JP2000331721A - Terminal connection structure of electrical connection box - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a satisfactory terminal connection structure of an electrical connection box capable of facilitate screwing operation with good insertion workability of a terminal metal fitting, and preventing insertion error of inserting the terminal metal fitting inversely inside out. SOLUTION: A terminal metal fitting 35, including a screw inserting hole 35b and a crimp part 36 provided on a substrate part 35a, is inserted in a terminal fixing part 31 of a fusible link block 30, and a bolt 52 inserted in the screw inserting hole 35b is fastened to a nut 33 mounted on the terminal fixing part 31, so as to fasten and fix the terminal metal fitting 35 to the terminal fixing part 31. Insertion guiding means 48 having a guide groove 48a for introducing the terminal metal fitting 35 to be inserted in an appropriate insertion position and temporary locking means 50 for temporarily locking the terminal metal fitting 35 inserted into a predetermined fixing position are provided on the terminal fixing part 31.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a terminal connection structure for an electric connection box, and more particularly to a terminal connection structure for an electric connection box in which terminal fittings are inserted into terminal fixing portions of the electric connection box and fastened and fixed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 9 and 10 are a partially exploded perspective view and an entire exploded perspective view showing a conventional example of a terminal connection structure in a fusible link block which is a kind of an electric junction box. The fusible link block 1 shown here is
It is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-192601, etc., and includes a block main body 13, a bus bar 12, and a connection portion cover 1.
1, an outer cover 14 slidably provided on the block body 13 and the like.

The box-shaped block body 13 has a pair of terminal fixing portions 17, 17 formed on both sides facing each other, and one of the side walls forming the terminal fixing portions 17, 17 has a flexible lock arm. 13a are formed. The terminal fixing portion 17 is press-fitted and fixed with a nut 22 as a female screw member having a flange portion 22a which is a rectangular detent portion on the inner bottom of a concave portion depressed inward from the outer periphery.

[0004] The outer cover 14 having a rectangular tubular shape engages with the stopper projection 14a of the lock arm 13a and the stopper wall 14a.
7, 17 are kept closed. Further, a fuse mounting opening 18 in which the fuse 7 is mounted is formed in an upper portion of the block body 13. This fuse mounting opening 18
Are connected to the terminal fixing portions 17, 17 so that the male terminal portions of the mounted fuse 7 are inserted into the terminal fixing portions 17, 17, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 10, the bus bar 12 is formed by bending a plate material into an L-shape, and has a terminal portion 12b disposed on a terminal fixing portion 53 on one side and a terminal portion 12b on the other side. The connection part 12a with the battery terminal 16 is formed. The battery terminal 16 is connected to the bus bar 12 by inserting the battery post 2a of the battery 2 and inserting a bolt into the through hole of the connection portion 12a and tightening a nut. The battery terminal 16 and the fuse 7 mounted in the fuse mounting opening 18 are connected to the connection portion cover 11 rotatably supported by the block body 13.
Covered by

When connecting the terminal fittings 9 crimped to the ends of the electric wires 4 and 5 to the fusible link block 1, first, as shown in FIG. 9, the outer cover 14 is moved downward. With the terminal fixing portions 17 opened, the fuse 7 is mounted in the fuse mounting opening 18, and the terminal fitting 9 is inserted into the terminal fixing portion 17 from below the outer cover 14.

[0007] Then, from the exposed terminal fixing portion 17, the degree of overlap between the nut 22 and the terminal fitting 9 is checked.
The insertion of the terminal fitting 9 is stopped when the screw insertion hole 9b on the substrate portion 9a is exactly over the screw hole of the nut 22, and then the bus bar 12 is tightened by the bolt 20.
Of the fuse 7, the male terminal of the fuse 7, and the terminal fitting 9 are fixedly fastened to the nut 22 together. Thereafter, the outer cover 14 is slid upward and the stopper wall 14a is engaged with the locking projection of the lock arm 13a, whereby the outer cover 14 is held at the closed position where the terminal fixing portions 17, 17 are closed.

