JP7466484B2 - Terminal device for circuit breaker and circuit breaker - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a circuit breaker terminal device and a circuit breaker.

Conventionally, a terminal device having a screw terminal to which a crimp terminal is connected is known as a terminal device for a circuit breaker. In such a terminal device, a terminal screw inserted into the crimp terminal is screwed into a screw hole in the screw terminal, thereby fixing the crimp terminal to the screw terminal.

In this type of terminal device, as shown in FIG. 6 of Patent Document 1, the crimp terminals can be overlapped so that the crimping portions where the electric wires are crimped do not interfere with each other, making it possible to connect up to two crimp terminals.

JP 2005-149820 A

However, the above-mentioned conventional crimp terminal connection structure can only connect a maximum of two crimp terminals, so in order to connect three or more crimp terminals to a terminal device, it is necessary to arrange multiple identical connection structures, which creates the problem of the terminal device becoming larger.

The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to obtain a terminal device for a circuit breaker that can connect three or more crimp terminals while preventing the terminal device from becoming too large.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the terminal device for a circuit breaker in the present disclosure includes a fixed terminal and a movable terminal. The fixed terminal is fixed to a main body of the circuit breaker, and a terminal screw is inserted through the fixed terminal. The movable terminal is arranged to be movable along an insertion direction in a region facing the fixed terminal in the insertion direction of the terminal screw into the fixed terminal, and a screw hole is formed in the movable terminal that can engage with the terminal screw inserted through the fixed terminal. The fixed terminal includes a first abutment portion having a first abutment surface that abuts against a crimp terminal arranged between the fixed terminal and a head of the terminal screw, and a second abutment portion having a second abutment surface that abuts against a crimp terminal arranged between the fixed terminal and the movable terminal, and the distance between the first abutment surface and the second abutment surface is a distance that does not interfere with the crimp portion of the crimp terminal abutting against the first abutment surface and the crimp portion of the crimp terminal abutting against the second abutment surface.

The present disclosure has the advantage that it is possible to connect three or more crimp terminals while preventing the terminal device from becoming too large.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a circuit breaker before a crimp terminal according to a first embodiment is connected; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fixed terminal of a terminal device according to a first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a plan view of a fixed terminal of a terminal device according to a first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a side view of a fixed terminal of a terminal device according to a first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a movable terminal of a terminal device according to a first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a plan view of a movable terminal of a terminal device according to a first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a side view of a movable terminal of a terminal device according to a first embodiment; FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII shown in FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a state of a connecting operation of a crimp terminal to a terminal device of a circuit breaker according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a first state of an internal configuration of the circuit breaker after a crimp terminal according to the first embodiment is connected; FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a second state of the internal configuration of the circuit breaker after the crimp terminal according to the first embodiment is connected; FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a third state of the internal configuration of the circuit breaker after the crimp terminal according to the first embodiment is connected; FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a fourth state of the internal configuration of the circuit breaker after the crimp terminal according to the first embodiment is connected; FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a fifth state of the internal configuration of the circuit breaker after the crimp terminal according to the first embodiment is connected; FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of a terminal device not provided with a movable terminal according to a first embodiment;

The circuit breaker terminal device and the circuit breaker according to the embodiment are described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1.
Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a circuit breaker before a crimp terminal according to the first embodiment is connected. As shown in Fig. 1, the circuit breaker 100 according to the first embodiment includes a main body 1 and a terminal device 2.

The main body 1 includes a main body housing 11, an opening/closing mechanism 12, an overload detector 13, an overcurrent detector 14, and an arc extinguishing chamber 15. The main body housing 11 is formed of an insulating material such as resin, and the opening/closing mechanism 12, the overload detector 13, the overcurrent detector 14, and the arc extinguishing chamber 15 are housed in the internal space of the main body housing 11. The opening/closing mechanism 12 opens and closes the electric circuit. For example, based on the operation of an operating handle (not shown), the opening/closing mechanism 12 separates a fixed contact and a movable contact (not shown) to change the electric circuit from a closed state to an open state, or brings the fixed contact and the movable contact into contact to change the electric circuit from an open state to a closed state.

