JP2002078146A - Electric junction box - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric junction box which allows reduction in size. SOLUTION: An electric junction box 1 is provided with a connector mounting part 4 on which a connector is mounted, a fuse mounting part 5 on which a fuse is mounted and a relay mounting part 6 on which a relay is mounted. The electric junction box 1 accommodates a bus-bar layered product 15 provided with a connector circuit module 11, a fuse circuit module 12 and a relay circuit module 13. Parts of bus bars 11a, 12a and 13a comprising respective modules 11, 12 and 13 are extruded to the side of the lower casing 3. The respective modules 11, 12 and 13 are mutually connected, whereby the first connecting part 21, the second connecting part 22 and the third connecting part 23 are formed. The tip of the first connecting part 21 is disposed in a stamped-out part 31 of the housing 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric junction box mounted on, for example, an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, electrical components such as relays, fuses and connectors for automobiles are mounted in a vehicle while being accommodated in an electrical junction box. Above all, in an electric connection box in which a bus bar is housed, various electric components are in a state of being electrically connected to a connection circuit formed by the bus bar.

[0003] For example, as shown in FIG.
1 includes a first case 52 and a second case 53. The second case 53 fits with the first case 52 to form a box 55. The first case 52 is
A connector mounting portion (not shown), a fuse mounting portion 54, and a relay mounting portion (not shown) are provided. A connector (not shown) is mounted on the connector mounting portion. A fuse (not shown) is mounted on the fuse mounting portion 54. A relay (not shown) is mounted on the relay mounting portion.

[0004] The electric connection box 51 houses a bus bar laminate 56. The bus bar laminate 56 includes a relay circuit module (not shown) and a connector circuit module 5 (not shown).
7 and a fuse circuit module 58. The relay circuit module includes a bus bar (not shown) that is wired to the relay mounting section. The connector circuit module 57 includes a bus bar 59a wired to the connector mounting section. The bus bar 59a protrudes outward along the surface direction of the bus bar laminate 56. The fuse circuit module 58 includes a bus bar 59b wired to the fuse mounting section 54. The bus bar 59b protrudes outward along the surface direction of the bus bar laminate 56. The connection portion 60 is formed by connecting the bus bar 59a and the bus bar 59b. The connecting portion 60 is arranged at an end of the bus bar laminate 56.

[0005]

Incidentally, the electric junction box 51 tends to be miniaturized from the viewpoint of reducing the weight of the vehicle and saving the space in the engine room. However, the connection portion 60 protruded outward from the end of the bus bar laminate 56 along the surface direction of the bus bar laminate 56. Therefore, the space 61 for accommodating the connection part 60 in the box 55 had to be provided separately. Therefore, box 5
5 increased in the plane direction of the bus bar laminate 56 (the left-right direction in FIG. 6). As a result, there is a problem that the electric connection box 51 becomes large.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electric junction box that can be reduced in size.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector mounting portion for mounting a connector, a fuse mounting portion for mounting a fuse, and a relay. A first case including a relay mounting portion, and a second case configured to fit into the first case to form a box.
A connector circuit module including a case, and a bus bar wired to the connector mounting portion to configure a connector connection circuit; a fuse circuit module including a bus bar wired to the fuse mounting portion to configure a fuse connection circuit; In an electrical junction box that houses a bus bar laminate including a relay circuit module that includes a bus bar that is wired to a relay mounting portion and forms a relay connection circuit, a part of the bus bar that configures each module is separated from each module. The gist is that a connection portion is formed by projecting toward the second case side and connecting them to each other, and a tip of the connection portion is arranged in an empty space in the box.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the electrical junction box according to the first aspect, the empty space is an existing lightened portion provided on the inner surface side of the second case. And

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electrical connection box according to the first aspect, in the bus bar laminate, a printed circuit board is provided on the second case side, and a tip of the connection portion is connected to the bus bar. The gist is that it is arranged in a space between the laminate and the printed board.

