JP2001015944A - Electronic control unit box - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic control unit box capable of securely detaching a bolt to and from a case and a cover. SOLUTION: An ECU box 11 has a case 12 and a cover 13. A case-side bolt tightening section 14 is formed on a flank 12a of the case 12, and a cover- side bolt tightening section 22 is formed on the cover 13. A clip nut 15 is fixed to the case-side bolt tightening section 14. Unevenly structured ribs 17 are formed on both sides of the clip nut 15. An engagedly structured engaging projection 25 is formed on a bank side 13b of the cover 13 of the cover-side bolt tightening section 22. An unevenly structured groove 26 is formed on the back side 13b of the cover-side bolt tightening section 22. The groove 26 is formed in the corresponding position to each rib 17.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic control unit box mounted in, for example, an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an electronic control unit (ECU) for performing various electronic controls is mounted in an automobile. Usually, this ECU is formed of a printed wiring board, and is mounted in an automobile while being housed in an electronic control unit box (ECU box) in order to prevent intrusion of water, dust, and the like.

Conventionally, an ECU box 51 as shown in FIG. 11 has been known. The ECU box 51 includes a case 52 and a cover 53 each made of a synthetic resin. Two bolt fastening portions (case-side bolt fastening portions) 54 are provided at the opening edge of the case 52. The cover 53 is provided with a bolt fastening portion (cover-side bolt fastening portion) 55 corresponding to the bolt fastening portion 54.

As shown in FIG. 12, a metal collar 56 and a metal clip nut 57 are attached to the case-side bolt fastening portion 54. Further, a metal collar 58 is attached to the cover-side bolt fastening portion 55. Then, when the cover 53 is attached to the opening of the case 52, the bolt fastening portions 54 and 55 are aligned with each other. These two bolt fastening portions 54 and 55 are fastened by bolts 59. That is, the cover 53 is
Are inseparably attached by bolts 59. Specifically, the cover 53 is attached to each of the bolt fastening portions 54 and 55.
A bolt 59 is inserted through the upper surface of the bolt. For this reason, the bolt 59 is screwed to the nut portion 57a of the clip nut 57 while being inserted through the metal collars 58 and 56.

[0005]

By the way, such E
The CU box 51 is usually mounted in an engine room. Since the inside of the engine room has a high temperature atmosphere of 80 to 100 ° C., the ECU box 51 made of synthetic resin is used.
Softens with increasing temperature. Therefore, when the bolt 59 is tightened or removed, the bolt fastening portions 54 and 55 may be deformed. Particularly, the clip nut 57 is connected to the bolt fastening portion 5 of the case 52.
4, the fastening torque of the bolt 59 concentrates on the bolt fastening portion 54 and the bolt fastening portion 5
4 easily deforms. Then, due to this deformation, the clip nut 57 rotates together, so that the bolt 59 can not be securely tightened or removed.

For this reason, in the conventional ECU box 51, when the bolts 54 and 55 are aligned with each other, the bolts 54 and 55 are engaged with each other. That is, as shown in FIG. 12, the cover-side bolt fastening portion 55 is attached to the outer surface 54 a of the case-side bolt fastening portion 54.
Is provided, and an inner surface 60 a of the engaging portion 60 is engaged with an outer surface 54 a of the case-side bolt fastening portion 54. For this reason, the fastening torque of the bolt 59 is also distributed to the cover-side bolt fastening portion 55 via the engaging portion 60. Therefore, the case side bolt fastening portion 5
4 becomes difficult to deform.

However, if the engaging portion 60 is formed thick, the surface of the cover 53 will have sink marks. Since the surface of the cover 53 is a design surface, the appearance is impaired if such sink marks occur. Therefore, the engaging portion 60 could not be formed sufficiently thick. As a result, the fastening torque of the bolt 59 may deform the engaging portion 60 together with the case-side bolt fastening portion 54. For this reason, even if the engaging portion 60 is provided on the cover-side bolt fastening portion 55, the bolt 59 cannot be securely attached to and detached from the case 52 and the cover 53.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic control unit box capable of securely attaching and detaching bolts to and from a case and a cover.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a case capable of housing an electronic control unit and a cover attached to an opening of the case by bolts are provided. The electronic control unit box provided with an engagement structure that engages with the case-side bolt fastening portion and the cover-side bolt fastening portion, wherein the two bolt fastening portions have an uneven structure that can be fitted to each other. It is assumed that it has been established.

