JP2002320314A - Junction box for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the coupling work efficiency between the tip connector of a wire harness hung down from a junction box and other connector, and materialize the common use of the wire harness connected with the internal circuit of the junction box. SOLUTION: A connector module 15, a fuse module 18, and a relay module 17 to be connected with an external wire harness are stored in the junction box 10. Part of the wire harnesses 20A and 20B where tip connectors 22A, 23A, 22B, and 23B to be connected with the connectors, etc., of other wire harness are connected to the terminals is passed in the junction box 10, as the internal circuit C1 of the above connector module 15. The tip connectors 22A, 23A, 22B, and 23B of external harnesses C2 and C3 hung down from the sidewall of the junction box 10 are locked with the lock frames 11a at the external surface of the case.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a junction box for a motor vehicle, and more particularly to a junction box for an automobile in which a part of a wire harness is inserted into the junction box without a connector to form an internal circuit. This enables the tip connector to be held.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional junction box, as shown in FIG. 9, a connector accommodating portion 1a is integrally formed on an outer surface of a case 1 to connect a connector (not shown) on a wire harness side. It is inserted into the connector accommodating portion 1a from the outside and is fitted and connected. The internal circuit of the junction box is configured by alternately stacking insulating plates and bus bars, and a tab protruding from the bus bar is projected into the connector accommodating portion 1a to form a branch circuit by the bus bar.

In the above-mentioned junction box, the connection between the wiring harness of the external circuit and the internal circuit is made via a connector fitted into a connector housing provided on the outer surface of the case, and the connector housing 1a is connected to the case 1. Since it is integrally molded, if there is a change in the specifications on the connector side, it is necessary to newly install the case 1 even if one connector accommodating portion 1a is changed, and accordingly other connectors including the fuse accommodating portion are required. When the position of the housing changes, the entire circuit needs to be changed, and the entire junction box must be redesigned. On the other hand, even if the internal circuit on the junction box side is changed, the external connection terminal must be located in the connector accommodating portion, which is a connection portion of the internal circuit with the external circuit, so that the circuit design is restricted. Becomes

Accordingly, the applicant of the present invention has disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
No. 8, etc., as shown in FIG. 10 (A), a part of the wire harness W / H1, W / H2, W / H3 is inserted through the side surface of the junction box 2 without a connector, and the wire harness W / H1 is inserted. , W / H2 and W / H3 are directly used as internal circuits.

As described above, the wire harnesses W / H1, W
If / H2 and W / H3 are inserted from the side surface of the junction box 2 without a connector to form an internal circuit, there is no need to provide a connector housing in the junction box 2 and also to connect the terminal to the connector on the wire harness side. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and reduce the number of connector connection operations, and to design and change the connector housing without restriction.

[0006]

However, FIG.
As shown in (B), the wire harnesses W / H1, W / H2, W /
When H3 is left hanging, the connectors 3, 4 connected to the ends of the wire harnesses W / H1, W / H2, W / H3 are connected to the connector 6 of another wire harness W / W or another device 5 When connecting with the connector 5a, there is a problem that it is difficult to handle and the workability is poor such that the connectors 3 and 4 have to be pulled in or the branch wires are entangled with each other. Further, there is a problem that the wire harnesses W / H1, W / H2, W / H3 and the connectors 3, 4 connected to the terminals thereof are easily damaged when the junction box 2 is stored or transported. After being mounted on the vehicle, there is also a problem that the freely movable connectors 3 and 4 move freely due to vibration of the vehicle or the like and generate abnormal noise.

The internal circuit of the conventional junction box 2 includes wire harnesses W / H1, W / H2, and W / H2.
The circuit connected to H3 and the circuit connected to the fuse and the relay are not separated. Therefore, if there is a specification change in the fuse connection circuit or the relay connection circuit, the specification change of the circuit connected to the wire harness W / H1, W / H2, W / H3 also occurs, and the wire harness W / H1, W / H2, W
Even when the / H3 is inserted through the junction box 2 without a connector, the connection between the wire harness and the internal circuit must be changed, which is troublesome in this respect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has an object to fix a connector of a terminal of a wire harness hanging from a junction box, to improve workability of connector connection, and to improve a workability of a wire harness and a terminal. First to prevent connector damage and noise
The challenge. Further, a second object is to make it possible to share a wire harness connected to the internal circuit of the junction box when there is no change in the specification of the connection form between the wire harness and the internal circuit.