Hereinafter, the "action" of the present invention will be described. According to the first aspect of the present invention, the connecting portion protrudes from the end of the bus bar laminate toward the second case. Therefore, it is prevented that the box body becomes large in the surface direction of the bus bar laminate. Further, since the connection portion is accommodated in an empty space in the box, the box is prevented from becoming large in the stacking direction of the bus bar stack. Therefore, the size of the electric connection box can be reduced.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the connection portion is accommodated in the existing lightening portion provided on the inner surface side of the second case. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a separate space for accommodating the connection portion. Therefore, the electric connection box can be easily manufactured.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the tip of the connection portion is arranged in the space between the bus bar laminate and the printed circuit board. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a space for arranging the connection unit. Therefore, the electric connection box can be easily manufactured.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in an electric junction box for a vehicle will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electric connection box 1
An upper case 2 as a case and a lower case 3 as a second case are provided. On the component mounting surface 2a of the upper case 2, a connector mounting portion 4, a fuse mounting portion 5, and a relay mounting portion 6 are formed. A connector (not shown) is mounted on the connector mounting section 4. A fuse (not shown) is mounted on the fuse mounting section 5. A relay (not shown) is mounted on the relay mounting section 6. Also,
The lower case 3 is fitted to the upper case 2. The cases 2 and 3 are formed so as to be fitted to each other, and when both cases 2 and 3 are fitted to each other, a box 7 having an internal space is formed.

A printed circuit board 14 and a bus bar laminate 15 are accommodated in the electric junction box 1. An insulating plate 33 is provided in a space 32 between the printed board 14 and the bus bar laminate 15. The insulating plate 33 is provided with two accommodating portions 33a each having a U-shaped cross section. The bus bar laminate 15 includes a flexible printed circuit board 18, a relay circuit module 13, a connector circuit module 11, and a fuse circuit module 12. The flexible printed board 18 is configured by covering a copper foil pattern 18a formed in a predetermined shape with a resin sheet. The flexible printed board 18 has a two-layer structure including a first board 18b and a second board 18c. Then, each substrate 18
The predetermined copper foil patterns 18a of b and 18c are electrically connected by ultrasonic welding or the like. In the present embodiment, the thickness of the copper foil pattern 18a of the flexible printed circuit board 18 is set to about 0.1 mm so that a maximum current of 10 amperes can flow.

A connection terminal 18d is formed at a location on the flexible printed circuit board 18 corresponding to the predetermined connector mounting section 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the connection terminal portion 18d is bent so as to come into contact with a conductor pattern (not shown) wired on the printed board 14. The connection terminal 18 d and the printed circuit board 14 are sandwiched and held by the connection clip 20. For this reason, the connection terminal portion 18d is electrically connected to the conductor pattern of the printed circuit board 14. The connection terminal portion 18d of the flexible printed circuit board 18 is the same as that shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), they are arranged in the corresponding connector mounting sections 4, respectively.

The relay circuit module 13 is wired to the relay mounting section 6 to constitute a relay connection circuit. The relay circuit module 13 has a two-layer structure. The relay circuit module 13 is configured by alternately laminating a plurality of bus bars 13a made of a conductive metal plate material formed in a predetermined shape and an insulating base material 13b made of a synthetic resin. 1 and 3
In the figure, a plurality of busbar terminals 17a projecting upward (toward the upper case 2) are formed on the upper surface (toward the upper case 2) of the relay circuit module 13. These bus bar terminals 17a are formed by bending a part of the bus bar 13a, and are formed at locations corresponding to the relay mounting portions 6, respectively. That is, the bus bar terminal 17
a is wired to the relay mounting part 6 and connected to the relay. As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of projecting pieces 1 projecting downward (toward the lower case 3) are provided on the opposite side surfaces of the relay circuit module 13.
7b is formed.

The connector circuit module 11 is wired to the flexible printed circuit board 18 and the connector mounting section 4 to constitute a connector connection circuit.
That is, in the connector connection circuit, a current path through which a current of 10 amperes or less flows
8. In the connector connection circuit, a current path through which a current exceeding 10 amperes flows is configured by the connector circuit module 11.
In other words, a small current area in the connector connection circuit is constituted by the flexible printed circuit board 18.

