JP5853149B2 - Electric wire connection terminal and wiring apparatus provided with the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric wire connection terminal for connecting an electric wire to a terminal plate, and a wiring device provided with the electric wire connection terminal.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, wiring devices such as outlets and switches equipped with electric wire connection terminals have been installed and used on installation surfaces such as wall surfaces. For example, in the wiring device (switch) 30 shown in FIG. 15, the container body includes a lower body 31 in the figure and an upper cover 32 in the figure. The body 31 has a terminal plate 34 connected to the contact portion 33, an inserted electric wire 35 pressed against the terminal plate 34, and a lock spring 36 that mechanically holds the electric wire 35, and a release button (not shown). ) And the like, a terminal storage chamber 38 for storing the wire connection terminal 37 is provided. The cover 32 is provided with a rib 32 a that presses the terminal plate 34. On the bottom surface of the terminal storage chamber 38, an electric wire insertion port 38a serving as an insertion port for the electric wire 35 is opened.

  When connecting the electric wire 35 to the electric wire connecting terminal 37, first, after covering the covering 35a of the electric wire 35 to be connected to a specified length, the electric wire 35 is fitted into the electric wire insertion port 38a and pushed. Then, the electric wire 35 enters while bending the lock spring 36. At this time, the electric wire 35 is pressed against the terminal plate 36 by the spring force of the lock spring 36, and the end of the lock spring 36 is connected to the electric wire 35. The electric wire 35 is locked and the connection is completed.

  However, when the insertion of the electric wire 35 is halfway or when the electric wire 35 is separated from the terminal plate 34 for some reason such as external pressure, the terminal plate 34 is energized from the locking spring 36. Since the lock spring 36 is formed using a stainless material or the like in order to increase the stress limit value, the conductor resistance is very high. For this reason, when the lock spring 36 is energized, the heat generation is large and the temperature rises greatly, which may shorten the life of the wiring device 30. Therefore, in the wiring device 30, it is necessary to make the connection between the electric wire 35 and the terminal plate 34 simple and reliable in order to ensure safety.

  For example, a terminal device having an electric wire locking function and a pressing function at the same time due to the elasticity of a thin leaf spring and strengthening the pressure contact force of the electric wire is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1). Further, a quick connection terminal is disclosed that has an electric wire locking function and a pressing function at the same time by the elastic force of a thin leaf spring, and that makes electric wire connection simple and reliable (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-35775 JP-A-5-275122

  However, the conventional electric wire connection terminal has a structure in which the electric wire is pressed against the terminal plate by a lock spring made of an elastic material. In this case, it is necessary to keep the stress limit value of the lock spring high, and there is a limit to downsizing the lock spring and the like. Therefore, there is a problem that it is impossible to reduce the size of the wire connection terminal using the lock spring and the wiring device including the wire connection terminal.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said subject, and it aims at providing the electric wire connecting terminal which can achieve further size reduction. Moreover, it aims also at providing the wiring appliance provided with this electric wire connection terminal.

In order to achieve the above object, an electric wire connecting apparatus according to the present invention presses an electric wire against the terminal plate when the electric wire is inserted along a terminal plate formed of a conductive material and one surface of the terminal plate. Pressing means for electrically connecting the electric wire and the terminal plate, and the pressing means is pressed by the elastic spring and moved in the direction in which the electric wire is pulled out by the elastic spring. has a locking mechanism for locking the wire by biting into the wire, the locking mechanism Ri rigid wedge der formed of a rigid material, the terminal plate is parallel fixed opposite to the one surface The elastic spring presses the rigid wedge in a direction opposite to the insertion direction of the electric wire, and the rigid wedge has a flat portion that slides on the fixed surface. is there.

  In this electric wire connection terminal, it is preferable that the rigid wedge has at least one locking claw in contact with the electric wire on a contact surface with the electric wire.

  In this electric wire connecting terminal, it is preferable that the elastic spring presses the rigid wedge from a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction of the electric wire.

  In this electric wire connection terminal, it is preferable that the elastic spring presses the rigid wedge from an oblique direction that forms an obtuse angle with the insertion direction of the electric wire.

