JP3106963B2 - Semi-mating detection structure between electrical junction boxes - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure for detecting half-fitting between electric connection boxes, and more particularly, to electric connection boxes mounted on an automobile, for example, a junction block, a relay block, a fusible link block, and / or the like. And directly connecting the terminals such as the bus bar housed in the case of these blocks and directly connecting the terminals, such as a bus block, when the lock portion for locking and connecting the electric connection boxes is in a semi-fitted state, The structure is such that this can be reliably detected, so that the terminals at the same time between the electric connection boxes can be reliably connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Normally, electrical connections between electrical junction boxes are made via electric wires. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a connector 2 connected to one end of an electric wire w is connected to a terminal (not shown) of a bus bar housed in a junction block 1, while a connector 3 connected to the other end of the electric wire w. Are connected to terminals of a bus bar (not shown) housed in the relay block 4, and are connected in the order of terminals of one electric connection box-connector wires-connector-terminals of the other electric connection box.

[0003] When the electric connection between the electric connection boxes is made by using electric wires and connectors as described above, the number of electric wires, terminals, connectors and the like is increased, and the step of connecting the terminals to the electric wires is performed. And a step of attaching the connector to the electric connection box, which is troublesome and increases the cost. further,
The wires and terminals are connected, the terminals are connected,
There is also a problem that the resistance increases due to an increase in the number of connection points.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the applicant of the present invention directly connected electric connection boxes and provided them on bus bars housed in these electric connection boxes, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-33162. The present invention provides an electric connection box in which electric terminals are directly fitted and connected to each other so as to perform electric connection between electric connection boxes without passing through wires and connectors.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, a female terminal 5a is provided on a part of the bus bar 5 housed in the junction block 1 ', while a male terminal 6a is provided on a part of the bus bar 6 of the relay block 4'. The male terminal 6a is inserted into and brought into contact with the notch 5b provided in the female terminal 5a to supply electric power for electrical connection.

[0006]

In the connection structure between the electric connection boxes having the above-described structure, in order to directly connect the terminals accurately with each other, first, the electric connection boxes are surely connected to each other. It must be locked with. The electric connection boxes, for example, the junction block 1 'and the relay block 4' are connected to a lock claw or a lock groove provided on the outer surface of the case of one block. Stopped and locked.

There is no problem when the lock is securely performed. However, when the lock is in a half-fitted state, the terminals are not connected or are in a poor connection state. Power supply cannot be performed.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and is directed to a method of directly connecting electric junction boxes and directly connecting internal circuits of these electric connection boxes.
An object of the present invention is to make it possible to reliably detect when the lock between electric connection boxes is in a half-fitted state.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to a method of directly connecting electric connection boxes and directly connecting terminals provided on bus bars housed in the electric connection boxes. A flexible piece provided with a first lock portion is provided on the outer surface of the case of the one electric connection box so as to project with a gap from the outer surface of the case, and on the outer surface of the case of the other electric connection box, A second locking portion is provided for engaging the first locking portion while bending the flexible piece. When the flexible piece of the first locking portion is locked by the second locking portion while bending, the flexible piece becomes the original shape. The detection plate is returned to the position so that a gap is formed between the flexible piece and the outer surface of the case, and a detection plate sized so as to be inserted into the gap is provided. In the state where it is bent by half-fitting, between the flexible piece and the outer surface of the case The gap is not generated, the detection plate cannot be inserted into the gap, and the half of the electrical connection box is configured to detect that the first lock portion and the second lock portion are half-fitted. A mating detection device is provided.

It is preferable that the first lock portion protrudes from the outer surface of the flexible piece and serves as a lock claw, while the second lock portion has a lock hole into which the lock claw is fitted. .

