DE202008006119U1 - Junction box, especially for solar modules - Google Patents

Abstract

junction box (10), in particular for solar modules, with a bottom part (11), which can be placed on a module and one of a Wall (13, 18) surrounded chamber (14) forms, in which by a wall opening (20) in the wall (13, 18) a supply line (21) out is that a fixedly mounted contact area (24) for connection to a module-side connecting line (23) is formed, wherein the Connection box (10) Elements (26, 27, 28) for strain relief of the supply line (21), characterized in that the supply line (21) between the storage of the contact area (24) and the wall opening (20) the wall (13, 18) within the junction box (10) at an angle greater than 0 ° and less than 90 ° with respect to of the wall opening (20) adjacent wall portion is guided.

Description

The The invention relates to a junction box, in particular for Solar modules, with a bottom part, which can be placed on a module is and forms a chamber surrounded by a wall, in which through a wall opening in the wall led a supply line is that has a fixed contact area for connection to a module-side connecting line, wherein the junction box Elements for strain relief of the supply line is formed.

Out DE 8 422 774 U1 a generic junction box is known, in which the supply line bends in a channel section and is held zugentlastend in the junction box by a screw-on web.

Out it is on the one hand, on the one hand, the prior art document which can not be documented known the outer wall of the bottom part surrounding the chamber Range of wall openings with threaded sleeves to provide the Quetschlamellen wear. After performing the supply line through the threaded sleeve and the wall opening into the chamber, on the threaded sleeve is a cap nut screwed on, which the squeegee blades against the Isolierumhüllung tension the supply line and thus relieve the strain in hold the junction box.

Also it is basically known, lines for strain relief to insert in a meandering channel, what with the supply lines for solar modules, however, not possible due to their rigidity is.

adversely in the above-described prior art is two-fold. For one thing separate from the strain relief defining the supply line, heavy necessary to be automated work steps, on the other hand are the strain relief assemblies separate components. Against the background the rising cost pressure in the production of generic Junction boxes, there are improvements in this regard develop.

Out the obviously pre-used, printed but not assignable The prior art discloses a solution in which a terminal crimped to the supply line component the strain relief arrangement is. The contact will be among others attached to the supply line by means of an insulation crimp ring. The insulation crimped section of the supply line lies in a formed by the bottom part of the junction box retention chamber strain relief.

These also implemented by the applicant Zugentlastungsanordnung fulfilled Although certainly their purpose, but not for example an American Test standard for strain relief testing. According to this namely, it is prescribed that the contact to the compound not be part of the strain relief with the module-side connecting cable may. Consequently, according to the test specification here cut the supply line behind the contact and then the strain relief test performed. In the aforementioned Example in which the insulation crimping ring is the best part of the contact this check routine leads to the ineffectiveness of the provided strain relief arrangement, which is why this one corresponding Exam can not succeed.

task The invention is therefore a junction box with a new strain relief to create, on the one hand, requirements for a cost-effective and automated manufacturing and on the other hand the above Strain relief test.

Solved The task of a junction box with the features of the claim 1, in particular with the features of the characterizing part, according to which the supply line between the storage of the contact area and the wall opening of the wall inside the junction box in one Angle greater than 0 ° and less than 90 ° with respect to guided the wall opening adjacent wall section is.

By the leadership of the supply line under a particular Angle, the tensile forces are broken down into two force components. The one force component acts in the pulling direction, the other orthogonal to the direction of pull. This can be pronounced on simple way without additional components an effective Achieve strain relief of the supply line.

Especially preferred is an embodiment in which the angle greater than 10 ° and less than 80 °, in particular greater than 20 ° and less than 70 °, in particular greater than 30 ° and less than 60 °, especially 45 °.

by virtue of favorable disassembly in two amounts identical force components is a guide of the supply line inside the junction box at an angle of 45 ° especially prefers.

The leadership of the supply line at an angle within the junction box is in particular realized in that the wall breakthrough with respect to the contact area offset plane parallel to a bottom of the bottom part in the Wall is arranged.

Further Benefits and a better understanding of the invention result yourself from the following description of the drawing. Show it:

1 a lid of a junction box according to the invention,

2 a bottom part of a junction box according to the invention,

3 a lid of a junction box according to the invention in an alternative embodiment,

4 a sectional view of the closed junction box according to section line IV-IV in 2 .

5 a bottom part of the junction box according to the invention according to 2 with modified strain relief.

A junction box for particular solar modules is in its entirety by the reference numeral 10 Mistake.

The junction box 10 initially includes a bottom part 11 ( 2 ) with a bottom bottom 12 and an outer wall 13 , The outer wall 13 encloses a chamber 14 of the bottom part 11 , which serves to accommodate functional elements.

The outer wall 13 is on two opposite sides outside circumference with tab guides 1f and latching projections 16 Mistake. Below the locking projections 16 have the tab guides 15 tool interventions 17 on.

In the chamber 14 is an inner wall 18 arranged so that they to the outer wall 13 through a circumferential annular gap 19 is spaced. The outer wall 13 and the inner wall 18 each have a wall opening 20 through, through a solar panel outgoing supply line 21 is guided. The supply line 21 leads the electricity generated by the solar module in the public electricity grid, possibly via other technical facilities.

The floor 12 has an opening 22 on, through which solar module-side connection lines 23 in the chamber 14 the junction box 10 are guided. These solar module-side connecting cables 23 are designed as a ribbon-like foil conductor, in the supply line 21 it is a round conductor with internal core and outer insulating sheath.

The supply line 21 has a stripped end portion 24 (Contact area), wherein the strands of the wire by means of a wire end sleeve 25 mechanically stiffened. One in the end area 24 subordinate crimping ring 26 serves as cable strain relief. The floor 12 the junction box 10 has two roughly U-shaped perpendicular to the ground 12 standing bridges 27 on. The bridges 27 form a retention chamber 28 having a continuous channel. This serves as a strain-relieving insert of the crimp ring 26 provided section of the supply line 21 ,

The one with the ferrule 25 provided end area 24 the supply line 21 spans the opening 22 of the bottom part 12 and at least with respect to the chamber 28 otherworldly side of the opening 22 stored. To do this, two pairs form on the floor 12 arranged cones 29 a detent bearing for the wire end ferrule 25 out. In the present case, the ferrule lies 25 additionally on one the opening 22 comprehensive support bridge 40 on.

The connecting cable coming from the solar module 23 is through the opening 22 in the junction box 10 inserted and over the end area 24 the supply line 21 so they put the ferrule 25 electrically contacting partially entwines.

The bottom part 11 the junction box 10 is with his the lid 30 remote bottom placed on the solar module and glued in particular. The opening 22 is arranged in the region of an opening of the outer module shell, through which the connection lines 23 are led to the outside.

A lid 30 the junction box 10 is in 1 shown. The lid 30 includes one the ground 12 plane parallel opposite ceiling wall 31 , which with a to the bottom part 11 directed, essentially circumferential collar 32 is provided.

On two opposite sides spring the lid to the bottom part 11 directed locking tabs 33 each having a detent opening 34 surround. One from the ceiling wall 31 opposite the collar 32 educated, externally projecting supernatant 35 is in the area of the locking tabs of a tool engagement 36 breached. Likewise, the collar points 32 a wall breakthrough 37 on. This corresponds in its position with the wall breakthroughs 20 the inner and outer wall 13 . 18 ,

The underside of the ceiling wall facing the bottom part 31 (Bottom of the lid 30 ) is with a clamping element 38 provided in the form of a cross-section approximately Ω-shaped clamping spring.

When closing the can 10 , so when putting the lid 30 on the bottom part 11 engages the lid-side collar 32 in the bottom part-side annular gap 19 one. For gas-tight sealing of the junction box 10 an unillustrated sealing element is provided. The tab guides 15 take the snap tabs 33 on, which jumps over the wedge-shaped Rastvor 16 be pushed and this, the junction box 10 Lock when closed, reach behind. The corresponding to the coverage area of launch line 23 and end area 24 the supply line 21 on the ceiling wall 31 arranged clamping springs 39 engages when closing the wire end ferrule. This will be the connection line 23 on the end sleeve 25 securely clamped.

The tool interventions 17 and 36 serve to the locking connection between the locking tabs 33 and the latching projections 16 by spreading the locking tabs 33 to loosen and the cover from the bottom part 11 to be able to lose weight.

The closed junction box 10 shows the sectional view along section line IV-IV in 4 , With regard to the drawing plane right can be very good locking connection between the lid 30 and bottom part 11 by means of the latching projections 16 engaging behind latching tabs 33 detect. Also shown is the Einliegen the collar 32 in the annulus not mentioned here 19 that between inner wall 18 and outer wall 13 is formed. The ferrule 25 embraces the existing in the embodiment of several strands 41 the supply line 21 and stiffen the vein 41 mechanically. The outgoing from the solar panel connection cable 23 is over the ferrule 25 guided. The ferrule 25 itself lies on a support footbridge 40 on. The clamping spring 39 overreaches the connecting cable 23 and the ferrule 25 and keeps the connection line 23 in electrically contacting manner safely on the wire end ferrule 25 ,

From the sectional view of 4 it can be seen that only the wire end ferrule 25 the clamping spring 39 serves as an abutment. The clamping spring 39 , the connection cable 23 and the ferrule 25 thus form a self-supporting connection arrangement. But even if the support bridge 40 would be involved as an additional abutment in this connection arrangement, this would not be problematic. When so-called flow of the plastic, so if it dodges a permanently applied pressure, schappense the clamping spring 39 only tighter around the arrangement of connecting cable 23 and end sleeve 25 , so that contact problems are excluded.

It is of course conceivable and also content of this application that the clamping element 38 detached from the lid on the arrangement of connecting cable 23 and end sleeve 25 can be put on.

In summary, a junction box 10 described, which in an advantageous manner an easy to assemble, secure electrical connection between connecting cable 23 and supply line 21 offers. Tool-operated conductor terminals and conductor track structures within the junction box have been dispensed with. The simple arrangement of the connecting cable 23 directly on an electrically conductive area of the supply line 21 and the secure connection by means of an only aufzusetzenden clamping element has considerable time and cost advantages when mounting the junction box, especially when the clamping element 38 on the lid 30 the can 10 is arranged and the connection between connecting line 23 and supply line 21 when closing the can 10 is secured.

3 shows a lid 50 a further embodiment of the invention, which corresponds to a bottom part, not shown. The junction box not shown in its entirety 10 This second embodiment is configured multipolar. This means that several outgoing from the solar panel connecting cables 23 with two in the junction box 10 introduced supply lines 21 get connected. In this case, it is a two-pin junction box 10 in which analogous to the preceding description on each electrically conductive and mechanically stiffened end 24 a supply line 21 a connection cable 23 is up. In the lid 50 arranged clamping elements 38 , which also here as approximately in cross-section Ω-shaped clamping springs 39 are formed, secure the connection of connecting cable 23 and end areas 24 the supply line 21 ,

For multipolar junction boxes 10 are the connection cables 23 usually with bypass diodes 51 Mistake. These prevent the heating of the solar module, when working in parallel operation of multiple solar cells cells, for example by shading not work by unwanted current flow is prevented.

In contrast to the cited prior art, the bypass diodes are not used via connection terminals in the bottom part, but are in the lid 50 integrated and over her contact legs 52 electrically with the clamping springs 39 connected.

Because the bypass diodes 51 in common applications, the main cause of waste heat, has only the arrangement of the bypass diode in the Cover in thermal terms significant advantages. The diode is thus immediately adjacent to the mostly well ventilated ceiling wall 31 of the lid 50 arranged so that the waste heat can be dissipated well. The dissipation of heat can be further improved significantly if at the bottom of the ceiling wall 31 large-scale cooling plates or at least one cooling plate 53 is arranged. These heatsinks - also referred to as Wärmeleitblech - are thermal bridges, in the present example, the contact legs 52 , with the body 54 the diode 51 connected, which further improves the heat dissipation.

In a further development, which is not graphically represented here, lies the diode body 54 directly on the cooling plate 53 on, wherein the diode body 54 then preferably offers the largest possible contact surface.

Should be inside the bottom part of the junction box 10 further heat-dissipating functional elements can be arranged, these can act as thermal bridges serving as spring tongues with the cooling plates 53 keep in touch.

In summary shows 3 a decidedly advantageous development of the invention, by means of which problems due to waste heat from within the junction box 10 have the stored functional elements removed.

Based on 5 now the novel, strain relief according to the invention will be described. 5 essentially shows the bottom part 11 the junction box 10 , In contrast to 2 However, the strain relief is not here by means of a crimp ring 26 but through the leadership of the supply line 21 inside the bottom part 11 realized. The bridges 27 In the present case, they merely form a clamping channel which, in conjunction with the pins forming a clamp 29 the serving as the contact area end 24 the supply line fixed in the chamber 14 of the bottom part 11 outsourced. If one thinks of the prescribed strain relief test, the supply line would 21 inside the junction box 10 in the transition region from Isolierumhüllung to stripped end 24 cut. Follow the supply line 21 in the interior of the box, the separation is therefore directly behind the bars 27 , As a result, the supply line is located 21 Continue in through the footbridges 27 formed clamping channel. Between the contact area 24 - more precisely between the clamping channel - and the wall openings 20 from outer wall 13 and inner wall 18 The supply line runs in the direction of a Bodenteileckbereiches. This closes the supply line 21 in the present example a in 5 unspecified angle of 45 ° to the wall openings 20 a neighboring wall sections.

Will now be on the supply line at the strain relief test 21 a force with direction z exerted, this is decomposed into the force components x and y. The force components x and y are orthogonal to each other. This will affect the contact area 24 acting resulting traction power significantly reduced. This ensures sufficient strain relief.

Apart from the anyway necessary holding elements for the stationary arrangement of serving as the contact area end 24 the supply line 21 and the anyway necessary wall breakthroughs 20 are to provide for this strain relief arrangement according to the invention no further components. Also separate assembly steps are not required.

To the supply line 21 at an appropriate angle from the junction box 10 out, it is only necessary, a non-aligned orientation of the wall openings 20 to the clamping channel or to the longitudinal extent of the contact area 24 the supply line 21 to realize. For this purpose, the wall openings with respect to the contact area 24 plane parallel to the ground 12 of the bottom part 11 offset in the inner wall 18 and outer wall 13 arranged, preferably in one of the corner regions of the junction box 10 ,

When Functional elements are referred to all those elements that influence on the voltage lead from the solar module into the electricity grid to take.

10

junction box

11

the bottom part

12

Ground of 11

13

outer wall of 11

14

chamber

15

Lasch guides

16

catch projection

17

Tool intervention by 15

18

inner wall

19

annular gap

20

Wall opening of 13 and 18

21

supply line

22

Opening of 12

23

solar module- connecting cable

24

End of 21

25

end sleeve

26

crimp ring

27

Stege

28

Retention chamber

29

spigot

30

Lid of 10

31

ceiling wall

32

Collar of 31

33

locking tabs

34

latching opening

35

Supernatant of 31

36

tool engagement

37

Wall opening of 32

38

clamping element

39

clamping spring

40

support web

41

Vein of 21

50

cover

51

bypass diodes

52

Contact leg of 51

53

heatsink

54

diode body

x

force component

y

force component

z

traction

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• - DE 8422774 U1 [0002]

Claims (3)

Junction box ( 10 ), in particular for solar modules, with a bottom part ( 11 ), which can be placed on a module and one of a wall ( 13 . 18 ) surrounded chamber ( 14 ), into which by a wall breakthrough ( 20 ) in the wall ( 13 . 18 ) a supply line ( 21 ) is guided, which has a fixed contact area ( 24 ) for connection to a module-side connecting cable ( 23 ), wherein the junction box ( 10 ) Elements ( 26 . 27 . 28 ) for strain relief of the supply line ( 21 ), characterized in that the supply line ( 21 ) between the storage of the contact area ( 24 ) and the wall breakthrough ( 20 ) the Wall ( 13 . 18 ) within the junction box ( 10 ) at an angle greater than 0 ° and less than 90 ° with respect to the wall opening ( 20 ) is guided adjacent wall portion. Junction box according to Claim 1, characterized that the angle is greater than 10 ° and less than 80 °, in particular greater than 20 ° and less than 70 °, in particular greater than 30 ° and less than 60 °, especially 45 °. Junction box according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the wall opening ( 20 ) with respect to the contact area ( 24 plane parallel to a floor ( 12 ) of the bottom part ( 11 ) offset in the wall ( 13 . 18 ) is arranged.