WO2012033123A1

WO2012033123A1 - Connector assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2012033123A1
Application number: PCT/JP2011/070355
Authority: WO
Inventors: 達也三浦; 堀中　大
Original assignee: シャープ株式会社
Priority date: 2010-09-07
Filing date: 2011-09-07
Publication date: 2012-03-15
Also published as: JP2012059813A

Abstract

The present invention provides a connector which reduces the number of times connections are made with a cable. The connector comprises: a terminal box which is provided with a housing body having a terminal box fitting part; and a plug connector which includes a housing part and a plug fitting part which is attached to a housing and fits together with the terminal box fitting part of the terminal box. The housing part includes a cable housing to which multiple cables can be connected.

Description

Connector assembly

This invention relates to the connector used in order to electrically connect a solar cell module etc. with another apparatus.

In recent years, attention has been focused on environmental protection and clean energy, and the development of solar cells is active. The solar cell is used as a solar cell module in which a plurality of solar cells are electrically connected to increase output power. In addition, a plurality of solar cell modules are electrically connected and the generated power is often used. Therefore, a cable and a terminal box for connecting the solar cell module are necessary.

Patent Document 1 discloses a terminal box used on the back surface of a solar cell module and a cable connected to the connector. Patent Document 2 discloses a solar cell module connector that prevents intrusion of rainwater, dust, and the like.

JP-A-9-223538 JP 2006-114620 A

However, the invention described in Patent Document 1 and the invention described in Patent Document 2 both have to connect cables to the terminal box one by one at the installation site of the solar cell, which causes an increase in work processes. . For example, when the solar cell installation site is a dangerous place such as a roof, an increase in the work process may cause an accident. Moreover, since labor costs increase due to an increase in work processes, it is necessary to reduce the work processes.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector assembly that can reduce the number of work steps because the number of cable connections is reduced in a solar cell installation site or the like.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a terminal box including a housing main body having a terminal box fitting portion, and the housing that fits the housing portion and the terminal box fitting portion of the terminal box. A plug connector including a plug fitting portion, wherein the housing portion includes a cable housing to which a plurality of cables can be connected.

The present invention also relates to a plug connector connected to a terminal box, which is fitted to a housing portion and a terminal box fitting portion of a housing body of the terminal box, and is fitted to the housing portion. A plug connector including a cable housing to which a plurality of cables can be connected.

By using the present invention, it is possible to connect a plurality of cables to the terminal box at a time, and to reduce the work process at the solar cell installation site.

It is the schematic which shows the connector assembly 10 which is one Embodiment which concerns on this invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the connector assembly 10 of FIG. 1 in a state where a plus cable 20 and a minus cable 22 are connected. It is the schematic which shows the state in which the several solar cell module connector was connected. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state where the plug connector 12 and the terminal box 14 are fitted in the connector assembly 10. It is the schematic which showed the connector assembly 40 for solar cell modules which is one Embodiment which concerns on this invention. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the connector assembly 40 in a state where the plug connector 42 and the terminal box 44 are fitted. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the connector assembly 40 when a rod 56 is inserted into the opening 52. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the lock piece insertion hole 50 showing a repulsive force 60. It is an expanded sectional view of lock piece insertion hole 50 showing force 62 by reaction. 4 is a plan view of an embodiment in which an upper surface side of a side surface of an opening 52 is also opened. FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a solar cell module connector assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The connector assembly 10 includes a plug connector 12 and a terminal box 14. The plug connector 12 is detachable from the terminal box 14. The plug connector 12 includes a plus cable housing 11 that can be connected to a plus cable 20 that is a first cable, and a minus cable housing 13 that can be connected to a minus cable 22 that is a second cable. FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a connector to which the plus cable 20 and the minus cable 22 are connected.

The plug connector 12 includes a housing (part) 16 having

cable housings

11 and 13 and a plug fitting part 18 protruding from the housing 16. In many cases, the material of the housing 16 and the plug fitting portion 18 is an insulating resin or plastic. The plus cable 20 and the minus cable 22 are configured such that a covering portion 24 made of vinyl or the like for insulation covers the conductor (conductive portion) 26. The conductive portion 26 is connected to a plug terminal (not shown) in the plug fitting portion 18. In the present embodiment, the number of the plus cable housing 11 and the number of the minus cable housings 13 is one, but either one or both of the housings may be configured. The number of cables to be connected is three or more. A waterproof packing 34 may be provided on the base end side (housing 16 side) of the fitting portion 18 over the entire circumference. The waterproof packing 34 is in pressure contact with the inlet inner surface 15 of the fitting portion (terminal box fitting portion 32) of the terminal box 14 in a fitted state with the terminal box 14, and liquid such as rainwater flows into the terminal box 14. Can be prevented.