[0008]

However, the terminal fixing portion 17 of the fusible link block 1 has the terminal fitting 9 inserted from below the outer cover 14.
There is no guide for guiding the position to the appropriate position, and there is no mechanism for positioning the position at the appropriate position. Therefore, the substrate 9a of the terminal fitting 9
When aligning the upper screw insertion hole 9b with the screw hole of the nut 22, the adjustment of the insertion amount of the terminal fitting 9 and the orientation of the terminal fitting 9 must rely on the feel of the operator's hand. There has been a problem that the operability of inserting the terminal fittings is not good, for example, when the tip of the substrate portion 9a hits the outer periphery of the nut 22 when the substrate 9 is inserted and the nut cannot be quickly inserted.

The terminal fitting 9 inserted in the terminal fixing portion 17
Even after the screw insertion hole 9b is aligned with the screw hole of the nut 22, the bolt 20 must be tightened while maintaining the positioning state with one hand.
There is also a problem that it is difficult to perform the screwing work.

Further, each terminal fixing portion 17 is tightened and fixed in a posture in which the lower surface 9c of the substrate portion 9a, from which the crimping portion 9d, which is the wire connection portion of the terminal fitting 9, does not project, faces the tip end surface of the nut 22. Although it is configured as a premise, for example, as in the terminal fitting 9 shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 10, if the electric contact portion is inserted in the opposite direction without noticing the front and back of the terminal fitting 9 having the same shape, the terminal There is a possibility that the crimping portion 9 d of the metal fitting 9 interferes with the wall surface of the terminal fixing portion 17 and cannot be securely tightened and fixed by the bolt 20. In addition, forcibly tightening the bolt 20 in this state may cause deformation of the terminal fitting 9.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, and the operability of inserting the terminal fittings is good, the screwing work can be easily performed, and the erroneous insertion of the terminal fittings reversely inserted is prevented. It is an object of the present invention to provide a good terminal connection structure of an electric junction box.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to insert a terminal fitting provided with a screw insertion hole and an electric wire connection portion into a substantially rectangular substrate portion into a terminal fixing portion of an electric connection box, and In a terminal connection structure of an electric junction box, the terminal fitting is fastened and fixed to the terminal fixing portion by fastening a male screw member inserted into the insertion hole to a female screw member attached to the terminal fixing portion. An insertion guide for guiding the inserted terminal fitting to a predetermined fixing position in an appropriate insertion posture is provided, and a temporary locking means for temporarily locking the terminal fitting inserted to the predetermined fixing position is provided. This is achieved by the terminal connection structure of the electric junction box.

According to the above construction, the terminal fitting inserted into the terminal fixing portion of the electric connection box can be fixed to a predetermined position by the insertion guide means provided on the terminal fixing portion without causing any trouble such as inclination of the terminal fitting. It is quickly guided to the fixed position.
Then, the terminal fitting guided to the regular fixing position of the terminal fixing portion by the insertion guide means provided in the terminal fixing portion,
Since the terminal fitting is temporarily locked by the temporary locking means, the positioning of the terminal fitting inserted into the terminal fixing portion can be facilitated, and the positioning state can be easily maintained.

Preferably, the insertion guide has a guide groove engaging with one side edge of the terminal fitting, and the temporary locking means is formed on the other side edge of the terminal fitting. It has a flexible lock arm detachable from the locking recess. In this case, if the terminal fitting is incorrectly inserted by inserting it upside down,
The locking recess of the terminal fitting cannot be engaged with the flexible lock arm, and the terminal fitting that is not temporarily locked falls off from the terminal fixing portion, so that the operator can detect erroneous insertion.