Specifically, for example, on the outer surface of the case of the relay block, a lower portion is fixed to the outer surface of the case, and an upper portion is provided with a flexible piece projecting with a gap from the outer surface of the case. A lock claw is projected on the outer surface, and a frame provided with a lock hole for fitting the lock claw is provided on the outer surface of the case of the junction block. When connecting the relay block and the junction block, the lock holes are fitted with the lock claws to lock both blocks. In the locked state where the lock claw is completely fitted in the lock hole, the flexible piece returns to the current position, and a predetermined gap is formed between the flexible piece and the outer surface of the case. Therefore, a detection plate formed corresponding to the size of the gap can be inserted into the gap. On the other hand, when the lock claw is not fitted in the lock hole, the lock claw is pushed by the counterpart frame to bend the flexible piece toward the outer surface of the case, so that there is no gap between the flexible piece and the outer surface of the case. Therefore, the detection plate cannot be inserted into the gap, and it can be confirmed that the detection plate is in the half-fitted state. As a result, by re-locking, the terminals of the internal circuit can be reliably connected.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS. In the drawing, reference numeral 10 denotes a junction block, and 11 denotes a relay block. As shown by an arrow in FIG. 1, the terminal block 14 is provided at the right end of the junction block 10 with a space therebetween, and the relay block 11 is provided with a space at the left end. The terminal accommodating portions 17 arranged in parallel with each other are fitted from above, and the male terminals 18 accommodated in the terminal accommodating portions 17 are engaged with the female terminals 15 accommodated in the terminal accommodating portions 14 as shown in FIG. In combination, the terminals are directly connected. Each of the female terminal 15 and the male terminal 18 is a junction block 1
0, formed integrally with the bus bar housed inside the relay block 11.

The case 12 of the junction block 10 and the case 13 of the relay block 11 are provided with lock portions 20 and 21 for connecting the blocks to the respective outer surfaces on the terminal connection side. That is, the relay block 1
In the case 13 on one side, the 3
Lock portions 21, 21 are formed on both outer sides of the two terminal accommodating portions 17, and the case 1 of the junction block 10 is similarly formed.
2, lock portions 20 and 20 are provided on both outer sides of the terminal accommodating portions 14 provided at predetermined intervals, and the lock portions 20 and 21 are opposed to each other.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A and 4B, the lock portion 21 provided on the outer surface of the case of the relay block 11
a is protruded, and a groove 21b penetrating in the up-down direction is provided opposite to both side frames 21a. Further, a flexible piece 21d is formed from the inner surface side of both side frames 21a with a predetermined gap 21c from the outer surface of the case, and a central portion on the inner surface side of the flexible piece 21d is connected to the outer surface of the case via a support portion 21e. Along with
A rib 21f is provided on the lower side. The upper portion of the flexible piece 21d is easily bent, and a lock claw 21g is protruded from a central outer surface thereof. Further, a projection 21h for detecting plate stopper is provided on the upper inner surface of the both side frames 21a.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the lock portion 20 provided on the outer surface of the case of the junction block 10 is provided with a frame 20a having a U-shaped cross section, and a lock hole 20b is formed in the upper portion of the frame 20a. The grooves 2 are provided on both sides of the frame 20a.
A guide bar 20c (shown in FIG. 1) that slidably fits into 1b protrudes.

The lock portions 20 and 21 are
The lock portion 21 is fitted from above to the two side frames 21a.
The guide bar 20c is slidably fitted in the groove 21b, and the lock claw 21g is fitted in the lock hole 20b to lock.

The above-mentioned lock claw 21g is provided in the lock hole 20b.
, And as shown in FIG.
A detection plate 30 is provided in order to detect the half-fitted state while the abutting on the frame 20a.

The detection plate 30 is set to have a thickness and a size that can be just fitted into the gap 21c between the flexible piece 21d and the outer surface of the case, and has a wide portion 30a at the top.
When the wide portion 30a is normally locked and connected as shown in FIG. 5 (A), the wide portion 30a is stopped by the stopper projection 21h and stopped at the position.

By providing the above-mentioned detection plate 30,
As shown in FIG. 5B, when the lock claw 21g of the lock portion 21 on the relay block 11 side is not fitted in the lock hole 20b of the lock portion 20 on the junction block 10, the lock is performed in a semi-fitted state. Since the frame 20a of the part 20 pushes the lock claw 21g, the flexible piece 21d bends and closes the gap 21c. Therefore, even if an attempt is made to insert the detection plate 30 into the gap 21c as shown by the arrow, it cannot be inserted, and it is possible to detect that the lock is in the half-fitted state. Therefore, by re-locking, the lock claw 21g can be fitted into the lock hole 20b, and the fully fitted state can be obtained.