When the overload detection unit 13 detects an overload, it acts on the switching mechanism unit 12 to cause the switching mechanism unit 12 to change the electric circuit from a closed state to an open state, and the circuit breaker 100 to a tripped state from a closed state. When the overcurrent detection unit 14 detects an overcurrent, it acts on the switching mechanism unit 12 to cause the switching mechanism unit 12 to change the electric circuit from a closed state to an open state, and the circuit breaker 100 to a tripped state from a closed state. The arc extinguishing chamber 15 extinguishes the arc that occurs between the fixed contact and the movable contact.

The terminal device 2 is provided on the power supply side and the load side. The terminal device 2 on the power supply side is the terminal device 2 on the right side in FIG. 1, and the terminal device 2 on the load side is the terminal device 2 on the left side in FIG. 1. The terminal device 2 includes a terminal side housing 21, a terminal screw 22, a fixed terminal 23, a movable terminal 24, a terminal cover 25, and an insulating wall 26.

The terminal side housing 21 is formed of an insulating material such as resin, and is formed integrally with the insulating wall 26 and the main body side housing 11. The terminal side housing 21 may be configured to be detachable from the main body side housing 11. In this case, the terminal device 2 may be configured to be detachable from the main body 1. The terminal screw 22, the fixed terminal 23, and the movable terminal 24 are housed in the internal space of the terminal side housing 21.

The terminal screw 22 has a head 22a with a drive portion into which a screwdriver or the like is inserted, and a screw portion 22b with a helical thread. The fixed terminal 23 is fixed to the main body 1 inside the circuit breaker 100 and is electrically connected to the overcurrent detection unit 14. The fixed terminal 23 may be fixed directly to the main body 1, or may be fixed to the main body 1 via the terminal side housing 21 or another member.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a fixed terminal of the terminal device according to the first embodiment, Figure 3 is a plan view of the fixed terminal of the terminal device according to the first embodiment, and Figure 4 is a side view of the fixed terminal of the terminal device according to the first embodiment.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the fixed terminal 23 includes a first contact portion 30, a second contact portion 31, and a connection portion 32. The first contact portion 30 is formed in an L-shape, and the first contact portion 30 includes a first contact surface 30a, a hole portion 30b, and a notch portion 30c, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The first abutment surface 30a abuts against a crimp terminal (not shown) that is arranged between the fixed terminal 23 and the head 22a of the terminal screw 22. The terminal screw 22 is inserted into the hole 30b in the state shown in FIG. 1. The notch 30c is continuous with the hole 30b, and the terminal screw 22 can be inserted into it. The terminal screw 22 can be easily positioned in the hole 30b by moving the terminal screw 22 into the hole 30b via the notch 30c.

In particular, since the notch 30c is formed in an L-shape as shown in FIG. 2, the terminal screw 22 can be inserted into the notch 30c not only from the vertical direction shown in FIG. 1, but also from a direction inclined relative to the vertical direction shown in FIG. 1. Therefore, the terminal screw 22 can be easily inserted into the notch 30c, and the terminal screw 22 can be more easily positioned in the hole 30b than when the notch 30c is formed only in the area parallel to the first abutment portion 30.

The second abutment portion 31 has a second abutment surface 31a and a hole portion 31b. The second abutment surface 31a is a surface parallel to the first abutment surface 30a, and abuts against a crimp terminal (not shown) arranged between the fixed terminal 23 and the movable terminal 24. The distance D between the first abutment surface 30a and the second abutment surface 31a is a distance at which the crimped portion of the crimp terminal abutting against the first abutment surface 30a does not interfere with the crimped portion of the crimp terminal abutting against the second abutment surface 31a. The screw portion 22b of the terminal screw 22 is inserted into the hole portion 31b.

