JP3178267B2 - Connection 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 (box).
More specifically, the present invention makes it possible to easily electrically connect a relay box, a fusible ring box, a fuse box, and the like to a junction box mounted on an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an automobile contains a conductive material constituting an internal circuit composed of a bus bar and the like, and is equipped with a relay and a fuse, and a junction box for centrally distributing power and branching and connecting circuits. Is installed. Usually, as shown in FIG. 8, the junction box 1 is connected to the fuse box 2 on the battery connection side (upstream side), and the relay box 3 is connected to the load side (downstream side).

The mutual electrical connection between the junction box 1, the fuse box 2 and the relay box 3 is as follows.
As shown, the terminal 5 is crimped to the terminal of the electric wire W, the terminal 5 is attached to the connector 6, and the connector 6 is fitted and connected to the connector accommodating portion formed in the box. This is done by connecting to the box terminals.

[0004]

As described above, when the electric connection between the boxes is performed by the electric wire and the connector, the electric wire,
As the number of parts such as terminals and connectors increases, the number of work processes, such as the steps of connecting terminals to electric wires, the steps of attaching terminals to connectors, and the step of attaching connectors to boxes, increase the number of steps and increase costs. .

[0005] Further, in the case where electric connection between the boxes is performed by electric wires and connectors, it is necessary to connect the electric wires to the terminals, and the terminals are connected to each other. Therefore, the number of connection points is increased and the resistance is increased. In particular, since a large current circuit is required in the power supply side circuit, the resistance at the connection portion becomes extremely large, and a thermal problem occurs. Furthermore, a thick electric wire must be used for the large current circuit, and there is a problem that the thick electric wire has a poor assembling workability. Furthermore, when connecting between boxes using electric wires, the electric wires to be wired outside the box take up space,
In particular, when a thick wire is used, the space required for wiring becomes large. As a result, a large amount of space is required to install these interconnecting boxes.

According to the present invention, electric connection boxes are connected to each other by wires, terminals,
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described conventional problem by enabling direct one-touch electrical connection without using a connector.

[0007]

According to the present invention, a first box and a second box are accommodated in a lower cover and an upper cover, and the first box and the second box are connected to the lower cover. In addition to being locked and fixed to, the conductive material in the first box and the conductive material in the second box are directly fitted and connected, and a part of the conductive material housed inside the first box is removed from the outer wall of the box. The first connection terminal portion is formed by protruding outward, and the second connection terminal portion is formed by positioning a part of the conductive material accommodated in the other second box inside the outer wall of the box. And
The first connection terminal portion of the first box and the second connection terminal portion of the second box are configured to be directly fitted, and the first box is fixedly locked inside the lower cover, and the lower cover While a support groove having an arcuate upper end is provided on the inner wall of the second box, a short cylindrical support pin is protruded from the second box, and the support pin is inserted into the support groove. When the two boxes are rotated, the first connection terminal portion and the second connection terminal portion are directly fitted, and at the same time, the lock portion provided on the second box is engaged with the lock protrusion of the lower cover, and the second box Also provided with a connection structure for an electric connection box, wherein the connection structure is locked in the lower cover.

[0008]

According to the above connection structure, the first connection terminal portion protruding outward from the first box is simply fitted and connected to the second connection terminal portion immersed inside the second box. The internal circuit of the first box and the internal circuit of the second box are electrically connected directly. The connection work, while fixing the first box to the lower cover, while inserting the support pins of the second box into the support grooves provided in the lower cover, it is only necessary to rotate the second box with the support pin as a fulcrum, There is no need to position the first and second connection terminals. Further, the second box can be rotated lightly and one-touch by the leverage principle. Further, in a state where the terminal portion is fitted by rotating the second box, the second box and the lower cover are simultaneously locked.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the connection structure according to the present embodiment, the relay box I is connected to the junction box II, and the relay box I and the junction box II are connected to a lower cover constituting a waterproof case. 9. The lower cover 9 has a bottomed box shape, and has a configuration in which the upper opening 9a can be closed by an upper cover (not shown) to seal the inside.

A bus bar 13 made of a conductive metal plate as shown in FIG. 4A is accommodated inside the box (first box 10) of the relay box I. The first connection terminal portion 13a is formed by bending the surface so as to be vertical so as to be a flat rectangular plate, that is, a tab-shaped male terminal portion. The tip 13b of the first connection terminal 13a has a tapered shape.