[0009]

According to the present invention, a connector module for connecting to an external wire harness, a fuse module for connecting to a fuse, and a relay module for connecting to a relay are housed in a case. In the junction box being assembled, a connector connected to a connector of another wire harness passes a part of the wire harness connected to the terminal into the case to form an internal circuit of the connector module, and An automotive vehicle characterized in that a distal end connector of an external harness portion that goes out is locked and connected to a connector lock portion provided on the outer surface of the case, and a connector is connected to a connector of the other wire harness on the outer surface of the case. We provide junction boxes.

As described above, the front connector of the external harness is locked and connected to the connector lock provided on the outer surface of the case of the junction box, so that when the front connector is connected to another connector, the connection is made. The tip connector to be connected can be recognized at a glance without being pulled, and the tip connector is stably fixed, so that the workability of connector connection is improved. Also, at the time of storage and transportation, the tip connector is fixed to the case, so that damage to the tip connector can be prevented, and
Even after the junction box is mounted on the vehicle, it is possible to prevent the tip connector from floating and generating abnormal noise due to the vibration of the vehicle. Furthermore, since the fixed portion of the tip connector is located on the outer surface of the case, even if the size, shape, etc. of the tip connector are changed, the case can be handled without changing the case as long as the lock structure is provided. It becomes possible.

Further, since the internal circuit of the junction box connected to the wire harness is composed of the internal circuit of the connector module separated from the circuit connected to the fuse and the relay, unless the connection form with the wire harness is changed, It can be used in common. Also, even if the specification change occurs in the connection circuit between the fuse and the relay, the conductors of the fuse module and the relay module, and the wires of the wire harness that is the internal circuit of the connector module,
If the connection is made by the press contact terminal, the common use can be achieved in this case as well.

Further, by making the junction box modular, if there is a change in the specifications of the connector circuit, the fuse circuit, and the relay circuit, only the corresponding module needs to be changed, and the circuit change can be easily handled. it can. Further, circuits do not overlap between modules, multilayering is suppressed, and the junction box can be made thin. In this modularized junction box, when a connector group to be connected to an external circuit is used as described above, a wire group of an internal circuit portion of the wire harness is used as an internal circuit.
The circuit of the connector module can be formed easily and easily.

The outer surface of the case to be connected with the connector is the upper surface or side surface of the upper case of the junction box, the lower surface or side surface of the lower case, and a lock frame is provided on the outer surface of the case. A lock portion for locking with the lock frame is provided, and the connector of the other wire harness terminal of the other end is fitted and connected to the front end connector.

[0014] As described above, the lock connection between the distal end connector and the outer surface of the case is structured such that the lock portion of the distal end connector is locked to the lock frame provided on the outer surface of the case, so that the distal end connector is connected to the outer surface of the case. Can be fixed easily. Further, by setting the lock connection portion to be the upper surface or side surface of the upper case, or the lower surface or side surface of the lower case, the lock connection portion can be any one of the above according to the position where the connector can easily be connected to another wire harness. You can choose more.

[0015] Of the external harness portions that come out of the junction box case, the external harness portion for connecting the tip connector to the device connector is a temporary locking portion provided on the outer surface of the case until the connector is connected to the device. Is temporarily locked.

With the above structure, when the external harness portion hanging from the junction box includes a connector whose leading end connector needs to be extended and connected to another device, the external harness portion can be connected to the device by a connector. By temporarily holding the connector on the outer surface of the case until the operation is performed, damage to the distal end connector can be prevented, and the junction box can be easily handled, so that storage and transportability can be improved.

The wire group of the wire harness serving as an internal circuit of the connector module is wired in parallel on one surface of the insulating plate, and a conductive material is arranged on the other surface of the insulating plate in a direction orthogonal to the other surface of the insulating plate. Cross wiring in the X and Y directions, and connection is made through holes formed in the insulating plate at required intersections.

As the conductive material for cross-wiring with the wire group of the wire harness, a single core wire, a covered wire, a strip-shaped bus bar, and / or an FPC or FFC conductor can be used. Since the branch circuit is formed in this manner, when the circuit is changed, it is only necessary to change the connection position, and the branch circuit can be easily changed.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A junction box 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a junction box 10, in which a connector module 15, a relay module 17 and a fuse module 18 are accommodated inside an upper case 11 and a lower case 16, and the upper part of the connector module 15 is separated by an intermediate case 13. The control unit 12 is arranged and connected to the conductor of the connector module 15 via the relay terminal 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, each of the above components is provided on a lower case 16 with a connector module 15 and an intermediate case 1.
3. The electronic control units 12 are sequentially arranged, and the electronic control units 12 are attached to cover the upper case 11. Note that the relay module 17 is disposed above one side of the connector module 15, the relay 26 is exposed through an opening 11 c provided on one side of the upper case 11, and the fuse module 18 is disposed at one side end of the connector module 15. It is assembled and exposed to the side opening 11b of the upper case 11. Further, wire harnesses 20A and 20B hanging outside from the harness insertion opening 11d of the upper case 11
Are fixed to the upper surface of the upper case 11.

