JP2964863B2 - Electrical connector box joint connector mounting structure - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a joint connector mounting structure of an electric junction box which can easily cope with a change in circuit design and has a waterproof property.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a case where a joint connector is mounted on an electrical junction box used for branch connection of a wire harness for an automobile to various electric components, for example, a junction block, a first connector shown in FIGS. As in the prior art, the joint connector 2 is integrally formed on the outer surface of the upper case 1 of the junction block JB, and is housed in the joint connector 2 between the upper case 1 and the lower case 3 via the insulating plate 8. There is a type in which a tab 4a protruding from the busbars 4,..., 4 is exposed, and the female connector 6 connected to the wire harness 5 is connected.

[0003] Further, the circuit of the joint connector is not taken into the bus bar of the junction box.
As shown in a second prior art shown in FIG. 2B, an outer frame in which a short pin 6a is built in a joint connector 6 and the joint connector 6 protrudes from the outer surface of the upper case 1 (or lower case 3) of the junction block JB. There is also one that is fitted and fixed inside 2a.

However, if the circuit of the joint connector 2 is taken into the bus bar 4 in the junction block JB as in the first prior art shown in FIG. 3, the joint connector 2 is unnecessary depending on the grade of the vehicle type. And it can be wasted. Further, as in the second prior art shown in FIG. 4, the outer frame 2a for the joint connector is connected to the upper case 1 of the junction block JB.
If they are formed integrally with each other, only the joint connector 6 having a limited number of poles can be connected, and the degree of freedom in responding to a circuit design change or the like is reduced.

For this reason, as in the third prior art shown in FIG. 5, only the mounting portion 1a is integrally formed on the outer surface of the upper case (or lower case 3) 1, and the male connector 6 is attached to the mounting portion 1a. There is a connector in which a joint connector 6 in which a connector -I and a female connector 6-II are connected in advance is inserted from above and attached.

[0006]

However, in the third prior art, although the degree of freedom in responding to a change in circuit design or the like is increased, there is no waterproof property. It cannot be used in the engine room,
In addition, since the joint connector 6 is located at a position where the external force acts directly, the joint connector 6 may be damaged by the external force.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has a high degree of freedom in responding to a change in circuit design and the like, and has a waterproof property and is free from damage. It is an object to provide a connector mounting structure.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric connection box housed in a waterproof cover, wherein the electric connection box is provided on an outer surface of the electric connection box. And a mounting portion for mounting a joint connector that can be accommodated in a space between the outer surface of the waterproof cover and the inner surface of the waterproof cover .
Lock jaws projecting from the outer surface of the
Lockable on the outer wall of the connector
The present invention provides an electric junction box having a configuration to be used .

[0009]

The electric circuit provided in the joint connector is preferably an optional circuit.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, for example, a mounting portion is provided on an outer surface of an electric connection box mounted in an engine room of an automobile and housed in a waterproof cover, and the mounting portion is provided with an electric power supply. A joint connector that can be accommodated in the space between the outer surface of the connection box and the inner surface of the waterproof cover is attached.
Thus, since the joint connector can be externally attached to the electric connection box, the number of poles can be set freely, and the degree of freedom in responding to circuit design changes and the like is increased. Also, the electrical junction box
Since the joint connector is housed in the waterproof cover, the joint connector is waterproofed as well as the electric connection box, and is protected by the waterproof cover, so that there is no possibility that the joint connector is damaged by an external force.

Further, since the splice of the wire harness of the female connector to be connected to the joint connector can be set to be located in the waterproof cover, the trouble of the waterproof splice processing can be eliminated, the short-circuit disconnection and the like can be eliminated, and the safety and reliability can be improved. I do. Furthermore, since the joint connector can be attached to the attachment portion of the electric connection box with one touch, the attachment workability is improved.

