JP3984198B2 - Terminal block - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a terminal block suitable for use in an environment where cooling oil or the like falls.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, a hybrid vehicle (HEV) that uses both an engine and a motor has been developed due to increasing interest in environmental issues. The hybrid vehicle motor is manufactured separately from the engine, and then housed in the engine case and assembled together. For this reason, the stator winding of the motor and the external power supply line are connected by a terminal block provided in the engine case. As a terminal block that can be used for such a purpose, for example, a terminal block described in Patent Document 1 is known, and in an engine case, terminals are provided in a state where they are arranged vertically.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-144783
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the terminal block having the above configuration is used for a long period of time, there is a problem that a leakage current between the terminals gradually increases. The reason for this is as follows.
[0005]
The motor terminal block of the hybrid vehicle is used in a state where it can be exposed to engine cooling oil (for example, ATF) in the engine case. For this reason, when the terminals are provided side by side on the terminal block, an ATF channel is formed from the upper terminal toward the lower terminal. The terminal block may be provided with a groove between the terminals in order to secure a creeping distance between the terminals and enhance insulation, and the ATF stays in this groove, so that the upper terminal and the lower terminal The amount of ATF that accumulates between the terminal and the terminal may further increase.
[0006]
The inside of the engine case is originally used in a state where it is shut off from the outside air. However, when the temperature rises and falls repeatedly, air slightly enters the engine case by a so-called breathing action. For this reason, the ATF absorbs moisture in the outside air over a long period of use, and the insulation performance deteriorates.
[0007]
When the ATF having a deteriorated insulation performance is applied to the terminal block in this way, a leakage current through the ATF accumulated between the terminals formed side by side flows between the terminals. As a result, the earth leakage breaker may be activated.
[0008]
The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a terminal block that does not deteriorate the insulation performance even when used for a long period of time.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made on the basis of the above knowledge, and as means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 is provided such that a plurality of terminals protrude from a synthetic resin base. The terminal block is mounted so that the terminals are aligned in the vertical direction, and between the terminals adjacent to each other in the vertical direction, a flange plate is formed to protrude from the base, On the surface on which the terminal is formed, a discharge groove for flowing the liquid adhering to the base to the side is formed in a portion above the cover plate, and the upper wall surface of the discharge groove Is inclined, and the discharge groove is formed in a shape that becomes narrower toward the back side .
[0011]
The invention of claim 2 is the terminal block of claim 1 wherein the upper surface of the eaves board is characterized by slope inclined downward as the distal end side is formed.
[0012]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the terminal block according to the first or second aspect , a side edge of the saddle plate is inclined downward.
[0013]
[Action and effect of the invention]
<Invention of Claim 1>
When a liquid with reduced insulation performance falls from above the terminal block, the liquid may adhere to a terminal located above and then drop downward from the terminal. According to the first aspect of the present invention, the liquid dripping downward from the upper terminal does not fall on the lower terminal, but first, the ridge formed by protruding from the base between the upper and lower adjacent terminals. Fall on the board. Thereby, it is possible to prevent a flow path that directly flows around the lower terminal from being formed, and it is possible to suppress a leakage current from flowing between the terminals.
[0014]
Moreover , since the discharge groove for flowing the liquid adhering on the base to the side is formed, the liquid adhering to the base surface is discharged to the side of the terminal block through the discharge groove. .
[0015]
Further, since the discharge groove is formed in the base, the creeping distance between the upper terminal and the lower terminal can be increased, and as a result, the leakage current flowing between the terminals can be reduced.
[0016]
<Invention of Claim 2 >
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the liquid falling or flowing down on the saddle plate continuously flows down along the slope descending toward the tip side, so that the liquid can be prevented from staying on the saddle plate. Further, the reduction in leakage current between terminals can be further ensured.
[0017]
<Invention of Claim 3 >
According to the invention of claim 3 , the liquid that has fallen or flowed down on the saddle plate continuously flows down from the side edge portion inclined downward, so that the liquid can be prevented from staying on the saddle plate, and the terminal Further reduction of leakage current can be ensured.
[0018]
Further, the liquid accumulated on the side edge of the plate becomes droplets due to its surface tension and falls from the side edge. According to the invention of claim 3 , since the side edge portion of the saddle plate is inclined downward, the droplets adhering to the side edge portion wrap around the bottom side of the saddle plate and fall on the lower terminal. This can prevent the leakage current between the terminals from being reduced.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.
The terminal block 10 is provided with three terminals 12A, 12B, and 12C side by side on a front surface in FIG. 2 on a base 11 made of synthetic resin. In the following, the vertical direction in FIG. 2 is the vertical direction, and the horizontal direction is the horizontal direction.
[0020]
The base 11 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and two concave portions 13 formed in a semicircular shape when viewed from the front are provided side by side on the left side. The bottom of the recess 13 protrudes in a semicircular shape on the left side of the terminal block 10 to form a mounting base 14 having a disc shape as a whole, and a metal collar 15 is embedded in the center of the mounting base 14. Yes.
[0021]
A chamfer is applied to a boundary portion between the front surface and the left side surface of the base 11 to form a slope portion 16.
[0022]
In the front surface of the base 11 in FIG. 2, three holes 17 are formed side by side in the vertical direction, and terminals 12A, 12B, 12C formed by metal nuts are accommodated in these holes 17, respectively. Yes. Each terminal 12A, 12B, 12C is restricted from moving inward by a pair of lances 18 formed in each hole 17, and a not-shown collar formed on the nut is a locking portion (see FIG. (See FIG. 4). The nut in the retaining state is provided so as to slightly protrude (for example, 1 to 2 mm) from the front surface of the base 11.
[0023]
Each of these terminals 12A, 12B, and 12C is made of metal with terminals 21A, 21B, and 21C attached to the tips of a stator winding (not shown) and an external power line (not shown) of a hybrid vehicle motor. The bolts 23A, 23B and 23C are used by being fastened and fixed (see FIG. 5).
[0024]
A flange plate 19A is formed between the terminal 12A and the terminal 12B so as to protrude from the front surface of the base 11, and between the terminal 12B and the terminal 12C, the flange plate 19B is similarly protruded from the front surface of the base 11. Is formed. The lengths of the saddle plates 19A and 19B are formed so as to be longer than the terminals 22A, 22B and 22C and the bolts 23A, 23B and 23C in a state of being fastened and fixed to the terminals 12A, 12B and 12C. Yes.
[0025]
On the upper surface of the distal end portion of the saddle plates 19A and 19B, an inclined surface portion 20 that is inclined downward toward the distal end side is formed and tapered. Further, the left side edge portions of the saddle plates 19 </ b> A and 19 </ b> B are formed so as to be inclined downward and to be continuous with the inner peripheral surface of the semicircular recess 13 formed in the base 11.
[0026]
Further, on the front surface of the base 11, discharge grooves 21 </ b> A and 21 </ b> B are formed in portions above the flange plates 19 </ b> A and 19 </ b> B, respectively. The lower wall surfaces of these discharge grooves 21A and 21B are formed so as to be continuous with the upper surfaces of the flange plates 19A and 19B, respectively. And the upper wall surface of each discharge groove 21A, 21B is inclined, and it is formed in a shape similar to a V shape so that the entire groove becomes narrower toward the back side.
[0027]
Now, the terminal block 11 is fastened and fixed in an engine case (not shown) by bolts (not shown) inserted into the mounting base 14 so that the terminals 12A, 12B, and 12C are arranged in the vertical direction.
[0028]
The terminal block 10 is used in a state in which ATF for engine cooling is sprayed from above. The ATF falling on the terminal 12A, terminal 22A or bolt 23A provided above the terminal block 10 is dropped from the terminal 12A, terminal 22A or bolt 23A, or flows down from the terminal 12A along the surface of the base 11. Or
[0029]
ATF dropped from the terminal 12A, the terminal 22A, or the bolt 23A falls on the saddle plate 19A. Since the slope portion 20 that is inclined downward toward the tip side is formed on the upper surface of the tip portion of the saddle plate 19A, the ATF that has fallen on the saddle plate 19A flows down from the tip portion of the saddle plate 19A. Since the length of the saddle plate 19A is longer than the terminal 22B and the bolt 23B fixed to the terminal 12B, the ATF that has flowed down from the tip of the saddle plate 19A is arranged in the center of the base 11. It does not fall directly on the terminal 12B, the terminal 22B or the bolt 23B.
[0030]
Further, since the left edge portion of the saddle plate 19A is formed to be inclined downward, the ATF that has dropped on the saddle plate 19A also flows down from the left edge portion of the saddle plate 19A. At this time, the ATF that has flowed to the left side edge of the gutter 19A becomes droplets due to its surface tension and drops. In the present embodiment, since the left side edge portion of the saddle plate 19A is inclined downward, the ATF droplet generated on the side edge portion of the saddle plate 19A wraps around the bottom side of the saddle plate 19A. Dropping on the terminal 12B, the terminal 22B or the bolt 23B is prevented.
[0031]
Some ATFs that have fallen on the guard plate 19A flow in the direction of the base 11 on the guard plate 19A. In the present embodiment, the left side edge of the saddle plate 19A is formed so as to be continuous with the inner peripheral surface of the semicircular recess 13 formed in the base 11, so that the ATF is the left side edge of the vertical plate 19A. The water flows down along the slope of the ridge, is guided to the inner peripheral surface of the recess 13 and is discharged.
