JP2000295735A - Electrical junction box - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an electrical junction box by which the influence of design tolerances of wiring boards is minimized to make protruding lengths of a plurality of connection terminals approximately uniform and electronical components can be satisfactorily connected to the connection terminals. SOLUTION: Wiring boards 7-10 are housed in layers in a lower ease 3. Supporting protrusions 11-13 with shapes of stairs are formed on a plurality of corners of the lower case 3. The heights of the supporting protrusions 11-13 are made to correspond to the arrangement heights of the wiring boards 8-10 from the bottom wall 3a of the lower case 3. Notches 35-37 are formed in the corners of the wiring boards 7-9 and the supporting protrusions 11-13 for all the wiring boards 8-10 above the boards 7-9 can pass through the notches 35-37. When the plurality of wiring boards 7-10 are housed in the lower case 3, the wiring board 7 is supported by the bottom wall 3a, the wiring board 8 is supported by the supporting protrusions 11, the wiring board 9 is supported by the supporting protrusions 12 and the wiring board 10 is supported by the supporting protrusions 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric connection box mounted on an automobile, and more particularly to a support structure for a plurality of wiring boards housed in the electric connection box.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electric connection box is used as a connection branch point for wiring such as a wire harness while accommodating various electric parts such as various electric circuits and electronic parts for automobiles.

FIG. 9 shows an example of an electric junction box. A case main body 61 of the electric connection box 60 is formed of a synthetic resin, and includes a lower case 62 and an upper case 63. The lower case 62 and the upper case 63 are formed with an engaging convex portion 64 and an engaging concave portion provided on a part of a peripheral wall thereof. It is locked and held by the engagement with 65.

In the lower case 62, a plurality of wiring boards 66,
67, 68, and 69 are accommodated in a stacked state. Each of the wiring boards 66 to 69 is an insulating substrate 7 made of a synthetic resin material.
0, 71, 72, 73, and these insulating substrates 70 to 73
Busbars 74, 75, 7 made of a metal plate disposed thereon
6,77. Insulating ribs 78, 79, 80, and 81 are formed on the peripheral edges and upper surfaces of the insulating substrates 70 to 73 so as to protrude.
77 is routed and fixed. Insulating ribs 78-8
The height of 1 is set slightly larger than the thickness of the bus bars 74 to 77. Connection terminals 82, 83, 84, and 85 are formed at predetermined positions of the bus bars 74 to 77, respectively, so as to be bent upward.

The lengths of the plurality of connection terminals 82 to 85 are set such that, when the wiring boards 66 to 69 are stacked and housed, their tip positions are at the same height.
Accordingly, the connection terminal 82 of the lowermost bus bar 74 is set to be the longest, and the connection terminal 85 of the uppermost bus bar 77 is set to be the shortest.

[0006] In the insulating substrate 70, a through-hole 86 is provided so as to correspond to the connection terminal 82. In the insulating substrate 71, a plurality of through-holes 87 are respectively provided to correspond to the plurality of connection terminals 82 and 83, respectively. Insulating substrate 7
In FIG. 2, a plurality of through holes 88 are respectively provided through-holes corresponding to the plurality of connection terminals 82 to 84. Further, a plurality of through holes 89 are provided in the insulating substrate 73 so as to correspond to the plurality of connection terminals 82 to 85, respectively.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the connection terminals 82 to 85 correspond to the corresponding through holes 86 to 85, respectively.
89, the wiring boards 66 to 69 of each layer are inserted.
Are stored in the lower case 62 in a stacked state.

A rectangular cylindrical connector housing 90 is formed on an upper surface of the upper case 63. A plurality of through holes 91 formed in the bottom surface in the connector housing 90.
The connection terminals 82 to 85 are inserted and arranged via the.

[0009]

However, in the above-described conventional electric connection box 60, a plurality of wiring boards 66 to 69 are sequentially stacked and accommodated in the lower case 62. Insulating substrates 70 to 73 constituting wiring boards 66 to 69
Is formed of a synthetic resin, a maximum tolerance α may occur between their thickness and a design value.

Accordingly, the plurality of wiring boards 66 to 6
When 9 is stacked, the tolerances of the wiring boards 66 to 69 of each layer are added. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, when the tolerance of the thickness of all the wiring boards 66 to 69 is 0, the sum of the thicknesses of the plurality of wiring boards 66 to 69 becomes equal to the set value. At this time, the bus bar 7 of the uppermost wiring board 69
The arrangement height of 7 is equal to the design value. Therefore, the protruding length of each connection terminal 82, 83, 84, 85 from the upper case 63 becomes equal to the design value.

