WO2022014526A1 - Connecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

In this connecting device, when a resilient member (4) is in an unconnected state, a restoring force vector (81) of the resilient member (4) substantially overlaps a reference line (82), which is a straight line connecting a first part (513) and a second part (514), and the restoring force and a reaction force are balanced. As a result, the position of an operating portion (5) is maintained, and the state of the resilient member (4) is maintained in the unconnected state. Further, in a state in which an electric wire has been inserted between a terminal portion (3) and the resilient member (4) in the unconnected state, the position of the operating portion (5) is changed, and the restoring force vector (81) is displaced from the reference line (82), as a result of which the resilient member (4) is restored from the unconnected state by means of the restoring force, and transitions to a connected state in which the electric wire is sandwiched between the resilient member (4) and the terminal portion (3). The structure of the connection device can thus be simplified.

Description

Connected device

The present invention relates to a connecting device to which an electric wire is connected.
[Refer to related applications]
This application claims the priority benefit from the Japanese patent application JP2020-122599 filed on July 17, 2020 and the Japanese patent application JP2020-169408 filed on October 6, 2020. All disclosures of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.

Conventionally, so-called push-in type connecting devices have been used as connecting devices to which electric wires are connected in control panels and the like. In the connection device, an electric wire is inserted into the insertion hole of the case, and the electric wire is pressed against the conduction terminal by a leaf spring provided in the case to be electrically connected.

For example, in the electric wire connection device of Japanese Patent No. 4202125 (Reference 1), a rod-shaped operation button that can move forward and backward is provided for the housing. In the electric wire connection device, when the rod-shaped operation button is pushed toward the housing, the leaf spring in the housing is elastically deformed and separated from the conduction metal fitting. The tip of the rod-shaped operation button engages with the leaf spring to maintain the shape of the leaf spring. As a result, the leaf spring is maintained in an open state separated from the conduction fitting. Then, after inserting the electric wire into the electric wire connecting device in the open state, the leaf spring is elastically restored by pulling out the rod-shaped operation button from the housing, and the electric wire is sandwiched between the conductive metal fittings.

In the wire connection device, when connecting the wire, it is necessary to pull out the rod-shaped operation button from the housing while maintaining the state in which the wire is inserted into the wire connection device in the open state. Therefore, the connection operation of the electric wire becomes complicated, and it is difficult to shorten the time required for the connection work. Further, since the operator needs to hold the electric wire with one hand and operate the rod-shaped operation button with the other hand, it is difficult to perform the connection work with one hand.

On the other hand, in the connection device of Japanese Patent No. 6675004 (Reference 2), the operation portion is pushed into the inside of the case to bend the leaf spring in contact with the operation portion to a non-wired state, and the operation portion is bent in this state to the case. By locking to the stepped portion of, the state of the leaf spring is maintained in the non-connected state. Further, in the connected device, the state release portion is pushed and rotated by the electric wire inserted in the case, so that the state release portion pushes the operation portion from the step portion of the case. As a result, the locking of the operation unit to the case is released, the leaf spring is restored, and the electric wire is sandwiched between the terminal unit and the terminal portion. This facilitates the wire connection work.

By the way, in the connected device of Document 2, it is necessary to provide a stepped portion for locking the operation unit and a state release portion for unlocking the operation unit, which may complicate the structure of the connected device. There is.

The present invention is directed to a connecting device to which an electric wire is connected, and an object thereof is to simplify the structure of the connecting device.

The connecting device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is a case, a conductive terminal portion fixed to the case, and an elastic member attached to the case and pressing an electric wire against the terminal portion by a restoring force to hold the electric wire. And an operation unit that applies a force to the elastic member to bend it from the initial state to the non-connected state and maintain it in the non-connected state. The operation unit includes a first portion on which the restoring force of the elastic member acts, and a second portion on which a reaction force with respect to the restoring force is generated. The restoring force vector is used as the restoring force vector, and the straight line connecting the first portion and the second portion is used as a reference line. When the elastic member is in the non-connection state, the restoring force vector substantially overlaps with the reference line and the restoring force and the reaction force are balanced, so that the position of the operating portion is maintained and the elastic member of the elastic member. The state is maintained in the non-connected state. With the electric wire inserted between the terminal portion and the elastic member in the non-connected state, the position of the operation portion is changed and the restoring force vector deviates from the reference line, whereby the restoring force is applied. As a result, the elastic member is restored from the non-connected state, and shifts to a connected state in which the electric wire is sandwiched between the terminal portion and the terminal portion.

With the connected device, the structure of the connected device can be simplified.

Preferably, the position of the operating portion is maintained even when the elastic member is further flexed in the non-wired state.

Preferably, the operation unit includes a cam unit that rotates about a rotation axis. The cam portion contacts the elastic member at the first portion and contacts the rotating shaft at the bearing which is the second portion. At the time of transition of the elastic member to the non-connecting state, the rotation of the cam portion increases the distance between the first portion and the rotation axis, the elastic member bends, and the restoring force vector is generated. By substantially overlapping with the reference line, the rotational position of the operating portion is maintained and the state of the elastic member is maintained in the non-connected state.

Preferably, when the electric wire is connected, the force is directly or indirectly transmitted from the inserted electric wire to the operation portion, so that the position of the operation portion is changed and the restoring force vector is obtained. It deviates from the reference line.

Preferably, when connecting the electric wire, the inserted electric wire comes into direct contact with the operation portion to change the position of the operation portion.

Preferably, the operation unit includes an electric wire receiving unit that comes into direct contact with the tip of the electric wire. The electric wire receiving portion includes a receiving surface extending from the tip of the electric wire to the periphery.

Preferably, when the electric wire is connected, the inserted electric wire directly contacts the elastic member to deform the elastic member, thereby applying a force to the operation portion via the elastic member. Then, the position of the operation unit is changed.

Preferably, the elastic member includes an electric wire receiving portion that comes into direct contact with the tip of the electric wire, and a releasing portion that extends from the electric wire receiving portion toward the operating portion. The electric wire receiving portion includes a receiving surface extending from the tip of the electric wire to the periphery. When the receiving surface is pushed by the electric wire toward the inner side in the insertion direction of the electric wire, the elastic member is deformed, and the release portion comes into contact with the operation portion to apply a force to rotate the cam portion. ..

Preferably, the case includes a guide surface that extends linearly. The elastic member extends along the guide surface. The operating portion is located between the elastic member and the guide surface, and is linearly in a predetermined advancing / retreating direction while being in contact with the elastic member and the guide surface at the first portion and the second portion, respectively. It has an advancing / retreating part to move. The distance between the elastic member and the guide surface decreases from one side in the advancing / retreating direction toward the other side. At the time of transition of the elastic member to the non-connected state, the elastic member bends by moving the advancing / retreating portion from the one side in the advancing / retreating direction to the other side, and at a position where the elastic member comes into contact with the first portion. When the elastic member is substantially parallel to the guide surface and the restoring force vector substantially overlaps with the reference line, the position of the operation unit in the advancing / retreating direction is maintained and the elastic member is in the non-connected state. Will be maintained. When connecting the electric wires, the operation unit moves from the other side in the advancing / retreating direction to the one side, so that the restoring force vector deviates from the reference line, and the restoring force causes the elastic member to move. The transition from the non-connected state to the connected state.

Preferably, when the electric wire is connected, a force is directly or indirectly transmitted from the inserted electric wire to the operation portion, so that the operation portion moves from the other side in the advancing / retreating direction to the one side. And the restoring force vector deviates from the reference line.

Preferably, the operation portion includes a substantially disk-shaped or substantially columnar rotating portion having a notch in a part in the circumferential direction and a protrusion in another part in the circumferential direction. The case is provided with a concave operating portion mounting portion whose inner surface is a part of a substantially cylindrical surface. The rotating portion is mounted on the operation portion mounting portion, and is in contact with the elastic member at the first portion which is a part of the notch portion, and at the second portion which is the protrusion portion. It comes into contact with the inner surface of the operation portion mounting portion. At the time of transition of the elastic member to the non-connected state, the elastic member bends due to the rotation of the rotating portion in the first rotation direction, and the restoring force vector substantially overlaps with the reference line, whereby the rotating portion The rotational position of the elastic member is maintained, and the state of the elastic member is maintained in the non-connected state. When connecting the electric wires, the rotating portion is moved to the inner side in the insertion direction of the electric wire, so that the restoring force vector deviates from the reference line, and the restoring force causes the rotating portion to move to the second position. It rotates in the second rotation direction opposite to the rotation direction of 1, and the elastic member shifts from the non-connection state to the connection state.

Preferably, when the electric wire is connected, the force is directly or indirectly transmitted from the inserted electric wire to the operation portion, so that the rotating portion moves to the inner side in the insertion direction of the electric wire. The restoring force vector deviates from the reference line.

Preferably, the elastic member includes an electric wire contact portion that directly contacts the electric wire in the connected state. At least when the elastic member shifts from the non-connected state to the connected state, the moving path of the electric wire contact portion does not overlap with the moving region of the operating portion.

Preferably, a part of the operation unit protrudes from the case.

Preferably, when the elastic member is in the non-wired state, a part of the operating portion protrudes from the case, and when the elastic member is in the connected state, the part of the operating portion is in the case. Located inside.

Preferably, a visible identification unit is provided to indicate the state of the elastic member.

Preferably, the elastic member is a leaf spring.

The above-mentioned purpose and other purposes, features, embodiments and advantages will be clarified by the detailed description of the invention described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It is a perspective view of the connection device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a vertical sectional view of the connected equipment. It is an enlarged sectional view near the operation part. It is an enlarged sectional view near the operation part. It is a perspective view of the connected device. It is a vertical sectional view of the connected equipment. It is an enlarged sectional view near the operation part. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the moving distance of an operation part, and a rotational moment. It is a vertical sectional view of the connected equipment. It is an enlarged sectional view near the operation part. It is a perspective view of the connected device. It is a vertical sectional view of the connected equipment. It is an enlarged sectional view near the operation part. It is an enlarged sectional view near the operation part. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the moving distance of an operation part, and a rotational moment. It is an enlarged sectional view of the vicinity of the operation part of the connected device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a vertical sectional view of the connected equipment. It is a vertical sectional view of the connected equipment. It is a vertical sectional view of the connected equipment. It is a vertical sectional view of the connected equipment. It is a vertical sectional view of the connected equipment. It is a vertical sectional view of the connected equipment. It is an enlarged sectional view of the vicinity of the operation part of the connected device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the operation part and the elastic member. It is a vertical sectional view of the connected equipment. It is a vertical sectional view of the connected equipment. It is a vertical sectional view of the connected equipment. It is a vertical sectional view of the connected equipment. It is a vertical sectional view of the connected equipment. It is an enlarged sectional view of the vicinity of the operation part of the connected device which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a vertical sectional view of the connected equipment. It is a vertical sectional view of the connected equipment. It is a vertical sectional view of the connected equipment. It is a vertical sectional view of the connected equipment. It is a vertical sectional view of the connected equipment. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the operation unit of the connected device according to the fifth embodiment. It is a vertical sectional view of the connected equipment. It is a vertical sectional view of the connected equipment. It is a vertical sectional view of the connected equipment. It is a vertical sectional view of the connected equipment. It is a vertical sectional view of the connected equipment.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connecting device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the connected device 1. In FIG. 2, the configuration on the back side of the cross section is also shown. Further, in FIG. 2, for convenience of illustration, parallel diagonal lines in the cross section of a part of the configuration (for example, the elastic member 4) are omitted. The same applies to other cross-sectional views. The connection device 1 is a push-in type connection device to which an electric wire is connected. 1 and 2 show a state in which the electric wire is not inserted into the connecting device 1. The connection device 1 is used, for example, as a terminal block such as a control panel.

In the following description, the vertical direction and the horizontal direction in FIG. 2 are also simply referred to as "vertical direction" and "horizontal direction". Further, in FIG. 2, the direction perpendicular to the paper surface is also referred to as a "thickness direction". FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the connected device 1 on the front side of the center in the thickness direction. The vertical direction, the horizontal direction, and the thickness direction do not necessarily have to coincide with the mounting direction when the connecting device 1 is used. Further, the vertical direction does not necessarily have to coincide with the direction of gravity. The same applies to the other embodiments.

The connection device 1 includes a case 2, a terminal portion 3, an elastic member 4, and an operation portion 5. The case 2 houses the terminal portion 3, the elastic member 4, and the operation portion 5 inside. The case 2 is made of resin, for example. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the case 2 is provided with two insertion holes 21 into which electric wires can be inserted. Further, inside the case 2, two terminal portions 3, two elastic members 4, and two operation portions 5 are arranged. In other words, the connecting device 1 includes two sets of terminal portions 3, an elastic member 4, and an operating portion 5. The connecting device 1 may include one set or three or more sets of terminal portions 3, an elastic member 4, and an operation portion 5.

Each set of the terminal portion 3, the elastic member 4, and the operation portion 5 is arranged corresponding to the insertion hole 21. The two sets of the terminal portion 3, the elastic member 4, and the operation portion 5 have the same shape, size, and the like, and are arranged in opposite directions. Focusing on the insertion hole 21 on the right side in FIG. 2, the terminal portion 3 is located above the insertion hole 21 and extends in the left-right direction. The elastic member 4 is located below the terminal portion 3. The operation unit 5 is located above the elastic member 4. The operation unit 5 is arranged on the back side in FIG. 2 with respect to the terminal unit 3. The elastic member 4 partially overlaps with the terminal portion 3 and the operation portion 5 in the vertical direction.

The terminal portion 3 is a conductive substantially plate-shaped member fixed to the case 2. The terminal portion 3 is made of metal, for example. The right terminal portion 3 and the left terminal portion 3 in FIG. 2 are electrically connected to each other via a conductive terminal connection portion 32 extending in the left-right direction below the two terminal portions 3. The two terminal portions 3 and the terminal connection portion 32 are, for example, one connected member.

The elastic member 4 is an elastically deformable member attached to the case 2. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the elastic member 4 is a substantially strip-shaped leaf spring. The elastic member 4 is made of metal, for example. The elastic member 4 may be formed of a conductive material or an insulating material such as a resin. The elastic member 4 has, for example, a shape that is bent into a substantially L-shape, a substantially V-shape, or a substantially U-shape at the central portion in the longitudinal direction. In the following description, the bent portion of the elastic member 4 is referred to as a "bent portion 41". Further, of the two portions of the elastic member 4 extending laterally from the bent portion 41, the portion located on the lower side is called the "fixed portion 42", and the portion located above the fixed portion 42 is the "movable portion". It is called "43".

The case 2 is provided with a substantially columnar elastic member support portion 22 extending in the thickness direction, and the circumference of the elastic member support portion 22 is partially surrounded by other portions of the case 2 in the circumferential direction. , Grooves are formed. A bent portion 41 of the elastic member 4 is inserted into the groove portion, whereby the elastic member 4 is attached to the case 2.

Focusing on the elastic member 4 on the right side in FIG. 2, the fixed portion 42 of the elastic member 4 extends substantially parallel to the left and right from the bent portion 41 on the lower side of the elastic member support portion 22. The terminal connection portion 32 extending in the left-right direction is in contact with the lower side of the fixed portion 42, and the movement of the fixed portion 42 to the lower side is restricted. Therefore, the fixing portion 42 is substantially fixed to the case 2.

The movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 extends diagonally upward to the left from the bent portion 41 on the upper side of the elastic member support portion 22. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the movable portion 43 once extends diagonally downward to the left as it moves away from the upper end portion of the elastic member support portion 22 to the left, and bends upward in the vicinity of the left end portion of the elastic member support portion 22. , Extends diagonally upward to the left. The tip end portion (that is, the left end portion in FIG. 2) of the movable portion 43 is in contact with the substantially central portion of the terminal portion 3 in the left-right direction from below. Further, the movable portion 43 is in contact with the operating portion 5 from below. As will be described later, the movable portion 43 is elastically deformed with the upper end portion of the elastic member support portion 22 as a fulcrum and flexes downward by being pushed downward by the operating portion 5, and is separated downward from the terminal portion 3. .. Further, when the downward pressing force on the movable portion 43 disappears, the movable portion 43 returns to the original state (that is, elastically returns) due to the restoring force.

In the state shown in FIG. 2, as described above, the tip portion of the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 is in contact with the terminal portion 3 from below. As a result, inside the insertion hole 21 (that is, the side closer to the central portion in the left-right direction of the case 2), the insertion path of the electric wire described later is closed by the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4. The state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a state before the electric wire is inserted into the insertion hole 21, that is, a state before the connecting device 1 is used, and in the following description, the state is referred to as an “initial state”. Also called.

The elastic member 4 in the initial state (that is, the insertion hole closed state) is slightly bent in the direction in which the fixed portion 42 and the movable portion 43 approach each other. This makes it possible to prevent the elastic member 4 from falling off from the case 2. Further, when the electric wire is pinched by the elastic member 4 and the terminal portion 3, even if the electric wire is relatively thin, a sufficient pinching force (that is, a grip force) can be exerted.

The operation unit 5 includes a cam unit 51, a drive unit 52, and an electric wire receiving unit 53. The cam portion 51 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped portion arranged inside the case 2 (that is, inside the outer edge of the case 2). The cam portion 51 is in contact with the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 from above. The cam portion 51 is provided with a through hole extending in the thickness direction, and the bearing 54 is provided in the through hole. The bearing 54 is fitted to a substantially cylindrical rotating shaft 24 provided in the case 2 extending in the thickness direction. The cam portion 51 is rotatably supported by the case 2 in a plane substantially perpendicular to the thickness direction about the rotation shaft 24. The cam portion 51 and the rotating shaft 24 overlap the terminal portion 3 in the thickness direction and are located on the inner side of the terminal portion 3 in FIG.

The drive unit 52 is a substantially cylindrical or substantially rod-shaped member that extends diagonally upward from the cam unit 51 in a substantially linear shape. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the drive unit 52 is a substantially rectangular tubular member having a hole 521 having a rectangular cross section that opens at the upper end. As will be described later, the tip of a tool such as a flat-blade screwdriver can be inserted into the hole 521. The upper end of the drive unit 52 projects diagonally upward from the outer edge (that is, the outer contour) of the case 2.

The electric wire receiving portion 53 is a substantially plate-shaped or substantially rod-shaped member extending from the substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction of the drive portion 52 to the inside in the left-right direction (that is, the side closer to the central portion in the left-right direction of the case 2). In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the electric wire receiving portion 53 is bent so as to approach the cam portion 51 in the longitudinal direction of the drive portion 52 as the distance from the connection portion with the drive portion 52 increases. In other words, the electric wire receiving portion 53 extends from the connection portion with the drive portion 52 toward the cam portion 51 rather than the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the drive portion 52.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing the vicinity of the operation unit 5 located on the right side in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the shape of the cam portion 51 of the operation portion 5 in the front view (that is, the shape seen from the front side of FIG. 3 in the thickness direction) includes two sets of long sides 511 and short sides 512. It is almost rectangular. The long side 511 goes upward as it goes inward in the left-right direction. The short side 512 goes downward as it goes inward in the left-right direction.

The bearing 54 is located in the vicinity of a corner portion (that is, the lower right corner portion in FIG. 3) formed by the lower long side 511 and the outer short side 512 in the left-right direction. In the cam portion 51, the distance between the center of the rotating shaft 24 and the outer edge of the cam portion 51 is minimized in the direction perpendicular to the long side 511 on the lower side of the cam portion 51 through the center of the rotating shaft 24. Further, the distance between the center of the rotating shaft 24 and the outer edge of the cam portion 51 increases from the direction in which the distance is minimized toward the clockwise direction about the rotating shaft 24.

In the initial state shown in FIG. 3, the surface (that is, the lower surface) corresponding to the long side 511 on the lower side of the cam portion 51 is in surface contact with the upper surface of the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4. The operation unit 5 can rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 3 around the rotation shaft 24 from the initial state. When the operating portion 5 rotates counterclockwise from the initial state, the restoring force of the elastic member 4 acts on the portion of the cam portion 51 that comes into contact with the elastic member 4. In the following description, the portion of the operating portion 5 on which the restoring force of the elastic member 4 acts is referred to as "first portion 513". Further, a portion of the operation unit 5 in which a reaction force with respect to the restoring force is generated (that is, the bearing 54) is referred to as a “second portion 514”.

Next, the flow of connecting the electric wire to the connecting device 1 will be described. Hereinafter, a state in which an electric wire is connected to the insertion hole 21 on the right side in FIG. 2 will be described. When the electric wire is connected to the insertion hole 21 on the left side in FIG. 2, the operation of the operator is substantially the same except that the directions are opposite to each other.

First, from the initial state shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the operation unit 5 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 3 about the rotation shaft 24. When the operation unit 5 is rotated, for example, an operator inserts the tip of a tool such as a normal flat-blade screwdriver into the hole 521 of the drive unit 52 of the operation unit 5 and moves the tool to the left. Alternatively, the operator picks the tip of the drive unit 52 with his fingers and moves it to the left.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the operation unit 5 is rotated counterclockwise by about 30 ° from the initial state (see FIG. 3). The state shown in FIG. 4 is a state in which the operation unit 5 is in the process of rotation, and is not a connected state or a non-connected state described later. In the state shown in FIG. 4, the portion of the cam portion 51 in the vicinity of the corner portion located diagonally lower to the left of the rotating shaft 24 is the first portion 513 that comes into contact with the elastic member 4. The first portion 513 moves on the cam portion 51 as the cam portion 51 rotates. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, by rotating the operation unit 5 counterclockwise, the shortest distance between the center of the rotation shaft 24 and the first portion 513 is increased. In the following description, the shortest distance between the center of the rotating shaft 24 and the first portion 513 is simply referred to as the distance between the rotating shaft 24 and the first portion 513. When the distance increases and a downward force is applied from the operation unit 5 to the elastic member 4, the elastic member 4 bends and deforms. Specifically, the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 is pushed downward and separated from the terminal portion 3 downward.

In FIG. 4, the vector of the restoring force of the elastic member 4 acting on the first portion 513 of the operation unit 5 (hereinafter, also referred to as “restoring force vector”) is shown by a thick line arrow with a reference numeral 81. The starting point position of the restoring force vector 81 is the first portion 513 of the operation unit 5. Further, the reference line 82, which is a virtual straight line connecting the first part 513 and the second part 514, is shown by a two-dot chain line. The second portion 514 is the bearing 54 of the operation unit 5 as described above, and more specifically, it is an intersection of the bearing 54 with a virtual straight line connecting the first portion 513 and the center of the rotating shaft 24. .. The second portion 514 also moves on the bearing 54 with the rotation of the cam portion 51, similarly to the first portion 513. In FIG. 4, the reference line 82 is shown as a straight line connecting the first portion 513 and the center of the rotation axis 24. The same applies to the drawings described later.

In the state shown in FIG. 4, the restoring force vector 81 does not overlap the reference line 82 and is inclined upward from the reference line 82. Therefore, due to the restoring force of the elastic member 4, a rotational moment in the clockwise direction acts on the cam portion 51. That is, in the state shown in FIG. 4, if the operator does not continue to apply the force to the operation unit 5, the elastic member 4 and the operation unit 5 return to the initial state shown in FIG.

In the actual operation, the operator does not stop the operation unit 5 in the state shown in FIG. 4, but further rotates it to the state shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 (hereinafter, also referred to as “non-connected state”). 5 and 6 are perspective views and vertical sectional views of the connected device 1 in the non-connected state, respectively. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing the vicinity of the operation unit 5 on the right side of FIG.

In the non-wired state shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the upper end of the drive unit 52 of the operation unit 5 comes into contact with the case 2. As a result, the movement of the operation unit 5 is restricted so that the operation unit 5 does not rotate counterclockwise any more. In the non-connected state, the wire receiving portion 53 of the operating portion 5 extends downward from the vicinity of the inner end portion in the left-right direction of the terminal portion 3. The lower end of the electric wire receiving portion 53 is located on the insertion path of the electric wire described later. Further, in the non-connected state, the portion of the cam portion 51 in the vicinity of the corner portion located below the rotating shaft 24 is the first portion 513 that comes into contact with the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4. The movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 extends in the substantially tangential direction of the cam portion 51 in the first portion 513.

As shown in FIG. 7, by further rotating the operation unit 5 counterclockwise from the state shown in FIG. 4, the distance between the rotation shaft 24 and the first portion 513 is further increased, and the elastic member 4 is bent. Will also grow. Specifically, the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 is further pushed downward, and is largely separated from the terminal portion 3 downward. As a result, the insertion path of the electric wire described later is opened. Further, the angle formed by the restoring force vector 81 and the reference line 82 becomes smaller as the operation unit 5 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, and the restoring force vector 81 approaches the reference line 82. As a result, the rotational moment in the clockwise direction acting on the cam portion 51 due to the restoring force of the elastic member 4 is reduced.

In the non-connecting state shown in FIG. 7, the restoring force vector 81 substantially overlaps with the reference line 82, and the restoring force of the elastic member 4 and the reaction force against the restoring force generated in the operation unit 5 are balanced. Therefore, neither the clockwise rotation moment nor the counterclockwise rotation moment acts on the cam portion 51. Therefore, even if the operator releases his / her hand from the operation unit 5 (that is, even when the operator does not apply force to the operation unit 5), the position in the circumferential direction of the operation unit 5 (that is, the rotation position). Is maintained in the state shown in FIG. Further, the state of the elastic member 4 is also maintained (that is, temporarily fixed) in a non-wired state. The non-connection state shown in FIG. 7 is a temporarily fixed state in which the elastic member 4 is temporarily fixed in a bent state. In the connecting device 1, the operation unit 5 includes only one first portion 513 on which the restoring force of the elastic member 4 acts and a second portion 514 on which a reaction force with respect to the restoring force is generated. This makes it possible to simplify the structure of the connected device 1.

FIG. 8 is a diagram conceptually showing the relationship between the moving distance of the operating unit 5 from the initial state and the rotational moment acting on the operating unit 5 due to the restoring force of the elastic member 4. The horizontal axis in FIG. 8 indicates the moving distance from the initial state of the operation unit 5 in the circumferential direction about the rotation axis 24, and the moving distance in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 7 is positive. The vertical axis in FIG. 8 indicates the above-mentioned rotational moment as a positive moment in the clockwise direction in FIG. 7. The point marked with reference numeral 85 in FIG. 8 is a non-connected state in which the rotational moment is approximately 0. The change in the rotational moment that actually acts on the operation unit 5 does not necessarily have to be the same as the change in the rotational moment shown by a straight line in FIG.

When the connected device 1 is in the non-connected state, the electric wire 91 is inserted into the insertion hole 21 as shown in FIG. FIG. 9 shows a state in which the electric wire 91 is inserted into the insertion hole 21 on the right side. The electric wire 91 is inserted into the case 2 from the insertion hole 21 along a predetermined insertion direction, and is located between the terminal portion 3 and the elastic member 4 in a non-connected state. The insertion direction of the electric wire 91 with respect to the case 2 is an oblique direction inclined with respect to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. As a result, it is possible to prevent the electric wire 91 from protruding in the vertical direction from the connecting device 1, and it is possible to easily insert the electric wire 91 into the insertion hole 21 while visually recognizing the insertion hole 21. The angle formed by the insertion direction and the vertical direction can be appropriately optimized depending on the place where the connected device 1 is expected to be used, the position of the operator, the line of sight, and the like.

The electric wire 91 may be, for example, a single wire or a relatively thick stranded wire. Further, the electric wire 91 may be an electric wire provided with a rod-shaped crimp terminal or the like at the tip of a relatively thin stranded wire. The rod-shaped crimp terminal may be a crimp terminal with an insulating coating provided at the base of a rod-shaped conductive portion, or may be a bare crimp terminal not provided with an insulating sleeve or the like. The diameter of the tip of the electric wire 91 is preferably 0.42 mm or more, for example. The diameter of the tip of the electric wire 91 is practically 2.3 mm or less. The diameter of the tip of the electric wire 91 may be variously changed depending on the current capacity of the connecting device 1 to which the electric wire 91 is connected. Further, the diameter of the portion other than the tip end portion of the electric wire 91 may be changed in various ways.

The tip of the electric wire 91 directly contacts the electric wire receiving portion 53 of the operating portion 5 in the case 2. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the right side surface of the electric wire receiving portion 53 is a receiving surface 531 that comes into direct contact with the tip of the electric wire 91 and extends from the tip to the periphery. The receiving surface 531 is located behind the elastic member 4 in the non-connected state in the insertion direction of the electric wire 91, and spreads along a direction substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction. The receiving surface 531 does not necessarily have to be a surface perpendicular to the insertion direction.

The electric wire 91 is moved to the inner side in the insertion direction with the tip of the electric wire 91 in contact with the receiving surface 531 of the electric wire receiving portion 53. As a result, the force is directly transmitted from the electric wire 91 to the operation unit 5. Then, the operation unit 5 rotates slightly clockwise in FIG. 9 around the rotation shaft 24. In other words, the position (that is, the rotation position) of the operation unit 5 is changed in the circumferential direction about the rotation axis 24. The rotation direction of the cam portion 51 in the first portion 513 is a direction from the front side to the back side in the insertion direction of the electric wire 91 (that is, a direction toward the substantially left side in FIG. 9).

As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, the restoring force vector 81 shifts from the reference line 82 to the left side in FIG. 10, and the restoring force of the elastic member 4 causes a clockwise rotational moment to act on the cam portion 51 (FIG. 10). 8). As a result, the operation unit 5 further rotates clockwise, and the elastic member 4 is restored from the unconnected state.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the elastic member 4 shifts to a connection state in which the electric wire 91 is sandwiched between the electric wire 91 and the terminal portion 3 (that is, the electric wire 91 is sandwiched together with the terminal portion 3), and the electric wire is transferred. The 91 and the terminal portion 3 are electrically and mechanically connected. In other words, after the electric wire 91 is inserted into the connecting device 1, the electric wire 91 is automatically connected (that is, without the operation of the operation unit 5 by the operator using a tool other than the electric wire 91 or a finger). The operator may recognize the transition to the connection state by, for example, vibration or sound generated when the electric wire 91 is pressed against the terminal portion 3 by the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4. The vibration or sound is generated, for example, when one member of the elastic member 4, the electric wire 91, the terminal portion 3, the operation portion 5, and the case 2 collides with the other member. In the connected device 1, various structures may be adopted to promote the generation of the vibration, the sound, or the like, or to amplify the vibration, the sound, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 13, the tip of the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 is the electric wire contact portion 45 that directly contacts the electric wire 91 in the connected state. As shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 13, the movement path of the electric wire contact portion 45 when the elastic member 4 transitions from the non-connected state to the connected state is the operation unit 5 when transitioning from the non-connected state to the connected state. Does not overlap with the moving area of. Further, in the connected device 1, the moving path of the electric wire contact portion 45 does not overlap with the moving region of the operating portion 5 in the thickness direction even at the time of transition between the initial state and the non-connected state. As a result, it is possible to prevent the electric wire contact portion 45 from biting into the cam portion 51 of the operation portion 5 and hindering the rotation of the cam portion 51.

As shown in FIG. 12, in the connected device 1 in the connected state, the drive unit 52 of the operation unit 5 projects substantially vertically upward from the case 2. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, in the connected device 1 in the non-connected state, the drive unit 52 of the operation unit 5 is inclined inward in the left-right direction from the state shown in FIG. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, in the connected device 1 in the initial state, the drive unit 52 of the operation unit 5 is inclined outward in the left-right direction from the state shown in FIG. Therefore, the operator visually recognizes the direction in which the drive unit 52 of the operation unit 5 extends (that is, the direction of the drive unit 52), so that the elastic member 4 of the connecting device 1 is in the initial state, the unconnected state, and the connected state. It is possible to determine which of the two. That is, the drive unit 52 of the operation unit 5 is a visible identification unit that indicates the state of the elastic member 4.

When removing the electric wire 91 from the connecting device 1, for example, an operator inserts the tip of a tool such as a flat-blade screwdriver into the hole 521 of the drive unit 52, and rotates the operation unit 5 counterclockwise in FIG. .. When the operation unit 5 rotates to the unconnected state shown in FIG. 6, the restoring force vector 81 substantially overlaps with the reference line 82, and the elastic member 4 is in the unconnected state separated downward from the electric wire 91. Be maintained. As a result, the pinching of the electric wire 91 by the elastic member 4 and the terminal portion 3 is released. The operator can easily remove the electric wire 91 from the connecting device 1 by pulling out the electric wire 91 from the insertion hole 21.

