JP2005327601A - Wiring device and power distribution box - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a structure for pressing and connecting a terminal in/to a bus bar to be relatively easily machined, and to stably provide appropriate elasticity to the structure. <P>SOLUTION: The terminal 30 having a press-in part 34 is connected to the bus bar 20 formed by stamping a metal plate material. The bus bar 20 has a band-like terminal fixing part 22, and an elongate hole-like through-hole 21h is formed in the terminal fixing part 22. By pressing the press-in part in the through-hole 21h, the terminal fixing part 22 is elastically deformed so as to expand the through-hole 21h. The terminal 30 is pressed and held in/to the through-hole 21h of the terminal fixing part 22 by elasticity restoring force of the terminal fixing part 22. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for connecting bus bars and terminals in a power distribution box or the like.

  In a power distribution box of an automobile, a bus bar in which a conductive plate material such as copper is punched into a predetermined pattern is used as a wiring circuit for power distribution and the like.

  As a technology for connecting the connector terminal and the bus bar connection terminal of each layer to the bus bar constituting this wiring circuit, a press-fit portion having elasticity on the terminal side is formed and a through hole is formed on the bus bar side. There is a technique of press-fitting a press-fit portion of a terminal into the through hole.

  However, in order to give elasticity to the press-fit portion on the terminal side, it is necessary to perform shape processing such as drilling on very fine portions, and the processing of the details is not easy.

  In addition, when the details are processed, it is difficult to give the press-fit portion stable and appropriate elasticity due to the influence of work hardening.

  For example, if the press-fit portion is hardened, there is a risk that the through-hole peripheral portion may be cracked when the press-fit portion is press-fitted into the through-hole on the bus bar side.

  Therefore, the present invention is to provide a technique that can be processed relatively easily and can have appropriate elasticity stably with respect to a configuration in which a terminal is press-fitted and connected to a bus bar.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a first aspect of the present invention is a wiring device in which a terminal is connected to a bus bar, wherein a terminal having a press-fit portion and a through-hole are formed, and the press-fit is inserted into the through-hole. And a bus bar having a terminal fixing portion that can be elastically deformed so that the through hole is expanded by being press-fitted, and in the state where the press-fitting portion is press-fitted into the through hole, The press-fitting portion is press-fitted and held in the through hole by an elastic restoring force.

  In this case, the terminal fixing portion is formed in a strip shape, and the through hole is formed in a long slot shape along the extending direction of both side portions of the terminal fixing portion, and the press-fitting portion is formed in the through hole. It is preferable that both side portions of the terminal fixing portion are elastically deformed outward by being press-fitted into the terminal.

  The terminal may be provided with an extending piece extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the press-fitting direction of the press-fitting portion.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power distribution box for performing power distribution, comprising: a bus bar that forms a predetermined wiring circuit; and at least one connector terminal that constitutes a connector for external connection. The connector terminal has a press-fit portion, and a through hole is formed in the bus bar, and the terminal that can be elastically deformed to expand the through hole by being press-fitted into the through hole. A fixing portion is provided, and the press-fitting portion is press-fitted and held in the through-hole by an elastic restoring force of the terminal fixing portion in a state where the press-fitting portion is press-fitted into the through-hole.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power distribution box for performing power distribution, wherein a plurality of bus bars forming a predetermined wiring circuit and at least one interlayer connecting the bus bars between the respective layers. A connection terminal, wherein the interlayer connection terminal has a press-fit portion, and a through-hole is formed in the interconnected bus bar and the press-fit portion is press-fitted into the through-hole so that the through-hole is formed. Terminal fixing portions that can be elastically deformed so as to expand are provided, and the press-fitting portions are press-fitted into the through-holes by the elastic restoring force of the terminal fixing portions in a state where the press-fitting portions are press-fitted into the through-holes. By being held, the bus bars are electrically connected via the interlayer connection terminals.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, by forming a terminal fixing portion having a through hole on the bus bar side, the elasticity for fixing the terminal is given. It can be processed relatively easily and can have a suitable elasticity stably.

