JP2011234484A - Locking structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a locking structure capable of detecting a locking state of a locking protrusion and a locking arm by visual inspection.SOLUTION: A locking structure 90 comprises: a locking protrusion 38 which is arranged on a side wall 31 surrounding an opening 3a of a case 3; a locking arm 25 which is arranged on a side wall 27 of a cassette block 2b which is stored in the case 3, and engages with the locking protrusion 38 by storing the cassette block 2b in the case 3, and a detection rod 26 which extends from the locking arm 25. The detection rod 26 is protruding more than the end part of the side wall 27 at the side of the opening 3a when the cassette block 2b is stored in the case 3, is parallel to the side wall 27 when the locking protrusion 38 and the locking arm 25 are fully engaged, and is inclined with respect to the side wall 27 when the locking protrusion 38 and the locking arm 25 are incompletely engaged.

Description

  The present invention relates to a locking structure of a locking projection and a locking arm provided on a case and a block body.

  A variety of electronic devices are mounted on automobiles. In order to supply power and transmit signals to these various electronic devices, an electric junction box is arranged in the automobile. The electrical connection box has various configurations. For example, the electrical connection box includes a case and a cassette block as a block body in which a plurality of electrical components are mounted and accommodated in the case. A box is known (see Patent Document 1). FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a locking structure of a locking projection and a locking arm provided on a case and a cassette block of a conventional electrical junction box.

  An electrical junction box 201 shown in FIG. 9 includes a synthetic resin case 203, a cover (not shown) that covers the opening 203a of the case 203, and a synthetic resin that is accommodated in the case 203 with a plurality of electrical components 218 attached thereto. A cassette block 202 made of metal and a locking structure 290 for fixing the case 203 and the cassette block 202 are provided.

  The case 203 is formed in a box shape by a bottom wall 230 and a plurality of side walls 231 (only one is shown) erected from the outer edge of the bottom wall 230 in the arrow Y direction. The “opening 203a” means a space surrounded by the edges of the plurality of side walls 231 away from the bottom wall 230.

  The locking structure 290 is provided on the locking protrusion 238 provided on the side wall 231 of the case 203 and on the side surface 227 of the cassette block 202. When the cassette block 202 is accommodated in the case 203, the locking structure 290 is engaged with the locking protrusion 238. A locking arm 225 for stopping. The locking arm 225 protrudes from the arm portion 225a extending from the side surface 227 of the cassette block 202 to the upper surface 223 side like a cantilever plate and the tip of the arm portion 225, and is hooked on the locking projection 238, that is, locked. , And a protrusion 225b.

  In the electrical junction box 201 having the above-described configuration, the arm 225a is temporarily elastically deformed to the side surface 227 side when the cassette block 202 is inserted into the case 203 from the opening 203a along the arrow Y direction, and the locking arm 225 is thus formed. Gets over the locking projection 238, and then is restored to the state before the arm portion 225a is elastically deformed, whereby the protruding portion 225b is locked to the locking projection 238 and assembled.

JP 2007-68275 A

  However, in the electrical junction box 201 provided with the locking structure 290 described above, the locking protrusion 238 and the locking arm 225 are positioned on the back side of the case 203 in a state where the cassette block 202 is accommodated in the case 203. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to visually detect whether the locking projection 238 and the locking arm 225 are completely locked or incompletely locked.

  In addition, the above-described problem is a problem that similarly occurs when the locking structure 290 is used for an article other than the electrical junction box 201.

  Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide the latching structure which can detect the latching state of a latching protrusion and a latching arm visually.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 includes a side wall or a partition wall surrounding the opening of the case, and a locking protrusion provided on one of the side surfaces of the block body accommodated in the case, A locking structure provided on the other side and capable of detecting a locking state between the block body and the locking arm that is locked to the locking protrusion by being housed in the case, and extends from the locking arm. The detection rod protrudes from the opening side end of the side surface in a state where the block body is accommodated in the case, and the locking protrusion, the locking arm, Is configured to be parallel to the side surface when it is completely locked, and to be inclined with respect to the side surface when the locking protrusion and the locking arm are locked incompletely. It is the latching structure characterized by having.

