Connection structure and apparatus unit

• US 9,882,310 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2016
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Takahashi, Kei, Eto, Shunji
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US15/384,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20170244197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 439341, 439376, 439247, 439248
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/514 composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/083 Inlets
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1432 specially adapted for power drive units or power converters
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14327 having supplementary functional units, e.g. data transfer modules or displays or user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1465 Modular PLC assemblies with separable functional units

Abstract

The present invention provides a connection structure and an apparatus unit that can avoid damage to connectors when the connectors are caused to be connected to each other. Through rotation of a first option unit towards an inverter body, the connection structure connects a first connector disposed in the inverter body and a second connector disposed in the first option unit, and the first connector and the second connector are floating connectors. The first option unit includes an engaging portion for engaging the engaging support portion in a wall of the inverter body.

Claims

1. A connection structure, connecting a first connector disposed on an inner side of a first connection surface of a first frame member to a second connector disposed on a second connection surface of a second frame member, wherein

the second frame member comprises a first engaging portion,

the first frame member comprises an engaging support portion, wherein the engaging support portion engages the first engaging portion, so that the second frame member rotates by using an engaging position as a pivot point,

the first connector and the second connector are connected by rotating the second frame member towards the first frame member, and

the first connector and the second connector are floating connectors, wherein

the second frame member comprises a second engaging portion on the second connection surface, wherein the second engaging portion is movable between a lock position and an unlock position,

the first frame member comprises a second opening portion on the first connection surface, wherein the second opening portion allows insertion of the second engaging portion located in the unlock position,

when the first connector has been connected to the second connector, the second engaging portion engages a circumferential wall of the second opening portion by moving the second engaging portion to the lock position,

the second frame member comprises an operatingortion wherein the operating portion is movable between an open position and a close position,

the second engaging portion moves from the unlock position to the lock position by moving the operating portion from the open position to the close position,

the second frame member comprises two planes different from the second connection surface, and

the operating portion is exposed outside each of the two planes, the operating portion is adapted to be selectively operated from any of the two planes, in order to move between the open position and the close position, and the two planes are intersecting with each other.

2. The connection structure according to claim 1, wherein

the first engaging portion is disposed on the second connection surface, and

the engaging support portion is disposed on the first connection surface.

3. The connection structure according to claim 2, wherein the first connector is configured closer to an inner side than the first connection surface, and

the second connector is configured protruding to an outer side compared with the second connection surface.

4. The connection structure according to claim 1, wherein

the second frame member comprises, around the second connector, a wall portion protruding from the second connection surface to an outside, and

the first frame member comprises, in a position on the first connection surface and opposite to the wall portion in a connected state, a wall portion insertion slot allowing insertion of the wall portion.

5. The connection structure according to claim 1, wherein

the second frame member comprises a rib on the second connection surface, and

the first frame member comprises, in a position on the first connection surface and opposite to the rib in a connected state, a rib insertion hole allowing insertion of the rib.

6. An apparatus unit, comprising multiple frame members, wherein

connectors between adjacent frame members are connected to each other by using the connection structure according to claim 1.

7. An apparatus unit, comprising at least three frame members:

a frame member A, a frame member B, and a frame member C, wherein

the frame member A comprises a first surface adjacent to the frame member B,

the frame member B comprises a second surface adjacent to the frame member A and a third surface adjacent to the frame member C,

the frame member C comprises a fourth surface adjacent to the frame member B,

connectors of the frame member A and the frame member B are connected to each other by using the connection structure according to claim 4 in which the first surface is used as the first connection surface and the second surface is used as the second connection surface,

connectors of the frame member B and the frame member C are connected to each other by using the connection structure according to the said connection structure in which the third surface is used as the first connection surface and the fourth surface is used as the second connection surface,

the frame member C comprises a protrusion on the fourth surface,

when the operating portion of the frame member B is in an open position, the protrusion interferes with a side of the third surface of the operating portion, and

when the operating portion of the frame member B is in the close position, the protrusion does not interfere with a side of the third surface of the operating portion.