  In this case, the terminal fixing portion is formed in a strip shape, and the through hole is formed in a long slot shape along the extending direction of both side portions of the terminal fixing portion, and the press-fitting portion is the through hole. Since both side portions of the terminal fixing portion are elastically deformed outward by being press-fitted into the hole, the amount of elastic deformation is increased, and the connection between the bus bar and the terminal is made more reliable. be able to.

  In addition, when the extension piece extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the press-fitting direction of the press-fitting portion is formed on the terminal, the extension piece is inserted into the through hole in the state where the press-fitting portion is press-fitted into one main surface of the bus bar. In addition, the terminal can be held in a predetermined posture by being brought into contact with a predetermined main surface or the like that extends substantially parallel to the terminal.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the terminal fixing portion having the through hole on the bus bar side is provided with elasticity for fixing the terminal, compared to the configuration having elasticity on the terminal side, It can be processed relatively easily and can have a suitable elasticity stably.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, by forming the terminal fixing portion having a through hole on the bus bar side, the elasticity for fixing the terminal is given. It can be processed relatively easily and can have a suitable elasticity stably.

{First embodiment}
The wiring device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the wiring device.

  The wiring device 10 includes a connection portion structure between the bus bar 20 and the terminal 30, and a predetermined distribution circuit is configured by appropriately connecting the terminal 30 to an appropriate position of the bus bar 20.

  The terminal 30 has a press-fit portion 34 formed at one end of the terminal main body. Such a terminal 30 is formed, for example, by punching a conductive plate material such as copper into a predetermined shape.

  The terminal body portion is a portion provided for connection with a portion that is an electrical connection destination of the bus bar 20, for example, a portion that is disposed in a connector housing (not shown) and used as a connector terminal, or These are parts connected to other bus bars 20.

  The press-fitting portion 34 is a portion that is press-fitted into a through hole 21h described later, and is formed in a rod shape. In particular, the portion of the press-fit portion 34 that is press-fitted and held in the through hole 21h is configured such that no hole for imparting elasticity as seen in the press-fit portion is formed.

  Here, the press-fit portion 34 has a rod shape having a cross-sectional shape obtained by rounding a substantially square top portion, and the tip portion thereof is formed into a shape whose diameter is gradually reduced toward the tip direction. In addition, the press-fit portion 34 may have a substantially rectangular or circular (see broken line in FIG. 3) cross-sectional shape.

  The bus bar 20 is formed, for example, by punching a conductive plate material such as copper into a predetermined circuit pattern. Such a bus bar 20 is usually used to form a circuit for large current such as a power supply circuit (see the second embodiment described later).

  In addition, the bus bar 20 includes a terminal fixing portion 22 in which a through hole 21h is formed, as shown in FIGS. The through hole 21 h is formed in an opening shape having a width dimension smaller than the width dimension of the press-fit portion 34. Then, by press-fitting the press-fit portion 34 into the through hole 21h, the terminal fixing portion 22 is elastically deformed so as to expand the through-hole 21h, and the press-fit portion 34 is press-fitted into the through hole 21h. In this state, the press-fit portion 34 is press-fitted and held in the through hole 21 h by the elastic restoring force of the terminal fixing portion 22.

  More specifically, the terminal fixing portion 22 of the bus bar 20 is formed in a band shape. The through hole 21h is formed in a long hole shape along the extending direction (longitudinal direction) of both side portions of the terminal fixing portion 22. Thereby, the both side parts 22b of the through-hole 21h are formed in the elongate shape among the terminal fixing | fixed parts 22, and are formed in the shape which can be elastically deformed on the outer side.

  Then, when the press-fit portion 34 is press-fitted into the through hole 21h, the both side portions 22b are elastically deformed so as to be slidably contacted with the outer surface of the press-fit portion 34 and pushed outward as shown in FIG. In a state where the press-fitting part 34 is press-fitted into the through hole 21h to a predetermined position, the press-fitting part 34 is held by being sandwiched by the both side parts 22b by the elastic return force to the inside of the both side parts 22b. ing.