On the other hand, all the wiring boards 66 to 69
Is the maximum tolerance α, the total thickness of the plurality of wiring boards 66 to 69 is reduced by 4α from the design value. At this time, the arrangement height of the bus bar 77 of the uppermost wiring board 69 is 4α lower than its design value, and the arrangement height of the bus bar 76 of the second wiring board 68 is 3α lower than its design value. The arrangement height of the bus bar 75 of the third-layer wiring board 67 is 2α lower than its design value, and the arrangement height of the bus bar 70 of the lowermost wiring board 66 is α lower than its design value. . Therefore, the protruding lengths of the connection terminals 82, 83, 84, 85 from the upper case 63 are shorter than the design values by α, 2α, 3α, and 4α, respectively.

Accordingly, the protrusion lengths of the connection terminals 82, 83, 84, 85 in the connector housing 90 become non-uniform, and the difference between the protrusion length and the design value becomes 4α at the maximum. There is a problem that the electrical connection of the mated connector becomes poor.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to minimize the influence of the design tolerance of the wiring board on the protrusion length of the connection terminal and minimize the protrusion length of the plurality of connection terminals. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric connection box which can make the electrical components substantially uniform and can connect the electrical components to the connection terminals satisfactorily.

[0014]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a wiring board is formed by arranging a bus bar having connection terminals standing on a synthetic resin insulating substrate. In the case body, and the connection terminals of each wiring board are made to penetrate through the upper wiring board and protrude from the case body. The gist is that each wiring board other than the above is supported via supporting means in which the arrangement height of each wiring board from the reference surface of the case main body is set.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electrical junction box according to the first aspect, the support means is a support protrusion formed in the case main body, and the plurality of wiring boards are provided on an upper layer thereof. The gist of the present invention is to provide a notch through which the supporting protrusions for all wiring boards can pass.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electrical junction box according to the first aspect, the support means is a support leg protruding from each of the wiring boards, and the plurality of wiring boards are provided on an upper layer thereof. The gist of the present invention is to provide a notch through which the support legs of all the wiring boards can pass.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) A first embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in an electric junction box mounted on an automobile will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, the case main body 2 of the electric connection box 1 is formed of a synthetic resin, and includes a lower case 3 and an upper case 4. The lower case 3 and the upper case 4 are locked and held by the engagement of an engagement projection 5 and an engagement recess 6 provided on a part of the peripheral wall.

The lower case 3 comprises a bottom wall 3a and a peripheral wall 3b, and a plurality of wiring boards 7, 8, 9, 1
0 are stored in a stacked state. In this embodiment,
The inner surface of the bottom wall 3a is a reference plane for setting the arrangement height of the plurality of wiring boards 7, 8, 9, 10. Further, the inner surface of the bottom wall 3a constitutes support means for supporting the lowermost wiring board 7.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in the lower case 3, at a plurality of corners, a plurality of support projections 11 to 13 as support means project from the peripheral wall 3b. FIGS. 1 and 3 show supporting projections 11 to 11 at one corner.
Only 13 is shown. The supporting protrusions 11 to 13 are
The support protrusions 13 at the uppermost stage are the smallest and the support protrusions 12
Protrudes laterally from the support protrusion 11, and the lowermost support protrusion 11 protrudes further sideward than the support protrusion 12.
The plurality of support protrusions 11 to 13 are adapted to mount and support the wiring boards 8 to 10 accommodated in the lower case 3, and the height of each of the support protrusions 11 to 13 is determined by the bottom wall 3 a (reference). surface)
Is set to the arrangement height of each of the wiring boards 8 to 10.
The arrangement height of each of the wiring boards 8 to 10 is a value obtained by adding the design values of the wiring boards 7 to 9 below the wiring boards 8 to 10.

Each of the wiring boards 7 to 10 has an insulating substrate 14, 15, 16, 17 made of a synthetic resin material and a bus bar 1 made of a metal plate disposed on these insulating substrates 14 to 17.
8, 19, 20, and 21.

Notches 35 are formed at a plurality of corners of the wiring board 7 so as to allow a plurality of supporting projections 11 to 13 for all the wiring boards 8 to 10 on the upper layer to pass therethrough. Wiring board 8
Are provided on all the corners of all the wiring boards 9 and 10 in the upper layer.
Notch 36 through which a plurality of support projections 12 and 13 can pass. Further, cutouts 37 are formed at a plurality of corners of the wiring board 9 so as to allow the support protrusions 13 for all the wiring boards 10 on the upper layer to pass therethrough. Wiring board 1
Since no wiring board is arranged on the upper layer of No. 0, notches are not formed at a plurality of corners of wiring board 10.

Therefore, when the plurality of wiring boards 7 to 10 are accommodated in the lower case 3, the wiring board 7 is on the bottom wall 3 a, the wiring board 8 is on the plurality of supporting projections 11, and the wiring board 9 is The wiring board 10 is supported on the support protrusions 13 on the support protrusions 12.

On the periphery and the upper surface of the insulating substrates 14 to 17,
Insulating ribs 22, 23, 24, 25 are formed so as to protrude, and bus bars 18 to 21 are arranged and fixed between the insulating ribs 22 to 25. The height of the insulating ribs 22 to 25 is set slightly larger than the thickness of the bus bars 18 to 21. Connection ends 26, 27, 28, and 29 are formed at predetermined positions of the bus bars 18 to 21 so as to be bent upward.

The lengths of the plurality of connection terminals 26 to 29 are set such that the top ends of the wiring boards 7 to 10 have the same height in the stacked and housed state. Therefore, the connection terminal 29 of the uppermost bus bar 21 is set to be shortest, and the connection terminal 26 of the lowermost bus bar 18 is set to be longest.

A through hole 30 is formed in the insulating substrate 14 so as to correspond to the connection terminal 26. In the insulating substrate 15, a plurality of through holes 31 are provided in a corresponding manner to the plurality of connection terminals 26 and 27, respectively. Insulating substrate 1
In FIG. 6, a plurality of through holes 32 are respectively provided to correspond to the plurality of connection terminals 26 to 28. Further, a plurality of through holes 33 are provided in the insulating substrate 17 in correspondence with the plurality of connection terminals 26 to 29, respectively.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, each of the connection terminals 23 to 26 corresponds to the corresponding one of the through holes 30 to 33.
, The wiring boards 7 to 10 of each layer are accommodated in the lower case 3 in a stacked state.

A rectangular cylindrical connector housing 38 is formed on the upper surface of the upper case 4. The connection terminals 26 to 29 are inserted and arranged in the connector housing 38 through a plurality of through holes 39 formed on the bottom surface.

Now, in the electrical junction box 1 configured as described above, the insulating substrates 14 to
17 are made of a synthetic resin, a maximum tolerance α may occur between their thickness and a design value. In the present embodiment, a plurality of wiring boards 7 to 10 are provided in lower case 3.
Are accommodated in layers, the wiring board 7 is supported on the bottom wall 3a, and the wiring boards 8 to 10 are supported on supporting protrusions 11 to 13 having different arrangement heights based on the bottom wall 3a.

Therefore, even if there is a maximum tolerance α between the thickness of each of the insulating substrates 14 to 17 and its design value, the wiring boards 7 to 10 of each layer are supported by the arrangement heights according to the design values. Will be. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the thickness tolerance of all the wiring boards 7 to 10 is 0, the arrangement height of the bus bars 18 to 21 of the plurality of wiring boards 7 to 10 is different from the design value. Become equal. Therefore, the protruding length of each of the connection terminals 26 to 29 in the connector housing 38 becomes equal to the design value, and the protruding length of each of the connection terminals 26 to 29 becomes uniform. Therefore, the electrical connection of the connector as the electrical component fitted to the connector housing 38 is improved.

On the other hand, when the thickness tolerance of all the wiring boards 7 to 10 is the maximum tolerance α, the arrangement heights of the bus bars 18 to 21 of the plurality of wiring boards 7 to 10 are respectively set to the design values. Is lower than α. Therefore, the difference between the projecting length of each of the connection terminals 26 to 29 in the connector housing 38 and the design value is only the tolerance α, and the connection terminals 26 to 29 are different.
Becomes almost uniform. Therefore, the electrical connection of the connector fitted to the connector housing 38 is improved.

As described above, according to the electric junction box of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) Insulating substrates 14 to constituting a plurality of wiring boards 7 to 10
In addition to minimizing the influence of the design tolerance of 17 on the protrusion length of the connection terminals 26 to 29, the protrusion length of the plurality of connection terminals 26 to 29 can be made substantially uniform,
Therefore, a connector (electrical component) can be satisfactorily connected to the connection terminals 26 to 29, and the reliability of the electric connection box 1 can be secured.

(2) Since the plurality of supporting projections 11 to 13 supporting the plurality of wiring boards 8 to 10 are integrally formed in a stepwise manner at the corners of the lower case 3, the supporting projections 11 to 13 can be easily formed. Can be formed. Further, since the notches 35 to 37 of the wiring boards 7 to 9 are formed so as to be able to pass through the support protrusions 11 to 13 for all wiring boards on the upper layers, the notches 35 to 37 can be easily formed. can do.