  The invention described in claim 2 is the invention described in claim 1, wherein the locking projection or the locking arm is provided on the side wall, and the side wall is provided on the opening side of the side wall. A notch that is recessed from the edge and is visible from the outside of the case is provided.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the detection rod is provided so as to extend from the locking arm, and the detection rod is in the state where the block body is accommodated in the case and on the opening side of the side surface. When the locking projection and the locking arm are completely locked, the locking projection and the locking arm are incomplete. Since it is configured to tilt with respect to the side surface when it is locked, it is possible to detect the locking state between the locking protrusion and the locking arm by observing the tilted state of the detection rod. A simple locking structure can be provided.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, the locking protrusion or the locking arm is provided on the side wall, and the side wall is formed to be recessed from an edge on the opening side of the side wall, Since the notch is provided so that the detection rod can be seen from the outside of the case, the inclination state of the detection rod can be seen from the outside of the case, and the engagement state between the engagement protrusion and the engagement arm can be confirmed. Furthermore, it becomes possible to detect easily.

It is a perspective view which shows the electrical junction box provided with the latching structure concerning one embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the state which removed the cover of the electrical-connection box shown by FIG. It is sectional drawing along the AA line in FIG. It is an enlarged view of the B section in FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the locking structure shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a method of detecting the locking state between the locking protrusion and the locking arm of the locking structure shown in FIG. 5 using a checker, and the locking protrusion and the locking arm are completely engaged. It is explanatory drawing when it has stopped. It is explanatory drawing explaining the method to detect the latching state of the latching protrusion of the latching structure shown in FIG. 5 and a latching arm using a checker, and a latching protrusion and a latching arm are incompletely engaged. It is explanatory drawing when it has stopped. It is a figure which shows the other example of the latching structure of this invention, and is a perspective view which shows the case where the partition wall was provided. It is sectional drawing which shows the latching structure of the latching protrusion provided in the case and cassette block of the conventional electrical junction box, and a latching arm.

  An electrical junction box 1 having a “locking structure 90” according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The electrical junction box 1 of the present invention is mounted on an automobile and supplies power and transmits signals to an electronic device mounted on the automobile. In the present invention, a junction block (also referred to as a junction box), a fuse block (also referred to as a fuse box), and a relay block (also referred to as a relay box) are collectively referred to as an electrical connection box.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the electrical junction box 1 includes a case 3, a cover 4 made of synthetic resin that covers the opening 3 a of the case 3, and power cables 6 a, 6 b that are drawn into the case 3. 6c and a grommet 13 for waterproofing the case 3 attached to each, a grommet 12 for passing the wire 11 of the wire harness inside and waterproofing the case 3, and a plurality of electrical components such as a relay, a fuse, a fusible link and a connector 18 and a plurality of bus bars 8 are mounted and two cassette blocks 2a and 2b accommodated in the case 3 and a locking structure 90 for fixing the case 3 and the cassette block 2b are provided. The cassette block 2b corresponds to a “block body” described in the claims.

  The power cables 6a, 6b, and 6c are electric wires connected to a battery or an alternator mounted on the automobile, and the LA terminal 5 is connected to the terminal. The LA terminal 5 is a terminal obtained by pressing a metal plate or the like. The LA terminal 5 is a pair of crimping pieces 53 for crimping the core wires of the power cables 6a, 6b, 6c, and a pair of caulking pieces 54 for caulking the insulation coating. And a counterpart connection part 51 that is overlapped with a part of the bus bar 8 and electrically connected to the bus bar 8.

  The case 3 is made of synthetic resin and has a bottom wall 30 formed in a rectangular plate shape, and a plurality of side walls 31, 32, 33, 34 erected from the outer edge of the bottom wall 30 in the arrow Y direction, Is formed in a box shape. That is, the “opening 3 a” means a space surrounded by the edges of the side walls 31, 32, 33, 34 away from the bottom wall 30. Further, the side wall 31 has a wire passage 14 for drawing the wire 11 of the wire harness (not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) into the case 3, and the power cables 6 a, 6 b, An electric wire passage 15 for drawing 6c is provided.

