JP2009266480A - Terminal cover of circuit breaker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mounting structure of a terminal cover allowing the terminal cover to be simply mounted on a terminal block only by plunging the terminal cover therein, and allowing the terminal cover to be removed by a simple operation on the condition that a tool such as a screw driver is used in removing the terminal cover from the terminal block. <P>SOLUTION: When mounting a terminal cover 6, an insertion projecting part 6a-1 of the terminal cover 6 is fitted to a fitting recessed groove 3c formed on a barrier wall 3 of the terminal block 2 and the terminal cover 6 is plunged from the upper side. Thereby, an engagement claw 6c-1 of a front wall 6c slides on a surface of a back wall 2a of the terminal block 2, and snap-fit-connected to an engagement step part 2b. When removing the terminal cover, a tool such as a screw driver is inserted into a space between the engagement claw 6c-1 and the back wall 2a of the terminal block from the upper side to bend the front wall 6c to release the snap-fit-connection of the engagement claw 6c-1, and thereafter the terminal cover 6 is extracted upward from the terminal block 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a terminal cover of a circuit breaker intended for a circuit protector, a circuit breaker for wiring, and the like, and more particularly to a mounting structure of the terminal cover.

As is well known, in the circuit breaker described above, the main circuit terminals on the power supply side and load side are arranged on the terminal blocks provided at both ends of the body case to connect the external connection conductors. In order to prevent an electric shock due to a finger touching the terminal while the circuit breaker is energized, a terminal cover as an accessory is attached to the terminal block.
On the other hand, with regard to this terminal cover, a terminal cover mounting structure is known that allows easy attachment / detachment by simply placing one hand on the terminal cover in consideration of the convenience of attachment / detachment work (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Next, the structure of the terminal cover is shown in FIGS.
4 and 5, 1 is a case of a circuit breaker (3-pole circuit breaker), 2 is a terminal block constructed at the end of the case 1, 3 is a partition wall of the terminal block 2, and 4 is a terminal Main circuit terminals 4a pulled out to the base 2, 4a are terminal screws, and 5 is a terminal cover made of a resin-molded product that is attached to the terminal base 2 and covers the terminal portions composed of the terminals 4 and the terminal screws 4. Here, a square hole 3a for inserting and supporting a leg portion (described later) of the terminal cover 5 is formed on the upper surface of the partition wall 3, and a snap-fit engagement step portion 3b is formed on the front end surface. On the other hand, the terminal cover 5 has a shape covering the upper surface and the front surface of the terminal block 2 and is opposed to the square hole 3a formed in the partition wall 3 of the terminal block 2 and the engaging step 3b on the inside of the upper wall. Leg portions 5a and engaging claw portions 5b are formed.

In order to attach the terminal cover 5 to the terminal portion 2 of the body case 1 with the above configuration, the leg portion 5a is inserted into the square hole 3a from above the terminal block 2 and pushed. As a result, the engaging claw portion 5b is snap-fit to the engaging step portion 3b while sliding on the front end surface of the partition wall 3 of the terminal block 2, and the terminal cover 5 is locked and held at the mounting position as shown in FIG. Is done.
On the other hand, when removing the terminal cover 5 from the terminal block 2, a hand is put on the front wall of the terminal cover 5, and a force is applied in the direction of arrow P in FIG. 5 to bend the terminal cover 5. As a result, the terminal cover 5 tilts obliquely forward with the leg portion 5a as a fulcrum, the engaging claw portion 5b comes off from the engaging step portion 3b of the partition wall 3 of the terminal block 2, and the terminal cover 2 is pulled up as it is, thereby the terminal block 2 Can be extracted from.
Japanese Patent No. 3664072

