FR3039315B1 - HOUSING FOR IMPROVED FUSE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a housing (1) for a fuse comprising a housing body (2) of electrically insulating material carrying fixed electrical connection elements intended to cooperate by interlocking with tabs of at least one fuse. The housing further comprises a cover (4), the chamber being accessible to put in place or remove a fuse through an opening of the housing (2) can be closed by the cover (4). The housing (1) separated from its cover (4) also forms a female connector intended to cooperate with a male connector intended to cooperate with the locking means carried by the body (2).

Description

The present invention relates to a fuse box. In particular, it relates to a fuse box intended to be placed in a motor vehicle.

Generally, in a motor vehicle, fuses for protecting electrical and electronic components of the vehicle are almost all arranged in a so-called "motor interconnection box".

Since it includes a large number of fuses and connections, the motor interconnection box is particularly bulky and is also sometimes far removed from the electrical and electronic components mentioned above.

It is therefore desirable to move the fuses to other areas of the vehicle, preferably near the components to which they are connected.

Fuse boxes comprising a housing body made of electrically insulating material having fixed electrical connection elements intended to cooperate by interlocking with tabs of at least one fuse, and a cover cooperating with means of connection, are known from the prior art. locking carried by the body, the chamber being accessible to install or remove a fuse through an opening of the housing that can be closed by the cover.

Such fuses, however, are relatively expensive to manufacture because the body carrying the electrical connection elements are developed specifically for this purpose. The object of the invention is therefore to provide a fuse box of small dimensions, in order to be able to place it in the motor vehicle out of a motor interconnection box, which is inexpensive. For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a fuse box comprising: a housing body made of electrically insulating material carrying fixed electrical connection elements intended to cooperate by interlocking with tabs of at least one fuse, and cover cooperating with locking means carried by the body, the chamber being accessible to place or remove a fuse through an opening of the housing that can be closed by the cover, characterized in that the housing separated from its cover also forms a connector female intended to cooperate with a male connector for cooperating with the locking means carried by the body.

Thanks to the fact that the housing separated from its cover also forms a female connector intended to cooperate with a male connector intended to cooperate with the locking means carried by the body, it is possible to use a conventional female connector, easily found in the market and manufactured in large series, to use as a fuse box body.

This avoids having to design and manufacture a specific fuse box body, and thus reduces the production costs of the fuse box.

In a particular embodiment, the fixed electrical connection elements are housed in channels formed in the housing body, the channels connecting the outside of the housing body to an inner chamber of the housing body, this chamber being intended for housing at least one fuse body.

Due to the fact that the fixed electrical connection elements are housed in channels formed in the body, it is easy to perform an immersion seal between these elements and reported electrical connection elements intended to be inserted, for example by placing annular seals around the cables connected to the connected connection elements, these cables being themselves connected to the components to be protected by the fuses.

Likewise, the presence of the cover makes it possible to protect the fuses located in the chamber because it is easy to provide a seal at immersion between contiguous edges of the cover and the chamber.

To improve the sealing of the housing, a seal is disposed between a contour of the chamber and a complementary contour of the cover.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the locking means comprise a stirrup sliding in grooves formed in the body, the stirrup being provided with locking slots, preferably forming, at least in part, ramps cooperating with locking lugs carried by the hood, these slots each having an open end for the introduction of the lugs in the slots.

In order to fix the housing to another element, the cover comprises a bracket for fixing the housing on a support, this fixing lug comprising an orifice intended to receive a fixing member, for example a rivet.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the fixed connection elements comprise a first end intended to cooperate by gripping with a fuse tab and a second end intended to cooperate by snapping with an attached connection element.

Preferably, the fixed connection elements are arranged in at least one line, the pitch between two consecutive fixed connection elements being equal to 5 mm.

This makes it possible to insert micro-fuses in the fixed connection elements, the spacing between the legs of a micro-fuse being generally adapted to the pitch of 5 mm.

Preferably, in order to accommodate micro-fuses, the fixed connection elements are able to cooperate by clamping with a flat fuse tab of at least 2.8 mm wide.

