JP2813617B2 - Electrical junction box - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric junction box mainly used for a wire harness for an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a wiring diagram of a wire harness b for connecting each device a in an automobile to an electric connection box c.
The wiring harness can be simplified by absorbing the joint portion of the wire harness in the electric connection box c.

As shown in FIG. 7, a large number of bus bars e stamped and formed from a metal plate are accommodated in the electric connection box c. The bus bar e has a plurality of tab terminals f.
Rises substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the bus bar e, is fitted to a terminal fitting (not shown) accommodated in a terminal accommodating chamber of the electric connection box c, and the plurality of wire harnesses b branch through the bus bar e. , Connected. (See Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-113921).

[0004]

Since the bus bar e is formed by pressing using a press die, the presence of a tab terminal f which rises substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the bus bar e increases the die size and the die cost. And the electric connection box accommodating the bus bar e becomes large. Further, for example, in a car, since the devices a are scattered without clumping at one place, there is a problem that the total wiring length of the wire harness b connecting each device a and the electric connection box c is long. (See FIG. 6). An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an electric junction box according to the present invention comprises a plurality of openings through which strip-shaped FPCs (flexible printed wiring boards) are arranged and inserted in an upright state. Communicates with each opening to support the FPC upright
A support groove having a depth, constituted by the strip of the FPC <br/> Ru connector housing to accommodate a terminal fitting electrically joined to the conductor portion exposed from the support groove. The electric connection box can be provided at an end and an intermediate portion of a wiring path of a wire harness composed of a plurality of strip-shaped FPCs arranged in parallel. The wiring path of the wire harness may be covered with a gutter-shaped protector.

[0006]

The electric junction box constructed as described above has a belt- like shape .
A plurality of openings through which the FPC is inserted, and a support communicating with each of the openings;
With a retaining groove and a connector housing that accommodates terminal fittings
The structure is simple and compact.
Can be Through interpolation to the plurality of openings of a plurality of FPC conductive <br/> air junction box laid by arranging the end portion in the width direction of the FPC
When the FPC is inserted into the support groove, each FPC exposes the conductor on the surface
In this state, it is supported in an upright state by the respective support grooves. When the upright FPC is sandwiched by the terminal fittings accommodated in the connector housing, the terminal fittings and the conductors on the surface of the FPC
Section is electrically connected . Since the FPC can be inserted into the opening and the support groove of the electric connection box, it is easy to arrange the electric connection box at the end and the middle of the wiring path of the wire harness. And the FPC between both electrical junction boxes can be protected by the protector.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wire harness using an electric junction box of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a wiring diagram thereof, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a band-shaped FPC wound in a coil shape. Reference numeral 1 shown in FIG. 5 is a strip-shaped flexible printed wiring board (FPC) in which printed wiring conductors 3 are provided on one or both sides of a flexible synthetic resin film 2, and the wiring board 1 wound in a coil shape. And is cut in accordance with the wiring length (see FIG. 4).

The electric connection box 4 is provided with an inlet opening 5a into which the wiring board 1 is inserted and a plurality of outlet openings 5b from which the wiring board 1 is drawn out, and a support groove 6 connecting the inlet opening 5a and the outlet opening 5b. Is a deep groove substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall surface of the electric connection box 4, into which almost half of the wiring board 1 is inserted (see FIG. 3). Depending on the mounting position of the electric connection box 4, one of the inlet opening 5a and the outlet opening 5b is unnecessary, and can be closed (see FIG. 1).
The wiring board 1 inserted into the support groove 6 is supported so as to stand substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall surface of the electric connection box 4.

A connector housing 7 is provided on the surface of the electric connection box 4, and a terminal fitting 8 is accommodated in a terminal accommodating chamber (not shown) formed in the connector housing 7.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the terminal fitting 8 is provided with a slit 8 b at a lower end of a cylindrical portion 8 a bent into a cylindrical shape, and is provided inward from a lower end of a position opposite to the cylindrical portion 8 a. An elastic holding portion 8c that is folded back and provided is provided, and a male terminal 8d extending upward from the upper end of the cylinder upper portion 8a is provided.

Next, an example of wiring a wiring harness with the electric junction box 4 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. In order to shorten the total wiring length of electric wires connected to a large number of devices a arranged in an automobile or the like, the electric connection boxes 4, 4 ', 4 "are located at positions relatively close to a plurality of devices.
Is installed. The wiring board 1 supported by the support groove 6 in the electric connection box 4 'and inserted through the outlet opening 5b to the outside.
Through the inlet opening 5a, the support groove 6, and the outlet opening 5b of the electric connection box 4 to be inserted into the inlet opening 5a of the electric connection box 4 "to be supported in the support groove 6 of the electric connection box 4".

On the other hand, the elastic holding portion 8c is fitted to the wiring board 1 by inserting the wiring board 1 through the slit 8b of each terminal fitting 8 accommodated in each connector housing 7. Thus, the electric wires 10 of the respective devices a are connected by the wire harness constituted by the plurality of wiring boards 1, and inside the electric connection boxes 4, 4 ', 4 "provided at the middle and both ends of the wire harness. Connect to terminal fitting 8.

Since the wiring board 1 is exposed between the electric connection boxes 4 and 4 'and between the electric connection boxes 4 and 4 ", a gutter-shaped protector 11 having the same shape as the wiring path of the wiring board 1 is provided. The wiring board 1 is inserted into the protector 11 to protect it.

[0013]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects. (1) FPC (flexible printed wiring board) used as a wire harness can be easily inserted into the electrical connection box.
Easy and easy installation in electrical junction boxes. In addition, an electric connection box can be provided at an intermediate portion of the wiring path of the FPC, so that the total wiring length of the wire harness can be reduced. (2) The FPC supporting structure provided in the electric junction box is FP
Only a supporting groove having a depth for supporting C in an upright state.
Therefore, the structure is simple. (3) Each support groove is a groove for supporting the FPC in an upright state.
Ri, the distance between the support groove, within which pin fitting each other do not interfere
In can be reduced, a small volume of the electrical junction box
Can be frustrated. (4) Since the electric terminal fittings inserted into the connector housing of the electrical junction box fitted in the FPC connection, it is not necessary to project the male tab terminal from the side of the FPC, to reduce the volume of the electrical connection box Is now possible. (5) The FPC exposed between the two electrical junction boxes can be protected by using a gutter-shaped protector.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wire harness using an electric junction box of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a wiring diagram of a wire harness using the electric junction box of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a terminal fitting fitted to the FPC.

4 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a coiled FPC.

FIG. 6 is a wiring diagram of a conventional wiring harness for connecting an electric junction box and each device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a conventional example of an electric junction box.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flexible printed wiring board (FPC) 4, 4 ', 4 "Electric connection box 5a Inlet opening 5b Outlet opening 6 Support groove 8 Terminal fitting 11 Protector

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H02G 3/16 H01B 7/08

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of openings through which band-shaped FPCs (flexible printed wiring boards) are arranged and inserted in an upright state, and a support having a depth communicating with each of the openings to support the FPC in an upright state. And a conductor of the strip-shaped FPC exposed from the support groove.
Electrical connection box, characterized in that constituted by a connector housing you accommodating terminal fittings electrically bonded to the part. 2. The electric connection box according to claim 1, wherein the electric connection box is provided at an end portion and an intermediate portion of a wiring path of a wire harness including a plurality of strip-shaped FPCs arranged in parallel.
Electrical junction box as described . 3. The electrical junction box according to claim 2, wherein the wiring path of the wire harness is covered with a gutter-shaped protector.