JP2885064B2 - 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, and more particularly, to a case formed in a flat plate shape, in which a connector fitting portion is provided on one surface, an electronic component is mounted, and a flexible conductor is provided on the other surface. A terminal connected to the flexible conductor is projected from the connector fitting portion and connected to the electronic component, and the case is bent into a U-shape so that the connector fitting portion and the electronic component are on the outer surface side, and the opening is formed. The electronic component is protected in a box-shaped electric junction box whose peripheral edge is closed by peripheral wall parts.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the increase in the number of electrical components mounted on automobiles, an electric junction box comprising a joint box (JB) for performing a large number of branch connections in one place has been used. In the joint box, as shown in FIG. 5, when the connector fitting portion 2 is protruded only from the upper case 1, there is a problem that the size of the joint box increases in the plane direction as the number of connectors to be connected increases.

Therefore, for example, when a connector fitting portion is also provided on the lower case 3 side to suppress an increase in the planar direction, the terminal 4 cannot be projected upward and downward from the single-layer bus bar. A plurality of layers of busbars must be accommodated in the cases 1 and 3, and an insulating plate needs to be interposed between the busbars. Therefore, the vertical direction increases, and miniaturization cannot be achieved.

[0004] In order to solve the above problem, the present applicant has previously provided a connector fitting portion on one surface of a case formed into a flat plate shape, provided a flexible conductor on the other surface, and connected the flexible conductor to the flexible conductor. The electrical connection box is formed by projecting the formed terminal into the connector fitting portion, bending the case into a U-shape so that the connector fitting portion is on the outer surface side, and closing the opening edge with a peripheral wall part to form a box. Is provided.
(Japanese Patent Application No. 6-31557)

[0005]

In an electric connection box formed by bending the above-mentioned case to form a box, electronic components such as a resistor, a diode, a transistor, and a relay can be easily connected by soldering their terminals to the flexible conductor. Can be attached to the case.

[0006] In this case, since the solder flows along the case surface during the connection process by the flow soldering method on the side to be connected to the flexible conductor by soldering, it is impossible to attach electronic components. Therefore, the electronic component is mounted on the same surface as the surface on which the connector fitting portion is protruded, and there is a problem that the electronic component is disposed in a state where the electronic component is exposed on the outer surface side of the box-shaped case.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to protect electronic components arranged on the outer surface side of a case.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a connector molded portion is provided on one surface of a case formed into a flat shape and a flexible conductor is provided on the other surface.
A terminal connected to the flexible conductor is protruded from the connector fitting portion, the case is bent into a U-shape so that the connector fitting portion is on the outer surface side, and the opening is closed with a peripheral wall part, and the box is closed. Electrical junction box
It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric connection box in which an electronic component connected to the flexible conductor is mounted on the outer surface of a U-shaped case, and a protective cover for covering the electronic component is mounted.

When the case is bent, the case has a U-shape including an upper surface, a lower surface, and a vertical connecting surface connecting one end of the upper and lower surfaces. Is opened, on the other hand, from the lateral direction, the front and rear frames, the U-shaped peripheral wall parts having a connection frame for connecting one end of the front and rear frames is assembled, the opening is closed, and the flexible conductor is closed. It has a box shape housed inside.

The protective cover is formed, for example, by forming a box-shaped protective cover having a lower surface opening separately from the case, covering the protective cover with an electronic component, and engaging a locking claw projecting from a lower end of a peripheral wall of the protective cover. You may make it insert and attach in the locking hole drilled in the case.

However, it is preferable that the case is rotatably provided integrally with the case. For example, it is preferable that a protective cover is integrally formed so as to be rotatable via a thin hinge portion on the side of the case where the electronic component is attached, and that the electronic component is rotated by using the hinge portion as a fulcrum.

Alternatively, it is preferable that the protective cover be provided integrally with the peripheral wall part. For example, from the front and rear frames of the U-shaped peripheral wall part and the upper end of the connection frame,
A box-shaped protection cover with one side opening protrudes integrally,
When the peripheral wall part is assembled into a U-shaped case, the opening surface is located on the outer surface of the side wall of the connector fitting part, and the electronic component is surrounded by the protective cover and the side wall of the connector fitting part.

The flexible conductor, the terminal protruding from the connector fitting portion, and the terminal of the electronic component are:
Solder connection. The protective cover is necessary not only when the flexible conductor and the terminal are connected by soldering as described above but also when the electronic component is mounted on the outer surface of the case.

[0014]

As described in claim 1, in the electric junction box having a box shape formed by bending the case into a U-shape and attaching peripheral wall parts around the three open portions, the electronic components exposed on the outer surface of the case are provided with: By covering the protective cover, electronic components can be protected.

If the protective cover is formed integrally with the case as described in claim 2, the protective cover can be put on the electronic component only by rotating the protective cover. Thus, the number of parts can be reduced and the number of parts can be reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the protective cover is formed integrally with the peripheral wall part, the electronic component is covered with the protective cover by the work of assembling the peripheral wall part with the bent case, and the protective cover is attached. Work can be made unnecessary.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a joint box 11, in which 12 is a case, 13 is a peripheral wall part, and 14 is a protective cover.

The case 12, as shown in FIG.
A (polyethylene), PC (polycarbonate), PP
It is formed by processing a resin material such as (polypropylene) into a substantially rectangular plate. On one side of the case 12,
A bent portion 15 formed of two rows of concave grooves in the width direction is formed at a central portion, and is bent in a substantially U-shape to form the upper wall 1.
2a, the side wall 12b, and the lower wall 12c.

The upper wall 12a and the lower wall 11 of the case 12
A connector fitting portion 16 having a substantially rectangular cross section is provided in two rows on the outer surface of 2c, and a plurality of connection terminals 17 protrude inside thereof. An electronic component 18 such as a resistor, a diode, a transistor, a noise filter or a relay is mounted near the connector fitting portion 16, and locking holes 19 are formed on both sides of the electronic component 18, respectively.

A flexible conductor 20 is provided on the surface of the case 12 opposite to the surface on which the bent portion 15 and the connector fitting portion 16 are formed. The flexible conductor 20 is made of a flat flexible wiring board such as FPC (flexible printed circuit), FWC (flexible wired circuit), FFC (flexible flat circuit), or the like, or equivalent to this wiring board, for example, bendable and hard. A copper-clad laminate (Ventflex; trade name), or a flex-rigid printed wiring board, that is, a hard multilayer printed wiring board having an FPC embedded therein can be used (in this embodiment, FPC is used). doing.).

The connection terminals 17 and the terminals of the electronic component 18 are soldered to the conductive layer of the flexible conductor 20 through the case 12.

The peripheral wall part 13 has a configuration in which a flat plate has a substantially U-shaped cross section, and the same resin material as that of the case 12 can be used. The peripheral wall part 13 is engaged with an opening edge of the case 12 bent in a substantially U-shape to form a side wall of the joint box 11. The engagement between the peripheral wall part 13 and the case 12 is performed by forming a locking claw on the peripheral wall part 13 and a locking hole on the case 12 to lock the two together, or by bonding or welding. Various methods can be applied.

The protective cover 14 has a substantially box shape with an open bottom surface, and locking claws 21 project from both sides of the opening edge. The protective cover 14 is attached to the case 12 by locking the locking claws 21 into locking holes 22 formed in the upper wall of the case 12, and covers the electronic component 18.

The joint box 11 having the above structure
Is formed as follows. That is, case 12
Are integrally formed such that the bent portion 15 and the connector fitting portion 16 are formed on the same surface side, and the connection terminal 17 protrudes into the connector fitting portion 16. Further, the flexible conductor 20 is provided on the opposite surface of the case 12, and the connection terminal 17 is soldered to the flexible conductor 20 on the side of the flexible conductor 20 by a flow soldering method.

Next, the case 12 is bent at the bent portion 15 to have a substantially U-shape, and the connector fitting portion 16 is projected outward. Then, the peripheral wall part 13 is engaged with the edge of the case 12 to form a box shape, and the protective cover 14 is attached to the case 12 by locking the locking claws 21 into the locking holes 22 to cover the electronic components 18. I do.

The joint box 11 thus formed is bent at the bent portion 15 and the connector fitting portion 16 is formed on the upper wall 12a and the lower wall 12c. is there. In addition, since the flexible conductor 20 is used, the conventional busbar 5
Is extremely lightweight and does not increase in height. Therefore, the work of assembling the vehicle can be easily performed. In this case, since the electronic component 18 is covered with the protective cover 14, there is no damage.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views showing examples of other protective covers. The protective cover 23 shown in FIG. 3 has one end of the opening edge rotatably connected to the side edge of the case upper wall 12a, and a locking claw 24 protruding from the other end. This protective cover 2
3 is to rotate the locking claw 24 so that the upper wall 12a of the case 12
The electronic component 18 mounted on the flexible conductor 20 and exposed on the upper wall 12a of the case 12 is covered by being locked in the locking hole 25 formed in the above.

According to the protective cover 23, unlike the above embodiment, the protective cover 14 does not need to be provided separately, so that the management of parts becomes easy and the assembling work can be facilitated. The same parts as those of the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The protective cover 26 shown in FIG.
It is provided in one body. That is, the protective cover 26 has a substantially box-like shape in which the intermediate side wall 13a of the peripheral wall part 13 and a part of the side walls 13b and 13c adjacent to the intermediate side wall 13a are extended from a portion extending to the opposite side. The side surface opposite to the central side wall 13a is open.
When the peripheral wall part 13 is engaged with the edge of the case 12, a space for covering the electronic component 18 is formed by the protective cover 14 and the side wall 16 a of the connector fitting part 16 erected from the case 12. I can do it.

According to the protective cover 26, as in the case of the protective cover 23, there is no problem in terms of parts management, the assembling work is easy, and the molding is easier than the protective cover 23.

[0031]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the case is provided with a bent portion so that a flat flexible wiring board can be used. Can be easily assembled. Also,
Since the protective cover is provided, it is possible to cover the electronic components exposed on the outer surface of the case, and to prevent the electronic components from being damaged. In this case, in the second aspect, the protective cover is provided integrally with the case so as to be rotatable, so that parts management becomes easy. Particularly, in the third aspect, the protective cover is provided on the peripheral wall parts, so that the molding is easy. Can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a joint box according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a state before bending a case of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a joint box provided with a protective cover according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a joint box provided with a protective cover according to still another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a joint box according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Joint box 12 Case 13 Peripheral wall part 14 Protective cover 15 Bend part 16 Connector fitting part 17 Connection terminal 18 Electronic component 20 Flexible conductor

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A flat-shaped case is provided with a connector fitting portion on one surface and a flexible conductor is provided on the other surface, and terminals connected to the flexible conductor are projected from the connector fitting portion. The case is bent into a U-shape so that the connector fitting portion is on the outer surface side, and the opening is closed by a peripheral wall part to form a box-shaped electric connection box. An electric connection box, which is attached to the outer surface of a U-shaped case and a protective cover for covering the electronic component is attached. 2. The electric connection box according to claim 1, wherein the protective cover is provided integrally with the case so as to be rotatable. 3. The electrical junction box according to claim 1, wherein the protective cover is provided integrally with the peripheral wall part. 4. The electric connection box according to claim 1, wherein the flexible conductor, a terminal protruding from the connector fitting portion, and a terminal of the electronic component are connected by soldering.