The connector circuit module 11 is formed one size smaller than the upper case 2 and has a two-layer structure in one part and a four-layer structure in the other part. The connector circuit module 11 is configured by alternately stacking a plurality of bus bars 11a made of a conductive metal plate material formed in a predetermined shape and an insulating base material 11b made of a synthetic resin. A plurality of busbar terminals 15a protruding upward (toward the upper case 2) are formed on the upper surface (the surface of the upper case 2) of the connector circuit module 11. These bus bar terminals 15a are connected to the bus bar 11a.
Are formed by bending a part of the upper case 2, and are formed at locations corresponding to predetermined connector mounting portions 4 formed on the upper case 2. That is, the bus bar terminal 15
a is wired to the connector mounting portion 4 and connected to the connector. Connector circuit module 1
On one side surface of one, a board connecting portion 15c protruding upward (toward the upper case 2) is formed. The board connecting portion 15c is configured such that a part of the bus bar 11a is bent upward (toward the upper case 2). A through hole 15d through which bus bar terminals 16a, 17a described later can be inserted is formed in the upper surface of the connector circuit module 11 (the surface on the upper case 2 side).

As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of protruding pieces 15b projecting downward (toward the lower case 3) are formed on one side surface and the lower surface (the surface on the lower case 3 side) of the connector circuit module 11. ing. Then, by connecting the protruding pieces 15b provided on the lower surface of the connector circuit module 11 (the surface on the lower case 3 side) to the respective protruding pieces 17b formed on one side surface of the relay circuit module 13, the third
The connection part 23 is formed. The third connection portion 23 is formed so as to protrude from the surface of the bus bar laminate 15 on the lower case 3 side. The tip of the third connection portion 23 is disposed in an empty space in the box 7. Specifically, the tip of the third connection part 23 is disposed in the housing part 33 a provided on the insulating plate 33.

The fuse circuit module 12 is wired to the fuse mounting section 5 to constitute a fuse connection circuit. The fuse circuit module 12 has a two-layer structure. Fuse circuit module 12
Is constituted by alternately laminating a plurality of bus bars 12a each formed of a conductive metal plate material formed in a predetermined shape and an insulating base material 12b made of synthetic resin. A plurality of busbar terminals 16a projecting upward (upper case 2 side) are formed on the upper surface (upper case 2 side) of the fuse circuit module 12. These bus bar terminals 16a are formed by bending a part of the bus bar 12a, and are formed at locations corresponding to the fuse mounting portions 5, respectively. That is, the bus bar terminal 1
6a is connected to the fuse wired to the fuse mounting portion 5.

A plurality of projecting pieces 16b projecting downward (toward the lower case 3) are formed on the opposing side surfaces of the fuse circuit module 12, respectively. A protruding piece 16b formed on one side of the fuse circuit module 12 and each protruding piece 17 formed on the other side of the relay circuit module 13
The second connection portion 22 is formed by connecting the second connection portion 22b to the second connection portion 22b. The second connection portion 22 is formed so as to protrude from the surface of the bus bar laminate 15 on the lower case 3 side. The tip of the second connection portion 22 is disposed in an empty space in the box 7. Specifically, the second
The distal end of the connection part 22 is disposed in the housing part 33 a provided on the insulating plate 33.

The projecting piece 16b formed on the other side of the fuse circuit module 12 and the connector circuit module 1
The first connecting portion 21 is formed by connecting each protruding piece 15b formed on one side surface of the first connecting portion 21. The first connection part 21 is formed so as to protrude from the surface of the bus bar laminate 15 on the lower case 3 side. The first connecting portion 21 is connected to the lower case 3 from the bus bars 11a and 12a.
It is bent toward the side. This first connection part 21
Are arranged on one side surface of the bus bar laminate 15. The distal end of the first connection portion 21 is arranged in a lightening portion 31 as an empty space in the box 7. The first connection portion 21 is arranged in a state separated from the inner wall surface of the lightening portion 31. Here, the lightening portion 31 is originally provided on the inner surface side of the lower case 3. The lightening portion 31 is a space surrounded by the lower case 3 and the plurality of ribs 31a for positioning the bus bar laminated body 15.

The connector circuit module 11 is the uppermost layer (the layer on the upper case 2 side) of the bus bar laminate 15.
It is arranged so that it becomes. The fuse circuit module 12 and the relay circuit module 13 are arranged to be an intermediate layer (a layer closer to the lower case 3 than the connector circuit module 11) in the bus bar laminate 15.
The flexible printed circuit board 18 is used for the bus bar laminate 15.
Are arranged at the lowermost layer (the layer on the lower case 3 side with respect to the fuse circuit module 12 and the relay circuit module 13). More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the fuse circuit module 12 and the relay circuit module 13 are provided in a two-layer structure on the lower surface side (the surface on the lower case 3 side) of the connector circuit module 11.
Are arranged side by side. The flexible printed circuit board 18 is arranged on the lower surface side (the surface on the lower case 3 side) of each of the circuit modules 11 to 13. That is, the flexible printed circuit board 18 is arranged adjacent to the surface of each of the circuit modules 11 to 13 where the bus bar terminals 15a to 17a are not formed. Further, on the lower layer side (layer on the lower case 3 side) of the flexible printed board 18, the printed board 14 is arranged.

When each of the circuit modules 11 to 13 is accommodated in the electric junction box 1, the bus bar terminals 16 a and 17 a of the fuse circuit module 12 and the relay circuit module 13 are inserted into the through holes 15 d of the connector circuit module 11. It is inserted. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the corresponding protruding pieces 15b-1 of the respective circuit modules 11-13.
7b come into contact with each other. The protruding pieces 15b to 17b are welded by ultrasonic welding or the like. This allows
Each of the circuit modules 11 to 13 is electrically connected.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) The first connection portion 21, the second connection portion 22, and the third connection portion 23 project from the lower end surface (the surface on the lower case 3 side) of the bus bar laminate 15 toward the lower case 3. Therefore, it is prevented that the box 7 becomes large in the surface direction of the bus bar laminate 15 (the left-right direction shown in FIG. 3). In addition, the first connection portion 21 is disposed in the lightening portion 31 as an empty space in the box 7, and the second connection portion 22 and the third connection portion 23 are provided on the insulating plate 33 in the box 7. It is arranged in the accommodating portion 33a. Therefore, it is prevented that the box 7 becomes large in the stacking direction of the bus bar stacked body 15 (the vertical direction shown in FIG. 3). Therefore, the electrical junction box 1 can be reduced in size.

(2) The first connecting portion 21 is accommodated in an existing lightening portion 31 provided on the inner surface side of the lower case 3. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a space for accommodating the first connection portion 21. Therefore,
The electric junction box 1 can be easily manufactured.

(3) Second connection part 22 and third connection part 23
Are arranged in a housing portion 33 a provided on the insulating plate 33. Therefore, the second connecting portion 22
In addition, it is not necessary to separately provide a space for disposing the third connection portion 23. Therefore, the electric junction box 1 can be easily manufactured.

(4) The first connecting portion 21 is arranged so as to be separated from the inner wall surface of the lightening portion 31. Therefore, not only the first connection part 21 but also the flexible printed circuit board 18 can be arranged in a bent state inside the lightening part 31.

(5) An insulating plate 33 is provided between the printed board 14 and the bus bar laminate 15. The insulating plate 33 has an accommodating portion 33 a having a U-shaped cross section corresponding to the second connecting portion 22 and the third connecting portion 23. Therefore, the second connection part 22 and the third connection part 23 are prevented from contacting the printed circuit board 14. Therefore, the insulation between the second connection part 22 and the third connection part 23 and the printed circuit board 14 can be reliably performed.

The embodiment of the present invention may be modified as follows. -In the said embodiment, the 1st connection part 21 and the 2nd connection part 22
And the 3rd connection part 23 was formed by welding each projecting piece 15b-17b using ultrasonic welding or the like. However, the first connecting portion 21, the second connecting portion 22, and the third
The connection of the connecting portion 23 may be formed by soldering the protruding pieces 15b to 17b. Further, by connecting the protruding pieces 15b to 17b to each other via a mechanical structure such as a clip, the first connecting portion 21 and the second connecting portion 2 are connected.
The second and third connection portions 23 may be formed.

In the above embodiment, the first connecting portion 21 is
Existing lightening portion 31 provided on the inner surface side of lower case 3
Had been placed. However, the first connection portion 21 may be disposed in the space 32 between the bus bar laminate 15 and the printed board 14.