The above-mentioned conventional terminal cover has the convenience of being easily detachable by one-handed operation, but it can be easily removed by simply placing the hand on the terminal cover without using tools, etc. Has a problem.
Therefore, according to the present invention, when the terminal cover is attached, it can be easily attached by simply pushing the terminal cover onto the terminal block without using a tool, and when removing the terminal cover from the terminal block, a screwdriver (a screwdriver with a minus screw) is used. ), Etc., the terminal cover can be removed by releasing the lock with a simple push-in operation of the tool, and multiple circuit breakers are juxtaposed to the left and right When installing in a circuit breaker, the circuit breaker has an improved structure so that a sufficient insulation distance can be secured between the terminal conductors of adjacent circuit breakers even when the case body of the circuit breaker is placed in close contact with the left and right It is to provide a terminal cover for the container.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a terminal block surrounded by left and right bulkheads is provided at both ends of a container case, and a terminal cover for a circuit breaker having a terminal portion on the terminal block, The terminal cover is an independent part made of a mold resin, and is detachably latched and held from above so as to cover the terminal block.
The terminal cover has an upper wall that fits over the upper surface of the terminal block, a side wall that overlaps the outer surface of the partition wall of the terminal block, and hangs in an L shape from the tip of the upper wall. The front wall is composed of a front wall that can be flexed to be opposed to each other, and has a convex protrusion inserted into both left and right ends of the upper wall, and a fitting concave groove is formed on the inner surface of the partition wall of the terminal block so as to face the convex part. An engagement claw protruding toward the back wall of the terminal block is formed, and an engagement step portion that snap-fits to the engagement claw at a position where the terminal cover is mounted is formed on the back wall of the terminal block. ).
In addition, when using a plurality of circuit breakers juxtaposed to the left and right, in order to ensure a sufficient insulation distance between adjacent circuit breakers, and to further enhance the terminal cover locking and holding function, The terminal cover having the configuration can be configured in the following manner.
(1) The left and right side walls of the terminal cover are extended so as to protrude further forward from the front end of the terminal block bulkhead, and the overlapping area of the terminal block bulkhead and the side wall of the terminal cover is formed thin, and the cover is attached. Then, the terminal cover is overlapped so that the side wall of the terminal cover does not protrude from the side surface of the case of the circuit breaker.
(2) An engaging projection extending in the vertical direction is formed on the outer surface of the partition wall of the terminal block that overlaps with the side wall of the terminal cover, and is fitted to the engaging projection at the terminal cover mounting position on the side wall of the terminal cover. A matching vertical slot is formed (claim 3).

In the above configuration, in order to attach the terminal cover to the terminal block of the circuit breaker, the terminal cover can be easily locked and attached by manually pushing the terminal cover into the terminal block from above without using a tool or the like. Moreover, in this mounted state, even if the terminal cover is forcibly pulled out by force, the engagement state between the engagement claw on the front wall and the engagement step on the back wall of the terminal block cannot be released. It is safe.
On the other hand, when removing the terminal cover from the terminal block, a tool such as a screwdriver is pushed from above into the gap between the front wall of the terminal cover and the back wall of the terminal block to bend the front wall. As a result, the snap-fit coupling between the engaging claw on the front wall and the engaging step formed on the back wall of the terminal block is released, and the terminal cover can be easily pulled upward from the terminal block.
Also, by extending the side wall of the terminal cover so that it protrudes forward from the front edge of the partition wall of the terminal block, adjacent circuit breakers can be installed even in the use state where multiple circuit breakers are juxtaposed side by side and installed in the panel A sufficient insulation distance (creeping distance) can be secured between the terminal conductors. Furthermore, the overlapping surface area of the terminal block partition wall and the side wall of the terminal cover is formed to be thin and overlapped inside and outside, so that the side wall of the terminal cover does not protrude from the side surface of the case body of the circuit breaker. Thus, a plurality of circuit breakers can be placed side by side in a state where they are in close contact with the left and right. Note that when connecting external wiring (for example, electric wires with crimp terminals) to the terminal conductor, the terminal cover is removed and the work is performed, so the side wall of the terminal cover that extends forward from the partition of the terminal block is connected to the wiring. There is no risk of disturbing work.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the examples shown in FIGS. 1 is a perspective view showing a state before the terminal cover 6 is attached to the terminal block 2 of the circuit breaker, FIG. 2 is a view showing a state where the terminal cover 6 is attached to the terminal block 2, and FIG. 3 is a terminal cover. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an attaching / detaching operation of FIG.
The terminal covers 6 in this embodiment are respectively attached to the terminal blocks 2 provided at both ends of the container case 1 and are fitted on the terminal blocks 2 formed in the container case 1 of the circuit breaker. The upper wall 6a for closing the upper surface, the side wall 6b partially overlapping the outer surface of the partition wall 3 of the terminal block 2, and the L-shaped hanging from the tip of the upper wall 6a are opposed to the back wall 2a of the terminal block 2. The terminal cover 6 is fitted into the terminal block 2 from above and is held in the mounting position as described later. The front wall 6c is opposed to the terminal cover 6 at a position where the terminal cover 6 is mounted with a small gap between the front wall 6c and the back wall 2a of the terminal block.
Here, the upper wall 6a is formed in a box shape at a portion facing the main circuit terminal 4 drawn out to the terminal block 2 to open an insertion hole for a current detecting rod for conduction confirmation. Convex portions 6 a-1 that function as insertion guides for the terminal cover 6 are formed on both sides of the front and left walls of the portion. Further, the lateral width of the side wall 6b is set so as to protrude and extend further forward than the edge of the partition wall 3 at the mounting position on the terminal block 2, and the overlapping area of the terminal block 2 with the partition wall 3 is thin. As the portion 6 b-1, an elongated hole 6 b-2 in the vertical direction is formed in the surface area of the thin portion 6 a-1 so as to be engaged with an engaging protrusion 3 e formed on the partition wall 3 of the terminal block described later. Furthermore, the engaging claw 6c-1 which protrudes toward the back wall 2a of the terminal block 2 is formed in the front wall 6c which gave the flexibility.

