JP2000091019A - Connecting part waterproof structure of electrical equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connecting part waterproof structure of electrical equipment capable of minimizing a space near the electrical equipment. SOLUTION: In this connecting part waterproof structure, a cover 8 moves in the direction (mounted direction T) orthogonal to the inserted direction of a connector 9 to be mounted on a controller 3. A work space for mounting the cover 8 and a work space for inserting the connector 9 are arranged orthogonal to each other so as to prevent them from becoming greater due to both work spaces being arrayed in the same direction in contrast to a conventional technique arranging the work space for mounting the cover 8 and the work space for inserting the connector 9 in the same direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a waterproof structure for a connection part of an electrical component used for preventing water from getting wet, such as a connector connected to a signal input / output part of a controller arranged in an engine room of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a controller arranged in an engine room of a vehicle is provided with a cover for preventing its signal input / output unit and a connector connected to the input / output unit from being wet. FIGS. 14 and 15 show a conventional example of such a waterproof structure (a waterproof structure for connecting parts of electrical components).

In FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, a vehicle 1 (FIG. 3)
The controller 3 disposed in the engine room 2 (see FIG. 3) of the controller body 4 includes an operation unit (not shown) and a controller unit 4 (operation unit) provided on a side surface of the controller body 4. A rectangular parallelepiped signal input / output unit 5 for inputting / outputting a signal;
A harness 6 is connected to the signal input / output unit 5, and a connector 9 in which a grommet unit 7 is covered with a cover 8 is inserted and connected. In this case, connector 9
A direction T in which the cover 8 is attached to the connector 9 and a direction S in which the connector 9 is inserted into the signal input / output unit 5 are the same (left direction in FIG. 14).
It has become.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, the mounting direction T of the cover 8 to the connector 9 is
Since the insertion direction S of the connector 9 into the signal input / output unit 5 is the same direction, there is a problem that the working space in this direction (the mounting direction T and the insertion direction S) becomes large. . With the cover 8 attached to the connector 9, the connector 9 is connected to the signal input / output unit 5.
Even if it is inserted into the connector, the entire shape of the cover 8 and the connector 9 becomes large, and accordingly, a large work space is required, and there is a problem in the work space as described above.

A vehicle component (not shown) may be disposed near the controller 3, the connector 9, and the cover 8 (waterproof structure for connecting electrical components), which are assembled as described above. In order to avoid interference with these parts, it is necessary to prepare a space to be added to the working space, and accordingly, a larger space is required.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof structure for a connection part of an electric component, which can minimize a space near the electric component.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A connector waterproofing structure including a connector that is inserted into and connected to the signal input / output unit of the electrical component and a cover that covers the signal input / output unit and the connector, wherein the cover includes:
It is characterized by being moved in a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction of the connector and held by the electrical component.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, the electrical component and the cover are provided with an electrical component side guide and a cover side guide, respectively, for slidingly guiding the movement of the cover. It is characterized by.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the second aspect, a cover-side guide portion is provided at a portion corresponding to the center of gravity of the cover.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 2 or 3.
In the configuration described above, the input / output cover section of the cover that covers the signal input / output section is thick and has high rigidity, and the input / output cover section is provided with a cover-side guide section.

[0011] The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claims 2 to 4.
The electrical component side guide is a rail extending in the moving direction of the cover, and the cover side guide is a concave groove for slidingly guiding the rail.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claims 2 to 4.
Wherein the cover-side guide is a rail extending in the moving direction of the cover, and the electrical component-side guide is a groove for slidingly guiding the rail.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A waterproof structure for a connection part of an electrical component according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. Members and portions equivalent to those shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. 3 and 4, a battery 13 is disposed between an air cleaner 11 adjacent to an engine body 10 and a strut tower 12 in an engine room 2 of a vehicle 1. A controller 3, which is an example of electrical components, is provided on an upper portion of the strut tower 12 adjacent to the battery 13 via a bracket 14.
5 is attached in a slightly inclined state.

A rectangular signal input / output unit 5 provided on a side surface of the controller main body 4 of the controller 3 is disposed inside the engine room 2. Two substantially rectangular connectors 9 (connection parts for electrical components) are moved to and connected to the signal input / output unit 5 in a direction (insertion direction S) from the inside of the engine room 2 toward the controller main body 4. Has become. The harness 6 connected to the connector 9 is routed from below the engine room 2 along the strut tower 12. The signal input / output unit 5 and the connector 9 are covered with a cover 8 as shown in FIGS.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 to 7, the controller 3 comprises a substantially rectangular controller main body 4 and the signal input / output section 5 provided on a side surface of the controller main body 4. It is roughly configured. On both side surfaces of the signal input / output unit 5, rails 16 (electric component-side guides) extending in the vertical direction in FIG. 6 (a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction S of the connector 9) are formed. Reference numeral 17 in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 8 to 13, the cover 8 has a box shape in which the lower portion of FIG. 1 and the side to be attached to the controller 3 (the left side of FIG. 1) are open. And the first cover portion 18 (input / output cover portion), which is made to be highly rigid due to its thickness and having a width external to the controller body 4.
And the first cover portion 1 connected to the first cover portion 18.
8 and a second cover portion 19 that is thinner and shorter in width. The signal input / output unit 5 is accommodated in the upper cover 18a and the side wall 18b of the first cover 18, and the two connectors 9 are accommodated in the upper cover 19a and the side wall 19b of the second cover 19. . The height of the side wall 19b of the second cover portion 19 (the size in the vertical direction in FIGS. 10 and 13) is set larger than the side wall 18b of the first cover portion 18. The depth dimension of the second cover portion 19 (the dimension in the vertical direction in FIG. 8) is set slightly larger than the depth size of the first cover portion 18.

The inside of both side walls 18b of the first cover portion 18 extends from the substantially central portion in the depth direction (vertical direction in FIG. 8) to the second
A reinforcing rib 20 extending toward the cover 19 and a fitting support 21 connected to the reinforcing rib 20 are formed.
The first cover portion 18 forms the reinforcing ribs 20 to double the wall, and further increases the rigidity in addition to the increased rigidity due to the thick wall. Both fitting support parts 21 and 2
The length between the two is set to be slightly longer (substantially equivalent) than the width of the signal input / output unit 5. In addition, a concave groove (cover-side guide portion) extending in the height direction is formed in both fitting support portions 21.
A rail 22 is formed so as to slide and guide the rail 16. The center of gravity (not shown) of the cover 8 is included on the line connecting the two concave grooves 22.22, and the rail 16 is fitted into the concave groove 22 to more stably support the cover 8. You can do it.

The connection portion of the second cover portion 19 with the first cover portion 18 is formed flush with the fitting support portion 21.
While the signal input / output unit 5 can be sandwiched,
A hook 23 is formed below the portion, and abuts on the lower surface of the signal input / output unit 5 to fix the cover 8 to the signal input / output unit 5 (therefore, the controller 3). In FIGS. 9 and 12, reference numeral 24 denotes a hole for die cutting accompanying the formation of the hook 23.

In the waterproof structure of the electrical component connecting portion configured as described above, the connector 9 is moved in the insertion direction S and connected to the signal input / output portion 5 of the controller 3. Next, the cover 8 is aligned with the groove 22 corresponding to the rail 16 and the side wall 18b of the first cover portion 18 corresponding to the end of the controller body 4, and the cover 8 is orthogonal to the insertion direction S. 1 (mounting direction T, downward direction in FIG. 1). At this time, since the cover 8 is moved while the rail 16 is slid in the concave groove 22, the cover 8 can be easily assembled. When the cover 8 is moved, the hook 23 is elastically deformed outward.

Then, when the cover 8 moves by a predetermined amount with respect to the controller 3, the hook 23 returns inward by elastic force and is locked by the signal input / output unit 5 to obtain the holding force of the cover 8. The cover 8 is fixed to the signal input / output unit 5 and thus to the controller 3 by the holding force of the hook 23. At this time, since the rail 16 is fitted into the concave groove 22 as described above, the cover 8 can be fixed more stably. Further, the first cover part 18 is fitted to the end of the controller main body 4, and this fitting causes the cover 8
Can be fixed more stably.

The signal input / output unit 5 is accommodated in the upper cover 18a and the side wall 18b of the first cover 18, and the two connectors 9 are accommodated in the upper cover 19a and the side wall 19b of the second cover 19. Therefore, even if water enters the engine room 2 from above the hood, the first cover portion 18 and the second cover portion 19 prevent the signal input / output portion 5 and the connector 9 from being wet. Furthermore, the side wall 18b of the first cover portion 18 and the side wall 19b of the second cover portion 19 serve as shields against mud splashing from below, and the splashed mud is applied to the signal input / output unit 5 and the connector 9. To prevent that. Also, when the engine room 2 is washed, the water used for washing is received by the first cover portion 18 and the second cover portion 19, and the water is prevented from being applied to the signal input / output portion 5 and the connector 9.

In the waterproof structure of the connection part of the electrical component, as described above, the insertion direction S of the connector 9 into the signal input / output part 5 and the mounting direction T of the cover 8 are orthogonal to each other. Work space for installation and connectors 9
Since the working space for inserting the connector 9 is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the other, the working space for attaching the cover 8 and the working space for inserting the connector 9 are different from the above-described prior art in which the working space is arranged in the same direction. In addition, it is possible to prevent the two working spaces from being arranged in the same direction and increasing accordingly.

