JP2924696B2 - Fixing structure of 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 fixing structure, and more particularly, to a junction box (J / B),
The present invention relates to a fixing structure for fixing an electric connection box such as a relay box (R / B) and a fusible link box (FL / B) to a case attached to a vehicle body of an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, J / B, R / B, and the like for forming a circuit for connecting an automobile wire harness to an electrical component have been developed.
Various electrical junction boxes such as FL / B are provided. FIG.
Reference numeral 0 denotes an example of a fixing structure for mounting this type of electric junction box to a vehicle body in an engine room or the like. 1 in the figure
Is a resin case fixed in advance to a vehicle body (not shown) by bolting, and has bolts 2A and 2B protruding therein. The bolts 2A and 2B are inserted into the insertion holes 3b provided in the mounting portion 3a of the J / B 3, and the nuts 4A and 4B are screwed into the bolts 2A and 2B, whereby the J / B 3 is mechanically solidified. To prevent the occurrence of electrical disturbance due to vibration. FL / B6 and R / B7A, 7
B and 7C are locked to J / B by a known lock mechanism. The upper opening 1a and the side opening 1b of the case 1 are provided with an upper cover 8 and a side cover 9 respectively.
To seal the inside of the case 1 to have a waterproof function.

[0003]

When the J / B is fixed to the vehicle body with bolts and nuts as described above, it is necessary to use a tool such as an impact for tightening the bolts or nuts, so that the mounting work is troublesome. It is. When fixing the J / B to the vehicle body with bolts and nuts,
The parts cost of the nut and the processing cost for fixing the bolt to the case are required, which leads to an increase in the manufacturing cost.
Further, when the above-described fixing structure is adopted, it is necessary to provide the J / B3 with the mounting portion 3a in which the insertion hole 3b is formed, so that the wiring area of the bus bar (not shown) in the J / B3 or the like is required. , The number of components mounted on the J / B is limited. The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems in the conventional electric junction box, and enables the electric junction box to be mounted on a vehicle body without using a tool, and the degree of freedom and mounting of a circuit structure in the electric junction box. An object of the present invention is to provide a structure for fixing an electric junction box with less restrictions on the number of parts.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention is a fixing structure for fixing an electric connection box in a case, wherein a lock piece and a guide groove are provided on a side surface of a housing of the electric connection box. And a plurality of lock portions each including a portion, and at a position corresponding to the lock portion on the inner wall surface of the case, a lock groove that engages with the lock piece, and a ridge inserted into the guide groove is provided. A guide portion of the reference lock portion is made to protrude more toward the case than a guide portion of another lock portion, and one of the plurality of lock portions is used as a reference lock portion. While the clearance in the direction and the left and right direction is set to the minimum that can perform the fitting operation, the clearance in the front and rear direction and the left and right direction of the other reference lock portions is set to be larger than the reference lock. It is intended to provide a fixing structure of the electric connection box, characterized in that there.

[0005]

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the lock piece of the lock portion provided on the side surface of the housing of the electrical connection box is engaged with the lock groove of the ridge provided on the inner wall surface of the case. By itself, the electric connection box can be fixed to the case, and there is no need to use a tool for fixing the electric connection box.
Further, the lock portion and the ridge portion can be formed integrally with the housing and the case of the electric connection box, so that a separate component for fixing the electric connection box is not required. Further, since the guide portion of the reference lock portion is made to protrude more than the guide portion of the other lock portion, the ridge corresponding to the guide groove of the reference lock portion is inserted before the other lock portion, and the The junction box is positioned.

Further, the clearances in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction of the other reference lock portions are set to the minimum level that allows the fitting operation to be performed, while the clearances in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction of the other reference lock portions are set. Since the electric lock box is set to be larger than the reference lock, the reference lock portion prevents rattling and positioning of the electric connection box, while the other lock portion can absorb a positional deviation due to warping of the case.

[0008]

Next, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. Case 11 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2
Is a box with a bottom and is fixed to the vehicle body side in advance by bolting. The upper opening 11a of the case 11 is closed by an upper cover (not shown), and the inside of the case 11 is sealed. In this case 11, J / B12 and R / B
13 are accommodated. 11b and 11c are J /
This is an electric wire lead-out portion for extracting electric wires (not shown) connected to B12 and R / B13 to the outside of the case 11.

The J / B 12 has locking portions 1 for fixing to the side surfaces 14a, 14b, 14c of the housing 14, respectively.
5A, 15B and 15C are provided. In the present embodiment, of these lock parts 15A to 15C, the lock part 15A
Is a reference lock portion. This reference lock 15A
Are J in two directions (front-rear direction X and left-right direction Y) orthogonal to the mounting direction (vertical direction Z) of the J / B 12 as described later.
/ B12.

The lock portions 15A, 15B and 15C have a known structure, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, lock pieces projecting upward from the side surfaces 14a, 14b and 14c of the housing 14 in a cantilever manner. 16 and the lock piece 1
Guide grooves 19A and 19B provided on both sides of
7A and 17B are provided. Further, a lock projection 18 is provided at the tip of the lock piece 16.

Further, as shown in FIG.
The length of the guide portions 19A, 19B of 5A is set longer than the length of the guide portions 19A, 19B of the other lock portions 15B, 15C, and the guide portions 19 of the reference lock portion 15A are set.
The lengths of A and 19B are made to protrude more toward the case 11 than the guide portions 19A and 19B of the other lock portions 15B and 15C. Guide portions 19A, 19 of lock portions 15A to 15C
By setting the length of B in this manner, the guide grooves 17A and 17B of the reference lock portion 15A are provided with the guide grooves 17B and 17C of the other lock portions 15B and 15C before the guide grooves 17B and 17C.
The heads 22 of the ridges 20A to 20C provided on the case 11, which will be described later, are inserted.

On the other hand, the side walls 19a and 19 of the case 11
b, 19c, and 19d, the cross-sectional shape of the J / B 12 corresponding to the lock portions 15A, 15B, and 15C is substantially T-shaped (slide shoe shape) when viewed from the fitting direction. Projection 20 extending in the vertical direction in the figure
A, 20B, and 20C are provided.
Each of the heads 20B and 20C includes a neck 21 protruding from the side walls 19a, 19b and 19c, and a head 22 protruding on both sides at the tip of the neck 21. Lock grooves 23A, 23B and 23C whose upper ends are closed are formed in the head 22.

The lock portions 15A to 15C and the lock groove 2
3A to 23C are engaged as shown in FIG. That is, the guide grooves 17A, 1 of the lock portions 15A to 15C are provided.
7B, the ridges 20A to 20C are inserted,
Elastically bends, the upper surface 18a of the lock projection 18 engages with the end 25 of the lock groove 23A to 23C, and the upper end 22a of the head 22 of the ridge 20A to 20C becomes the end of the guide groove 17A, 17B. By contacting the part 26, the lock parts 15A to 15C and the lock grooves 23A to 23C are locked with each other.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper surface 18a of the lock projection 18 and the end portions 2 of the guide grooves 17A and 17B are formed.
6 is set to be larger by C1 than the distance B1 between the end 25 of the lock groove 23A to 23C and the upper end 22a of the head 22 of the ridge 20A to 20C.

As shown in FIG. 7 (A), the thickness of the guide groove 17A of the reference lock portion 15A is determined by the thickness D1 of the head portion 22 of the ridge portion 20A inserted into the reference lock portion 15A.
The thickness E1 of 17B is set to be larger by the clearance C2. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 7B, the ridges 20B, 20 inserted into the other locks 15B, 15C are used.
The thickness E1 'of the guide grooves 17A and 17B of the lock portion 15A is determined by the clearance C2' from the thickness D1 'of the head 22 of C.
Is set to just bigger. The clearance C2 in the front-rear direction X of the reference lock portion 15A is set as small as possible in consideration of the dimensional error and the like of the reference lock portion 15A and the ridge portion 20A, and the clearance C2 of the other lock portions 15B and 15C is set. It is set smaller than the clearance C2 'in the front-rear direction. That is, in the present embodiment, the clearances C2 and C2 ′ in the front-rear direction X are set to have a relationship of (C2 <C2 ′).