According to the invention described in claim 2, in the electronic control unit box according to claim 1, the concave-convex structure includes a rib provided on a bolt fastening portion on the case side,
The gist comprises a groove provided in the bolt fastening portion on the cover side.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electronic control unit box according to the first aspect, the concave-convex structure has a linear shape provided on both sides of a bolt insertion hole in a bolt fastening portion on the case side. And a straight groove provided on both sides of a bolt insertion hole in a bolt fastening portion on the cover side.

The "action" of the present invention will be described below. According to the first aspect of the present invention, the case and the cover are provided with an uneven structure at the bolt fastening portion. For this reason, the fastening torque of the bolt is distributed to the cover via the engaging structure provided on the case and the cover and the uneven structure. Therefore, the strength of the both bolt fastening portions with respect to the fastening torque can be improved. Therefore, deformation of both bolt fastening portions can be reliably prevented, and the bolt can be securely attached to and detached from the case and the cover.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the uneven structure includes the rib provided on the bolt fastening portion of the case and the groove provided on the bolt fastening portion of the cover. For this reason, both bolt fastening portions can be securely fitted to each other, and the fastening torque of the bolt can be reliably dispersed to the cover. Therefore, the strength of the both bolt fastening portions with respect to the fastening torque can be improved, and the deformation of the both bolt fastening portions can be reliably prevented. Therefore, the bolt 24 can be securely attached to and detached from the case and the cover.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the rib and the groove have a straight shape. For this reason, the structure of the both bolt fastening portions is not complicated, and the bolt fastening portions can be easily formed.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in an electronic control unit box (ECU box) for an automobile will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ECU box 11
Has a case 12 and a cover 13. Case 1
The cover 2 and the cover 13 are both resin molded products obtained by injection molding a synthetic resin. The case 12 is a box having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape opened upward, and has an electronic control unit (ECU) inside.
Can be accommodated.

On the side surface 12a of the case 12, two bolt fastening portions (case-side bolt fastening portions) 14 are formed. The case-side bolt fastening portions 14 are formed apart from each other at the upper edge of the side surface 12a. These case-side bolt fastening portions 14 are formed in a plate shape having a predetermined thickness.
2 and are formed integrally. The bolt fastening portion 14 has a flat portion that faces up and down and protrudes at right angles to the side surface 12a.

As shown also in FIGS. 2 to 5, the case-side bolt fastening portion 14 is formed with a clip mounting portion 14a to which a clip nut 15 can be mounted from the distal end side. The clip mounting portion 14a has a shape corresponding to the clip nut 15, and a through hole 14b as a bolt insertion hole penetrating vertically is provided substantially in the center thereof. The metal collar 16 can be mounted in the through hole 14b. That is, this through hole 14b
Is set substantially equal to the diameter of the metal collar 16. A bolt 24 can be inserted through the metal collar 16.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, ribs 17 are formed on both sides of the clip mounting portion 14a of the case-side bolt fastening portion 14 as an uneven structure. Each rib 17 is a linear ridge, and extends from the base end of the case-side bolt fastening portion 14 to the tip. A tapered surface 17 a is formed at the tip of each rib 17.

The clip nut 15 is made of a metal material,
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the clip 18 and the nut 1
9 is provided. The clip portion 18 is formed by bending a single metal plate into a substantially “U” shape. Clip part 1
In FIG. 8, a through hole 20 is provided at a position corresponding to the through hole 14b when the clip is mounted on the clip mounting portion 14a. Further, a projection 21 which can be engaged with the clip mounting portion 14a is formed on the inner surface of the clip portion 18.
The nut portion 19 is fixed on the lower surface of the clip portion 18 so that the female screw portion corresponds to the through hole 20.