As described above, the connecting device 1 to which the electric wire 91 is connected includes a case 2, a conductive terminal portion 3, an elastic member 4, and an operating portion 5. The terminal portion 3 is fixed to the case 2. The elastic member 4 is attached to the case 2, and the electric wire 91 is pressed against the terminal portion 3 by a restoring force to hold the electric wire 91. The operation unit 5 applies a force to the elastic member 4 to bend it from the initial state to the non-wired state, and maintains the elastic member 4 in the non-connected state. The operation unit 5 includes a first portion 513 on which the restoring force of the elastic member 4 acts, and a second portion 514 on which a reaction force against the restoring force is generated. The restoring force vector is defined as the restoring force vector 81, and the straight line connecting the first portion 513 and the second portion 514 is defined as the reference line 82.

When the elastic member 4 is in the non-connection state, the restoring force vector 81 substantially overlaps with the reference line 82 and the restoring force and the reaction force are balanced, so that the position of the operation unit 5 is maintained and the elastic member 4 is in a state. Is maintained in a non-connected state. Further, in a state where the electric wire 91 is inserted between the terminal portion 3 and the elastic member 4 in the non-connected state, the position of the operation portion 5 is changed and the restoring force vector 81 deviates from the reference line 82, whereby the above restoration is performed. The elastic member 4 is restored from the non-connected state by the force, and shifts to the connected state in which the electric wire 91 is sandwiched between the electric wire 91 and the terminal portion 3.

By adopting the above-mentioned structure for the connected device 1, other structures such as a step portion for locking the operation unit 5 in a non-connected state and a state release portion for releasing the lock of the operation unit 5 can be provided. Since it is not necessary to provide it, the structure of the connected device 1 can be simplified. Further, unlike the case where the operation unit 5 is locked to the step portion or the like of the case 2, it is possible to prevent a locking defect or the like due to wear or the like of the step portion and to realize a long life of the connected device 1.

In the connected device 1, as described above, the restoring force vector 81 only needs to substantially overlap the reference line 82 in the non-connected state, and does not need to be exactly the same (the same applies to the connected devices 1a to 1d). For example, when the restoring force vector 81 shown in FIG. 7 is slightly tilted to the left of the reference line 82 (that is, the rotational moment acting on the cam portion 51 is slightly more than the point 85 shown in FIG. 8). Even in the state of being moved to the side), it is sufficient that the non-connection state is maintained by the frictional force generated between the cam portion 51 and the elastic member 4. Even in this case, as described above, the structure of the connected device 1 can be simplified.

As described above, it is preferable that the operation unit 5 includes a cam unit 51 that rotates about the rotation shaft 24. The cam portion 51 comes into contact with the elastic member 4 at the first portion 513 and with the rotating shaft 24 at the bearing 54 which is the second portion 514. Then, at the time of transition to the non-connected state of the elastic member 4, the rotation of the cam portion 51 increases the distance between the first portion 513 and the rotation shaft 24, causes the elastic member 4 to bend, and the restoring force vector 81. Is substantially overlapped with the reference line 82, so that the rotational position of the operation unit 5 is maintained and the state of the elastic member 4 is maintained in the non-connected state. As a result, it is possible to realize the transition of the elastic member 4 to the non-connected state and the maintenance in the non-connected state with a simple structure.

As described above, when connecting the electric wire 91, it is preferable that the inserted electric wire 91 directly contacts the operation unit 5 to change the position of the operation unit 5. As a result, the force for pushing the electric wire 91 is easily transmitted to the operation unit 5, so that automatic wiring in which the electric wire 91 is connected can be easily realized only by an operation such as inserting the electric wire 91. Further, since it is not necessary to provide the elastic member 4 with a portion in contact with the electric wire 91, the shape of the elastic member 4 can be simplified.

As described above, it is preferable that the operation unit 5 includes an electric wire receiving unit 53 that comes into direct contact with the tip of the electric wire 91. Further, it is preferable that the electric wire receiving portion 53 includes a receiving surface 531 extending from the tip of the electric wire 91 to the periphery. As a result, the force for pushing the electric wire 91 can be efficiently transmitted to the operation unit 5.

As described above, the elastic member 4 includes the electric wire contact portion 45 that directly contacts the electric wire 91 in the connected state, and at least when the elastic member 4 shifts from the non-connected state to the connected state, the electric wire contact portion 45 It is preferable that the movement path does not overlap with the movement area of the operation unit 5. This makes it possible to prevent the electric wire contact portion 45 of the elastic member 4 from coming into contact with the operation portion 5 and hindering the movement of the operation portion 5.

As described above, it is preferable that a part of the operation unit 5 (for example, the drive unit 52) protrudes from the case 2. As a result, the operator can easily operate the operation unit 5. Further, the operator can also operate the operation unit 5 with his / her finger without using a tool such as a flat-blade screwdriver.

As described above, it is preferable that the connecting device 1 is provided with a visible identification unit (in the above example, the drive unit 52 of the operation unit 5) that indicates the state of the elastic member 4. Thereby, the state of the elastic member 4 can be easily and quickly recognized.

As described above, the elastic member 4 is preferably a leaf spring. Thereby, the structure of the connected device 1 can be further simplified.

As described above, in the connecting device 1, the unconnected state (that is, the rotational moment acting on the cam portion 51) in which the restoring force vector 81 substantially overlaps with the reference line 82 before the electric wire 91 is inserted is about 0. In the state), the shape of the elastic member 4 and the position of the operation unit 5 are maintained, but for example, as shown in FIG. 14, even when the elastic member 4 in the non-connected state is further bent, the operation unit 5 The position may be maintained.

In the state shown in FIG. 14, the restoring force vector 81 is slightly tilted to the right of the reference line 82. Therefore, the rotational moment acting on the cam portion 51 is in the counterclockwise direction (that is, minus), and the relationship between the moving distance of the operating unit 5 from the initial state and the rotational moment acting on the operating unit 5 is shown in FIG. As shown, it is shown at the point 87 located at the lower right side of the point 86 in the connected state and the point 85 in the unconnected state. That is, a force for rotating the operation unit 5 counterclockwise acts on the cam portion 51 from the elastic member 4, but the operation unit 5 is rotated clockwise to return to the connection state and the initial state. Power does not work. In the example shown in FIG. 14, the upper end of the drive unit 52 of the operation unit 5 comes into contact with the case 2, which limits further rotation of the operation unit 5 in the counterclockwise direction.

In the connecting device 1 shown in FIG. 14, as described above, the position of the operating unit 5 is maintained even when the elastic member 4 in the non-connected state is further bent. Further, the rotational moment acting on the cam portion 51 due to the restoring force of the elastic member 4 is opposite to the direction in which the operation portion 5 is returned to the connection state and the initial state. As a result, the shape of the elastic member 4 in a state of being separated from the terminal portion 3 can be maintained more stably.

Next, the connecting device 1a according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 16 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing the vicinity of the operation unit 5a of the connected device 1a. FIG. 16 shows the connected device 1a in the initial state.

The connection device 1a includes a case 2a, a terminal portion 3a, an elastic member 4a, and an operation portion 5a. In the connecting device 1a, the shapes of the case 2a, the terminal portion 3a, the elastic member 4a and the operating portion 5a, and the movements of the elastic member 4a and the operating portion 5a are different from those of the connecting device 1 shown in FIG. Is the same. Further, the connecting device 1a may include two or more sets of terminal portions 3a, elastic members 4a, and operating portions 5a in the case 2a, similarly to the connecting device 1.

The terminal portion 3a is a conductive substantially plate-shaped member fixed to the case 2a. The terminal portion 3a is made of metal, for example. The elastic member 4a is an elastically deformable member attached to the case 2a. The elastic member 4a is, for example, a substantially strip-shaped leaf spring. The elastic member 4a may be formed of a conductive material such as metal, or may be formed of an insulating material such as resin. The elastic member 4a has a shape bent in a substantially L-shape, a substantially V-shape, or a substantially U-shape at the central portion in the longitudinal direction.

The elastic member 4a includes a bent portion 41a, a fixed portion 42a, and a movable portion 43a, similarly to the elastic member 4 described above. The tip end portion (that is, the left end portion in FIG. 16) of the movable portion 43a is in contact with the substantially central portion of the terminal portion 3a in the left-right direction from below. As a result, the insertion path of the electric wire described later is closed inside the insertion hole 21a. Further, the movable portion 43a is in contact with the operation portion 5a from below. As will be described later, the movable portion 43a is elastically deformed and flexed downward by being pushed downward by the operating portion 5a, and is separated downward from the terminal portion 3a. Further, when the downward pressing force on the movable portion 43a disappears, the movable portion 43a returns to the original state (that is, elastically returns) due to the restoring force.

The operation unit 5a includes a cam unit 51a, a drive unit 52a, and an identification unit 55a. The cam portion 51a is a substantially triangular plate-shaped portion in which one apex is located at the lower end portion in the front view, and is arranged inside the case 2a (that is, inside the outer edge of the case 2a). The cam portion 51a is in contact with the movable portion 43a of the elastic member 4a from above. A through hole extending in the thickness direction is provided in the upper portion of the cam portion 51a, and a bearing 54a is provided in the through hole. The bearing 54a is fitted to a substantially cylindrical rotating shaft 24a provided in the case 2a and extending in the thickness direction. The cam portion 51a is rotatably supported by the case 2a in a plane substantially perpendicular to the thickness direction about the rotation shaft 24a. In the cam portion 51a, the distance between the center of the rotating shaft 24a and the outer edge of the cam portion 51a is maximized on a straight line extending from the center of the rotating shaft 24a to the apex of the lower end portion of the cam portion 51a. The lower portion of the cam portion 51a overlaps with the terminal portion 3a in the thickness direction and is located on the inner side of the terminal portion 3a in FIG.

The drive unit 52a is a portion extending to the right from the right side portion of the cam portion 51a, and is a substantially rectangular plate-shaped portion in front view. In the initial state shown in FIG. 16, the right end portion of the drive portion 52a (that is, the end portion on the side far from the cam portion 51a) is located inside the through hole 231a provided in the upper part of the case 2a. In the initial state, the upper surface of the right end portion of the drive unit 52a is located at substantially the same position in the vertical direction as the upper surface around the through hole 231a of the case 2a.

A recess 521a is provided at a position overlapping the through hole 231a in the vertical direction at the upper part of the right end portion of the drive unit 52a. In the initial state, the recess 521a is located inside the through hole 231a. At the lower part of the right end portion of the drive portion 52a, a convex portion 522a projecting downward is provided. The convex portion 522a protrudes toward the insertion path of the electric wire described later.

The identification portion 55a is a substantially rectangular columnar portion extending diagonally upward to the left from the upper part of the left side portion of the cam portion 51a. The identification portion 55a is located below the through hole 232a provided in the upper part of the case 2a. The through hole 232a is separated to the left from the above-mentioned through hole 231a. In the initial state, the entire identification portion 55a is located inside the case 2 below the through hole 232a.

Next, the flow of connecting the electric wire to the connecting device 1a will be described. First, in the initial state shown in FIG. 16, the operator inserts the tip of a tool 92 such as a normal flat-blade screwdriver into the recess 521a of the drive unit 52a of the operation unit 5a from above, and pushes the tool 92 downward. As a result, the operation unit 5a is rotated clockwise in FIG. 16 about the rotation shaft 24a.

When the operating portion 5a rotates, as shown in FIG. 17, the distance between the contact portion between the cam portion 51a and the elastic member 4a and the center of the rotating shaft 24a increases, and the movable portion 43a of the elastic member 4a cams. It is pushed downward by the portion 51a and separated from the terminal portion 3a.

As shown in FIG. 17, in the rotating operation unit 5a, the restoring force vector 81a of the elastic member 4a acting on the first portion 513a is a virtual straight line connecting the first portion 513a and the second portion 514a. It deviates to the right from the reference line 82a. Therefore, a rotational moment in the counterclockwise direction acts on the cam portion 51a, and the elastic member 4a and the operation portion 5a are shown in FIG. 16 unless the operator keeps pushing the operation portion 5a downward. Return to the initial state. The first portion 513a is a portion of the operation portion 5a on which the restoring force of the elastic member 4a acts, and specifically, a portion of the lower end portion of the cam portion 51a that comes into contact with the elastic member 4a. Further, the second portion 514a is a portion of the operation portion 5a where a reaction force with respect to the restoring force is generated. Specifically, of the bearing 54a, a virtual portion connecting the first portion 513a and the center of the rotation shaft 24a is provided. It is an intersection with a straight line.

The operator pushes the operation unit 5a against the restoring force of the elastic member 4a until the unconnected state shown in FIG. In the non-connected state, the restoring force vector 81a of the elastic member 4a acting on the first portion 513a substantially overlaps with the reference line 82a connecting the first portion 513a and the second portion 514a. As a result, the restoring force of the elastic member 4a and the reaction force against the restoring force generated in the operating portion 5a are balanced.

Therefore, neither the counterclockwise rotation moment nor the clockwise rotation moment acts on the cam portion 51a. Therefore, even if the operator pulls out the tool 92 from the through hole 231a of the case 2a (that is, even when the operator does not apply force to the operation unit 5a), the position of the operation unit 5a in the circumferential direction (that is, that is). , Rotational position) is stably maintained in the non-connected state shown in FIG. Further, the state of the elastic member 4a is also stably maintained (that is, temporarily fixed) in a non-wired state. The non-connection state shown in FIG. 18 is a temporary fixing state in which the elastic member 4a is temporarily fixed in a bent state. At this time, the convex portion 522a of the operation portion 5a is located above the insertion path of the electric wire described later. In the connecting device 1a, the operation unit 5a includes only one first portion 513a on which the restoring force of the elastic member 4a acts and a second portion 514a on which the reaction force against the restoring force is generated. This makes it possible to simplify the structure of the connected device 1a.

In the non-connected state, the upper end portion of the identification portion 55a protrudes upward from the through hole 232a of the case 2a. Further, a part of the operation portion 5a (in the example shown in FIG. 18, the portion on the left side of the convex portion 522a) comes into contact with the stopper 28a which is a protrusion provided on the case 2a, so that the operation portion 5a is further increased. The movement of the operation unit 5a is restricted so as not to rotate in the clockwise direction. Further, the operator can easily determine that the connected device 1a is in the non-connected state by visually recognizing that the identification unit 55a protrudes from the case 2a.

In the connecting device 1a, the operation unit 5a is further rotated clockwise from the rotation position shown in FIG. 18 and the elastic member 4a is further bent in the operation in substantially the same manner as the connecting device 1 shown in FIG. The position of the portion 5a may be maintained. The structure is realized, for example, by making the lower end of the cam portion 51a in FIG. 18 a substantially horizontal plane extending to the right from the first portion 513a in the figure, and moving the upper surface position of the stopper 28a downward. In this case, the restoring force vector 81a is slightly tilted to the left of the reference line 82a, and the rotational moment acting on the cam portion 51a is in the clockwise direction. That is, a force that tends to rotate the operation portion 5a clockwise acts on the cam portion 51a from the elastic member 4a. However, the rotation of the operation unit 5a in the clockwise direction is limited by the contact of the operation unit 5a with the stopper 28a. Further, no force acts on the cam portion 51a from the elastic member 4a in the direction of rotating the operation portion 5a counterclockwise to return to the initial state. Therefore, the position of the operation portion 5a (that is, the rotation position) is stably maintained, and the shape of the elastic member 4a in a state of being separated from the terminal portion 3a can be stably maintained.

When the connected device 1a is in the non-connected state, as shown in FIG. 19, the electric wire 91 is inserted into the case 2a from the insertion hole 21a of the case 2a along a predetermined insertion direction, and is not connected to the terminal portion 3a. It is located between the elastic member 4a in the connected state. The insertion direction of the electric wire 91 with respect to the case 2a is an oblique direction inclined with respect to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. The type and diameter of the electric wire 91 are the same as described above. In the example shown in FIG. 19, the tip of the electric wire 91 is in contact with a part of the case 2a so that the electric wire 91 is not inserted any more. Further, the convex portion 522a of the drive portion 52a of the operation portion 5a is in contact with the electric wire 91 from above. In the example shown in FIG. 19, the convex portion 522a of the operation portion 5a is in contact with the covering portion of the electric wire 91, but may be in contact with the conductive portion of the electric wire 91 or the rod-shaped crimp terminal. Further, the convex portion 522a may be located slightly above the electric wire 91 without coming into contact with the electric wire 91.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 20, the electric wire 91 is slightly moved upward from the position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line by the operator. For example, the operator presses the tip of the electric wire 91 against the case 2a and twists the electric wire 91 upward with the tip as a fulcrum. As a result, the force is directly transmitted from the electric wire 91 to the convex portion 522a of the operation portion 5a. Then, the operation unit 5a rotates slightly counterclockwise in FIG. 20 about the rotation shaft 24a. In other words, the position (that is, the rotation position) of the operation unit 5a is changed in the circumferential direction about the rotation shaft 24a.