Further, as shown in FIG. 7A, the head 22 of the ridge 20A is inserted into the reference lock 15A.
A clearance C3 is provided between the left and right side edges 22a, 22b of the base member and the inner side walls of the guide grooves 17A, 17B of the reference lock portion 15A. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 7B, the left and right edges 22a, 22b of the head 22 of the ridge 20A inserted into the other lock portions 15B, 15c, and the guide grooves 17A, 22A of the reference lock portion 15A. A clearance C3 'is provided between the inner side wall of 17B. The clearance C3 in the left-right direction Y of the reference lock portion 15A is
It is set as small as possible in consideration of the dimensional error of the reference lock portion 15A and the ridge portion 20A, and the clearance C3 'in the left-right direction Y of the other lock portions 15B and 15C.
It is set smaller than. That is, in this embodiment,
The clearance C3, C3 ′ in the front-rear direction X is set to (C3 <C
3 ').

In the vicinity of the ridges 20A to 20C provided with the lock grooves 23A to 23C, there are provided pedestals 28A, 28B and 28C extending vertically in the drawing. An elastic member 3 is provided on the flat upper end surface 29 of each of the pedestals 28A to 28C.
0 is stuck, and the lock portions 15A to 15C are engaged with the lock grooves 23A to 23C, so that the case 11
The lower surface side of the J / B 12 mounted inside the elastic member 30
Is supported by the upper end surface 29 to which the label is attached.

The elastic member 30 is formed of a rubber sheet having a constant thickness. As shown in FIG.
The thickness D of 0 is set so that the clearance C between the lock portions 15A to 15C and the lock grooves 23A to 23C can be absorbed. That is, the thickness D of the elastic member 30
Is set to be larger than the clearance C and to such a degree that a permanent compression set does not occur even when compressed in the thickness direction by the clearance C.

The elastic member 30 is not limited to rubber, but may be sponge. As shown in FIG. 9, a leaf spring made of metal or resin having a convex upper side may be used as the elastic member 30 '. Also in this case, the elastic member 3
The thickness D of 0 'may be set to be larger than the clearance C as described above and to such a degree that no permanent compression set is generated even if the clearance C is compressed in the thickness direction. When the elastic member 30 'made of a leaf spring is used, L-shaped engaging pieces 32A and 32B are provided near the upper end 29 of the pedestals 28A to 28C, and the elastic member 30' is engaged from both sides in the width direction. By stopping, the elastic member 30 'is fixed to the pedestals 28A to 28C.

The R / B 13 has a lock portion 3 for attaching to the J / B 12 on one side surface 33a of the housing 33.
4A and 34B are provided. Lock grooves 35A and 35A are formed on the side surface 14d of the housing 14 of the J / B 12 at positions corresponding to the lock portions 34A and 34B of the R / B 13.
Protrusions 36A and 36B provided with B are provided. The structures of the lock portions 34A and 34B, the lock grooves 35A and 35B, and the ridges 36A and 36B correspond to the J / B, respectively.
It has the same structure as the lock portions 15A to 15C of 12, the lock grooves 23A to 23C of the case 11, and the ridge portions 20A to 20C. 37 and 38 in the figure are J / B12 and R / B1.
3 is a connection means for electrically connecting 3 to each other. A pedestal portion 28D for supporting the R / B 13 is provided on the side wall 19d of the case 11, and an elastic member 30 is attached to an upper end surface 29 of the pedestal portion 28D.

In this embodiment, when the J / B 12 is fixed, the J / B 12 is connected to the case 11 from the upper end opening 11a.
Push it in. As described above, the reference locking portion 15A
Guide portions 19A, 19B of other lock portions 15B, 15B.
Since the guide portions 19A and 19B of C are protruded toward the case 11 side, first, the head 22 of the ridge portion 20A is inserted into the guide grooves 17A and 17B of the reference lock portion 15A,
As a result, play and positioning of the J / B 12 in the front-back direction X and the left-right direction Y are prevented.

When the J / B 12 is further pushed in, the heads 22 of the ridges 20B and 20C corresponding to the guide grooves 17A and 17B of the other lock portions 15B and 15C are inserted. As described above, the clearances C2 and C3 in the front-rear direction X and the left-right direction Y of the reference locking portion 15A are different from those of the other locking portions 1A.
Since the clearances C2 ', C3' in the front-rear direction X and the left-right direction Y of 5B, 15C are set large, the ridges 20B, 20C of the locking parts 15B, 15C smoothly correspond to the guide grooves 17A, 17B. The head 22 can be inserted. That is, since the case 11 is a large-sized resin molded product, the dimension of the position of the ridges 20A to 20C is limited by warpage and shrinkage conditions during molding. If the clearances C2, C2 ', C3, C3' in the front-rear direction X and the left-right direction 15C are set as described above, even if the positions of the ridges 20A to 20C are slightly shifted, The misalignment can be absorbed by the clearances C2 'and C3' of the other lock portions 15B to 15C in which the misalignment is set large.
/ B12 can be smoothly attached to case 11.

When the J / B 12 is further pushed in, the heads 22 of the ridges 20A to 20C are inserted into the guide grooves 17A and 17B of the locks 15A to 15C.
The lock piece 16 abutting on the head 22 is elastically bent, the lock projection 18 is fitted into the lock grooves 23A to 23C, the lock portions 15A to 15C and the lock grooves 23A to 23C are locked to each other, and the J / B 12 is the case 11. Fixed to

At this time, the elastic member 30 fixed to the upper ends of the pedestals 28A to 28C is pressed against the lower surface 14e of the housing 14 of the J / B 12, and is compressed by the clearance C. Therefore, the housing 14 of the J / B 12 is elastically urged upward in the figure by the compressed elastic member 30, and the upper surface 18 of the lock projection 18 is
a is pressed against the ends 25 of the lock grooves 23A to 23C. As described above, in the present embodiment, the clearance C1 is absorbed by the elastic member 30, and the lock portions 15A to 15C of the J / B 12 and the lock grooves 23A to 2 of the case 11 are formed.
3C is prevented from rattling in the vertical direction Z.

Next, the lock portions 34A, 34 of the R / B 13
The R / B 13 is attached to the J / B 12 by engaging the lock grooves 35A and 35B of the J / B 12 fixing the B in the case 11. At this time, similarly to J / B12, R / B
The lower surface 33b of the housing 33 of the thirteen is also elastically biased by the elastic member 30, so that the lock portions 34A, 34
B and the lock grooves 36A, 36B do not rattle.

In the fixing structure of this embodiment, J / B1
2 and the lock portions 15A to 15C of the case 11
3A to 23C, J / B12
1, there is no need to use a tool such as an impact, and the mounting operation is simple. Further, as described above, the guide portions 19A, 19B of the reference lock portion 15A are made to protrude more toward the case 11 than the other lock portions 15B, 15C.
The head 22 of the ridge 20A is inserted into 7A, 17B, and then the guide grooves 17 of the other locks 15B, 15C are inserted.
The heads 22 of the ridges 20B, 20C are inserted into A, 17B, and the clearances C2, C3 in the front-rear direction X and the left-right direction Y of the reference locking part 15A are located before and after the locking parts 15B, 15C. Since the clearances C2 'and C3' in the direction X and the horizontal direction Y are set large,
Even when the positions of the ridges 20A to 20C are misaligned due to the warpage of the case 11 and shrinkage generated during molding, J / B
12 can be attached and fixed to the case 11 smoothly. Further, the elastic member 30 has a clearance C
1 and the J / B 12 does not rattle in the case 11, generating abnormal noise due to vibration, damaging the functions of components such as the relay in the J / B 12, and causing a thermal problem at the contact portion. Can be prevented.

Further, in the fixing structure of this embodiment, J / B
Lock portions 15A to 15C provided in the housing 14
And the lock grooves 23A to 23C provided in the case 11 can be integrally formed when the housing 14 of the J / B 12 and the case 11 are resin-molded, and the bolts 3A and 3B in the conventional fixing structure shown in FIG. Since separate parts such as nuts 4A and 4B are not required, the cost of parts for such bolts and nuts and the processing cost for fixing the bolts to the case 11 and the vehicle body are unnecessary, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. .