As shown in FIG. 5, a front wall 10a of the outer wall of the first box 10 is provided with the first connection terminal portion 13a.
Are formed through the mounting holes 14, 14. Further, a pair of protective walls 15 are formed integrally with the front wall 10a of the first box 10 so as to protrude from the front wall 10a of the first box 10 at a required interval on the left and right sides of the mounting hole 14. The protection wall 15 is formed of a rectangular plate substantially parallel to the first connection terminal portion 13a protruding from the mounting hole 14, and has a vertical height and a protrusion amount slightly larger than those of the first connection terminal portion 13a. . In addition, the protection wall 15
Has a tapered shape.

Further, lock portions 16 and 16 are provided on the rear wall 10b of the first box 10. This lock part 1
As shown in FIG. 3, 6 has a lock projection 17a at the tip of a cantilevered lock piece 17.

A bus bar 18 made of a conductive metal plate as shown in FIG. 4B is housed inside the box (second box 11) of the junction box II. A second connection terminal portion 18a formed of a female terminal portion provided with a notch 18b into which the tab-shaped first connection terminal portion 13a is inserted at the center of the bent portion. The second connection terminal portion 18 a formed on the bus bar 18 is connected to the front wall 11 a of the second box 11.
The insertion hole 19 is disposed so as to face the insertion hole 19 formed therein.
The first connection terminal portion 13a is positioned so that the first connection terminal portion 13a can be inserted into the notch 18b of the second connection terminal portion 18a.

As shown in FIG. 6, the periphery 19a of the opening of the insertion hole 19 is tapered. Also, the insertion hole 19
Openings 20, 20 into which the pair of protection walls 15, 15 of the first box 10 can be inserted are formed on both left and right sides of the first box 10. The periphery 20a of the opening 20 is also tapered.

The side walls 11b, 1 of the second box 11
1b, a short cylindrical support pin 22 is protrudingly provided.
Further, a lock portion 23 is provided on the rear wall 11c of the second box 11. The structure of the lock portion 23 is the same as the lock portion 16 provided on the first box 10.

On the inner side of the first side wall 24a of the lower cover 9, locking projections 25, 25 which engage with the locking portion 16 of the first box 10 are provided. The lock projection 25 has a lock groove 26 with which the lock projection 17a of the lock portion 16 is engaged. Also, this side wall 2
A pedestal portion 27 that supports the lower surface side of the first box 10 is provided inside 4a.

Inside a second side wall 24b, 24b of the lower cover 9 connected to the first side wall 24a, a first portion 26a extending in the vertical direction is provided so as to be substantially orthogonal to the tip of the first portion 26a. Protrusions 26, 26 having a continuous second portion 26b are provided. A support groove 28 having an upper end in an arc shape is provided in the second portion 26b of the protrusion 26. In addition, a guide base 29 connected to the first portion 26a below the second portion 26a is provided on the second side walls 24b, 24b. The distance A between the upper end surface 29a of the guide base 29 and the upper end of the support groove 28 is set to be larger than the distance B between the upper end of the support pin 22 and the lower surface of the second box 11 (see FIG. A)).

Inside the third side wall 24c of the lower cover 9 opposite to the first side wall 24a, a locking ridge 3 engaging with a lock portion 23 provided on the second box 11 is provided.
0 is provided. The shape of the locking projection 30 is the same as that of the locking projection 25 provided on the first side wall 24a. Further, a pedestal portion 31 for supporting the second box 11 from the lower surface side is provided on the third side wall 24c.

In the connection structure of this embodiment having the above configuration, the first box 10 of the relay box I is connected to the second box 11 of the junction box I as follows. First, the lock portions 16, 1 of the first box 10
The first box 10 is fixed to the lower cover 9 while the lower surface 6 is engaged with the lock projections 25 of the lower cover 9 and the lower surface of the first box 10 is supported by the pedestal 27.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7A, the front wall 11a of the second box 11 is
The second box 11 is moved toward the first box 10 as shown by an arrow C along the upper end surface 29a of the guide base 29 in this state. Then, the support pins 22 are inserted into the support grooves 28.

Next, as shown by an arrow D in FIG. 7B, the second box 11 is rotated with the support pin 22 inserted into the support groove 28 as a fulcrum. As shown in FIG. 7C and FIG. 3, the second box 11 is
When the lower surface of the first box 10 is rotated until it contacts the upper end surface 29a of the guide base 29, the connection between the first box 10 and the second box 11 is completed. At this time, the lock portion 23 of the second box 11 is engaged with the lock protrusion 30 of the lower cover 9, and the lower surface of the second box 11 is supported by the pedestal portion 31, and the second box 11 is fixed to the lower cover 9. Is done.