  The broken line in FIG. 3 shows a case where the cross-sectional shape of the press-fit portion 34 is substantially circular. In this case as well, the press-fit portion 34 is press-fitted and held in the through hole 21h in the same manner as described above. .

  In the wiring device configured as described above, the terminal fixing portion 22 having the through hole 21h is formed on the bus bar 20 side, the press fitting portion 34 on the terminal 30 side is press-fitted into the through hole 21h, and the through hole 21h is formed. The terminal fixing portion 22 is elastically deformed so as to expand, and the terminal 30 is press-fitted and held by this elastic restoring force. In other words, by forming the through hole 21h on the bus bar 20 side, elasticity for fixing the terminal 30 is provided, so that it is not necessary to form a press-fit shape requiring detailed processing on the terminal 30 side.

  Since the bus bar 20 that is a member to be press-fitted is larger than the terminal 30 that is a member to be press-fitted, the through hole 21h is formed on the bus bar 20 side as compared with the case where a press-fit shape is formed on the terminal 30 side. In the case of forming, the processing is easier and the influence of work hardening is relatively small.

  For this reason, compared with the structure which gives elasticity to the terminal 30 side, it can process comparatively easily and can give appropriate elasticity for press-fit holding stably.

  Further, since the terminal 30 is connected separately from the bus bar 20 constituting the wiring circuit, a large number of wiring circuits can be built in the bus bar 20, resulting in a reduction in the size and weight of the wiring device. To do.

  The terminal fixing portion 22 is formed in a band shape, and the through hole 21h is formed in a long hole shape extending in the extending direction of both side portions of the terminal fixing portion 22, and the press-fit portion 34 is formed in the through hole 21h. Since the both side portions 22b of the terminal fixing portion 22 are elastically deformed to the outside by being press-fitted into the terminals, the both side portions 22b can be greatly elastically deformed, and the connection between the bus bar 20 and the terminal 30 is more reliable. It can be.

  Below, the terminal which concerns on a modification is demonstrated.

  4A is a bottom view showing a terminal according to a modification, FIG. 4B is a front view showing the terminal, and FIG. 4C is a side view showing the terminal.

  The terminal 30B has an extending piece 36B extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the press-fitting direction of the press-fitting portion 34B.

  Here, a pair of extending pieces 36B are formed on both side surfaces of the proximal end portion of the press-fit portion 34B. Each extending piece 36B is formed in a substantially L-shape in a plane substantially perpendicular to the press-fitting direction of the press-fitting part 34B, and each tip part thereof extends in a direction opposite to each other.

  Then, when the press-fitting portion 34B is press-fitted into the through hole 21h to a predetermined position, each extending piece 36B comes into contact with one main surface of the bus bar 20. Thereby, while restricting the press-fitting position of the press-fitting portion 34B, each extending piece 36B comes into surface contact with one main surface of the bus bar 20, so that the terminal 30B has a predetermined posture (here, an upright posture with respect to the bus bar 20). To keep on.

  Each extending piece 36B may have a shape extending substantially linearly outward from both side surfaces of the base end portion of the press-fit portion 34B. In this case, each extending piece 36B is formed so as to extend along the longitudinal direction of the through hole 21h formed in the shape of a long hole of the terminal fixing portion 22 (longitudinal direction of the terminal fixing portion 22). preferable.

  Further, the extending piece 36B has a configuration in which it abuts against the bus bar 20 itself, and the main surface of another member having a main surface extending substantially parallel to the bus bar 20 (for example, an insulating plate 150a of the second embodiment described later) , 150b, 150c, 150d, 150e).

{Second Embodiment}
A power distribution box according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a cross-sectional structure of the power distribution box. The power distribution box 100 is connected to a battery or various loads in a vehicle or the like to perform power distribution, and a wiring body 108 including a plurality of layers of bus bars 120a, 120b, 120c, and 120d is accommodated in the case body 160. It is set as the structure. Here, the first embodiment is applied to a connection portion between the predetermined bus bars 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d and the connector terminal 230, and a portion where the bus bars 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d of each layer are connected to each other by the interlayer connection terminal 130. It is set as the structure to which the connection part structure of the bus-bar 20 and the terminal 30 in a form was applied.

