JP2947068B2 - 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 such as a junction box for branching and connecting a wire harness for an automobile, and more particularly to miniaturizing an electric junction box containing a bus bar.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electric junction box for a vehicle such as a junction box or the like generally has a metal bus bar for wiring housed in a case composed of a lower case and an upper case, and a terminal of a connector attached to an outer surface of the case. A plurality of wiring circuits are formed by electrical connection.

The above-mentioned bus bars are often manufactured by punching a copper-based metal plate with a press, and the punched shape differs depending on the specifications of wiring, and various types of bus bars are provided according to the type of vehicle. Conventionally, large-current circuits, minute-current circuits, and special circuits such as option circuits are often all constituted by bus bars.

[0004]

However, recently,
The number of circuits is rapidly increasing with the increase in electrical components mounted on automobiles. If all circuits are configured with busbars, the number of busbars increases as the number of circuits increases, so the electrical junction box becomes larger and heavier. There's a problem. Further, since various types of bus bars are required depending on the type of vehicle, it is necessary to prepare many types of punching dies for the bus bars, and there is a problem that the cost is increased.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electric junction box which can be made compact and lightweight, and can reduce the cost.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a first case containing a bus bar made of a conductive metal plate constituting a branch circuit, and a second case containing a flexible conductor. The second case has a configuration in which a flat upper case is bent into a U-shaped cross section, and the flexible conductor is sandwiched between the upper case and a lower case having a U-shaped cross section. A case mounting portion is provided, a central partition wall portion protruding in the horizontal direction is provided on the mounting portion, and upper and lower sides thereof are an upper insertion portion and a lower insertion portion,
The upper portion of the U-shaped second case is inserted into the upper insertion portion, and the lower portion is inserted into the lower insertion portion, and the second case is externally attached to the first case. An electric connection box is provided. That is, if necessary, the first case consisting of a junction box containing a bus bar
C (Flexible Printed Circuit), FW
C (flexible wired circuit), FFC
(Flexible flat circuit) A second case consisting of a junction box containing a flat flexible conductor such as a flexible circuit is attached.

[0007] The first case and the second case are provided with a lock portion which is fixed when the second case is attached to the first case.

It is preferable that guide rails are provided on both upper and lower surfaces of the central partition wall, and rails along the guide rails are provided on inner surfaces of the upper and lower sides of the second case that are opposed to each other. That is, on a part of the outer surface of the first case, a protection wall consisting of three circumferences is erected to provide a second case mounting portion, and is located at the upper and lower central portions inside the three circumferences of the protection walls. A central partition wall is provided, and the upper insertion portion and the lower insertion portion which are vertically separated from each other by the central partition wall are provided. Is fitted and inserted into the central partition wall. The protection wall is provided with a second case pressing portion and the lock portion. Also, when inserting the second case into the first case, slide the rail of the second case along the guide rail of the first case, and after the insertion is completed, fit the guide rail and the rail. This prevents misalignment.

The flexible conductor housed in the second case is preferably a minute current circuit or an optional circuit. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described circuit, and a part of the common circuit conventionally formed by the bus bar may be replaced with a flexible conductor, and the second case may be always attached to the first case.

[0010]

According to the present invention, for example, when a minute current circuit conventionally formed of a metal busbar is formed of a flexible conductor, the number of busbars accommodated in the first case is reduced. The size and the weight can be reduced. Further, if the optional circuit is configured to be accommodated in the second case as a flexible conductor, the second case may be attached only when the optional circuit is necessary, and the second case is not attached when the optional circuit is unnecessary,
There is no waste, and the entire electrical junction box can be reduced in size.

Further, in the second case, since the upper case is bent from a flat state to have a U-shaped cross section, connectors can be provided on both upper and lower surfaces, so that the size of the second case can be reduced, and an electric connection box can be accordingly formed. Can be reduced in size. Further, when the second case is attached, since the second case is fixed by the first case and the lock portion, the second case can be reliably integrated.

When a second case mounting portion is provided outside the first case and a U-shaped second case is inserted and mounted in the second case mounting portion, a large space is not taken up in the second case. The second case can be attached to the first case. Furthermore, guide rails are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the center partition wall of the second case mounting portion, and when inserting the second case, when inserting along the rail of the second case, the second case can be inserted smoothly. , Accurate positioning is possible.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments. As shown in FIG. 1, the electric connection box includes a main first case 1 and a sub second case 2. The first case 1 in the shape of a square box has a first lower case (not specifically shown) 1A made of synthetic resin and a first upper case 1B. Inside the two cases 1A and 1B,
Houses metal busbars for wiring. A large number of connector portions 1 for inserting connectors (not shown) to which wire crimp terminals of a wire harness are attached are provided on the upper surface 1a of the first upper case 1B and the lower surface of the first lower case 1A.
.., 1b are provided. A plurality of wiring circuits are formed in the first case 1 by electrically connecting the terminals of each of the connector portions 1b and the tab terminals protruding from the metal bus bar.

On the other hand, the substantially U-shaped second case 2 has a second lower case 2A and a second upper case 2B made of synthetic resin. Inside the two cases 2A and 2B, as shown in FIG. And a flexible conductor 3 for wiring. As shown in FIG. 8, the flexible conductor 3 is bent according to the shapes of the two cases 2A and 2B. The second lower case 2A is preliminarily formed into a U-shaped cross section, and a plurality of rails 2b,..., 2b extending in the insertion direction are formed on opposing inner surfaces 2a, 2a, respectively.

More specifically, it has the structure shown in FIG. 6, and has a concave portion 2d for accommodating the flexible conductor 3 on the outer surface. In addition, a lock claw 2e for locking the second upper case 2B is provided at an appropriate position on the outer surface 2c of the second lower case 2A.
, 2e and lock claws 2f, 2 for coupling to the first case 1.
f is formed.

The second upper case 2B is formed in a flat plate shape as shown in detail in FIG.
It is designed to be bent into a substantially U-shape at 2 g. As described above, if the second upper case 2B is completed by bending after molding, a complicated split mold is not required and the cost is reduced. On the outer surface 2j of the second upper case 2B, a number of connector portions 2h,..., 2h for inserting connectors of the wire harness are provided, and as shown in FIG. The flexible conductor 3 is connected to the inner surface 2 of the second upper case 2B.
A predetermined number of specific circuits are formed in the second case 2 by being electrically connected on the k side. This particular circuit is
This is a circuit previously separated from the wiring circuit formed in the first case 1, and is a minute current circuit or an optional circuit (for example, a power window, a door lock, or a navigator).

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the outer surface 2c of the second lower case 2A is covered with the inner surface 2k of the second upper case 2B, and the second upper case 2B is locked by the lock claws 2e of the second lower case 2A. By doing so, both cases 2A,
The second case 2 is assembled with the flexible conductor 3 sandwiched between 2B. The lock pawls 2f, 2f of the second lower case 2A protrude outward from the notches 21, 21 of the second upper case 2B. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the hinge portion 2 of the second upper case 2B is provided.
g, 2g, a cover hole 2m, 2m is formed near the bent portion 2n of the second upper case 2B.
May be attached to the lock holes 2m, 2m with the lock claws 4a, 4a.

As shown in FIG. 1, a second case mounting portion 1c for mounting the second case 2 is provided on a part of the outer surface of the first upper case 1B of the first case 1. The second case mounting portion 1c is provided with a partition wall 1m at the upper and lower central portions of a protective wall 1f having three circumferences, and a concave shape into which the opposing inner surfaces 2a, 2a of the second lower cover 2A of the second case 2 can be inserted from the side. The upper insertion portion 1d and the lower insertion portion 1d are provided vertically. The bottom of each of the insertion portions 1d, 1d (the center partition wall 1)
m on both upper and lower sides), the rail portion 2 of the second lower cover 2A.
, 2b are fitted with a rib-shaped guide rail 1e,
.., 1e are respectively formed. In addition, the lower insertion part 1
The guide rail 1e of d is not shown. By fitting the rail portion 2b of the second case 2 to the guide rail 1e, the second case 2 can be positioned and fixed in the width direction.

The two outer peripheral surfaces 2j, 2j of the second upper case 2B are pressed against the two opposite peripheral surfaces of the three peripheral surfaces 1f of the protective wall 1f of the second case mounting portion 1c, and the second case 2 is vertically moved. Are provided with ribs 1g, 1g, respectively. When the second case 2 is inserted into the second case mounting portion 1c, the lock claws 1h, 1h engage with the lock claws 2f, 2f of the second upper case 2B on the inner circumferential surface at the back of each protective wall 1f. Are provided respectively.

If the electric junction box is configured as described above, the number of circuits in the first case 1 can be reduced by separating a specific circuit from a plurality of wiring circuits formed in the main first case 1. Since the number of bus bars decreases, the first case 1 becomes compact.

Since the specific circuit separated from the wiring circuit inside the first case 1 is formed inside the second case 2, the second case 2 is connected to the second case mounting portion 1c of the first case 1. Lock claw 1 of the first case 1
By engaging the lock claw 2f of the second case 2 with h, the second case 2 can be externally and integrally connected to the first case 1 with one touch.

If the specific circuit is an optional circuit,
If the specification does not require an optional circuit, the second case 2 does not need to be connected, so that waste can be eliminated and cost can be reduced. In this case, the first case 1
The second case mounting portion 1c can be used as an accommodation space for a diode or the like for a wiring circuit.

Since the flexible conductor 3 is accommodated inside the second case 2 by bending it into a substantially U-shape rather than in a flat state, the second case 2 is compact and a specific circuit is provided in a small space. Can be accommodated.

[0024]

As is apparent from the above description, the electric connection box of the present invention separates a specific circuit from a wiring circuit inside the first case accommodating the main bus bar. Since the number of circuits is reduced and the number of bus bars is reduced, the first case is compact. In addition, since the extracted specific circuit is formed inside the sub second case and the second case is connected to the outside of the first case, if the specific circuit is an optional circuit, the extraction of the circuit is performed. Depending on the method, the electric connection box can be diversified, and if the specification does not require an optional circuit, there is no need to connect the second case, so that there is no waste and the cost is reduced.

On the other hand, the second case is formed in a substantially U shape by sandwiching a flexible conductor for wiring between the lower case and the upper case, and is inserted into the insertion portion of the first case and locked by the lock portion. Accordingly, the second case can be made compact, the specific circuit can be accommodated in a small space, and the second case can be externally connected to the first case with one touch.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first case and a second case of an electric junction box before being connected.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a front side of a second case.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a second case.

FIG. 4 is a second case, in which (A) is a plan view and (B)
Is a side view, and (C) is a bottom view.

FIG. 5 is a second upper case, wherein (A) is a plan view at the time of molding, (B) is a side view of (A), (C) is a side view at the time of bending, and (D) is a side view of (C). It is a principal part enlarged view.

FIG. 6 is a second lower case, in which (A) is a plan view,
(B) is a side view, (C) is a bottom view, and (D) is a front view of (B).

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a connection procedure between a terminal of a connector section and a flexible conductor.

8A and 8B are flexible conductors, in which FIG. 8A is a side view before bending and FIG. 8B is a side view after bending.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st case 1A 1st lower case 1B 1st upper case 1b Connector part 1c 2nd case attaching part 1h Locking claw 2 Second case 2A 2nd lower case 2B 2nd upper case 2f Locking claw 2g Hinge part 2h Socket 2i Terminal 3 Flexible conductor

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A first case accommodating a bus bar made of a conductive metal plate forming a branch circuit ;
A second case is accommodated, and the second case has a cross section of a flat upper case.
It is bent into a U-shape, and the upper case
The flexible conductor is sandwiched between the first case and a second case mounting portion is provided outside the first case.
A central partition wall that projects horizontally is attached to the
The lower sides are the upper insertion part and the lower insertion part, and are U-shaped.
The upper part of the second case is inserted into the upper insertion part, and the lower part is
Insert each into the side insertion part, externally attach the second case to the first case
Electrical junction box installed with 2. A guide rail on both upper and lower surfaces of the central partition wall.
And the upper and lower sides of the second case face each other.
The electric junction box according to claim 1, wherein a rail is provided along the guide rail on an inner surface side . 3. The flexible housing accommodated in the second case.
Conductors for small current circuits and / or optional circuits
The electrical junction box according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein