JP2023076491A - Electric connection box - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an electric connection box which can be miniaturized.SOLUTION: An electric connection box 10 includes a pair of relays 30A and 30B arranged with a gap, bus bars 50A, 50B, 60A, and 60B, and a case 20. Each of the relays 30A and 30B has a square shape having one side surface 35 facing the gap and an opposite side surface opposite to the one side surface 35 when viewed from the top and bottom directions in the housing direction. The bus bars 50A, 50B, 60A, and 60B have a shape in which the entire bus bars 50A, 50B, 60A, 60B are positioned within a range sandwiched between a straight line virtually extending the opposite side of the relay 30A and a straight line virtually extending the opposite side of the other relay 30B when viewed from above and below the housing direction of the relays.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to electrical junction boxes.

In electrical connection boxes such as junction boxes and fuse boxes mounted in vehicles such as automobiles, electronic components such as relays and fuses are mounted in a case and wired by bus bars (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

This electrical connection box is provided between a battery and an inverter in a vehicle such as a hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle, or a fuel cell vehicle, and operates a relay based on an output signal from an ignition switch to is transmitting power.

JP 2006-158120 A

By the way, if the electrical junction box mounted on the vehicle receives an impact, there is a risk that the relay mounted in the case will malfunction due to the impact. At this time, if both the positive and negative relays for the main power malfunction and close, power is unexpectedly transferred from the battery to the inverter, and the protection function for the inverter and battery may not be obtained. There is

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable electric connection box having a protective function with excellent impact resistance.

The above objects of the present invention are achieved by the following configurations.
(1) a plate-shaped case;
at least a pair of relays that are mounted in the case and that open and close a circuit by moving a movable contact that constitutes an internal switch;
An electrical junction box comprising
The relay is
connected to a positive line and a negative line forming an input/output circuit, respectively;
An electric connection box, wherein the electrical connection box is arranged in the case so that opening and closing directions of a circuit by the movable contact of the switch portion are opposite to each other.

According to the electric junction box having the configuration (1) above, the relays connected to the positive line and the negative line of the input/output circuit are arranged in the case so that the opening and closing directions of the circuit by the movable contacts are opposite to each other. there is Therefore, even if an impact is applied to the electrical connection box, it is possible to avoid malfunction of both the positive line and negative line relays. For example, a relay in an open state is simultaneously closed by an impact, and current flow to an input/output circuit can be suppressed, and devices connected to the input/output circuit can be well protected.

(2) The relay has a vertically long shape whose height dimension is greater than its thickness dimension, and is arranged laterally with respect to the case so that the thickness direction extends along the vertical direction of the case. The electrical connection box according to (1).

According to the electric connection box having the configuration (2), the relay is arranged laterally with respect to the case so that the thickness direction extends along the vertical direction of the case. Therefore, compared with the case where the relay is arranged upright with respect to the case, the overall height can be suppressed.

(3) the relay has a terminal to which a bus bar is connected;
the relays connected to the positive line and the negative line are arranged such that the terminals face each other;
The electrical connection box according to (1) or (2), wherein the busbars connected to the terminals are arranged in parallel along the same direction with respect to the case.

According to the electrical connection box having the configuration (3), the relays are arranged so that the terminals face each other, and the bus bars connected to the terminals are arranged in parallel along the same direction with respect to the case. Therefore, it is possible to arrange the busbars in the center of the case so that the busbars can be arranged in a layout that passes through a path that is as short as possible, so that occupation of the mounting space on the case by the busbars can be suppressed. Moreover, the length of the bus bar can be shortened, and the size and weight can be reduced.

(4) The bus bar is twisted at a substantially right angle at a bent portion formed in the middle portion in the longitudinal direction. The electrical connection box according to (3), characterized in that it has a terminal plate portion to which is connected.

According to the electrical connection box having the configuration (4) above, the terminal plate portion to which the wiring of the external device is connected is attached to the case while the connection plate portion is connected to the terminal of the relay arranged laterally with respect to the case. can be placed horizontally. This facilitates the work of connecting the wiring to the bus bar.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a highly reliable electrical junction box having a protective function with excellent impact resistance.

