JP5187103B2 - Electrical junction box - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical junction box.

Conventionally, what is described in Patent Document 1 is known as an electrical connection box that is mounted on a vehicle and performs energization and disconnection of in-vehicle electrical components such as a lamp and a horn. This electrical junction box is formed by housing a circuit board in a case. The case is provided with a connector that can be connected to an external wire harness. Terminals are arranged on the connector. One end of the terminal can be electrically connected to the external wire harness, and the other end is bent to the circuit board side and penetrates the circuit board, and the conductive path formed on the circuit board. Is electrically connected.
JP-A-9-182252

  In recent years, with the increase in functionality of vehicles, the mounting space of an electric junction box is restricted, and as a result, miniaturization of the electric junction box is required. If the electrical junction box is reduced in size, there is a concern that the temperature in the case rises due to heat generated from the circuit board accommodated in the case, and malfunctions such as malfunction of electronic components mounted on the circuit board occur.

  In particular, a relatively large current flows through a conductive path that is connected to a power source such as a battery and that supplies power to a plurality of electronic components mounted on a circuit board. It was done.

  This invention is completed based on the above situations, Comprising: It aims at providing the electrical junction box with which the emitted-heat amount from a circuit board was reduced.

  The present invention is an electrical connection box comprising a case and a circuit board that is accommodated in the case and on which a plurality of switching elements are mounted, and the case is fitted with a mating connector connected to a power source. A connector housing that can be mated, wherein a terminal is molded in the connector housing, and the terminal is mounted on the circuit board and a first connection portion that can be electrically connected to the mating connector. A plurality of second connection portions electrically connected to each of the plurality of conductive paths to which the plurality of switching elements are connected, wherein the first connection portion and the second connection portion are the connector housing. It is connected by the extension part embedded in the inside.

  According to the present invention, since it is not necessary to form a branch path by the conductive path formed on the circuit board, the amount of heat generated from the circuit board can be reduced.

Further, since the extension portion is embedded in the connector housing, the heat generated from the extension portion is transmitted to the connector housing and is equalized. Thereby, it can suppress that a terminal becomes high temperature locally.
In addition, the connector housing has a plurality of fitting portions capable of fitting the plurality of mating connectors, and the extension portion is embedded in a partition wall that separates the plurality of fitting portions. Thereby, space efficiency can be improved.

As embodiments of the present invention, the following embodiments are preferable.
The switching element may be mounted on a region of the circuit board corresponding to the connector housing provided in the case.

  According to said structure, since the 2nd connection part of the terminal molded by the connector housing can be located in the vicinity of a switching element, it is a circuit in order to connect a 2nd connection part and a switching element. The conductive path formed on the substrate can be shortened. Thereby, the emitted-heat amount from a circuit board can be reduced further.

  The connector housing may be formed integrally with the case.

  According to said structure, a number of parts can be reduced.

  According to the present invention, the amount of heat generated from the circuit board can be reduced.

<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an electrical junction box 10 mounted on a vehicle (not shown) will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. The electrical junction box 10 according to the present embodiment includes a circuit board 12 accommodated in a case 11. The electrical connection box 10 is disposed between a power source (not shown) and in-vehicle electrical components (not shown) such as a lamp and a horn, and performs energization and disconnection of the in-vehicle electrical components. In the following description, the upper side in FIG. 1 is the upper side, and the lower side is the lower side. Further, the left side in FIG. 1 is the left side, and the right side is the right side. Further, the left side in FIG. 3 is the front side, and the right side is the back side.

(Case 11)
As shown in FIG. 1, the case 11 has a substantially pentagonal shape when viewed from the front and back direction (direction passing through the paper surface in FIG. 1). The bottom wall located at the lower part of the case 11 is formed so as to be inclined downward in a substantially V-shape with the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction (left-right direction in FIG. 1) being the lowest part. A drain port 13 that communicates the inside and outside of the case 11 is formed at the bottom of the bottom wall of the case 11 (see FIG. 2). In the present embodiment, an opening that communicates the inside and the outside of the case 11 is not provided in an area of the case 11 that is different from the drain port 13 provided on the bottom wall of the case 11. For this reason, the case 11 is formed in a liquid-tight manner in a region different from the drain port 13.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the case 11 is located on the back side (right side in FIG. 3) and is made of an insulating synthetic resin. The case 11 is located on the front side (left side in FIG. 3) and has an insulating composition. A second case 15 made of resin.

