Terminal box and a method of providing it

• US 20060049802A1
• Filed: 08/01/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshikawa, Hiroyuki, Higashikozono, Makoto, Naito, Kazuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,369,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/134
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/34 comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/209 Heat transfer by conduction from internal heat source to heat radiating structure H05K7/20909 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

Terminal plates (30) are juxtaposed on a base plate (11) for electrically connecting positive and negative electrodes of a solar battery module (90) to cables (80) for external connection. A rectifying device (50) spans between adjacent terminal plates (30). Each rectifying device (50) has a bypass diode (52) and a metal clip (53) resiliently holds the bypass diode (52). A heat discharging sheet (40) is attached to the lower surface of the clip (53) for discharging heat generated by the bypass diode (52). Heat discharged from a heat discharging surface (40A) of the heat discharging sheet (40) is received by a heat receiving surface (90A) of the solar battery module (90) via a through hole (11B) formed in the base plate (11) and is discharged efficiently from the solar battery module (90).

Claims

1. A terminal box for an electric or electronic device in which terminal plates (30) for electrically connecting positive and negative electrodes of an electric or electronic module are arranged on a base plate (11), and at least one rectifying device (50) for bypass at the time of an inverse load spans between two corresponding terminal plates (30), wherein at least one heat discharging element (40) is attached to the rectifying device (50) for discharging heat generated by the rectifying device (50).

2. The terminal box of claim 1, wherein the heat discharging element (40) comprises a heat discharging sheet (40) attached to the rectifying device (50).

3. The terminal box of claim 1, wherein a heat receiving surface (90A) is spaced from a heat discharging surface (40A) of the heat discharging element (40) for receiving heat discharged from the heat discharging surface (40A) of the heat discharging element (40).

4. The terminal box of claim 3, wherein the heat receiving surface (90A) is provided on the underside of the electric or electronic device (90).

5. The terminal box of claim 4, wherein the heat discharging surface (40A) of the heat discharging element (40) at least partly is located in correspondence with a through hole (11B) in the base plate (11) and is opposed to the heat receiving surface (90A) through the through hole (11B).

6. The terminal box of claim 5, wherein a substantially transparent resin layer (95) is provided between the heat discharging surface (40A) and the heat receiving surface (90A).

7. The terminal box of claim 1, wherein partition walls (13) are formed on the base plate (11) and extend substantially along edges of the terminal plates (30) and cables (80) for connection of the terminal plates (30) with the electric or electronic module (90).

8. The terminal box of claim 7, wherein an insulating resin is filled at least partly into a space defined by the partition walls (13) and onto the terminal plates (30) and the cables (80) inside the partition walls (13).

9. The terminal box of claim 1, further comprising a clip (53) for mounting the rectifying device (50) on the base plate (11).

10. The terminal box of claim 9, wherein the clip (53) has a first support (56A) with an arranging surface (56A-AS) arranged on the base plate (11), the heat discharging element (40) being attached to a portion of the arranging surface (56A-AS).

11. The terminal box of claim 10, wherein the arranging surface (56A-AS) of the first support (56A) is adjacent to a heat discharging plate (55) of the rectifying device (50).

12. The terminal box of claim 10, wherein the clip (53) has a second support (56B) and a guide (56K) diverging at a leading end of the second support (56B) for guiding the rectifying device (50) into engagement with the clip (53).

13. The terminal box of claim 9, wherein the clip (53) comprises a stopper (56F) disposed for engaging the rectifying device (50) and preventing relative movement of the rectifying device (50).

14. A method of assembling a terminal box for an electric or electronic device, comprising:

providing a plurality of terminal plates (30) for electrically connecting positive and negative electrodes of an electric or electronic module;

arranging the terminal plates (30) on a base plate (11);

providing at least one rectifying device (50) that spans between two of the terminal plates (30) for bypass during an inverse load; and

attaching at least one heat discharging element (40) to the rectifying device (50) for discharging heat generated by the rectifying device (50).

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing a heat receiving surface (90A) at a position for receiving the heat discharged from a heat discharging surface (40A) of the heat discharging element (40).

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing the heat receiving surface (90A) on an underside of the electric or electronic device.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising aligning the heat discharging surface (40A) of the heat discharging element (40) with a through hole (11B) formed in the base plate (11) and substantially opposed to the heat receiving surface (90A) through the through hole (11B).

18. The terminal box of claim 15, further comprising providing a substantially transparent resin layer (95) between the heat discharging surface (40A) and the heat receiving surface (90A).