JP2006158071A - Electric connection box - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an electric connection box in which the terminal of a bus bar is prevented from being deformed. <P>SOLUTION: When the opposite member (frame structure 23 or harness side connector) is fitted to the joint 17A or 17B of a first terminal 15A or a second terminal 15B from the distal end side thereof, the terminal 15A, 15B has a risk of being deformed such that the supporting portion 16A, 16B inclines to the circuit board side 11 due to a pressing force caused by its fitting resistance. Since the case 20 is provided with coupling portions 24A, 24B (bearing portions) abutting against the supporting portions 16A, 16B of the terminals 15A, 15B from the side opposite to the joints 17A, 17B and receiving a pressing force from the opposite member, the terminals 15A, 15B are prevented from being deformed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric wire connection box.

2. Description of the Related Art Some electrical connection boxes mounted on automobiles have a structure in which a circuit structure is housed in a case. The circuit configuration body includes a circuit board, a bus bar arranged along the back surface of the circuit board, and a switching member such as a relay mounted on the front surface side of the circuit board. A terminal portion formed by bending the end portion of the bus bar into a substantially L shape protrudes from the peripheral portion of the circuit board. A housing that covers the terminal portion is assembled to the case. In addition, as an electrical junction box, there exist some which are disclosed by patent document 1. FIG.
JP 2003-164039 A

In the electrical junction box as described above, when the terminal portion of the bus bar is bent in a substantially L shape and the housing is fitted to the terminal portion from the front end side, the pressing force due to the fitting resistance is reduced. For this reason, there is a concern that the terminal portion is deformed so as to be inclined with the base end portion as a fulcrum.
The present invention has been completed based on the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to prevent deformation of a terminal portion of a bus bar.

  As a means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 comprises a circuit structure housed in a case, and the circuit structure body is provided along a circuit board on which a switching member is mounted, and the circuit board. The bus bar terminal portion is formed in a substantially L shape with a connection portion extending from the tip of the support portion substantially perpendicular to the circuit board, and the connection portion includes In the case where the mating member is fitted from the tip side, the inclination displacement of the support portion is reduced by contacting the case with the support portion from the side opposite to the connection portion. It is characterized by a configuration in which a restrictable support portion is provided.

  The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, the support portion is capable of contacting the support portion from the side opposite to the connection portion.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided the frame according to the first or second aspect, wherein the case is provided with a frame arranged so as to surround the circuit structure along the periphery of the circuit board. The support portion is characterized in that it is provided in a form that is provided between two frame pieces constituting the frame body.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the one according to claim 3, wherein a frame piece different from a frame piece to which the support portion is passed among a plurality of frame pieces constituting the frame, and the support portion, It is characterized in that a bridging part is passed between the two.

<Invention of Claim 1>
When the mating member is fitted to the connecting part of the terminal part of the bus bar from the front end side, the support part is displaced so as to tilt toward the circuit board due to the pressing force due to the fitting resistance. There is a concern that the terminal portion is deformed. However, in the present invention, since the support portion receives the pressing force from the counterpart member, the terminal portion can be prevented from being deformed.

<Invention of Claim 2>
Since the support portion supports the support portion from the side opposite to the connection portion, the deformation of the terminal portion can be reliably restricted.

<Invention of Claim 3>
Since the support portion is supported at both ends passed between two frame pieces, the support portion is less likely to be deformed than a support portion having a cantilever shape. High reliability of deformation prevention function. Moreover, since two frame pieces are connected by the support part, a deformation | transformation of a frame can also be prevented.

<Invention of Claim 4>
Since the support portion passed between the two frame pieces is connected to another frame piece by the bridging portion, the support portion is prevented from being bent and deformed, and the terminal portion is prevented from being deformed by the support portion. Reliability is improved.

