JP6648046B2 - Connected equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a connection device to which an electric wire is connected.

  Conventionally, a so-called push-in type connection device has been used as a connection device to which an electric wire is connected in a control panel or the like. In the connection device, when an electric wire is inserted into the insertion hole of the case, the electric wire is pressed against the conductive terminal by a plate spring provided in the case and is electrically connected.

  In the electric wire connection device of Patent Literature 1, a rod-shaped operation button that can move forward and backward with respect to the housing is provided. In the electric wire connection device, when the rod-shaped operation button is pushed toward the housing, the leaf spring in the housing is elastically deformed and separated from the conduction metal fitting. The tip of the rod-shaped operation button is engaged with the leaf spring to maintain the shape of the leaf spring. Thereby, the open state in which the leaf spring is separated from the conductive metal fitting is maintained. Then, after inserting the electric wire into the electric wire connection device in the open state, by pulling out the rod-shaped operation button from the housing, the leaf spring is elastically restored and the electric wire is clamped between the conductive metal fittings.

  In the electric wire fixing mechanism of the plug of Patent Document 2, similarly to the above, a button member that can advance and retreat with respect to the housing is provided. In the electric wire fixing mechanism, when the button member is pushed toward the housing, the spring in the housing is elastically deformed, and the spring is in an open state separated from the terminal fitting. The housing is provided with a concave portion for holding the pressed button member. The housing is also provided with another recess for holding the button member when it returns to its original position.

Japanese Patent No. 4202125 Japanese Patent No. 3357245

  By the way, in Patent Document 1, a part of the rod-shaped operation button protrudes from the housing. For this reason, in a connection state in which an electric wire is sandwiched between the leaf spring and the conduction fitting, if a tool or the like accidentally hits the rod-shaped operation button and the rod-shaped operation button is pushed, the connection state is unintentionally released. May be affected. In addition, if the bar-shaped operation button is pulled out by mistake in the open state in which the leaf spring is separated from the conductive metal fitting, the open state is released unintentionally and the connection work of the electric wires may be hindered. Also in Patent Document 2, since a part of the button member protrudes from the housing, there is a possibility that the connection state and the open state may be released against intention.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to prevent unintended release of a connection state in a connection device to which an electric wire is connected.

The invention according to claim 1 is a connection device to which an electric wire is connected, wherein the case, a conductive terminal fixed to the case, and the terminal attached to the case and restoring the electric wire to the terminal. An elastic member that presses and clamps, and an operation unit that changes the shape of the elastic member by moving along a movement path provided in the case, wherein the elastic member connects the electric wire to the terminal unit. Between the connection state and the release state in which the electric wire is released from the terminal state by being bent more than the connection state. The operation, which is movable along the movement path connecting a first position in contact with the elastic member in a connected state and a second position in contact with the elastic member in the released state, and is located at the first position The surface of the part is The operation unit, which is located inside the case than the area around the operation unit on the surface, or is located on the same plane as the area, and is located at the second position, can be locked to the case. der is, the elastic member includes: the connection state is also deformable between an initial state in contact with the terminal portion without interposing the electrical wire, the elastic member of the initial state than the natural state Is also bent, and at the end of the operation unit that comes into contact with the elastic member, an operation step portion that protrudes laterally with respect to the movement path is provided, and the operation step section sandwiches the first position of the movement path. At a third position opposite to the second position, the operation step portion is locked to a part of the case, so that movement of the operation portion in a direction away from the second position is limited, The end of the operation unit is connected to the elastic member and the casing. Sandwiched between the part of the scan.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the connection device according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the operation unit located at the second position is larger than a region around the operation unit on the surface of the case. It is located inside the case or on the same plane as the region.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the connection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the elastic member is a leaf spring.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the case includes a step portion extending from the movement path in a direction intersecting the movement path, In the second position, the operation portion is locked to the step portion of the case.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the connection device according to claim 4, wherein at the second position, at least a part of the operation unit intersects the movement path due to a restoring force of the elastic member. , The operation portion is locked to the step portion.

The invention according to claim 6 is the connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the surface of the operation unit located at the third position is the operation device out of the surface of the case. It is located inside the case more than the area around the part, or is located on the same plane as the area.

