JP2011193594A - Electrical junction box - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrical junction box in which water is prevented from permeating into a hood. <P>SOLUTION: The electrical junction box 10 includes a case 13 which has an opening 11 opened on a lower part and houses a circuit board 12 in the inside, a connector 14 which is made by injection molding of a synthetic resin and is inserted into the opening 11 to seal the opening 11. The connector 14 has a hood 16 capable of being fitted to an opposite connector 15, a plurality of connector terminals 24 are arranged in the inside of the hood 16, an engaging portion 27 to be engaged with the opposite connector 15 is formed on an inner wall of the hood 16, a punched hole 28 for forming the engaging portion 27 is formed so as to communicate the inside and outside of the hood 16 on a region facing the side wall of the case 13 in the connector 14, and a drainage hole 30 for vertically communicating the inside and outside of the punching hole 28 is formed on a lower wall of the punching hole 28. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical junction box.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electric connection box that is arranged between a power source and in-vehicle electrical components such as a motor and a lamp and performs switching of the in-vehicle electrical components is disclosed in Patent Document 1. This electrical junction box is formed by housing a circuit board in a case. The case is provided with an opening. A connector portion is fitted in the opening. The connector part is attached to the case so as to close the opening. The connector part is formed by injection molding with a synthetic resin. The connector portion has a hood portion that can be fitted to the mating connector. A plurality of connector terminals are arranged in the hood portion.

  On the inner wall of the hood portion, a locking portion that can be locked with the mating connector is formed to protrude inward of the hood portion. In the connector portion, a die-cutting hole for forming a locking portion is formed in the inner wall of the opening direction so as to communicate with the inside and outside of the hood portion.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-110852 (FIG. 4)

  According to the above configuration, since it is necessary to provide the mold with a slide structure for forming the hood portion and a slide structure for forming the die-cutting hole, a reduction in manufacturing cost has been demanded. .

  Therefore, it has been considered to provide a die-cutting hole penetrating the side wall of the connector portion. This eliminates a slide structure for forming the die-cutting hole, so that a reduction in manufacturing cost is expected. It was.

  According to said structure, the opening part of a case is obstruct | occluded by the connector part. However, a slight gap may be formed between the opening of the case and the connector portion. For this reason, there is a concern that water adhering to the opening of the case may enter the case through a gap between the opening of the case and the connector due to a capillary phenomenon. When this water reaches the die-cutting hole formed in the side wall of the connector portion, the water enters the inside of the die-cutting hole. Since this die-cutting hole is formed so as to communicate with the inside and outside of the hood part, there is a concern that the water that has entered the inside of the die-cutting hole may enter the inside of the hood part. Then, there is a concern that the connector terminals arranged in the hood section are short-circuited.

  This invention is completed based on the above situations, Comprising: It aims at providing the electrical junction box by which water permeated into the food | hood part was suppressed.

  The present invention is an electrical junction box having an opening that opens downward, a case in which a circuit board is accommodated, and an injection molding made of synthetic resin and fitted into the opening. A connector portion that closes the connector, and the connector portion has a hood portion that can be fitted to a mating connector, and a plurality of connector terminals are arranged inside the hood portion, and the inner wall of the hood portion Is formed with a locking portion for locking with the mating connector, and in the region of the connector portion facing the side wall of the case, a die-cutting hole for forming the locking portion is formed in the hood portion. A drain hole is formed in the lower wall of the mold punching hole so as to communicate the inside and outside of the mold punching hole in the vertical direction.

  According to the present invention, the water that has entered the inside of the mold release hole enters the drain hole formed in the lower wall of the mold release hole after entering the lower wall of the mold release hole toward the hood portion. Since the drain hole communicates with the inside and outside of the die hole in the vertical direction, the water that has entered the drain hole flows down the drain hole and is discharged outside the connector portion. Thereby, it can suppress that water penetrate | invades in a food | hood part.