Further, preferably, the terminal fitting is provided with an abutment portion which abuts on a part of the terminal fixing portion and is prevented from rotating when temporarily fixed to the terminal fixing portion. in this case,
When fastening the terminal fitting to the female screw member by tightening the male screw member, even if the terminal fitting is not pressed with fingers or the like, the terminal fitting that contacts the part of the terminal fixing part and is prevented from rotating is The fastening operation can be performed easily and smoothly without rotating together with the male screw member.
In addition, the above-mentioned substantially rectangular board part should just have a linear side edge along the terminal insertion direction, for example, a tip part may be circular.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a terminal connection structure of an electric connection box according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a main part showing a terminal connection structure of an electric junction box according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an essential part for explaining an assembled state of the terminal connection structure shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the terminal connection structure shown in FIG.

The fusible link block 30 as the electric junction box according to the first embodiment has a fuse mounting opening 39 for mounting a fuse (not shown) on the upper surface, similarly to the fusible link block 1 shown in FIG. And a block main body 42 having a pair of terminal fixing portions 31 formed on opposite sides thereof, an outer cover 44 slidably provided on the block main body 42, and the like. Note that the configuration of the block body 42 and the outer cover 44 is such that the terminal fixing portion 31 is
Except for having the block 8 and the temporary locking means 50, the fusible link block 1 has substantially the same configuration as the block body 13 and the outer cover 14 shown in FIG. Omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the terminal fixing portion 31 is a female screw member having a rectangular flange portion which is a detent portion on the inner bottom 47 of a concave portion 46 which is recessed inward from the outer periphery. The nut 33 is press-fitted and fixed, and a male terminal portion of a fuse (not shown) and a terminal fitting 35 to be described later are jointly fixed to the nut 33 by fastening with a bolt 52.

The terminal fitting 35 to be crimped to the end of the electric wire 37 is provided with a screw insertion hole 35b and a crimping portion 36 which is a wire connection portion in a substantially rectangular board portion 35a. Is provided with a locking recess 35d for temporary locking. Note that the locking recess 35 d is
It can be formed as a notch during press molding of a. The terminal fixing portion 31 is provided with insertion guide means 48 for guiding the terminal fitting 35 inserted into the concave portion 46 to a predetermined fixing position in an appropriate insertion posture, and the terminal fitting 35 inserted to the predetermined fixing position. Is temporarily provided.

The insertion guide means 48 of the present embodiment is formed on one of the inner walls of the side walls constituting the terminal fixing portion 31, and is connected to one side edge of the substrate 35a of the terminal fitting 35 inserted into the recess 46. A guide groove 48a for supporting the substrate portion 35a in the plate thickness direction, and a terminal fitting in the insertion direction at a height at which the lower surface of the substrate portion 35a from which the crimping portion 36 does not protrude overlaps the tip end surface of the nut 33. 35 is slidably guided.

The provisional locking means 50 is formed on the other inner wall of the side wall constituting the terminal fixing portion 31,
Has a flexible lock arm that can be engaged with and disengaged from the locking recess 35d of the terminal fitting 35 inserted into the terminal fitting 35. Therefore, the terminal fitting 35 guided by the insertion guide means 48 is:
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a predetermined fixing position in the terminal fixing portion 31 (that is, the screw insertion hole 3 of the terminal fitting 35).
5b is inserted into the screw hole of the nut 33), the locking projection 35 of the flexible lock arm is inserted into the locking recess 35d formed in the plate-like portion 35a of the terminal fitting 35.
Oa is engaged, and the terminal fitting 35 is temporarily locked to prevent the terminal fitting 35 from coming off from the terminal fixing portion 31.

Therefore, when connecting the terminal fitting 35 crimped to the end of the electric wire 37 to the fusible link block 30, first, the outer cover 44 is moved downward to open the terminal fixing portion 31. Then, a fuse is mounted in the fuse mounting opening 39, and the terminal fitting 35 is inserted into the terminal fixing portion 31 from below the outer cover 44. At this time, the terminal fitting 35 inserted into the terminal fixing portion 31
By pushing one side edge of the board portion 35a while engaging it with the guide groove 48a of the insertion guide means 48, the screw of the terminal fitting 35 is kept in a proper posture with the lower surface of the board portion 35a facing the inner bottom portion 47 side. The insertion hole 35b is just the nut 33
A predetermined fixed position that overlaps the screw hole of. Note that, when the terminal fitting 35 in the present embodiment is inserted into the terminal fixing portion 31, the other side edge opposite to one side edge of the substrate portion 35a that engages with the guide groove 48a has the flexibility. Since it is pressed and urged by the lock arm, it can be inserted more smoothly without rattling.