As shown in FIG. 5A, a lock claw 21g is provided.
Is correctly fitted in the lock hole 20b, the gap 21c
Therefore, the detection plate 30 can be inserted into the gap 21c. The inserted detection plate 30 stops at a predetermined position with the wide portion 30a locked with the projection 21h.

The detection plate 30 is used while being inserted. When the detection plate 30 is inserted into the gap 21c in this manner, the flexible piece 21d can be prevented from bending and coming off from the lock hole 20b, and the lock between the relay block 11 and the junction block 10 can be ensured. I can put it.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but may be one in which lock claws are provided on both lock portions of the blocks and these lock claws are engaged with each other to lock. If one of the lock claws is provided on the outer surface of the flexible piece protruding from the outer surface of the case and a gap is provided between the flexible piece and the outer surface of the case, the detection plate can be inserted into the gap. The present invention can be applied to such a case.

[0023]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, when the lock portions of the electric connection boxes are in the half-fitted state, the detection plate cannot be inserted, so that the lock is in the half-fitted state. It can be detected reliably. Therefore, by re-locking, the electric connection boxes can be securely locked and connected. In the present invention, since the internal circuits of the electric connection box also directly connect the terminals, if the electric connection boxes are not completely connected (finally locked), the electric connection will not be made and the power supply will not be made. Is not supplied, but since the half-fitted state can be reliably detected by the detection plate and the full-fitting can be performed, the electrical connection is also made securely, and it is possible to prevent a situation in which power is not supplied.

Further, the gap for inserting the detection plate is a gap between the flexible piece provided with the lock claw and the outer surface of the case, and is a place which has not been conventionally used as a dead space. Since the configuration is such that only the detection plate to be inserted into the dead space is provided, it can be easily implemented without increasing the size of the electric junction box and without increasing the cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a joint between terminals of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a lock unit of the embodiment.

FIG. 4A is a plan view of the lock unit shown in FIG. 3,
(B) is a sectional view taken along line BB of (A).

FIGS. 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Junction block 11 Relay block 12, 13 Case 14, 17 Terminal accommodating part 15, 18 Terminal 20, 21 Lock part 21d Flexible piece 21g Lock claw 20b Lock hole 30 Detection plate

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-7-39045 (JP, A) JP-A-8-98372 (JP, A) JP-A 2-146921 (JP, U) JP-A 3-98 94023 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model 4-54418 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model 4-86025 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model 5-70126 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model 5-91121 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Application Hei 6-44321 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Application Hei 7-5278 (JP, U) (58) Fields studied (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H02G 3/08 B60R 16/02 H01R 13/64 H02G 3/16

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] (1) When the electric connection boxes are directly connected to each other,
The terminal provided on the bus bar housed in these electrical connection boxes
The first lock portion is provided on the outer surface of the case of the one electric connection box.
The flexible piece provided is projected from the outer surface of the case with a gap.
The flexible piece is bent on the outer surface of the case of the other electrical connection box.
While the second lock is engaged with the first lock.
KeThe second lock is performed while the flexible piece of the first lock portion is bent.
When locked to the part, the flexible piece returns to the original position and
So that there is a gap between the piece and the outer surface of the case, and Provide a detection plate with dimensions that can be inserted into the gap, The flexible piece of the first lock portion is bent by half-fitting the second lock portion.
The gap between the flexible piece and the outer surface of the case.
It does not occur and it is impossible to insert the detection plate into the gap
hand, The first lock portion and the second lock portion are half-fitted
Half-fitting detection device between electrical junction boxes
Place. 2. The lock according to claim 1, wherein the first lock portion is formed as a lock claw by projecting from an outer surface of the flexible piece, and the second lock portion is formed as a lock hole into which the lock claw is fitted. Semi-fit detection device between electrical junction boxes.