  That is, the wiring body 108 is formed by alternately stacking a plurality of layers of bus bars 120a, 120b, 120c, and 120d and a plurality of insulating plates 150a, 150b, 150c, 150d, and 150e. Here, a total of four layers of bus bars 120a, 120b, 120c, and 120d are arranged between the five insulating plates 150a, 150b, 150c, 150d, and 150e. Each of these bus bars 120a, 120b, 120c, and 120d is formed in a shape that forms a predetermined wiring pattern.

  And the electrical connection between predetermined layers among the bus bars 120a, 120b, 120c, and 120d of each layer is realized by the following configuration.

  Here, the configuration for electrically connecting the uppermost bus bar 120a and the third bus bar 120c from the top will be described. A terminal fixing portion 122a having a through hole 121ha is provided at a predetermined position of the uppermost bus bar 120a. In addition, a terminal fixing portion 122c having a through hole 121hc is formed at a position corresponding to the terminal fixing portion 122a in the third bus bar 120c. The terminal fixing portions 122a and 122c having the through holes 121ha and 121hc have the same configuration as the terminal fixing portion 22 having the through holes 21h in the first embodiment.

  In addition, a hole 123b having a size sufficient to avoid contact with an interlayer connection terminal 130, which will be described later, is formed at a position corresponding to the terminal fixing portion 122a, 122c, which is the second bus bar 120b from the top. Has been.

  Further, the insulating plates 150b and 150c disposed between the bus bars 120a, 120b, and 120c, and the holes corresponding to the terminal fixing portions 122a and 122c are such that the interlayer connection terminals 130 described later can be inserted. 151b and 151c are formed.

  Interlayer connection as a member for connecting the bus bars 120a, 120c, having a press-fit portion 134a, 134c having the same configuration as the press-fit portion 34 in the first embodiment, at a position corresponding to the bus bar 120a, 120c. Terminal 130 is used. The portions between the press-fit portions 134a and 134c in the interlayer connection terminal 130 are the same as or smaller in thickness than the press-fit portions 134a and 134c so that the press-fit can be inserted through the laminated body such as the bus bars 120a, 120b, and 120c. It is preferable to have.

  Then, from above the laminated body such as the bus bars 120a, 120b, and 120c, the interlayer connection terminal 130 is press-fitted into the through hole 121ha, and then pushed further into the through hole 121b, 123b, and 151c to enter the through hole 121hc. Press fit into. In FIG. 5, the upper end portion of the interlayer connection terminal 130 is pushed into a position where it comes into contact with the lower surface of the insulating plate 150 a. Then, the press-fit portion 134a on one side of the interlayer connection terminal 130 is press-fitted and held in the through hole 121ha, and the press-fit portion 134c on the other side is press-fitted and held in the through hole 121hc, so that the bus bar 120a and the bus bar 120c are connected to the interlayer connection terminal. It is electrically connected via 130. Thereafter, the insulating plate 150a is overlaid on the uppermost bus bar 120a.

  The interlayer connection terminal 130 may be inserted from the opposite direction to that described above. In addition, the above-described interlayer connection structure using the interlayer connection terminal 130 has a connection between the bus bars 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d of a predetermined layer and the bus bars 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d of other layers, and three The present invention can also be applied to the connection between the bus bars 120a, 120b, 120c, and 120d having the above layers.

  Further, the electrical connection between the bus bars 120a, 120b, 120c, and 120d and the connector terminal 230 is realized by the following configuration.

  That is, for example, two connector housings 162 and 164 are formed in the case body 160, and a plurality of connector terminals 230 are arranged in a predetermined alignment state in the connector housings 162 and 164, respectively.

  In FIG. 5, only one connector terminal 230 disposed in each connector housing 162, 164 is shown, and the others are omitted.

  Among these, the connector terminal 230 disposed in the middle part of the case body 160 is electrically connected to the bus bar 120c of the third layer from the top.