(First case 14)
As shown in FIG. 2, the first case 14 has a shallow dish shape that opens to the front side (the upper side in FIG. 2). The first case 14 has a substantially pentagonal shape when viewed from the front and back direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2).

(Second case 15)
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the second case 15 has a shallow dish shape opening on the back side (right side in FIG. 3). The second case 15 is assembled integrally with the first case 14 so as to close the opening of the first case 14. The opening edge of the second case 15 protrudes to the back side (right side in FIG. 3), contacts the opening edge of the first case 14 from the front side (left side in FIG. 3), and the opening edge of the first case 14 and the ultrasonic wave A welding wall 19 is formed which is welded and fixed in a liquid-tight manner.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the second case 15 has a substantially pentagonal shape when viewed from the front and back direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2). The welding wall 19 has a substantially pentagonal shape that is substantially similar to the outer shape of the second case 15 when viewed from the front and back directions.

  As shown in FIG. 3, on the front side (left side in FIG. 3) of the second case 15, a connector housing 80 that protrudes to the front side and opens downward is located at a position near the upper end (upper part in FIG. 3). It is formed integrally with the two cases 15. As shown in FIG. 2, the connector housing 80 has a fitting portion 25 that can be fitted with a mating connector (not shown) connected to an external circuit (not shown) formed outside the case 11. A plurality are arranged side by side in the left-right direction.

(Circuit board 12)
As shown in FIG. 3, the circuit board 12 is accommodated in the case 11 in a posture substantially perpendicular to the upper wall 70 of the case 11. The term “substantially perpendicular” includes a case where the plate surface of the circuit board 12 is perpendicular to the upper wall 70 of the case 11, and even when not perpendicular, it is regarded as substantially perpendicular to the upper wall 70 of the case 11. It includes that the circuit board 12 is arranged at an angle of a possible degree. The circuit board 12 is screwed to the tip of a boss 27 protruding from the inner wall surface on the front side (left side in FIG. 3) of the second case 15 to the back side (right side in FIG. 3) with a bolt (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the circuit board 12 has a substantially rectangular shape. A conductive path (not shown) is formed on the surface of the circuit board 12 (upper surface in FIG. 2) by a printed wiring technique.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of switching elements 32 and an electronic component 31 are mounted on the surface of the circuit board 12 in a state of being electrically connected to the conductive path. In the present embodiment, a semiconductor relay is used as the switching element 32. The surface of the circuit board 12 is a mounting surface 60 on which the switching elements 32 and the like are mounted. The back surface of the circuit board 12 is a non-mounting surface 65 on which the switching element 32 or the like is not mounted.

(Connector terminal 26)
As shown in FIG. 3, a connector housing 80 is formed in the second case 15 at a position corresponding to the front side (the left side in FIG. 3) of the circuit board 12. The switching element 32 is mounted in a region corresponding to the connector housing 80 in the mounting surface 60 of the circuit board 12. A plurality of connector terminals 26 are disposed in each fitting portion 25 of the connector housing 80. The connector terminal 26 is formed by pressing a metal plate material into a predetermined shape. The connector terminal 26 is bent at a substantially right angle. One end of the connector terminal 26 is disposed inside the fitting portion 25 that opens downward, with the tip facing downward (downward in FIG. 3). The first connecting portion 71 can be electrically connected to the side connector. The other end of the connector terminal 26 is arranged so as to protrude toward the circuit board 12 with the tip thereof facing the back side (right side in FIG. 3), and is electrically connected to the conductive path formed on the circuit board 12. The second connection unit 72 is connected. The connector terminal 26 is molded in the second case 15 and embedded in the connector housing 80, and the connector terminal 26 and the second case 15 are liquid-tight.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the second connection portion 72 of the connector terminal 26 penetrates the circuit board 12 and is electrically connected to the conductive path of the circuit board 12 by soldering or the like. As shown in FIG. 3, the second connection portion 72 of the connector terminal 26 penetrates the circuit board 12 and protrudes toward the opposing wall 61. On the inner surface of the facing wall 61, a relief portion 63 that avoids interference with the second connection portion 72 of the connector terminal 26 is recessed at a position corresponding to the second connection portion 72 of the connector terminal 26.