  According to the present invention, unintended release of the connection state can be prevented.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connection device according to one embodiment. It is sectional drawing of a connection apparatus. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the connection device. It is sectional drawing of a connection apparatus. It is sectional drawing of a connection apparatus. It is sectional drawing of a connection apparatus. It is sectional drawing of a connection apparatus. It is a perspective view of a connection apparatus. It is sectional drawing of another connection apparatus. It is sectional drawing of another connection apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a connection device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connection device 1 taken along a line II-II in FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the connection device 1. The connection device 1 is a push-in type connection device to which an electric wire is connected. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a state where the electric wire is not inserted into the connection device 1. The connection device 1 is used for a terminal block such as a control panel, for example.

  In the following description, the up-down direction and the left-right direction in FIG. 1 are also simply referred to as “up-down direction” and “left-right direction”. In FIG. 1, the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper is also referred to as “thickness direction”. The up-down direction, the left-right direction, and the thickness direction do not necessarily need to coincide with the mounting direction when the connection device 1 is used. Also, the vertical direction does not necessarily need to match the direction of gravity.

  The connection device 1 includes a case 2, a terminal unit 3, an elastic member 4, and an operation unit 5. The case 2 accommodates the terminal portion 3, the elastic member 4, and the operation portion 5 therein. The case 2 is made of, for example, a resin. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the case 2 is provided with two insertion holes 21 into which electric wires can be inserted. Further, inside the case 2, two terminal portions 3, two elastic members 4, and two operation portions 5 are housed. In other words, the connection device 1 includes two sets of the terminal unit 3, the elastic member 4, and the operation unit 5. The connection device 1 may include one or three or more sets of the terminal unit 3, the elastic member 4, and the operation unit 5.

  Each set of the terminal portion 3, the elastic member 4, and the operation portion 5 is arranged corresponding to the insertion hole 21. The two sets of the terminal unit 3, the elastic member 4, and the operation unit 5 have the same shape, size, and the like, and are arranged in left and right opposite directions. Paying attention to the right insertion hole 21 in FIG. 1, the terminal portion 3 is located to the right of the lower end of the insertion hole 21 and extends downward from the lower end of the insertion hole 21. The elastic member 4 extends leftward from the lower end of the insertion hole 21 and further extends downward. The operation unit 5 is disposed on the left side of the insertion hole 21 and above the elastic member 4.

  The terminal portion 3 is a conductive member fixed to the case 2. The terminal portion 3 is made of, for example, metal. The right terminal 3 in FIG. 1 is electrically connected to the left terminal 3 in FIG. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the two terminal portions 3 are connected members. Specifically, the lower ends of the two terminal portions 3 are connected by a conductive terminal connection portion 32 extending in the left-right direction.

  The elastic member 4 is an elastically deformable member attached to the case 2. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the elastic member 4 is a substantially band-shaped leaf spring. The elastic member 4 is made of, for example, metal. The elastic member 4 may be formed of a conductive material, or may be formed of an insulating material such as a resin. The elastic member 4 has, for example, a shape that is bent in a substantially L-shaped, substantially V-shaped, or substantially U-shaped shape at a central portion 41 in the longitudinal direction. The elastic member 4 is attached to the case 2 by sandwiching the central portion 41 by the case 2 so that both ends are directed substantially downward. In the following description, the portion 22 of the case 2 that contacts the central portion 41 from below is referred to as a “support portion 22”. The support portion 22 extends substantially downward from the central portion 41 of the elastic member 4.

  Paying attention to the right elastic member 4 in FIG. 1, a portion 42 of the elastic member 4 extending from the central portion 41 to the left side of the support portion 22 is sandwiched between the support portion 22 and other portions of the case 2. It is fixed approximately by being done. Further, a portion 43 of the elastic member 4 extending from the central portion 41 to the right side of the support portion 22 is in contact with the terminal portion 3 extending in the vertical direction. The portion 43 of the elastic member 4 is elastically deformed by the upper end of the support portion 22 as a fulcrum and deflected downward by being pushed downward by the operation portion 5 or the like. In addition, when the downward pressing force on the part 43 disappears, the part 43 returns to the original state by the restoring force (that is, elastically returns). In the following description, the part 42 and the part 43 of the elastic member 4 are referred to as a “fixed part 42” and a “movable part 43”, respectively. The fixed portion 42 and the movable portion 43 are substantially line-symmetric with respect to a center line passing through the central portion 41.