(3) A plurality of supporting projections 11 to 13 for supporting the plurality of wiring boards 8 to 10 are integrally formed in a stepped manner at the corners of the lower case 3, and the notches 35 of the wiring boards 7 to 9 are formed.
Since 37 are formed at the corners, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the wiring efficiency of the bus bars 18 to 21 in the wiring boards 7 to 10.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. However,
In the configuration and the like of the present embodiment, the same parts as those in the above-described first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In this embodiment, the formation positions of the plurality of support projections 11 to 13 with respect to the lower case 40 and the lower case 40
Notches 35-37 of wiring boards 41-44 housed in
Are different from those of the first embodiment,
Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the upper case 4 of the first embodiment is omitted, and the bus bars on the wiring boards 41 to 44 are omitted.

In the present embodiment, the bottom wall 3 of the lower case 40
A plurality of support protrusions 11 to 13 are integrally provided in a stepwise manner at an intermediate portion of a. Notches 3 are provided at intermediate positions of the wiring boards 41 to 44 at positions corresponding to the support protrusions 11 to 13.
5 to 37 are formed.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the same effects as (1) and (2) in the first embodiment can be obtained. (Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. However, in the configuration and the like of the present embodiment, portions that are the same as those in the above-described first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

In this embodiment, no support means is provided for the lower case 45, and the plurality of wiring boards 46, 47, 48 accommodated in the lower case 45 are supported by the support legs 4.
The points provided with 9, 50, and 51 are different from the configuration of the first embodiment, and the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the upper case 4 of the first embodiment is omitted, and the wiring boards 46 to
The bus bar on 48 is omitted.

That is, the plurality of wiring boards 46 to 48 housed in layers in the lower case 45 are formed in a rectangular shape by synthetic resin, and a plurality of (4
), Supporting legs 49, 50, 5 as supporting means
1 are integrally formed. The height of each support leg 49 to 51 is set to the arrangement height of each of the wiring boards 46 to 48 from the bottom wall 3 a (reference plane) of the lower case 45. Wiring board 47
Is the value obtained by adding the design value of the thickness of the wiring board 46 to the layout height of the wiring board 46, and the layout height of the wiring board 48 is equal to the layout height of the wiring board 47. This is a value obtained by adding the design value of the thickness of the sheet.

Notches 52 are formed at a plurality of corners of the wiring board 46 so that the supporting legs 50 and 51 of all the wiring boards 47 and 48 in the upper layer can pass therethrough. Wiring board 4
At the plurality of corners of 7, cutouts 53 that can pass through the support legs 51 of all the wiring boards 48 in the upper layer are formed. Since no wiring board is arranged on the upper layer of the wiring board 48,
Notches are not formed at a plurality of corners of the wiring board 48.

Accordingly, when the plurality of wiring boards 46 to 48 are accommodated in the lower case 45, the support legs 49 to 51 of the wiring boards 46 to 48 abut on the bottom wall 3a, and the wiring boards 46 to 48 are arranged in layers. Is done. At this time, the maximum tolerance α between the thickness of the insulating substrate constituting each of the wiring boards 46 to 48 and its design value.
However, even though the wiring boards 46 to 48 are arranged at the arrangement heights corresponding to the design values, the arrangement height of the bus bars of these wiring boards 46 to 48 is Only by the tolerance α. Therefore,
The difference between the protrusion length of each connection terminal and the design value in the connector housing 38 is only the tolerance α, and the protrusion length of each connection terminal becomes substantially uniform. Therefore, the electrical connection of the connector fitted to the connector housing 38 is improved.

According to the electric junction box of the present embodiment as described above, the following effects can be obtained. The influence on the protruding length of the connection terminals due to the design tolerance of the insulating substrate constituting the plurality of wiring boards 46 to 48 can be minimized, and the protruding lengths of the plurality of connection terminals can be made substantially uniform. Therefore, the connector (electrical component) can be satisfactorily connected to the connection terminal, and the reliability of the electric connection box can be secured.

A plurality of support legs 49 to 51 for supporting the plurality of wiring boards 46 to 48 are integrally formed at the corners of the wiring boards 46 to 48, and each of the wiring boards 46 and 47 has an upper layer. Since the notches 52 and 53 through which the supporting legs 50 and 51 for all the wiring boards can pass are formed, the lower case 4 is formed.
5, only the changes on the wiring boards 46 to 48 side are required. Further, the notches 52, 53 of the wiring boards 46, 47 are formed so as to allow the support legs 50, 51 of all the wiring boards on the upper layers to pass therethrough.
Can be easily formed.