  That is, a terminal fixing portion 222c having a through hole 221hc is formed at a predetermined position of the bus bar 120c in the third layer from the top in the same configuration as the terminal fixing portion 22 having the through hole 21h.

  Also, the bus bar 120a, 120b above the third layer bus bar 120c and at a position corresponding to the terminal fixing portion 222c has a hole large enough to avoid contact with the connector terminal 230. Portions 223a and 223b are formed.

  Further, the holes 251a, 251b that allow the connector terminal 230 to be inserted into the insulating plates 150a, 150b, 150c above the third layer bus bar 120c and corresponding to the terminal fixing portion 222c. , 251c are formed.

  The connector terminal 230 is arranged in the connector housing 162 and has a press-fit portion 234 linearly connected to one end of a connector connection portion 232 provided for connector connection with a mating connector. ing. The press-fitting portion 234 has a rod-like shape extending so as to penetrate the bus bars 120a, 120b, and 120c, and can be press-fitted into any through hole formed in each of the bus bars 120a, 120b, and 120c. ing.

  Then, the press-fit portion 234 of the connector terminal 230 is press-fitted into the through hole 221hc from above the stacked body of the bus bars 120a, 120b, and 120c through the holes 251a, 223a, 251b, 223b, and 251c. Thereby, in a state where the bus bar 120c and the connector terminal 230 are electrically connected, the connector terminal 230 is press-fitted and held in the through hole 221hc in a standing posture.

  Similarly, the connector terminal 230 disposed in the connector housing 164 is press-fitted and held in the through hole 321ha of the uppermost bus bar 120a through the hole 351a of the uppermost insulating plate 150a. As a result, it is held in a standing posture while being electrically connected to the bus bar 120a.

  In addition, as the connector terminal 230, the connector terminal 230 having a long press-fit portion 234 that can be press-fitted into the through-holes of the bus bars 120a, 120b, 120c, and 120d of any layer is used. It can have versatility.

  Further, in this wiring body 108, the bus bars 120b, 120c, 120d and the insulating plates 150b, 150c are provided below the portions where the interlayer connection terminals 130 and the connector terminals 230 are connected to the through holes 121hc, 221hc, 321ha of the bus bars 120a, 120c. , 150d, 150e are appropriately formed with holes to form cavities 171, 172, 173.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 6, when the interlayer connection terminal 130 and the connector terminal 230 are press-fitted into the through holes 121hc, 221hc, 321ha of the bus bars 120a, 120c, jigs are inserted into the hollow portions 171, 172, 173. By arranging and supporting the peripheral portions of the through holes 121hc, 221hc, 321ha of the bus bars 120a, 120c from below, the bus bars 120a, 120c are prevented from being deformed or cracked.

  Also in the power distribution box 100 configured in this way, the connection portion between the connector terminal 230 and the bus bars 120a, 120c, etc., and the connection portion between the interlayer connection terminal 130 and the bus bars 120a, 120c, etc. are the same as in the first embodiment. The effect of can be obtained.

  In view of space efficiency, the electrical connection between the bus bars 120a, 120b, 120c, and 120d of each layer using the interlayer connection terminal 130 is preferably performed between layers as close as possible, and the connector terminal 230 is connected to the bus bars 120a, 120b. , 120c, 120d, it is preferable to connect to the connector housings 162, 164 as close as possible.

  In addition, when electrically connecting the bus bars 120a, 120b, 120c, and 120d of each layer using the interlayer connection terminal 130, if the through holes 121ha and 121hc are formed in a long hole shape, the interlayer connection terminal 130 Regarding the holding position, the degree of freedom is small in the short width direction, and there is a relatively degree of freedom in the longitudinal direction. For this reason, if the longitudinal directions of the long holes of the through holes 121ha and 121hc are aligned in the same direction, strict positioning accuracy is required in the short width direction. Therefore, in order to moderate the required positioning accuracy of the bus bars 120a, 120b, 120c, and 120d, the longitudinal directions of the through holes 121ha and 121hc formed in the elongated holes may be made different directions, for example, substantially orthogonal. preferable.