  In the state shown in FIG. 1, the tip of the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 contacts the terminal portion 3 below the insertion hole 21 as described above, and closes the lower end of the insertion hole 21 from below. ing. In the following description, the state shown in FIG. 1 is referred to as “insertion hole closed state”. The insertion hole closed state is a state before an electric wire is inserted into the insertion hole 21, that is, an initial state before the connection device 1 is used.

  The elastic member 4 in the insertion hole closed state (that is, the initial state) is slightly bent in a direction in which the fixed portion 42 and the movable portion 43 approach. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the elastic member 4 from dropping from the case 2. In addition, the elastic member 4 in a state without bending is shown by a two-dot chain line on the left side in FIG. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the support portion 22 of the case 2 functions as a stopper that restricts the bending of the elastic member 4 in a direction in which the fixed portion 42 and the movable portion 43 approach (that is, the bending of the elastic member 4). Fulfill.

  The operation unit 5 is a substantially columnar or substantially plate-shaped member extending in the vertical direction. The operation unit 5 is located inside a vertically extending hole (hereinafter, referred to as a “movement path 24”) provided in the case 2. The operation unit 5 can move up and down along the movement path 24. The movement path 24 opens to the upper surface 25 of the case 2 and extends substantially downward from the upper surface 25.

  The operation unit 5 includes an upper end portion 51, a connecting portion 52, and a lower end portion 53. The upper end portion 51, the connecting portion 52, and the lower end portion 53 are one connected member connected in this order from the upper side to the lower side. The operation unit 5 is made of, for example, resin. The upper end 51 of the operation unit 5 is, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped part. The upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 is a plane substantially perpendicular to the up-down direction. At the center of the upper surface 511 of the upper end 51, a concave portion 512 that is concave downward is provided. The connecting portion 52 extends downward from the lower end of the upper end portion 51 and connects the upper end portion 51 and the lower end portion 53. The connecting portion 52 is, for example, a substantially plate-shaped portion whose width in the thickness direction is larger than the width in the left-right direction. The lower end portion 53 extends downward from the lower end of the connecting portion 52. The lower end 53 is, for example, a substantially plate-like or substantially columnar part.

  The width of the upper end 51 in the left-right direction is substantially constant over substantially the entire length of the upper end 51 in the vertical direction. The width of the connecting portion 52 in the left-right direction is substantially constant over substantially the entire length of the connecting portion 52 in the vertical direction. The width in the left-right direction of the lower end portion 53 is substantially constant at the upper end portion of the lower end portion 53, and gradually decreases from the upper end portion downward. The width of the upper end portion 51 in the left-right direction is larger than the width of the connecting portion 52 in the left-right direction. The width in the left-right direction of the upper end of the lower end portion 53 is larger than the width in the left-right direction of the lower end of the connecting portion 52. The left and right side surfaces of the connecting portion 52 are substantially perpendicular to the left and right direction and extend substantially parallel to the up and down direction.

  Paying attention to the right operation unit 5 in FIG. 1, the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 protrudes leftward from the upper end of the connection unit 52. The left side surface of the lower end portion 53 extends downward from the upper end substantially parallel to the up and down direction, and then goes rightward as it goes downward. The elastic member 4 partially contacts the left side surface of the connecting portion 52 or the lower end portion 53. In the following description, the left side surfaces of the connecting portion 52 and the lower end portion 53 are collectively referred to as the “elastic member contact surface 54” of the operation portion 5. The lower end 53 of the operation unit 5 projects rightward from the lower end of the connecting unit 52. Thereby, an operation step portion 55 protruding rightward is formed at the lower end of the connecting portion 52 (that is, at the upper end of the lower end portion 53).

  In the closed state of the insertion hole illustrated in FIG. 1, the upward movement of the operation unit 5 is restricted by the operation step 55 of the operation unit 5 being locked to a part of the case 2. The elastic member contact surface 54 of the operating portion 5 is in contact with the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 as described above, and due to the restoring force of the elastic member 4, the operation step portion 55 is pressed against the part of the case 2. . Thereby, since the operation unit 5 is locked to the case 2, the operation unit 5 is prevented from moving upward from the position shown in FIG. When assembling the connection device 1, the operation unit 5 is disposed first in a region where the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 in an undeflected state (that is, in a non-compressed state) should exist. Is attached to the case 2 in a bent state. Thereby, the above structure is realized.