Further, the same end as the plug connector 12 may be connected to the opposite end of the plus cable 20 and the minus cable 22 with respect to the plug connector 12, or another connector (for example, a relay connector) may be connected. May be. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, one end of the cable 20 (22) is connected to the plus cable housing 11 of the plug connector 12, and the opposite end is connected to the minus cable housing 13 of another plug connector 12. Alternatively, the same connection may be repeated to connect the plurality of plug connectors 12 via cables.

The terminal box 14 includes a housing body 28 and a lid 30. The housing body 28 has a terminal box fitting portion 32 into which the plug fitting portion 18 of the plug connector 12 is inserted and fitted. Inside the terminal box fitting portion 32, for example, there is a terminal box terminal (not shown) that is electrically connected to the output of the solar cell.

The terminal box fitting portion 32 is provided with a protruding portion 36 that protrudes toward the opening side, and enters between the individual plug fitting

portions

18a and 18b when fitting with the plug connector 12. You may make it prevent the incorrect fitting of the said plug connector 12. FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the protruding portion 36 is made asymmetric in the vertical direction so that the front and back of the connector plug 12 can be reversed so that they cannot be fitted, thereby preventing erroneous fitting. Further, by making the protruding portion 36 in another shape such as left-right asymmetry, erroneous fitting can be prevented.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state in which the plug connector 12 fitted with the plus cable 20 and the minus cable 22 is fitted into the terminal box 14. The plug connector 12 and the terminal box 14 are connected by fitting the plug fitting portion 18 to the terminal box fitting portion 32. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the terminal box fitting portion 32 is a concave shape and the plug fitting portion 18 is a convex shape, but may be reversed or fitted. Other possible shapes are possible. When the plug connector 12 and the terminal box 14 are fitted, the plug terminal inside the plug fitting portion 18 is electrically connected to the terminal box terminal inside the terminal box fitting portion 32; The output of the solar cell module can be taken out via the plus cable 20 and the minus cable 22.

Since the plus cable 20 and the minus cable 22 are connected to the housing 16, both the plus cable 20 and the minus cable 22 (that is, the plus cable 20 and the minus cable 22 are connected in one operation step of fitting the plug connector 12 to the terminal box 14). Multiple cables can be connected to the terminal box 14.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a solar cell module connector assembly 40 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The connector assembly 40 includes a plug connector 42 and a terminal box 44. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state in which the plug connector 42 and the terminal box 44 are fitted. FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. The cross section of FIG. 7 is the cross section shown by the AA line of FIG. 8, which is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the plug connector 42 is located laterally from the housing 16 (in the left-right direction in FIG. 6, the arrangement direction of the individual

fitting portions

18 a and 18 b), in addition to the components included in the plug connector 12. A flange portion 41 protruding from the center is provided. The flange portion 41 is provided with a pair of lock pieces 46 extending in the fitting direction and sandwiching the plug fitting portion 18. A lock claw 48 protruding in a direction orthogonal to the fitting direction (left and right direction in FIG. 6) is attached to the tip of the lock piece 46, and can be elastically displaced in the left and right direction in FIG. The terminal box 44 includes a lock piece insertion hole 50 extending in the fitting direction in addition to the components included in the terminal box 14 described above. The lock piece insertion hole 50 has an opening 52 on the side surface of the insertion hole. The lock piece insertion hole 50 and the opening 52 communicate with each other, and are constituted by an outer wall 45a and an outer wall 45b. The lock piece insertion hole 50 and the lock piece 46 are fitted. At the time of fitting, the opening 52 is fitted to the lock claw 48 and exposed to the outside, and the end surface 28 a of the housing body 28 abuts on the end surface 41 a of the flange portion 41. Furthermore, the partition wall 43 that partitions the lock piece insertion hole 50 and the terminal box fitting portion 32 enters between the lock piece 46 and the fitting portion 18, and presses the waterproof packing 34, so that the