Further, when the fixing structure of this embodiment is adopted, it is not necessary to provide the J / B 12 with the mounting portion 3a having the insertion hole 3b formed therein as in the conventional fixing structure shown in FIG. Since the lock portions 15A to 15C may be provided on the side surfaces 14a to 14c of the housing 14, there are few restrictions on the degree of freedom in arranging bus bars in the J / B 12 and the number of components mounted on the J / B.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, in the above embodiment, the lock portion 1 is provided on the housing 14 side of the J / B 12.
5A to 15C are provided, and lock grooves 23A to
Although 23C is provided, a lock groove is provided in J / B12,
The case 11 may be provided with a lock portion. Also, J / B1
The lock mechanism that locks the case 2 and the case 11 is not limited to the lock portions 15A to 15C and the lock grooves 23A to 23C, and any structure can be used as long as the J / B 12 can be locked to the case 11. It may be a mechanism.

Further, in the above embodiment, the fixing structure of the J / B 12 is used. However, the fixing structure of the present invention is not limited to the J / B, and is applicable to various electric junction boxes such as R / B and FL / B. can do.

[0031]

As is apparent from the above description, in the fixing structure for an electric connection box according to the first aspect, the electric connection box is attached to the case only by engaging the lock portion of the electric connection box with the lock groove of the case. It can be fixed, and there is no need to use a tool such as an impact to fix the electric junction box, and the fixing operation is simple.

Further, in the fixing structure of the first aspect, the lock portion and the ridge portion can be formed integrally with the housing or the case of the electric connection box. Since separate parts are unnecessary, the cost of parts for such bolts and nuts and the processing cost for fixing the bolts to the case are unnecessary, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Further, when the fixing structure according to the first aspect is adopted, it is not necessary to provide a mounting portion having a through hole in the electric connection box as in the conventional fixing structure, so that the degree of freedom in arranging bus bars and the like can be reduced. There are few restrictions on the number of components that can be mounted on the electrical junction box.

Further, in the fixing structure according to the first aspect, since the guide portion of the reference lock portion projects more than the guide portion of the other lock portion, the reference lock portion is provided before the other lock portion. Since the ridge corresponding to the guide groove is inserted, the electric connection box can be quickly positioned.

Further, the clearances in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction of the other reference lock portions are set to the minimum level that allows the fitting operation to be performed, while the clearances in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction of the other reference lock portions are set. , Is set to be larger than the reference lock, so that the electrical connection box is prevented from rattling and positioned by the reference lock portion,
The misalignment due to the case warpage or the like can be absorbed by the other lock portions.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing a fixing structure according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing a fixing structure according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a reference lock unit.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing another lock portion.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing a fixing structure according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a lock unit.

FIG. 7A is a partial schematic plan view showing a clearance in a front-rear direction and a left-right direction of a reference lock portion, and FIG. 7B is a partial schematic plan view showing a clearance in a front-rear direction and a left-right direction of another lock portion. .

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an elastic member.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another example of the elastic member.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional fixing structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Case 12 J / B 13 R / B 14 Housing 15A to 15C, 34A, 34B Lock portion 20A to 20C, 35A, 35B Projection 23A to 23C, 36A, 36B Lock groove 28A to 28D Pedestal portion 30 Elastic member

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A fixing structure for fixing an electric connection box in a case.
A lock piece and a gasket are
A plurality of locks with guides with guide grooves
With the lock on the inner wall of the case.
A lock groove is provided at the corresponding position to engage with the lock piece.
Providing a ridge inserted into the guide groove, one of the plurality of locks serving as a reference lock.
The guide part of the reference lock part is
To the case side than the part,And, Clear run in the front-rear direction and left-right direction of the reference lock section
Set to the minimum that can be used for mating work
On the other hand, the other reference locking parts
Set the clearance larger than the above reference lock.
 A fixing structure for an electric junction box.