The connector module 15 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (B), an intermediate portion of each of the wires 21A and 21B of the two sets of wire harnesses 20A and 20B is bridged on the upper surface of the insulating plate 24 so as to be wired in parallel in the X direction.
On the lower surface of the insulating plate 24, wires 25 dedicated to the connector module are wired in parallel in the Y direction. That is, the wire harnesses 20A and 20B include an internal circuit portion C1 serving as a conductor of the connector module 15 and a first external harness portion C2 extending so as to hang from both sides of the connector module 15.
And a second external harness part C3.

As described above, X is vertically arranged with the insulating plate 24 interposed therebetween.
As shown in FIG. 3C, the electric wires 21A and 21B and the electric wire 25 cross-wired in the −Y direction are ultrasonically welded or resistance welded through openings 24a provided in the insulating plate 24 at required intersections. And electrically connected to form a required branch connection circuit.

The wires 21A and 21B of the wire harnesses 20A and 20B are insulated wires, and the wire 25 dedicated to the connector module is a single-core wire that is not insulated and coated. In the case of ultrasonic welding with the electric wire 25, the insulating coating of the electric wires 21A and 21B is automatically melted by ultrasonic vibration and the electric wires 21 are melted.
The core wires A and 21B and the single-core wire 25 can be connected. In addition, even if the electric wire 25 is a covered electric wire, the core wires can be connected by melting both insulating coatings by ultrasonic welding. In the case of resistance welding, the insulating coating is previously peeled off at the connection points of the electric wires 21A and 21B.

Incidentally, in FIG. 3, X-
Although only the wires 21A, 21B and 25 to be wired in the Y direction are disclosed, the wires are further cross-wired in the X and Y directions up and down with an insulating plate sandwiched below or above, and the required intersection positions of these wires are determined. The required branch connection circuit is formed by welding in the same manner as described above. In addition, a connector module is assembled by laminating a required number of circuit bodies for cross-wiring electric wires with the insulating plate interposed therebetween. Also in these laminated circuit bodies, it goes without saying that the wires of the wire harnesses 20A and 20B shown in FIG. 3 may be used as the wires in the X direction.

The first outer harness portion C2 and the second outer harness portion C3 of the wire harnesses 20A and 20B hanging from both ends of the connector module 15 are formed by cutting off the lower end of the peripheral wall of the upper case 11 of the junction box 10. It is drawn out from the insertion opening 11d.

Wire harnesses 20A and 20B extending from both sides of the connector module 15
Connectors 22A, 23A, 22B, 23B at both ends of
Is fixed to the upper surface of the upper case 11 so as to be easily connected to a connector of another wire harness mounted on the automobile.

On the upper surface of the upper case 11, FIG.
A required number of lock frames (connector lock portions) 11a for locking the distal end connector as shown in FIG. 1A are arranged in parallel, and the lock frame 11a has two vertical frame portions 11a projecting from the upper surface of the upper case 11. 2 and a horizontal frame 11a-1 closing the upper end of the vertical frame 11a-2. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4 (C), a notched portion 11a-3 for locking is provided in the central portion of the inner side surface of the horizontal frame portion 11a-1.
As shown in FIG. 4B, the distal end connector 22A is connected to the harness receiving portion 22 below the cavity 22A-1.
A-2 is continuous, and a lock portion 22A-3 is provided on one side surface of the harness accommodating portion 22A-2. Lock part 2
2A-3 is provided with two slits 22A-6 upward from the lower end in a closing part 22A-5 that closes an end of the frame part 22A-4 protruding from the harness storage part 22A-2, A locking piece 22 is provided between the two slits 22A-6.
A-7, and at its tip, an inward locking rib 22A-
8 is projected. In addition, other tip connector 22B,
The same applies to 23A and 23B.