As shown in FIG. 3, the clip nut 15 is mounted on the clip mounting portion 14a after the metal collar 16 is mounted in the through hole 14b. At this time, the clip nut 15 is mounted from the distal end side of the clip mounting portion 14a, as indicated by an arrow P1 in FIG. When the clip nut 15 is mounted on the clip mounting portion 14a, as shown in FIG. 4, the protrusion 21 engages with the engaging portion 14c of the clip mounting portion 14a. Thereby, the clip nut 15 is fixed to the clip mounting portion 14a so as not to come out. The metal collar 16 is held in the through hole 14b by the clip nut 15.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cover 13 is formed to be larger than the area of the opening of the case 12, and covers the opening and the case-side bolt fastening portions 14 from above the case 12. Attached to. On the upper surface 13a of the cover 13, each of the case-side bolt fastening portions 14
A bolt fastening portion (cover-side bolt fastening portion) 22 is formed in each of the locations corresponding to. In each cover-side bolt fastening portion 22, a through-hole 22 a as a bolt insertion hole similar to the through-hole 14 b is provided at a location corresponding to the through-hole 14 b of the case-side bolt fastening portion 14. A metal collar 23 can be attached to the through hole 22a. A bolt 24 can be inserted through the metal collar 23.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in the cover-side bolt fastening portion 22, an engagement projection 25 as an engagement structure is formed on the back surface 13b side of the cover 13.
As shown in FIG. 7, the engaging projection 25 is formed such that the inner peripheral surface 25 a engages with the outer peripheral surface 14 a of the case-side bolt fastening portion 14 when the cover 13 is attached. The engagement projection 25 is set to a thickness that does not cause sink marks on the upper surface (front surface) of the cover 13.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a groove 26 as an uneven structure is provided on the back surface 13b side of the cover-side bolt fastening portion 22. The groove 26 is provided at a position corresponding to each of the ribs 17. That is, the groove portions 26 are provided on both sides of the through hole 22a and have a substantially linear shape. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the groove 26 has the same shape as the rib 17. For this reason, when the cover 13 is attached to the case 12, the engagement protrusion 25 engages with the case-side bolt fastening portion 14, and each rib 17 fits into each groove 26.

The cover 13 and the case 12 are screwed and fixed by bolts 24. That is, the cover 1
A bolt 24 is inserted through the metal collar 23 and the metal collar 16 from above, and the bolt 24 is screwed to the nut portion 19 of the clip nut 15. Thereby, the cover 13 is attached to the case 12 so as to be inseparable. At this time, the engagement protrusion 25 is engaged with the case-side bolt fastening portion 14, and each rib 17 is fitted into each groove 26.
For this reason, the fastening torque of the bolt 24 is distributed to the cover 13 via the engaging projection 25 and also to the cover 13 via each rib 17. Therefore, the bolt 2
4, the strength of the two bolt fastening portions 14, 22 with respect to the fastening torque can be improved. In other words, the engagement protrusion 2
Even if the thickness of the bolt fastening portions 14 and 22 is not set,
Can be improved in strength. Therefore, deformation of both bolt fastening portions 14 and 22 can be reliably prevented, and bolt 24 can be securely attached to and detached from case 12 and cover 13.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) The case-side bolt fastening portion 14 is provided with a rib 17, and the cover-side bolt fastening portion 22 is provided with a groove 26 that can be fitted with the rib 17. The rib 17 and the groove 26 form an uneven structure. For this reason,
The fastening torque of the bolt 24 is determined by the case-side bolt fastening portion 14.
The projections 25 are dispersed to the cover 13 via the engaging structure between the engaging projections 25 and the concave and convex structures. Therefore, the strength of both bolt fastening portions 14 and 22 with respect to the fastening torque of bolt 24 can be improved.

As a result, even when the ECU case 11 is disposed in the engine room and the inside of the engine room is in a high-temperature atmosphere, the deformation of the bolt fastening portions 14 and 22 can be reliably prevented. . Therefore, Case 1
The bolt 24 can be securely attached to and detached from the cover 2 and the cover 13.

Moreover, the strength of the bolt fastening portions 14 and 22 can be improved without setting the engagement projection 25 to be thick. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience that sinks occur on the surface (design surface) of the cover 13 and the appearance is impaired.