<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The electrical junction box of the present embodiment is mounted on an automobile and is interposed between a battery (not shown) and electrical components (not shown) such as a lamp and an audio, and distributes power supplied from the battery to each electrical component. -While supplying, it controls such power supply switching. In the drawing, the electric connection box is drawn with the front side facing upward, but when mounted on an automobile, the electric connection box has the frame structure 23 on the upper side, and the first housing 40 and the second housing. The housing 50 is fixed to the vehicle body so as to open downward.

The electrical junction box includes a circuit structure 10 and a case 20 that houses the circuit structure 10.
As shown in FIG. 2, the circuit structure 10 includes a circuit board 11, a plurality of bus bars 12 arranged along the back surface (lower surface in the figure) of the circuit board 11, and the front surface side (upper surface in the figure). A switching member 13 such as a relay mounted on the side) and a terminal fitting 14. The circuit board 11 has a substantially rectangular shape, and a substantially left half region of the lower end edge thereof is an inclined edge portion that is inclined with respect to the upper end edge.

  The bus bar 12 is bonded to the back surface of the circuit board 11, and a plurality of first terminal portions 15 </ b> A formed at the end of the bus bar 12 protrude from the front edge of the circuit board 11, and also at the end of the bus bar 12. The plurality of formed second terminal portions 15 </ b> B protrude from the lower end edge of the circuit board 11. The first terminal portion 15A has a support portion 16A that rises to the surface side (upward) at a substantially right angle with respect to the circuit board 11, and a right angle from the rising end of the support portion 16A to the front side (the side opposite to the circuit board 11). The connection portion 17A extends (substantially parallel to the circuit board 11) and has a substantially L shape when viewed from the side. The plurality of first terminal portions 15 </ b> A are arranged in parallel along the upper edge of the circuit board 11. On the other hand, the second terminal portion 15B has a support portion 16B that rises to the surface side (upward) at a substantially right angle with respect to the circuit board 11, and a rear end (an opposite side to the circuit board 11) from the rising end of the support portion 16B. The connecting portion 17B extends at a right angle (substantially parallel to the circuit board 11), and has a substantially L shape when viewed from the side. The plurality of second terminal portions 15 </ b> B are arranged in parallel along a region on the right side of the lower edge of the circuit board 11 with respect to the inclined edge (region parallel to the upper edge).

  As shown in FIG. 5, the terminal fitting 14 is formed by bending a metal plate material, and has a shape elongated in the front-rear direction as a whole. A substantially first half region of the terminal fitting 14 is a fuse contact portion 14a having substantially the same shape as the connecting portion 17A of the first terminal portion 15A, and a substantially second half region of the terminal fitting 14 is a connecting portion 17B of the second terminal portion 15B. The output contact portion 14b has a tab-like shape. The terminal fitting 14 is attached to a frame structure 23 and a first housing 40 which will be described later.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the case 20 includes a frame body 21 made of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin, and a metal radiator plate 30 fixed to the frame body 21 so as to close the opening on the back side thereof. A synthetic resin cover 60 assembled to the frame body 21 so as to close the opening on the surface side (opposite side of the heat dissipation plate 30), and a synthetic resin first housing 40 assembled to the frame body 21; And a second housing 50 made of synthetic resin to be assembled to the frame body 21.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the frame body 21 is configured by combining two parts of a frame main body 22 and a frame structure body 23 that functions as a fuse box, and the circuit structure body 10 is formed along the periphery of the circuit board 11. It arrange | positions so that it may surround continuously over the perimeter, and it is being fixed to the surface of the heat sink 30 with the adhesive agent (not shown). The frame body 22 has a generally “U” shape along the lower edge and the left and right edges of the periphery of the circuit board 11. Specifically, the substantially left half region of the rear frame portion 22B (corresponding to the “frame piece” of the present invention) of the frame main body 22 is aligned with the left and right sides of the frame main body 22 along the inclined edge of the lower end edge of the circuit board 11. The frame portions 22L and 22R (corresponding to the “frame piece” of the present invention) are inclined frame portions 22S (corresponding to the “frame piece” of the present invention) facing obliquely. Further, a region on the right side of the inclined frame portion 22S in the rear frame portion 22B is located behind the second terminal portion 15B.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the frame main body 22 has front end portions of the left frame portion 22 </ b> L and the right frame portion 22 </ b> R (that is, the frame portion constituting the frame body 22, and the frame structure body 23 in the frame main body 22. The first connecting portion 24A (corresponding to the “supporting portion” of the present invention) is formed in such a manner that the connecting end portions thereof are connected to each other. The first connecting portion 24A is positioned so as to come into contact with the support portion 16A of the first terminal portion 15A from the circuit board 11 side (the side opposite to the connection portion 17A). A plurality of plate-like reinforcing portions 25 perpendicular to the length direction of the first connecting portion 24A are formed on the first connecting portion 24A so as to correspond to the support portions 16A.