  Moreover, the arrow X in FIGS. 1-7 has shown the longitudinal direction of the bottom wall 30, ie, the longitudinal direction of case 3, The arrow Z in FIGS. 1-7 is the width direction of the bottom wall 30, That is, the width direction of the case 3 is shown. Moreover, the arrow X and the arrow Z are orthogonal. Moreover, the arrow Y of FIGS. 1-7 is a direction orthogonal to both the arrow X and the arrow Z, and has shown the depth direction of the case 3. FIG.

  The grommet 13 is made of an elastic material such as rubber. As shown in FIG. 2, the grommet 13 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a cylindrical portion 13 a that positions the power cables 6 a, 6 b, 6 c on the inside thereof, and extends in a bowl shape from one axial end portion of the cylindrical portion 13 a. And a flange portion 13b. The grommet 13 is attached to the wire passage 15 in a state where the power cables 6a, 6b, 6c are positioned in the cylindrical portion 13a, and waterproofs the case 3.

  The grommet 12 is formed in a bellows cylinder shape as shown in FIG. The grommet 12 is attached to the wire passage 14 in a state where the wire 11 of the wire harness is passed through the grommet 12 to waterproof the case 3.

  The cassette blocks 2a and 2b are made of synthetic resin. Each of the cassette blocks 2a and 2b is formed in a block shape and extends in a plate shape from a mounting portion 20 on which a plurality of electrical components 18 and a plurality of bus bars 8 are mounted, and an end portion 22 on the bottom wall 30 side of the mounting portion 20 The fixing portion 21 is provided integrally with the bottom wall 30 of the case 3 and is fixed to the bottom wall 30 by bolts 41 and nuts 42. Further, the surface of the mounting portion 20 that faces the bottom wall 30 away from the end portion 22 is referred to as an “upper surface 23” in the present invention. In addition, a surface that intersects the upper surface 23 and the end 22 of the mounting portion 20 is referred to as a “side surface 27” in the present invention. These cassette blocks 2a and 2b are inserted into the case 3 along the arrow Y direction from the opening 3a.

  The cassette block 2a is provided with a terminal mounting portion 10 for attaching the LA terminal 5 connected to the power cables 6a, 6b, 6c. The terminal mounting portion 10 includes a part of the bus bar 8 superimposed on the upper surface 23 of the mounting part 20 and a bolt 9 protruding from the upper surface 23 and passing through a through hole provided in a part of the bus bar 8. Has been. The terminal mounting portion 10 is configured such that the nut 16 is attached to the bolt 9 through the through hole provided in the counterpart connection portion 51 in a state where the counterpart connection portion 51 of the LA terminal 5 is overlapped with a part of the bus bar 8. The LA terminal 5 is attached by screwing.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the locking structure 90 is provided on the locking protrusion 38 provided on the inner surface of the side wall 31 of the case 3 and the side surface 27 opposite to the side wall 31 of the cassette block 2b. When the block 2b is housed in the case 3, a locking arm 25 that locks to the locking projection 38, a detection rod 26 that extends from the locking arm 25, and a pair provided on the side surface 27 of the cassette block 2b. And a pair of rails 37 that are provided on the inner surface of the side wall 31 of the case 3 and accommodate the pair of sliding portions 24 movably in the arrow Y direction.

  The locking arm 25 protrudes from the side surface 27 of the cassette block 2b to the upper surface 23 in a cantilevered plate shape, and protrudes from the tip of the arm portion 25 to the side opposite to the side surface 27, and is hooked by the locking projection 38. In other words, the protrusion 25b is engaged. In such a locking arm 25, when the cassette block 2b is inserted into the case 3 along the arrow Y direction from the opening 3a, the arm portion 25a is elastically deformed once toward the side surface 27, and the locking projection 38 is formed. After that, the protrusion 25b is locked to the locking protrusion 38 by restoring the state before the arm 25a is elastically deformed.