  FIG. 4 shows a plurality of connector terminals 26. The plurality of connector terminals 26 are molded in the connector housing 80 of the second case 15 in the arrangement shown in FIG. Of the connector terminals 26, the connector terminal 26 located on the far left side in FIG. 4 is a first terminal 73 connected to a battery (not shown), and is the connector terminal located on the rightmost front side in FIG. Reference numeral 26 denotes a second terminal 74 (corresponding to a terminal described in claims) connected to an alternator (not shown). The second connection portion 72 provided on the first terminal 73 and the second terminal 74 is electrically connected to a conductive path formed on the circuit board 12. The first terminal 73 and the second terminal 74 are each connected to the input side terminal of each switching element 32 through a conductive path.

  The first terminal 73 connected to the battery is energized with a current of about 10A. Further, a current of about 50 A is supplied to the second terminal 74 connected to the alternator.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the second terminal 74 includes an extension portion 75 formed extending from the first connection portion 71 to the left in FIG. 5 and a plurality of (this book) branching downward from the extension portion 75 in FIG. 5) in the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the extension portion 75 extends from the first connection portion 71 to the left rear side in FIG. 4, and then bends to the left front side in FIG. 4 to form a substantially L shape. The extension 75 is embedded in the connector housing 80. Of the extension portion 75, the above-described bent portion is embedded in the partition wall 81 separating the adjacent fitting portions 25 in the connector housing 80 (see FIG. 1).

  In FIG. 4, the connector terminal 26 different from the first terminal 73 among the plurality of connector terminals 26 arranged at approximately one-fourth from the left rear end toward the right front side is electrically connected to the first terminal 73. The third terminal 77 is electrically connected to the output terminal of the switching element 32 to be connected. The third terminals 77 are arranged in two rows in the direction from the left front side to the right back side in FIG. The second connection portion 72 of the third terminal 77 is electrically connected to a conductive path formed on the circuit board. The third terminal 77 is formed narrower than the first terminal 73.

  In FIG. 4, the connector terminal 26 different from the second terminal 74 among the plurality of connector terminals 26 arranged at about a quarter from the right front end toward the left back side is electrically connected to the second terminal 74. The fourth terminal 78 is electrically connected to the output side terminal of the switching element 32 to be connected. The second connection portion 72 of the fourth terminal 78 is electrically connected to a conductive path formed on the circuit board.

  In FIG. 4, the connector terminal 26 different from the first terminal 73 and the third terminal 77 among the plurality of connector terminals 26 located on the left back side from the center in the direction from the right front side to the left back side is connected to the circuit board 12. The fifth terminal 79 is electrically connected to the disposed electronic component 31. The fifth terminals 79 are arranged in two rows in the direction from the left front side to the right back side in FIG. The second connection portion 72 of the fifth terminal 79 is electrically connected to a conductive path formed on the circuit board. The fifth terminal 79 is formed narrower than the third terminal 77.

(Metal plate 62)
As shown in FIG. 3, the first case 14 has an opposing wall 61 that faces the non-mounting surface 65 of the circuit board 12. A metal plate 62 is embedded in the facing wall 61. The metal plate 62 is embedded in the first case 14 by being molded with a synthetic resin. The metal plate 62 is not exposed from the outer surface of the first case 14 (the right side surface in FIG. 3). As a metal which comprises the metal plate 62, arbitrary metals, such as copper, a copper alloy, aluminum, or an aluminum alloy, can be used as needed.

  Then, an example of the manufacturing process of the electrical junction box concerning this embodiment is explained. First, the metal plate 62 is formed in a predetermined shape, placed on a mold (not shown), and molded to form the first case 14. Further, the connector terminal 26 is formed into a predetermined shape by pressing a metal plate material, and is placed on a mold (not shown) and molded to form the second case 15.

  On the other hand, a conductive path is formed on the circuit board 12 by a printed wiring technique, and the switching element 32, the electronic component 31 and the like are electrically connected to the conductive path by a known technique such as reflow soldering.

  Subsequently, the circuit board 12 is screwed to the boss 27 of the second case 15 with a bolt (not shown) with the surface on which the switching element 32 or the like is mounted facing the front side (left side in FIG. 3). . Then, the connector terminal 26 penetrates the circuit board 12.

  Subsequently, the connector terminal 26 and the conductive path of the circuit board 12 are electrically connected by a known method such as flow soldering.

  Subsequently, the welding wall 19 of the second case 15 is abutted against the opening edge of the first case 14. Thereafter, the outer peripheral portions of the overlapped cases 14 and 15 are sandwiched by attachments (not shown), and vibrations (ultrasonic waves) are applied to the cases 14 and 15 by an ultrasonic welding device. Thereby, the front-end | tip part of the welding wall 19 of the 2nd case 15 melts by the frictional heat by vibration, and it adheres to the opening edge of the 1st case 14 fluid-tightly. Thereby, the electrical junction box 10 is completed.