As described above, by reducing the working space, the waterproof structure of the connecting parts of the electrical components and, consequently, the size of the vehicle 1 using the waterproof structure of the connecting parts of the electrical components can be correspondingly reduced. In addition, since the working space can be reduced as described above, vehicle components (not shown) arranged around the waterproof structure of the connection part of the electric component.
Interference can be more easily achieved as compared with the related art.

Further, as described above, the first cover portion 18 is thick and has high rigidity, the fitting support portion 21 of the first cover portion 18 is provided with the concave groove 22, and the first cover portion 18 is provided in the controller main body. 4 is fitted to the end of the cover 8,
Among them, the strength of the portion on the side of attachment to the controller 3 is increased, and the holding of the cover 8 can be reliably and well-balanced. Further, in the present embodiment, the first cover 1
8, the reinforcing ribs 20 are formed to double the walls to further improve the high rigidity, so that the cover 8 can be held more reliably and in a well-balanced manner.
In addition, the first cover part 18 and the second cover part 19 may have the same thickness. In this case, the center of gravity of the cover 8 moves, but the concave groove 22 may be located at a position corresponding to the center of gravity.

In the above embodiment, the electrical component side guide is the rail 16 and the cover side guide is the concave groove 22.
The edges on both sides of the groove 22 sandwich the rail 16 so that the cover 8 can be moved stably and the groove 22
By using the edges on both sides of the cover for fixing the cover 8, the fixing can be made more stable. Instead of the above-described configuration, the electrical component side guide may be a concave groove, and the cover side guide may be a rail. In the case where the cover-side guide portion is a concave groove, having the edge portions left on both sides of the concave groove increases the weight accordingly, but in comparison with this, the cover-side guide portion is a rail as described above. This makes it possible to reduce the weight of the cover.

[0026]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the cover is moved in the direction perpendicular to the connector insertion direction and is held by the electrical component, and the work space for attaching the cover and the work for inserting the connector are provided. Since the spaces are arranged in directions orthogonal to each other, the working space for attaching the cover and the working space for inserting the connector are arranged in the same direction. And the increase is suppressed accordingly.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the electrical component and the cover are provided with an electrical component side guide and a cover side guide for slidingly guiding the movement of the cover, respectively. This can be performed while sliding the electrical component side guide portion to the portion, so that the cover can be easily assembled. Claim 3
In the described invention, the cover-side guide is provided at a portion corresponding to the center of gravity of the cover, and the cover can be more stably fixed by the contact between the cover-side guide and the electrical component-side guide.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the input / output cover for covering the signal input / output unit in the cover is made thick and high rigidity, and the input / output cover is provided with a cover-side guide.
Since the strength of the portion of the cover that is attached to the controller is increased, the cover can be fixed to the controller more reliably and in a well-balanced manner.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the electrical component side guide is a rail, and the cover side guide is a concave groove, so that the rail is sandwiched, so that the cover can be moved stably and the cover is fixed. To secure the cover more stably. In the invention according to claim 6, since the cover-side guide is a rail, it is possible to reduce the weight of the cover as compared with the case where the cover-side guide is a concave groove.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a waterproof structure of a connection part of an electrical component according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the waterproof structure of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing an engine room of a vehicle in which the waterproof structure of FIG. 1 is used.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front view showing the controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a side view showing the controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view showing the cover of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the cover of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a rear view showing the cover of FIG. 1;

11 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a view as viewed in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating an example of a conventional waterproof structure for a connection part of an electrical component.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the cover of FIG. 14;

[Explanation of symbols]

3 Controller 5 Signal input / output unit 8 Cover 9 Connector S Insertion direction (connector insertion direction) T Mounting direction (direction orthogonal to connector insertion direction)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A waterproof structure for a connection part of an electrical component, comprising: a connector that is inserted into and connected to a signal input / output part of the electrical component; and a cover that covers the signal input / output part and the connector,
The connection part waterproof structure for an electrical component, wherein the cover is moved in a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction of the connector and is held by the electrical component. 2. An electrical component connecting part according to claim 1, wherein the electrical component and the cover are provided with an electrical component side guide and a cover side guide, respectively, for slidingly guiding the movement of the cover. Waterproof structure. 3. The waterproof structure for a connection part of an electrical component according to claim 2, wherein a cover-side guide is provided at a portion corresponding to the center of gravity of the cover. 4. The input / output cover section of the cover, which covers the signal input / output section, is thick and has high rigidity, and the input / output cover section is provided with a cover-side guide section. Waterproof structure for connecting parts of electrical components. 5. The electric component-side guide section is a rail extending in the moving direction of the cover, and the cover-side guide section is a concave groove for slidingly guiding the rail. A waterproof structure for a connection part of an electrical component described in Crab. 6. The guide according to claim 2, wherein the cover-side guide is a rail extending in the moving direction of the cover, and the electrical component-side guide is a groove for slidingly guiding the rail. A waterproof structure for a connection part of an electrical component described in Crab.