  The electric wire connection terminal is preferably a coil spring that presses the rigid wedge.

  In this wire connection terminal, the rigid wedge is a rotary wedge that can rotate around a predetermined rotation axis, and the elastic spring rotates the rotation so as to press the wire against the terminal plate when the wire is inserted. A torsion spring that rotates the wedge is preferable.

  In this wire connection terminal, the rigid wedge is a rotary wedge that can rotate around a predetermined rotation axis, and the elastic spring rotates the rotation so as to press the wire against the terminal plate when the wire is inserted. A coil spring that rotates the wedge is preferable.

  In this electric wire connection terminal, the rigid wedge is preferably made of a conductive material.

  In this wire connection terminal, the rigid wedge is preferably made of an insulating material.

  Moreover, the wiring device which concerns on this invention is equipped with the electric wire connection terminal in any one of the said, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  In this wiring device, it is preferable that the wire connection terminal is disposed obliquely in the wiring device.

  According to the electric wire connecting terminal according to the present invention, since the elastic spring constituting the pressing means for pressing the electric wire against the terminal plate presses the rigid wedge that locks the electric wire, further miniaturization can be realized.

It is a whole figure of the wiring fixture provided with the electric wire connection terminal which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. (A) A cross-sectional view of a state in which there is no electric wire in the electric wire connection terminal of the wiring device, (b) a cross-sectional view when the electric wire is inserted into the electric wire connection terminal, and (c) a direction in which the electric wire is extracted at the electric wire connection terminal It is sectional drawing when moved. It is sectional drawing of the electric wire connection terminal which concerns on the modification 1 of Embodiment 1 same as the above. It is sectional drawing of the electric wire connection terminal which concerns on the modification 2 of Embodiment 1 same as the above. It is sectional drawing of the electric wire connection terminal which concerns on the modification 3 of Embodiment 1 same as the above. It is sectional drawing of the electric wire connection terminal which concerns on the modification 4 of Embodiment 1 same as the above. It is sectional drawing of the electric wire connection terminal which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the electric wire connection terminal which concerns on the modification 1 of Embodiment 2 same as the above. (A) Sectional drawing of the electric wire connection terminal which concerns on the modification 2 of Embodiment 2 same as the above, (b) Another sectional drawing of the electric wire connection terminal which concerns on the said modification 2. It is sectional drawing of the electric wire connection terminal which concerns on the modification 3 of Embodiment 2 same as the above. It is sectional drawing of the electric wire connection terminal which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the electric wire connection terminal which concerns on the modification 1 of Embodiment 3 same as the above. It is sectional drawing of the electric wire connection terminal which concerns on the modification 2 of Embodiment 3 same as the above. It is sectional drawing of the electric wire connection terminal which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a general view of the wiring device provided with the conventional electric wire connection terminal.

(Embodiment 1)
The electric wire connection terminal according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the wire connection terminal 1 is housed in a terminal storage chamber 3 in the body of the wiring device 2, and the body of the wiring device 2 is coupled to a cover 2a and a body 2b each made of a synthetic resin molded product. Formed. The body 2b is formed in a box shape or the like, and terminal storage chambers 3 and 3 'for storing the wire connection terminals 1 are provided at both ends. The wires 4 are inserted into the bottom surfaces of the terminal storage chambers 3 and 3'. Electric wire insertion ports 3a and 3a 'for opening are opened.

  The electric wire connection terminal 1 includes a terminal plate 5 and a pressing portion 6, and the pressing portion 6 includes an elastic spring 7 and a rigid wedge 8. The terminal plate 5 is made of copper or copper alloy, which is a conductive material, and is electrically connected to the switch mechanism unit 9 disposed adjacent to the terminal storage chamber 3. Note that the switch mechanism unit 9 stores a contact portion that is electrically connected to the terminal portion of the terminal storage chamber 3 ′, and is connected to the terminal storage chamber 3 ′ by turning on / off a switch provided in the wiring device 2. The load of lighting fixtures connected to the cable is controlled.

