Terminal box

• US 7,432,439 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2004
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Takami, Akihiro, Takada, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US10/552,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20060196534A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,670 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/60, 174/64, 174/135, 174/49, 174/58, 174/66, 174/67, 220/3.2, 220/3.8, 220/4.02, 220/241, 220/242, 439/535, 439/394, 439/135, 439/150, 248/906, 379/413.02, 361/720, 361/600, 361/818
• US Class Current: 174/50
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2425 Structural association with built-in components for coupling parts H01R13/66
• 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: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/906 Electrical outlet box support

Abstract

A terminal box of an output part of a solar cell module, including a case and an outer lid that are molded with a thermoplastic resin and an removal cable cover that is of a knockout type and is arranged in the case includes an inner lid that covers to close an electric circuit that is housed in the case.

Claims

1. A terminal box comprising:

a case formed with a thermoplastic resin and having a removal knockout type cable cover;

an outer lid formed with a thermoplastic resin;

an inner lid configured to cover an electric circuit that is housed in the case; and

a cable base provided in the case for insertion of an output cable,

wherein the inner lid has a convex tip that covers over and is fixed onto the cable base by a screw such that the output cable is held between the cable base and the convex tip of the inner lid that have been fixed to each other by the screw.

2. The terminal box according to claim 1, wherein the inner lid is formed with a flame-retardant material.

3. The terminal box according to claim 1, wherein a terminal block configured to connect a terminal base that is included in the electric circuit to an electric wire of an output cable is formed with a thermosetting resin.

4. The terminal box according to claim 1, wherein the removal knockout type cable cover includes an annular groove that is formed in a side plate, and a groove to put a tip of a rod shaped knockout tool is formed in a disk part inside the annular groove.

5. The terminal box according to claim 4, wherein the knockout tool is a screwdriver, and a shape of the groove to put the tip of the knockout tool is same as a form of the tip of the screwdriver.

6. The terminal box according to claim 1, wherein the removal knockout type cable cover includes an annular groove that is formed in a side plate.

7. The terminal box according to claim 1, wherein the outer lid has no openings therein.