  In the closed state of the insertion hole shown in FIG. 1, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 is located on substantially the same plane as the region around the operation unit 5 on the upper surface 25 of the case 2. Alternatively, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 is located inside the case 2 (that is, below the region) on the upper surface 25 of the case 2 with respect to a region around the operation unit 5. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, both side surfaces 513 in the thickness direction of the operation unit 5 are located inside the case 2 within a region around the operation unit 5 on both side surfaces 26 in the thickness direction of the case 2. Or, it is located on substantially the same plane as the region. The same applies to other surfaces of the operation unit 5. In other words, in the closed state of the insertion hole shown in FIG. 1, the surface of the operation unit 5 is larger in the surface of the case 2 than in the area around the operation unit 5 (that is, the area around the movement path 24). It is located inside or on substantially the same plane as the region.

  The case 2 is provided with a step portion 241 extending below the upper surface 511 of the operation unit 5 shown in FIG. In other words, the width of the moving path 24 in the left-right direction rapidly increases at the position of the step portion 241 in the vertical direction. In the right movement path 24 in FIG. 1, the step portion 241 extends leftward from the movement path 24 extending in the up-down direction. In other words, in the moving path 24, a concave portion extending leftward is provided below the step portion 241. In the movement path 24 on the left side in FIG. 1, the step portion 241 extends rightward from the movement path 24 extending in the up-down direction.

  Next, a flow of connection of the electric wire to the connection device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5. Hereinafter, a description will be given of a state where an electric wire is connected to the insertion hole 21 on the right side in the drawing. Regarding the case where the electric wire is connected to the insertion hole 21 on the left side in the figure, the operation of the worker is substantially the same, except that it is in the opposite direction.

  First, the operation unit 5 is pushed toward the inside of the case 2 from the closed state of the insertion hole illustrated in FIG. 1 and moves downward along the movement path 24. When the operation unit 5 is pushed in, for example, an operator brings a tip of a normal flathead screwdriver or the like into contact with the concave portion 512 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 and faces the operation unit 5 downward through the flathead screwdriver. Apply force. As the operation unit 5 moves downward, the elastic member 4 bends and the shape of the elastic member 4 is changed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 is pushed down by the lower end portion 53 of the operation portion 5 and is separated from the terminal portion 3 to the left. Thereby, the lower end of the insertion hole 21 is opened. In the following description, the state shown in FIG. 4 is referred to as an “insertion hole opened state”.

  In the open state of the insertion hole shown in FIG. 4, the operation section 5 is locked to the case 2 and is prevented from returning to the position shown in FIG. Specifically, when the upper surface 511 of the operation unit 5 moves downward and is located at substantially the same position in the vertical direction as the above-described step portion 241, the lower end 53 of the operation unit 5 is restored by the restoring force of the elastic member 4. Is pushed rightward, and the operation unit 5 is slightly inclined. As a result, the lower end 53 of the operation unit 5 moves rightward, which is a direction intersecting the movement path 24, and the upper end 51 of the operation unit 5 moves leftward, which intersects the movement path 24. The left end of the upper end 51 of the operation unit 5 enters the lower side of the step 241, and the upper surface 511 of the operation unit 5 is pressed against the lower surface of the step 241 from below. As a result, the operation section 5 is locked to the step section 241.

  4, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 is located inside the case 2 (that is, lower than the region around the operation unit 5) on the upper surface 25 of the case 2. Side). Alternatively, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 may be located on substantially the same plane as the region around the operation unit 5 on the upper surface 25 of the case 2. The same applies to other surfaces of the operation unit 5. In other words, in the insertion hole opened state shown in FIG. 4, the surface of the operation unit 5 is larger in the surface of the case 2 than in the area around the operation unit 5 (that is, the area around the movement path 24). It is located inside or on substantially the same plane as the region.

  The electric wire 91 is inserted into the insertion hole 21 of the connection device 1 in the state where the insertion hole is open, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. The electric wire 91 may be a single wire or a stranded wire. Further, the electric wire 91 may be a stranded wire having a bar-shaped crimp terminal or the like provided at the end.