  When the electric wire 4 is inserted along the one surface 5 a of the terminal plate 5, the pressing portion 6 presses the electric wire 4 against the terminal plate 5 to electrically connect the electric wire 4 and the terminal plate 5. The pressing portion 6 is formed of an elastic spring 7 and a rigid material that locks the electric wire 4 by biting into the electric wire 4 against movement in the direction in which the electric wire 4 is pulled out by being pressed by the elastic spring 7. And a rigid wedge 9 (locking mechanism).

  The elastic spring 7 is an auxiliary spring formed of an elastic material having a high stress limit value, such as stainless steel, and the rigid wedge 8 is pressed in the direction opposite to the insertion direction of the electric wire 4 by the spring force, whereby the electric wire 4 is rigidly wedged. Press with 8. One end of the elastic spring 7 is connected to the terminal plate 5, and the other end is connected to the rigid wedge 8.

  The rigid wedge 8 is pressed by the elastic spring 7 and has a locking portion 8 a that locks the electric wire 4 by biting into the electric wire 4 against movement in the direction in which the electric wire 4 is extracted. The rigid wedge 8 is connected to the elastic spring 7, is formed in a triangular prism shape or the like using a rigid material such as metal, and one surface abuts on the inclined surface 2c formed on the body 2b. It slides on the inclined surface 2c based on the balance between the force and the insertion force of the electric wire 4.

  Next, the operation of connecting the electric wire 4 to the power connection terminal 1 will be described with reference to FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 2A, the elastic spring 7 is in an extended state in a state where the electric wire 4 is not inserted into the electric wire connecting terminal 1. Then, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), when the electric wire 4 with the coating 4a removed from the electric wire insertion port 3a is inserted and pushed in, the electric wire 4 enters while pushing in the rigid wedge 8, and at that time, the elastic spring When the electric wire 4 is pressed against the terminal plate 5 by the spring force of 7, the electric wire 4 and the terminal plate 5 are electrically connected.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2C, when the electric wire 4 is pulled, the locking portion 8a of the rigid wedge 8 becomes a wedge and bites into the electric wire 4 so that the electric wire 4 can be caught. The holding power against can be increased. Therefore, the user can fix the electric wire 4 to the wiring device 2 by a simple operation of inserting the electric wire 4 into the electric wire insertion port 3a and can maintain the holding force when the electric wire 4 is pulled.

  With the above configuration, the electric wire connection terminal 1 according to the first embodiment includes the pressing portion 6 including the elastic spring 7 and the rigid body wedge 8, thereby reducing the horizontal dimension in the figure and reducing the size of the electric wire connection terminal 1. Further downsizing can be achieved. Moreover, size reduction of the wiring device 2 provided with this electric wire connection terminal 1 is also realizable.

  And in the electric wire connection terminal 1, since the electric wire 4 is pressed by the terminal part 5 by the press part 6, the path | route with low conductor resistance can be ensured between the electric wire 4 and the terminal board 5, and the reliability of electrical connection ( Safety).

(First modification)
A first modification of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the present modification, the terminal plate 5 includes a parallel fixing surface 5b facing the one surface 5a, and the elastic spring 7 presses the rigid wedge 8 in a direction opposite to the insertion direction of the electric wire 4. The rigid wedge 8 has a flat plane portion 8b that slides on the fixed surface 5b. For this reason, in this modification, in addition to the effect of the first embodiment, the movement of the rigid wedge 8 when the electric wire 4 is inserted can be stabilized. 3 indicates the arrangement of the elastic spring 7 and the rigid wedge 8 in a state where the electric wire 4 is pulled (the same applies to the following drawings).

(Second modification)
A second modification of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this modification, the rigid wedge 8 has a flat portion 8 b and two locking claws 8 c and 8 d that come into contact with the electric wire 4 on the contact surface with the electric wire 4. These locking claws 8 c and 8 d are provided so as to protrude from the contact surface of the rigid wedge 8 with the electric wire 4. For this reason, in this modification, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the surface of the rigid wedge 8 that contacts the electric wire 4 is pressed at two points of the locking claws 8c and 8d, and the electric wire 4 and the rigid wedge 8 are pressed. Can be stabilized. Note that it is sufficient that at least one locking claw is provided on the rigid wedge 8, and in this modified example, either the locking claw 8 c or 8 d may be shaped like a protrusion that presses the electric wire 4.