As a result, the restoring force vector 81a shifts from the reference line 82a to the right side in FIG. 20, and the restoring force of the elastic member 4a causes a rotational moment in the counterclockwise direction to act on the cam portion 51a. As a result, the operation unit 5a further rotates counterclockwise, and the elastic member 4a is restored from the unconnected state.

Then, as shown in FIG. 21, the elastic member 4a shifts to a wiring state in which the electric wire 91 is sandwiched between the electric wire 91 and the terminal portion 3a, and the electric wire 91 and the terminal portion 3a are electrically and mechanically connected to each other. .. In other words, after the electric wire 91 is inserted into the connecting device 1a, the electric wire 91 is automatically connected (that is, without the operation of the operation unit 5a by the operator using a tool other than the electric wire 91 or a finger). The operator may recognize, for example, the transition to the connection state by vibration or sound generated when the electric wire 91 is pressed against the terminal portion 3a by the movable portion 43a of the elastic member 4a. The vibration or sound is generated when, for example, one member of the elastic member 4a, the electric wire 91, the terminal portion 3a, the operation portion 5a, and the case 2a collides with the other member. In the connected device 1a, various structures may be adopted to promote the generation of the vibration, the sound, or the like, or to amplify the vibration, the sound, or the like.

In the connected device 1a in the connected state, the identification unit 55a of the operating unit 5a is housed in the case 2a and does not protrude from the through hole 232a of the case 2a, unlike the non-connected state. Therefore, the operator can easily recognize that the connected device 1a has changed from the non-connected state to the connected state by visually recognizing that the identification unit 55a is housed in the case 2a.

When removing the electric wire 91 from the connecting device 1a, for example, an operator inserts the tip of a tool such as a flat-blade screwdriver into the through hole 231a of the case 2a and pushes down the driving unit 52a of the operating unit 5a. As a result, the operation unit 5a rotates clockwise in FIG. 21. When the operation unit 5a rotates to the non-connection state shown in FIG. 19, the restoring force vector 81a (see FIG. 18) substantially overlaps with the reference line 82a, and the elastic member 4a is separated downward from the electric wire 91. It is maintained in a non-connected state. As a result, the pinching of the electric wire 91 by the elastic member 4a and the terminal portion 3a is released. The operator can easily remove the electric wire 91 from the connecting device 1a by pulling out the electric wire 91 from the insertion hole 21a.

As described above, the connecting device 1a to which the electric wire 91 is connected includes a case 2a, a conductive terminal portion 3a, an elastic member 4a, and an operating portion 5a. The terminal portion 3a is fixed to the case 2a. The elastic member 4a is attached to the case 2a, and the electric wire 91 is pressed against the terminal portion 3a by a restoring force to be sandwiched. The operation unit 5a applies a force to the elastic member 4a to bend it from the initial state to the non-wired state, and maintains the elastic member 4a in the non-connected state. The operation unit 5a includes a first portion 513a on which the restoring force of the elastic member 4a acts, and a second portion 514a on which a reaction force against the restoring force is generated. The restoring force vector is defined as the restoring force vector 81a, and the straight line connecting the first portion 513a and the second portion 514a is defined as the reference line 82a.

When the elastic member 4a is in the non-connection state, the restoring force vector 81a substantially overlaps with the reference line 82a and the restoring force and the reaction force are balanced, so that the position of the operating portion 5a is maintained and the elastic member 4a is in a state. Is maintained in a non-connected state. Further, in a state where the electric wire 91 is inserted between the terminal portion 3a and the elastic member 4a in the non-connected state, the position of the operation portion 5a is changed and the restoring force vector 81a deviates from the reference line 82a. The elastic member 4a is restored from the unconnected state by the force, and shifts to the connected state in which the electric wire 91 is sandwiched between the electric wire 91 and the terminal portion 3a.

By adopting the above structure for the connected device 1a, another structure such as a step portion for locking the operation unit 5a in a non-connected state and a state release portion for releasing the locking of the operation unit 5a can be provided. Since it is not necessary to provide it, the structure of the connected device 1a can be simplified. Further, unlike the case where the operation portion 5a is locked to the step portion or the like of the case 2a, it is possible to prevent a locking defect or the like due to wear or the like of the step portion and to realize a long life of the connected device 1a.

As described above, in the connecting device 1a, it is preferable that the position of the operating portion 5a is maintained even when the elastic member 4a in the non-connected state is further bent. At this time, the rotational moment acting on the cam portion 51a due to the restoring force of the elastic member 4a is opposite to the direction in which the operation portion 5a is returned to the connection state and the initial state. As a result, the shape of the elastic member 4a in a state of being separated from the terminal portion 3a can be maintained more stably.

In the connected device 1a, it is preferable that the operation unit 5a includes a cam unit 51a that rotates about the rotation shaft 24a. The cam portion 51a contacts the elastic member 4a at the first portion 513a and also contacts the rotating shaft 24a at the bearing 54a which is the second portion 514a. When the elastic member 4a shifts to the non-connected state, the cam portion 51a rotates, so that the distance between the first portion 513a and the rotation shaft 24a increases, the elastic member 4a bends, and the restoring force vector 81a Is substantially overlapped with the reference line 82a, so that the rotational position of the operating portion 5a is maintained and the state of the elastic member 4a is maintained in the non-connected state. As a result, it is possible to realize the transition of the elastic member 4a to the non-connected state and the maintenance in the non-connected state with a simple structure.

As described above, when connecting the electric wire 91, it is preferable that the inserted electric wire 91 directly contacts the operation unit 5a to change the position of the operation unit 5a. As a result, the force for pushing the electric wire 91 is easily transmitted to the operation unit 5a, so that the automatic connection of the electric wire 91 can be easily realized. Further, the shape of the elastic member 4a can be simplified.

It is preferable that the connecting device 1a is provided with a visible identification unit 55a that indicates the state of the elastic member 4a. In the above example, it is possible to determine whether or not the elastic member 4a is in the non-connection state by visually recognizing whether or not the identification portion 55a protrudes from the case 2a. Thereby, the state of the elastic member 4a can be easily and quickly recognized.

In the connecting device 1a, the elastic member 4a is preferably a leaf spring. This makes it possible to further simplify the structure of the connected device 1a.

In the connected device 1a, the transition from the non-connected state (see FIG. 19) to the connected state (see FIG. 21) does not necessarily have to be performed by pushing up the drive unit 52a of the operation unit 5a by the electric wire 91. For example, as shown in FIG. 22, the restoring force vector 81a is similarly pushed down by the operator's fingertip 93 toward the inside of the case 2a by pushing the identification portion 55a protruding from the through hole 232a of the case 2a. Shifts to the right from the reference line 82a. As a result, the cam portion 51a rotates counterclockwise due to the restoring force of the elastic member 4a, and the connecting device 1a shifts to the connection state shown in FIG. 21.

As described above, in the connected device 1a, it is preferable that a part of the operation unit 5a (identification unit 55a in the above example) protrudes from the case 2a. As a result, the operator can easily operate the operation unit 5a.

Further, in the connecting device 1a, when the elastic member 4a is not connected (see FIG. 18), a part of the operation unit 5a (that is, the identification unit 55a) protrudes from the case 2a, and the elastic member 5a is in the connected state. At some point (see FIG. 21), it is preferred that the portion of the operating unit 5a be located within the case 2a. Thereby, as described above, it is possible to easily and quickly recognize whether or not the elastic member 4a is in the non-connected state. Further, in the non-connected state, the operation unit 5a can be easily operated without using a tool such as a flat-blade screwdriver. Further, it is possible to prevent erroneous operation of the operation unit 5a in the wiring state. In the example shown in FIG. 22, the identification portion 55a of the operation portion 5a may be pushed into the case 2a by, for example, the tip of a rod-shaped tool instead of the operator's fingertip 93.

Next, the connected device 1b according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 23 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing the vicinity of the operation unit 5b of the connected device 1b. FIG. 24 is a plan view showing the operation unit 5b and the elastic member 4b. 23 and 24 show the connected device 1b in the initial state.

The connection device 1b includes a case 2b, a terminal portion 3b, an elastic member 4b, and an operation portion 5b. In the connecting device 1b, the shapes of the case 2b, the terminal portion 3b, the elastic member 4b and the operating portion 5b, and the movements of the elastic member 4b and the operating portion 5b are different from those of the connecting device 1 shown in FIG. Is the same. Further, the connecting device 1b may include two or more sets of terminal portions 3b, an elastic member 4b, and an operating portion 5b in the case 2b, similarly to the connecting device 1.

The terminal portion 3b is a conductive substantially plate-shaped member fixed to the case 2b. The terminal portion 3b is made of metal, for example. The elastic member 4b is an elastically deformable member attached to the case 2b. The elastic member 4b is, for example, a substantially strip-shaped leaf spring. The elastic member 4b may be formed of a conductive material such as metal, or may be formed of an insulating material such as resin. The elastic member 4b has a substantially V-shaped or substantially U-shaped bent shape (that is, a substantially Z-shaped shape) at the lower end portion and the upper end portion.

The elastic member 4b includes a bent portion 41b, a fixed portion 42b, and a movable portion 43b, similarly to the elastic member 4 described above. The movable portion 43b is provided with a cut-up portion 431b that is partially separated from the surrounding portion and bent upward. The elastic member 4b further includes a wire receiving portion 44b and a releasing portion 46b. The electric wire receiving portion 44b extends upward from the upper end portion of the movable portion 43b. The release portion 46b extends from the upper end portion of the wire receiving portion 44b to the left side in FIGS. 23 and 24 (that is, in the direction toward the operation portion 5b). The vertical width of the elastic member 4b in FIG. 24 is substantially constant except for the release portion 46b, and the width of the release portion 46b is larger than the width of the wire receiving portion 44b. The release portion 46b extends from the upper end portion of the wire receiving portion 44b (that is, the right end portion in FIG. 24) to the left and upward in FIG. 24. In FIG. 24, the release portion 46b is drawn by a alternate long and short dash line in order to facilitate the understanding of the figure. Further, in FIG. 24, the terminal portion 3b is drawn by a two-dot chain line.

Of the movable portions 43b, the upper end portion of the cut-up portion 431b (that is, the right end portion in FIGS. 23 and 24) is in contact with the substantially central portion of the terminal portion 3b in the left-right direction from below. As a result, the insertion path for the electric wire, which will be described later, is closed inside the insertion hole 21b provided on the left side of the case 2b. Further, the movable portion 43b is in contact with the operation portion 5b from below at a portion where the cut-up portion 431b is not provided (a portion on the left side of the cut-up portion 431b in FIG. 23). As will be described later, the movable portion 43b is elastically deformed and flexed downward by being pushed downward by the operating portion 5b, and is separated downward from the terminal portion 3b. Further, when the downward pressing force on the movable portion 43b disappears, the movable portion 43b returns to the original state (that is, elastically returns) due to the restoring force.

The wire receiving portion 44b extends diagonally upward to the right from the upper end portion of the movable portion 43b on the right side of the terminal portion 3b and the operating portion 5b in FIG. 23. The electric wire receiving portion 44b extends from the lower side of the terminal portion 3b to the upper side of the terminal portion 3, and is located on the insertion path of the electric wire inserted along the lower surface of the terminal portion 3b. The electric wire receiving portion 44b includes a receiving surface 441b that extends around in the insertion direction of the electric wire.

The release portion 46b extends from the upper end portion of the wire receiving portion 44b to the left side in FIG. 23 (that is, in the direction approaching the operation portion 5b), and partially faces the operation portion 5b and the terminal portion 3b in the vertical direction. The tip end portion of the release portion 46b (that is, the end portion on the side closer to the operation portion 5b) is bent downward (that is, the direction toward the operation portion 5b) above the operation portion 5b.

The operation unit 5b includes a cam unit 51b. The cam portion 51b is a substantially fan-shaped plate-shaped member when viewed from the front, and is arranged inside the case 2b (that is, inside the outer edge of the case 2b). The center of the fan shape is located at the upper right upper end of the cam portion 51b in FIG. 23, and a through hole extending in the thickness direction is provided in the vicinity of the center. A bearing 54b is provided in the through hole. The bearing 54b is fitted to a substantially cylindrical rotating shaft 24b provided in the case 2b and extending in the thickness direction. The cam portion 51b is rotatably supported by the case 2b in a plane substantially perpendicular to the thickness direction about the rotation shaft 24b. In the example shown in FIG. 23, the central angle of the substantially fan-shaped cam portion 51b is about 90 ° in the front view.

In the vicinity of the lower end portion of the cam portion 51b in FIG. 23, a substantially semi-cylindrical convex portion 515b projecting downward (that is, radially outward in the cam portion 51b) is provided. The cam portion 51b is in contact with the movable portion 43b of the elastic member 4b from above at the convex portion 515b. In the cam portion 51b, the center of the rotating shaft 24b is formed on a straight line extending from the center of the rotating shaft 24b to the outer peripheral edge of the convex portion 515b of the cam portion 51b (specifically, substantially the center in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral edge). The distance between the cam portion 51b and the outer edge is maximized. The lower portion of the cam portion 51b overlaps with the terminal portion 3b in the thickness direction and is located on the inner side of the terminal portion 3b in FIG. 23.

Next, the flow of connecting the electric wire to the connecting device 1b will be described. First, in the initial state shown in FIG. 23, the operator inserts the tip of a tool 92 such as a normal flat-blade screwdriver into the case 2b through the through hole 231b provided in the upper left end of the case 2b. The tip of the rear portion 92 contacts the upper surface of the left end portion of the operation portion 5b located below the through hole 231b. Then, when the operator pushes the tool 92 downward, the operation unit 5b is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 23 about the rotation shaft 24b.

When the operating portion 5b rotates, as shown in FIG. 25, the distance between the contact portion between the cam portion 51b and the elastic member 4b and the center of the rotating shaft 24b increases. As a result, the movable portion 43b of the elastic member 4b is pushed downward by the cam portion 51b, and the cut-up portion 431b is separated from the terminal portion 3b.

As shown in FIG. 25, in the rotating operation unit 5b, the restoring force vector 81b of the elastic member 4b acting on the first portion 513b is a virtual straight line connecting the first portion 513b and the second portion 514b. It deviates to the left from the reference line 82b. Therefore, a rotational moment in the clockwise direction acts on the cam portion 51b, and unless the operator keeps pushing the operation portion 5b downward, the elastic member 4b and the operation portion 5b initially show in FIG. 23. Return to the state. The first portion 513b is a portion of the operating portion 5b on which the restoring force of the elastic member 4b acts, and specifically, a portion of the convex portion 515b of the cam portion 51b that comes into contact with the elastic member 4b. Further, the second portion 514b is a portion of the operating portion 5b where a reaction force with respect to the restoring force is generated. Specifically, of the bearing 54b, a virtual portion connecting the first portion 513b and the center of the rotating shaft 24b is provided. It is an intersection with a straight line.

The operator pushes the operation unit 5b against the restoring force of the elastic member 4b until the unconnected state shown in FIG. 26. In the non-connected state, the restoring force vector 81b of the elastic member 4b acting on the first portion 513b substantially overlaps with the reference line 82b connecting the first portion 513b and the second portion 514b. As a result, the restoring force of the elastic member 4b and the reaction force against the restoring force generated in the operating portion 5b are balanced.

Therefore, neither the above-mentioned clockwise rotation moment nor the counterclockwise rotation moment acts on the cam portion 51b. Therefore, even if the operator pulls out the tool 92 from the through hole 231b of the case 2b (that is, even when the operator does not apply force to the operation unit 5b), the position of the operation unit 5b in the circumferential direction (that is, that is). , Rotational position) is stably maintained in the non-connected state shown in FIG. 26. Further, the state of the elastic member 4b is also stably maintained (that is, temporarily fixed) in the non-wired state. The non-connection state shown in FIG. 26 is a temporary fixing state in which the elastic member 4b is temporarily fixed in a bent state. In the connecting device 1b, the operation unit 5b includes only one first portion 513b on which the restoring force of the elastic member 4b acts and a second portion 514b on which a reaction force against the restoring force is generated. This makes it possible to simplify the structure of the connected device 1b.

