JP2538687B2 - Electrical junction box - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an electric connection box used for wiring of an automobile, and in particular, to an improvement in a connection structure between a bus bar forming an internal circuit and a branch pressure contact terminal. It is a thing.

[Conventional technology]

Electric connection boxes such as fuse boxes and branch connection boxes used for electric wiring of vehicles absorb the branch connections contained in the wire harness and simplify the wiring form. I have many things.

As a method of forming such a branch circuit, the applicant has previously proposed the method shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 (Japanese Patent Application No. 63-131708).

In the figure, 1 is an upper case, 14 is a lower case, and 4 is a branch pressure contact terminal. The press-connecting terminal 4 for branching has a plurality of branching tabs (male contact portions) 6 projecting from one side edge of the substrate 5, and a U-shaped slot 9 is formed between the pair of clamps 8 on the other side wall. It has a structure in which the pressure contact portion 7 formed by the above is provided. The lower case 14 accommodates a wiring board assembly 10 in which a plurality of bus bars 11, 11A ... Are disposed on an insulating substrate 12, and the bus bar 11 is formed with a pressure contact connection portion 13 orthogonal to the surface on which the bus bar 11 is disposed. .

After the press-connecting connection portion 13 is press-fitted into the U-shaped slot 9 of the branch press-connecting terminal 4, the branch tab 6 is projected from the tab insertion hole 2 of the upper case 1 into the housing 3 to form a connector insertion portion, Electrical parts such as a terminal connector of a wire harness, a fuse, and a relay (not shown) are connected to the insertion portion.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

In the connection structure shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, since the pressure contact terminal 4 is directly connected to the pressure contact connection portion 13 of the bus bar 11, the alignment (positioning) of the branch tab 6 depends on the accuracy of the pressure contact connection portion 13. Therefore, there is a drawback that positioning is difficult. Further, when the branch tab 6 is projected from the tab insertion hole 2 with the upper cover 1 covered, as shown in FIG. There is a risk that stable contact pressure may not be obtained due to flaring of the slabs 8 and 8, and when a large number of branch pressure contact terminals 4 are used, the branch tabs 6 that penetrate the tab insertion holes 2 There are many numbers, and the assembly of the upper cover 1 becomes troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is easy to position the branch tab in the branch pressure contact terminal, prevent settling at the pressure contact portion, and facilitate an assembly work with an electrical connection box. The challenge is to provide.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the electrical junction box of the present invention,
As described in claim (1), a plurality of bus bars forming a circuit, an upper case and a lower case for accommodating the bus bars, and one or more branch tabs protruding from one side edge of the substrate part, and the other end. A branch press-connecting terminal having a U-shaped slot on its side is provided, and a housing is provided in the upper case. A branch tab of the branch press-connecting terminal is projected into the housing through a tab insertion hole to insert a connector. Forming a dressing part,
An electric connection box having a structure in which a bus bar is press-fitted and connected to a U-shaped slot of the press contact portion, wherein an insulating substrate or a lower case supporting the bus bar is provided with a surrounding wall having a slit in a side wall facing the bus bar. The press contact connection part of the bus bar is inserted into the slit for positioning and fixing, and the press contact part of the branch press contact terminal and the base plate part are inserted into the surrounding wall to be positioned between the branch tab and the press contact part. It is characterized in that the press-connecting connection portion is press-fitted and connected to the U-shaped slit in a state where the substrate portion is fixed by the surrounding wall.

Further, as described in claim (2), it is preferable to form a sandwiching portion that presses the pressure contact portion of the branch pressure contact terminal toward the U-shaped slot on the opposing end walls of the surrounding wall.

[Work]

In the present invention, the base plate portion and the pressure contact portion of the branch pressure contact terminal are inserted and fixed in the enclosure wall of the lower case. Therefore, the branch tab is held in an upright posture, there is no fear of tilting when the upper cover is put on, and the positioning with respect to (the tab insertion hole of) the upper cover becomes easy.

In addition, the press-connecting portion of the bus bar is previously inserted into the slit of the surrounding wall and fixed in position, and the press-connecting connection is automatically achieved by inserting the press-connecting terminal into the surrounding wall. Since the connecting portion between the press-connecting connection portion and the press-connecting terminal is fixed by the surrounding wall, the branch tab is not tilted even when an external force is applied, and the press-fitting portion is prevented from settling.

Further, if a sandwiching portion that presses the pressure contact portion toward the U-shaped slot is provided in the surrounding wall, the contact pressure with the pressure contact connection portion of the bus bar is increased, and a more stable electrical connection state can be obtained.

Hereinafter, the above configuration and operation will be specifically described with reference to the drawings illustrating an embodiment.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of an electric junction box of the present invention, FIGS. 2a to 2d are sectional views of the main part of a press-fitting connection process of a pressure contact terminal and a bus bar, and FIG. A cross-sectional view taken along line III is shown. In addition, the same reference numerals are used for the same constituent members as those in the conventional example, and the description is simplified.

In FIG. 1, the insulating substrate 12 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) for disposing the bus bar 11 is omitted, and the horizontal portion 11a thereof is, as shown in FIG. 3, the upper case 1 and the lower case. The ribs 15 and 15 'provided on the inner surface of 14 are sandwiched from above and below. Further, the substrate 5 of the pressure contact terminal 4 for branching is formed as a U-shaped frame like the conventional example, and the pair of clamps 8, 8 and the pressure contact portion 7 having the U-shaped slot 9 face each other. Is provided.

An enclosure wall 16 for accommodating the substrate portion 5 and the pressure contact portion 7 of the branch pressure contact terminal 4 is erected on a lower case 14 which also serves as an insulating substrate. A slit 17 is vertically provided at the center of the opposing side wall 16a of the surrounding wall 16, and a guide taper 17a is provided at the upper end opening of the slit 17. Further, a nipping portion 18 is formed below the inner surface of the end walls 16b on both sides of the surrounding wall 16 with a step as shown in FIG. 2a.

Next, the connection between the bus bar 11 and the branch pressure contact terminal 4 and the assembly of the electrical junction box will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the slit 17 of the enclosure wall 16, the press contact connection part of the bus bar 11 is previously
Insert 13 (Fig. 2a). The press-connecting connection portion 13 is formed by bending so as to be orthogonal to the horizontal portion 11a of the bus bar 11.

When the pressure contact portion 7 of the pressure contact terminal 4 is inserted into the surrounding wall 16, U
A part of the press-connecting connection portion 13 is inserted into the opening tip portion of the character slot 9 (Fig. 2b).

In this state, when the pressure contact terminal 4 is strongly pushed, the pressure contact connection portion 13 is completely press-fitted and connected in the U-shaped slot 9, and at the same time, the base plate portion 5 of the pressure contact terminal 4 is accommodated in the surrounding wall 16 to hold a pair of clamps. The children 8,8 are clamped inwardly relative to each other by the clamping part 18 in the enclosure wall (Fig. 2c).

Here, when the upper case 1 is covered, the branch tab 6 is penetrated from the tab insertion portion 2 and projected into the housing 3, the assembly of the electric junction box is completed (FIGS. 2c and 2d).

Thus, the press-connecting connection portion 13 of the bus bar 11 and the press-connecting terminal 4 for branching are positioned and fixed by the slit 17 and the surrounding wall 16, respectively, and the connection portions of the tab insertion holes 2 of the upper case 1 are preliminarily fixed. Will be regulated.

Therefore, it is easy to position the branch tab 6 with respect to the tab insertion hole 2, and the press-contact terminal 4 has the board portion 5 and the press-contact portion 7 thereof.
Is fixed in an upright posture by the surrounding wall 16 and the sandwiching portion 18 and is in an immovable state. Therefore, even if the tab insertion hole 2 is formed larger than the branch tab 6, wobbling does not occur and dimensional accuracy can be loosened. Therefore, the plastic molding of the upper case 1 becomes easy.

Further, even when the branch tab 6 is contacted when the upper case 1 is covered and an external force such as pushing the tab diagonally or laterally acts, the pressure contact portion 7 is not affected by the external force and the clamp 8 is twisted. Nothing.

 FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the enclosure wall.

In the present embodiment, the U-shaped base plate portion 5'of the branch pressure contact terminal 4'and the outside of the clamp 8'constituting the pressure contact portion 7'are formed in a straight line, and both ends of the surrounding wall 16 are formed. An example is shown in which the flexible wall 19 is formed below the wall 16b.

In this case, the flexible wall 19 absorbs the stress of the sandwiching pieces 8, 8 which slightly expands due to the press-fitting connection of the press-connecting connection part 13 to the U-shaped slot 9 and prevents the enclosure wall 16 from being damaged or cracked. can do.

The above is an example in which the enclosure wall 16 is directly provided on the lower case 14, but it may be provided on the insulating substrate on which the bus bar 11 is provided. Further, when the bus bars 11 are arranged vertically in the width direction, it goes without saying that the press contact connection portion 13 can be omitted.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of bus bars that form a circuit, an upper case and a lower case that accommodate these, and a single or a plurality of branch tabs projecting from one side edge of the board portion and U on the other end side. A branch press-connecting terminal having a press-fitting portion having a letter-shaped slot is provided, and a housing is provided in the upper case, and a branch tab of the branch press-connecting terminal is projected into the housing through a tab insertion hole to form a connector insertion portion. Formed,
An electrical connection box having a structure in which a bus bar is press-fitted and connected to a U-shaped slot of the press contact portion, wherein an insulating substrate supporting the bus bar or a lower case is provided with a surrounding wall having a slit in a side wall facing the bus bar. The press contact connection part of the bus bar is inserted into the slit for positioning and fixing, and the press contact part of the branch press contact terminal and the base plate part are inserted into the surrounding wall to be positioned between the branch tab and the press contact part. Since the press-connecting connection part is press-fitted and connected to the U-shaped slit in a state where the base plate part is fixed by the surrounding wall, the press-connecting part of the branch press-connecting terminal and the base plate part are inserted into the surrounding wall. In that state, it can be immediately connected to the pressure contact connection part of the bus bar,
It can be fixed by the surrounding wall, and at this time, the fixing by the surrounding wall is performed via the substrate portion in the middle of the branch press contact terminal, so that the posture of the branch tab is stable and the branch tab is inserted through the tab insertion hole. Further, it has a feature that the branch tabs can be easily positioned when protruding into the housing, settling due to twisting of the pressure contact portion can be prevented, and assembly work can be facilitated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an essential part of an electric junction box showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2a to 2d are sectional views of essential parts showing a press-fitting connection process of a branch press-connecting terminal and a bus bar, respectively. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2d, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part showing another example of the enclosure wall, and FIGS. 5 to 7 show an electric junction box of a conventional example, respectively. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view, FIG. 6 is a partially assembled perspective view, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of the assembly process. 1 ... Upper case, 3 ... Housing, 4,4 '... Pressure contact for branching, 5,5' ... Board part, 6 ... Branching tab, 7,7 '
...... Pressure contact part, 8,8 ′ …… Slipper, 9 …… U-shaped slot, 11,11A …… Bus bar, 12 …… Insulation board, 13 …… Pressure contact connection part, 14 …… Lower case, 16… … Enclosure wall, 16a …… Side wall, 16b …… End wall, 17 …… Slit, 18 …… Holding part, 19
…… Flexible wall.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of bus bars constituting a circuit, an upper case and a lower case for accommodating the bus bars, and a single or a plurality of branch tabs projecting from one side edge of a substrate part, and a U-shaped slot on the other end side. A press-connecting terminal for branching is provided, the housing is provided in the upper case, the branch tab of the press-connecting terminal for branching is projected into the housing through a tab insertion hole to form a connector insertion portion, An electric connection box having a structure in which a bus bar is press-fitted and connected to a U-shaped slot of the press contact portion, wherein an insulating substrate or a lower case supporting the bus bar is provided with a surrounding wall having a slit in a side wall facing the bus bar. The press contact connection part of the bus bar is inserted into the slit for positioning and fixing, and the press contact part of the branch press contact terminal and the base plate part are inserted into the surrounding wall to be positioned between the branch tab and the press contact part. The An electrical junction box, wherein the press-connecting connection portion is press-fitted and connected to the U-shaped slit in a state where the substrate portion is fixed by the surrounding wall. 2. The electrical junction box according to claim 1, wherein a sandwiching portion for pressing the pressure contact portion of the branch pressure contact terminal toward the U-shaped slot is formed on the inner surface of the opposing end wall of the enclosure wall. 3. The electric junction box according to claim 1, wherein a part of the end walls of the enclosure wall facing each other is formed as a flexible wall.