Further, when the mounting portion of the joint connector provided on the outer wall of the case of the junction box is used as a locking claw and is removably locked with the locking claw provided on the outer wall of the joint connector, the dimensions of the joint connector are not limited, and any pole can be provided. A number of joint connectors can be attached. In addition, the joint connector mounting portion can be easily provided in the case.

Further, if the circuit provided in the joint connector is an optional circuit, the bus bar housed inside the junction box can be used as a shared circuit, and unnecessary circuits of the bus bar can be eliminated. In addition, the size of the junction box itself can be reduced. Further, since an optional circuit is provided in a joint connector to be separately mounted, a waste of the optional circuit itself can be eliminated by mounting a joint connector of a circuit corresponding to the type of the option.

[0015]

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, a junction block JB, which is an electric junction box, includes a horizontally long rectangular case 10 in which a block 11 to which a number of components and terminals are attached is set. Cover 12
, 12b of the outer surface 12a of the case 1
The block 11 is locked together with the cover 12 housed in the case 10 by being engaged with the lock claws 10b,..., 10b on the inner surface 10a.

With respect to the case 10 of the junction block JB, a lower waterproof cover 13B attached to a lower portion of the case 10 and an upper waterproof cover 13A attached to an upper portion thereof.
The case 10 is provided with a waterproof cover 13.
(13A, 13B).

The junction block JB accommodated in the waterproof cover 13 is mounted, for example, in an engine room of an automobile. The waterproof cover 13 prevents infiltration of water and dust from entering the junction block JB. Is protected from external forces.

An outer surface 10c of the case 10 and an inner surface 13a of the waterproof cover 13 are separated by a space S for accommodating a joint connector 20 described later. In addition, it is preferable that the space S is not provided by enlarging the waterproof cover 13, but uses an empty space naturally generated by the brackets 10 d and 10 d of the outer surface 10 c of the case 10.

Outer surface 1 of case 10 with space S
As shown in FIG. 2, a lock claw (mounting portion) 10 e protruding outward is integrally formed at 0 c.

On the other hand, the joint connector 20 has substantially the same structure as the conventional joint connector 6 shown in FIG. 5, and has an insertion port 15a for inserting the female connector 16 at the center of the male connector 15 of the joint connector 20. A short pin 17 is provided on the bottom surface of the insertion port 15a, and when the female connector 16 is inserted and connected from the insertion port 15a, a required electric wire of the wire harness 18 of the female connector 16 is short-circuited (connected). ing.

On the outer wall (upper part in the figure) of the male connector 15 of the joint connector 20, a lock claw 15b which is engaged when inserted into the lock claw 10e of the case 10 from outside is integrally formed. The joint connector 0 can be locked and attached to the case 10 by engaging the lock claw 15b with the lock claw 10e.

When the female connector 16 is inserted into the insertion port 15a and connected to the outer wall (the lower part in the figure) on the other side of the male connector 15, the locking claws 16 of the female connector 16 are connected.
a locking claw 15c with which the female connector 16 engages with the locking claw 16a of the female connector 16 to lock the female connector 16 with the male connector 15. , 16 can be integrally connected.

The circuit provided in the joint connector 20 is an optional circuit. Since the optional circuit is unnecessary depending on the type of the vehicle, no optional circuit is formed on the bus bar inside the junction box JB. Are provided with optional circuits to separate the circuits.

With the above configuration, the case 10
When the lock claw 15b on the upper part of the male connector 15 is inserted from outside into the lock claw 10e on the outer surface 10c,
0e and 15b engage the male connector 15 in the case 1
Locked to 0 and mounted. Then, female connector 16
Is inserted into the insertion port 15a of the male connector 15, and the required electric wire of the wire harness 18 of the female connector 16 is short-circuited by the short pin 17 of the male connector 15.
(Connection) to form a circuit. The female connector 16
May be inserted into the insertion port 15a of the male connector 15 and connected to be assembled as the joint connector 20, and then the male connector 15 may be locked and attached to the case 10.

When the case 10 to which the joint connector 20 is attached is accommodated in the waterproof cover 13 (13A, 13B), the joint connector 20 is also accommodated in the waterproof cover 13 and is waterproofed.

