JP5465546B2 - Circuit breaker - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a circuit breaker installed in a distribution board, for example.

  Conventionally, as a circuit breaker having a quick-connection terminal that can electrically connect the electric wire portion only by inserting the electric wire portion of the load wiring, for example, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1. The quick-connect terminal has a contact portion with which the electric wire portion comes into contact, and has a substantially S-shaped connection spring that electrically connects the electric wire and the electric circuit in the circuit breaker, and stands from the rear end of the connection spring. There is used a quick-connection terminal fitting formed by connecting two leaf springs with a raised retaining spring.

  In the quick connection terminal having the quick connection terminal metal fitting, when the load wiring is inserted until the electric wire portion comes into contact with the contact portion of the connection spring, the tip of the retaining spring bites into the electric wire portion and contacts the connection spring. Prevent the load wiring from coming off while still in contact. On the other hand, when removing the load wiring, the release member may be operated by operating a lever provided in the circuit breaker. Then, the release member presses the left edge of the tip of the retaining spring (or the right edge, the rising direction of the retaining spring is the vertical direction) toward the connecting spring, and the retaining spring moves toward the connecting spring. By tilting, the biting of the retaining spring into the electric wire portion is released, and the load wiring can be removed.

JP 2008-66038 A

However, in the conventional circuit breaker, when the load wiring is removed from the quick connection terminal, the release member presses either the left or right side edge of the retaining spring. There is a possibility that it will not tilt to the right side, but will tilt in such a posture that it can be twisted from side to side, and the biting of the retaining spring to the electric wire part will not be released sufficiently. And the said situation becomes easy to generate | occur | produce, so that the diameter of the load wiring inserted in a quick connection terminal becomes thick.
Here, as a countermeasure for preventing the above situation, it is conceivable to press the central portion (center in the left-right direction) of the retaining spring with the release member. Therefore, there is a problem that the electric wire part becomes an obstacle when trying to press the center part. In addition, although it is conceivable to deal with a design change of the installation position and operation mode of the release member, there is a problem in terms of cost and versatility such that it cannot be applied to a conventional circuit breaker.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a circuit breaker that can be tilted sufficiently without twisting a retaining spring and can reliably remove a load wiring by a releasing operation. It is something to try.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a contact portion that is curved in a substantially S shape in a side view inside the circuit breaker case and can contact the electric wire portion of the load wiring. And a connection spring having a connection spring, and a retaining spring that is formed so as to rise upward from the lower end of the connection spring and holds the contact state between the electric wire portion and the contact portion. By pressing either the left or right side edge of the tip of the retaining spring and tilting the retaining spring toward the connecting spring side, the fast connection that enables the retaining of the load wiring by the retaining spring can be released. A terminal fitting is installed, and the electric wire portion is provided inside the circuit breaker case by simply inserting it into the circuit breaker case through a terminal hole opened in the circuit breaker case. Can be electrically connected to the current circuit A circuit breaker comprising a quick-connect terminal, wherein in the fast-connect terminal fitting, a notch and / or a connection portion between the connection spring and the retainer spring serving as a fulcrum of the retainer spring are provided. Alternatively, a slit is formed , and the cutout and / or the slit is formed on the side edge opposite to the pressed side in the connecting portion .
On the other hand, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 2 of the present invention is curved and formed in a substantially S shape in a side view inside the circuit breaker case so that the electric wire portion of the load wiring can be contacted A connection spring having a contact portion and a retaining spring that is formed by rising upward from an end portion on the lower side of the connection spring and that holds the contact state between the electric wire portion and the contact portion, are integrally provided. The holding of the load wiring by the retaining spring can be released by pressing either the left or right side edge of the tip of the retaining spring and tilting the retaining spring toward the connection spring . Fast-connection terminal metal fittings are installed, and the load wiring and the inside of the circuit breaker case can be simply inserted into the circuit breaker case through the terminal holes established in the circuit breaker case. The electrical circuit provided in the A circuit breaker comprising comprises a connection possible with the quick connect terminal, that in the fast imaging terminal fittings, the pressed the side surface of the retaining spring, projecting from the ribs extending in the lateral direction It is characterized by.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the toughness of the connecting portion is reduced by forming a notch and / or a slit in the connecting portion between the connection spring and the retaining spring that are the fulcrum of the retaining spring. . Therefore, when the retaining spring is tilted to release the holding of the load wiring by the retaining spring, the retaining spring can be tilted without causing twisting or the like. Therefore, as a result, it is possible to reliably release the holding of the load wiring by the retaining spring, and it is not necessary to increase the size of the member related to the holding release or to change the installation position or the operation mode. Applicable to circuit breakers and versatile.
Further, the consolidated portion, are formed on opposite side edges to the side where the notch and / or slit, retaining spring is pressed. That is, since notches and / or slits are formed at locations where the pressing force is hardly transmitted in the connecting portion, it is possible to more reliably prevent the occurrence of twisting and the like.
On the other hand, according to the invention described in claim 2, in pressed by the side surface of the retaining spring, projecting ribs extending in the lateral direction, by improving the toughness of the retaining spring, generation of twist Is less likely to occur. Therefore, the retaining spring can be tilted without causing torsion and the like, and as a result, the holding of the load wiring by the retaining spring can be surely released, etc. Play.

It is perspective explanatory drawing which showed the external appearance of the circuit breaker. It is explanatory drawing which showed the internal mechanism of the circuit breaker from the side. It is an isometric view explanatory drawing of the metal fitting for quick connection terminals. It is a side view of the metal fitting for quick connection terminals. It is explanatory drawing which showed the state which inserted the load wiring to the load side terminal. It is explanatory drawing which showed the state which cancelled | released retaining of the load wiring by the retaining spring. It is perspective explanatory drawing which showed the external appearance of the 1st modification of the metal fitting for quick connection terminals. It is explanatory drawing which showed the 1st modification of the metal fitting for quick connection terminals from the side. It is perspective explanatory drawing which showed the external appearance of the 2nd modification of the metal fitting for quick connection terminals. It is perspective explanatory drawing which showed the external appearance of the 3rd modification of the metal fitting for quick connection terminals.

  Hereinafter, a circuit breaker according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory perspective view showing an external appearance of the circuit breaker 1, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an internal mechanism of the circuit breaker 1 from the side. In addition, the load side terminal 3 side of the circuit breaker 1 is demonstrated as the front side of the circuit breaker 1.
The circuit breaker 1 is used for a single-phase three-wire electric circuit, and a leakage detector for detecting the occurrence of a leakage in a synthetic resin breaker case 4 formed by assembling a pair of case members. (Not shown), having a plurality of movable contacts 14, 14... Inside, a separator 11 that opens and closes the contact by its own operation to turn on / off the electric circuit, and operates the separator 11 upon occurrence of electric leakage An opening / closing mechanism 12 or the like is installed.

  Further, at the rear part of the circuit breaker case 4, there is provided a power supply side terminal 2 in which three terminals P1, P2, and P3 are arranged in a vertical line. In the power supply side terminal 2, the upper terminal P1 is a neutral electrode terminal, the center terminal P2 and the lower terminal P3 are voltage electrode terminals, each of the terminals P1 to P3 has a U-shaped terminal fitting 13, It is formed as a plug-in type terminal that can be connected by simply inserting a conductor bar (not shown) disposed in a distribution board or the like.

  Furthermore, a handle 5 is provided on the upper surface of the circuit breaker case 4 to operate the separator 11 by turning in the front-rear direction to turn the electric circuit ON / OFF. When the electric circuit is turned on, the handle 5 is tilted to an angle substantially parallel to the upper surface of the circuit breaker case 4 as shown in FIG. 2, and when the electric circuit is turned off, the handle 5 stands up until it protrudes upward. Become posture. Note that FIG. 2 shows a state before the handle 5 and the separator 11 are connected, and the separator 11 is positioned at the OFF position although the handle 5 is in a tilted posture.

  In addition, the front surface of the circuit breaker case 4 has an inclined surface that descends forward, and three terminals L1, L2, to which the load wiring 31 (shown in FIG. 5) can be inserted and connected, are connected to the inclined surface. A load side terminal 3 made of L3 is provided. The terminals L1 to L3 are arranged in a line in the vertical direction on the inclined surface, the central terminal L2 is a neutral electrode terminal, and the upper terminal L1 and the lower terminal L3 are voltage electrode terminals. Each of the terminals L1 to L3 includes a fixing bracket 16 provided with a fixed contact 15 and a quick-connection terminal bracket 17 that contacts the electric wire portion of the load wiring 31 and prevents the load wiring 31 from coming off. It is formed as a quick connection terminal that can be electrically connected by simply inserting the electric wire portion of the load wiring 31 into the circuit breaker case 4 through the terminal hole 18.

  Further, a cover member 6 for covering the unused terminal hole 18 is attached to the front surface of the circuit breaker case 4 so as to be slidable on the inclined surface. Furthermore, a release lever 7 is provided at the front portion of the circuit breaker case 4 so as to be able to be rotated in the front-rear direction for releasing the retaining by the quick-connection terminal fitting 17 when the load wiring 31 is pulled out. A slide body 8 that slides inside the circuit breaker case 4 by the operation of the release lever 7, and rotates as the slide body 8 slides to rotate the fast connection terminal fitting 17 to release the retaining member. Etc. are built in the circuit breaker case 4.

  Here, the quick connection terminal fitting 17 which is a main part of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a perspective explanatory view of the quick connection terminal fitting 17, and FIG. 4 is a side view of the quick connection terminal fitting 17. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the load wiring 31 is inserted into the load side terminal 3, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the retaining of the load wiring 31 by the retaining spring 22 is released. It is.

  The quick connection terminal fitting 17 has a load spring 31 in contact with the electric wire portion of the load wiring 31 to electrically connect the electric wire portion and the electric circuit, and a load wiring in a state where the electric wire portion is in contact with the connection spring 21. A retaining spring 22 is provided integrally for retaining 31 (holding in contact). The connection spring 21 is curved in a substantially S shape as in the prior art, and the top portion thereof is a contact portion that contacts the electric wire portion of the load wiring 31 as shown in FIG. And an electric wire part is inserted in the clearance gap between the ceiling surface of the holder part in which the metal fitting 17 for quick connection terminals is installed, and the top part of the connection spring 21, and a top part is pressed below, With respect to an electric wire part An urging force acts in the pushing-up direction, and the electric wire part and the top part are maintained in contact with each other.

  On the other hand, the retaining spring 22 is a plate-like body that is raised in series from the lower end of the connection spring 21. The tip of the retaining spring 22 protrudes slightly upward from the top of the connection spring 21 in normal times (when the load wiring 31 is not connected), and when the electric wire portion is brought into contact with the top of the connection spring 21, The tip of the retaining spring 22 bites into the electric wire portion to prevent the load wiring 31 from coming off. Further, the left edge (left side in the installation state described later) of the tip of the retaining spring 22 is further extended upward, and the pressed body to which the rotating body 9 for releasing the retaining by the retaining spring 22 comes into contact is pressed. Part 24 is designated. In addition, the proximal end portion of the retaining spring 22 and the end portion of the connection spring 21 are connected via a curved R portion 23, and the right edge portion of the R portion 23 (the right side in an installation state described later). A notch 25 is formed in the.

  The quick connection terminal fitting 17 as described above is configured so that each of the terminals L1 to L3 of the load side terminal 3 has a posture in which the retaining spring 22 is forward (terminal hole 18 side) and the connection spring 21 is rearward. Installed inside. When the electric wire portion of the load wiring 31 is inserted from the terminal hole 18, the electric wire portion contacts the top of the connection spring 21 as described above, and the load wiring 31 and the electric circuit of the circuit breaker 1 are electrically connected. At the same time, the tip of the retaining spring 22 bites into the peripheral surface of the electric wire portion, and the load wiring 31 is prevented from coming off.

  When the release lever 7 is rotated, the slide body 8 slides downward to rotate the rotating bodies 9, 9,..., And the retaining springs 22 are pressed by the rotation of the rotating bodies 9, 9,. As a result, in each fast connection terminal fitting 17, the retaining spring 22 tilts toward the connection spring 21 with the R portion 23 as a fulcrum. At this time, since the rotating body 9 presses the pressed portion 24 provided at the left edge of the tip of the retaining spring 22, it is difficult for the pressing force to be transmitted to the right edge of the R portion 23 serving as a fulcrum. However, since the notch 25 is formed in the right edge portion of the R portion 23, the pressing force is evenly distributed in the remaining R portion 23, and the retaining spring 22 does not cause twisting or the like, and the connection spring 21 Tilt to the side. And finally, the biting into the electric wire portion at the tip of the retaining spring 22 is released, and the load wiring 31 can be extracted.

  According to the circuit breaker 1 having the above-described configuration, in the quick-connection terminal fitting 17 having the connection spring 21 and the retaining spring 22, the connection spring 21 and the retaining spring 22 that are fulcrums of the retaining spring 22. A notch 25 is formed in the connecting portion. Therefore, when releasing the retaining of the load wiring 31 by the retaining spring 22, when the tilting spring 22 is pressed and tilted toward the connection spring 21, the retaining spring 22 can be tilted without causing twisting or the like. . Therefore, as a result, it is possible to reliably release the retaining by the retaining spring 22, and it is not necessary to increase the size of the member related to the retaining prevention or to change the installation position. Applicable to a wide range of applications.

In addition, a pressed portion 24 to be pressed by the rotating body 9 is provided at the left edge of the tip of the retaining spring 22, while a notch 25 is formed in the right edge of the connecting portion. That is, since the notch 25 is formed at a position where the pressing force by the rotating body 9 is most difficult to be transmitted, the occurrence of twist or the like can be prevented more reliably.
Further, a pressed portion 24 pressed by the rotating body 9 to release the retaining member is provided so as to protrude further away from the fulcrum than the tip of the retaining spring 22 that bites into the electric wire portion of the load wiring 31. That is, since the rotating body 9 presses a position farther from the fulcrum, the retaining spring 22 can be sufficiently tilted with a smaller force. Accordingly, the release prevention can be more reliably released, and the mechanism related to the release can be downsized.

