JP7407003B2 - adapter - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an adapter for mounting an electrical component such as a lamp and electrically connecting a wire to the electrical component.

2. Description of the Related Art Terminal blocks (terminal units) for connecting electric wires to various electrical components have been known (for example, Patent Document 1).

FIG. 5(A) is a sectional view of an adapter to which a lamp is attached. FIG. 5(B) is an enlarged view of the circle portion shown in FIG. 5(A).

The adapter includes a socket 100 for attaching a lamp, and a main body 130 connected to the socket 100. The socket 100 has a cylindrical shape, and a compression coil spring 500 is disposed on the inside bottom surface. When the lamp is inserted into the socket 100, the compression coil spring 500 comes into contact with the + terminal on the bottom of the lamp and is electrically connected. Further, the compression coil spring 500 is compressed when the lamp is inserted, and an elastic force is generated. The compression coil spring 500 applies a pressing force to the lamp by its elastic force.

A metal fitting 700 is arranged on the inner side surface of the socket 100. The metal fitting 700 has a shape that follows the inner side surface of the socket 100. When the lamp is inserted, the metal fitting 700 contacts the - terminal on the side of the lamp and is electrically connected.

A terminal fitting consisting of a screw 300 and a plate-like member 310 is arranged on the main body 130 . The screw 300 is tightened through the opening at the bottom of the main body 130 and engages with the plate member 310. The plate member is thin in the vertical direction and long in the horizontal direction. One screw 300 and one plate-like member 310 are arranged on each side. The plate member 310 located on the left side in the figure engages with the screw 300 at the left end. The screw 300 and the plate-like member 310 sandwich the electric wire at the meshing locations and are electrically connected to the electric wire. The plate member 310 on the left side in the figure is connected to the metal fitting 700 at the right end. Note that the plate member 310 and the metal fitting 700 may be integrally formed. As a result, the terminal fitting on the left side in the figure is electrically connected to the negative terminal of the lamp.

The plate member 310 on the right side in the figure engages with the screw 300 at the right end. The screw 300 and the plate-like member 310 sandwich the electric wire at the meshing locations and are electrically connected to the electric wire. The plate member 310 on the right side in the figure is connected to the compression coil spring 500 at the end on the left side. Thereby, the terminal fitting on the right side in the figure is electrically connected to the + terminal of the lamp.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-107079

The compression coil spring 500 is compressed when the lamp is inserted, and applies a pressing force to the lamp and also to the plate member 310. However, if the lamp is not attached, the pressing force is not generated. As shown in FIG. 5(B), a predetermined clearance L0 is provided between the plate member 310 and the main body 130 or the socket 100 in consideration of errors when assembling the plate member 310 to the main body 130. Therefore, when the lamp is not attached, a gap may be created between the plate member 310 and the compression coil spring 500, resulting in a non-contact state. Therefore, dust may adhere between the plate-shaped member 310 and the compression coil spring 500, resulting in deterioration of current conduction performance.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an adapter that prevents deterioration of current carrying performance.

The adapter according to the present invention includes a socket, a compression coil spring disposed on the bottom surface of the socket, a terminal fitting disposed outside the socket, and a connecting portion for electrically connecting the terminal fitting and the compression coil spring. It is characterized by having the following.

In this manner, the adapter of the present invention includes a connection portion that electrically connects the terminal fitting and the compression coil spring. Therefore, even if the lamp is not attached and the compression coil spring does not have any elastic force, there is no possibility that dust will adhere between the terminal fitting, the connecting portion, and the compression coil spring, thereby degrading the current carrying performance.

Note that the connecting portion may be an elastic member. In this case, a pressing force or a tensile force can be applied to the compression coil spring or the terminal fitting by the elastic force of the elastic member. Therefore, the connecting portion can fix the compression coil spring or the terminal fitting to a socket or the like.

Further, the connecting portion may be a tension coil spring. If it is a tension coil spring, it is possible to apply a tension force that pulls the compression coil spring toward the bottom surface of the socket. Therefore, the connection part can firmly fix the compression coil spring to the bottom surface of the socket, and since the connection part can also apply a tensile force that pulls the terminal metal fitting, the terminal metal fitting can also be firmly fixed. Furthermore, the connection can also be manufactured as a series of spring components, including compression coil springs and tension coil springs.

Note that the diameter of the compression coil spring is preferably larger than the diameter of the tension coil spring. In this case, by providing a hole in the bottom of the socket that is larger in diameter than the tension coil spring and smaller in diameter than the compression coil spring, the adapter can be easily manufactured by simply inserting the tension coil spring into the hole. In this case, the compression coil spring catches on the housing around the hole. Therefore, the compression coil spring can be firmly fixed to the bottom surface of the socket.

According to the present invention, deterioration of current carrying performance can be prevented.

FIG. 1(A) is a perspective view of the adapter 1 seen from the top and front side, and FIG. 1(B) is a perspective view of the adapter 1 seen from the bottom and front side. 2(A) is a plan view of the adapter 1, FIG. 2(B) is a sectional view taken along the line AA, and FIG. 2(C) is an enlarged view of the circle B portion. FIG. 3(A) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA, and FIG. 3(B) is an enlarged view of the circle C portion. FIG. 4(A) is a sectional view of Modification 1, and FIG. 4(B) is a sectional view of Modification 2. For reference, FIG. 5(A) is a sectional view of a conventional adapter for mounting a lamp, and FIG. 5(B) is an enlarged view of the circled portion shown in FIG. 5(A).

FIG. 1(A) is a perspective view of the adapter 1 seen from the top side and the front side, and FIG. 1(B) is a perspective view of the adapter 1 seen from the bottom side and the front side. 2(A) is a plan view of the adapter 1, FIG. 2(B) is a sectional view taken along the line AA shown in FIG. 2(A), and FIG. 2(C) is a plan view of the adapter 1. It is an enlarged view of the circle B part shown in B).

The adapter 1 includes a socket 11 arranged on the upper surface side and a main body 13 arranged on the lower surface side and connected to the socket 11.

The socket 11 has a cylindrical shape. A lamp is inserted into the cylinder of the socket 11. The main body 13 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape. The main body 13 is short in the longitudinal direction and long in the vertical and horizontal directions. The left and right widths on the bottom side of the main body 13 are wider than the left and right widths on the top side. Openings 15 into which electric wires are inserted are provided on the left and right sides of the bottom surface of the main body 13.

The socket 11 has a compression coil spring 50A disposed on the inside bottom surface. When the lamp is inserted into the socket 11, the compression coil spring 50A comes into contact with the + terminal on the bottom of the lamp and is electrically connected. Further, the compression coil spring 50A is compressed when the lamp is inserted, and an elastic force is generated. The compression coil spring 50A applies a pressing force to the lamp by its elastic force.

A metal fitting 70 is arranged on the inner side surface of the socket 11. The metal fitting 70 has a shape that follows the inner side surface of the socket 11. When the lamp is inserted, the metal fitting 70 contacts the - terminal on the side of the lamp and is electrically connected. The metal fitting 70 extends downward from the inner side surface of the socket 11 toward the main body 13. The lower end of the metal fitting 70 is bent 90 degrees to form a bent portion 70A.

A terminal fitting 30 is arranged on the main body 13. The terminal fittings 30 are arranged at two locations on the left and right. The terminal fitting 30 has a built-in leaf spring (not shown). The terminal fitting 30 sandwiches the electric wire inserted through the opening 15 between the leaf springs. Thereby, the terminal fitting 30 is electrically connected to the electric wire.

The terminal fitting 30 includes a plate-shaped member 31 that is thin in the vertical direction and long in the horizontal direction. The member 31 of the terminal fitting 30 disposed on the left side in the figure faces the bent portion 70A of the fitting 70. A compression coil spring 75 is arranged between the member 31 and the bent portion 70A. The compression coil spring 75 is disposed between the member 31 and the bent portion 70A in a compressed state. The compression coil spring 75 presses the member 31 and the bent portion 70A in the vertical direction with its elastic force. Thereby, the compression coil spring 75 can electrically connect the member 31 and the bent portion 70A, and can fix the metal fitting 70 and the terminal metal fitting 30. Therefore, the metal fitting 70 is electrically connected to the terminal metal fitting 30.

The member 31 of the terminal fitting 30 located on the right side in the figure is connected to the compression coil spring 50A via the hook 50C and the tension coil spring 50B. The tension coil spring 50B is an example of the connecting portion of the present invention. The member 31 is provided with a hole 32 for providing a contact terminal. The hook 50C is hooked onto the hole 32.

3(A) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA shown in FIG. 2(A), and FIG. 3(B) is an enlarged view of the circle C portion shown in FIG. 3(A). The compression coil spring 50A, the tension coil spring 50B, and the hook 50C are composed of a series of metal wires. However, in the present invention, the compression coil spring 50A, the tension coil spring 50B, and the hook 50C may be composed of different members.

The diameter L1 of the compression coil spring 50A is larger than the diameter L2 of the tension coil spring 50B. Further, the radius of curvature of the hook 50C is equal to (L2)/2 or smaller than (L2)/2.

A recess with a diameter equal to or slightly larger than the diameter L1 is provided on the inside bottom surface of the socket 11. Further, a hole 90 smaller than the diameter L1 and larger than the diameter L2 is provided on the inside bottom surface of the socket 11. Therefore, the hook 50C and the tension coil spring 50B can be inserted into the hole 90 from inside the socket 11. Since the diameter L1 of the compression coil spring 50A is larger than the diameter of the hole 90, it fits into the recess provided on the bottom surface inside the socket 11 and does not pass through the hole 90. The distance between the hole 90 and the hole 32 is longer than the length of the tension coil spring 50B when no load is applied. Therefore, when the hook 50C is hooked into the hole 32, an elastic force is generated in the tension coil spring 50B.

The member 31 and the compression coil spring 50A are each pulled by the elastic force of the tension coil spring 50B. Therefore, the tension coil spring 50B can electrically connect the member 31 and the compression coil spring 50A, and can fix the compression coil spring 50A and the terminal fitting 30. The compression coil spring 50A is firmly fixed to the socket 11 even when the lamp is not attached to the socket 11 and no elastic force is generated in the compression coil spring 50A itself. Further, the compression coil spring 50A is always electrically connected to the terminal fitting 30 by the tension coil spring 50B and the hook 50C. Therefore, there is no possibility that dust will adhere between the terminal fitting 30, the connecting portion (tension coil spring 50B), and the compression coil spring 50A, thereby deteriorating the current conduction performance. Of course, as shown in FIG. 5(A) and FIG. 5(B) in the reference drawings, there is no possibility that dust will adhere between the plate-like member and the compression coil spring, thereby degrading the current carrying performance.

In the above embodiment, the tension coil spring 50B, which is the connecting portion, pulls and fixes the compression coil spring 50A and the terminal fitting 30 with its elastic force. However, it is not essential that the connecting portion be an elastic member. For example, the compression coil spring 50A and the terminal fitting 30 may be electrically connected by soldering a conducting wire or the like. Also in this case, the compression coil spring 50A is always electrically connected to the terminal fitting 30. Therefore, there is no possibility of dirt adhering between the terminal fitting 30, the connection part (conductor wire), and the compression coil spring 50A and deteriorating the current carrying performance. Therefore, there is no possibility that dust will adhere between the plate-shaped member and the compression coil spring, thereby deteriorating the current carrying performance.

Further, the compression coil spring 50A may be electrically connected to the terminal fitting 30 by a clip 57 as shown in FIG. 4(A). The clip 57 is connected to the compression coil spring 50A at its first end, and pinches the member 31 of the terminal fitting 30 at its second end. Also in this case, the compression coil spring 50A is always electrically connected to the terminal fitting 30. Therefore, there is no possibility of dirt adhering between the terminal fitting 30, the connection part (clip 57), and the compression coil spring 50A and deteriorating the current-carrying performance, as shown in the reference drawings of FIGS. 5(A) and 5(B). In addition, there is no possibility that dust will adhere between the plate member and the compression coil spring and deteriorate the current carrying performance.

Further, the compression coil spring 50A may be electrically connected to the terminal fitting 30 by a plate spring 55 as shown in FIG. 4(B). The plate spring 55 is an example of an elastic member. The leaf spring 55 is inserted into the hole 32 of the member 31 or contacts the end of the member 31. The leaf spring 55 presses the member 31 toward the right side in the figure due to its elastic force. Also in this case, the compression coil spring 50A is always electrically connected to the terminal fitting 30. Therefore, there is no possibility of dirt adhering between the terminal fitting 30, the connection part (plate spring 55), and the compression coil spring 50A and deteriorating the current carrying performance. Thus, there is no possibility that dust will adhere between the plate-like member and the compression coil spring, thereby deteriorating the current-carrying performance. Further, since the leaf spring 55 presses the terminal fitting 30 toward the right side in the figure, the terminal fitting 30 can be firmly fixed.

The above description of the embodiments should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the claims rather than the embodiments described above. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all changes within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

For example, although the adapter of this embodiment is an example in which a lamp is inserted into a socket and the lamp is connected to an electric wire, an adapter in which various other electrical components are inserted into a socket and connected to an electric wire is also applicable. good.

1... Adapter 11... Socket 13... Main body 15... Opening 30... Terminal fitting 31... Member 32... Hole 50A... Compression coil spring 50B... Tension coil spring 50C... Hook 55... Leaf spring 57... Clip 70... Metal fitting 70A... Part 75... Compression coil spring 90...hole 100...socket 130...main body 300...screw 310...plate member 500...compression coil spring 700...metal fitting

Claims (4)

socket and
a main body disposed on the lower side of the socket and connected to the socket;
a compression coil spring disposed on the bottom surface of the socket;
a terminal fitting disposed on the main body ;
an elastic member disposed between the terminal fitting and the compression coil spring and electrically connecting the terminal fitting and the compression coil spring ;
adapter with. the elastic member is a tension coil spring;
Adapter according to claim 1. The diameter of the compression coil spring is larger than the diameter of the tension coil spring.
Adapter according to claim 2. The compression coil spring and the tension coil spring are composed of a series of metal wires.
The adapter according to claim 2 or claim 3.

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