JP7179417B2 - Coupler and connection structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a coupler and a connection structure for making electrical connection using electromagnetic induction.

Conventionally, there has been proposed a connection structure using a coupler that performs electrical connection using electromagnetic induction (see Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example). In any of these connection structures, the coupler has a coil. By bringing the coils of the couplers for transmission and reception close to each other, electromagnetic induction between the coils enables an electric signal or power to be sent from the coupler on the transmission side to the coupler on the reception side.

JP-A-11-134447 JP 2007-149872 A

Here, in order to effectively perform electrical connection using the couplers described above, it is necessary to position the couplers so that the coils of the couplers for transmission and reception are brought closer to each other. However, in the current situation, the configuration is such that there is a heavy workload for the user to consciously perform positioning, or although such a workload has been reduced, the connection structure using the coupler is complicated, and the manufacturing cost tends to increase. It often happens.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a coupler and a connection structure that can reduce the user's work load in electrical connection and reduce the manufacturing cost.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the coupler of the present invention is a coupler for making electrical connection using electromagnetic induction, comprising: a coupler body formed in the air with an insulating material; an induction coil wound on the outer wall surface of the coupler body, wound on the inner wall surface, or embedded in the wall and wound along, the coupler body and the coupler body having an inviting shape that invites another induction coil wound around another coupler body of the same shape to the inside of the coupler body so that the central axis of the other induction coil approaches the central axis of the induction coil; The coupler main body includes a locking lance arranged on the outer wall surface of the coupler main body, and a locking lance disposed on the inner wall surface of the coupler main body behind the locking lance on the outer wall surface with respect to the approach direction of the other coupler main body. a lance receiving portion disposed on the side of the coupler body, and capable of locking the locking lance disposed on the outer wall surface of the other coupler body when the other coupler body enters in the approach direction. is characterized by

Further, in order to solve the above-described problems, a connection structure of the present invention is a connection structure for performing electrical connection using electromagnetic induction, comprising a plurality of the above-described couplers of the present invention, wherein the plurality of couplers are , and are electrically connected to each other by stacking one coupler inward of another coupler.

By preparing a plurality of couplers of the present invention and covering one coupler with another coupler, the induction coils come close to each other, and electrical connection between the induction coils using electromagnetic induction is performed. Become. At this time, the coupler body around which the induction coil is wound has an inviting shape that invites other induction coils wound around other coupler bodies of the same shape to the inside of the coupler body so that their central axes approach each other. is doing. As a result, by simply putting one coupler over the other coupler by the user, the induction coils are brought closer to each other according to the guiding shape, and positioned in a state suitable for electrical connection using electromagnetic induction. The Rukoto.

Further, according to the coupler of the present invention, couplers having the same configuration can be used as the plurality of couplers connected to each other. As a result, the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with using a plurality of types of couplers having different configurations, for example.

As described above, according to the coupler of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the work burden on the user for electrical connection and to reduce the manufacturing cost.

Further, according to the coupler of the present invention, since the coupler body is hollow, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering between the couplers when it is covered with another coupler having the same structure for connection.

Further, according to the connection structure of the present invention, since the above-described coupler of the present invention is used, it is possible to reduce the work burden on the user for electrical connection and to reduce the manufacturing cost.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a coupler according to a first embodiment of the invention; FIG. Fig. 2 shows a connection structure constructed using two couplers shown in Fig. 1 with the two couplers separated from each other; Fig. 3 shows the connection structure shown in Fig. 2 with two couplers connected together; Fig. 2 shows a connection structure constructed using three couplers shown in Fig. 1 with the three couplers separated from each other; 6 is a diagram showing the connection structure shown in FIG. 5 with three couplers connected; FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a coupler according to a second embodiment of the invention; FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a coupler according to a third embodiment of the invention; FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a coupler according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a coupler according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; Schematic diagram showing how one locking lance is locked to the other lance receiving portion when a plurality of couplers shown in FIG. 9 are stacked and another coupler body enters the inside of one coupler body. is.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. First, the first embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a coupler according to a first embodiment of the invention. 1 shows the coupler 1 in a perspective view from above and a perspective view from below.

A coupler 1 is for making electrical connection using electromagnetic induction, and includes a coupler main body 11 and an induction coil 12 .

The coupler main body 11 is a hollow member made of insulating resin as an insulating material. This coupler main body 11 has a guiding shape for inducing other induction coils wound around other coupler main bodies having the same shape as the coupler main body 11 as follows. That is, the center axis of the other induction coil has a guiding shape that guides it into the inside of the coupler body 11 so as to approach the center axis 12a of the induction coil 12 wound around the coupler body 11 . Specifically, this guiding shape is a hollow conical shape.