The present invention has been briefly described above. Furthermore, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading the following detailed description of the invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiment") with reference to the accompanying drawings. .

1 is a perspective view of an electrical junction box according to this embodiment; FIG. 1 is a plan view of an electric connection box according to this embodiment; FIG. FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the relay mounted on the case of the electrical junction box, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the relay as viewed from the lower side; It is a schematic circuit diagram showing an input/output circuit of an electrical connection box.

Hereinafter, examples of embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connection box according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the electrical junction box according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the electrical connection box 10 according to this embodiment has a plate-shaped case 20 . The case 20 is molded from an insulating synthetic resin. This electrical connection box 10 is mounted in a vehicle such as a hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle, or a fuel cell vehicle. The electric connection box 10 is provided, for example, between the battery and the inverter. Mounting holes 21 are formed in the four corners of the case 20, and the case 20 is mounted to the frame by fastening bolts (not shown) inserted through these mounting holes 21 to the frame of the vehicle. .

The case 20 has two relay mounting portions 23 on its upper surface side. These relay mounting portions 23 are formed in a concave shape. These relay mounting portions 23 are formed at the same position in the longitudinal direction L of the case 20 and are formed in parallel positions along the width direction W of the case 20 . A positive electrode side (positive) relay 30A and a negative electrode side (negative) relay 30B are fitted in the relay mounting portions 23, respectively.

3A and 3B are diagrams showing a relay mounted in a case of an electrical junction box, where (a) is a perspective view from above and (b) is a perspective view from below.
As shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), the relays 30A and 30B are formed in a vertically long rectangular parallelepiped shape and have a height dimension H larger than a thickness dimension T. As shown in FIGS. The relays 30A and 30B have a switch section 80, which will be described later, inside, and the opening/closing direction of the switch section 80 is the height direction.

Fixed pieces 34 having holes 33 are formed on both side portions 32 of the relays 30A and 30B. A pair of terminals 38 having screw holes 37 are provided in the lower portions 35 of the relays 30A and 30B. These terminals 38 are partitioned by partition walls 39 formed in the lower portions 35 of the relays 30A and 30B. there is

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the relays 30A and 30B are fitted in the relay mounting portion 23 in such a posture that the relays 30A and 30B are oriented sideways and arranged such that the thickness direction thereof extends along the vertical direction of the case 20. As shown in FIG. Also, the relays 30A and 30B are arranged so that the lower portions 35 having the terminals 38 face each other. As a result, the relays 30A and 30B are arranged so that their height directions are opposite to each other.

The fixing pieces 34 of the relays 30A and 30B fitted sideways in the relay mounting portion 23 are screwed to the case 20 by screws 41. As shown in FIG. The screw 41 is inserted into the hole 33 formed in the fixed piece 34 and screwed into a screw hole (not shown) formed in the case 20 . As a result, the relays 30A and 30B are fastened and fixed in a state of being fitted into the relay mounting portion 23 by the screws 41 .

Input-side bus bars 50A and 50B and output-side bus bars 60A and 60B are assembled to the case 20 . These input side busbars 50A and 50B and output side busbars 60A and 60B are made of a conductive metal material such as copper or copper alloy.

The input-side busbars 50A and 50B have bent portions 51 at their intermediate portions. The bus bars 50A and 50B on the input side have a connection plate portion 52 on one end side and a terminal plate portion 53 on the other end side with the bent portion 51 as a boundary. The connection plate portion 52 and the terminal plate portion 53 are twisted substantially at a right angle with the bent portion 51 as a boundary. The input-side bus bar 50A and the input-side bus bar 50B are twisted to the opposite sides with the bent portion 51 as a boundary.

The connection plate portions 52 of the input-side bus bars 50A and 50B are arranged so that the surface direction thereof is perpendicular to the case 20. As shown in FIG. Insertion holes (not shown) are formed at the ends of the connection plate portions 52 of the input-side bus bars 50A and 50B. The connection plate portion 52 is fastened and electrically connected to the terminal 38 by screwing a screw 55 inserted through the insertion hole into the screw hole 37 of one of the terminals 38 of the relays 30A and 30B.