[0032]
On the other hand, the ATF that has flowed down from the terminal 12 </ b> A along the surface of the base 11 is guided to the discharge groove 21 </ b> A formed in the base 11 and is discharged to the side of the base 11.
[0033]
Thus, according to this embodiment, the ATF that has fallen on the terminal 12A, the terminal 22A, or the bolt 23A does not directly reach the terminal 12B, the terminal 22B, or the bolt 23B. Therefore, the terminal 12A, the terminal 22A or the bolt 23A and the terminal 12B, the terminal 22B or the bolt 23B are not connected by the ATF, and the leakage current between the terminals via the ATF can be suppressed.
[0034]
Similarly to the above case, when the ATF falls on the terminal 12B, the terminal 22B or the bolt 23B arranged in the center of the base 11, the terminal 12B, the terminal 22B or the bolt 23C, and the base 11 Since the terminal 12C, the terminal 22C, or the bolt 23C disposed below the ATF is not connected by the ATF, the leakage current between the terminals via the ATF can be suppressed.
[0035]
Furthermore, the creeping distance between the terminal 12A and the terminal 12B and the creeping distance between the terminal 12B and the terminal 12C can be increased by the discharge grooves 21A and 21B. Further, since the surface of the nut is provided so as to protrude from the surface of the base 11, this also increases the creepage distance between the terminal 12A and the terminal 12B and the creepage distance between the terminal 12B and the terminal 12C. be able to. By these, it can reduce more reliably that a leakage current flows between each terminal 12A, 12B, 12C.
[0036]
An inverter output to the hybrid vehicle motor is applied to the terminal block 10 according to the present embodiment. Since this inverter output is often a rectangular wave and contains many harmonics, a reactive current flows between the terminal 12A and the terminal 12B and between the terminal 12B and the terminal 12C via the base 11. . In the present embodiment, since the discharge grooves 21A and 21B are formed in the base 11, a state where an air insulating layer is formed between the terminals 12A and 12B and between the terminals 12B and 12C. It has become. As a result, the capacitance between the terminals 12A, 12B, and 12C can be reduced, so that the reactive current can be reduced.
[0037]
<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and further, within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention other than the following. Various modifications can be made.
[0038]
(1) In this embodiment, the lower surfaces of the saddle plates 19A and 19B are flat, and the upper surfaces of the saddle plates 19A and 19B are formed with a slope portion 20 that is inclined downward toward the tip side. Without being limited thereto, it is also possible to form an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the distal end side without changing its thickness by tilting the distal ends of the collar plates 19A and 19B downward as a whole. As a result, the lower surfaces of the saddle plates 19A and 19B are also formed so as to be inclined downward toward the front end side, so that the ATF droplets adhering to the front end portions of the saddle plates 19A and 19B wrap around the lower side of the saddle plates 19A and 19B. Can be prevented.
[0040]
( 2 ) In this embodiment, three terminals 12A, 12B, and 12C are formed on the terminal block 10, but the present invention is not limited to this, and two or four or more terminals may be used.
[0041]
( 3 ) In the present embodiment, the terminal block 10 to which the motor power supply of the hybrid vehicle is connected is used, but the present invention is not limited to this. It may be a thing.
[0042]
( 4 ) In the present embodiment, the left side edges of the saddle plates 19A and 19B are formed so as to be inclined downward. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the right edge may be inclined downward. Both the left edge and the right edge may be inclined downward.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a terminal block according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the terminal block. FIG. 3 is a side view of the terminal block. 5] Side view showing the state where the terminal is fastened and fixed to the terminal block with bolts.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Terminal block 11 ... Base 12A, 12B, 12C ... Terminal 19A, 19B ... Plate 21A, 21B ... Discharge groove 22A, 22B, 22C ... Terminal 23A, 23B, 23C ... Bolt

Claims (3)

A terminal block that is provided so that a plurality of terminals protrude on a base made of synthetic resin, and that these terminals are attached so as to be aligned in the vertical direction,
Between the terminals adjacent in the vertical direction, a flange plate is formed protruding from the base ,
On the surface of the base on which the terminal is formed, a discharge groove for flowing the liquid attached on the base to the side is formed in a portion on the upper side of the saddle plate, The terminal block characterized in that the upper wall surface of the discharge groove is inclined, and is formed in a shape such that the entire discharge groove becomes narrower toward the back side . The terminal block according to claim 1, wherein an inclined surface that is inclined downward toward the tip side is formed on an upper surface of the saddle plate . The terminal block according to claim 1 , wherein a side edge portion of the saddle plate is inclined downward .

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