JP2542806Y2 - Electrical junction box with connector half-fit detection mechanism - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an electrical junction box with a connector half-fitting detection mechanism.

[Conventional technology]

An electric junction box used for interconnecting wire harnesses generally has a configuration as shown in FIG.

1 is an upper case, 2 is a lower case, in which a plurality of bus bars (circuit conductors) 3 having a desired circuit pattern and an insulating plate 4 are provided as shown in FIGS. Busbar wiring board 5 is accommodated. In the upper case 1 or the lower case 2, a large number of electrical components such as a fuse 6, a relay 7, and a circuit breaker 8 are mounted, and a plurality of connector insertion portions 9 are provided.

A tab 10 integrally formed from the bus bar 3 is accommodated and arranged in the connector insertion portion 9 as a connector terminal, and is fitted with an external connector 11 attached to a terminal of a wire harness (not shown). And the internal female terminal 12 and tab 10
Electrical connection is made.

To ensure this electrical connection, one connector 11 is provided with a flexible locking arm 13 having a locking hole 14 and the other connector insertion portion 9 is provided with a locking projection 15. The locking hole 14 of the locking arm 13 engages with the locking projection 15 when the connector 11 is completely fitted into the connector insertion portion 9, and the connector 11 and the connector insertion portion 9 are locked.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In the conventional electric connection box, when the external connector 11 is fitted into the connector insertion portion 9, as shown in FIG. 11a, the tip of the locking arm 13 once rides on the locking projection 15, and further presses, By overcoming this and returning elastically, the locking projection 15 engages with the locking hole 14 as shown in FIG. 11b.

However, when the number of poles of the connector 11 (the number of female terminals 12) is increased, the feeling at the time of locking is weakened, as opposed to the increased mating force, and it is difficult for the operator to intuitively confirm this, and Due to the extremely large number of connectors and the like, the connector is overlooked in a half-fitted or incompletely-fitted state as shown in FIG. 11A, which causes a malfunction of various control devices. In particular, such a situation is not allowed in a safety device such as an airbag device.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems,
An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connection box with high reliability of electrical connection that can detect incomplete fitting of a connector in advance and prevent this before it occurs.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, an electric connection box with a connector half-fitting detection mechanism of the present invention includes a case, a wiring board housed in the case, and a plurality of connector insertion holes provided on an outer surface of the case. Each connector insertion portion accommodates a connector terminal that conducts with a circuit conductor of the wiring board,
In the electric connection box provided with a locking means which is engaged at the time of complete fitting between each connector insertion portion and an external connector fitted thereto, the case is provided with a pair of check terminals, Switch means for closing at the time of complete fitting between at least two connector fitting parts selected from the connector fitting parts and corresponding external connectors, and fitting these switch means in series. A matching detection circuit is provided in the case, and both ends of the circuit are electrically connected to the pair of check terminals.

[Action]

According to the present invention, the incomplete mating of the connectors is electrically detected because the mating detection circuit does not conduct unless all mating connectors are completely mated and locked in the selected plurality of connector insertion portions. Since this can be eliminated, it is possible to provide an electric connection box with high electric connection reliability.

Hereinafter, the above configuration and operation will be specifically described with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments.

〔Example〕

In FIG. 1, A is an electrical connection box, B ₁ and B ₂ (B in the case of representative representation, the same applies hereinafter) are external connectors, C
Indicates a check connector for detecting whether or not the two connectors B are fitted properly. The electric components such as fuses, relays, circuit breakers and the like in the conventional example (see FIG. 10) and busbars constituting these circuits may be in accordance with a known configuration, and are not shown.

Two connectors B are provided on the upper part of the case 20 of the electric connection box A.
Check connector insertion section corresponding to check connector C together with connector insertion section 21 (21 ₁ , 21 ₂ ) corresponding to.
22 are provided. Each connector B has a locking hole 24 on one side.
A locking arm 23 provided with a connector insertion portion 21
The side surface 21a is provided with a locking projection 25 that engages with the locking hole 24. These locking means are the same as in the conventional configuration.

A pair of fitting detection terminals 26, 26 are provided on the side surface 21a of each connector insertion portion 21 with the locking projection 25 interposed therebetween. A short-circuiting elastic contact 27 constituting a switch means together with the pair of fitting detection terminals 26, 26 is mounted on the back surface of the free end of the locking arm 23.

As shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, this short-circuiting elastic contact 27
A notch 27a is provided on one side edge of the small piece curved in an arc shape,
It is inserted into the insertion groove 28 provided in the locking arm 23, and is locked by the engagement between the locking claw 28a and the notch 27a.

29 (29 _1, 29 _2, 29 ₃₎ is a bus bar to form a connection detecting circuit D, and is disposed on the insulating plate 30 within the case (see FIG. 8).

Bus bar 29 ₁ has upright tabs (31, 26) at both ends, one of tabs connector through the terminal insertion holes 20a provided as check terminal 31 to the case 20 (or the insulating plate 30) inserted It extends into the wear part 22 and the other tab extends along the connector insertion portion 21 ₁ side 21a through the terminal insertion hole 20a in the same manner, and constitutes one of the pair of fitting detection pin 26 I have. Similarly, standing tabs (26, 26) at both ends of the bus bars 29 ₂ constitutes a connector insertion portion 21 _1, 21 ₂ of the fitting detection pin, respectively. Also, standing tabs on the ends of the bus bar 29 ₃ (26,
31) has one of the tabs fitting detection pin of the connector insertion portion 21 ₂ and the other constitutes a check terminal of the connector insertion portion 22.

In the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 3 a, in a state where for example the outside of the connector B ₁ not completely fit in the corresponding connector fitting section 21 _1, the locking arm 23
There rides on the locking projection 25, because short elastic contacts 27 does not contact the fitting detection pin 26, said the bus bar 29 ₁ and the bus bars 29 ₂ does not conduct.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3 b, and the fitting of the connector B ₁ is made completely, the locking arm 23 is elastically restored to the side surface 21a side, the locking projection 25 is engaged with the locking hole 24 connector B ₁ Te is locked to the connector fitting section 21 _1. At the same time, since the short elastic contacts 27 is in contact with the pair of engagement detecting terminals 26 and 26, two bus bars 29 _1, 29 ₂ are turned on.

Thus, each connector insertion portion 21 and the external connector B
A pair of fitting detection terminals 26, 26 constituting the switch means of
And the shorting elastic contacts 27, as shown in Figure 4, because they are connected in series to the connection detecting circuit D, incomplete any one of the connector B ₁ and B ₂ fitting In this state, the circuit D does not conduct.

Therefore, for example, by fitting a check connector C provided with an alarm lamp to the check connector insertion portion 22, it is electrically detected whether or not the connector B is in a fitted state from the presence or absence of lighting, and this is detected beforehand. Can be prevented.

Above has been described an example in which the switch means to two connector fitting portion 21 _1, 21 _2, it is possible to increase the number thereof depending on the intended use. Further, the fitting detection circuit D may be provided on a known wiring board such as a printed wiring board, a flexible printed wiring board or the like in addition to the bus bar, or may be formed directly on the inner surface of the case 20 constituting the electric connection box. .

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a locking arm 23 'made of an elastic metal plate is used instead of the locking arm 23 made of a synthetic resin in the first embodiment. The locking arm 23 ′ is inserted into the insertion groove 34 provided at the upper end of the side surface 21 a of the connector insertion portion 21 by inserting the bent mounting board 32, and locked by the engagement of the locking hole 33 and the locking claw 35. I do. In the case of the present embodiment, since the locking arm 23 ′ is made of metal, it is possible to increase the elastic contact pressure of the locking arm 23 ′ to further ensure the electrical connection with the pair of fitting detection terminals 26, 26. it can.

In the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a pair of fitting detection terminals 26, 26 are provided along the inner side surface 21b of the connector insertion portion 21, and the corresponding short-circuiting elastic contacts 27 are provided. Is mounted in the insertion groove 36 of the external connector B. In the case of the present embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the fitting detecting terminal 26 and the short-circuiting elastic contact 27 constituting the switch means are connected to the connector B.
Is located inside the connector insertion portion 21 in the fitted and used state of the connector, it is hardly affected by corrosion or the like due to outside air, and a stable electrical connection state is maintained.

In the fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9a and 9b, a fitting detection circuit D 'is formed by connecting a circuit conductor 37 (37 ₁ , 37 ₂ ) made of conductive rubber having elasticity to a bus bar having two layers, upper and lower. 29 _4, formed from 29 ₅ which is obtained by forming the switching means from the switch unit 38 and the bus bar 29 ₄ which is provided to the circuit conductors 37.

Each of the circuit conductors 37 has a switch portion 38 composed of a cap-shaped push button 38a formed to protrude and a bar-shaped protrusion 38b extending downward from the push button 38a, as shown in an enlarged manner in FIGS. 9a and 9b. This switch section 38 is a connector insertion section
21 _1, is inserted so as to be retractable in a hole 21d provided in the 21 _second bottom 21c, also, circuit conductors 37 is supported by the insulating plate 30 of the first layer having a hole 30a for the rod-like protrusion 38b.

One circuit conductor 37 ₁ is disposed between the connector fitting portion 21 ₁ and the check connector insertion portion 22, formed at the lower end portion of one of the check terminal 31 'in the insertion attaching portion 22 It is in contact with the elastic contact piece 31a. Other circuit conductors 37 ₂ is folded down, the folded end 37a is supported by the rib 39 at the bottom of the case 20, it is in contact with the underlying bus bar 29 _5.

In the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 9B, for example, the external connector B ₁ ′ is completely fitted into the connector insertion portion 21, and the locking projection 41 of the locking arm 40 is engaged with the locking hole 42. when locked with the connector B ₁ 'by depressing the bottom push button 38a of the rod-like protrusion 38b is in contact with the upper bus bar 29 _4, check terminal 31' conductive and the busbar 29 ₄ and. Hereinafter, as in the first embodiment, the connector insertion portion 21 _1, 21 fit all external connector B ₂ are the fitted (B '...), check connector the quality of the locked state By fitting C 'into the check connector insertion portion 22, it can be electrically detected.

In the case of the fourth embodiment, the first switch is used as the switch means.
In addition, since the fitting detection terminal 26 and the short-circuiting elastic contact 27 as in the third embodiment are not required, the external shape of the external connector B or the connector insertion portion 21 does not need to be changed at all, and the switch means is not required. Since it is built-in, there is little risk of damage due to external force.

[Effect of the invention]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the mating connector is completely fitted and locked in all the selected connector insertion portions of the plurality of connector insertion portions in the electric connection box. Since the connection detection circuit for conducting for the first time is provided, the half-fitted state of the connector can be checked in advance and this can be reliably prevented, so that an electric connection box with high reliability of electric connection can be provided. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of an electric connection box with a connector half-fitting detection mechanism showing a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2a and 2b are enlarged perspective views of a locking arm of the external connector of the same. In the figure, a indicates a state before mounting the elastic contact for short-circuit at the tip, and b indicates a state after mounting. FIGS. 3a and 3b are cross-sectional views of a main part showing a partially fitted state (a) and a completely fitted state (b) of the external connector and the connector insertion portion in FIG. 1, respectively. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an example of the fitting detection circuit of FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a connector showing a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a main part showing a third embodiment of the present invention. 7, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing the operation of FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of an electric connection box showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing an operation state of (a), wherein a shows a state before fitting of the connector and b shows a state after fitting. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a conventional electric connection box, and FIGS. 11a and 11b show a partially fitted state (a) and a completely fitted state (b) of the same external connector and connector insertion portion, respectively. It is sectional drawing of a principal part. A ...... electrical junction _{box, B (B 1, B 2} , B 1 ') ...... connector,
C (C ') .... Check connector, D (D') ... connection detecting circuit, 20 ... case, 21 (21 _1, 21 ₂₎ ...... connector fitting portion, 22 ... check connector interpolation Attachment, 23,23 ',
40 ...... locking arm, 25 ...... locking projection, 26 ...... fitting detection terminal, 27 ...... short elastic contacts, 29 (29 ₁ to 29 ₅₎
...... busbar, 30 ... insulating plate, 31, 31 '... check terminal 37 (37 _1, 37 ₂₎ ...... circuit conductor, 38 ... switch unit.

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] A case, a wiring board accommodated in the case, and a plurality of connector insertion portions provided on an outer surface of the case; each connector insertion portion includes a circuit conductor of the wiring board; An electrical connection box, which accommodates a connector terminal that is electrically connected to the case, and has a lock unit that is engaged between each connector insertion portion and an external connector fitted thereto when the connector terminal is completely fitted. And a switch means for closing when at least two connectors are completely fitted between at least two connector insertion portions selected from the plurality of connector insertion portions and a corresponding external connector. A connection detecting circuit for connecting the switch means in series, and both ends of the circuit are electrically connected to the check terminals, respectively. Connection box.