As embodiments of the present invention, the following embodiments are preferable.
Of the opening edge of the drain port, the cross-sectional area of the outer opening edge that opens to the outside of the connector portion is set to be smaller than the cross-sectional area of the inner opening edge that opens to the die hole side of the opening edge of the drain port. It is preferable.

  According to said aspect, it can suppress that water permeates into a drain hole from an outer side opening edge.

  It is preferable that a plurality of the drain holes are formed in the lower wall of the punching hole.

  According to said aspect, compared with the case where only one drainage hole is formed, the water which permeated into the inside of a die-cutting hole can be reliably discharged | emitted to the exterior of a connector part.

  It is preferable that an inclined surface that rises and inclines toward the hood portion side is formed on the lower wall of the mold release hole.

  According to the above aspect, even when water enters the inside of the die-cutting hole, the water cannot enter the inside of the hood portion unless it goes up the inclined surface. For this reason, it can further suppress that water permeates into the hood part.

  It is preferable that the connector portion is formed by insert molding the connector terminal that has been bent at a substantially right angle in advance.

  According to said aspect, a connector part can be insert-molded, without providing a sliding structure for forming a latching | locking part in a metal mold | die separately.

  The circuit board is preferably fixed to a frame portion formed integrally with the connector portion.

  According to said aspect, it can suppress that the relative position of a connector part and a circuit board shifts | deviates. As a result, the reliability of electrical connection between the connector terminal of the connector portion and the circuit board can be improved.

  Two circuit boards are accommodated in the case, and one of the circuit boards is fixed to the front side of the frame part, and the other circuit board is fixed to the back side of the frame part. Is preferred.

  According to said aspect, the wiring density of an electrical-connection box can be improved compared with the case where one circuit board is accommodated in a case.

  According to the present invention, water can be prevented from entering the hood portion.

The front view which shows the electrical-connection box which concerns on Embodiment 1. Sectional view showing the electrical junction box Front view showing the connector Bottom view showing connector VV line sectional view in FIG. The perspective view which shows the connector part of the electrical-connection box which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. Front view showing the connector Bottom view showing connector IX-IX sectional view in FIG. XX sectional view in FIG. The principal part expanded sectional view which shows an inner side opening edge and an outer side opening edge

<Embodiment 1>
Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The electrical connection box 10 according to the present embodiment is disposed between a power source (not shown) and in-vehicle electrical components (not shown) such as a lamp and a motor, and performs switching of the in-vehicle electrical components. The electrical connection box 10 includes a case 13 in which an opening 11 that opens downward is provided and a circuit board 12 is accommodated therein, and a connector portion 14 that is assembled to the case 13 and closes the opening 11. In the following description, the upper side in FIG. 2 is the upper side, and the lower side is the lower side. Further, the left side in FIG. 2 is the front side, and the right side is the back side.

(Case 13)
The case 13 is made of synthetic resin and is elongated in the left-right direction in FIG. 1 and has a flat shape in the front and back direction (left-right direction in FIG. 2). The entire lower surface of the case 13 is formed as an opening 11.

(Connector part 14)
As shown in FIG. 2, the connector portion 14 that is injection-molded with a synthetic resin is assembled to the case 13 in a state of being fitted into the opening 11 of the case 13. The connector portion 14 is provided with a hood portion 16 that opens downward and can be fitted to the mating connector 15. As shown in FIG. 5, the connector portion 14 is provided with an outer wall 17 that surrounds the outer periphery of the hood portion 16. A plurality of ribs 18 that connect the outer surface of the hood portion 16 and the inner surface of the outer wall 17 are provided in a region between the hood portion 16 and the outer wall 17. The rib 18 has a generally columnar shape.

  A lock portion 19 that protrudes outward is formed at a position near the lower end portion of the outer wall 17. In a state where the connector portion 14 is fitted into the opening 11 of the case 13, the lock portion 19 is elastically engaged with a lock receiving portion 20 formed at a position corresponding to the lock portion 19 on the side wall of the case 13. By doing so, the case 13 and the connector part 14 are assembled | attached integrally.