In the non-connected state, the upper surface of the right end portion of the operation portion 5b is a substantially horizontal plane substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction, and comes into contact with the tip portion of the release portion 46b of the elastic member 4b from below. Further, a part of the operation portion 5b (in the example shown in FIG. 26, the left end portion of the cam portion 51b) comes into contact with the stopper 28b, which is a protrusion provided on the case 2b, so that the operation portion 5b can be moved. The movement of the operation unit 5b is restricted so as not to rotate counterclockwise.

In the connecting device 1b, similarly to the connecting device 1 shown in FIG. 14, the operation unit 5b rotates further in the counterclockwise direction than the rotation position shown in FIG. 26, and the elastic member 4b is further bent. The position of the operation unit 5b may be maintained. The structure is realized, for example, by moving the upper surface position of the stopper 28b in FIG. 26 downward. In this case, the restoring force vector 81b is slightly tilted to the right of the reference line 82b, and the rotational moment acting on the cam portion 51b is in the counterclockwise direction. That is, a force that tends to rotate the operation portion 5b counterclockwise acts on the cam portion 51b from the elastic member 4b. However, the rotation of the operating portion 5b in the counterclockwise direction is limited by the left end portion of the cam portion 51b coming into contact with the stopper 28b. Further, no force acts on the cam portion 51b from the elastic member 4b in the direction of rotating the operation portion 5b clockwise to return to the initial state. Therefore, the position of the operating portion 5b can be stably maintained, and the shape of the elastic member 4b in a state of being separated from the terminal portion 3b can be stably maintained.

When the connected device 1b is in the non-connected state, as shown in FIG. 27, the electric wire 91 is inserted into the case 2b from the insertion hole 21b of the case 2b along a predetermined insertion direction, and is not connected to the terminal portion 3b. It is located between the elastic member 4b in the connected state. The insertion direction of the electric wire 91 with respect to the case 2b is a direction substantially parallel to the left-right direction. The type and diameter of the electric wire 91 are the same as described above.

The tip of the electric wire 91 directly contacts the electric wire receiving portion 44b of the elastic member 4b in the case 2b. In the example shown in FIG. 27, the left side surface of the electric wire receiving portion 44b is a receiving surface 441b that comes into direct contact with the tip of the electric wire 91 and extends from the tip to the periphery. The receiving surface 441b is located on the back side of the cut-up portion 431b in the insertion direction of the electric wire 91, and spreads around the insertion direction as described above.

The electric wire 91 is moved to the inner side in the insertion direction with its tip in contact with the receiving surface 441b of the electric wire receiving portion 44b. As a result, as shown in FIG. 28, the receiving surface 441b is pushed toward the inner side in the insertion direction, and the electric wire receiving portion 44b and the releasing portion 46b are deformed in a direction of becoming flat in the vertical direction. The tip of the release portion 46b moves downward and pushes down the right end of the cam portion 51b of the operation portion 5b in contact with the tip. That is, the force generated by pushing the electric wire 91 is indirectly applied to the operating portion 5b via the elastic member 4b that directly contacts the electric wire 91. Then, the operation unit 5b rotates slightly clockwise in FIG. 28 around the rotation shaft 24b. In other words, the position (that is, the rotation position) of the operation unit 5b is changed in the circumferential direction about the rotation shaft 24b. The rotation direction of the cam portion 51b in the first portion 513b is a direction toward the front side from the back side in the insertion direction of the electric wire 91 (that is, a direction toward the substantially left side in FIG. 28).

As a result, as shown in FIG. 28, the restoring force vector 81b shifts from the reference line 82b to the left side in FIG. 28, and the restoring force of the elastic member 4b causes a clockwise rotational moment to act on the cam portion 51b. As a result, the operation unit 5b further rotates clockwise, and the elastic member 4b is restored from the unconnected state.

Then, as shown in FIG. 29, the elastic member 4b shifts to a wiring state in which the electric wire 91 is sandwiched between the electric wire 91 and the terminal portion 3b, and the electric wire 91 and the terminal portion 3b are electrically and mechanically connected to each other. .. In other words, after the electric wire 91 is inserted into the connecting device 1b, the electric wire 91 is automatically connected (that is, without the operation of the operation unit 5b by the operator using a tool other than the electric wire 91 or a finger). The operator may recognize, for example, the transition to the connection state by vibration or sound generated when the electric wire 91 is pressed against the terminal portion 3b by the cut-up portion 431b of the elastic member 4b. The vibration or sound is generated, for example, when one member of the elastic member 4b, the electric wire 91, the terminal portion 3b, the operation portion 5b, and the case 2b collides with the other member. In the connected device 1b, various structures may be adopted to promote the generation of the vibration, the sound, or the like, or to amplify the vibration, the sound, or the like.

In the connection device 1b in the connected state, the portion of the operation portion 5b visible from the through hole 231b of the case 2b is the portion of the operation portion 5b visible from the through hole 231b in the non-connection state, and the direction thereof, the distance from the through hole 231b, and the like are different. different. Therefore, the operator can easily recognize that the connected device 1b has changed from the non-connected state to the connected state by visually recognizing the operation unit 5b from the through hole 231b. Similarly to the above, the operator can easily recognize that the connected device 1b is in the initial state by visually recognizing the operation unit 5b from the through hole 231b. That is, the portion of the operating portion 5b that can be seen from the through hole 231b is a visible identification portion that indicates the state of the elastic member 4b. In this case, the portion of the operation unit 5b that can be seen from the through hole 231b may be colored to further clarify the distinction between the initial state, the connected state, and the non-connected state.

When removing the electric wire 91 from the connecting device 1b, for example, an operator inserts the tip of a tool such as a flat-blade screwdriver into the through hole 231b of the case 2b and pushes down the left end of the operating portion 5b. As a result, the operation unit 5b rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 29. When the operation unit 5b rotates to the non-connection state shown in FIG. 27, the restoring force vector 81b (see FIG. 26) substantially overlaps with the reference line 82b, and the elastic member 4b is separated downward from the electric wire 91 as described above. It is maintained in a non-connected state. As a result, the pinching of the electric wire 91 by the elastic member 4b and the terminal portion 3b is released. The operator can easily remove the electric wire 91 from the connecting device 1b by pulling out the electric wire 91 from the insertion hole 21b.

As described above, the connecting device 1b to which the electric wire 91 is connected includes a case 2b, a conductive terminal portion 3b, an elastic member 4b, and an operating portion 5b. The terminal portion 3b is fixed to the case 2b. The elastic member 4b is attached to the case 2b, and the electric wire 91 is pressed against the terminal portion 3b by a restoring force to be sandwiched. The operation unit 5b applies a force to the elastic member 4b to bend it from the initial state to the non-wired state, and maintains the elastic member 4b in the non-connected state. The operation unit 5b includes a first portion 513b on which the restoring force of the elastic member 4b acts, and a second portion 514b on which a reaction force against the restoring force is generated. The restoring force vector is defined as the restoring force vector 81b, and the straight line connecting the first portion 513b and the second portion 514b is defined as the reference line 82b.

When the elastic member 4b is in the non-connection state, the restoring force vector 81b substantially overlaps with the reference line 82b and the restoring force and the reaction force are balanced, so that the position of the operating portion 5b is maintained and the elastic member 4b is in a state. Is maintained in a non-connected state. Further, in a state where the electric wire 91 is inserted between the terminal portion 3b and the elastic member 4b in the non-connected state, the position of the operation portion 5b is changed and the restoring force vector 81b deviates from the reference line 82b. The elastic member 4b is restored from the non-connected state by the force, and shifts to the connected state in which the electric wire 91 is sandwiched between the terminal portion 3b and the electric wire 91.

By making the connected device 1b have the above structure, other structures such as a step portion for locking the operation unit 5b in a non-connected state and a state release portion for releasing the locking of the operation unit 5b can be provided. Since it is not necessary to provide it, the structure of the connected device 1b can be simplified. Further, unlike the case where the operation portion 5b is locked to the step portion or the like of the case 2b, it is possible to prevent a locking defect or the like due to wear or the like of the step portion and to realize a long life of the connected device 1b.

As described above, in the connecting device 1b, it is preferable that the position of the operating portion 5b is maintained even when the elastic member 4b in the non-connected state is further bent. At this time, the rotational moment acting on the cam portion 51b due to the restoring force of the elastic member 4b is in the opposite direction to the direction in which the operation portion 5b is returned to the connection state and the initial state. As a result, the shape of the elastic member 4b in a state of being separated from the terminal portion 3b can be maintained more stably.

In the connected device 1b, it is preferable that the operation unit 5b includes a cam unit 51b that rotates about the rotation shaft 24b. The cam portion 51b contacts the elastic member 4b at the first portion 513b and also contacts the rotating shaft 24b at the bearing 54b which is the second portion 514b. When the elastic member 4b shifts to the non-connected state, the cam portion 51b rotates, so that the distance between the first portion 513b and the rotation shaft 24b increases, the elastic member 4b bends, and the restoring force vector 81b. Is substantially overlapped with the reference line 82b, so that the rotational position of the operating portion 5b is maintained and the state of the elastic member 4b is maintained in the non-connected state. As a result, it is possible to realize the transition of the elastic member 4b to the non-connected state and the maintenance in the non-connected state with a simple structure.

As described above, in the connecting device 1b, when the electric wire 91 is connected, the inserted electric wire 91 comes into direct contact with the elastic member 4b to deform the elastic member 4b, whereby the inserted electric wire 91 is passed through the elastic member 4b. It is preferable to apply a force to the operation unit 5b to change the position of the operation unit 5b. As a result, the degree of freedom in the shape and arrangement of the operation unit 5b can be improved as compared with the case where the operation unit 5b is provided with a portion that comes into direct contact with the electric wire 91.

In the connecting device 1b, the elastic member 4b preferably includes a wire receiving portion 44b that comes into direct contact with the tip of the wire 91, and a releasing portion 46b that extends from the wire receiving portion 44b toward the operating portion 5b. Further, it is preferable that the electric wire receiving portion 44b includes a receiving surface 441b extending from the tip of the electric wire 91 to the periphery. Then, the receiving surface 441b is pushed toward the inner side in the insertion direction of the electric wire 91 by the electric wire 91, so that the elastic member 4b is deformed, and the release portion 46b comes into contact with the operation portion 5b to rotate the cam portion 51b. It is preferable to give it. This makes it possible to prevent wear of the operating portion 5b due to direct contact with the electric wire 91.

In the connection device 1b, the cut-up portion 431b of the elastic member 4 is an electric wire contact portion that directly contacts the electric wire 91 in the connected state. Preferably, at least when the elastic member 4b shifts from the non-connected state to the connected state, the moving path of the wire contact portion does not overlap with the moving region of the operating portion 5b. This makes it possible to prevent the electric wire contact portion of the elastic member 4b from coming into contact with the operation portion 5b and hindering the movement of the operation portion 5b.

It is preferable that the connecting device 1b is provided with a visible identification unit (in the above example, a part of the operation unit 5b visible from the through hole 231b) indicating the state of the elastic member 4b. Thereby, the state of the elastic member 4b can be easily and quickly recognized.

In the connected device 1b, a part of the operation unit 5b may protrude from the case 2b. For example, a substantially rod-shaped protruding portion that extends upward from the cam portion 51b and protrudes from the case 2b may be provided. In this case, the protruding portion functions as a visible identification portion indicating the state of the elastic member 4b. Therefore, by visually recognizing the position of the protruding portion of the operating portion 5b, the state of the elastic member 4b can be easily and quickly recognized. Further, the operator can easily operate the operation unit 5b by bringing the fingertip or the like into contact with the protrusion. It is preferable that the protruding portion of the operating portion 5b protrudes from the case 2b when the elastic member 4b is in the non-connected state, and is located in the case 2b when the elastic member 4b is in the connected state. As a result, the operation unit 5b can be easily operated without using a tool such as a flat-blade screwdriver in the non-connection state, and erroneous operation of the operation unit 5b can be prevented in the connection state.

In the connecting device 1b, the elastic member 4b is preferably a leaf spring. Thereby, the structure of the connected device 1b can be further simplified.

As described above, in the connecting devices 1, 1a and 1b, when the electric wires 91 are connected, the force is directly or indirectly transmitted from the inserted electric wires 91 to the operation units 5, 5a and 5b. The positions of the operation units 5, 5a, 5b are changed, and the restoring force vectors 81, 81a, 81b deviate from the reference lines 82, 82a, 82b. As a result, automatic connection is realized in which the electric wires 91 are connected only by an operation such as inserting the electric wires 91, so that the electric wires 91 can be easily connected to the connecting devices 1, 1a, 1b.

Next, the connected device 1c according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 30 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing the vicinity of the operation unit 5c of the connected device 1c. FIG. 30 shows the connected device 1c in the initial state.

The connection device 1c includes a case 2c, a terminal portion 3c, an elastic member 4c, an operation portion 5c, and a release portion 6c. In the connecting device 1c, the shapes of the case 2c, the terminal portion 3c, the elastic member 4c and the operating portion 5c, and the movements of the elastic member 4c and the operating portion 5c are different from those of the connecting device 1 shown in FIG. Is the same. Further, the connecting device 1c may include two or more sets of terminal portions 3c, an elastic member 4c, an operating portion 5c, and a releasing portion 6c in the case 2c, substantially similar to the connecting device 1.

The terminal portion 3c is a conductive substantially plate-shaped member fixed to the case 2c. The terminal portion 3c is made of metal, for example. The elastic member 4c is an elastically deformable member attached to the case 2c. The elastic member 4c is, for example, a substantially strip-shaped leaf spring. The elastic member 4c may be formed of a conductive material such as metal, or may be formed of an insulating material such as resin. The elastic member 4c has a shape bent in a substantially L-shape, a substantially V-shape, or a substantially U-shape at the central portion in the longitudinal direction.

The elastic member 4c includes a bent portion 41c, a fixed portion 42c, and a movable portion 43c, similarly to the elastic member 4 described above. The tip end portion (that is, the left end portion in FIG. 30) of the movable portion 43c is in contact with the terminal portion 3c from below. As a result, the insertion path for the electric wire, which will be described later, is closed inside the insertion hole 21c provided on the right side of the case 2c. Further, the movable portion 43c is in contact with the operation portion 5c from below. As will be described later, the movable portion 43c is elastically deformed and flexed downward by being pushed downward by the operating portion 5c, and is separated from the terminal portion 3c downward. Further, when the downward pressing force on the movable portion 43c disappears, the movable portion 43c returns to the original state (that is, elastically returns) due to the restoring force.

The operation unit 5c includes an advancing / retreating unit 56c and a driving unit 52c. The advancing / retreating portion 56c is a substantially pentagonal plate-shaped portion in which one apex is located at the lower end portion in the front view, and is arranged inside the case 2c (that is, inside the outer edge of the case 2c). The advancing / retreating portion 56c overlaps with the terminal portion 3c in the thickness direction and is located on the back side of the terminal portion 3c in FIG. 30.

The shape of the upper end portion of the advancing / retreating portion 56c is a substantially arc shape that is convex upward in the front view. The upper end of the advancing / retreating portion 56c comes into contact with the inner surface 25c of the upper end portion of the case 2c from below. The inner surface 25c of the case 2c is a substantially flat surface extending substantially linearly in the left-right direction in the front view. The lower end portion of the advancing / retreating portion 56c comes into contact with the movable portion 43c of the elastic member 4c extending along the inner surface 25c of the case 2c from above. That is, the advancing / retreating portion 56c of the operating portion 5c is located between the elastic member 4c and the inner surface 25c of the case 2c in the vertical direction.

The vertical distance between the inner surface 25c of the case 2c and the movable portion 43c of the elastic member 4c decreases from the right side to the left side in FIG. 30. The movable portion 43c of the elastic member 4c includes a first inclined portion 432c and a second inclined portion 433c. The first inclined portion 432c is a portion extending from the tip of the movable portion 43c to substantially the center, and the second inclined portion 433c is a portion toward the bent portion 41c from the right end of the first inclined portion 432c. The first inclined portion 432c and the second inclined portion 433c are inclined so as to approach the inner surface 25c of the case 2c toward the left in FIG. 30. In front view, the angle (acute angle) formed by the first inclined portion 432c and the inner surface 25c is smaller than the angle (acute angle) formed by the second inclined portion 433c and the inner surface 25c. In the initial state shown in FIG. 30, the advancing / retreating portion 56c is in contact with the second inclined portion 433c of the movable portion 43c on the left side surface of the lower end portion. The left side surface of the advancing / retreating portion 56c extends substantially parallel to the second inclined portion 433c in the initial state in the front view.

The drive unit 52c is a substantially rod-shaped portion that extends from the right end portion of the advancing / retreating portion 56c to the right side and protrudes to the right from the case 2c. In the example shown in FIG. 30, the advancing / retreating portion 56c and the driving portion 52c are partially in contact with the case 2c, so that the operating portion 5c is restricted from moving further to the right.

In the connected device 1c, when the drive portion 52c is pushed to the left, the advancing / retreating portion 56c is in contact with the inner surface 25c of the case 2c and the movable portion 43c of the elastic member 4c inside the case 2c, and along the inner surface 25c. It moves substantially linearly to the left in FIG. 30. In the following description, the left-right direction in FIG. 30, which is the moving direction of the advancing / retreating portion 56c, is also referred to as “advancing / retreating direction”. Further, the inner surface 25c of the case 2c that guides the movement of the advancing / retreating portion 56c in the advancing / retreating direction is also referred to as a “guide surface 25c”.

The release portion 6c is a substantially inverted L-shaped plate-shaped member arranged on the left side of the operation portion 5c. The release portion 6c is rotatably supported by the case 2c in a plane substantially perpendicular to the thickness direction around a substantially columnar rotating shaft 24c provided in the case 2c extending in the thickness direction. The rotation shaft 24c is located on the left side and above the left end portion of the terminal portion 3c extending substantially parallel to the left-right direction.

The release portion 6c includes a release lower portion 61c extending downward from the rotation shaft 24c, and a release upper portion 62c extending from the rotation shaft 24c to the right (that is, in the direction toward the advancing / retreating portion 56c of the operation unit 5c). The release lower portion 61c is located on the left side of the left end portion of the terminal portion 3c and extends below the terminal portion 3c. The release lower portion 61c is located on the insertion path of the electric wire. The release upper portion 62c is located above the terminal portion 3c.

Next, the flow of connecting the electric wire to the connecting device 1c will be described. First, in the initial state shown in FIG. 30, the operator brings the fingertip or the like into contact with the drive unit 52c of the operation unit 5c, moves the drive unit 52c to the left, and pushes it into the case 2c. As a result, the advancing / retreating portion 56c moves from the right side to the left side in FIG. 30 (that is, from one side to the other side in a predetermined advancing / retreating direction) while contacting the guide surface 25c and the movable portion 43c of the elastic member 4c. do.

When the operating portion 5c moves, as shown in FIG. 31, the movable portion 43c of the elastic member 4c is pushed downward by the advancing / retreating portion 56c, and is separated downward from the terminal portion 3c. In the moving operation unit 5c shown in FIG. 31, the restoring force vector 81c of the elastic member 4c acting on the first portion 513c is a reference line 82c which is a virtual straight line connecting the first portion 513c and the second portion 514c. It is shifted to the right from. For this reason, a force toward the right in FIG. 31 is acting on the advancing / retreating portion 56c, and the elastic member 4c and the operating portion 5c must keep pushing the driving portion 52c into the case 2c. It returns to the initial state shown in FIG.

The first portion 513c is a portion of the operating portion 5c on which the restoring force of the elastic member 4c acts, and specifically, a portion of the lower end portion of the advancing / retreating portion 56c that comes into contact with the elastic member 4c. In the state shown in FIG. 31, the first portion 513c is a portion of the left side surface of the lower end portion of the advancing / retreating portion 56c that comes into contact with the second inclined portion 433c of the movable portion 43c of the elastic member 4c. Further, the second portion 514c is a portion of the operating portion 5c where a reaction force with respect to the restoring force is generated, and specifically, is the upper end of the advancing / retreating portion 56c in contact with the guide surface 25c.

The operator pushes the operation unit 5c against the restoring force of the elastic member 4c until the unconnected state shown in FIG. 32. In the non-connected state, the restoring force vector 81c of the elastic member 4c acting on the first portion 513c substantially overlaps with the reference line 82c connecting the first portion 513c and the second portion 514c. In the non-connected state, the first portion 513c is the lower end of the advancing / retreating portion 56c and comes into contact with the first inclined portion 432c of the movable portion 43c of the elastic member 4c. Further, the first inclined portion 432c is substantially parallel to the guide surface 25c at a position where it contacts the lower end of the advancing / retreating portion 56c. As a result, the restoring force of the elastic member 4c and the reaction force against the restoring force generated in the operating portion 5c are balanced.

Therefore, neither the above-mentioned force toward the right nor the force toward the left acts on the advancing / retreating portion 56c. Therefore, even if the operator releases his finger from the drive unit 52c (that is, even when the operator does not apply force to the operation unit 5c), the position of the operation unit 5c in the advancing / retreating direction is not shown in FIG. 32. It is maintained stably in the connected state. Further, the state of the elastic member 4c is also stably maintained (that is, temporarily fixed) in the non-wired state. The non-connection state shown in FIG. 32 is a temporary fixing state in which the elastic member 4c is temporarily fixed in a bent state. In the non-connected state, the left end portion of the operation portion 5c comes into contact with the release upper portion 62c of the release portion 6c from the right side. In the connecting device 1c, the operation unit 5c includes only one first portion 513c on which the restoring force of the elastic member 4c acts and a second portion 514c on which the reaction force against the restoring force is generated. This makes it possible to simplify the structure of the connected device 1c.

In the connected device 1c, the operation unit 5c may be moved further to the left side in the figure than in the state shown in FIG. 32. In this case, the shape of the elastic member 4c hardly changes from that shown in FIG. 32, and the restoring force of the elastic member 4c and the reaction force to the restoring force generated in the operating portion 5c remain in balance. Therefore, the position of the operating portion 5c in the advancing / retreating direction and the state of the elastic member 4c (that is, the temporarily fixed state) are stably maintained.

In the connected device 1c, the operation unit 5c moves further to the left from the position shown in FIG. 32, and the elastic member 4c is further bent in the operation unit 5c, substantially similar to the connection device 1 shown in FIG. The position of may be maintained. The structure is realized, for example, by bending the first inclined portion 432c of the elastic member 4c slightly upward from the contact portion with the advancing / retreating portion 56c in FIG. 32 on the tip side (that is, the left side). Will be done. In this case, the restoring force vector 81c is slightly tilted to the left of the reference line 82c, and the force acting on the advancing / retreating portion 56c is directed to the left. That is, a force that tends to move the operating portion 5c to the left acts on the advancing / retreating portion 56c from the elastic member 4c. Further, no force acts on the advancing / retreating portion 56c from the elastic member 4c in the direction of moving the operating portion 5c to the right and returning it to the initial state. Therefore, the position of the operating portion 5c can be stably maintained, and the shape of the elastic member 4c in a state of being separated from the terminal portion 3c can be stably maintained.

When the connected device 1c is in the non-connected state, as shown in FIG. 33, the electric wire 91 is inserted into the case 2c from the insertion hole 21c of the case 2c along a predetermined insertion direction, and is not connected to the terminal portion 3c. It is located between the elastic member 4c in the connected state. The insertion direction of the electric wire 91 with respect to the case 2c is a direction substantially parallel to the left-right direction. The type and diameter of the electric wire 91 are the same as described above.

The tip of the electric wire 91 directly contacts the release lower portion 61c of the release portion 6c in the case 2c. In the example shown in FIG. 33, the right side surface of the release lower portion 61c is a receiving surface 611c that comes into direct contact with the tip of the electric wire 91 and extends from the tip to the periphery. The receiving surface 611c is located behind the movable portion 43c of the terminal portion 3c and the elastic member 4c in the insertion direction of the electric wire 91, and spreads around along a direction substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction of the electric wire 91.

The electric wire 91 is moved to the inner side in the insertion direction with the tip in contact with the receiving surface 611c of the release lower portion 61c. As a result, as shown in FIG. 34, the receiving surface 611c is pushed toward the inner side in the insertion direction, and the release portion 6c rotates slightly clockwise in FIG. 34 about the rotation shaft 24c. As a result, the release upper portion 62c pushes the advance / retreat portion 56c to the right in FIG. 34. That is, the force generated by pushing the electric wire 91 is indirectly applied to the operation unit 5c via the release unit 6c that directly contacts the electric wire 91. Then, the operation unit 5c moves slightly to the right, and the position of the operation unit 5c in the advancing / retreating direction is changed. The moving direction of the operation unit 5c is a direction from the back side to the front side in the insertion direction of the electric wire 91.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 34, the portion of the operating portion 5c that comes into contact with the elastic member 4c is changed from the lower end of the operating portion 5c to the left side surface of the lower end portion, and comes into contact with the operating portion 5c of the elastic member 4c. The portion to be used is changed from the first inclined portion 432c to the second inclined portion 433c. Further, the restoring force vector 81c deviates from the reference line 82c to the right side in FIG. 34, and a force toward the right side acts on the advancing / retreating portion 56c due to the restoring force of the elastic member 4c. As a result, the operation unit 5c further moves to the right, and the elastic member 4c is restored from the unconnected state.

Then, as shown in FIG. 35, the elastic member 4c shifts to a wiring state in which the electric wire 91 is sandwiched between the electric wire 91 and the terminal portion 3c, and the electric wire 91 and the terminal portion 3c are electrically and mechanically connected to each other. .. In other words, after the electric wire 91 is inserted into the connecting device 1c, the electric wire 91 is automatically connected (that is, without the operation of the operation unit 5c by an operator using a tool other than the electric wire 91 or a finger). The operator may recognize, for example, the transition to the connection state by vibration or sound generated when the electric wire 91 is pressed against the terminal portion 3c by the movable portion 43c of the elastic member 4c. The vibration or sound is generated by, for example, one member of the elastic member 4c, the electric wire 91, the terminal portion 3c, the operation portion 5c, and the case 2c colliding with the other member. In the connected device 1c, various structures may be adopted to promote the generation of the vibration, the sound, or the like, or to amplify the vibration, the sound, or the like.

In the connected device 1c in the connected state, the position of the drive unit 52c of the operation unit 5c (that is, the position in the advancing / retreating direction) is different from the position of the drive unit 52c in the non-connected state. Therefore, the operator can easily recognize that the connected device 1c has changed from the non-connected state to the connected state by visually recognizing the position of the drive unit 52c. Similarly to the above, the operator can easily recognize that the connected device 1c is in the initial state by visually recognizing the position of the drive unit 52c. That is, the drive unit 52c of the operation unit 5c is a visible identification unit that indicates the state of the elastic member 4c.

When removing the electric wire 91 from the connecting device 1c, for example, an operator brings a fingertip or the like into contact with the drive unit 52c of the operation unit 5c, moves the drive unit 52c to the left, and pushes it into the case 2c. When the operation unit 5c moved to the non-connected state shown in FIG. 33, the restoring force vector 81c (see FIG. 32) substantially overlapped with the reference line 82c, and the elastic member 4c was separated downward from the electric wire 91 as described above. It is maintained in a non-connected state. As a result, the pinching of the electric wire 91 by the elastic member 4c and the terminal portion 3c is released. The operator can easily remove the electric wire 91 from the connecting device 1c by pulling out the electric wire 91 from the insertion hole 21c.

As described above, the connecting device 1c to which the electric wire 91 is connected includes a case 2c, a conductive terminal portion 3c, an elastic member 4c, and an operating portion 5c. The terminal portion 3c is fixed to the case 2c. The elastic member 4c is attached to the case 2c, and the electric wire 91 is pressed against the terminal portion 3c by the restoring force to be sandwiched. The operation unit 5c applies a force to the elastic member 4c to bend it from the initial state to the unconnected state, and maintains the unconnected state. The operation unit 5c includes a first portion 513c on which the restoring force of the elastic member 4c acts, and a second portion 514c on which a reaction force against the restoring force is generated. The restoring force vector is defined as the restoring force vector 81c, and the straight line connecting the first portion 513c and the second portion 514c is defined as the reference line 82c.

When the elastic member 4c is in the non-connection state, the restoring force vector 81c substantially overlaps with the reference line 82c and the restoring force and the reaction force are balanced, so that the position of the operating portion 5c is maintained and the elastic member 4c is in a state. Is maintained in a non-connected state. Further, in a state where the electric wire 91 is inserted between the terminal portion 3c and the elastic member 4c in the non-connected state, the position of the operation portion 5c is changed and the restoring force vector 81c deviates from the reference line 82c. The elastic member 4c is restored from the non-connected state by the force, and shifts to the connected state in which the electric wire 91 is sandwiched between the terminal portion 3c and the electric wire 91.

By adopting the above structure for the connected device 1c, it is not necessary to provide another structure such as a stepped portion for locking the operation unit 5c in a non-connected state, so that the structure of the connected device 1c can be simplified. can. Further, unlike the case where the operation portion 5c is locked to the step portion or the like of the case 2c, it is possible to prevent a locking defect or the like due to wear or the like of the step portion and to realize a long life of the connected device 1c.

As described above, in the connecting device 1c, it is preferable that the position of the operating portion 5c is maintained even when the elastic member 4c in the non-connected state is further bent. At this time, the force acting on the advancing / retreating portion 56c due to the restoring force of the elastic member 4c is opposite to the direction in which the operating portion 5c is returned to the connection state and the initial state. As a result, the shape of the elastic member 4c in a state of being separated from the terminal portion 3c can be maintained more stably.

In the connecting device 1c, preferably, the case 2c includes a guide surface 25c extending linearly, and the elastic member 4c extends along the guide surface 25c. Further, the operation unit 5c is preferably located between the elastic member 4c and the guide surface 25c, and the first portion 513c and the second portion 514c are in contact with the elastic member 4c and the guide surface 25c, respectively, and advance or retreat. The advance / retreat portion 56c that moves linearly in a direction (in the above-mentioned example, the left-right direction in FIG. 30) is provided. The distance between the elastic member 4c and the guide surface 25c decreases from one side to the other side in the advancing / retreating direction (in the above example, from the right side to the left side in FIG. 30). Preferably, when the elastic member 4c shifts to the non-connected state, the advancing / retreating portion 56c moves from one side of the advancing / retreating direction to the other side (in the above example, to the left in FIG. 30). The elastic member 4c bends, and the elastic member 4c becomes substantially parallel to the guide surface 25c at a position where it comes into contact with the first portion 513c. Then, when the restoring force vector 81c substantially overlaps with the reference line 82c, the position of the operating portion 5c in the advancing / retreating direction is maintained, and the state of the elastic member 4c is maintained in the non-connected state. Further, preferably, when connecting the electric wire 91, the operation unit 5c is restored by moving from the other side in the advancing / retreating direction to one side (in the above example, to the right in FIG. 30). The force vector 81c deviates from the reference line 82c, and the elastic member 4c shifts from the non-connected state to the connected state due to the restoring force. Thereby, the transition of the elastic member 4c to the non-connected state and the maintenance in the non-connected state, and the transition from the non-connected state to the connected state can be realized with a simple structure.

In the above-mentioned connection device 1c, when the electric wire 91 is connected, the force is indirectly transmitted from the inserted electric wire 91 to the operation unit 5c via the release unit 6c, so that the operation unit 5c moves in the advancing / retreating direction. The restoring force vector 81c moves from the other side to the one side and deviates from the reference line 82c, but is not necessarily limited to this. For example, the operation unit 5c may move from the other side in the advancing / retreating direction to the one side by directly transmitting a force from the inserted electric wire 91 to the operation unit 5c. That is, in the connecting device 1c, when the electric wire 91 is connected, the force is directly or indirectly transmitted from the inserted electric wire 91 to the operation unit 5c, so that the operation unit 5c moves from the other side in the advancing / retreating direction. It is preferable that the restoring force vector 81c deviates from the reference line 82c by moving to the one side. As a result, automatic connection is realized in which the electric wires 91 are connected only by an operation such as inserting the electric wires 91, so that the electric wires 91 can be easily connected to the connecting device 1c.

In the connecting device 1c, the movable portion 43c of the elastic member 4c is an electric wire contact portion that directly contacts the electric wire 91 in the connected state. Preferably, at least when the elastic member 4c shifts from the non-connected state to the connected state, the moving path of the wire contact portion does not overlap with the moving region of the operating portion 5c. This makes it possible to prevent the electric wire contact portion of the elastic member 4c from coming into contact with the operation portion 5c and hindering the movement of the operation portion 5c.

In the connected device 1c, it is preferable that a part of the operation unit 5c (in the above example, the drive unit 52c) protrudes from the case 2c. As a result, the operator can easily operate the operation unit 5c by bringing the fingertip or the like into contact with the drive unit 52c.

It is preferable that the connecting device 1c is provided with a visible identification unit (driving unit 52c in the above example) indicating the state of the elastic member 4c. Thereby, the state of the elastic member 4c can be easily and quickly recognized.

The drive unit 52c may be located inside the case 2c when the elastic member 4c is in the connected state. In this case, it is possible to prevent erroneous operation of the operation unit 5c in the connected state. As described above, the drive unit 52c protrudes from the case 2c when the elastic member 4c is in the non-connected state. As a result, the operation unit 5c can be easily operated in the non-connection state without using a tool such as a flat-blade screwdriver, while preventing erroneous operation in the connection state. Further, by visually recognizing whether or not the drive unit 52c protrudes from the case 2c, it is possible to easily and quickly recognize whether or not the elastic member 4c is in the non-connection state.

In the connecting device 1c, the elastic member 4c is preferably a leaf spring. This makes it possible to further simplify the structure of the connected device 1c.

Next, the connected device 1d according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 36 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing the vicinity of the operation unit 5d of the connected device 1d. FIG. 36 shows the connected device 1d in the non-connected state.

The connection device 1d includes a case 2d, a terminal portion 3d, an elastic member 4d, and an operation portion 5d. In the connecting device 1d, the shapes of the case 2d, the terminal portion 3d, the elastic member 4d and the operating portion 5d, and the movements of the elastic member 4d and the operating portion 5d are different from those of the connecting device 1 shown in FIG. Is the same. Further, the connecting device 1d may include two or more sets of terminal portions 3d, an elastic member 4d, and an operating portion 5d in the case 2d, substantially similar to the connecting device 1.

The terminal portion 3d is a conductive substantially plate-shaped member fixed to the case 2d. The terminal portion 3d is made of metal, for example. The elastic member 4d is an elastically deformable member attached to the case 2d. The elastic member 4d is, for example, a substantially strip-shaped leaf spring. The elastic member 4d may be formed of a conductive material such as metal, or may be formed of an insulating material such as resin. The elastic member 4d has a shape bent in a substantially L-shape, a substantially V-shape, or a substantially U-shape at the central portion in the longitudinal direction.

The elastic member 4d includes a bent portion 41d, a fixed portion 42d, and a movable portion 43d, similarly to the elastic member 4 described above. The tip end portion (that is, the lower end portion in FIG. 36) of the movable portion 43d is in contact with the terminal portion 3d from above. As a result, the insertion path for the electric wire, which will be described later, is closed inside the insertion hole 21d provided on the right side of the case 2d. Further, the movable portion 43d is in contact with the operation portion 5d. As will be described later, the movable portion 43d is elastically deformed and flexed by being pushed to the left by the operating portion 5d, and is separated upward from the terminal portion 3d. Further, when the leftward pressing force on the movable portion 43d disappears, the movable portion 43d returns to the original state (that is, elastically returns) due to the restoring force.

The operation unit 5d includes a rotation unit 57d and a drive unit 52d. The rotating portion 57d is a member having a substantially disk shape or a substantially columnar shape centered on a central axis extending in the thickness direction. The rotating portion 57d is placed inside the case 2d (that is, inside the outer edge of the case 2d) on a concave operation portion mounting portion 26d provided at the lower part of the case 2d. The inner surface 261d of the operation unit mounting unit 26d is a part of a substantially cylindrical surface. The inner surface 261d of the operation unit mounting unit 26d is substantially fan-shaped in front view, and the central angle of the fan shape is, for example, about 135 °. A guide surface 27d, which is an inclined surface that tends upward toward the left, is connected to the left end of the operation unit mounting unit 26d.

A notch 571d recessed toward the central axis is provided in a part of the rotating portion 57d in the circumferential direction, and a protruding portion protruding outward in the radial direction is provided in the other part in the circumferential direction. 572d is provided. In the example shown in FIG. 36, the notch portion 571d is located at the upper right portion of the rotating portion 57d. Further, the protrusion 572d is located at the lower end of the rotating portion 57d. The shape of the protrusion 572d in the front view is substantially triangular.

The shape of the notch portion 571d in the front view is substantially rectangular. The right edge of the notch 571d (ie, the edge located clockwise when viewed from the center of the notch 571d) protrudes inward from the radial outer edge to the inside of the notch 571d. A notched protrusion 573d is provided (ie, protruding counterclockwise). The shape of the notch protrusion 573d in the front view is substantially triangular. A substantially flat plate-shaped wire receiving portion 574d extending in the thickness direction is provided at the left edge of the notch 571d (that is, the edge located counterclockwise when viewed from the center of the notch 571d). Be done. The cutout portion 571d overlaps with the terminal portion 3d in the thickness direction and is located on the inner side of the terminal portion 3d in FIG. 36.

The drive portion 52d is a substantially rod-shaped portion that extends upward from the left end portion of the rotating portion 57d and protrudes upward from the case 2d. In the example shown in FIG. 36, the rotating portion 57d is restricted from further rotating clockwise due to the partial contact of the driving portion 52d with the case 2d. The rotating portion 57d can rotate counterclockwise along the inner surface 261d of the operating portion mounting portion 26d from the initial state shown in FIG. 36. Further, the rotating portion 57d can move from the position shown in FIG. 36 to the left in FIG. 36 along the guide surface 27d.

Next, the flow of connecting the electric wire to the connecting device 1d will be described. First, in the initial state shown in FIG. 36, the operator brings the fingertip 93 or the like into contact with the tip of the drive unit 52d of the operation unit 5d, and rotates the operation unit 5d counterclockwise. At this time, the rotating portion 57d rotates counterclockwise along the inner surface 261d of the operating portion mounting portion 26d.

When the operating portion 5d rotates, as shown in FIG. 37, the notched protrusion 573d of the rotating portion 57d comes into contact with the movable portion 43d of the elastic member 4d, and the movable portion 43d moves diagonally upward to the left (that is, to the fixed portion 42d). Push (to move closer) to move. As a result, the elastic member 4d bends, and the movable portion 43d is separated upward from the terminal portion 3d.

As shown in FIG. 37, in the rotating operation unit 5d, the restoring force vector 81d of the elastic member 4d acting on the first portion 513d is a virtual straight line connecting the first portion 513d and the second portion 514d. It deviates to the right from the reference line 82d. Therefore, a rotational moment in the clockwise direction acts on the rotating portion 57d, and if the operator does not continue to apply a force to the driving portion 52d of the operating portion 5d, the elastic member 4d and the operating portion 5d are shown in the figure. It returns to the initial state shown in 36. The first portion 513d is a portion of the operating portion 5d on which the restoring force of the elastic member 4d acts. Specifically, the notched protrusion 573d of the rotating portion 57d in contact with the movable portion 43d of the elastic member 4d. It is the tip. Further, the second portion 514d is a portion of the operating portion 5d where a reaction force with respect to the restoring force is generated. Specifically, the protruding portion 572d of the rotating portion 57d in contact with the inner surface 261d of the operating portion mounting portion 26d. It is the tip.

The operator rotates the operation unit 5d counterclockwise against the restoring force of the elastic member 4d until the unconnected state shown in FIG. 38. In the non-connected state, the restoring force vector 81d of the elastic member 4d acting on the first portion 513d substantially overlaps with the reference line 82d connecting the first portion 513d and the second portion 514d. As a result, the restoring force of the elastic member 4d and the reaction force against the restoring force generated in the operating portion 5d are balanced.

Therefore, neither the above-mentioned clockwise rotation moment nor the counterclockwise rotation moment acts on the rotating portion 57d. Therefore, even if the operator separates the fingertip or the like from the drive unit 52d (that is, even when the operator does not apply force to the operation unit 5d), the position in the circumferential direction of the operation unit 5d (that is, the rotation position). ) Is stably maintained in the non-connected state shown in FIG. 38. Further, the state of the elastic member 4d is also stably maintained (that is, temporarily fixed) in the non-wired state. The non-connection state shown in FIG. 38 is a temporary fixing state in which the elastic member 4d is temporarily fixed in a bent state. At this time, the electric wire receiving portion 574d of the operating portion 5d is located on the insertion path of the electric wire described later.

In the non-connected state, the drive unit 52d of the operation unit 5d comes into contact with the convex portion provided on the guide surface 27d of the case 2d. As a result, the movement of the operation unit 5d is restricted so that the operation unit 5d does not rotate in the counterclockwise direction any more. In the connecting device 1d, the operation unit 5d includes only one first portion 513d on which the restoring force of the elastic member 4d acts and a second portion 514d on which a reaction force against the restoring force is generated. This makes it possible to simplify the structure of the connected device 1d.

In the connected device 1d, similarly to the connected device 1 shown in FIG. 14, the operation unit 5d is further rotated in the counterclockwise direction from the rotation position shown in FIG. 38, and the elastic member 4d is further bent. The position of the operation unit 5d may be maintained. The structure is realized, for example, by making the inclination of the guide surface 27d of the case 2d in FIG. 38 gentle (that is, making it close to horizontal). In this case, the restoring force vector 81d is slightly tilted to the left of the reference line 82d, and the rotational moment acting on the rotating portion 57d is in the counterclockwise direction. That is, a force is applied from the elastic member 4d to the rotating portion 57d to rotate the operating portion 5d counterclockwise. However, the rotation of the operation unit 5d in the counterclockwise direction is limited by the drive unit 52d coming into contact with the case 2d. Further, no force acts on the rotating portion 57d from the elastic member 4d in the direction of rotating the operating portion 5d clockwise to return to the initial state. Therefore, the position of the operation portion 5d (that is, the rotation position) is stably maintained, and the shape of the elastic member 4d in a state separated from the terminal portion 3d can be stably maintained.

When the connected device 1d is in the non-connected state, as shown in FIG. 39, the electric wire 91 is inserted into the case 2d from the insertion hole 21d of the case 2d along a predetermined insertion direction, and is not connected to the terminal portion 3d. It is located between the elastic member 4d in the connected state. The insertion direction of the electric wire 91 with respect to the case 2d is an oblique direction inclined with respect to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. The type and diameter of the electric wire 91 are the same as described above.

The tip of the electric wire 91 directly contacts the electric wire receiving portion 574d of the operating portion 5d in the case 2d. In the example shown in FIG. 39, the right side surface of the electric wire receiving portion 574d is a receiving surface 575d that comes into direct contact with the tip of the electric wire 91 and extends from the tip to the periphery. The receiving surface 575d is located on the back side of the non-connected elastic member 4d in the insertion direction of the electric wire 91, and spreads around along a direction substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction. The receiving surface 575d does not necessarily have to be a surface perpendicular to the insertion direction.

The electric wire 91 is moved to the inner side in the insertion direction with its tip in contact with the receiving surface 575d of the electric wire receiving portion 574d. As a result, the force is directly transmitted from the electric wire 91 to the operation unit 5d. Then, the receiving surface 575d is pushed toward the back side in the insertion direction, and as shown in FIG. 40, the operation unit 5d is left from the position shown by the alternate long and short dash line (that is, the back side in the insertion direction of the electric wire 91). Moved a little to. As a result, the restoring force vector 81d shifts from the reference line 82d to the right side in FIG. 40, and the restoring force of the elastic member 4d causes a rotational moment in the clockwise direction to act on the rotating portion 57d. As a result, the operation unit 5d further rotates clockwise, and the elastic member 4d is restored from the unconnected state.

Then, as shown in FIG. 41, the elastic member 4d shifts to a wiring state in which the electric wire 91 is sandwiched between the electric wire 91 and the terminal portion 3d, and the electric wire 91 and the terminal portion 3d are electrically and mechanically connected to each other. .. In other words, after the electric wire 91 is inserted into the connecting device 1d, the electric wire 91 is automatically connected (that is, without the operation of the operation unit 5d by the operator using a tool other than the electric wire 91 or a finger). The operator may recognize, for example, the transition to the connection state by vibration or sound generated when the electric wire 91 is pressed against the terminal portion 3d by the movable portion 43d of the elastic member 4d. The vibration or sound is generated when, for example, one member of the elastic member 4d, the electric wire 91, the terminal portion 3d, the operation portion 5d, and the case 2d collides with the other member. In the connected device 1d, various structures may be adopted to promote the generation of the vibration, the sound, or the like, or to amplify the vibration, the sound, or the like.

In the connected device 1d in the connected state, the position of the drive unit 52d of the operation unit 5d is different from the position of the drive unit 52d in the non-wired state. Therefore, the operator can easily recognize that the connected device 1d has changed from the non-connected state to the connected state by visually recognizing the position of the drive unit 52d. Similarly to the above, the operator can easily recognize that the connected device 1d is in the initial state by visually recognizing the position of the drive unit 52d. That is, the drive unit 52d of the operation unit 5d is a visible identification unit that indicates the state of the elastic member 4d.

When removing the electric wire 91 from the connecting device 1d, for example, the operator pushes down the drive unit 52d of the operation unit 5d with a tool such as a fingertip or a flat-blade screwdriver. As a result, the operation unit 5d rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 41. When the operation unit 5d rotates to the unconnected state shown in FIG. 39, the restoring force vector 81d (see FIG. 38) substantially overlaps with the reference line 82d, and the elastic member 4d is separated upward from the electric wire 91. It is maintained in a non-connected state. As a result, the pinching of the electric wire 91 by the elastic member 4d and the terminal portion 3d is released. The operator can easily remove the electric wire 91 from the connecting device 1d by pulling out the electric wire 91 from the insertion hole 21d.

As described above, the connecting device 1d to which the electric wire 91 is connected includes a case 2d, a conductive terminal portion 3d, an elastic member 4d, and an operation portion 5d. The terminal portion 3d is fixed to the case 2d. The elastic member 4d is attached to the case 2d, and the electric wire 91 is pressed against the terminal portion 3d by a restoring force to be sandwiched. The operation unit 5d applies a force to the elastic member 4d to bend it from the initial state to the unconnected state, and maintains the unconnected state. The operation unit 5d includes a first portion 513d on which the restoring force of the elastic member 4d acts, and a second portion 514d on which a reaction force against the restoring force is generated. The restoring force vector is defined as the restoring force vector 81d, and the straight line connecting the first portion 513d and the second portion 514d is defined as the reference line 82d.

When the elastic member 4d is in the non-connected state, the restoring force vector 81d substantially overlaps with the reference line 82d, and the restoring force and the reaction force are balanced, so that the position of the operating portion 5d is maintained and the elastic member 4d The state is maintained in a non-connected state. Further, in a state where the electric wire 91 is inserted between the terminal portion 3d and the elastic member 4d in the non-connected state, the position of the operation portion 5d is changed and the restoring force vector 81d deviates from the reference line 82d. The elastic member 4d is restored from the unconnected state by the force, and shifts to the connected state in which the electric wire 91 is sandwiched between the electric wire 91 and the terminal portion 3d.

By making the connected device 1d have the above structure, other structures such as a step portion for locking the operation unit 5d in a non-connected state and a state release portion for releasing the locking of the operation unit 5d can be provided. Since it is not necessary to provide it, the structure of the connected device 1d can be simplified. Further, unlike the case where the operation portion 5d is locked to the step portion or the like of the case 2d, it is possible to prevent a locking defect or the like due to wear or the like of the step portion and to realize a long life of the connected device 1d.

As described above, in the connecting device 1d, it is preferable that the position of the operating portion 5d is maintained even when the elastic member 4d in the non-connected state is further bent. At this time, the force acting on the rotating portion 57d due to the restoring force of the elastic member 4d is opposite to the direction in which the operating portion 5d is returned to the connection state and the initial state. As a result, the shape of the elastic member 4d in a state of being separated from the terminal portion 3d can be maintained more stably.

In the connected device 1d, preferably, the operation unit 5d has a substantially disk shape or a substantially columnar shape in which a notch portion 571d is provided in a part in the circumferential direction and a protrusion portion 572d is provided in the other part in the circumferential direction. The rotating portion 57d of the above is provided. The case 2d is provided with a concave operation portion mounting portion 26d whose inner surface 261d is a part of a substantially cylindrical surface. The rotating portion 57d is mounted on the operating portion mounting portion 26d, and is in contact with the elastic member 4d at the first portion 513d, which is a part of the notch portion 571d (in the above example, the notch protruding portion 573d), and also has a protrusion. The second portion 514d, which is the portion 572d, comes into contact with the inner surface 261d of the operation portion mounting portion 26d. Preferably, when the elastic member 4d shifts to the non-connected state, the rotating portion 57d rotates in the first rotation direction (counterclockwise in the above example), so that the elastic member 4d bends and the restoring force vector 81d becomes. By substantially overlapping with the reference line 82d, the rotational position of the rotating portion 57d is maintained, and the state of the elastic member 4d is maintained in the non-connected state. Further, preferably, when connecting the electric wire 91, the rotating portion 57d is moved to the back side in the insertion direction of the electric wire 91 (in the above example, the left side in FIG. 40), so that the restoring force vector 81d Is deviated from the reference line 82d, the rotating portion 57d rotates in the second rotation direction (clockwise in the above example) opposite to the first rotation direction due to the restoring force, and the elastic member 4d is in a non-connected state. It shifts to the connection state. Thereby, the transition of the elastic member 4d to the non-connected state and the maintenance in the non-connected state, and the transition from the non-connected state to the connected state can be realized with a simple structure.

In the above-mentioned connection device 1d, when the electric wire 91 is connected, the force is directly transmitted from the inserted electric wire 91 to the operation unit 5d, so that the rotating portion 57d moves to the back side in the insertion direction of the electric wire 91. The restoring force vector 81d deviates from the reference line 82d, but is not necessarily limited to this. For example, the rotating portion 57d may be moved to the inner side in the insertion direction of the electric wire 91 by directly transmitting the force from the inserted electric wire 91 to the operation unit 5d. That is, in the connecting device 1d, when the electric wire 91 is connected, the force is directly or indirectly transmitted from the inserted electric wire 91 to the operation unit 5d, so that the rotating portion 57d is behind the electric wire 91 in the insertion direction. It is preferable that the restoring force vector 81d is moved to the side and deviates from the reference line 82d. As a result, automatic connection is realized in which the electric wires 91 are connected only by an operation such as inserting the electric wires 91, so that the electric wires 91 can be easily connected to the connecting device 1d.

As described above, when connecting the electric wire 91, it is preferable that the inserted electric wire 91 directly contacts the operation unit 5d to change the position of the operation unit 5d. As a result, the force for pushing the electric wire 91 is easily transmitted to the operation unit 5d, so that the automatic connection of the electric wire 91 can be easily realized. Further, since it is not necessary to provide the elastic member 4d with a portion in contact with the electric wire 91, the shape of the elastic member 4d can be simplified.

As described above, it is preferable that the operation unit 5d includes an electric wire receiving unit 574d that comes into direct contact with the tip of the electric wire 91. Further, it is preferable that the electric wire receiving portion 574d includes a receiving surface 575d extending from the tip of the electric wire 91 to the periphery. As a result, the force for pushing the electric wire 91 can be efficiently transmitted to the operation unit 5d.

In the connection device 1d, the movable portion 43d of the elastic member 4d is an electric wire contact portion that directly contacts the electric wire 91 in the connected state. Preferably, at least when the elastic member 4d shifts from the non-connected state to the connected state, the moving path of the wire contact portion does not overlap with the moving region of the operating portion 5d. This makes it possible to prevent the electric wire contact portion of the elastic member 4d from coming into contact with the operation portion 5d and hindering the movement of the operation portion 5d.

In the connected device 1d, it is preferable that a part of the operation unit 5d (in the above example, the drive unit 52d) protrudes from the case 2d. As a result, the operator can easily operate the operation unit 5d by bringing the fingertip or the like into contact with the drive unit 52d.

It is preferable that the connected device 1d is provided with a visible identification unit (driving unit 52d in the above example) indicating the state of the elastic member 4d. Thereby, the state of the elastic member 4d can be easily and quickly recognized.

The drive unit 52d may be configured to protrude from the case 2d when the elastic member 4d is in the unconnected state, and to be located in the case 2d when the elastic member 4d is in the connected state. In this case, the operation unit 5d can be easily operated without using a tool such as a flat-blade screwdriver in the non-connection state. In addition, it is possible to prevent erroneous operation of the operation unit 5d in the wiring state. Further, by visually recognizing whether or not the drive unit 52d protrudes from the case 2d, it is possible to easily and quickly recognize whether or not the elastic member 4d is in the non-connected state.

In the connecting device 1d, the elastic member 4d is preferably a leaf spring. Thereby, the structure of the connected device 1d can be further simplified.

Various changes are possible with the above-mentioned connected devices 1, 1a to 1d.

For example, in the connecting devices 1, 1a to 1d, the elastic members 4, 4a to 4d are not limited to leaf springs, and may have other structures (for example, string-wound springs).

In the connected device 1, as described above, the drive unit 52 of the operation unit 5 has the function of the identification unit, but other parts of the operation unit 5 or parts other than the operation unit 5 are in a state of the elastic member 4. It may be a visible identification unit to be shown. Similarly, in the connected devices 1a to 1d, a portion different from the above example may be the identification portion. In the connected devices 1, 1a to 1d, the identification unit may be omitted.

In the connection device 1, the connection of the electric wire 91 does not necessarily have to be performed by the above-mentioned automatic connection, as in the case of the connection device 1a shown in FIG. 22, for example, the operator touches the operation unit 5 with a fingertip, a tool, or the like. This may be performed by moving the operation unit 5. Specifically, when the operator slightly pushes the drive unit 52 of the operation unit 5 on the right side of FIG. 9 toward the right with his fingertip, the restoring force vector 81 is on the left side from the reference line 82 as in FIG. Due to the restoring force of the elastic member 4, a rotational moment in the clockwise direction acts on the cam portion 51. As a result, even if the operator does not apply any further force to the drive unit 52, the operation unit 5 rotates clockwise, and the connected device 1 shifts to the wiring state shown in FIG.

Similarly for the connected device 1b, the operator touches the elastic member 4b shown in FIG. 27 with a fingertip, a tool, or the like to slightly deform the elastic member 4b, thereby causing the operation unit 5b to be in the non-connected state shown in FIG. 27. It may be rotated clockwise from the above to shift to the connection state shown in FIG. 29. Similarly for the connected device 1c, the operator touches the release portion 6c shown in FIG. 33 with a fingertip, a tool, or the like and rotates the release portion 6c slightly clockwise to show the operation unit 5c in FIG. 33. It may be moved from the non-connected state to the right and shifted to the connected state shown in FIG. 35. Similarly for the connected device 1d, the operator touches the operation unit 5d shown in FIG. 39 with a fingertip or a tool and moves the operation unit 5d slightly to the left to move the operation unit 5d to FIG. 39. The unconnected state shown may be rotated clockwise to shift to the connected state shown in FIG. 41.

In the connected device 1, the operation unit 5 does not necessarily have to protrude from the case 2, and the entire operation unit 5 may be arranged in the case 2. The same applies to the connected devices 1a to 1d.

In the connecting device 1, the moving path of the electric wire contact portion 45 of the elastic member 4 may overlap with the moving region of the operating portion 5 in the thickness direction. Further, the elastic member 4 does not need to come into direct contact with the electric wire 91 in the connected state, and may indirectly come into contact with the electric wire 91 via another member or the like. The same applies to the connected devices 1a to 1d.

In the connection device 1, the shape of the receiving surface 531 of the electric wire receiving portion 53 may be changed in various ways. Further, the electric wire 91 inserted in the case 2 does not necessarily have to come into contact with the operation portion 5 at the tip thereof, and the operation portion is formed at another portion (for example, a covering portion, a crimp terminal, etc.) like the connecting device 1a. 5 may be contacted. The electric wire 91 does not necessarily have to come into direct contact with the operation unit 5, but indirectly comes into contact with the operation unit 5 via another member such as an elastic member 4 like the connecting device 1b, and the operation unit 5 has. You may change the position. In the operation unit 5, the electric wire receiving unit 53 may be omitted. The same applies to the wire receiving portion 44b of the connecting device 1b and the wire receiving portion 574d of the connecting device 1d.

In the connected device 1, the rotation direction of the operation unit 5 at the time of transition from the initial state to the non-connection state and the rotation direction of the operation unit 5 at the time of transition from the non-connection state to the connection state need not necessarily be opposite. It may be in the same orientation. Further, the operation unit 5 does not necessarily have to rotate at the time of transition from the non-connection state to the connection state. For example, as in the connection device 1c, the operation unit 5 slides sideways to form an elastic member. 4 may shift from the non-connected state to the connected state.

The above-mentioned connection devices 1, 1a to 1d may be used for connecting electric wires in various devices. For example, the connected device 1 may be used as a relay socket, an operation switch, or the like.

The above-described embodiments and configurations in each modification may be appropriately combined as long as they do not conflict with each other.

Although the invention has been described and explained in detail, the above-mentioned explanation is exemplary and not limited. Therefore, it can be said that many modifications and modes are possible as long as they do not deviate from the scope of the present invention.

1,1a to 1d Connection equipment 2,2a to 2d Case 3,3a to 3d Terminal part 4,4a to 4d Elastic member 5,5a to 5d Operation part 24,24a, 24b Rotating shaft 25c Guide surface 26d Operation part mounting part 261d Inner surface (of the operation part mounting part) 44b Wire receiving part 45 Wire contact part 46b Release part 51, 51a, 51b Cam part 52 Drive part 53, 574d Wire receiving part 54, 54a, 54b Bearing 55a Identification part 56c Advance / retreat part 57d Notch 572d Projection 81,81a-81d Restoring force vector 82,82a-82d Reference line 91 Wire 431b Bearing surface 513,513a-513d First part 514,514a-514d Second part 531,575d Bearing surface

Claims (17)

It is a connection device to which electric wires are connected.
With the case
The conductive terminal part fixed to the case and
An elastic member attached to the case and holding the electric wire by pressing it against the terminal portion by restoring force.
An operation unit that applies a force to the elastic member to bend it from the initial state to the non-wired state and maintain it in the non-wired state.
Equipped with
The operation unit is
The first portion on which the restoring force of the elastic member acts, and
The second part where the reaction force against the restoring force is generated, and
Equipped with
The restoring force vector is used as the restoring force vector, and the straight line connecting the first part and the second part is used as a reference line.
When the elastic member is in the non-connection state, the restoring force vector substantially overlaps with the reference line and the restoring force and the reaction force are balanced, so that the position of the operating portion is maintained and the elastic member of the elastic member. The state is maintained in the unconnected state,
With the electric wire inserted between the terminal portion and the elastic member in the non-connected state, the position of the operation portion is changed and the restoring force vector deviates from the reference line, whereby the restoring force is applied. As a result, the elastic member is restored from the non-connected state, and shifts to a connected state in which the electric wire is sandwiched between the terminal portion and the terminal portion. The connected device according to claim 1.
The position of the operating portion is maintained even when the elastic member is further bent in the non-connection state. The connected device according to claim 1 or 2.
The operation unit includes a cam unit that rotates about a rotation axis.
The cam portion contacts the elastic member at the first portion and also contacts the rotating shaft at the bearing which is the second portion.
At the time of transition of the elastic member to the non-connecting state, the rotation of the cam portion increases the distance between the first portion and the rotation axis, the elastic member bends, and the restoring force vector is generated. By substantially overlapping with the reference line, the rotational position of the operating portion is maintained and the state of the elastic member is maintained in the non-connected state. The connected device according to claim 3.
When the electric wire is connected, a force is directly or indirectly transmitted from the inserted electric wire to the operation portion, so that the position of the operation portion is changed and the restoring force vector is transferred from the reference line. It shifts. The connected device according to claim 4.
When connecting the electric wires, the inserted electric wires come into direct contact with the operation unit to change the position of the operation unit. The connected device according to claim 5.
The operation unit includes a wire receiving portion that comes into direct contact with the tip of the wire.
The electric wire receiving portion includes a receiving surface extending from the tip of the electric wire to the periphery. The connected device according to claim 4.
When the electric wire is connected, the inserted electric wire comes into direct contact with the elastic member to deform the elastic member, thereby applying a force to the operation portion via the elastic member. Change the position of the operation unit. The connected device according to claim 7.
The elastic member is
An electric wire receiving part that comes into direct contact with the tip of the electric wire,
A release portion extending from the wire receiving portion toward the operation portion, and a release portion.
Equipped with
The electric wire receiving portion includes a receiving surface extending from the tip of the electric wire to the periphery.
When the receiving surface is pushed by the electric wire toward the inner side in the insertion direction of the electric wire, the elastic member is deformed, and the release portion comes into contact with the operation portion to apply a force to rotate the cam portion. .. The connected device according to claim 1 or 2.
The case has a guide surface that extends linearly.
The elastic member extends along the guide surface and
The operating portion is located between the elastic member and the guide surface, and is linearly in a predetermined advancing / retreating direction while being in contact with the elastic member and the guide surface at the first portion and the second portion, respectively. Equipped with moving advancing and retreating parts,
The distance between the elastic member and the guide surface decreases from one side in the advancing / retreating direction toward the other side.
At the time of transition of the elastic member to the non-connected state, the elastic member bends by moving the advancing / retreating portion from the one side in the advancing / retreating direction to the other side, and at a position where the elastic member comes into contact with the first portion. When the elastic member is substantially parallel to the guide surface and the restoring force vector substantially overlaps with the reference line, the position of the operation unit in the advancing / retreating direction is maintained and the elastic member is in the non-connected state. Maintained
When connecting the electric wires, the operation unit moves from the other side in the advancing / retreating direction to the one side, so that the restoring force vector deviates from the reference line, and the restoring force causes the elastic member to move. The transition from the non-connected state to the connected state. The connected device according to claim 9.
When the electric wire is connected, the force is directly or indirectly transmitted from the inserted electric wire to the operation unit, so that the operation unit moves from the other side in the advancing / retreating direction to the one side. Then, the restoring force vector deviates from the reference line. The connected device according to claim 1 or 2.
The operation portion includes a substantially disk-shaped or substantially columnar rotating portion having a notch in a part in the circumferential direction and a protrusion in another part in the circumferential direction.
The case is provided with a concave operation portion mounting portion whose inner surface is a part of a substantially cylindrical surface.
The rotating portion is mounted on the operation portion mounting portion, and is in contact with the elastic member at the first portion which is a part of the notch portion, and at the second portion which is the protrusion portion. In contact with the inner surface of the operation unit mounting unit,
At the time of transition of the elastic member to the non-connected state, the elastic member bends due to the rotation of the rotating portion in the first rotation direction, and the restoring force vector substantially overlaps with the reference line, whereby the rotating portion The rotational position of the elastic member is maintained, and the state of the elastic member is maintained in the non-connected state.
When connecting the electric wires, the rotating portion is moved to the inner side in the insertion direction of the electric wire, so that the restoring force vector deviates from the reference line, and the restoring force causes the rotating portion to move to the second position. It rotates in the second rotation direction opposite to the rotation direction of 1, and the elastic member shifts from the non-connection state to the connection state. The connected device according to claim 11.
When the electric wire is connected, the force is directly or indirectly transmitted from the inserted electric wire to the operation portion, so that the rotating portion is moved to the inner side in the insertion direction of the electric wire. The restoring force vector deviates from the reference line. The connected device according to any one of claims 1 to 12.
The elastic member includes an electric wire contact portion that directly contacts the electric wire in the connected state.
At least when the elastic member shifts from the non-connected state to the connected state, the moving path of the electric wire contact portion does not overlap with the moving region of the operating portion. The connected device according to any one of claims 1 to 13.
A part of the operation unit protrudes from the case. The connected device according to any one of claims 1 to 14.
When the elastic member is in the non-wired state, a part of the operating portion protrudes from the case.
When the elastic member is in the connected state, the part of the operating portion is located in the case. The connected device according to any one of claims 1 to 15.
A visible identification unit is provided to indicate the state of the elastic member. The connected device according to any one of claims 1 to 16.
The elastic member is a leaf spring.

Images