  Subsequently, the operator brings the tip of a normal flathead screwdriver or the like into contact with the concave portion 512 of the upper end 51 of the operation unit 5 and moves the upper end 51 rightward. As a result, the upper end portion 51 is pulled out from the concave portion on the lower side of the step portion 241 to the movement path 24, and the locking of the operation section 5 by the step portion 241 is released. When the locking of the operation portion 5 by the step portion 241 is released, the movable portion 43 moves to the upper right by the restoring force of the elastic member 4, and contacts the electric wire 91 from the left side as shown in FIG. The movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 presses the electric wire 91 against the terminal portion 3 and clamps the electric wire 91 with the terminal portion 3. Thereby, the electric wire 91 and the terminal portion 3 are electrically and mechanically connected. In the following description, the state illustrated in FIG. 5 is referred to as a “connection state”. The elastic member 4 in the connected state sandwiches the electric wire 91 between the elastic member 4 and the terminal portion 3 as described above.

  In the connection state shown in FIG. 5, the operation unit 5 has moved upward from the insertion hole opened state shown in FIG. 4 due to the restoring force of the elastic member 4. The elastic member contact surface 54 of the operation part 5 is in contact with the movable part 43 of the elastic member 4. The upper surface 511 of the operation unit 5 in the connection state is located above the step portion 241.

  In the connection state shown in FIG. 5, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 is inside the case 2 (that is, lower than the region) on the upper surface 25 of the case 2 than the region around the operation unit 5. Located in. Alternatively, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 may be located on substantially the same plane as the region around the operation unit 5 on the upper surface 25 of the case 2. The same applies to other surfaces of the operation unit 5. In other words, in the connection state shown in FIG. 5, the surface of the operation unit 5 is located inside the case 2 more than the area around the operation unit 5 (that is, the area around the movement path 24) on the surface of the case 2. Or substantially on the same plane as the region.

  In the connection state shown in FIG. 5, when the connection device 1 is arranged such that the upper side in FIG. 5 is the lower side in the direction of gravity, the operation unit 5 moves upward from the elastic member 4 in the figure by gravity. Separate. Then, the operation step portion 55 of the operation portion 5 is locked to a part of the case 2 similarly to the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 1, and the upward movement of the operation portion 5 is restricted. Therefore, the operation unit 5 is prevented from moving upward from the position shown in FIG.

  When removing the electric wire 91 from the connection device 1, for example, an operator brings a tip of a normal flathead screwdriver or the like into contact with the concave portion 512 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5, and makes the operation unit 5 through the flathead screwdriver. Apply a downward force. Then, the operation unit 5 is moved downward to make the insertion hole open as shown in FIG. In the open state of the insertion hole, as described above, the operation portion 5 is locked by the step portion 241, the elastic member 4 is bent, and the movable portion 43 is separated from the electric wire 91 to the left.

  In the insertion hole open state shown in FIG. 4, the distance in the left-right direction between the distal end of the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 and the terminal portion 3 is determined by the diameter of the distal end of each type of electric wire 91 connectable to the connection device 1. Greater than. Therefore, the insertion hole opened state is a state where the electric wire 91 is not sandwiched between the elastic member 4 and the terminal portion 3 even when the electric wire 91 is inserted into the insertion hole 21. In other words, the insertion hole opened state is a released state in which the elastic member 4 is bent more than the connected state and the holding of the electric wire 91 between the terminal portion 3 and the elastic member 4 is released. In the connection device 1 in the released state, the electric wire 91 can be easily removed from the connection device 1 by pulling out the electric wire 91 from the insertion hole 21.

  In the connection device 1, the elastic member 4 can be deformed between an insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 1, an insertion hole opened state shown in FIG. 4, and a connection state shown in FIG. In the following description, as shown in FIG. 5, the position of the operation unit 5 that contacts the elastic member 4 in the connected state is referred to as a “first position”. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the position of the operation unit 5 that contacts the elastic member 4 in the insertion hole opened state (that is, the released state) is referred to as a “second position”. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the position of the operation portion 5 at which the operation step portion 55 is locked to a part of the case 2 is referred to as a “third position”.

  The above-described movement path 24 connects the third position, the first position, and the second position of the operation unit 5 in this order. The third position is located on the opposite side of the movement path 24 from the second position with respect to the first position. At the third position, as described above, the operation step portion 55 is locked to a part of the case 2 so that the upward movement of the operation portion 5 (that is, the movement in the direction away from the second position) is restricted. Is done. In the third position, it is sufficient that a part of the operation part 5 is locked to a part of the case 2, and the operation step part 55 does not necessarily need to be locked to a part of the case 2.