  Thereafter, the electrical junction box 10 is attached to the vehicle in a posture in which the plate surface of the circuit board 12 is vertical.

  Then, the effect | action and effect of this embodiment are demonstrated. According to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to form a branch path by the conductive path formed on the circuit board 12, so that the amount of heat generated from the circuit board 12 can be reduced.

  Further, since the extension portion 75 is embedded in the connector housing 80, the heat generated from the extension portion 75 is transmitted to the connector housing 80 and is equalized. Thereby, it can suppress that the 2nd terminal 74 becomes high temperature locally. In particular, the second terminal 74 is particularly effective because it is connected to an alternator so that a current of about 50 A flows.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the connector 25 is formed integrally with the second case 15. Thereby, compared with the case where the connector 25 and the 2nd case 15 are formed in a different body, a number of parts can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the switching element 32 is formed in a region of the circuit board 12 corresponding to the connector housing 80 formed in the second case 15. As a result, the second connection portion 72 of the second terminal 74 molded in the connector housing 80 can be disposed in the vicinity of the switching element 32, so that the second connection portion 72 and the switching element 32 are connected. Therefore, the conductive path formed on the circuit board 12 can be shortened. Thereby, the amount of heat generated from the circuit board 12 can be further reduced.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the extension portion 75 is embedded in the partition wall 81 that separates the plurality of fitting portions 25. Thereby, since the extension part 75 can be arrange | positioned in the partition 81 which originally has only the function which isolate | separates the adjacent fitting parts 25, space efficiency can be improved.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 7, the second terminal 74 has an extension 75 that extends from the first connection portion 71 to the left in FIG. 7. The extension portion 75 is formed to bend leftward in FIG. 7 at a right angle, and further to the left. As shown in FIG. 8, the left end portion in FIG. 8 of the extension portion 75 has a gate shape that opens downward in FIG. 8.

  As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of second connection parts 72 are formed to hang downward from the lower end edge of the extension part 75 in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 9, the second connection portion 72 formed in the gate-shaped portion of the extension 75 is formed at a position shifted in the left-right direction in FIG. 9.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the extension portion 75 is embedded in a partition 81 that separates the wall portion constituting the connector housing 80 and the adjacent fitting portions 25.

  Since the configuration other than the above is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  Improving the degree of freedom in designing the second terminal 74 by embedding the extended portion 75 of the second terminal 74 in the wall portion constituting the connector housing 80 and the partition wall 81 separating the adjacent fitting portions 25. Can do.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

(1) The connector housing 80 may be formed separately from the case 11 and assembled to the case 11 by a known method such as screwing. The connector housing 80 may be configured to be assembled to the circuit board 12 by a known method such as screwing.
(2) The switching element 32 may be formed in a region different from the region corresponding to the connector housing 80 in the circuit board 12.
(3) The switching element 32 may be a mechanical relay.

The front view which shows the electrical-connection box concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention Exploded perspective view showing electrical junction box III-III line sectional view in FIG. Perspective view showing connector terminals Front view showing the second terminal Front view showing an electrical junction box according to the second embodiment Plan view showing second terminal Front view showing the second terminal Side view showing the second terminal

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Electrical junction box 11 ... Case 12 ... Circuit board 14 ... 1st case (case)
15 ... Second case (case)
25 ... fitting part 32 ... switching element 71 ... first connection part 72 ... second connection part 74 ... second terminal (terminal)
75 ... Extension 80 ... Connector housing 81 ... Bulkhead

Claims (3)

A case, and a circuit board that is housed in the case and on which a plurality of switching elements are mounted,
The case includes a connector housing in which a mating connector connected to a power source can be fitted. A terminal is molded in the connector housing, and the terminal can be electrically connected to the mating connector. And a plurality of second connection portions electrically connected to each of a plurality of conductive paths to which a plurality of switching elements mounted on the circuit board are connected. The connection portion and the second connection portion are connected by an extension portion embedded in the connector housing ,
The connector housing has a plurality of fitting portions capable of fitting a plurality of the mating connectors, and the extension portion is embedded in a partition wall separating the plurality of fitting portions . The electrical connection box according to claim 1, wherein the switching element is mounted in a region of the circuit board corresponding to the connector housing provided in the case. The electrical connection box according to claim 1, wherein the connector housing is formed integrally with the case .

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