A plurality of supporting legs 49 to 51 for supporting the plurality of wiring boards 46 to 48 are formed at the corners of the wiring boards 46 to 48, and the cutouts 52 and 53 of the wiring boards 46 and 47 are formed at the corners. Since it is formed in the portion, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the wiring efficiency of the bus bar in the wiring boards 46 to 48.

The embodiment may be modified as follows. (A) In the electrical junction box 1 of the first embodiment, a support projection for the lowermost wiring board 7 is additionally provided below the support projection 11, and the wiring board 7 is supported by the support projection. You may do so. In this case, the same operation and effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

(B) In the electric junction box 1 of the first embodiment, the support legs of the wiring board of the third embodiment may be used together. In this case, the support legs in the third embodiment are formed on the lower surface of one side of the wiring boards 7 to 10 and the lower case 3
However, the support projection may not be formed in the portion corresponding to the support leg. Further, in an electric junction box containing a multilayer wiring board, a plurality of lower wiring boards are supported by supporting projections provided on a lower case, and a plurality of upper wiring boards are supported by supporting legs formed on the lower surface thereof. It may be. In this case, the same operation and effect as those of the above embodiments can be obtained.

(C) As means for supporting the wiring board,
Prepare a support stand that is formed separately from the case body (lower case) and the plurality of wiring boards, and set the arrangement height of each wiring board. A plurality of support bases may be interposed between the reference plane and each wiring board. In this case, in addition to the same operations and effects as those of the above-described embodiments, the case body (lower case) is not changed, and only the change of forming the notch in the wiring board is sufficient.

(D) In (b), the support described in (c) may be used in combination. Next, other technical ideas that can be grasped from the above embodiments will be described below. (A) The electrical connection box according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of support protrusions are integrally formed in a stepwise manner in the housing direction of the wiring board.

(B) In the electrical junction box according to claim 1, each of the support means is formed separately from the case body and each wiring board, and is provided between the bottom surface of the case body and each wiring board. Electrical junction box, which is a support base interposed in

(C) In the electric connection box according to claim 1, each of the support means is formed integrally with the case body, and is formed integrally with a surface of the wiring board on the case body side. Connection box.

(D) Claims 1 to 4 and (a) to (c)
(C) The electrical junction box according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the lowermost wiring board is supported via a support means having a height set from a reference surface of the case body.

[0053]

As described in detail above, according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, a plurality of connection terminals are provided by minimizing the influence of the design tolerance of the wiring board on the protrusion length of the connection terminal. The protruding length of the terminal can be made substantially uniform, and the electrical component can be connected favorably to the connection terminal.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial front sectional view showing an electric connection box of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a partial front sectional view showing a protruding state of the connection terminal.

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view showing a lower case.

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view showing a lower case of the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a partial front sectional view of a state in which the wiring board is housed in the same manner.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a wiring board according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which wiring boards are stacked.

FIG. 8 is a front sectional view showing a state in which the wiring board is housed in a lower case.

FIG. 9 is a partial front sectional view showing a conventional electric junction box.

FIG. 10 is a partial front sectional view showing a state in which connection terminals of a conventional electric connection box protrude.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... case body, 3 ... lower case constituting the case body, 3a ... bottom wall as reference plane, 7-10 ... wiring board, 1
1 to 13: Supporting projections as support means, 14 to 17: Insulating substrate, 18 to 21: Bus bar, 26 to 29: Connection terminal, 35 to 37, 52, 53 ... Notch, 49 to 51 ...
Support legs as support means.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A wiring board is formed by arranging a bus bar having connection terminals raised on an insulating substrate made of synthetic resin to form a wiring board, and a plurality of wiring boards are housed in a layered manner in a case body.
In an electric connection box in which connection terminals of each wiring board are protruded from a case main body by penetrating an upper wiring board, among the plurality of wiring boards, each wiring board other than a lowermost wiring board is connected to the case main body. An electric junction box supported via supporting means in which the arrangement height of each wiring board from the reference plane is set. 2. The electrical junction box according to claim 1, wherein said support means is a support protrusion formed in said case body, and said plurality of wiring boards are used for supporting all of the wiring boards in an upper layer. An electric junction box having a notch through which a convex portion can pass. 3. The electrical junction box according to claim 1, wherein said support means is a support leg protruding from each of said wiring boards, and said plurality of wiring boards are support legs of all of the wiring boards in an upper layer. Electrical junction box with a notch through which the air can pass.