As shown in FIG. 5, only the first connection portion 21 may be disposed inside the lightening portion 31, and the flexible printed circuit board 18 may be omitted. -In the said embodiment, the 2nd connection part 22 and the 3rd connection part 2
The tip of 3 was arranged in the accommodating portion 33 a provided on the insulating plate 33. However, the insulating plate 33 is omitted and the second
The distal ends of the connection portion 22 and the third connection portion 23 may be arranged in the space 32 between the bus bar laminate 15 and the printed board 14.

In the above-described embodiment, the first connection portion 21 is formed to be bent from the bus bars 11a and 12a toward the lower case 3. However, the first connection portion 21 may be bent from the bus bars 11a and 12a toward the upper case 2 side.

In the above embodiment, the first connecting portion 21 is
It was arranged so as to be separated from the inner wall surface of the lightening portion 31. However, the first connection part 21 may be arranged in a state of being in contact with the inner wall surface of the lightening part 31.

In the above embodiment, although the upper case 2 side is described as upward and the lower case 3 side is described as downward, when assembling the electric junction box 1 to a vehicle, for example, the upper case 2 is located below, The lower case 3 may be located above. Further, the upper case 2 and the lower case 3 may be assembled to the vehicle such that the side walls of the lower case 3 face upward, that is, the electric connection box 1 is rotated by 90 °. That is, the electric connection box 1 may be assembled so that the cases 2 and 3 face in any directions.

Next, in addition to the technical ideas described in the claims, the technical ideas grasped by the above-described embodiments will be listed below. (1) The electric connection box according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the connection portion is formed to be bent at a right angle to the bus bar laminate.

(2) In the above (2), the lightening portion is a space surrounded by the second case and a plurality of ribs for positioning the bus bar laminate. Connection box.

(3) The electric connection box according to the technical idea (2), wherein the connection portion is arranged so as to be separated from an inner wall surface of the lightening portion. Therefore,
According to the technical idea (3), the inside of the hollow portion is
Not only the connection part but also the flexible substrate can be arranged in a bent state.

[0040]

As described in detail above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the size of the electric junction box can be reduced.

According to the second and third aspects of the invention, the electric junction box can be easily manufactured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an electric connection box according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary plan view of the electric junction box according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C are enlarged views of a main part showing an electric connection box;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an electric junction box in another example.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an electric connection box according to the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electrical connection box, 2 ... Upper case as 1st case, 3 ... Lower case as 2nd case, 4 ... Connector mounting part, 5 ... Fuse mounting part, 6 ... Relay mounting part, 7 ...
Box, 11: Connector circuit module, 11a: Bus bar, 12: Fuse circuit module, 12a: Bus bar, 13: Relay circuit module, 13a: Bus bar,
Reference numeral 14 denotes a printed circuit board, 15 denotes a bus bar laminate, 21 denotes a first connection portion as a connection portion, 22 denotes a second connection portion as a connection portion, 23 denotes a third connection portion as a connection portion, and 31 denotes an empty space. Lightening, 32 ... space.

Claims (3)

[Claims] A first case including a connector mounting portion to which a connector is mounted, a fuse mounting portion to which a fuse is mounted, and a relay mounting portion to which a relay is mounted; and a box body fitted to the first case. A connector circuit module including a second case to be configured, and a bus bar wired to the connector mounting section to configure a connector connection circuit; and a fuse circuit including a bus bar to the fuse mounting section to configure a fuse connection circuit. A module and an electrical connection box containing a bus bar laminate including a relay circuit module including a bus bar wired to the relay mounting portion and forming a relay connection circuit, wherein a part of the bus bar forming each module is Project from each of the modules toward the second case, and connect them to each other. An electric connection box, wherein a connection part is formed by forming the connection part, and a tip of the connection part is arranged in an empty space in the box body. 2. The electrical junction box according to claim 1, wherein the empty space is an existing lightening portion provided on the inner surface side of the second case. 3. The bus bar laminate, wherein a printed circuit board is provided on the second case side, and a tip of the connection portion is arranged in a space between the bus bar laminate and the printed circuit board. The electrical junction box according to claim 1.