  As described above, the connection device 1 to which the electric wire 91 is connected includes the case 2, the terminal unit 3, the elastic member 4, and the operation unit 5. The terminal portion 3 is conductive and is fixed to the case 2. The elastic member 4 is attached to the case 2. The elastic member 4 presses and holds the electric wire 91 against the terminal portion 3 by a restoring force. The operation unit 5 changes the shape of the elastic member 4 by moving along the movement path 24 provided in the case 2. The elastic member 4 has a connection state in which the electric wire 91 is sandwiched between the terminal portion 3 and an insertion hole opened state in which the electric wire 91 is deflected from the connection state and the clamping of the electric wire 91 between the terminal portion 3 is released. , Release state). The operation unit 5 is movable along a movement path 24 connecting a first position in contact with the elastic member 4 in the connected state and a second position in contact with the elastic member 4 in the insertion hole opened state.

  In the connection device 1, the surface of the operation unit 5 located at the first position is located inside the case 2 rather than a region around the operation unit 5 on the surface of the case 2, or located on the same plane as the region. I do. As described above, since the operation unit 5 does not protrude from the case 2 in a state where the electric wire 91 is connected to the connection device 1, the elastic member 4 is in the connection state because a tool or the like accidentally hits the operation unit 5. Can be prevented from being deformed. As a result, unintended release of the connection state due to unintended movement of the operation unit 5 can be prevented. In the connection device 1, the operation unit 5 located at the second position can be locked to the case 2. Thereby, the insertion hole open state can be maintained without continuously applying force to the operation unit 5. As a result, insertion of the electric wire 91 into the insertion hole 21 and removal of the electric wire 91 from the insertion hole 21 can be easily performed.

  In the connection device 1, the thickness of the electric wire to be connected is not limited to that shown in FIG. 5 and may be variously changed within a predetermined range. FIG. 6 shows a connection state in which an electric wire 91a thinner than the electric wire 91 shown in FIG. FIG. 7 shows a connection state in which an electric wire 91b thicker than the electric wire 91 shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, when the thickness of the electric wire is different, the first position of the operation unit 5 is also different in the vertical direction, but in any case, the surface of the operation unit 5 located at the first position is: The surface of the case 2 is located inside the case 2 rather than a region around the operation unit 5 or is located on substantially the same plane as the region. Thereby, similarly to the above, it is possible to prevent the connection state from being unintentionally released due to the unintended movement of the operation unit 5.

  For example, when the electric wire 91 is a single line, or when a bar-shaped crimp terminal or the like is provided at the end of the electric wire 91, the connecting device 1 is not set to the insertion hole open state shown in FIG. And the terminal unit 3 may be connected. Specifically, the electric wire 91 is inserted into the insertion hole 21 of the connection device 1 in the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 1, and the distal end of the electric wire 91 moves downward while pushing down the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4. Thereby, the connection state shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 (that is, the state in which the electric wire 91 and the terminal portion 3 are electrically connected) may be realized.

  As described above, the elastic member 4 of the connection device 1 is a leaf spring. Thereby, the manufacturing cost of the connection device 1 can be reduced. Note that the elastic member 4 may be various members other than a leaf spring (for example, a helical spring).

  In the connection device 1, the surface of the operation unit 5 located at the second position is also located inside the case 2 rather than a region around the operation unit 5 on the surface of the case 2 or on the same plane as the region. To position. As described above, even when the insertion hole is opened, the operation unit 5 does not protrude from the case 2, so that the elastic member 4 is prevented from being deformed from the insertion hole opened state due to a tool or the like accidentally hitting the operation unit 5. can do. As a result, unintended release of the insertion hole open state can be prevented. Thereby, for example, unintended connection of the electric wire 91 during connection work of the electric wire 91 can be prevented.

  As described above, the case 2 includes the step portion 241 extending from the movement path 24 in a direction intersecting the movement path 24. Then, at the second position, the operation section 5 is locked to the step section 241 of the case 2. Thereby, the operation part 5 located at the second position can be easily locked to the case 2.