The terminal plate portions 53 of the input-side busbars 50A and 50B are arranged so that the surface direction thereof is horizontal with respect to the case 20 . Connection pins 57 are erected at the ends of the terminal plate portions 53 of the input-side bus bars 50A and 50B. A screw hole 59 is formed in the terminal plate portion 53 on the bent portion 51 side of the connection pin 57 .

The busbars 60A and 60B on the output side have bent portions 61 in their middle portions. The bus bars 60A and 60B on the output side have a connection plate portion 62 on one end side and a terminal plate portion 63 on the other end side with the bent portion 61 as a boundary. The connection plate portion 62 and the terminal plate portion 63 are twisted substantially at a right angle with the bent portion 61 as a boundary. The busbar 60A and the busbar 60B are twisted to the opposite sides with the bent portion 61 as a boundary.

The connection plate portions 62 of the bus bars 60A and 60B on the output side are arranged so that the surface direction thereof is perpendicular to the case 20. As shown in FIG. Insertion holes (not shown) are formed at the ends of the connection plate portions 62 of the output-side bus bars 60A and 60B. The connection plate portion 62 is fastened and electrically connected to the terminal 38 by screwing a screw 65 inserted through the insertion hole into the screw hole 37 of the other terminal 38 of the relays 30A and 30B.

The terminal plate portions 63 of the bus bars 60A and 60B on the output side are arranged so that the surface direction thereof is horizontal with respect to the case 20. As shown in FIG. Connection pins 67 are erected at the ends of the terminal plate portions 63 of the output-side bus bars 60A and 60B. A screw hole 69 is formed in the terminal plate portion 63 on the bent portion 61 side of the connection pin 67 .

The input-side bus bars 50A and 50B and the output-side bus bars 60A and 60B assembled to the case 20 and connected to the terminals 38 of the relays 30A and 30B are all oriented in the same longitudinal direction of the case 20 when viewed from above. are arranged in parallel along L. In the input-side bus bars 50A and 50B, the ends of the terminal plate portions 53 on which the connection pins 57 are erected are arranged on one end side in the longitudinal direction L of the case 20, and the output-side bus bars 60A and 60B are connected. An end portion of the terminal plate portion 63 on which the pin 67 is erected is arranged on the other end side in the longitudinal direction L of the case 20 .

Fuses 70 for circuit protection are mounted in the case 20. One ends of these fuses 70 are connected to the input side bus bar 50A and the positive line by screws 71 screwed into screw holes 59 and 69. It is connected to the terminal plate portions 53, 63 of the bus bar 60A on the output side. The other end of the fuse 70 is connected to a bus bar 73 attached to the case 20 by a screw 71. As shown in FIG.

A power line connected to a battery, for example, is connected to the bus bars 50A and 50B on the input side. Specifically, the positive power line (input +) of the battery is connected to the connection pin 57 of the terminal plate portion 53 of the input-side bus bar 50A, and the battery is connected to the connection pin 57 of the terminal plate portion 53 of the input-side bus bar 50B. The negative power line (input-) is connected.

Power lines leading to inverters, for example, are connected to the bus bars 60A and 60B on the output side. Specifically, the positive power line (output +) of the inverter is connected to the connection pin 67 of the terminal plate portion 63 of the bus bar 60A on the output side, and the connection pin 67 of the terminal plate portion 63 of the bus bar 60B on the output side is connected to the power line of the inverter. A negative power line (output-) is connected.

In this manner, the electrical connection box 10 forms an input/output circuit having a positive line composed of the input-side bus bar 50A and the output-side bus bar 60A and a negative line composed of the input-side bus bar 50B and the output-side bus bar 60B. It is In this input/output circuit, the positive relay 30A is connected to the positive line, and the negative relay 30B is connected to the negative line.

Next, the circuit configuration of the electrical connection box 10 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a schematic circuit diagram showing an input/output circuit of the electrical connection box.
As shown in FIG. 4, the two relays 30A and 30B mounted on the electrical connection box 10 each have a switch section 80. As shown in FIG. The switch section 80 has a fixed contact 81 and a movable contact 82, and the fixed contact 81 and the movable contact 82 are connected to the terminals 38, respectively. The switch portion 80 is provided with a biasing member such as a spring (not shown), and the biasing member biases the movable contact 82 away from the fixed contact 81 . As a result, in the switch section 80, the movable contact 82 is separated from the fixed contact 81 to be in an open state (OFF).