  In addition, the circuit breaker according to the present invention is not limited to the aspect of the embodiment described above, and the configuration of the quick connection terminal fitting, the arrangement of the terminals in the power supply side terminal and the load side terminal, etc. As long as it does not deviate from the meaning, it can change suitably as needed.

  For example, in the above embodiment, a notch is formed in the right edge portion of the connecting portion in the quick-connecting terminal fitting, but a slit is formed in the central portion of the connecting portion to reduce toughness in the connecting portion. It is possible to aim for the same effect, and the number and size of the slits, the formation position, and the like may be appropriately changed in design.

  Further, instead of the quick connection terminal fitting 17, it is also possible to use, for example, a fast connection terminal fitting 41 as shown in FIGS. The quick connection terminal fitting 41 is formed by integrally forming the connection spring 21 and the retaining spring 22 as in the case of the quick coupling terminal fitting 17. However, instead of forming a notch or the like in the connecting portion, the retaining spring 21 is provided. Ribs 42 extending in the left-right direction are provided on the surface of 22. According to such a fast-connecting terminal fitting 41, since the toughness of the retaining spring 22 is improved by providing the rib 42 on the surface of the retaining spring 22, when releasing the retaining, Even if one side edge of the retaining spring 22 is pressed, the retaining spring 22 is unlikely to twist. Therefore, like the above embodiment, the biting of the retaining spring 22 into the electric wire portion can be reliably released. Note that the shape and number of ribs can be changed as appropriate. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, a fast connection terminal fitting 41 ′ provided with a protruding rib 42 ′ extending in the vertical direction (rising direction) can be used. The same effect can be obtained.

Furthermore, the shape and the like of the pressed part 24 can be changed as appropriate, and for example, a pressed part 45 as shown in FIG. 10 may be provided. The pressed portion 45 has a shape in which the left edge of the tip of the retaining spring 22 protrudes upward and then is folded back further forward. Compared with the pressed portion 24, the distance to the fulcrum is larger. It is configured to be further away. Therefore, the retaining spring 22 can be sufficiently operated in the releasing direction with a smaller force, and the size of the member related to the releasing mechanism can be further reduced.
In addition, in the above embodiment, the terminals on the power supply side terminal and the load side terminal are arranged in the vertical direction. However, the present invention can also be applied to a circuit breaker in which a plurality of terminals are arranged in the horizontal direction. However, there is no problem even if it is applied to a circuit breaker used for other electric circuits such as a three-phase three-wire electric circuit as well as a single-phase three-wire electric circuit.

  1 ... Circuit breaker 2 ... Power supply side terminal 3 ... Load side terminal 5 ... Handle, 7 Release lever, 8 ... Slide body, 9 ... Rotating body, 17, 41, 41 ' .. Fastening terminal fittings 18 .. Terminal holes 21 .. Connection springs 22 .. Retaining springs 23.. R parts 24 and 45 .. Pressed parts 25.・ Load wiring, 42 ・ ・ Rib.

Claims (2)

Inside the circuit breaker case, a connection spring that is curved in a substantially S shape when viewed from the side and has a contact portion with which the wire portion of the load wiring can come into contact , and rises upward from the lower end of the connection spring. A retaining spring formed integrally and holding the contact state between the electric wire portion and the contact portion, and pressing the left or right side edge portion of the tip of the retaining spring to prevent the retaining A metal fitting for quick connection terminals that can release the holding of the load wiring by the retaining spring by tilting a spring toward the connection spring is installed,
By simply inserting the electric wire portion into the circuit breaker case through a terminal hole established in the circuit breaker case, the load wiring and the electric circuit provided in the circuit breaker case are electrically connected. A circuit breaker having a quick-connect terminal that can be connected,
In the quick-connect terminal fitting, a notch and / or a slit is formed at the connection portion between the connection spring and the retaining spring, which is a fulcrum of the retaining spring ,
The circuit breaker characterized in that, in the connecting portion, the notch and / or the slit is formed on a side edge opposite to the pressed side . Inside the circuit breaker case, a connection spring that is curved in a substantially S shape when viewed from the side and has a contact portion with which the wire portion of the load wiring can come into contact , and rises upward from the lower end of the connection spring. A retaining spring formed integrally and holding the contact state between the electric wire portion and the contact portion, and pressing the left or right side edge portion of the tip of the retaining spring to prevent the retaining A metal fitting for quick connection terminals that can release the holding of the load wiring by the retaining spring by tilting a spring toward the connection spring is installed,
By simply inserting the electric wire portion into the circuit breaker case through a terminal hole established in the circuit breaker case, the load wiring and the electric circuit provided in the circuit breaker case are electrically connected. A circuit breaker having a quick-connect terminal that can be connected,
In the fast imaging terminal fittings, the pressed the side surface of the retaining spring, the circuit breaker, characterized in that projecting from the ribs extending in the lateral direction.

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