This makes it possible to insert micro-fuses in the fixed connection elements, the width of the legs of a micro-fuse being generally equal to 2.8 mm. The invention also relates to a fuse box and fuse assembly, characterized in that the fuse box is according to the invention. Preferably, the fuse is a micro-fuse. The invention also relates to a fuse box assembly and a male connector, characterized in that the fuse box is according to the invention, the male connector cooperating with the locking means carried by the body. The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and with reference to the drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fuse box according to a mode particular embodiment of the invention, the housing being provided with its cover; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a part of the fuse box of FIG. 1, without the cover; FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a part of the fuse box of FIG. 1; - Figure 4 is a sectional view along the plane IV-IV of Figure 2; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the fuse box of FIG. 1 at a different angle of view; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cover of the fuse box of FIG. 1; FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cover of the fuse box of FIG. 1 and of a rivet for fixing this cover on a support; FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fuse box portion of FIG. 1 and a male connector.

FIG. 1 shows a housing 1 for one or more fuses and comprising a housing body 2 made of electrically insulating material and a cover 4.

As can be seen in Figures 1 to 3, the housing body 2 comprises a housing module 6 defining an inner chamber 8 of the housing for housing the body of at least one fuse 10 (six fuses 10 have been shown).

Preferably, and as shown in FIG. 2, the fuses 10 are microfusibles, the reduced size of which also makes it possible to reduce the dimensions of the elements constituting the fuse box 1.

The chamber 8 is accessible to put in place or remove the fuse or fuses 10 through an opening 12 which can be closed by the cover 4.

The housing module 6, as well as the cover 4, have a generally parallelepipedal shape.

In the particular embodiment shown in the figures, the dimensions of the cover 4 are chosen so that it can fit into the housing module 6.

As can be seen more specifically in Figures 3 and 4, the body 2 also comprises a connection module 14 connected to the housing module 6, of substantially oblong cross section.

Preferably, the connection module 14 is integral with the housing module 6.

Preferably, and as can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, a seal 16 is disposed substantially at the junction of the housing module 6 and the connection module 14.

In particular, the seal 16 is disposed between an outline 8C of the chamber 8 and a complementary contour 4C of the cover 4.

As will be seen below, this seal 16 makes it possible to seal between the body 2 of the housing and the cover 4.

Channels 18 are formed in the housing body 2 and extend both into the connection module 14 and the housing module 6, so as to connect the outside of the housing body 2 to the chamber 8.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, metallic electrical connection elements 20, carried by the housing body 2, said fixed connection elements 20, are housed in these channels 18.

The fixed connection elements 20 are intended to cooperate by interlocking with the fuses 10.

Indeed, each fixed connection element 20 comprises a first end 22, extending in the end of the channel 18 opening into the chamber 8, intended to cooperate by clamping with a tab 23 fuse.

Each fixed connection element 20 also comprises a second end 24 extending in the end of the channel 18 opening towards the outside of the housing body 2, intended to cooperate by snapping with an attached connection element 26, as will be seen further with reference to Figure 5.

The channels 18 and the fixed connection elements 20 are arranged in the housing body 2 in at least one line, in this case two lines.

As will be seen below, the fixed connection elements 20 are intended for connecting electric and electronic components of the vehicle to the fuses 10 which are themselves intended to protect these components in case of overvoltage. For this purpose, the pitch between two consecutive fixed connecting elements 20 is equal to 5 mm, which corresponds to the spacing between the media of the lugs 23 of microfuses, such as those shown in the figures.

Still for this purpose, the dimensions of the fixed connection elements 20 are chosen so that they are able to cooperate by gripping with a flat fuse tab 23 of at least 2.8 mm in width, such as those of the micro-fuses represented by FIG. in the figures.

The fuse box 1 further comprises locking means 30 of the cover 4 on the body 2, visible in particular in Figures 2, 3 and 5.

These locking means 30 comprise in particular a stirrup 32 sliding in grooves 34 made in the body 2.

More particularly, the grooves 34 are formed in opposite side walls 6L of the housing module 6. The stirrup 32 comprises two wings 36 substantially parallel to each other and to the side walls 6L, which are connected to a tie rod 38, giving the stirrup 32 a general shape of U.

The tie rod 38 has a generally planar shape substantially parallel to a front wall plane wall 6F of the connection module 6.