On the other hand, the terminal block 2 to which the terminal cover 6 having the above-described configuration is mounted is formed with the following engaging portion for locking and holding the terminal cover 2 at the mounting position. That is, the back wall 2a of the terminal block 2 is formed with an engaging step 2b that is snap-fit coupled to the engaging claw 6c-1 formed on the front wall 6c of the terminal cover 6. In addition, on the inner wall surface of the left and right partition walls 3 that define the terminal block 2, a fitting groove 3 c corresponding to the insertion protrusion 6 a-1 formed on the upper wall 6 a of the terminal cover 6 is formed. Further, a thin wall portion 3d is formed in the partition wall 3 in an overlapping surface area with the side wall 6b of the terminal cover 6, and a rib-like engagement protrusion 3e extending in the vertical direction is formed at a front edge portion of the thin wall portion 3d. Is formed. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 7 denotes an opening / closing operation handle of the circuit breaker.
Next, an operation procedure when the terminal cover 6 is attached to and detached from the terminal block 2 will be described. First, when the terminal cover 6 is attached, the insertion convex portion 6a-1 of the terminal cover 6 is fitted into the fitting concave groove 3c formed in the partition wall 3 of the terminal block 2 from the position shown in FIG. From above. Thereby, the engaging claw 6c-1 of the front wall 6c slides on the surface of the back wall 2a of the terminal block 2 and is snap-fit coupled to the engaging step portion 2b (see FIG. 3A). At the same time, the long hole 6b-2 opened in the side wall 6b of the terminal cover 6 is fitted into the engagement protrusion 3 formed in the partition wall 3 of the terminal block 2, and the terminal cover 6 is mounted as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b). Locked in position. In this state, since the thin portion 3d formed on the partition wall 3 of the terminal block 2 and the thin portion 6b-1 formed on the side wall 6b of the terminal cover 6 overlap each other, the side wall 6b of the terminal cover 6 serves as a circuit breaker. Without projecting sideways from the outer wall surface of the container case 1, they are arranged flush with each other as shown in FIG.