The upper case 11 of the tip connector 22A
As shown in FIG.
The 2A slit 22A-6 is slid into the vertical frame portion 11a-2 of the upper case 11, the horizontal frame portion 11a-1 is present in the internal space of the lock portion 22A-3, and the locking rib 22A-8 is cut out. The connector 22A is locked to the upper case 11 by being locked to the portion 11a-3. The same applies to the other end connectors 22B, 23A, and 23B.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the fuse module 18 accommodated in the side opening 11b of the upper case 11 is configured such that the pressure contact terminal 30b at one end of the bus bar 30 of the fuse module 18 is connected to the electric wire 25 of the connector module 15.
Press-connecting terminal 30a at the other end of the bus bar 30.
Is connected to the terminal 27a of the fuse 27 by pressure. Also, as shown in FIG. 7B, the relay module 17, which is exposed to the relay 26 through the opening 11 c of the upper case 11, presses the press contact terminal 31 a of the bus bar 31 of the relay module 17 to the electric wire 25 of the connector module 15. The terminal 26a of the relay 26 is connected to the bus bar 31 by soldering. Also, the other end tab 25 of the electric wire 25
a is an intermediate case 13 above the connector module 15.
Is connected to a conductor of the electronic control unit 12 disposed through a relay busbar-shaped relay terminal 14.

In the junction box 10 having the above structure, the wire harnesses 20A and 20B extending so as to hang from the side wall of the case lock the terminal connectors 22A, 23A, 22B and 23B of the terminal to the upper case 11. The wire harnesses 20A, 20B and the tip connectors 22A, 23A, 23A, and 2B can be easily connected to the mating connector and stored and transported.
Does not cause damage to 2B and 23B.

Further, since the wire harness normally connected to the junction box by a connector is directly penetrated into the junction box 10 and used as a conductor of the connector module 15, the wire harnesses 20 A and 20 B are connected to the connector module 15. This eliminates the need to connect the conductor to a connector. Further, the connector module 15 connected to a part of the electric wires 21A and 21B of the wire harnesses 20A and 20B,
As long as there is no change in the connection form with 20B, it can be shared and used.

FIG. 6 shows a first modification of the first embodiment.
In this modified example, the front end connector is not only lock-coupled to the upper surface of the upper case 11 but also lock-coupled to the lower surface of the lower case 16. A lock frame similar to the lock frame 11a of the first embodiment is also provided at a required position on the lower surface of the lower case 16 'to connect the distal end connector 22A to the lower case 1.
Locked to the lower surface of 6 '. Thus, when the mating connector is present below the lower case 16 ', the connectors can be easily connected. Of course, it is needless to say that all the end connectors may be locked to the lower surface of the lower case 16 '.

FIG. 7 shows a second modification of the first embodiment.
In this modification, the distal end connector is not locked only to the upper surface of the upper case 11 but is locked.
It is also lock-coupled to the side surface. A lock frame similar to the lock frame 11a of the first embodiment is attached to the upper case 1.
The distal end connector 22A is also provided at a required position on the side surface of the upper case 11 'and is lock-coupled to the side surface of the upper case 11'. In this case, since the opening of the tip connector 22A faces upward, it is easier to connect a connector of another wire harness from above. Of course, it is needless to say that all the end connectors may be locked to the side surface of the upper case 11 '. In addition, when the side surface of the lower case is wide, it is preferable to provide a lock frame on the side surface of the lower case and lock and couple the front end connector.

FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment. In the present embodiment, of the distal end connectors of the first embodiment, those that need to be extended to the connector accommodating portion of another device are temporarily locked on the outer surface of the case of the junction box 10 'until connector connection is performed. It is something to keep.

At the required position on the side surface of the upper case 11 ", two clip portions 11e are provided. As shown in FIG. 8B, the clip portion 11e is located at a predetermined position on the side surface of the upper case 11". It protrudes obliquely, bends in a folded shape, contacts the side surface of the upper case 11 ″ at the contact portion 11e-1 near the distal end, and further warps toward the distal end 11e-2.

The electric wires 21A and 21B near the distal end connectors 22A and 22B are bundled to form the distal end 1 of the clip 11e.
When the clip portion 11e is slid and inserted between the side of the upper case 11 ″ and the clip portion 11e, the contact portion 11e-1 is expanded and the clip portion 11e is easily extended.
8A, the tip connectors 22A and 22B can be stably held in the upper case 11 ″ as shown in FIG. 8A.
When moving A and 22B to another device, the bundled wires 21A and 21B can be easily removed simply by pulling them toward the tip 11e-2. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

[0037]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the lock portion of the distal end connector of the external harness portion hanging outside the case is engaged with the lock frame provided on the outer surface of the case of the junction box. By stopping and locking, the end connector to be connected can be understood at a glance without having to pull and check it, and since the end connector is stably held, work efficiency is improved,
It is possible to prevent damage to the tip connector and to prevent play and noise of the tip connector due to vibration of the vehicle. Further, since the fixed portion of the tip connector is located on the outer surface of the case, the specifications of the tip connector can be changed without changing the case as long as the lock structure is provided.