  The detection rod 26 extends in a rod shape from the tip of the arm portion 25a to the upper surface 23 side of the cassette block 2b. Moreover, the detection rod 26 protrudes from the upper surface 23 so that the worker can visually recognize the tilted state. In addition, a two-dot chain line C in FIGS. 5 to 7 represents a virtual plane extending from the upper surface 23. That is, the detection rod 26 protrudes from the end of the side surface 27 of the cassette block 2b on the opening 3a side. Further, the detection rod 26 has a side surface 27 when the arm portion 25a is not elastically deformed and when the locking protrusion 38 and the locking arm 25 are completely locked as shown in FIG. 7, the locking projection 38 and the locking arm 25 are incompletely locked as shown in FIG. 7, and the arm portion 25 a is inclined with respect to the side surface 27 when elastically deformed. Has been.

  In the present invention, the state where the locking arm 25 is not pushed to the position over the locking projection 38 and the protruding portion 25b is not caught by the locking projection 38 is referred to as “the locking projection 38 and the locking arm 25”. "Is incompletely locked."

  As shown in FIG. 4, the pair of sliding portions 24 includes a pair of first sliding portions 24a protruding from the side surface 27 of the cassette block 2b with a space therebetween, and side surfaces of the pair of first sliding portions 24a. 27 and a pair of second sliding portions 24b extending in directions away from each other from the end portions away from each other. The pair of sliding portions 24 are provided at positions where the locking arm 25 is positioned between them.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the pair of rails 37 protrude from the inner surface of the side wall 31 of the case 3 at a distance from each other, and a pair of inner rails 35 positioned inside the pair of sliding portions 24, A pair of outer rails 36 that protrude from the inner surface of the side wall 31 with a space therebetween and are positioned outside the pair of sliding portions 24 are provided. In addition, the pair of outer rails 36 are separated from each other from the pair of first outer rails 36a protruding from the inner surface of the side wall 31 at an interval from each other and the ends of the pair of first outer rails 36a away from the side walls 31. And a pair of second outer rails 36b.

  In the pair of sliding portions 24 described above, each first sliding portion 24a is positioned between each inner rail 35 and each second outer rail 36b, and each second sliding portion 24b is each inner rail 35. And the first outer rails 36a are housed in a pair of rails 37 movably in the arrow Y direction.

  In the locking structure 90 having the above-described configuration, the pair of sliding portions 24 slides in the pair of rails 37 in the arrow Y direction, so that the cassette block 2b is moved from the opening 3a of the case 3 to the bottom along the arrow Y direction. While guiding straight to the wall 30 side, the movement of the cassette block 2b in the arrow X direction and the arrow Z direction is restricted. Further, when the locking arm 25 is locked to the locking projection 38, the movement of the cassette block 2b in the arrow Y direction is restricted.

  Furthermore, the locking structure 90 shows the locked state of the locking projection 38 and the locking arm 25 when the detection rod 26 is tilted. That is, when the locking protrusion 38 and the locking arm 25 are completely locked, the detection rod 26 is parallel to the side surface 27 as shown in FIGS. When the locking arm 25 is locked incompletely and the arm portion 25a is elastically deformed, it tilts with respect to the side surface 27 as shown in FIG.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since the electrical junction box 1 includes the locking structure 90, the operator visually checks the tilted state of the detection rod 26 after the cassette block 2b is accommodated in the case 3. Thus, the locking state between the locking protrusion 38 and the locking arm 25 can be detected.

  Further, the side wall 31 of the case 3 is provided with a notch 39 that is recessed from the edge of the side wall 31 on the opening 3 a side and that allows the detection rod 26 to be seen from the outside of the case 3. Thus, the operator can visually check the inclination state of the detection rod 26 from the outside of the case 3 and can more easily detect the engagement state between the engagement protrusion 38 and the engagement arm 25.