Also, the relays 30A and 30B have electromagnets 91 . The electromagnet 91 generates a magnetic force when a control current is supplied thereto, and the magnetic force pulls the movable contact 82 against the biasing force of the biasing member. As a result, the switch section 80 is closed (ON) when the movable contact 82 comes into contact with the fixed contact 81 . The height direction of these relays 30A and 30B is the opening/closing direction of the switch portion 80. As shown in FIG.

In the electric connection box 10, the relays 30A and 30B, whose height direction is the opening/closing direction of the switch portion 80, are arranged sideways so that their height directions are opposite to each other. Therefore, the pair of relays 30A and 30B are opened and closed in opposite directions in the switch section 80. As shown in FIG.

The operation of the relays 30A and 30B of the electrical connection box 10 is controlled by, for example, an ECU (Electronic Control Unit). When a control current is supplied from the ECU to the electromagnet 91 of the relay 30A and the switch unit 80 is closed, the positive line between the positive power line of the battery (input +) and the positive power line of the inverter (output +) is formed. Further, when the electromagnet 91 of the relay 30B is energized and the switch portion 80 is closed, a negative line circuit is formed between the battery negative power line (input -) and the inverter negative power line (output -). . Thereby, power is transmitted from the battery to the inverter.

By the way, when an impact is applied to the electric junction box 10 mounted on the vehicle, the impact force may also be applied to the relays 30A and 30B mounted on the case 20, causing malfunction. Specifically, an impact force is applied to the relays 30A and 30B in the open state, and the movable contact 82 of the switch portion 80 swings against the biasing force of the biasing member to come into contact with the fixed contact 81, thereby switching to the closed state. turn into.

In the electrical connection box 10 according to the present embodiment, the positive line (input-side busbar 50A and output-side busbar 60A) and the negative line (input-side busbar 50B and output-side busbar 60B) of the input/output circuit are connected to The relays 30A and 30B are arranged in the case 20 so that the opening and closing directions of the circuits by the movable contacts 82 are opposite to each other. Therefore, even if the electrical junction box 10 is subjected to an impact, it is possible to avoid malfunction of the relays 30A and 30B on both the positive and negative lines. For example, the relays 30A and 30B in the open state are simultaneously closed due to an impact, and the flow of current to the input/output circuit can be suppressed. can do.

Further, the relays 30A and 30B are arranged laterally with respect to the case 20 so that the thickness direction thereof is along the vertical direction of the case 20. As shown in FIG. Therefore, compared to the case where the relays 30A and 30B are arranged upright with respect to the case 20, the overall height can be suppressed.

Moreover, the relays 30A and 30B are arranged so that the terminals 38 face each other, and are connected to the input side bus bar 50A and the output side bus bar 60A, which are positive lines connected to the terminals 38, and the input side bus bar 50B, which is the negative line. and the output-side bus bar 60B are arranged in parallel along the same direction with respect to the case 20 . Therefore, the input-side bus bar 50A and the output-side bus bar 60A, and the input-side bus bar 50B and the output-side bus bar 60B can be arranged in the center of the case 20 so as to pass through a route as short as possible. , the occupation of the mounting space on the case 20 by the input side bus bar 50A and the output side bus bar 60A, and the input side bus bar 50B and the output side bus bar 60B can be suppressed. Further, the lengths of the input-side bus bar 50A and the output-side bus bar 60A, and the lengths of the input-side bus bar 50B and the output-side bus bar 60B can be shortened, thereby reducing the size and weight.

Further, the terminal plate portions 53 and 63 to which the wiring of the external device is connected are attached to the case 20 while the connection plate portions 52 and 62 are connected to the terminals 38 of the relays 30A and 30B arranged laterally with respect to the case 20. can be placed horizontally. As a result, it is possible to easily connect the wires to the busbars 50A and 60A, which are positive lines, and to the busbars 50B, 60B, which are negative lines.

Note that the relays 30A and 30B are not limited in mounting position in the case 20 as long as the opening and closing directions of the circuits in the switch section 80 are opposite to each other. For example, the relays 30A and 30B may be mounted at offset positions in the longitudinal direction L of the case 20 .

Further, in this embodiment, the configuration having the pair of relays 30A and 30B connected to the positive line and the negative line is illustrated, but a plurality of pairs of the relays 30A and 30B may be mounted on the case 20. Also in this case, the pairs of relays 30A and 30B are mounted on the case 20 so that the opening and closing directions of the circuits in the switch section 80 are opposite to each other.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified, improved, etc. as appropriate. In addition, the material, shape, size, number, location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiment are arbitrary and not limited as long as the present invention can be achieved.

Here, the features of the embodiments of the electrical connection box according to the present invention described above are summarized and listed briefly in [1] to [4] below.
[1] A plate-shaped case (20);
at least a pair of relays (30A, 30B) that are mounted on the case (20) and that open and close a circuit by moving a movable contact (82) that constitutes an internal switch section (80);
An electrical junction box (10) comprising:
The relays (30A, 30B) are
connected to a positive line (input-side busbar 50A and output-side busbar 60A) and a negative line (input-side busbar 50B and output-side busbar 60B) forming an input/output circuit,
An electric connection box, wherein the switch section (80) is arranged in the case (20) so that the opening and closing directions of the circuit by the movable contact (82) of the switch section (80) are opposite to each other.
[2] The relays (30A, 30B) have a vertically long shape whose height dimension (H) is larger than their thickness dimension (T), and the thickness direction is along the vertical direction of the case (20). The electrical connection box according to [1], characterized in that it is arranged laterally with respect to the case (20).
[3] The relays (30A, 30B) have terminals (38) to which busbars (input-side busbar 50A, output-side busbar 60A, input-side busbar 50B, output-side busbar 60B) are connected,
The relays (30A, 30B) connected to the positive line (input-side busbar 50A and output-side busbar 60A) and the negative line (input-side busbar 50B and output-side busbar 60B) are connected to the terminal (38). ) are placed facing each other, and
The busbars (input-side busbar 50A, output-side busbar 60A, input-side busbar 50B, and output-side busbar 60B) connected to the terminals (38) extend in the same direction with respect to the case (20). The electrical connection box according to [1] or [2], characterized in that the electrical junction box is arranged in parallel with each other.
[4] The busbars (the input-side busbar 50A, the output-side busbar 60A, the input-side busbar 50B, and the output-side busbar 60B) are substantially bent portions (51, 61) formed at intermediate portions in the longitudinal direction. The connecting plate portions (52, 62) twisted at a right angle and connected to the terminals (38) of the relays (30A, 30B) with the bent portions (51, 61) as a boundary are connected to the wiring of the external device. The electrical connection box according to [3], characterized in that it has terminal plate portions (53, 63) that are connected to each other.

10: Electric junction box 20: Case 30A, 30B: Relay 38: Terminal 50A: Input-side busbar (positive line)
50B: Input-side bus bar (negative line)
60A: Output side bus bar (positive line)
60B: Output side bus bar (negative line)
51, 61: bent portion 52, 62: connection plate portion 53, 63: terminal plate portion 80: switch portion 82: movable contact H: height dimension T: thickness dimension

Claims (5)

a pair of relays spaced apart;
a busbar connected to each of the pair of relays;
a case accommodating the pair of relays and the bus bar;
An electrical junction box comprising
each of said pair of said relays comprising:
When viewed from the housing direction of the relay in the case, it has a square shape having one side facing the gap and an opposite side opposite to the one side,
The busbar is
When viewed from the housing direction, the having a shape in which the entire busbar is located;
electrical connection box. In the electrical connection box according to claim 1,
each of the pair of relays has an input terminal and an output terminal;
The bus bar is connected to at least one of the input terminal and the output terminal,
electrical connection box. In the electrical connection box according to claim 1 or claim 2,
The busbar connected to one of the relays,
When viewed from the accommodating direction, the having a shape in which the entire busbar is located;
electrical connection box. The electrical connection box according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
further comprising an electronic component connected to the busbar connected to one of the relays,
electrical connection box. In the electrical connection box according to claim 4,
The electronic component is a fuse different from the relay,
electrical connection box.

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