  A flange 21 is formed at the lower end of the outer wall 17 so as to protrude outward. The flange 21 is formed so as to substantially surround the outer periphery of the outer wall 17. In a state where the connector portion 14 is assembled in the opening portion 11 of the case 13, the lower end portion of the case 13 is in contact with the upper surface of the flange 21 from above.

  In the connector portion 14, a frame portion 22 having a substantially rectangular frame shape is formed integrally with the connector portion 14. The shape of the frame part 22 is slightly larger than the circuit board 12, and the circuit board 12 is fixed to the frame part 22 in a state where the circuit board 12 is accommodated in a space surrounded by the frame part 22. It has become so. The circuit board 12 is fixed by bolts 23 on the front side and the back side of the frame portion 22. As a result, the two circuit boards 12 are accommodated in the case 13 side by side in a substantially parallel posture at an interval. Each circuit board 12 is arranged in a posture (so-called vertical arrangement) perpendicular to the upper wall of the case 13. Conductive paths (not shown) are formed on both or one of the front and back surfaces of the circuit board 12 by a printed wiring technique.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of connector terminals 24 are arranged in the hood portion 16. The connector terminal 24 is formed by bending a metal plate or a metal bar at a substantially right angle. The term “substantially right angle” includes a case where the connector terminal 24 is bent at a right angle and includes a case where the connector terminal 24 is not bent at a right angle. One end of the connector terminal 24 is disposed in the hood 16. The other end of the connector terminal 24 penetrates the hood 16 and is bent at a substantially right angle on the front side or the back side, and passes through the circuit board 12 located on the front side and the circuit board 12 located on the back side. The conductive path formed on the circuit board 12 is electrically connected by a known method such as soldering. The connector part 14 and the circuit board 12 are assembled in such a posture that the opening direction of the hood part 16 (downward in FIG. 2) is substantially parallel to the direction along the plate surface of the circuit board 12.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the mating connector 15 can be fitted into the hood portion 16. The mating connector 15 is connected to a power source or an in-vehicle electrical component via a wire harness (not shown). The mating connector 15 is formed with a lock arm 25 extending downward and elastically deformable in the front and back direction (left and right direction in FIG. 5) with the upper end of the mating connector 15 as a fulcrum. A lock claw 26 protruding outward is formed on the front side (left side in FIG. 5) of the lock arm 25. On the inner wall of the hood portion 16, an engaging portion 27 that engages with the lock claw 26 is formed at a position corresponding to the lock claw 26 in a state where the mating connector 15 is fitted in a normal position in the hood portion 16. Yes.

(Die cutting hole 28)
In a region of the outer wall 17 of the connector portion 14 that faces the side wall of the case 13, a mold release hole 28 for forming the locking portion 27 is formed so as to communicate with the inside and outside of the hood portion 16. In the present embodiment, the die-cutting holes 28 are formed in the front and back direction (left and right direction in FIG. 5). On the lower wall of the die-cutting hole 28, an inclined surface 29 is formed at a position near the hood portion 16 so as to rise upward toward the hood portion 16 side.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality (five in this embodiment) of the punching holes 28 are formed side by side in the left-right direction in FIG. 3. The die-cutting hole 28 is formed at a position corresponding to the rib 18 described above, and is formed so as to penetrate the inside of the rib 18 in the front and back direction (direction passing through the paper surface in FIG. 3). In the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the die-cutting hole 28 is a substantially square shape.

(Drain hole 30)
As shown in FIG. 5, a drainage hole 30 is formed in the lower wall of the mold release hole 28 so as to extend in the vertical direction and communicate the inside of the mold release hole 28 and the outside of the connector portion 14. . The drain hole 30 is formed at a position relatively close to the case 13 (on the left side in FIG. 5) in the mold release hole 28.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the drainage hole 30 is formed so as to penetrate the lower wall of the rib 18 in the vertical direction (direction passing through the paper surface in FIG. 4). In this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the drainage hole 30 is substantially rectangular.