The induction coil 12 is a copper wire spirally wound around the outer wall surface of the coupler main body 11 along a hollow conical shape. The induction coil 12 is formed such that a straight portion 121 along the generatrix of the coupler main body 11 is sandwiched between the coil portion 122 and the side surface of the coupler main body 11 and extends to the lead wire 123 .

In addition, in FIG. 1, the induction coil 12 is drawn thick. Therefore, the central axis 12 a of the induction coil 12 wound along the shape of the coupler main body 11 is shifted from the central axis of the coupler main body 11 according to the thickness of the linear portion 121 . However, actually, the thickness of the induction coil 12 is sufficiently thinner than the size of the coupler main body 11 , and the central axis 12 a of the induction coil 12 is substantially concentric with the central axis of the coupler main body 11 .

In this embodiment, the connection structure for electrical connection is configured using the coupler 1 as follows.

FIG. 2 shows a connection structure constructed using two couplers shown in FIG. 1 with the two couplers separated from each other. FIG. 3 shows the connection structure shown in FIG. 2 with two couplers connected together.

The connection structure 10 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 has two couplers 1, one coupler 1 entering the other coupler 1, as indicated by the arrow D11 in FIG. Stacked as This stacking brings the induction coils 12 of the two couplers 1 closer to each other, thereby electrically connecting the two induction coils 12 to each other in a non-contact manner. Moreover, in the connection structure 10 , the two couplers 1 are stacked such that the lead wires 123 of the two couplers 1 are oriented in opposite directions to the circumferential direction D<b>12 of the induction coil 12 by approximately 180°. This connection structure 10 transmits an electric signal or power supplied to one lead wire 123 to the other lead wire 123 in a non-contact manner by mutual electromagnetic induction between the two induction coils 12 . Either of the two couplers 1 may be the transmitting side or the receiving side.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a connection structure constructed using three of the couplers shown in FIG. 1 with the three couplers separated from each other. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the connection structure shown in FIG. 5 with three couplers connected.

The connection structure 15 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 has three couplers 1, one coupler 1 enters the inside of the other coupler 1, as indicated by arrow D13 in FIG. are electrically connected to each other. Moreover, in the connection structure 15, the three couplers 1 are stacked such that the lead wires 123 of the three couplers 1 face different directions in the circumferential direction D12 of the induction coil 12 at intervals of 90°. In this connection structure 10, an electric signal or power supplied to one lead wire 123 is branched to the lead wires 123 of the other two induction coils 12 by electromagnetic induction between the three induction coils 12, thereby providing a non-contact connection. It is sent by Any one of the three couplers 1 may be the transmitting side and the remaining two may be the receiving sides.

According to the coupler 1 and connection structures 10 and 15 of the first embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.

According to the present embodiment, one coupler 1 is placed over another coupler 1, so that the induction coils 12 come close to each other, and electrical connection between the induction coils 12 using electromagnetic induction is established. It will be done. At this time, the coupler body 11 around which the induction coil 12 is wound is arranged inside the coupler body 11 so that the other induction coil 12 wound around the other coupler body 11 having the same shape is positioned so that the central axes 12a of each other are close to each other. It has an inviting shape that invites you into. That is, the induction coil 12 wound in a conical spiral enters the inside of the coupler main body 11, which is in the form of a hollow conical guide, so that the center axis 12a of the induction coil 12 on the entering side is aligned with the coupler. It is substantially concentric with the central axis of the main body 11 . Since the central axis 12a of the induction coil 12 is substantially concentric with the central axis of the coupler main body 11 around which the induction coil 12 is wound, the central axis 12a of the induction coil 12 is substantially concentric between the entering side and the received side. becomes. As a result, when a user simply places one coupler 1 over another coupler 1, the induction coils 12 are brought closer to each other according to the guiding shape of the coupler main body 11, and electrical connection using electromagnetic induction is established. It will be positioned in a suitable state.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the couplers 1 having the same configuration can be used as the plurality of couplers 1 connected to each other. As a result, the manufacturing cost can be reduced compared to using a plurality of types of couplers 1 having different configurations, for example.

As described above, according to the coupler 1 and the connection structures 10 and 15 of the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the work load on the user and the manufacturing cost for the electrical connection.

Further, according to this embodiment, since the coupler main body 11 is hollow, when it is covered with another coupler 1 having the same configuration for connection, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering between the couplers 1 . can also

Here, in this embodiment, the guiding shape of the coupler main body 1 is a hollow conical shape.