(2) The concavo-convex structure includes the rib 17 provided on the case-side bolt fastening portion 14 and the cover-side bolt fastening portion 2
2 is provided with a groove 26 provided in the groove 2. Therefore, the two bolt fastening portions 14 and 22 can be securely fitted to each other, and the fastening torque of the bolt 24 can be reliably dispersed to the cover 13. Therefore, the strength of both bolt fastening portions 14, 22 with respect to the fastening torque can be improved, and deformation of both bolt fastening portions 14, 22 can be reliably prevented. Therefore, the bolt 24 can be securely attached to and detached from the case 12 and the cover 13.

(3) The rib 17 and the groove 26 are linear. For this reason, the structure of both bolt fastening parts 14 and 22 does not become complicated, and the bolt fastening parts 14 and 22 can be easily formed.

(4) The rib 17 is attached to the clip mounting portion 14a.
Are formed on both sides. For this reason, clip nut 1
The clip nut 15 can be mounted on the clip mounting portion 14a while guiding the ribs 5 on the opposite side surfaces of the rib 17. Therefore, the clip nut 15 can be easily and reliably mounted on the clip mounting portion 14a.

(5) The tip of the rib 17 has a tapered surface 17
a is provided. For this reason, the cover 13 is
The rib 17 can be easily fitted into the groove portion 26 when attaching to the groove 2. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the attachment of the cover 13 to the case 12 from being deteriorated.

The embodiment of the present invention may be modified as follows. In the above-described embodiment, the ribs 17 are formed on both sides of the clip mounting portion 14a, and these ribs 17 have an uneven structure of the case-side bolt insertion portion 14. However, as shown in FIG.
The rib 31 may be changed to the rib 31 formed along the entire peripheral edge of a, and the rib 31 may have the uneven structure. By doing so, the fastening torque of the bolt 24 can be more reliably dispersed to the cover 13, and the deformation of the bolt fastening portions 14, 22 can be more reliably prevented. In this case, it is necessary to change the shape of the groove 26 to a shape corresponding to the rib 31.

As shown in FIG. 9, the ribs 17 may be changed to a plurality of projections 32. In this case, the groove 26
Although it is not always necessary to change the shape of the projection 32, it is desirable to change the projection 32 to a recess corresponding to the projection 32.

As shown in FIG. 10, a clip nut 15 provided with a ridge 33 on the upper surface of the clip portion 18 is used. May be provided. The protrusions 33 are formed by bending both side edges of the upper surface side portion of the clip portion 18 upward. By doing so, the bolt 24
The strength of both bolt fastening portions 14 and 22 with respect to the fastening torque can be further improved.

In this case, the rib 17 and the groove 2
6 may be omitted. Even in this case, the ridge 33
And the fitting of the ridge 33 and the corresponding recess can sufficiently disperse the fastening torque of the bolt 24 to the cover 13. In addition, the ribs 1
Since there is no need to provide the groove 7 or the groove 26, the structure of the bolt fastening portions 14, 22 can be simplified. Therefore, the case 12 and the cover 13 can be easily formed.

In the above embodiment, two ribs 17 and two groove portions 26 are formed in the corresponding bolt fastening portions 14 and 22 respectively. However, the rib 17 and the groove 2
The number of 6 formed is not limited to two, and may be three or more or only one. When the number of the ribs 17 and the groove portions 26 is increased, the fastening torque of the bolt 24 can be more reliably distributed to the cover 13. When the number of the ribs 17 and the groove portions 26 is reduced, the structures of the bolt fastening portions 14 and 22 can be simplified, and the case 12 and the cover 13 can be easily formed.

In the above-described embodiment, the rib 17 is formed on the case-side bolt fastening portion 14, and the cover-side bolt fastening portion 2 is formed.
2 is provided with a groove 26. However, the case-side bolt fastening portion 14 is provided with the groove 26 and the cover-side bolt fastening portion 22 is provided.
The ribs 17 may be provided on the fins.

In the above embodiment, the ECU box 1
As 1, a case 12 and a cover 13 each having two bolt fastening portions 14 and 22 are used. However, the case 12 and the cover 13 having only one or three or more bolt fastening portions 14 and 22 may be used as the ECU box 11.

A tapered surface 17 provided at the tip of the rib 17
a may be omitted. The engagement protrusion 25 of the cover-side bolt fastening portion 22 may be omitted. Even in this case, the fastening torque of the bolt 24 is applied to the cover 1 via the fitting portion of the rib 17 and the groove 26.
3 can be dispersed. Therefore, the structure of the cover-side bolt fastening portion 22 can be simplified, and the cover 13 can be easily formed.

The bolt fastening portion 1 in the above embodiment
The structures 4 and 22 are not limited to the ECU box 11 as long as the case 12 and the cover 13 are attached by bolts 24, and may be used for any type of electric connection box.

Next, in addition to the technical ideas described in the claims, the technical ideas grasped by the above-described embodiment will be enumerated below. (1) The electronic control unit box according to claim 1, wherein the concave / convex structure includes a projection provided on a bolt fastening portion of the case and a concave portion provided on the bolt fastening portion of the cover.

(2) The electronic control unit box according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a tapered surface is provided at an upper end of the rib. According to the invention described in the technical concept (2), it is possible to prevent the attachment of the cover to the case from being deteriorated.

(3) In the electronic control unit box according to any one of the first to third aspects and the technical ideas (1) and (2), the case-side bolt fastening portion is provided with the same bolt fastening portion. A clip nut that can be pinched is attached to the

(4) In an electronic control unit box having a structure in which a cover is attached to an opening of a case accommodating the electronic control unit by using bolts, a bolt fastening portion of the case and a bolt fastening portion of the cover include: Providing an uneven structure that can be fitted to each other.

(5) A case and a cover attached to the opening of the case are provided, and the bolt fastening portion of the case and the bolt fastening portion of the cover are provided with engagement structures for engaging with each other. An electrical junction box, wherein the two bolt fastening portions are provided with an uneven structure that can be fitted to each other.

(6) a nut portion to which a bolt can be screwed;
A clip nut having a clip portion that can be pinched to a member to be mounted, and a ridge formed by bending a part of the clip portion is provided on both side edges of the clip portion. A clip nut, characterized in that:

[0048]

As described in detail above, according to the first to third aspects of the present invention, the bolt can be securely attached to and detached from the case and the cover.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the structure of both bolt fastening portions is not complicated, and the bolt fastening portions can be easily formed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an electronic control unit box according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of the electronic control unit box of the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view showing a part of the electronic control unit box of the embodiment;

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

FIG. 5 is a view as seen from the direction of arrow P1 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary rear view showing a part of a cover constituting the electronic control unit box of the embodiment in an enlarged manner;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIGS. 3 and 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view showing a part of an electronic control unit box according to another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged plan view showing a part of an electronic control unit box according to another embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the clip nut used in the electronic control unit box of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional electronic control unit box.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view showing a part of a conventional electronic control unit box.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... electronic control unit box (ECU box)
12 ... case, 13 ... cover, 14 ... bolt fastening part of case 12 (case side bolt fastening part), 15 ... clip nut, 16 ... metal collar, 17, 31 ... rib as uneven structure, 22 ... bolt of cover 13 Fastening portions (cover-side bolt fastening portions), 23: engagement projections, 25: engagement projections as an engagement structure, 26: grooves as an uneven structure, 32: projections, 33: projections.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A case accommodating an electronic control unit, and a cover attached to an opening of the case by bolts, wherein the case-side bolt fastening portion and the cover-side bolt fastening portion engage with each other. An electronic control unit box provided with an engaging structure that engages with each other, wherein the two bolt fastening portions are provided with concave and convex structures that can be fitted to each other. 2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the concave-convex structure includes a rib provided on a bolt fastening portion on the case side and a groove provided on a bolt fastening portion on the cover side. Electronic control unit box. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the concave and convex structure includes linear ribs provided on both sides of a bolt insertion hole in a bolt fastening portion on the case side, and both sides of a bolt insertion hole in a bolt fastening portion on the cover side. 2. The electronic control unit box according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit box comprises: