JP2017022955A - Electric connection box - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric connection box having a novel structure that can perform further space saving even when a deflection gap of a lock piece portion is provided between electric component mounting portions which are arranged to be adjacent to each other.SOLUTION: An electrical connection box has a case 12 in which an electric circuit is mounted. A plurality of electric component mounting portions 16 for mounting electric components 18 conducting to the electric circuit are provided to project from the outer surface 14 of the case 12 and arranged to be adjacent to one another. At least one of the opposing side walls 20c, 20c of the two electric component mounting portions 16 arranged adjacently is provided with a lock piece portion 32 which is fitted to a lock portion 36 provided to the electric component 18, and a deflection gap 40 is formed between the opposing side walls 20c, 20c to permit outward flexure deformation of the lock piece portion 32. In the electric connection box, a bus bar 54 conducted to the electric circuit is accommodated and arranged in the deflection gap 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical junction box in which an electrical circuit is disposed inside a case, and more particularly, to an electrical junction box provided with an electrical component mounting portion for mounting an electrical component that conducts to the electrical circuit.

  Conventionally, as an electrical connection box mounted on an automobile or the like, an electrical circuit is disposed inside the case, and an electrical component mounting portion for mounting an electrical component such as a relay or a fuse that is connected to the electrical circuit on the outer surface of the case has been provided. What you have is known. For example, what is described in JP 2012-65404 A (Patent Document 1) is this.

  By the way, with the recent downsizing of vehicles, the arrangement space allowed for the electric junction box is limited. Therefore, in contrast to conventional high voltage and large current relays that are fastened and fixed to the electrical component mounting portion by screwing, in recent years, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, the relay is provided in the relay. The lock part is provided in the lock part and the electric part mounting part and can be flexibly deformed to be fitted into the lock part, and the electric part is fixed to the electric part mounting part by fitting the lock piece to the lock part. Some have been proposed that use a lock structure to hold them. As a result, space saving and compactness of the electrical junction box can be achieved.

  Furthermore, the number of electrical components mounted on the electrical junction box is steadily increasing with the recent enhancement of vehicle functionality. Therefore, in order to meet the demand for space saving, it is required to provide the electrical component mounting portions close to each other and with high density.

  However, there is a problem that there is a limit to space saving when the lock structure as described above is adopted for the electrical component mounting portions arranged adjacent to each other. That is, when the lock piece portion is provided on the opposing side wall of the adjacent electric component mounting portion, the lock piece portion bends outward when the electric component is mounted on the electric component mounting portion. Since the bending gap which permits this is required between the opposing side walls, the separation distance between the electrical component mounting portions arranged adjacent to each other cannot be made smaller than the bending gap. Therefore, a countermeasure that can meet the demand for further downsizing of the electrical junction box has been demanded.

JP 2012-65404 A

  The present invention has been made in the background as described above, and the problem to be solved is that even when a gap for bending the lock piece portion is provided between adjacent electric component mounting portions, further space saving is achieved. An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical junction box having a novel structure that can be realized.

  A first aspect of the present invention includes a case in which an electric circuit is disposed, and a plurality of electric component mounting portions for mounting an electric component that conducts to the electric circuit are protruded from and arranged adjacent to the outer surface of the case. And at least one of the opposing side walls of the two adjacently mounted electrical component mounting portions is provided with a locking piece portion that fits into a locking portion provided on the electrical component, In the electrical junction box in which a bending gap allowing the outward bending deformation of the lock piece portion is formed between the side walls, the bus bar connected to the electric circuit is accommodated in the bending gap. It is characterized by.

  According to this aspect, the bus bar that is electrically connected to the electric circuit is accommodated in the bending gap that allows the outward deformation of the lock piece provided between the opposing side walls. As a result, there is a limit in reducing the size of the bus bar, which makes up part of the electric circuit originally arranged in the case by effectively utilizing the bending gap between the opposing side walls of the adjacent electrical component mounting portions. Can be arranged. As a result, in an electrical junction box that has a limit in reducing the separation distance (bending gap) between the adjacent electric component mounting portions, the electric circuit can be arranged by using the bending gap in reverse. The space efficiency was improved, and the electrical junction box could be made more compact.

  In short, such a bending gap is only necessary when, for example, an electrical component such as a relay is mounted on the electrical component mounting portion, and is not necessary thereafter. Therefore, the deflection applied after the electrical component is mounted on the electrical component mounting portion. The change in the idea of using the gap as a space for accommodating the bus bar connected to the electric circuit has made it possible to exceed the limit of conventional space saving.

  In addition, the electric component mounting part arrange | positioned adjacently may be the same shape, and may be a different shape. In addition to relays, the electrical components mounted on the electrical component mounting portion include any components that can be connected to an electrical circuit such as a fusible link and a connector.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the one described in the first aspect, the lock piece portions are provided on both of the opposing side walls of the two electric component mounting portions arranged adjacent to each other. The locking piece portion is provided at a position where at least a part thereof overlaps in the projection in the opposite direction of the side wall, while the bending gap has an area where both the locking piece portions can be bent and deformed simultaneously. It is what.

  According to this aspect, since the lock piece portions are provided on both opposing side walls of the adjacent electric component mounting portion, the electric component can be fixed by the lock structure in either of the two electric component mounting portions. The space efficiency can be improved as compared with the case where one is fastened and fixed by screwing. Further, since the lock pieces provided on both of the opposing side walls of the adjacent electrical component mounting parts are provided so as to overlap in the projection in the opposite direction of the side walls, The two electrical component mounting portions can be brought close to each other not only in the facing direction but also in a direction orthogonal to the facing direction. Therefore, the electric circuit to which the two electric component mounting portions are connected can be efficiently arranged, and the entire electric circuit can be made compact and the bus bar arranged in the bending gap can be shortened. Is also possible. In addition, since the gap for bending has an area that allows both lock pieces to bend and deform at the same time, it is possible to mount electric parts simultaneously on two adjacent electric parts mounting parts. The improvement of sex can be achieved together. Furthermore, a relatively wide bending gap can accommodate and arrange a relatively thick bus bar for high pressure, and can be used effectively.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the bus bar is accommodated and arranged in a vertically placed state in which the depth direction of the bending gap is the width direction of the bus bar. The upper end of the bus bar is positioned below the upper end of each of the opposing side walls.

  According to this aspect, since the bus bar is accommodated and arranged in the vertical state so that the depth direction of the bending gap is the width direction of the bus bar, the depth of the bending gap can be increased even for a high-pressure wide bus bar. In other words, the height of the side wall of the electrical component mounting portion can be used effectively to accommodate and arrange in a space-saving manner. Furthermore, since the upper end portion of the bus bar is positioned below the upper end portion of the side wall, the bus bar can be prevented from being damaged or short-circuited due to contact between the bus bar and other members.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the one described in any one of the first to third aspects, a pair of presser protrusions projecting from both of the opposing side walls toward the other side wall project. The bus bar is positioned and held between the pair of presser protrusions.

  According to this aspect, since the presser protrusion can be provided by utilizing the bending gap between the opposing side walls, the positioning and holding performance of the bus bar is improved and the rattling of the bus bar is prevented while maintaining space efficiency. be able to.

  In the present invention, the bus bar is accommodated and disposed in a bending gap that allows outward bending deformation of the lock piece provided between the opposing side walls. As a result, the bus bar originally provided in the case can be provided by effectively utilizing the bending gap between the opposing side walls of the adjacent electrical component mounting portions, which has a limit to reducing the size. As a result, the space efficiency of the arrangement of the electric circuit is improved by using the bending gap in the reverse direction, and the electric junction box can be further downsized.

The disassembled perspective view which shows the electrical-connection box as one Embodiment of this invention. The perspective view of the assembly | attachment state of the electrical-connection box shown in FIG. The top view of the electrical-connection box shown in FIG. The principal part enlarged view of the IV-IV cross section in FIG.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 4 show an electrical junction box 10 as an embodiment of the present invention. The electrical junction box 10 includes a case 12 in which an electrical circuit (not shown) is disposed. The case 12 is integrally formed by injection molding or the like with a synthetic resin such as polypropylene (PP) or polyamide (PA). Further, in the following description, “upper” means upper in FIG. 1, “lower” means lower in FIG. 1, “front” means left in FIG. 3, and “rear” means right in FIG. Shall.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the case 12 has a horizontally long substantially rectangular block shape as a whole. At the center portion of the outer surface 14 of the case 12 in the length direction (left and right direction in FIG. 3), a high voltage relay mounting portion 16 as two electric component mounting portions protrudes and the length direction of the case 12 (FIG. 3). (Middle, left-right direction). The high voltage relay mounting unit 16 is mounted with a high voltage relay 18 that is an electrical component for high voltage. The two high-voltage relay mounting portions 16 are formed so as to be point-symmetric with respect to the center of the outer surface 14 of the case 12 in plan view. More specifically, the high voltage relay mounting portion 16 includes a substantially U-shaped side wall portion 20 protruding upward from the outer surface 14 of the case 12 and the outer surface of the case 12 surrounded by the side wall portion 20. 14 has a bottom wall 22 constituted by 14. In the region of the side wall portion 20 where the side wall is not formed, a substantially U-shaped separation wall portion accommodating portion 24 is formed in a plan view opening inward and upward of the high voltage relay mounting portion 16. The separation wall portion 28 provided between the pair of output terminals 26 and 26 of the high-voltage relay 18 is accommodated and positioned. On the other hand, out of the side walls 20a to 20c constituting the side wall part 20, the central part of the side walls 20a and 20c facing the length direction of the case 12 is a substantially rectangular cutout part 30 in a front view that opens in the vertical direction. In the cutout 30, a locking piece 32 having a substantially rectangular frame shape is projected upward from the bottom wall 22 in a front view. Then, the engagement portion 34 formed in the lock piece portion 32 is engaged with a lock portion 36 having a substantially triangular cross-section projecting on the opposite side surface of the high-voltage relay 18, whereby the high-voltage relay 18. Is fixed to the high voltage relay mounting portion 16.

  Further, the opposing side walls 20c, 20c of the two adjacently disposed high voltage relay mounting portions 16 protrude toward the other side walls 20c, 20c, and in a side view over substantially the entire length of the side walls 20c, 20c in the vertical direction. A pair of presser protrusions 38, 38 extending in a substantially rectangular shape are provided (see FIGS. 3 to 4). As shown in FIG. 3, the lock pieces 32 formed in the notches 30 of the opposing side walls 20c, 20c of the two adjacently arranged high voltage relay mounting portions 16 are one in the projection in the opposite direction. It is provided at a position where the parts overlap. Between the opposing side walls 20c, 20c of the two adjacent high voltage relay mounting portions 16, a bending gap 40 having a width that allows both of the lock piece portions 32 to be simultaneously bent outward is formed. It has been done.

  In addition, on the outer surface 14 of the case 12, a resistance mounting portion 42 for mounting the resistor 41, a relay mounting portion 46 for mounting a normal relay 44, a large current fuse mounting portion 50 for mounting a large current fuse 48, and the like project. Has been. Further, at the four corners of the outer surface 14 of the case 12, bolt insertion holes 52 through which bolts for fixing the electrical connection box 10 of the present invention to a predetermined location of a vehicle (not shown) are inserted vertically. .

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a bus bar 54 is disposed on the inside and the outer surface 14 of the case 12. The bus bar 54 is formed by press punching and bending a metal plate made of copper, copper alloy, or the like, and can be set to an arbitrary shape in consideration of a circuit wiring shape or the like. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bus bar terminal 56 that is disposed inside the case 12 and that is bent at the end of the bus bar 54 that constitutes the electric circuit and protrudes from the outer surface 14 of the case 12 includes The bolt 58 is fastened and fixed to the output terminal 26 of the high-voltage relay 18. In this way, the high voltage relay 18 is electrically connected to the electric circuit. Further, the bus bar 54 disposed on the outer surface 14 of the case 12 connects, for example, between the electric components 18 and 48 mounted on the various electric component mounting portions 16 and 50 formed on the outer surface 14 of the case 12, It is used to electrically connect the electrical components 18, 41, 44, 48 and the electrical circuit inside the case 12 via the bus bar terminal 56.

  Further, the bus bar 54 is accommodated in the bending gap 40 (see FIGS. 3 to 4). As described above, the bus bar 54 is electrically connected to the electric circuit inside the case 12 via the bus bar terminal 56 (see FIGS. 1 and 2), and a pair of presser protrusions 38 provided on the side walls 20c and 20c. , 38 (see FIGS. 3 to 4). More specifically, the bus bar 54 is housed and disposed in a vertically placed state in which the depth direction of the bending gap 40 is the width direction of the bus bar 54 and is opposed to the two adjacent high voltage relay mounting portions 16. The upper end 62 of the bus bar 54 is formed below the upper end 60 of the side walls 20c, 20c.

  According to the electrical junction box 10 of this embodiment having such a structure, the bending gap 40 is formed between the opposing side walls 20c, 20c of the two adjacent high voltage relay mounting portions 16, and the lock The outward deflection of the piece 32 is allowed. A bus bar 54 that is conductively connected to the electric circuit in the case 12 via the bus bar terminal 56 is accommodated in the bending gap 40. In this way, by arranging the bus bar 54 that constitutes a part of the electric circuit originally arranged in the case 12 in the bending gap 40, the electric component mounting portions 16 arranged adjacent to each other as in the conventional case are arranged. Compared to the case where the separation distance cannot be made smaller than the bending gap 40, the bending gap 40 can be used in reverse to improve the space efficiency of the arrangement of the electric circuit, and the electric junction box 10 can be made more compact. Was able to be realized. In short, the bending gap 40 is only required when mounting an electrical component such as the high-voltage relay 18 on an electrical component mounting portion such as the high-voltage relay mounting portion 16, and is unnecessary thereafter. By changing the way of thinking that the gap 40 for bending after mounting on the electrical component mounting part is used as a space for accommodating the bus bar 54 conducted to the electrical circuit, the limit of the conventional space saving could be exceeded. .

  Moreover, the lock piece part 32 is provided in both the opposing side walls 20c and 20c of the two adjacent high voltage relay mounting parts 16, and with respect to the engagement hole 34 formed in the lock piece part 32. The high-voltage relay 18 is fixed to the high-voltage relay mounting portion 16 by engaging the lock portions 36 projecting from the opposite side surfaces of the high-voltage relay 18. Thereby, compared with the case where it fixes by screwing like the past, the improvement of space efficiency can be aimed at. In addition, since the lock piece portions 32 provided on the opposite side walls 20c, 20c of the two adjacent high voltage relay mounting portions 16 are partially overlapped in the opposite direction, the two The adjacent high voltage relay mounting portions 16 can be approached not only in the facing direction but also in a direction orthogonal to the facing direction. Therefore, the two high-voltage relay mounting portions 16 can be arranged in a space-efficient manner, and the entire electric circuit can be made compact and the bus bar 54 arranged in the bending gap 40 can be shortened. It becomes. In addition, between the opposing side walls 20c, 20c of the two adjacent high-voltage relay mounting portions 16, there is a bending gap 40 having a width that allows both of the lock piece portions 32 to be bent outwardly at the same time. Since it is formed, the high-voltage relay 18 can be simultaneously mounted on both the high-voltage relay mounting portions 16, and the assembly workability can be improved. Further, since the bending gap 40 is formed relatively wide, it is possible to accommodate and arrange a relatively thick bus bar for high pressure or the like, and it is possible to use the bending gap 40 more effectively. it can.

  Furthermore, a pair of presser protrusions 38, 38 projecting toward the other side walls 20c, 20c are provided on the opposite side walls 20c, 20c of the two adjacent high voltage relay mounting portions 16. Since the bus bar 54 accommodated in the bending gap 40 is positioned and held between the pair of presser protrusions 38, 38, the bus bar 54 is positioned and held while maintaining space efficiency. It is possible to improve the property and prevent the bus bar 54 from rattling.

  In addition, since the bus bar 54 accommodated and disposed in the bending gap 40 is accommodated and disposed in a vertical state so that the depth direction of the bending gap 40 is the width direction of the bus bar 54, the high-pressure system has a wide width. Even in this case, the depth of the bending gap 40, that is, the height of the opposing side walls 20c, 20c of the two adjacent high voltage relay mounting portions 16, can be accommodated and disposed in a space-saving manner. In addition, since the upper end portion 62 of the bus bar 54 is positioned below the upper end portion 60 of the side walls 20c, 20c, the bus bar 54 may be damaged due to contact between the bus bar 54 and other members (not shown). The occurrence of a problem such as a short circuit can also be prevented.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited by the specific description. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the lock piece portions 32 are provided on both of the opposing side walls 20c, 20c of the two adjacent high voltage relay mounting portions 16, but may be provided on at least one side wall 20c. That's fine. Even in such a case, since the bus bar 54 can be accommodated and disposed using the bending gap 40, the same effect as in the above-described embodiment is expected. In the above-described embodiment, the adjacent high voltage relay mounting portion 16 has the same shape, but may have a different shape. Furthermore, the electrical components to be mounted on the electrical component mounting portion include any components that can be connected to an electrical circuit such as a fusible link and a connector in addition to a relay.

10: Electrical junction box, 12: Case, 14: Outer surface, 16: High voltage relay mounting part (electric part mounting part), 18: High voltage relay (electric part), 20a-c: Side wall, 32: Lock piece part, 36: Lock part, 38: Presser projection, 40: Deflection gap, 41: Resistance (electrical part), 42: Resistance mounting part (electrical part mounting part), 44: Relay (electrical part), 46: Relay mounting part (electrical part) Mounting part), 48: large current fuse (electrical part), 50: large current fuse mounting part (electrical part mounting part), 54: bus bar, 60: upper end part, 62: upper end part

Claims (4)

A case in which an electrical circuit is disposed, and a plurality of electrical component mounting portions for mounting electrical components that are conductive to the electrical circuit are protruded and disposed adjacent to the outer surface of the case;
While at least one of the opposing side walls of the two adjacently disposed electrical component mounting portions is provided with a lock piece portion that fits into a lock portion provided in the electrical component,
In the electrical junction box in which a bending gap allowing the outward deformation of the lock piece portion is formed between the opposing side walls,
An electric junction box, wherein a bus bar connected to the electric circuit is accommodated in the bending gap.   The lock piece portions are provided on both of the opposing side walls of the two electric component mounting portions arranged adjacent to each other, and the lock piece portions overlap at least partially in the projection in the opposite direction of the side walls. The electrical connection box according to claim 1, wherein the bending gap has a width that allows both of the lock pieces to bend and deform simultaneously.   The bus bar is accommodated and arranged in a vertically placed state in which the depth direction of the bending gap is the width direction of the bus bar, and the upper end portion of the bus bar is positioned below the upper end portion of each of the opposing side walls. The electrical junction box according to claim 1, wherein the electrical junction box is said to be made.   A pair of presser protrusions projecting from both of the opposing side walls toward the other side wall are projected, and the bus bar is positioned and held between the pair of presser protrusions. The electrical junction box according to any one of 1 to 3.

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