When the terminal fitting 35 reaches a predetermined fixed position, the locking projection 50a of the flexible lock arm engages with the locking recess 35d of the board portion 35a to prevent the terminal fitting 35 from coming off. In this state, the terminal fitting 35 is maintained in the temporarily locked state positioned at the predetermined fixed position. In the state where the terminal fitting 35 is temporarily locked at the predetermined fixing position by the temporary locking means 50, the terminal fitting 35 is fixedly fastened to the nut 33 with the bolt 52 and the outer cover 44 is closed, so that the fusible link is formed. All the work of connecting the terminal fitting 35 to the block 30 is completed.

As described above, in the fusible link block 30 according to the present embodiment, the terminal fitting 35 inserted into the terminal fixing portion 31 is tilted by the insertion guide means 48 provided on the terminal fixing portion 31. Is quickly led to the predetermined fixed position without causing the inconvenience.
Therefore, the terminal fitting 35 can be easily and promptly inserted into the predetermined fixing position of the terminal fixing part 31, and the terminal fitting 3
5 excellent insertion operability can be obtained.

Further, the terminal fitting 3 guided to a predetermined fixed position by the insertion guide means 48 provided on the terminal fixing portion 31 is provided.
5 is temporarily locked by the temporary locking means 50, so that the screw holes 35b of the terminal fittings 35 inserted into the terminal fixing portions 31 are provided.
Can be easily positioned with respect to the nut 33,
Since the positioning state can be maintained without being supported by hand, the terminal fitting 35 is fixed to the nut 3 by the bolt 52.
The work of screwing to 3 becomes easy.

Further, as shown in FIG.
In the case of erroneous insertion into the terminal fixing portion 31 with the front and back of 5 being reversed, the locking recess 35d of the terminal fitting 35 cannot engage with the locking projection 50a of the flexible lock arm. Since the terminal fittings 35 that are not temporarily locked fall off from the terminal fixing portion 31, the operator can detect erroneous insertion and prevent erroneous insertion. Therefore, the crimping portion 3 of the terminal fitting 35
6 interferes with the inner bottom portion 47 of the terminal fixing portion 31 and the bolt 52
Therefore, there is no possibility that the bolts 52 will be forcibly tightened and the terminal fittings 35 will be deformed.

Next, a terminal connection structure of an electric connection box according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The block body 42 and the outer cover 44 of the fusible link block 30 according to the second embodiment.
And the like are exactly the same as the first embodiment,
The same reference numerals are given and detailed description is omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the terminal fitting 55 of the second embodiment fixed to the terminal fixing portion 31 has a substantially rectangular shape like the terminal fitting 35 of the first embodiment. The board part 55a is provided with a screw insertion hole 55b and a crimping part 56 which is an electric wire connection part, and a locking recess 55d for temporary locking is provided on one side edge of the board part 55a. Furthermore,
At an appropriate position near the crimping portion 56 of the substrate portion 55a, when the terminal fixing portion 31 is temporarily locked to the terminal fixing portion 31,
Is provided with a contact portion 55c which is in contact with the step portion 31a which is a part of the contact portion and is prevented from rotating.

As shown in FIG. 8, the contact portion 55c is a bent portion obtained by bending the substrate portion 55a into a crank shape when the terminal fitting 55 is press-formed.
When the screw insertion hole 55b reaches a predetermined fixed position just over the screw hole of the nut 33, the screw insertion hole 55b is formed to have an appropriate size to contact the step portion 31a. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the terminal fitting 55 is inserted to the predetermined fixing position of the terminal fixing portion 31, the contact portion 55c comes into contact with the step portion 31a. When the terminal fitting 55 is fastened and fixed to the nut 33 by
Even if the terminal fitting 55 is not pressed with a finger or the like, the terminal fitting 55 in which the contact portion 55c abuts on the step portion 31a and is prevented from rotating does not rotate together with the bolt 52, so that the tightening operation can be performed easily and easily. It can be done smoothly.