  Further, the interlayer connection terminals 130 and the connector terminals 230 are connected to the insulating plates 150a. It is also possible to press fit and hold 150b, 150c, 150d, and 150e so as to improve their mechanical holding strength.

  Further, in the power distribution box 100, there is a mixed configuration in which connector terminal-shaped portions are integrally formed on the bus bars 120a, 120b, 120c, and 120d constituting the original circuit and bent to form connector terminals. You may let them.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a terminal portion 530 having a press-fit portion 534 (same configuration as the terminal 30 having the press-fit portion 34) is integrally formed on a bus bar 520a of a predetermined layer, and the bus bar 520b of another layer is formed. The terminal fixing portion 522 having the through hole 521h (the same configuration as the terminal fixing portion 22 having the through hole 21h) is formed, and the press-fitting portion 534 is press-fitted and held in the through-hole 521h in a stacked state of both bus bars 520a. Thus, the bus bars 520a and 520b may be electrically connected to each other via the terminal portion 530.

It is a principal part disassembled perspective view of the wiring apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the terminal fixing | fixed part of a bus bar. It is a figure which shows the state by which the press-fit part was press-fit in the said terminal fixing | fixed part. 4A is a bottom view showing a terminal according to a modification, FIG. 4B is a front view showing the terminal, and FIG. 4C is a side view showing the terminal. It is explanatory drawing which shows the cross-section of a power distribution box. It is a figure which shows the state which set the jig in the middle of the assembly of a power supply box. It is a figure which shows the modification which connects bus-bars between layers.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Wiring apparatus 20 Bus bar 21h Through hole 22 Terminal fixing | fixed part 22b Both-side part 30, 30B Terminal 34, 34B Press-fit part 36B Extension piece 100 Power distribution box 108 Wiring body 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d Bus bar 121hc, 221hc, 321ha Through hole 122a, 122c, 222c Terminal fixing part 130 Interlayer connection terminal 134a, 134c Press fit part 162, 164 Connector housing 230 Connector terminal 234 Press fit part

Claims (5)

A wiring device having a terminal connected to a bus bar,
A terminal having a press-fit portion;
A bus bar having a terminal fixing portion that is elastically deformable so as to expand the through hole by forming the through hole and press-fitting the press-fit portion into the through-hole;
With
The wiring device, wherein the press-fitting part is press-fitted and held in the through-hole by an elastic restoring force of the terminal fixing part in a state where the press-fitting part is press-fitted into the through hole. The wiring device according to claim 1,
The terminal fixing portion is formed in a strip shape, and the through hole is formed in a long slot shape along the extending direction of both side portions of the terminal fixing portion, and the press-fitting portion is press-fitted into the through hole. Thereby, the both sides of the said terminal fixing | fixed part are elastically deformed to the outer side. The wiring device according to claim 1 or 2,
The wiring device, wherein an extended piece extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to a press-fitting direction of the press-fitting portion is formed on the terminal. A power distribution box for performing power distribution,
A bus bar forming a predetermined wiring circuit;
At least one connector terminal constituting a connector for external connection;
With
The connector terminal has a press-fit portion,
The bus bar is provided with a terminal fixing portion that can be elastically deformed so as to expand the through hole by forming a through hole and press-fitting the press-fit portion into the through-hole,
The power distribution box, wherein the press-fit portion is press-fitted and held in the through-hole by an elastic restoring force of the terminal fixing portion in a state where the press-fit portion is press-fitted into the through-hole. A power distribution box for performing power distribution,
A plurality of bus bars forming a predetermined wiring circuit;
At least one interlayer connection terminal for connecting the bus bars between each layer;
With
The interlayer connection terminal has a press-fit portion,
Each of the bus bars to be interconnected is provided with a terminal fixing portion that can be elastically deformed so as to expand the through hole by forming a through hole and press-fitting the press-fit portion into the through-hole,
In the state where the press-fit portion is press-fitted into each through-hole, the press-fit portion is press-fitted and held in the through-hole by the elastic restoring force of the terminal fixing portion, so that each bus bar is connected via the interlayer connection terminal. Electrically connected power distribution box.

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