The first box 10 and the second box 11
At the time of connection, the first connection terminal portion 13a protruding from the first box 10 is inserted into the insertion hole 19 of the second box 11, and the first connection terminal portion 13 inserted into the insertion hole 19 is inserted.
a is inserted into the notch 18b of the second connection terminal portion 18a, and the first connection terminal portion 13a and the second connection terminal portion 18 are electrically connected.

At the time of this connection, the first connection terminal 1
Immediately before the 3a is inserted into the insertion hole 19, the first box 10
Is inserted into the opening 20 of the second box 11, the protective wall 14 functions to guide the insertion of the first connection terminal 13a. A tip 14a of the protective wall 14,
Since the peripheral portion 20a of the opening 20 has a tapered shape,
The protection wall 14 is smoothly inserted into the opening 20. Also,
Since the first connection terminal portion 13a has a tapered end portion 13b and an opening edge 20a of the insertion hole 19, the first connection terminal portion 13a smoothly passes through the insertion hole 19, and the second connection terminal portion 15a It is inserted into the notch 15b.

The connection operation can be performed by rotating the second box 11 about the support pins 22 in a state where the support pins 22 of the second box 11 are inserted into the support grooves 28 and hooked. It is not necessary to position the terminal portion in the left-right direction, and the lever can be used to rotate lightly and one-touch with the principle of leverage.

The first and second connection terminals 13a, 1
Since 8a is formed at the end of the bus bars 13 and 18, it can be used as a connection portion for a large current.
Only one connection part can be provided. In addition, the first connection terminal portion 13a and the protection wall 14 protruding from the first box 10 are both connected to the insertion hole 19 of the second box 11 and the opening 2.
0, so that the outer peripheral walls 10a, 11a of both boxes 10, 11 are arranged in contact or with a slight gap.

Further, the support pin 22 has a short columnar shape, and the support groove 28 has a protrusion 2 provided inside the lower cover 9.
6, the support pin 22 and the support groove 28 are not easily damaged during transportation.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment,
The connection terminal protruding from the box has a female terminal shape,
The connection terminal portion arranged inside the box may have a male terminal shape. That is, one of them may have a male shape and the other may have a female shape, and both connection terminal portions may protrude from the box, or only one of them may protrude. Furthermore, although the connection terminal part is formed in the terminal of the bus bar arranged inside the box, a thick electric wire inside the box may be protruded from the box to serve as the first connection terminal part and the second connection terminal part.

[0028]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the connection structure of the electric connection box of the present invention, the first connection terminal portion projecting outward from the first box is connected to the inside of the second box. The internal circuit of the first box and the internal circuit of the second box can be directly electrically connected only by fitting and connecting to the second connection terminal portion positioned at the second position.

Further, the connection operation is performed by fixing the first box (second box) to the case while inserting the support pins of the second box (or first box) into the support grooves provided in the case. , It is only necessary to rotate the second box (or the first box) with the pivot pin as a fulcrum,
It is not necessary to align the first and second connection terminals, and the lever can be used to rotate the second box (or the first box) lightly and with one touch.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a connection structure of an electric connection box according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a connection structure of the electric connection box according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a connection structure of the electric connection box according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of one bus bar, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the other bus bar.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing a first connection terminal portion and a protection plate.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing an opening communicating with a second connection terminal portion.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C are schematic diagrams for explaining a connection operation.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a connection structure of a conventional electric connection box.

[Explanation of symbols]

 I Relay Box II Junction Box 10 First Box 11 Second Box 13, 18 Bus Bar 13a First Connection Terminal 18a Second Connection Terminal 22 Support Pin 28 Support Groove

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] (1)The first button in the lower cover and upper cover
Box and a second box, these first boxes
And the second box is locked to the lower cover.
Both the conductive material in the first box and the conductive material in the second box
Materials are directly connected and connected. Part of the conductive material housed inside the first box is
Protruding outward from the outer wall of the
And the conductive housed inside the other second box
A part of the material is located inside the outer wall of the box and
Forming two connection terminals, the first connection end of the first box
The child part and the second connection terminal part of the second box are directly fitted
Configuration, and ,Lock the first box inside the lower cover.
And the upper end of the lower cover has an arc shape on the inner wall.
The second box has a short cylindrical shape
Protruding support pins, With the support pin inserted into the support groove,
When the second box is rotated around the fulcrum, the first connection
The terminal part and the second connection terminal part
The lock part provided on the box is
Engage the ridge and lock the second box in the lower cover.
That the configuration Features of electrical junction box
Connection structure.