(Third Modification)
A third modification of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this modification, the rigid wedge 8 is made of a conductor material having a low conductor resistance such as copper or a copper alloy. For this reason, in this modification, it becomes possible to energize the terminal plate 5 from the electric wire 4 via the rigid wedge 8, and in addition to the effect of the first embodiment, the electrical contact reliability of the electric wire connecting terminal 1 is improved. It can be improved.

(Fourth modification)
A fourth modification of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this modification, the rigid wedge 8 is made of an insulating material such as ceramic. For this reason, in this modification, in addition to the effect of the first embodiment, the electrical contact reliability of the wire connection terminal 1 is eliminated by eliminating the energization path from the wire 4 to the terminal plate 5 via the rigid wedge 8. Can be improved.

(Embodiment 2)
A wire connection terminal according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure similar to the electric wire connection terminal which concerns on the said Embodiment 1, and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted (the following is same).

  In the second embodiment, the elastic spring 7 is an auxiliary spring that presses the rigid wedge 8 from a direction L perpendicular to the insertion direction of the electric wire 4. The rigid wedge 8 is pressed by the elastic spring 7 and has a locking portion 8e that locks the electric wire 4 by biting into the electric wire 4 against movement in the direction in which the electric wire 4 is extracted. The rigid wedge 8 is connected to the elastic spring 7, is formed in a polygonal cross section using a rigid material such as metal, and one surface abuts on the surface 2d formed on the body 2b, and the spring force from the elastic spring 7 And slide on the surface 2d based on the balance of the insertion force of the electric wire 4.

  With this configuration, in the wire connection terminal 1 according to the second embodiment, the size in the vertical direction in the figure can be reduced, and the wire connection terminal 1 can be further miniaturized. Moreover, size reduction of a wiring appliance provided with this electric wire connection terminal 1 is also realizable.

(First modification)
A first modification of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this modification, the elastic spring 7 presses the rigid wedge 8 from an oblique direction M that forms an obtuse angle with the insertion direction of the electric wire 4. For this reason, in this modification, in addition to the effect of the said Embodiment 2, the tolerance strength at the time of the pulling of the electric wire 4 can be improved.

(Second modification)
A second modification of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this modification, the elastic spring is a coil spring 7a that presses the rigid wedge 8 having a locking mechanism. One end of the coil spring 7 a is fixed to the fixing surface 5 b of the terminal plate 5, and the other end is fixed to the rigid wedge 8. FIG. 9A shows a case where two coil springs 7a are used, and FIG. 9B shows a case where one coil spring 7a is used. For this reason, in this modified example, in addition to the effect of the second embodiment, the pressing force to the rigid wedge 8 can be secured by the coil spring 7a.

(Third Modification)
A third modification of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this modification, the structure of the wire connection terminal 1 is the same as that of the second embodiment, but the rigid wedge 8 is made of a conductor material having a low conductor resistance such as copper or copper alloy. For this reason, in this modified example, in addition to the effect of the second embodiment, the terminal plate 5 can be energized from the electric wire 4 via the rigid wedge 8, and the contact reliability of the electric wire connecting terminal 1 can be improved.

(Embodiment 3)
A wire connection terminal according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the third embodiment, the rigid wedge is a rotating wedge 10 that can rotate around a predetermined rotating shaft 10a, and the elastic spring presses the electric wire 4 against the terminal plate 5 when the electric wire 4 is inserted. A torsion spring 11 that rotates the rotating wedge 10. The torsion spring 11 may have a single spring structure or a multiple structure. For this reason, the electric wire connection terminal 1 according to the third embodiment includes the pressing portion 6 including the torsion spring 11 and the rotating wedge 10, thereby reducing the vertical dimension in the figure and further increasing the electric wire connection terminal 1. Can be miniaturized. Moreover, size reduction of the wiring device 2 provided with this electric wire connection terminal 1 is also realizable.

