HK1140578B - Receptacles - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the field of connecting technology and concerns a connecting box for connecting a wiring to an apparatus, in particular for connecting a wiring to a photovoltaic module (photovoltaic collector, solar panel, solar cell).

A problem is that when a solar cell is partially covered, e.g. by shading from surrounding objects or clouds, this production becomes passive and contributes little or no to electricity production. This has the effect that the covered solar cell circuit is connected by a circuit from the power of the adjacent solar cell and thus takes a power cut or serves at least a life cycle. This is usually done by temporarily heating the solar cells, which are often sold in the same circuit, and this is known as the electronic circuit.

EP999601 by Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd. shows a solar cell connector box with a housing with a lower and an upper cover that are connected by connectors. The upper cover has connectors for an external electrical wiring, as well as electrical connectors arranged so that when the housing is closed, they will give an electrical connection with corresponding electrical contacts of the lower cover. In the upper cover, diodes are arranged to protect the solar cell. The arrangement is to weatherproof the diodes in a flagship material, e.g. silicon, nautilus. One particular advantage of this high-level arrangement is that they are not suitable for use in solar cells, as they only increase the amount of unnecessary weight and increase the amount of fuel consumption.

US6582249 by Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH shows a solar module connector box with a plastic housing and a cap connected by a belt. The housing part has an opening for connections of a solar panel and connections for an external electrical wiring. In the housing part, electrical components, e.g. diodes, are attached between the connections. The electrical components can be protected from contact by a protective cover rotatably attached to the inner side wall of the housing. Preferably, the components are poured into the protective cover by an opening with a filler material after the protective cover has been fixed in a specific position in the gas chamber.

EP1605554 by Mantenimiento Instalaciones Malaga SL shows a solar cell connector box with a housing part and a lid with soluble plug. The housing has a first opening for connections to a solar cell and a second opening for connections to an external electrical wiring.

The German utility model DE202005018884U1 by Multi-Holding AG shows a connector box for a solar panel. The connector box has a housing part and a cover that is connected to the housing part in a swivel way. The housing part has openings for connecting a solar panel and an external electrical wiring on the inside of the housing are contact elements for attaching electrical components, especially diodes. The contact elements are designed to absorb and dissipate the heat generated by the diodes.

EP15033 by Tyco Electronic AMP GmbH shows a connector box for a solar panel. The connector box has a housing part and a cover connected to the housing part via a hinge. The housing part has an opening for connections of a solar panel in the floor area and in a side wall openings for external electrical wiring. Inside the housing are electrical rails and contact elements.

JP20022359389 by Kitani Denki KK shows a solar cell connector box with a housing with a housing part and a removable lid. Openings in the area of the bottom of the housing part serve to connect to a solar panel. Openings in a side wall serve to connect an electrical wiring. Interchangeably arranged diodes serve as protective elements.

DE102005044939 by Spelsberg Guenther GmbH Co KG reveals a connector box for solar cells. The connector box has a protective device e.g. in the form of a bypass diode. The circuit board is connected to a cooling element which is drawn out of the housing to dissipate heat and is connected to the frame of the solar panel.

JP2005033229 by Mitsubishi Electronic Corporation describes a connector box for a solar cell module. Except for a T-shaped ventilation channel, the connector box is glued with its back side fully to the back of a solar cell module. The connectors of the solar cell are connected to the connectors of the connector box inside the connector box.

EP0793278 by Sanyo Electric Co. describes an inverter for inverting the current of a solar cell module. The task is to arrange the inverter so that the thermal load of the inverter is reduced without it being heated by the solar cell module. This task is solved by mounting the inverter housing at a certain distance from the reverse of the solar cell module, and using specific connectors to connect.

A disadvantage of the socket boxes known from the state of the art is the insufficient cooling of the electronic components or the resulting thermal stress on the solar cells.

One of the purposes of the invention is to show a connecting box which does not have the disadvantages of the present state of the art.

This task is solved by the invention defined in the claims.

A connector according to the invention generally has a one- or multi-part housing enclosing a circuit board with electrical/electronic components. Depending on the embodiment, the housing is multi-part and has a housing part and a housing top. Alternatively, the housing can be formed by spraying the inner parts.

The connector is usually designed to be mounted on a base surface, such as the back of a solar panel, by means of a mounting base. The mounting base can be formed as a separate part to which a housing part is connected. To achieve better force distribution and/or to influence convective cooling, the mounting base can be segmented.

The contact strips or contact wires, e.g. of a solar cell, are usually placed in a connection shaft of the connecting box and connected to the printed circuit board via connectors provided for this purpose.

In one embodiment, external connecting cables are carried into the housing of the connecting box and there connected to the printed circuit board (platin or grid). The connecting cables have, if necessary, standard connections, which allow easy external connection. The housing of the connecting box may have holders for the connections, or the cables, in which the connections for transport and automatic disconnection, e.g. during assembly, can be hung in a defined position.

The cover can be designed to actively prevent the leakage of a casting mass that has been filled but not yet cured. This makes it possible, for example, to position a finished solar panel position-independently immediately after the casting of the connection shaft without the casting mass flowing out again. This shortens the standby time during assembly. The cover is advantageously formed as a displacer, so that the amount of casting mass necessary for a casting is reduced.

The lid has one or more openings for filling a casting mass or for venting, if necessary. In one embodiment, the lid has two openings, one of which is for filling and the other for venting. By arranging these diagonally to each other and adjacent to the intake shaft, for example, one of the openings is always lower to the other, which facilitates a fill.

The cover of the connecting shaft may be closed, for example, by means of a snap, screws, glue, ultrasonic welding or a combination thereof. If the connecting shaft is to be poured, the cover is preferably designed to minimise the required amount of pouring. For this purpose, the cover shall, for example, have a protruding displacer on its inner side which protrudes into the connecting shaft. Alternatively, a separate part, a displacer, may also be inserted into the connecting shaft before the cover is closed without this displacer being integrated into the cover or with an open connection which is connected to the connecting shaft in the manner prescribed or the use of the pressure/displacement coefficient between the covers is also improved and the potential for contact between the covers and other types of electrical contact is not thereby reduced.

The solar panel is designed to be mounted in a position that allows the rear of the solar panel to be held at a certain distance from the solar cell rather than flat on the solar cell by means of the mounting base. This lifting from the base has the advantage of reducing the thermal load between the electronic components of the solar panel and the solar panel. The solar panel may also have air conductors/cooling strips which affect the air circulation on the rear of the solar panel and thus improve cooling and reduce heat loss.

In one embodiment, the mounting base is segmented so that it only protrudes from the connecting box on two opposite sides, which favors free air circulation. The feet, which are parts of the mounting base, and the lower edge of the connecting shaft are preferably bonded to the surface of a solar panel by adhesive. Air channels can be formed through passages on the housing part to support the convective cooling. The air conductor plate is used to direct the air flow around the connecting shaft, which reduces the risk of a heat stroke.

In addition to cast PCBs with a copper layer applied to an electrically insulating support material, it is possible to use a grid made of a sheet metal (tin grid). In a corresponding embodiment, the housing has a suitable support, e.g. in the form of snap or clamp connections, to absorb the tin grid. Tin grids also have the advantage that they can be easily injected into a sputtering platform together with the electronic components arranged electronically. This achieves that the life of the finished product is completed.

The thickness of a sheet of sheet metal is 0.4 mm, depending on the form of the casting. Due to the massive design, the plate also serves as a cooling sheet for the electrical/electronic components.

The housing of the connector box is usually designed so that the plate is closely attached to it in order to direct the heat of the electrical/electronic components through the circuit boards and the housing to the outside. Since in one embodiment the electrical/electronic components, e.g. diodes, as well as the external cables must be connected at least on one side of the board, there are corresponding savings in the housing.

The housing is preferably made by injection molding or die casting, but other manufacturing methods are also possible. Usually a sufficiently temperature-resistant material such as polyamide (PA), polyphenylethers (PPO, PPE), polycarbonate (PC), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is used. These materials can be filled with fibers, e.g. 10% to 60% glass fibres. Other materials are possible depending on the embodiment.

To protect the electronics in the connector box from moisture and other environmental influences, the housing parts can be sealed with a circulating seal against the outside. The seal can be designed as a separate part or molded by means of multi-component injection molding on the housing. A simple circulating nut in one housing part and a correspondingly protruding circulating rib in the other housing part, which correspond to each other in the lock position, are also conceivable. The nut can be filled or alternatively supplemented before closing with a seal, e.g. silicone. In a further design, these nut can be deliberately enlarged so that the seal can be introduced into the corresponding housing after the lock is closed, unlocked and opened.

In the case of a connecting box to be fixed with slow-hardening adhesive, the time required for processing can be bridged by using a supplementary retainer. Good results are achieved by double-sided adhesive tape. Depending on the application area, it is also possible to attach the connecting box exclusively with double-sided adhesive tape. Double-sided adhesive tape allows the connecting box to be fixed immediately on a base surface, which can affect both processing time and automated processing. Further positive sealing between the connecting box and a base surface can be provided.

A design of a connector box with a housing and a connector shaft for connecting at least one electronic component placed on a circuit board inside the housing to electrical connections of a solar panel, where the housing has a protruding mounting base for attaching the connector box to a surface of the solar panel, is designed so that the back of the housing, when mounted, is at a distance from the solar panel, such that a convective cooling of the housing results. The connector shaft may be peripherally attached to the housing of the connector. In further implementations of the mounting shaft, the mounting shaft may be mounted on a special adhesive and may be mounted on a double-layer or double-layer mount.A further embodiment of a junction box is an air conductor plate mounted on the back of the housing. These air conductors can be designed to support the housing against a solar panel when mounted. It is also possible that the housing is at least partially attached to the circuit board, so that heat is transported through the housing to the outside. The circuit board can be made as a classic circuit board, as a grid or as a wiring.In a preferred embodiment, the connecting shaft is suitable for the reception of a casting agent.

The following figures illustrate the embodiments of the invention: Figure 1a connecting box in a perspective view of the front and top slope;Figure 2a connecting box in a perspective view of the front and bottom slope as shown in Figure 1;Figure 3a connecting box as shown in Figure 1 in a perspective view from below;Figure 4a cross section along the DD line as shown in Figure 3;Figure 5a connecting box as shown in Figure 1 in a view from above; andFigure 6a connecting box with the housing part removed as shown in Figure 1 in a perspective view of the front and top slope.

Figure 1 shows a connecting box 1 in perspective from the front and top, and Figure 2 shows the same connecting box 1 from the front and bottom, Figure 3 shows the connecting box 1 from the bottom, Figure 4 shows an interface (interface DD as shown in Figure 3) from the side, Figure 5 from the top and Figure 6 shows the same connecting box 1 from the front and bottom, and Figure 6 shows the connecting box 1 from the side, Figure 5 from the top and Figure 6 from the side, when open.

The two housing parts 20, 40 are connected here, among other things, by means of snap-hooks 18, but can be glued together alternatively or in addition, for example, if necessary. The side of the housing 10 is 31 feet apart, which is part of a mounting base 30 segmented here and projecting downwards. The mounting base 30 is used to actually fix the housing 10 to a surface of a solar panel (both not shown in detail). The mounting base 30 is an integral component of the housing 10 in the shown design, but can also be subdivided as a separate component. The mounting base 30 is designed for a convective cooling on the required angle of replacement (Figure 4) between the solar panel and the distance between the walkway and the floor.

In the front area, the housing 10 has a connecting shaft 60 with 52 connectors for connecting contact lamps or contact wires, such as a solar panel (all not shown in detail). The connecting shaft 60 is open all the time and locks separately from the rest of the housing 10. This allows the connecting box to be fitted and closed independently of the installation.

The connecting shaft 60 is also part of the mounting base 30. The outer surface of the connecting shaft 60 which is essentially O-shaped in cross-section (XY plane) is formed by a circular frame 62 which ends at the bottom in a circular mounting surface 69 (adhesive surface). The mounting shaft 69 is designed to accept adhesive and/or double-sided adhesive and is suitable for attaching the solar panel 10 to the mounting base and sealing the solar panel 60 to the mounting base.

In the rear area of the connector box 1, cable inserts 11 are visible, which connect cable 70 to the housing 10. If only electronic components are to be connected to a solar panel, an external wiring can be omitted. The cable inserts 11 serve in the embodiment shown at the same time as a pull-off for cable 70 by fixing it via a clamping device. The cable 70 is terminated in the embodiment shown with connector connectors 71 so that a simple connection or disconnection is possible, for example, with an external consumer. The cable 71 is connected automatically by means of a fixed connector in the 10th position. The cable 15 has a fixed or 15th position. The cable 17 is also conveniently positioned in a straight line so that the cable 71 can be placed in a position that is convenient for transport and use.

In Figure 2, which shows the connecting box 1 from the slope down, the housing part 20 with the connecting shaft 60 and the mounting base 30 and the legs 31 attached to it can be seen.

The air conduction plate 23 can vary in height between or within its length, so that a flow is also possible across it. They can be so highly formed in some places that, in addition to the feet 31 of the mounting base 30, they allow support of the air conductor 10 on a solar panel. In addition to a stabilizing and supporting effect on the air conductor 20, the air conductor 23 also forms an air conductor 25 in such a way that a conscious air flow can be directed through it. Depending on the shape of the air conductor, a positive air flow can also be created. Depending on the shape of the air conductor, the air conductor 23 can be moved in a different direction.

The mounting base 30 in the shown embodiment has side openings 35 allowing additional air exchange under the housing section 20.

The mounting base 30 is designed so that the entire connecting box 1 is removed from base 82. The feet 31 protruding from the side of mounting base 30 and the lower edge of the connecting shaft 60 are formed by adhesive surfaces 32 used to absorb an adhesive and on which the connecting box 1 is glued to a base surface, such as the back of a solar cell. In addition to the adhesive surfaces 32, the feet 31 have secondary mounting surfaces 33, on which, for example, a double-layer top band 34 can be attached. This double-layer adhesive 34 allows the connection to base 1 to be immediately fixed between the adhesive surface 32 and the solar cell.

Figure 4 shows an intersection along the line DD as shown in Figure 3 where the connector 1 is mounted on a base surface 82, for example the back of a schematically represented solar panel 80 (the solar panel is not shown in Figure 3). Starting from the back of the solar panel 80, contact panels or contact wires (not shown in detail) of the solar cell 81 are introduced into the connection shaft 60 and connected to the connectors 52 of the board 50 there. In the embodiment shown, the contact panels at the connectors 52 are illuminated, alternative activations, for example with cooling panels, are conceivable. The connection connector 60 is closed with a weight of 63 diodes. The central gas cap is designed to be closed by a number of electrical contacts between the contact plates 63 and 60 and the central gas cap is designed to be closed by a number of heat exchangers, so that the total amount of heat generated by the solar panel 63 is measured in the direction of the contact plate 60 and the total amount of heat generated by the solar panel 63 is measured in the direction of the contact plate 60 and the number of heat generated by the solar panel 63 is reduced by a number of heat generated by a number of heat generated by the heat generated by the electrical contact plates 60 and 60 in the direction of the solar panel.

The two housing parts 20, 40 have a seal 12 at the edge, which is formed by a nut/spring system 13 in the case shown. Alternatively, however, the seal 12 can also be made by a conventional seal ring inserted into a nut, either at the top of the housing 40 or at the top of the housing 20, directly by a seal mass injected into a two-component injection molding or by a labyrinth seal. The board 50 with its electrical/electronic components 51 mounted on the bottom is located horizontally on both outer halves 20, 40, with the electrical/electronic components 51 and the external connecting cables 70 which are arranged and connected to the bottom of the board 21, 20, 20, 20, and 22 connected by a cable. These boards can be located on the two outer halves of the housing, with at least 20 or 22 of the electrical/electronic components 50 and 70 being located on the bottom of the board.

Figure 6 shows the connecting box 1 with the housing top 40 removed, as shown in Figure 1, in a perspective view of the front and top slanted. The circuit board 50 is visible on the housing part 20, which is made by rods of a solid metal sheet (tin grating). The board 50 is designed to be as large as possible in order to direct the heat generated in the electrical/electronic components 51 as efficiently as possible through the housing to the outside. The board 50 is divided by insulating separation wings into 54 sub-sections, which are connected to the connectors 52. The parts of the board 50 are connected to each other via the electrical/electronic components 51.

On the side of the housing 20 are the feet 31 which together with the connecting shaft 60 form the mounting base 30.

Claims (11)

1. Connecting box (1) for connecting at least one electronic component (51), which is arranged on a printed circuit board (50) in the interior of a housing (10) to electrical connections of a solar panel (80), whereby the housing (10) comprises a connecting slot (60) and a projecting mounting base (30), protruding beyond a rear wall of the housing (10), which comprises a circumferential frame (62) with a circumferential mounting surface (69) to form one outer wall of the connecting slot (60), said mounting base (30) serving to attach the connecting box (1) to a surface of the solar panel (80) and being configured such that the rear wall of the housing (10), when in a fitted state, is positioned at a distance (A) from the solar panel (80) in such a manner that a convectional cooling of the housing (10) results, characterized in that the connecting slot (60) has a completely open design and can be closed separately from the remainder of the housing (10) by means of a lid (63).
2. Connecting box (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting slot (60) is fitted peripherally onto the housing (10).
3. Connecting box (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the mounting base (30) is formed from a plurality of parts.
4. Connecting box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mounting base (30) includes at least one adhesive surface (32,33,69) for holding an adhesive and/or a double-sided adhesive tape (34).
5. Connecting box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting box (1) comprises air guide plates (23) which are arranged on the rear face of the housing.
6. Connecting box (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the air guide plates (23), when fitted, are designed to support the housing (10) with respect to a solar panel (80).
7. Connecting box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the housing (10) fits, at least partially, snuggly to the printed circuit board (50), such that heat that is generated is transported outwards through the housing (10).
8. Connecting box (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the printed circuit board (50) is a stamped grid.
9. Connecting box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (10) comprises a housing lower part (20) and a housing upper part (40), which closely surround the printed circuit board (50) and the at least one electronic component (51).
10. Connecting box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (10) is formed integrally by overmolding the printed circuit board (50) and the at least one electronic component (51).
11. Connecting box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting slot (60) is suitable for holding an encapsulation medium.