  Similarly, the frame main body 22 has a form in which a position near the rear end of the right frame portion 22R and a substantially central position of the inclined frame portion 22S are connected to each other, and a second connecting portion 24B (substantially parallel to the rear frame portion 22B). (Corresponding to the “bearing part” of the present invention). The second connecting portion 24B is positioned so as to come into contact with the support portion 16B of the second terminal portion 15B from the circuit board 11 side (the side opposite to the connection portion 17B). Further, the frame body 22 is formed with a bridging portion 24 </ b> C that is inserted between the rear frame portion 22 </ b> B and the substantially central position in the length direction of the second connecting portion 24 </ b> B.

  The frame structure 23 is disposed along the upper edge of the circuit board 11 and is fixed to the surface of the heat sink 30 with an adhesive (not shown), and is attached to the frame body 22 with an adhesive (not shown). It is fixed. The left and right end portions of the frame structure 23 and the front end portions of the left and right frame portions 22L and 22R of the frame main body 22 are fixed by screws (not shown). In the frame structure 23, a plurality of cavities 26A, 26B penetrating in the front-rear direction are formed in two upper and lower stages and are formed in parallel in the left-right direction, and the connection part 17A of the first terminal part 15A is provided on the lower stage side. The cavity 26B is inserted from the rear. The inserted first terminal portion 15A is held in a retaining state by locking the locking hole 18A of the connecting portion 17A to the lance 27B of the cavity 26B. In the frame structure 23, a portion 23A below the lower-side cavity 26B is located on the back side (that is, between the connection portion 17A and the heat sink 30) from the connection portion 17A of the first terminal portion 15A. Will be placed.

  The heat sink 30 is generally similar to the circuit board 11 and has a plate main body 31 that is slightly larger than the circuit board 11 and a shape extending from the front edge of the plate main body 31 to the front side of the back surface in a stepped shape. The plate-shaped bracket 32 is integrally formed (see FIG. 3). The back surface of the bus bar 12 is fixed to the front surface of the plate body 31 with an adhesive (not shown). In the fixed state, the circuit board 11 and the bus bar 12 (including the terminal portions 15A and 15B) are connected to the heat sink 30. It is arrange | positioned in the projection surface seen from the front-and-back direction (up-down direction) of the heat sink 30, without projecting outside from the periphery. The bracket 32 is fixed to the vehicle body by bolts (not shown).

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the first housing 40 has two left and right cylindrical fitting portions 41 that open rearward and a lock protrusion 42. A plurality of terminal fittings 14 are assembled to the first housing 40 by press-fitting the output contact portions 14b from the front. In the assembled state, the output contact portions 14b are accommodated in the cylindrical fitting portions 41. In addition, the fuse contact portion 14 a protrudes forward from the first housing 40. The first housing 40 is assembled to the frame structure 23 from the rear. In the assembling process, the fuse contact portion 14a is inserted into the upper cavity 26A of the frame structure 23 from the rear, and the lance 27A in the cavity 26A is locked in the locking hole 14c, thereby maintaining the retaining state. Has been. The first housing 40 is locked in an assembled state with respect to the frame structure 23 by engaging the lock protrusion 42 with the lock arm 23 </ b> B of the frame structure 23. The assembled first housing 40 is located on the surface side (the side opposite to the circuit board 11) from the first terminal portion 15A.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the frame structure 23 is formed with a fuse housing space 28 that communicates with the upper cavity 26A and the lower cavity 26B. The connecting portion 17A of the first terminal portion 15A located and the fuse contact portion 14a of the terminal fitting 14 located on the upper stage side are connected by a fuse (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 4, the second housing 50 has two cylindrical fitting portions 51 that are opened rearward and partitioned left and right. A harness-side connector (not shown) is fitted into the tubular fitting portion 51 from the rear. The second housing 50 is assembled to the surface of a region on the right side of the inclined frame portion 22S in the rear frame portion 22B of the frame body 22 (a region substantially parallel to the second connecting portion 24B). The part is fixed by screws (not shown). In the assembling process, the connecting portion 17B of the second terminal portion 15B is relatively penetrated from the front with respect to the second housing 50, and in the assembled state, the connecting portion 17B is accommodated in the cylindrical fitting portion 51. ing. When the harness side connector is fitted to the tubular fitting portion 51, the harness side terminal attached to the harness side connector is fitted and connected to the connection portion 17B. In addition, the 2nd housing 50 is located back rather than the 2nd connection part 24B.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the cover 60 as a whole is substantially similar to the circuit board 11 and has a shape that is slightly larger than the circuit board 11. The cover 60 is formed with a notch 61 having a shape in which a front end edge is notched in a square shape in order to avoid interference with the two cylindrical fitting portions 41 of the first housing 40. A pair of left and right mounting portions 62 that rise to the front surface side are formed on the front edge of the cover 60. Furthermore, locking ribs 63 that are elongated in the front-rear direction are formed on the left and right edges of the cover 60, and elastic locking pieces 64 are formed on the locking ribs 63. The cover 60 is assembled to the frame body 21 from the front side, and the elastic locking pieces 64 of the locking rib 63 are locked to the locking protrusions 29 on the left and right outer surfaces of the frame main body 22, thereby the cover 60. Is locked to the assembled state relative to the assembled state. The mounting portion 62 is in contact with the surface side of the first housing 40, and is screwed into the frame structure 23 through the mounting portion 62 and the left and right ends of the first housing 40 from the surface side (not shown). Thus, the cover 60, the first housing 40, and the frame structure 23 are fixed.

Next, a procedure for assembling the electrical junction box will be described.
When assembling, first, the circuit board 11 on which the switching member 13 is not mounted and the bus bar 12 are fixed by an adhesive (not shown), and then the bus bar 12 and the heat dissipation plate 30 are bonded. At this time, since the switching member 13 is not mounted on the circuit board 11, the bus bar 12 and the radiator plate 30 can be firmly bonded by pressing the surface of the circuit board 11 over a wide area.

  Next, the switching member 13 is mounted on the circuit board 11 (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 8), whereby the circuit structure 10 is assembled generally (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 9). Thereafter, the frame main body 22 is brought close to the heat radiating plate 30 from the surface side by an adhesive (not shown) (see FIGS. 4 and 10). After the frame body 22 is fixed, the frame structure 23 is assembled while approaching the frame body 22 from the front, so that the connection portion 17A of the first terminal portion 15A is inserted into the cavity 26B on the lower side, and the frame structure A portion 23A on the back side of the cavity 26B on the lower side of the body 23 is disposed in a space between the first terminal portion 15A and the heat sink 30 (a space on the back side of the first terminal portion 15A) (FIG. 5). And FIG. 11). At the time of assembling the frame structure 23, the frame structure 23 and the heat sink 30 are fixed by an adhesive (not shown), and the frame structure 23 and the frame body 22 are bonded by an adhesive (not shown). As a result, the frame 21 is formed. In the present embodiment, the frame body 22 is assembled before the frame body 23, but the frame body 23 may be assembled before the frame body 22. Thus, since the frame main body 22 and the frame structure 23 can be assembled | attached separately, there is no trouble in arrange | positioning the frame structure 23 on the back side of 15 A of 1st terminal parts.

  In this way, the frame body 21 that surrounds the circuit board 11 over the entire circumference is configured, and after the heat sink 30 that covers the circuit board 11 and the bus bar 12 from the back side is fixed to the frame body 21, A waterproof filler (not shown) is injected into a recess formed by 21 and the heat sink 30. The filler is a region of the bus bar 12 excluding the first terminal portion 15A and the second terminal portion 15B (that is, a region routed along the back surface of the circuit board 11), the entire circuit board 11, The contact portion of the circuit board 11 with the switching member 13 is covered, thereby preventing water from entering the conductive portion of the circuit board 11, the bus bar 12, and the switching member 13 and interference of foreign matter.

  Thereafter, the first housing 40 is assembled to the frame structure 23, and the fuse contact portion 14a of the terminal fitting 14 is inserted into the upper cavity 26A, so that the lock arm 23B and the lock protrusion 42 of the frame structure 23 are inserted. The first housing 40 and the frame structure 23 are locked in the assembled state. Further, before and after the assembly of the first housing 40, the second housing 50 is assembled to the frame body 22, and the second terminal portion 15B is attached to the second housing 50, and the second housing is formed by screws (not shown). 50 and the frame body 22 are locked in the assembled state (see FIGS. 6 and 12).

  Finally, the cover 60 is assembled to the frame body 21 from the front side, and is locked in the assembled state by the engagement of the elastic locking piece 64 and the locking projection 29, and the cover 60 and the first are fixed by screws (not shown). The housing 40 and the frame structure 23 are fixed (see FIGS. 1 and 7). The circuit board 11 and the switching member 13 are covered with the cover 60.

In the present embodiment, the first terminal portion 15A of the bus bar 12 is formed in a substantially L shape with the connection portion 17A extending from the tip of the support portion 16A substantially perpendicular to the circuit board 11, and the connection of the first terminal portion 15A. The mating member (frame structure 23) is fitted to the portion 17A from the front end side, and the support portion 16A is connected to the circuit board 11 side (due to the pressing force resulting from the fitting resistance). There is concern about the deformation of the first terminal portion 15A that is displaced so as to be inclined rearward. Similarly, the second terminal portion 15B is also formed in a substantially L shape with the connection portion 17B extending from the tip of the support portion 16B substantially perpendicular to the circuit board 11, and the connection portion 17B of the second terminal portion 15B has its A mating member (a harness side terminal provided on a harness side connector (not shown)) is fitted from the front end side, and the support portion 16B is placed on the circuit board 11 side due to the pressing force resulting from this fitting resistance. There is concern about the deformation of the second terminal portion 15B that is displaced so as to incline (forward).
However, the first connecting portion 24A and the second connecting portion 24A can regulate the displacement of the inclination of the support portions 16A and 16B by contacting the case 20 with respect to the support portions 16A and 16B from the side opposite to the connection portions 17A and 17B. Since the connecting portion 24B is provided and the first connecting portion 24A and the second connecting portion 24B receive the pressing force from the mating member (the frame constituting body 23 or the harness side connector), the first terminal portion 15A and the first The deformation of the two terminal portions 15B can be prevented.

  In addition, the case 20 includes a frame body 21 that is disposed so as to surround the circuit structure 10 along the periphery of the circuit board 11, and the first connection portion 24 </ b> A includes two frame portions that form the frame body 21. Since it is a form that is passed between (the right frame part 22R and the left frame part 22L), that is, a both-ends support form, the first connecting part 24A is less likely to be deformed than a cantilever support form. The reliability of the deformation preventing function of the first terminal portion 15A by the first connecting portion 24A is high. Similarly, since the second connecting portion 24B is also supported at both ends between two frame portions (the inclined frame portion 22S and the right frame portion 22R) constituting the frame body 21, the cantilevered support configuration. Compared to the above, the second connecting portion 24B is hard to be deformed, and the reliability of the function of preventing the deformation of the second terminal portion 15B by the second connecting portion 24B is high. In addition, since the left and right frame portions 22L and 22R are connected by the first connecting portion 24A, and the inclined frame portion 22S and the rear frame portion 22B are connected by the second connecting portion 24B, deformation of the frame body 22 can be prevented. Can do.

  Further, among the plurality of frame portions constituting the frame body 21, the rear frame portion 22B (a frame piece different from the right frame portion 22R and the inclined frame portion 22S across which the second connection portion 24B is passed) and the second connection. A bridging portion 24C is provided between the portion 24B. The bridging portion 24C prevents the second connecting portion 24B from being bent and deformed so as to approach or separate from the rear frame portion 22B, and the function of preventing deformation of the second terminal portion 15B by the second connecting portion 24B. High reliability.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and further, within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention other than the following. Various modifications can be made.
(1) In the above embodiment, the support portions (the first connection portion and the second connection portion) are provided on the frame body. However, according to the present invention, the support portions may be provided on the cover constituting the case.
(2) In the above embodiment, the support portion (the first connection portion and the second connection portion) is inserted between the two frame pieces. However, according to the present invention, the support portion is supported in a cantilever shape. It may be in the form.
(3) In the above embodiment, the support portions (the first connection portion and the second connection portion) are formed integrally with the frame body. However, according to the present invention, the support portion is a separate part from the frame body, Or may be assembled to a cover or the like.
(4) In the said embodiment, although the frame body was set as the form which united the frame main body and the frame structure, according to this invention, a frame may be a single component.
(5) In the above embodiment, the support portion (the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion) is configured to abut on and support the support portion of the terminal portion. The terminal portion may be prevented from being deformed by being supported.

The perspective view of Embodiment 1. Perspective view of circuit structure The perspective view showing the state before attaching a frame main part to a circuit composition object The perspective view showing the state before a frame structure and a 2nd housing are assembled | attached to a frame main body. The perspective view showing the state before attaching a 1st housing to a frame composition object The perspective view showing the state before attaching a cover to a frame Cross section Cross-sectional view of circuit structure Sectional view showing the state before the frame body is assembled to the circuit structure Sectional drawing showing the state before a frame structure and a 2nd housing are assembled | attached to a frame main body. Sectional drawing showing the state before attaching a 1st housing to a frame structure Sectional view showing the state before the cover is assembled to the frame

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Circuit structure 11 ... Circuit board 12 ... Bus bar 13 ... Switching member 15A ... 1st terminal part 15B ... 2nd terminal part 16A, 16B ... Support part 17A, 17B ... Connection part 20 ... Case 22B ... Rear frame part (frame) Piece)
22L ... Left frame (frame piece)
22R ... Right frame (frame piece)
22S ... Inclined frame (frame piece)
24A ... 1st connection part (support part)
24B ... 2nd connection part (support part)
24C ... Bridge part

Claims (4)

The circuit structure is housed in a case,
The circuit configuration body includes a circuit board on which a switching member is mounted, and a bus bar arranged along the circuit board.
A terminal portion of the bus bar is formed in a substantially L shape with a connection portion extending from a tip of a support portion substantially perpendicular to the circuit board, and a mating member is fitted to the connection portion from the tip side. In what is
An electrical junction box, wherein the case is provided with a support portion capable of restricting the tilt displacement of the support portion. The electrical connection box according to claim 1, wherein the support portion is capable of coming into contact with the support portion from a side opposite to the connection portion. The case includes a frame body disposed so as to surround the circuit configuration body along a peripheral edge of the circuit board;
The electrical connection box according to claim 1, wherein the support portion is provided in a form of being passed between two frame pieces constituting the frame body. A bridge part is passed between the frame piece different from the frame piece from which the support part is passed among the plurality of frame pieces constituting the frame, and the support part. The electrical junction box according to claim 3.

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