The grooves 34 are substantially rectilinear and parallel to a locking direction of the yoke 32, represented by the arrows V in Figures 2 and 5, which is substantially perpendicular to the front wall 6F of the connection module.

The wings 36 are provided with locking slots 40 defining a locking stroke for locking lugs 42 (visible in FIG. 6) carried by the cover 4.

More particularly, the locking pins 42 are integral with opposite side walls 4L of the cover 4.

The locking slots 40 each comprise an insertion end 40I of the lugs 42, which is a through end for the insertion of the lugs 42 into the locking slots 40.

Each insertion end 40I is substantially rectilinear and has for general direction a direction perpendicular to the direction of the grooves 34 and the V direction of locking of the stirrup 34. This direction of the insertion end 40I corresponds to the direction introduction of the cover 4 into the body 2, represented by the arrows I, which is also parallel to a direction of insertion of the fuses 10.

The locking slots 40 each comprise a locking end 40V, which, as will be seen below, make it possible to lock the cap 4 in position inside the casing body 2, in compression against the seal 16.

Each locking end 40V is substantially rectilinear and has the general direction V of the locking yoke 34 which is substantially parallel to the direction of the grooves 34.

Each slot 40 comprises between the insertion end 401 and the locking end 40V is an intermediate portion 40R forming a ramp.

As will be seen in what follows, this intermediate portion 40R allows a compression stroke of the cover 4 against the seal 16.

The side walls 6L of the housing module 6 also comprise grooves 44 (see FIG. 2) allowing translation insertion of the locking lugs 34 into the housing module 6 in a direction parallel to the direction of insertion of the cover 4. which is substantially parallel to the direction of insertion of the fuses 10.

The fixed connecting elements 20 are snapped into the channels 18 by means of conventional means which has been shown a member 45.

The locking of the cover 4 on the body 2 is as follows: starting from the configuration of Figure 2, where the bracket 32 is in the unlocked position, that is to say when the tie rod 38 is the most away from the body 2, the cover 4 is inserted into the housing module 6 according to the direction of introduction of the hood 4.

During this insertion, the locking lugs 42 slide both in the insertion grooves 44 of the side walls 6L and in the insertion ends 40I of the locking slots 40 which are superposed in pairs.

It is then found in a configuration where the cover 4 is housed in the housing module 6 and closes the chamber 8, which corresponds to a configuration similar to that shown in Figure 1, but where the tie rod 38 would be in its position not locked as in Figure 2.

In order to lock the cover 4 in this position, the stirrup 32 is moved by pushing on the tie rod 38 in the direction V of locking towards the casing body 2, so that the wings 36 slide in the grooves 34 formed in the side walls 6L of the housing module 6.

The wings 36 then slide against the locking lugs 34 which thus traverse respectively the intermediate portions 40V of the locking slots 40.

During this sliding along the ramps formed by the intermediate portions 40V, the seal 16 is progressively crushed between the complementary contours 4C and 8C of the cover 4 and the chamber 8.

Finally, the locking lugs 34 run through the locking end 40V of the locking slots 40, up to a stop 40B, which makes it possible to lock the cover 4 in position by blocking any movement in the direction of insertion of the cover 4 .

The contact between the locking lugs 42 with the abutment 40B corresponds to the moment when the tie rod 38 is in contact with the front wall 6F of the housing module 6 which is opposite the tie rod 38. It will be noted that in the embodiment shown in the figures, the locking means 30 are of caliper type, but other locking means may be envisaged, such as lever locking means, locking means combining lever and caliper, or latching locking means.

Whichever variant is adopted for the locking means 30, the cover 4 will be adapted accordingly so that it can cooperate with the locking means 30. Similarly, any possible male connector cooperating with the housing 1 forming a female connector, will be adapted so that it can also cooperate with the variant chosen for the locking means 30.

Thus, the cover 4 closing the chamber 8 and the seal 16 being pinched between the contour 4C of the cover 4 and the contour 8C of the chamber 8, the sealing of the housing 1 on the side of the fuse bodies 10 has been achieved. , which are protected by the hood 4.