The first contact surface 30a is continuous with one end of the second contact portion 31, and the connection portion 32 is continuous with the other end of the second contact portion 31. The connection portion 32 is electrically connected to the overcurrent detection unit 14.

Returning to FIG. 1, we will continue to explain the terminal device 2. The movable terminal 24 of the terminal device 2 is arranged inside the terminal housing 21 so as to be movable in the area facing the fixed terminal 23 in the vertical direction, which is the insertion direction of the terminal screw 22 into the fixed terminal 23.

5 is a perspective view of a movable terminal of the terminal device according to the first embodiment, FIG. 6 is a plan view of the movable terminal of the terminal device according to the first embodiment, FIG. 7 is a side view of the movable terminal of the terminal device according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in Figures 5, 6, and 8, the movable terminal 24 is formed by embedding a metal member 41 with a screw hole inside an insulating member 40 such as resin by insert molding. The metal member 41 is, for example, a nut, but is not limited to a nut as long as it is a metal member with a screw hole formed on its inner circumference. As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the insulating member 40 has an abutment surface 40a, a guide portion 40b, and a cylindrical portion 40c.

The contact surface 40a contacts a crimp terminal (not shown) that is disposed between the fixed terminal 23 and the movable terminal 24. The guide portion 40b guides the movement of the movable terminal 24 in the vertical direction in FIG. 1. The cylindrical portion 40c is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a metal member 41 is embedded inside the cylindrical portion 40c.

Returning to FIG. 1, the explanation of the terminal device 2 will continue. The terminal cover 25 is provided to prevent a person's fingers from touching the terminal screws 22 and the fixed terminals 23, etc., arranged in the internal space of the terminal side housing 21. One end of the terminal cover 25 is rotatably supported by the terminal side housing 21, and the terminal cover 25 can cover the internal space of the terminal side housing 21 from above in FIG. 1.

Figure 9 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of connecting a crimp terminal to a terminal device of a circuit breaker according to the first embodiment, and Figure 10 is a diagram showing a first state of the internal configuration of the circuit breaker after the crimp terminal according to the first embodiment is connected. Figure 11 is a diagram showing a second state of the internal configuration of the circuit breaker after the crimp terminal according to the first embodiment is connected. Figure 12 is a diagram showing a third state of the internal configuration of the circuit breaker after the crimp terminal according to the first embodiment is connected. Figure 13 is a diagram showing a fourth state of the internal configuration of the circuit breaker after the crimp terminal according to the first embodiment is connected. Figure 14 is a diagram showing a fifth state of the internal configuration of the circuit breaker after the crimp terminal according to the first embodiment is connected.

The example shown in Figure 9 shows the process of connecting four crimp terminals 50 to the terminal device 2. Each crimp terminal 50 has a flat terminal portion 50a with a hole formed therein and a crimping portion 50b into which the end of the electric wire 51 is crimped. The crimping portion 50b is formed in a cylindrical shape so that the core wire of the electric wire 51 can be inserted, and is crimped by a crimping tool (not shown) with the core wire of the electric wire 51 inserted.

When connecting four crimp terminals 50 to the terminal device 2, the two crimp terminals 50 are placed between the fixed terminal 23 and the movable terminal 24 with the crimped portions 50b facing in opposite directions so that they do not interfere with each other, and the terminal portion 50a is positioned between the fixed terminal 23 and the movable terminal 24.

The remaining two of the four crimp terminals 50 are overlapped with the crimped portions 50b facing in the opposite directions so that they do not interfere with each other. Then, the threaded portion 22b of the terminal screw 22 is inserted into the hole of the terminal portion 50a, and the threaded portion 22b of the terminal screw 22 is inserted into the notch portion 30c. Then, the threaded portion 22b of the terminal screw 22 is positioned in the hole portion 30b, and the threaded portion 22b of the terminal screw 22 is inserted into the hole portion 31b of the second abutment portion 31.

Then, the threaded portion 22b of the terminal screw 22 is inserted into the hole formed in the terminal portion 50a of the two crimp terminals 50 arranged between the fixed terminal 23 and the movable terminal 24. Then, the threaded portion 22b of the terminal screw 22 is screwed into the threaded hole formed in the metal member 41 of the movable terminal 24.

As a result, the movable terminal 24 rises in the axial direction of the terminal screw 22, and as shown in FIG. 10, the two crimp terminals 50 between the movable terminal 24 and the fixed terminal 23 are sandwiched and fixed between the movable terminal 24 and the fixed terminal 23, and the two crimp terminals 50 are connected to the fixed terminal 23. Also, as shown in FIG. 10, the remaining two crimp terminals 50 are sandwiched and fixed between the fixed terminal 23 and the head 22a of the terminal screw 22, and the remaining two crimp terminals 50 are connected to the fixed terminal 23.

In this way, the terminal device 2 can connect four crimp terminals 50 to the fixed terminal 23 by arranging the movable terminal 24 that can move in the vertical direction below the fixed terminal 23 in FIG. 10. The terminal device 2 can effectively utilize the vertical area in FIG. 10, and this makes it possible to prevent the terminal device 2 from becoming larger in size compared to a terminal device in which two screw terminals are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the terminal screw 22.

The number of crimp terminals 50 connected to the terminal device 2 may be less than four. For example, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the number of crimp terminals 50 connected to the terminal device 2 may be three, as shown in Figure 13, the number of crimp terminals 50 connected to the terminal device 2 may be two, and as shown in Figure 14, the number of crimp terminals 50 connected to the terminal device 2 may be one.

In the example shown in FIG. 11, one crimp terminal 50 is fixed between the fixed terminal 23 and the head 22a of the terminal screw 22, and two crimp terminals 50 are fixed between the fixed terminal 23 and the movable terminal 24. In the example shown in FIG. 12, two crimp terminals 50 are fixed between the fixed terminal 23 and the head 22a of the terminal screw 22, and one crimp terminal 50 is fixed between the fixed terminal 23 and the movable terminal 24.

In the example shown in FIG. 13, two crimp terminals 50 are fixed between the fixed terminal 23 and the movable terminal 24, but no crimp terminal 50 is fixed between the fixed terminal 23 and the head 22a of the terminal screw 22. In the example shown in FIG. 14, one crimp terminal 50 is fixed between the fixed terminal 23 and the head 22a of the terminal screw 22, but no crimp terminal 50 is fixed between the fixed terminal 23 and the movable terminal 24.

In this way, in the terminal device 2, when the number of crimp terminals 50 is three or less, the connection destination of the crimp terminals 50 can be selected arbitrarily between the fixed terminal 23 and the head 22a of the terminal screw 22, and between the fixed terminal 23 and the movable terminal 24. This increases the degree of freedom of the wiring connected to the circuit breaker 100, and makes wiring easier even when multiple circuit breakers 100 are installed adjacent to each other.

Since the terminal device 2 has a movable terminal 24, the length in the vertical direction in FIG. 10 is long, and the exhaust flow path 17 provided at the bottom of the terminal device 2 in FIG. 10 is narrow. The exhaust flow path 17 is a flow path for exhausting the interrupter gas, which is gas generated when an arc generated between the movable contact and the fixed contact is extinguished in the arc extinguishing chamber 15, from the exhaust port 16 formed in the main body side housing 11 of the main body 1 to the outside of the circuit breaker 100.

Here, a terminal device that does not have a movable terminal 24 will be described. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a terminal device that does not have a movable terminal according to the first embodiment. In the terminal device 2A shown in FIG. 15, as shown in FIG. 15, a movable terminal 24 is not provided, the area below the terminal device 2A in the main body 1A is wider than the area below the terminal device 2 in the main body 1 shown in FIG. 10, and the exhaust flow path 17A of the terminal device 2A is wider than the exhaust flow path 17 shown in FIG. 10.

As shown in FIG. 10, an insulating wall 26 is formed on the terminal device 2 on the power supply side, and this insulating wall 26 restricts the movement of the movable terminal 24 in the vertical direction in FIG. 1. An exhaust port 60 is provided in the terminal side housing 21 above the insulating wall 26 in FIG. 1, thereby forming an exhaust flow path 61 from the arc extinguishing chamber 15 to the exhaust port 60.

When the crimp terminal 50 is connected to the terminal device 2, the movable terminal 24 is moved upward as shown in FIG. 10, so that a part of the exhaust flow path 61 is formed between the movable terminal 24 and the insulating wall 26. In addition, the movable terminal 24 has a cylindrical portion 40c of the insulating member 40 in which the metal member 41 is embedded, and a part of the exhaust flow path 61 is formed on the outer periphery of the insulating member 40.

In this way, in the circuit breaker 100, in addition to the exhaust flow path 17 in the main body 1, an exhaust flow path 61 is also provided in the terminal device 2, so that even if the exhaust flow path 17 is narrowed by the movable terminal 24, the exhaust performance of the interrupter gas can be appropriately ensured.

In addition, in the terminal device 2 on the power supply side, the movable terminal 24 is formed by embedding the metal member 41 inside the insulating member 40 such as resin by insert molding. This makes it possible to suppress the effect on the movable terminal 24 of the blocking gas flowing in the exhaust flow path 61 formed in the terminal device 2.

Furthermore, since the metal member 41 of the movable terminal 24 is covered with the insulating member 40, the effect of the interrupting gas on the metal member 41 can be suppressed. Note that in the example shown in FIG. 10, the terminal device 2 on the power supply side and the terminal device 2 on the load side are provided with movable terminals 24 of the same configuration, but since the terminal device 2 on the load side does not exhaust the interrupting gas, the movable terminal 24 on the load side does not need to be configured using an insulating member.

Therefore, the movable terminal 24 in the load-side terminal device 2 may be, for example, a rectangular metal plate member having a flange formed by burring, with a screw hole formed in the flange to engage with the terminal screw 22. From the standpoint of cost, etc., it is preferable to select whether the movable terminal 24 on the load side is the same as the movable terminal 24 on the power source side, or a movable terminal formed by burring or the like as described above.

As described above, the terminal device 2 of the circuit breaker 100 according to the first embodiment includes the fixed terminal 23 and the movable terminal 24. The fixed terminal 23 is fixed to the main body 1 of the circuit breaker 100, and the terminal screw 22 is inserted through the fixed terminal 23. The movable terminal 24 is arranged to be movable along the insertion direction in the area where the fixed terminal 23 faces in the insertion direction of the terminal screw 22 into the fixed terminal 23, and a screw hole that can engage with the terminal screw 22 inserted into the fixed terminal 23 is formed. As a result, in the terminal device 2 of the circuit breaker 100, multiple crimp terminals 50 can be connected between the fixed terminal 23 and the head 22a of the terminal screw 22 and between the fixed terminal 23 and the movable terminal 24, respectively, and three or more crimp terminals 50 can be connected while preventing the terminal device 2 from becoming large.

The fixed terminal 23 also includes a first abutment portion 30 and a second abutment portion 31. The first abutment portion 30 has a first abutment surface 30a that abuts against the crimp terminal 50 arranged between the fixed terminal 23 and the head 22a of the terminal screw 22. The second abutment portion 31 has a second abutment surface 31a that abuts against the crimp terminal 50 arranged between the fixed terminal 23 and the movable terminal 24. The distance D between the first abutment surface 30a and the second abutment surface 31a is a distance at which the crimp portion 50b of the crimp terminal 50 abutting against the first abutment surface 30a does not interfere with the crimp portion 50b of the crimp terminal 50 abutting against the second abutment surface 31a. As a result, the terminal device 2 of the circuit breaker 100 can connect four crimp terminals 50 while suppressing the increase in size of the terminal device 2.

The first abutment surface 30a and the second abutment surface 31a each have a hole 30b through which the terminal screw 22 is inserted, and a notch 30c. The notch 30c is continuous with the hole 30b formed in the first abutment surface 30a, and the terminal screw 22 can be inserted from a direction oblique to the insertion direction. This allows the terminal screw 22 to be easily inserted into the hole 30b in the terminal device 2 of the circuit breaker 100.

The movable terminal 24 is formed by embedding a metal member 41 having a screw hole inside the insulating member 40 by insert molding. This makes it possible to suppress the effect of the interrupter gas flowing in the exhaust flow path 61 formed in the terminal device 2 on the movable terminal 24, even when the terminal device 2 of the circuit breaker 100 is placed on the power source side.

The terminal device 2 also includes an exhaust port 60 that exhausts the interrupter gas generated in the arc extinguishing chamber 15 of the circuit breaker 100. This allows the terminal device 2 to ensure proper exhaust performance of the interrupter gas even if the exhaust flow path 17 of the main body 1 becomes narrow.

The configurations shown in the above embodiments are merely examples, and may be combined with other known technologies. Parts of the configurations may be omitted or modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1,1A main body, 2,2A terminal device, 11 main body housing, 12 opening/closing mechanism, 13 overload detection section, 14 overcurrent detection section, 15 arc extinguishing chamber, 16,60 exhaust port, 17,17A,61 exhaust flow path, 21 terminal housing, 22 terminal screw, 22a head, 22b screw section, 23 fixed terminal, 24 movable terminal, 25 terminal cover, 26 insulating wall, 30 first contact section, 30a first contact surface, 30b,31b hole section, 30c notch section, 31 second contact section, 31a second contact surface, 32 connection section, 40 insulating member, 40a contact surface, 40b guide section, 40c cylindrical section, 41 metal member, 50 crimp terminal, 50a terminal section, 50b crimp section, 51 Wire, 100 Circuit breaker, D Distance.

Claims (5)

a fixed terminal that is fixed to a main body of the circuit breaker and through which a terminal screw is inserted;
a movable terminal that is arranged to be movable along an insertion direction of the terminal screw in a region facing the fixed terminal in the insertion direction of the terminal screw into the fixed terminal, the movable terminal having a screw hole that can be engaged with the terminal screw inserted into the fixed terminal ,
The fixed terminal is
a first contact portion having a first contact surface that contacts a crimp terminal disposed between the fixed terminal and the head of the terminal screw;
a second abutment portion having a second abutment surface that abuts against a crimp terminal disposed between the fixed terminal and the movable terminal,
The distance between the first contact surface and the second contact surface is
The distance between the crimped portion of the crimp terminal abutting on the first abutment surface and the crimped portion of the crimp terminal abutting on the second abutment surface is such that they do not interfere with each other.
2. A circuit breaker terminal device comprising: a fixed terminal that is fixed to a main body of the circuit breaker and through which a terminal screw is inserted;
a movable terminal that is arranged to be movable along an insertion direction of the terminal screw in a region facing the fixed terminal in the insertion direction of the terminal screw into the fixed terminal, the movable terminal having a screw hole that can be engaged with the terminal screw inserted into the fixed terminal,
The fixed terminal is
a first contact portion having a first contact surface that contacts a crimp terminal disposed between the fixed terminal and the head of the terminal screw;
a second abutment portion having a second abutment surface that abuts against a crimp terminal disposed between the fixed terminal and the movable terminal,
Each of the first contact surface and the second contact surface is
a hole through which the terminal screw is inserted;
a notch portion continuous with a hole portion formed in the first contact surface, into which the terminal screw can be inserted from a direction oblique to the insertion direction. The movable terminal is
3. The terminal device for a circuit breaker according to claim 1 , wherein the metal member having the screw hole is embedded in the insulating member by insert molding. 4. The terminal device for a circuit breaker according to claim 1, further comprising an exhaust port for discharging gas generated in the arc extinguishing chamber of the circuit breaker. A circuit breaker comprising the terminal device for a circuit breaker according to any one of claims 1 to 4 .

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