  Specifically, at the second position, the upper end portion 51 of the operation portion 5 moves in a direction intersecting the movement path 24 by the restoring force of the elastic member 4, so that the operation portion 5 is locked to the step portion 241. . As described above, in the connection device 1, by moving the operation unit 5 to the second position, the locking of the operation unit 5 is automatically realized by the restoring force of the elastic member 4. Therefore, the locking of the operation unit 5 located at the second position to the case 2 can be more easily realized. In the second position, the portion of the operation unit 5 that moves in the direction intersecting with the movement path 24 due to the restoring force of the elastic member 4 is not necessarily limited to the upper end 51, and may be any part of the operation unit 5. Good. Also in this case, similarly to the above, the locking of the operation unit 5 located at the second position to the case 2 can be realized more easily.

  In the connected device 1, at a third position located on the opposite side of the first position of the movement path 24 from the second position, a part of the operation unit 5 (for example, the operation step 55) is part of the case 2. , The movement of the operation unit 5 in a direction away from the second position is restricted. In the third position, the part of the operation unit 5 is pressed against the part of the case 2 by the restoring force of the elastic member 4. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the operation unit 5 from falling off the case 2.

  In the connection device 1, the surface of the operation unit 5 located at the third position is also located inside the case 2 rather than a region around the operation unit 5 on the surface of the case 2 or on the same plane as the region. To position. As described above, even in the insertion hole closed state (that is, the initial state), since the operation unit 5 does not protrude from the case 2, the operation unit 5 of the connection device 1 is erroneously pushed and the elastic member 4 is in the insertion hole closed state. Can be prevented from being deformed. As a result, it is possible to prevent unnecessary force from being applied to the elastic member 4 at the time of shipping or the like.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a large-sized connection device 10 in which a plurality of connection devices 1 are connected in the thickness direction. In the example shown in FIG. 10, five connecting devices 1 are connected in the thickness direction, and the side surface of the foremost connecting device 1 in the drawing is covered with a thin plate-shaped end plate 11. In the connection device 10, a plurality of electric wires 91 bundled by a binding band or the like (not shown) may be connected to the plurality of insertion holes 21 arranged in the thickness direction. In this case, in each connection device 1, a plurality of electric wires 91 can be simultaneously inserted into the insertion holes 21 by previously locking the operation unit 5 to the case 2 at the second position. As a result, connection between the plurality of electric wires 91 and the connection device 10 can be easily performed without bending the electric wires 91. Also, when removing a plurality of electric wires 91 from the connection device 10, in each connection device 1, the operation unit 5 is previously locked to the case 2 at the second position, so that the plurality of electric wires 91 are inserted at the same time. It can be removed from the hole 21. As a result, the plurality of electric wires 91 can be easily removed from the connection device 10 without bending the electric wires 91.

  In the connection device 1 described above, various changes are possible.

  For example, in the connection device 1, the shapes of the terminal unit 3, the elastic member 4, and the operation unit 5 may be variously changed.

  In the connection device 1, the surface of the operation unit 5 located at the first position, the second position, and the third position is located inside the case 2 more than a region around the operation unit 5 on the surface of the case 2, or Although it is preferable that the operation part 5 is located on substantially the same plane as the area, a part of the operation part 5 located at the second position and the third position may protrude from the surface of the case 2 to the outside.

  In the connection device 1, when the upper end portion 51 of the operation portion 5 is locked to the step portion 241 of the case 2 at the second position, the operation portion 5 does not necessarily need to be inclined. The upper end portion 51 may be locked to the step portion 241 by moving horizontally.

  The upper end portion 51 of the operation portion 5 at the second position does not necessarily need to be locked to the step portion 241 by the restoring force of the elastic member 4. For example, a worker may move the tip of a flathead screwdriver or the like in the left-right direction to move a part of the upper end portion 51 below the step portion 241 and lock it. Further, a portion of the operation unit 5 other than the upper end portion 51 may be locked to the step portion 241. Further, the operating section 5 located at the second position may be locked to a portion other than the step portion 241 as long as the operating section 5 is locked to the case 2. For example, the operating unit 5 located at the second position may be pressed against the case 2 by the restoring force of the elastic member 4 and may be locked to the case 2 by being sandwiched between the elastic member 4 and the case 2. .