Since the internal circuit of the junction box connected to the wire harness is separated from the circuit connected to the fuse and the relay, it can be used in common unless the connection form with the wire harness is changed. In addition, if the specifications are changed in the connector circuit, the fuse circuit, and the relay circuit, only the modules corresponding to these specifications need to be changed, so that the circuit change can be easily handled.

The wiring group of the wire harness and the conductive material are cross-wired on both sides of the insulating plate in the X and Y directions, and connected at required intersections through holes formed in the insulating plate to form a branch circuit. When changing the circuit, it is only necessary to change the connection position, and the circuit can be changed easily.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a junction box according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a junction box according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a connector module according to the first embodiment,
(A) is a schematic exploded perspective view, (B) is a schematic perspective view, (C)
Is a schematic sectional view.

4A is an enlarged perspective view of a lock frame according to the first embodiment, FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a distal connector, and FIG. 4C is an explanatory view showing fixing of the distal connector to the lock frame.

5A is a diagram showing a connection mode between a connector module and a fuse module, and FIG. 5B is a diagram showing a connection mode between a connector module and a relay module.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of a first modification of the junction box of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a second modification of the junction box of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of a junction box according to a second embodiment, and FIG. 8B is an enlarged perspective view of a clip portion.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a case of a conventional junction box.

FIG. 10 (A) is a perspective view of another conventional junction box, and FIG. 10 (B) is an explanatory view showing connection with another device and another wire harness.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 10 'Junction box 11 Upper case 11a Lock frame (connector lock portion) 11b Side opening 11c Opening 11d Harness insertion port 11e Clip portion 12 Electronic control unit 15 Connector module 16 Lower case 17 Relay module 18 Fuse module 20A, 20B Wire harness 21A , 21B Electric wire 22A, 22B, 23A, 23B Tip connector 22a-3 Lock part 24 Insulating plate 24a Opening 25 Electric wire (conductive material) 26 Relay 27 Fuse C1 Internal circuit part C2 First external harness part C3 Second external harness part

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) H02G 3/30 H02G 3/26 D 3/38 3/28 F // H01R 107: 00 H01R 23/02 B 23/10 (72) Inventor Noriko Kobayashi 1-14 Nishisuehiro-cho, Yokkaichi-shi, Mie F-term in Sumitomo Wiring Systems Co., Ltd. (reference) BA06 BB01 BB03 BC01 5G363 AA16 BA02 BB04 DA15 DC02

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A junction box in which a connector module to be connected to an external wiring harness, a fuse module to be connected to a fuse, and a relay module to be connected to a relay are housed in a case and assembled, and connected to a connector of another wiring harness. While a part of the wire harness connected to the terminal is passed through the case to form an internal circuit of the connector module, a distal end connector of an external harness part that comes out of the case to the outside is connected to the outer surface of the case. A junction box for an automobile, wherein the junction box is configured to be lock-coupled to a provided connector lock portion and to be coupled to a connector of the other wire harness on an outer surface of the case. The outer surface of the case to be connected to the connector is an upper surface or a side surface of an upper case of a junction box or a lower surface or a side surface of a lower case. While a lock frame is provided on the outer surface of the case, a housing of a distal end connector of the external harness portion is provided. 2. The junction box for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein a lock portion for locking with the lock frame is provided on an outer surface, and a connector of another wire harness terminal of a mating end is internally fitted to the tip connector. 3. An internal circuit of the connector module through a part of a wire harness to be connected to a connector of a device inside the case of the junction box. 3. The junction box for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein the junction box is temporarily locked to a temporary locking portion provided on an outer surface of the case until the connector is connected to the connector. 4. The electric wire group of the wire harness serving as an internal circuit of the connector module is wired in parallel on one surface of the insulating plate, and a conductive material is arranged on the other surface of the insulating plate in a direction orthogonal to the insulating plate. The junction box for an automobile according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a cross wiring is provided in the XY direction via a wire, and the wiring is connected through a hole formed in the insulating plate at a required crossing position.