  Furthermore, in the locking structure 90 of the present invention, as described above, in addition to detecting the locking state between the locking protrusion 38 and the locking arm 25 by visually observing the tilted state of the detection rod 26, FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to detect the locking state between the locking protrusion 38 and the locking arm 25 using a checker 91.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the cassette block 2 b is accommodated in the case 3, the checker 91 is configured such that the locking projections 38 and the locking arms 25 are completely removed. A switch 92 is provided that is pressed against the detection rod 26 only when it is locked. That is, when the locking projection 38 and the locking arm 25 are completely locked, the detection bar 26 is parallel to the side surface 27, so that the switch 92 is pressed by the tip of the detection bar 26. It is detected that the locking projection 38 and the locking arm 25 are completely locked. Further, when the locking projection 38 and the locking arm 25 are incompletely locked, the detection rod 26 is inclined with respect to the side surface 27, so that the tip of the detection rod 26 is deviated from the switch 92, and It is detected that the stop projection 38 and the locking arm 25 are incompletely locked.

  In the present invention, in order to reliably detect the locking state of the locking protrusion 38 and the locking arm 25, the above-described detection by the visual inspection of the worker and detection using the checker 91 may be used in combination. Is possible.

  In the above-described embodiment, the electrical connection box 1 including the “locking structure 90” has been described as an example. However, the “locking structure” of the present invention may be used for articles other than the electrical connection box. good. In the embodiment described above, the cassette block 2b has been described as an example of the “block body”. However, the “block body” of the present invention is not limited to the cassette block 2b, and is housed in a case such as an electronic unit. Any block shape may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the locking protrusion 38 is provided on the side wall 31 of the case 3 and the locking arm 25 is provided on the side surface 27 of the cassette block 2b has been described. In the “structure”, the locking protrusion 38 may be provided on the side surface 27 of the cassette block 2 b, and the locking arm 25 may be provided on the side wall 31 of the case 3.

  In the above-described embodiment, the locking projection 38 is provided on the side wall 31 of the case 3. However, in the “locking structure” of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 103 partition walls 130 may be provided. The “partition wall 130” is a wall that partitions the inside of the case 103 into a plurality of spaces. That is, in the “locking structure” of the present invention, the locking protrusion 38 may be provided on the side wall 31 or may be provided on the partition wall 130. Further, the locking protrusions 38 may be provided on both the side wall 31 and the partition wall 130. Further, the locking arm 25 may be provided on the partition wall 130 instead of the locking protrusion 38.

  In the above-described embodiment, the “locking structure 90” includes the pair of sliding portions 24 and the pair of rails 37. However, the “locking structure” of the present invention does not necessarily include these. It is sufficient that at least the locking projection 38, the locking arm 25, and the detection rod 26 are provided.

  In addition, embodiment mentioned above only showed the typical form of this invention, and this invention is not limited to embodiment. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1 Electrical junction box 2b Cassette block (block body)
3 Case 3a Opening 25 Locking Arm 26 Detection Rod 27 Side 31 Side Wall 38 Locking Projection 39 Notch 90 Locking Structure 130 Partition Wall

Claims (2)

A side wall or partition wall surrounding the opening of the case, a locking protrusion provided on one of the side surfaces of the block body accommodated in the case, and the other provided, and the block body being accommodated in the case In the locking structure capable of detecting the locking state of the locking arm locked to the locking projection,
A detecting rod extending from the locking arm, the detecting rod protruding from an end of the side surface of the opening in a state where the block body is accommodated in the case, and the locking rod When the protrusion and the locking arm are completely locked, they are parallel to the side surface, and when the locking protrusion and the locking arm are incompletely locked, A locking structure characterized by being configured to tilt. The locking projection or the locking arm is provided on the side wall; and
2. The notch according to claim 1, wherein the side wall is provided with a notch that is formed in a concave shape from an edge of the side wall on the opening side and that allows the detection rod to be visually recognized from the outside of the case. Locking structure.

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