(First modification)
A first modification of the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this modified example, the rigid wedge is a rotary wedge 10 that can rotate around a predetermined rotation axis 10a, and the elastic spring rotates so as to press the electric wire 4 against the terminal plate 5 when the electric wire 4 is inserted. A coil spring 12 that rotates the wedge 10. For this reason, in this modification, there exists an effect similar to the said Embodiment 3. FIG.

(Second modification)
A second modification of the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this modification, the rotating wedge 10 is made of a conductive material that contacts the terminal plate 5 and has a low conductive resistance such as copper or copper alloy. The pressing unit 6 includes a rotating wedge 10 and an elastic spring 12. For this reason, in this modified example, in addition to the effect of the third embodiment, the terminal plate 5 can be energized from the electric wire 4 via the rotary wedge 10 and the contact reliability of the electric wire connecting terminal 1 can be improved.

(Embodiment 4)
A wire connection terminal according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The wiring device 2 according to the fourth embodiment includes the electric wire connection terminals 1 according to the above-described embodiments at two locations. The electric wire connection terminals 1 are arranged obliquely in the wiring device 2 so that the electric wires 4 are connected to each other. Inserted. For this reason, in this Embodiment 4, the dimension of the illustration vertical direction of the wiring appliance 2 can be reduced in size. The present invention is not limited to the configuration of each of the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric wire connection terminal 2 Wiring tool 3, 3 'Terminal storage chamber 3a, 3a' Electric wire insertion port 4 Electric wire 5 Terminal board 5a One side 5b Fixed surface 6 Pressing part (pressing means)
7 Elastic Spring 7a, 12 Coil Spring 8 Rigid Wedge (Locking Mechanism)
8a, 8e Locking part 8b Flat part 8c, 8d Locking claw 10 Rotating wedge 11 Torsion spring

Claims (11)

A terminal board formed of a conductive material;
Pressing means for electrically connecting the electric wire and the terminal plate by pressing the electric wire against the terminal plate when the electric wire is inserted along one surface of the terminal plate;
The pressing means includes an elastic spring, and a locking mechanism that locks the electric wire by biting into the electric wire against movement in the direction in which the electric wire is extracted by being pressed by the elastic spring,
The locking mechanism Ri rigid wedge der formed of rigid material,
The terminal board includes a parallel fixing surface facing the one surface,
The elastic spring presses the rigid wedge in a direction opposite to the insertion direction of the electric wire,
The electric wire connection terminal , wherein the rigid wedge has a flat portion that slides on the fixed surface . The electric wire connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the rigid wedge has at least one locking claw that comes into contact with the electric wire on a contact surface with the electric wire.   The wire connecting terminal according to claim 1, wherein the elastic spring presses the rigid wedge from a direction orthogonal to an insertion direction of the wire.   The wire connecting terminal according to claim 1, wherein the elastic spring presses the rigid wedge from an oblique direction that forms an obtuse angle with an insertion direction of the wire.   The electric wire connecting terminal according to claim 1, wherein the elastic spring is a coil spring that presses the rigid wedge. The rigid wedge is a rotating wedge that can rotate around a predetermined rotation axis,
The electric wire connecting terminal according to claim 1, wherein the elastic spring is a torsion spring that rotates the rotating wedge so as to press the electric wire against the terminal plate when the electric wire is inserted. The rigid wedge is a rotating wedge that can rotate around a predetermined rotation axis,
The wire connecting terminal according to claim 1, wherein the elastic spring is a coil spring that rotates the rotating wedge so as to press the wire against the terminal plate when the wire is inserted. The electric wire connection terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the rigid wedge is made of a conductive material. The rigid wedge wire connection terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in an insulating material constituted, it. Wiring device characterized in that it comprises a wire connection terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 9. The wiring device according to claim 10 , wherein the electric wire connection terminal is disposed obliquely in the wiring device.

Images