  In the connection device 1a illustrated in FIG. 9, the operation unit 5a shown on the right side in the figure is slightly inclined at the second position by the restoring force of the elastic member 4, and the lower end 53 of the operation unit 5a It is locked to a part (that is, a step). In the connection device 1a, a projection 27 protruding from the case 2 toward the operation unit 5a is provided between the operation unit 5a and the insertion hole 21. The protruding portion 27 is in contact with, for example, the connecting portion 52 of the operation portion 5a. When the locking of the operation unit 5a located at the second position is released, for example, an operator brings the tip of a normal flathead screwdriver or the like into contact with the concave portion 512 of the upper end 51 of the operation unit 5a, 51 is moved in a direction approaching the insertion hole 21. As a result, the lower end 53 of the operation portion 5a moves in a direction away from the insertion hole 21 with the protrusion 27 as a fulcrum, and the engagement between the lower end 53 and the case 2 is released. The operation portion 5a moves upward by the restoring force of the elastic member 4, and the lower end portion 53 is locked to the projection 27 as in the operation portion 5a shown on the left side in FIG. This restricts upward movement of the operation unit 5a located at the third position.

  In the connection device 1b illustrated in FIG. 10, the upper end 51 of the operation unit 5b is a resin spring that bends in the left-right direction. In addition, the upper end portion 51 includes a protrusion 56 projecting in a direction opposite to the insertion hole 21. In the operation portion 5b located at the third position shown on the left side in the drawing, the upper end portion 51 which is a resin spring is compressed in the left-right direction. As shown on the right side of the drawing, when the operation portion 5b moves downward and is located at the second position, the upper end portion 51 expands in the left-right direction due to the restoring force, and the protrusion 56 of the operation portion 5b becomes the step portion of the case 2. 241.

  The connection devices 1, 1a, 1b described above may be used to connect electric wires in various devices. For example, the connection devices 1, 1a, and 1b may be used for a relay socket, an operation switch, or the like.

  The configurations in the above embodiment and each modified example may be appropriately combined as long as they do not conflict with each other.

1, 1a, 1b, 10 Connection device 2 Case 3 Terminal 4 Elastic member 5, 5a, 5b Operation unit 24 Movement path 25 Top surface (of case) 26 Both side surfaces (of case) 91, 91a, 91b Electric wire 241 Step portion 511 Top surface (of operation unit) 513 Both sides (of operation unit)

Claims (6)

A connection device to which an electric wire is connected,
Case and
A conductive terminal portion fixed to the case,
An elastic member attached to the case and pressing the electric wire against the terminal portion by a restoring force to pinch the terminal,
An operation unit that changes the shape of the elastic member by moving along a movement path provided in the case;
With
Between the connection state in which the elastic member holds the electric wire between the terminal portion and a release state in which the electric wire is released from being pinched with the terminal portion by being bent more than the connection state. Is deformable,
The operation unit is movable along the movement path connecting a first position in contact with the elastic member in the connected state and a second position in contact with the elastic member in the released state;
The surface of the operation unit located at the first position is located more inside the case than a region around the operation unit on the surface of the case, or is located on the same plane as the region,
The operating unit located at the second position, Ri lockable der to said casing,
The elastic member is deformable even between the connection state and an initial state in which the elastic member is in contact with the terminal portion without sandwiching the electric wire,
The elastic member in the initial state is more bent than a natural state,
At an end of the operation unit that comes into contact with the elastic member, an operation step portion protruding laterally with respect to the movement path is provided,
At a third position on the opposite side of the second position from the second position with respect to the first position of the movement path, the operation step portion is locked to a part of the case, so that the operation portion has a third position. The connection device , wherein movement in a direction away from the two positions is restricted, and the end of the operation unit is sandwiched between the elastic member and the part of the case . The connection device according to claim 1,
The surface of the operation unit located at the second position is located more inside the case than the region around the operation unit on the surface of the case, or is located on the same plane as the region. Characteristic connected equipment. The connection device according to claim 1 or 2,
The connection device, wherein the elastic member is a leaf spring. The connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
The case includes a step portion extending from the movement path in a direction intersecting the movement path,
The connection device, wherein the operation unit is locked to the step portion of the case in the second position. It is a connection apparatus of Claim 4, Comprising:
In the second position, at least a part of the operation section is moved in a direction intersecting the movement path by a restoring force of the elastic member, whereby the operation section is locked to the step section. Connected equipment. The connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein
The surface of the operation unit located at the third position is located inside the case more than a region around the operation unit on the surface of the case, or is located on the same plane as the region. Characteristic connected equipment.

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