On the opposite side of the housing 1, that is to say on the side of the second ends 24 of the fixed connection elements 20, as can be seen in FIG. 4, thanks to the fact that the electrical connection elements 20 are housed in the channels 18, one can easily achieve the seal between these electrical connection elements 20 and reported connection elements 26 inserted in the channels 18 as explained below.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the connected connecting elements 26 are connected to electrical cables 46 connected to the components (not shown in the figures) of the vehicle whose fuses 10 must provide protection. Sealing on the side of the second ends 24 of the fixed connection elements 20 can be easily achieved by placing annular elastically deformable sealing seals 48 around the cables 46.

The diameter of the annular seals 48 will be adapted to the diameter of the channels 18, to compress elastically between the cables 46 and the internal contours of the channels 18.

In particular, the annular seals 48 may be placed upstream of the connected connection elements 26, the upstream term being defined with respect to the insertion direction of the inserted connection element 26 in a channel 18.

In the case where all the channels 18 are not all occupied by connected connection elements 26, to seal the second ends 24 of the fixed connection elements 20 which connect the housing 1 to the outside, it will be possible to place shutters 49 elastically deformable in the channels 18 in place of the connection elements reported 26.

In order to fix the housing 2 in various supports of the motor vehicle, and as can be seen in Figure 7, the cover 4 further comprises a tab 50 for fixing the housing 1 on a support, this bracket 50 comprising a orifice 52 for receiving a fixing member, for example a rivet 54.

Furthermore, it will be noted that the housing 2 separated from its cover 4 advantageously forms, as can be seen in FIG. 8, a female connector designed to cooperate with a male connector 56 intended to cooperate with the locking means 30 carried by the body 2, the male connector 56 replacing the cover 4. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 8, the male connector 56 comprises a contour surface 56C similar to the complementary contour 4C of the cover 4C, and relates to its opposite side walls 56L of the locking lugs (not visible in Figure 8) similar to the locking lugs 34 carried by the cover 4. The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown and other embodiments will be clearly apparent to the skilled person.

Claims (3)

Fuse box comprising: - a housing body (2) of electrically insulating material carrying fixed electrical connection elements (20) intended to cooperate by interlocking with tabs (23) of at least one fuse (10), and a cover (4) cooperating with locking means (30) carried by the body (2), the body further comprising a chamber (8) accessible for putting in place or removing a fuse (10) through an opening ( 12) of the housing (2) closable by the cover (4), characterized in that the housing (1) also forms a female connector for cooperating with a male connector (56) replacing the cover (4) and cooperating with the locking means (30) carried by the body (2). Fuse box according to Claim 1, in which the fixed electrical connection elements (20) are housed in channels (18) formed in the housing body (2), the channels connecting the outside of the body (2). housing to a chamber (8) inside the housing body (2), this chamber being intended for housing at least one fuse body (10). 3. Fuse box according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a seal (16) is disposed between a contour (8C) of the chamber (8) and a complementary contour (4C) of the cover (4). Fuse box according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the locking means (30) comprise a stirrup (32) sliding in grooves (34) formed in the body (2), the stirrup (32). being provided with locking slits (40), preferably forming, at least in part, ramps (40R) cooperating with locking lugs (42) carried by the cover (4), these slits (40) each having an open end (40I) for introducing the lugs (42) into the slots (40). 5. The fuse box as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover (4) comprises a bracket (50) for fixing the housing on a support, this fixing lug comprising an orifice (52) intended to receive an element. fastener, for example a rivet (54). A fuse box according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fixed connection members (20) comprise a first end (22) for pinching engagement with a fuse tab (23) and a second end (24) intended to cooperate by snapping with an attached connection element (26). 7. Fuse box according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fixed connection elements (20) are arranged in at least one line, the pitch between two consecutive connecting elements (20) consecutive being equal to 5 mm. 8. Fuse box according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fixed connection elements (20) are adapted to cooperate by clamping with a fuse tab (23) flat at least 2.8 mm wide. Fuse and fuse box assembly (1) (10), characterized in that the fuse box (1) is according to any one of the preceding claims. The fuse and fuse box assembly (1) of claim 9, wherein the fuse (10) is a micro fuse. Fuse box assembly (1) and a male connector, characterized in that the fuse box (1) is according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the male connector (56) cooperating with the means locking (30) carried by the body (2).