In the mounted state of the terminal cover 6, the side wall 6 b of the terminal cover protrudes forward from the front end of the partition wall 3 of the terminal block 2 and extends. Thus, when a plurality of circuit breakers are juxtaposed side by side and installed in a panel such as a control panel, a sufficient insulation distance between the main circuit terminals 4 between the adjacent circuit breakers (creeping surface) Distance). Further, as described above, since the side wall 6b of the terminal cover 6 does not protrude laterally from the side surface of the case body 1 of the circuit breaker, the adjacent circuit breaker devices without occupying extra installation space. The body cases 1 can be arranged in close contact and installed in the board.
Further, when the terminal cover is attached (see FIG. 2), even if the terminal cover is removed by hand as described in FIG. 5, the engaging claw 6c-1 of the terminal cover 6 and the long hole described above are used. 6b-2 is engaged with the engaging step 2b of the terminal block 2 and the engaging protrusion 3e of the partition wall 3, respectively, so that the terminal cover 6 is not likely to come out of the mounting position.
Next, a regular work procedure for removing the terminal cover 6 of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. That is, when removing the terminal cover 6, as shown in the drawing, a screwdriver (a minus screwdriver tool) is inserted into the gap between the front wall 6c of the terminal cover 6 and the back wall 2a of the terminal block 2 from above the terminal cover 6. ) Insert the tip of 8 and push it in. As a result, the front wall 6c is bent in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, and the engaging claw 6c-1 is detached from the engaging step 2b formed on the back wall 2a of the terminal block, and the snap-fit coupling between the two is released. In this unlocked state, the terminal cover 6 can be manually pulled out from the terminal block 2.

  As described above, in order to remove the terminal cover 6, it is necessary to use a tool such as a screwdriver 8, so that the mistake of removing the terminal cover 6 by mistake can be prevented in advance, thereby providing a highly safe finger protection function. Can be maintained. Moreover, the removal of the terminal cover 6 provides the convenience of releasing the locking state of the engaging claws 6c-1 by a simple operation of simply pushing a tool such as the driver 8 into the gap.

The structure perspective view showing the state before attaching the terminal cover by the Example of this invention to the terminal block of a circuit breaker FIG. 2 is an assembly structure diagram in a state in which the terminal cover of FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part A in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the state before the terminal cover is mounted on the terminal block of the circuit breaker in the conventional terminal cover mounting structure diagram. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the terminal cover mounted state in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Circuit breaker case 2 Terminal block 2a Back wall 2b Engagement step part 3 Bulkhead 3c Fitting groove 3d Thin part 3e Engagement protrusion 6 Terminal cover 6a Upper wall 6a-1 Convex part 6b Side wall 6b-1 Thin part 6b-2 slot 6c front wall 6c-1 engaging claw

Claims (3)

A terminal cover surrounded by left and right bulkheads is provided at both ends of the case, and the terminal cover is a terminal cover of a circuit breaker provided with a terminal portion. The terminal cover is an independent part made of molded resin, and the terminal In what is held to detachably attachable to the terminal block from above so as to cover the part,
The terminal cover has an upper wall that fits over the upper surface of the terminal block, a side wall that overlaps the outer surface of the partition wall of the terminal block, and hangs in an L shape from the tip of the upper wall. The front wall is composed of a front wall that can be flexed to be opposed to each other, and is formed with a protruding protrusion on both left and right ends of the upper wall, and a fitting groove is formed on the inner surface of the partition wall of the terminal block so as to face the protruding portion. An engaging claw protruding toward the back wall of the terminal block is formed, and an engaging step portion snap-fitting to the engaging claw is formed on the back wall of the terminal block at the terminal cover mounting position. Circuit breaker terminal cover. The terminal cover according to claim 1, wherein the left and right side walls of the terminal cover are extended so as to protrude further forward from the front end of the partition wall of the terminal block, and the overlapping surface area of the partition wall of the terminal block and the side wall of the terminal cover is made thin. A circuit breaker terminal cover characterized by being formed and superimposed. The terminal cover according to claim 2, wherein an engaging convex portion extending in a vertical direction is formed on the outer surface of the partition wall of the terminal block that overlaps with the side wall of the terminal cover, and the side wall of the terminal cover is provided with the terminal cover in the mounting position. A terminal cover for a circuit breaker, characterized in that an elongated hole in the vertical direction that fits into the engaging projection is formed.

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