As described above, since the joint connector 20 can be attached to the lock claw 10e on the outer surface 10c of the case 10 with one touch, the attachment workability is improved. In addition, since the joint connector 20 can be externally attached to the outer surface 10c of the case 10, the number of poles can be set freely as long as the space S permits, and the degree of freedom in responding to circuit design changes and the like is increased.

Further, since the joint connector 20 is housed in the waterproof cover 13, it is waterproofed in the same manner as the junction block JB.
, The external force does not directly act on the joint connector 20, and there is no possibility that the external force may cause damage.

Further, the splice of the wire harness 18 connected to the joint connector 20 is
When it is set so as to be located in the space 3, the trouble of the waterproof splicing process can be omitted, the short-circuit disconnection and the like can be eliminated, and the safety and reliability can be improved.

[0029]

As is apparent from the above description, the joint connector mounting structure for an electric connection box according to the first aspect of the present invention is mounted on a portion where there is a risk of water intrusion, such as in an engine room of an automobile. A joint connector that can be accommodated is attached to a space between the outer surface of the electric connection box and the inner surface of the waterproof cover at a mounting portion on the outer surface of the electric connection box accommodated in the waterproof cover. Therefore, since the joint connector can be externally attached to the electrical junction box, the number of poles can be set freely as space allows,
The degree of freedom in responding to circuit design changes and the like is increased.

Further, since the electric connection box is housed in the waterproof cover, the joint connector is waterproofed as well as the electric connection box and is protected by the waterproof cover, and the joint connector may be damaged by an external force. Is also gone. Further, since the splice of the wire harness of the female connector to be connected to the joint connector can be set in the waterproof cover, the trouble of the waterproof splice processing can be omitted, the short-circuit disconnection and the like can be eliminated, and the safety and reliability can be improved. Furthermore, since the joint connector can be attached to the attachment portion of the electric connection box with one touch, the attachment workability is improved.

Further, when the mounting portion of the joint connector provided on the outer wall of the case of the junction box is a lock claw, the structure is simple, in which the lock claw is simply attached to the case. In addition, since the lock claw provided on the outer wall of the joint connector is only removably locked to the lock claw of the case, the size of the joint connector is not limited, and a joint connector of any size having any number of poles is attached. I can do it.

If the circuit provided in the joint connector is an optional circuit, the bus bar housed in the junction box can be used as a shared circuit, and unnecessary circuits of the bus bar can be eliminated. In addition, the size of the junction box itself can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a joint connector mounting structure of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the mounting structure of the joint connector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a first prior art, in which (A) is a front view of a joint connector, and (B) is a side sectional view.

FIG. 4 is a second prior art, in which (A) is a front view of a female connector, and (B) is a side sectional view of a joint connector.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a third prior art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 JB Junction block S Space 10 Case 10c Outer surface 10e Lock claw (mounting part) 11 Block 13 Waterproof cover 13a Inner surface 15 Male connector 15b Lock claw 16 Female connector 18 Wire harness 20 Joint connector

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An electric connection box housed in a waterproof cover, wherein a joint connector which can be housed in a space between an outer surface of the electric connection box and an inner surface of the waterproof cover is provided on an outer surface of the electric connection box. Provide a mounting part for mounting, and
The mounting part of the
Formed on the outer wall of the joint connector
A joint connector mounting structure for an electrical connection box that is configured to be detachably locked to a lock claw . 2. An electric circuit provided in said joint connector.
The joint connector mounting structure for an electric junction box according to claim 1, wherein the path is an optional circuit . 3. An electrical connection housed in a waterproof cover.
In the box, the outer surface of the electric connection box is connected to the outer surface of the electric connection box by the protection.
A join that can be accommodated in the space between the inner surface of the water cover
And a joint for attaching the connector
The electric circuit provided in the connector is a joint connector mounting structure of the electric connection box which is an optional circuit .