According to this embodiment, the intruding induction coil 12 can be effectively guided along the hollow conical inner slope of the coupler main body 11 . Further, the coupler body 11 around which the induction coil 12 is wound can be easily rotated in the circumferential direction D12 of the induction coil 12 . As a result, the position of the lead wire 123 of the induction coil 12 can be easily set to a desired position by rotating the coupler main body 11 .

Further, in this embodiment, the coupler main body 11 is made of insulating resin.

Insulating materials include materials other than resin, such as insulating metals and paper, but compared to these materials, insulating resins are more advantageous in material cost, ease of manufacture, and strength when the coupler body is formed. etc., it is preferable.

Also, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the connection structure 15 can be configured by stacking three couplers 1 .

According to this embodiment, by stacking the three couplers 1 in this way, the electric signal or power supplied from one coupler 1 can be branched and sent to the other two couplers 1 .

Next, a second embodiment will be described.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a coupler according to a second embodiment of the invention.

The coupler 2 of the second embodiment differs from the coupler 1 of the first embodiment in the shape of the induction coil 22 wound around the conical coupler main body 21 . In this embodiment, the induction coil 22 is formed such that a straight portion 221 along the generatrix of the coupler body 21 extends to a lead wire 223 along the outer surface of the spiral coil portion 222 .

According to the second embodiment, it is possible to reduce the work load on the user in connection with the electrical connection and to reduce the manufacturing cost as well as the first embodiment described above.

Next, a third embodiment will be described.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a coupler according to a third embodiment of the invention.

The coupler 3 of the third embodiment differs from the coupler 1 of the first embodiment in the position where the induction coil 32 is wound. In this embodiment, the induction coil 32 is wound around the inner wall surface of the coupler main body 31 along the hollow cone shape. The lead wire 323 extends outside from the lower edge of the coupler main body 31 . In this embodiment, the linear portion 321 of the induction coil 32 is arranged inside the coil portion 322, but the linear portion 321 is induced to be sandwiched between the inner wall surface of the coupler main body 31 and the coil portion 322. Coil 32 may be configured.

According to the third embodiment, it is possible to reduce the work burden on the user in connection with the electrical connection and to reduce the manufacturing cost as well as the above-described first embodiment.

Next, a fourth embodiment will be described.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a coupler according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

The coupler 4 of the fourth embodiment differs from the coupler 1 of the first embodiment in the position where the induction coil 42 is wound. In this embodiment, the hollow cone-shaped coupler main body 41 is formed thick. An induction coil 42 is wound along the hollow cone shape of the coupler main body 41 and embedded in the wall thereof. The lead wire 423 extends outside from the side surface of the coupler main body 41 . The induction coil 42 is embedded, for example, by insert molding in which a copper wire pre-formed into a coil shape is set in the mold of the coupler main body 41 and an insulating resin is poured thereinto. Further, in the present embodiment, the straight portion 421 of the induction coil 42 is arranged inside the coil portion 422 and between the inner wall surface of the coupler main body 41 , but the straight portion 421 is located between the outer wall surface of the coupler main body 41 . Induction coil 42 may be configured to be positioned at .

It is needless to say that the fourth embodiment can reduce the work burden on the user for electrical connection and also reduce the manufacturing cost, as in the case of the first embodiment described above.

Next, a fifth embodiment will be described.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a coupler according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.

In the coupler 5 of the fifth embodiment, a locking lance 511 and a lance receiving portion 512 are provided in a hollow conical coupler body 51 .

A plurality of locking lances 511 are arranged on the outer wall surface of the coupler main body 51 on the distal end side of the induction coil 52 . Each locking lance 511 is a cantilever-shaped portion having a fixed end that is integrated with the outer wall surface of the coupler body 51 at the tip end of the coupler body 51 and a free end at the other end. Each locking lance 511 is flexible in a direction in which the free end thereof contacts and separates from the outer wall surface of the coupler main body 51 . A plurality of locking lances 511 are arranged in the circumferential direction of the coupler main body 51 .

The lance receiving portion 512 is a recessed stepped portion disposed on the inner wall surface of the coupler main body 51 on the distal end side of the hollow cone shape, and is provided around the inner wall surface of the coupler main body 51 in the circumferential direction. When a plurality of couplers 5 are stacked and another coupler main body 51 enters inside, the locking lance 511 in the other coupler main body 51 can be locked.

FIG. 10 shows how one locking lance is locked to the other lance receiving portion when a plurality of couplers shown in FIG. 9 are stacked and another coupler body enters inside one coupler body. It is a schematic diagram showing.

When the couplers 5 are stacked as indicated by an arrow D51 in FIG. 10, another coupler body 51 enters inside one coupler body 51. As shown in FIG. Then, the free end of the locking lance 511 of the coupler main body 51 that has entered comes into contact with the inner wall surface of the coupler main body 51 that has entered, and is bent. When the free end of the locking lance 511 goes over the lower end of the recessed lance receiving portion 512 , the free end is restored and locked to the lower end of the lance receiving portion 512 .

Here, the entry of the coupler main body 51 stops when the induction coil 52 of the coupler 5 on the entering side comes into contact with the inner wall surface of the coupler main body 51 of the coupler 5 on the received side. The locking lance 511 and the lance receiving portion 512 are formed so that the free end of the locking lance 511 is locked to the lower end portion of the lance receiving portion 512 immediately before the coupler main body 51 stops entering.

It goes without saying that the fifth embodiment can also reduce the user's work load in electrical connection and the manufacturing cost, as in the case of the above-described first embodiment.

Further, according to this embodiment, when a plurality of couplers 5 are stacked, the locking lance 511 of one coupler 5 is locked to the lance receiving portion 512 of the other coupler 5, thereby effectively The two can be mechanically coupled together in a locked state.

It should be noted that the first to fifth embodiments described above merely show typical forms of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. As long as the coupler and connection method of the present invention are provided even with such modifications, they are, of course, included in the scope of the present invention.

For example, in the first embodiment described above, connection structures 10 and 15 configured by stacking a plurality of couplers 1 having the same configuration are illustrated as an example of the connection structure according to the present invention. However, the connection structure referred to in the present invention is not limited to this, and is configured by stacking couplers having different configurations, such as the couplers 1, . . . , 4 of the first to fourth embodiments. may be

In the first embodiment described above, as examples of the connection structure according to the present invention, the connection structure 10 configured by stacking two couplers 1 and the connection structure 15 configured by stacking three couplers 1 and are exemplified. The connection structure according to the present invention is not limited to these, and may be constructed by stacking four or more couplers.

Further, in the first to fifth embodiments described above, a hollow conical shape is exemplified as an example of the guiding shape according to the present invention. However, the guiding shape referred to in the present invention is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a hollow truncated cone shape, a hollow pyramid shape, a hollow truncated pyramid shape, or the like. Alternatively, it may have a hollow hemispherical dome shape or the like. However, by making the guiding shape a hollow cone shape or a hollow truncated cone shape, the intruding induction coil is effectively lured in, and the lead wire of the induction coil can be easily moved to the desired position by rotating the coupler body. can be set to , as described above.

Reference Signs List 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Coupler 10, 15 Connection structure 11, 21, 31, 41, 51 Coupler main body 12, 22, 32, 42, 52 Induction coil 12a Central axis 121, 221, 321, 421 Straight portion 122 , 222, 322, 422 coil portion 123, 223, 323, 423 lead wire 511 locking lance 512 lance receiving portion D12 circumferential direction

Claims (6)

A coupler for electrical connection using electromagnetic induction,
a coupler body formed in the air with an insulating material;
an induction coil wound around the outer wall surface of the coupler body, wound around the inner wall surface, or embedded and wound within the wall along the shape of the coupler body;
The coupler body has another induction coil wound around another coupler body having the same shape as the coupler body, and the coupler body is arranged such that the central axis of the other induction coil approaches the central axis of the induction coil. It has an inviting shape that invites you inside ,
In the coupler body,
a locking lance disposed on the outer wall surface of the coupler body;
It is arranged on the inner wall surface of the coupler body on the rear side of the locking lance on the outer wall surface with respect to the approach direction of the other coupler body, and when the other coupler body enters in the approach direction, the other a lance receiving portion capable of locking the locking lance disposed on the outer wall surface of the coupler body of the
A coupler characterized in that it is provided with 2. A coupler according to claim 1, wherein said lead-in shape is a hollow cone shape or a hollow truncated cone shape. 3. A coupler according to claim 1, wherein said coupler main body is made of insulating resin. a plurality of the locking lances are arranged on the outer wall surface in a circumferential direction of the coupler main body;
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the lance receiving portion is formed on the inner wall surface so as to extend in the circumferential direction so that a plurality of the locking lances can be collectively locked . The coupler according to any one of the items. A connection structure for electrical connection using electromagnetic induction,
A plurality of couplers according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A connection structure, wherein the plurality of couplers are electrically connected to each other by stacking one coupler inside another coupler. 6. The connection structure according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of couplers are three or more couplers.

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