd. No. Fukuda Seiko Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A 6-64166 (JP, U) JP-A 58-123578 (JP, U) (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01R 11/04 G01R 1/04

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An automatic connection device in which a test current terminal is inserted and connected to a cylindrical terminal for inserting an electric wire and fixing the electric wire with a screw screwed from an outer wall, wherein the external shape is slightly smaller than the cylindrical terminal. A cylindrical current terminal having a small, axially dividing groove for dividing the distal end portion, a bag-shaped tube inserted into the current terminal up to a position reaching the dividing groove, and compressed into the tube. A gas supply pipe for supplying and exhausting gas, and when a current terminal is inserted into the cylindrical terminal, a compressed gas is supplied to the tube to expand it, and the tip divided by the split groove of the current terminal is elastically provided. An automatic connection device wherein electrical connection is made by expanding the diameter of the cylindrical terminal and pressing the inner surface of the cylindrical terminal into pressure. 2. An automatic connection device in which a current terminal for test is inserted and connected to a cylindrical terminal for inserting an electric wire and fixing the electric wire with a screw screwed in from an outer wall, the outer shape being slightly smaller than the cylindrical terminal. The current terminal, which has a cylindrical shape and whose tip is divided by an axial split groove, and into which a bag-shaped tube is inserted until it reaches the split groove,
A connection terminal formed by inserting and holding an insulating block with its tip protruding upward and attaching a current terminal fixing band below a current terminal protruding below the insulating block; and two guide rails arranged in parallel And connecting the insulating block between the guide rails while restricting the positions of the insulating blocks with the guide grooves formed mutually, thereby connecting a plurality of the connection devices to a connection device receiving base. An automatic connection device comprising: a connection device that slides each connection device so that the spacing between the current terminals matches the spacing between the cylindrical terminals of the watt hour meter that differs depending on the specification. 3. The automatic connection device according to claim 1, wherein the tip of the current terminal is divided into four or more by a dividing groove. 4. The current terminal according to claim 1, wherein a recess is formed at a tip of the current terminal and surrounds the wire fixing screw projecting into the cylindrical terminal. Automatic termination.