Terminal box and solar cell module

• US 8,471,145 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2008
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Issei
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi, Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barnes, Ahmad D
• Application Number:
  US12/995,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20110073157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,807 Days
• Field of Search: 174 50- 60, 174/66, 174/67, 174/520, 174/539, 174/560, 439/535, 249/906, 220/4.02, 220/214, 220/242, 220 32- 39, 220/241, 136/244
• US Class Current: 174/50
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1078 the maintaining means acting parallel to the pivot
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/105 requiring a specific angular position
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2999/00 Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• 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 5/0226 Hinges
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A terminal box has a box body that has a shape of a box having an opening on one surface, has a body-side hinge structure on an end thereof, and accommodates therein an output-cable connecting unit, and a cover that has a cover-side hinge structure forming a hinge structure with the body-side hinge structure, that is pivotally supported by the hinge structure an end thereof so as to pivotally open or close the opening of the box body. The hinge structure has an attitude holding structure that holds an attitude of the cover at a position where the cover is at a predetermined angle with respect to the box body.

Claims

1. A terminal box for installing on a rear surface of a solar cell module and for outputting power generated by the solar cell module, the terminal box comprising:

a box body having an opening on one surface, has a body-side hinge structure on an end thereof, and the box body for accommodating therein an output-cable connecting unit; and

a cover that has a cover-side hinge structure forming a hinge with the body-side hinge structure, and that is pivotally supported by the hinge on an end thereof so as to pivotally open or close the opening of the box body, wherein

one of the cover-side hinge structure and the body-side hinge structure has

a hinge axis acting as a pivot center of the cover, and

a pair of hinge axis legs that supports both ends of the hinge axis,

the other of the cover-side hinge structure and the body-side hinge structure having

a bearing that has a pair of first pawls, each having a first bearing surface and provided with a predetermined distance spaced therebetween, and a second pawl having a second bearing surface facing in a direction opposite to the bearing surfaces of the pair of first pawls, the bearing pivotally supporting the hinge axis by sandwiching the hinge axis between the bearing surfaces of the pair of first pawls and the second pawl,

the pair of first pawls has outer side surfaces on outer sides of the respective first pawls,

the pair of hinge axis legs has inner side surfaces, each of which faces with the outer side surface of a respective first pawl, on an inner side thereof, and

the outer side surfaces of the pair of the first pawls and the inner side surfaces of the hinge axis legs are brought into contact with each other at opening and closing operation of the cover.

2. The terminal box according to claim 1, wherein

the pair of first pawls has on the outer side surfaces convex portions that project outward in an axial direction from the first pawls and presses the inner side surfaces of the hinge axis legs at opening and closing operation of the cover.

3. The terminal box according to claim 2, wherein

the pair of first pawls and the second pawl expose a bearing opening, to and from which the hinge axis is attached and detached, within a surface that includes the hinge axis and is parallel to the solar cell module.

4. The terminal box according to claim 2, wherein

a plurality of the hinge structures is provided along a pivot axis of the cover, and in at least one of the hinge structures, the outer side surfaces of the pair of the first pawls and the inner side surfaces of the hinge axis legs are brought into contact with each other at opening and closing operation of the cover.

5. The terminal box according to claim 2, wherein

the hinge axis legs have concave portions on the inner side surfaces thereof, and

the concave portions are provided on movement paths of the convex portions to avoid contact with the convex portions at opening and closing operation of the cover.

6. The terminal box according to claim 5, wherein

a part of an outer circumferential surface of the hinge axis is chipped in an axial direction.

8. The terminal box according to claim 1, wherein

the box body has a knockout portion formed on a side plate opposite to a side plate on which the hinge structure is formed, to be broken and become a cable hole.

7. A solar cell module that has a terminal box for outputting generated power on a rear surface thereof, wherein

the terminal box comprises:

a box body having an opening on one surface, has a body-side hinge structure on an end thereof, and the box body for accommodating therein an output-cable connecting unit; and

a cover that has a cover-side hinge structure forming a hinge with the body-side hinge structure, and that is pivotally supported by the hinge on an end thereof so as to pivotally open or close the opening of the box body, and

one of the cover-side hinge structure and the body-side hinge structure has

a hinge axis acting as a pivot center of the cover, and

a pair of hinge axis legs that supports both ends of the hinge axis,

the other of the cover-side hinge structure and the body-side hinge structure having

a bearing that has a pair of first pawls, each having a first bearing surface and provided with a predetermined distance spaced therebetween, and a second pawl having a second bearing surface facing in a direction opposite to the bearing surfaces of the pair of first pawls, the bearing pivotally supporting the hinge axis by sandwiching the hinge axis between the bearing surfaces of the pair of first pawls and the second pawl,

the pair of first pawls has outer side surfaces on outer sides of the respective first pawls,

the pair of hinge axis legs has inner side surfaces, each of which faces with the outer side surface of a respective first pawl, on an inner side thereof, and

the outer side surfaces of the pair of the first pawls and the inner side surfaces of the hinge axis legs are brought into contact with each other at opening and closing operation of the cover.