(Manufacturing process)
Then, an example of the manufacturing process of the electrical junction box 10 which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated. First, the connector terminal 24 is bent at a substantially right angle by bending a metal plate or metal bar. The connector terminal 24 is placed on a mold (not shown) and insert-molded with a synthetic resin to form the connector portion 14. At this time, the mold opening direction of the mold is the front-back direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 5). The connector part 14 is formed with a die-cutting hole 28 for forming the locking part 27 so as to face the front and back direction (left and right direction in FIG. 5). Further, a drain hole 30 is formed in the lower wall of the punching hole 28 so as to penetrate the rib 18 of the connector portion 14 in the vertical direction.

  The circuit board 12 is screwed to the frame part 22 of the connector part 14 while passing the other end of the connector terminal 24 through the circuit board 12. Thereafter, the connector terminal 24 is electrically connected to the conductive path of the circuit board 12 by soldering or the like.

  Subsequently, the connector portion 14 and the circuit board 12 are inserted into the case 13 from the opening portion 11 of the case 13 in a posture in which the hood portion 16 side is directed to the rear side in the insertion direction. Then, after the lock receiving part 20 of the case 13 rides on the lock part 19 of the connector part 14, the lock part 19 and the lock receiving part 20 are elastically engaged by returning and deforming. Thereby, the connector part 14 and the case 13 are assembled | attached integrally. Thereby, the electrical junction box 10 is completed. In the present embodiment, the electrical junction box 10 is used by being attached to a vehicle body (not shown) or the like with the opening 11 of the case 13 facing downward.

(Function, effect)
Then, the effect | action and effect of this embodiment are demonstrated. In the electrical junction box 10 mounted on the vehicle, water may adhere to the outer surface of the case 13 during rain or car wash. When this water adheres to the lower end portion of the case 13, there is a concern that the water may enter the case 13 through a slight gap formed between the lower end portion of the case 13 and the upper surface of the flange 21. . Further, there is a concern that water rises due to capillary action in a slight gap formed between the side wall of the case 13 and the outer surface of the connector portion 14. The water that has risen in the gap and has reached the die hole 28 enters the inside of the die hole 28. Since this punching hole 28 communicates with the inside of the hood part 16, there is a concern that water may enter the inside of the hood part 16. Then, there is a concern that water adheres to the plurality of connector terminals 24 disposed inside the hood portion 16 and short-circuits the connector terminals 24.

  In view of the above points, in the present embodiment, a drainage hole 30 is formed in the lower wall of the mold release hole 28 to communicate the inside and outside of the mold release hole 28 in the vertical direction. Thus, the water that has entered the inside of the mold release hole 28 enters the drain hole 30 formed in the lower wall of the mold release hole 28 after entering the lower wall of the mold release hole 28 toward the hood portion 16. To do. Since the drain hole 30 communicates the inside and outside of the die hole 28 in the vertical direction, the water that has entered the drain hole 30 flows down the drain hole 30 and is discharged to the outside of the connector portion 14. Thereby, it can suppress that water permeates into the hood part 16.

  In the present embodiment, the drainage hole 30 is formed at a position relatively close to the case 13, so that the water that has entered the inside of the die-cutting hole 28 is surely obtained before reaching the hood portion 16. It can be discharged to the outside of the die punching hole 28. Thereby, it can further suppress that water permeates into the hood part 16.

  Further, in the present embodiment, an inclined surface 29 is formed on the inner wall of the die punching hole 28 so as to rise and incline toward the hood portion 16 located on the hood portion 16 side. As a result, even when water enters the inside of the mold release hole 28, this water cannot enter the inside of the hood portion 16 unless it goes up the inclined surface 29. For this reason, it can further suppress that water permeates into the hood part 16.

  Moreover, the connector part 14 which concerns on this embodiment is formed by insert-molding the connector terminal 24 previously bent at a substantially right angle. According to this embodiment, the connector part 14 can be insert-molded without providing a separate slide structure for forming the locking part 27 in the mold.