fitting portion

18, 32 is waterproof. As shown in FIG. 6, the flange portion 41 has substantially the same size as the width direction of the housing main body 28 so as not to protrude sideways in the fitted state with the terminal box 44.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the fitted state of the terminal box 44 and the plug connector 42, since the lock claw 48 is fitted into the opening 52, once the lock piece insertion hole 50 and the lock piece 46 are fitted, The plug connector 42 and the terminal box 44 are not detached simply by applying a force to the plug connector 42 in the outlet direction 47 of the lock piece insertion hole 50. A force in the bottom direction 53 of the opening 52 is applied to the lock claw 48 so that the lock claw 48 is removed from the opening 52, and the plug connector 42 and the terminal box 44 are applied to the lock claw 48 in a state where the lock claw 48 is removed from the opening 52. By applying a force to the plug connector 42 in the outlet direction 47 of the lock piece insertion hole 50, the plug connector 42 and the terminal box 44 can be removed. In the present embodiment, the lock piece 46 and the lock piece insertion hole 50 are attached to one side surface of the housing 16 and the housing main body 28 and the side surface opposite to the side surface, respectively. Good.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the opening 52 side of the distal end portion 54 of the lock piece 46 may have a curved surface shape. As shown in FIG. 7, by making the opening side of the distal end portion 54 of the lock piece 46 into a curved surface shape, for example, using a rod 56 having a flat distal end such as a flathead screwdriver, for example, the following According to the procedure, a force in the bottom direction 53 of the opening 52 can be applied to the lock claw 48. First, as shown in FIG. 9, the rod 56 is inserted between the distal end portion 54 of the lock piece 46 and the side surface 52 a of the opening 52 so that the flat surface of the rod 56 is aligned with the distal end portion 54. The rod 56 is tilted in the outlet direction 55 of the lock piece insertion hole 50 so that the rod does not come off the opening 52 from the insertion direction. By rotating the rod with the long hand direction of the rod as the rotation axis 57, a force can be applied to the lock claw 48 in the bottom direction 53 of the opening 52, and the lock claw 48 can be removed from the opening 52. it can.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10, the side surface on the opening side of the lock piece insertion hole 50 may have a taper 58 so that the hole extends toward the outlet direction 55. When the lock claw 48 is removed from the opening 52, the lock piece 46 is in the bottom side direction 53, and a repulsive force 60 is generated due to the elasticity of the material. The taper 58 receives a repulsive force 60 from the contact portion with the lock claw 48. As shown in FIG. 11, since the taper 58 extends in the outlet direction 55, the force 62 due to the reaction of the repulsive force 60 received by the lock claw 48 generates a partial pressure 64 in the direction of the entrance / exit of the lock piece insertion hole 50. Have. The operator can extract the lock piece 46 from the lock piece insertion hole 50 using the partial pressure 64.

Strictly speaking, the lock claw 48 does not contact the taper 58 unless a force for moving the lock claw 48 in the exit direction 55 is applied to the lock piece 46 when the lock claw 48 is removed from the opening 52. However, if the lock piece 46 is slightly displaced in the exit direction 55, the lock claw 48 comes into contact with the taper 58. Therefore, the force for moving in the exit direction 55 may be small. It can be obtained by a frictional force, a force from the rod 56, or the like.

In another embodiment, the opening 52 (that is, between the outer wall 45a and the outer wall 45b) may be of a size that does not allow human fingers to enter. With such a size, it is possible to prevent the operator from accidentally removing the lock claw 48 from the opening 52 and removing the plug connector 42 from the terminal box 44.

Furthermore, in another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the upper surface side of the side surface of the opening 52 may also be opened. That is, the side surface of the opening 52 in the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction (exit direction 55) and the opening direction (bottom side direction 53) of the lock piece insertion hole 50 may be open. With this configuration, it is easy for the operator to visually confirm whether or not the lock claw 48 is fitted in the opening 52.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Connector assembly 11 Plus cable housing 12 Plug connector 13 Negative cable housing 14 Terminal box 15 Entrance inner surface 16 of terminal box fitting part Housing 18 Plug fitting part 18a Individual plug fitting part 18b Individual plug fitting part 20 Positive cable 22 Negative cable 24 Cover portion 26 Conductor 28 Housing main body 28a End face 30 of housing main body 32 Cover 32 Terminal box fitting part 34 Waterproof packing 36 Projection part 40 Connector assembly 41 Flange part 41a End face 42 of flange part Plug connector 43 Partition wall 44 Terminal box

45a Outer wall

45b Outer wall 46 Lock piece 47 Exit direction 48 of lock piece insertion hole 50 Lock claw 50 Lock piece insertion hole 52 Opening 52a Side surface 53 of opening 54 Bottom side of opening 54 Tip of lock piece 55 partial pressure of the outlet direction of the lock piece insertion hole of the outlet direction 56 bar 57 rotating shaft 58 taper 60 repulsive force 62 repulsion forces 64 lock piece insertion hole by the reaction of

Claims

A terminal box having a housing body having a terminal box fitting portion;
A plug connector including a plug fitting portion attached to the housing, which is fitted to the housing portion and the terminal box fitting portion of the terminal box;
With
The housing portion includes a cable housing to which a plurality of cables can be connected.
Connector assembly.
A plug connector connected to a terminal box,
Including a housing portion and a plug fitting portion attached to the housing portion, which is fitted with a terminal box fitting portion of a housing body of the terminal box,
The housing portion includes a cable housing to which a plurality of cables can be connected.
Plug connector.