In each of the above embodiments, the fusible link block is shown as the electric connection box. However, the terminal connection structure of the present invention can be applied to various electric connection boxes other than the fusible link block. Further, the configuration of the insertion guide means and the temporary locking means in the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the guide groove and the flexible lock arm in each of the above embodiments, but may be appropriately changed based on the gist of the present invention. It goes without saying that it is possible.

[0031]

According to the terminal connection structure of the electric connection box of the present invention, the terminal fitting inserted into the terminal fixing portion of the electric connection box is tilted to the terminal fitting by the insertion guide means provided in the terminal fixing portion. Without any inconvenience such as the above, it is quickly guided to the predetermined fixed position. Then, the terminal fittings guided to the regular fixing positions of the terminal fixing parts by the insertion guide means provided in the terminal fixing parts are temporarily locked by the temporary locking means, so that the terminal fittings inserted into the terminal fixing parts are fixed. The positioning can be easily performed, and the positioning state can be easily maintained.

Further, the insertion guide has a guide groove which engages with one side edge of the terminal fitting, and the temporary locking means has a locking groove formed on the other side edge of the terminal fitting. By having a flexible lock arm that can be disengaged from the recess, the locking recess of the terminal fitting can engage with the flexible lock arm when the terminal fitting is incorrectly inserted with the front and back reversed. However, the terminal fitting that is not temporarily locked falls off from the terminal fixing portion, so that the operator can detect erroneous insertion. Therefore, it is possible to provide a good terminal connection structure of the electric connection box which has good insertion operability of the terminal fittings, can easily perform screwing work, and can prevent erroneous insertion of the terminal fittings upside down.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a main part showing a terminal connection structure of an electric junction box according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a principal part for explaining an assembled state of the terminal connection structure shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the terminal connection structure shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a terminal connection structure showing an erroneous insertion state of the terminal fitting shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a main part showing a terminal connection structure of an electric junction box according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the terminal connection structure shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating an assembled state of the terminal connection structure shown in FIG. 6;

8 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a partially exploded perspective view showing a terminal connection structure in a conventional fusible link block.

10 is an overall exploded perspective view of the fusible link block shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 30 fusible link block 31 terminal fixing part 33 nut 35 terminal fitting 35a substrate part 35b screw insertion hole 35d locking concave part 36 crimping part 37 electric wire 42 block body 44 outer cover 47 inner bottom part 48 insertion guide means 48a guide groove 50 temporary locking means 52 volts

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5E012 BA12 5E085 BB01 BB12 CC03 DD09 FF16 GG02 JJ38 JJ40 5G361 BA03 BB01 BC01 BC03

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A terminal fitting having a substantially rectangular substrate part having a screw insertion hole and an electric wire connection part is inserted into a terminal fixing part of an electric connection box, and a male screw member inserted through the screw insertion hole is fixed to the terminal. By fastening to the female screw member attached to the part,
In a terminal connection structure of an electric connection box for fastening and fixing the terminal fitting to the terminal fixing part, the terminal fixing part is provided with insertion guide means for guiding the terminal fitting to be inserted to a predetermined fixing position in an appropriate insertion posture. A terminal locking structure for temporarily locking the terminal fitting inserted to the predetermined fixing position. 2. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the insertion guide unit has a guide groove that engages with one side edge of the terminal fitting, and the temporary locking unit includes:
2. The terminal connection structure for an electric connection box according to claim 1, further comprising a flexible lock arm that can be engaged with and disengaged from a locking recess formed on the other side edge of the terminal fitting. 3. 3. The terminal fitting according to claim 1, wherein the terminal fitting is provided with a contact portion that is temporarily stopped by the terminal fixing portion and abuts on a part of the terminal fixing portion to prevent rotation. The terminal connection structure for an electric connection box according to claim 1.