  In the present embodiment, the connector portion 14 has a frame portion 22 for fixing the circuit board 12 integrally formed with the connector portion 14. Thereby, it can suppress that the relative position of the connector part 14 and the circuit board 12 shift | deviates. As a result, the reliability of electrical connection between the connector terminal 24 of the connector portion 14 and the circuit board 12 can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, two circuit boards 12 are accommodated in the case 13, one circuit board 12 is fixed to the front side of the frame portion 22, and the other circuit board 12 is attached to the frame portion 22. It is fixed on the back of the. Thereby, compared with the case where one circuit board 12 is accommodated in the case 13, the wiring density of the electrical junction box 10 can be improved.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 7, among the mold release holes 28, the mold release hole 28A formed second from the left in FIG. 7 and the mold release hole 28B formed second from the right in FIG. The opening 11 formed on the 13th side (the front side in the direction penetrating the paper surface in FIG. 7) is expanded in the horizontal direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 7). Furthermore, the region expanded in the horizontal direction is expanded downward (downward in FIG. 7).

  As shown in FIG. 11, the rib 18 is penetrated in the vertical direction (vertical direction in FIG. 11) in the region expanded in the horizontal direction in the lower wall of the mold release hole 28, and A drain hole 40 is formed to communicate the inside and the outside. In the present embodiment, a plurality (two in this embodiment) of drain holes 40 are formed side by side in the left-right direction in FIG.

  Of the opening edge of the drain hole 40, the opening opening on the side of the die-cutting holes 28 </ b> A and 28 </ b> B is the inner opening edge 41. Further, the drain hole 40 that opens to the outside of the connector portion 14 is an outer opening edge 42. As shown in FIG. 11, the cross-sectional area of the outer opening edge 42 is set smaller than the cross-sectional area of the inner opening edge 41.

  A tapered surface 43 is formed on the side wall of the drain hole 40 and becomes narrower from the inner opening edge 41 toward the outer opening edge 42.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the outer opening edge 42 corresponding to the second drainage hole 40 from the left in FIG. 8 and the second drainage hole 40 from the right is formed in an elongated slit shape in the front and back direction (vertical direction in FIG. 8). Has been.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the drain hole 40 is not formed in the lower wall of the die punching hole 28 </ b> A in a region of the die punching hole 28 </ b> A that is not expanded in diameter.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, in the area of the die cutting hole 28 </ b> A whose diameter is increased, the drain hole 40 described above is formed in the vertical direction on the lower wall of the die cutting hole 28 </ b> A. The inside and outside of 28A are communicated. In addition, since the structure of the die cutting hole 28B is the same as the structure of the die cutting hole 28A, description is abbreviate | omitted about the overlapping structure.

  Since the configuration other than the above is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

(Function, effect)
Then, the effect | action and effect of this embodiment are demonstrated. First, as shown in FIG. 10, when water adheres to the area where the diameters of the punching holes 28 </ b> A and 28 </ b> B are expanded in the lower end portion of the case 13, the water is 13 enters the inside of the case 13 through a gap formed between the lower end portion of 13 and the upper surface of the flange 21. This water enters the inside of the mold release holes 28A and 28B (see arrow G), and is discharged from the drain hole 40 formed in the lower wall of the mold release holes 28A and 28B to the outside of the connector portion 14 (arrows). (See line H).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, when water adheres to a region corresponding to a region of the lower end portion of the case 13 that is not expanded in the die-cutting holes 28 </ b> A and 28 </ b> B, the water is shown by an arrow D in FIG. 9. As shown by the above, the inside of the case 13 enters from the gap formed between the lower end portion of the case 13 and the flange 21. Further, the water rises by capillary action in a slight gap formed between the side wall of the case 13 and the outer surface of the connector portion 14. The water that has risen in the gap and reaches the punching holes 28A and 28B enters the inside of the punching holes 28A and 28B (see arrow E). As shown in FIG. 11, the water flows down the tapered surface 43 by being guided by the tapered surface 43 formed on the side wall of the drain hole 40 (see arrow I) and enters the drain hole 40. Thereafter, the water flows down the drain hole 40 and is drained to the outside of the connector portion 14 (see arrow J).

  As shown in FIG. 11, the drain hole 40 is formed by communicating the inside and outside of the mold release holes 28A, 28B in the vertical direction. For this reason, there is a concern that water may enter from the outer opening edge 42 of the drain hole 40 and enter the mold punching holes 28A and 28B. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the sectional area of the outer opening edge 42 of the drain hole 40 is set to be smaller than the sectional area of the inner opening edge 41. This prevents water from entering the drain hole 40 from the outer opening edge 42. As a result, it is possible to reliably suppress water from entering the hood portion 16.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, since a plurality of drain holes 40 are formed in each of the mold release holes 28A and 28B, when one drain hole 40 is formed in each of the mold release holes 28A and 28B. In comparison, the water that has entered the inside of the mold release holes 28 </ b> A <b> 28 </ b> B can be reliably discharged to the outside of the connector portion 14.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments 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.
(1) It is good also as a structure by which the 3 or more several drainage hole 30 is formed in the lower wall of each die-cutting hole 28 and 28B.
(2) In the present embodiment, the inclined surface 29 is formed on the lower wall of the die punching hole 28, but the inclined surface 29 may be omitted.
(3) In the present embodiment, the connector part 14 is formed by insert molding of the connector terminal 24. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the connector terminal 24 may be press-fitted into the connector part 14.
(4) In the present embodiment, the case 13 is composed of one member. However, the case 13 is not limited to this, and the case 13 is composed of a plurality of members, for example, a combination of the lower case 13 and the upper case 13. It is good.
(5) In the present embodiment, the connector portion 14 and the frame portion 22 are integrally formed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the connector portion 14 and the frame portion 22 formed separately are assembled. It is good also as a structure.
(6) In the present embodiment, the two circuit boards 12 are fixed to the frame portion 22. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one circuit board is fixed to the frame portion 22. Alternatively, three or more circuit boards may be fixed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Electrical junction box 11 ... Opening part 12 ... Circuit board 13 ... Case 14 ... Connector part 15 ... Counterpart connector 16 ... Hood part 22 ... Frame part 24 ... Connector terminal 27 ... Locking part 28, 28A, 28B ... Die cutting Hole 29 ... Inclined surface 30 ... Drain hole 42 ... Outer opening edge 41 ... Inner opening edge

Claims (7)

A case having an opening that opens downward and a circuit board accommodated therein; and a connector that is injection-molded with a synthetic resin and is fitted into the opening to close the opening.
The connector portion has a hood portion that can be mated with a mating connector, and a plurality of connector terminals are arranged inside the hood portion, and the inner wall of the hood portion is engaged with the mating connector. A locking portion is formed, and a die-cutting hole for forming the locking portion is formed in a region facing the side wall of the case in the connector portion so as to communicate with the inside and outside of the hood portion. ,
An electrical junction box in which a drainage hole that communicates the inside and outside of the die-cutting hole in the vertical direction is formed in the lower wall of the die-cutting hole. Of the opening edge of the drain port, the cross-sectional area of the outer opening edge that opens to the outside of the connector portion is set to be smaller than the cross-sectional area of the inner opening edge that opens to the die hole side of the opening edge of the drain port. The electrical junction box according to claim 1. The electrical junction box according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the drain holes are formed in a lower wall of the mold release hole. The electrical junction box according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an inclined surface that rises and slopes toward the hood portion side is formed on a lower wall of the punching hole. The electrical connector box according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the connector portion is formed by insert molding the connector terminal that has been bent at a substantially right angle in advance. The electrical connection box according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the circuit board is fixed to a frame portion formed integrally with the connector portion. Two circuit boards are accommodated in the case, one of the circuit boards is fixed to the front side of the frame part, and the other circuit board is fixed to the back side of the frame part. Item 7. An electrical junction box according to Item 6.

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