JP3915969B2 - Junction box arc prevention structure - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an arc generation prevention structure for a junction box mounted on an automobile.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When the power supply voltage for automobiles is made higher than that for current automobile power supplies, the diameter of the wires used for the electrical wiring can be reduced due to the reduction of the load current. As a result, the weight of the wire harness can be reduced, and in addition, various advantages such as an improvement in the use efficiency of the power source can be expected. Currently, various studies are being actively conducted on increasing the power supply voltage for automobiles from the current DC12V (effective voltage: 14V) to DC36V (effective voltage: 42V).
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when the power supply voltage for automobiles is increased from the current DC12V to DC36V, the junction box mounted on the automobile has the following problems. In other words, if a junction box fuse is inserted or removed while the voltage is applied (power supply system is ON), an arc with a larger energy than that of the current automotive power supply will be generated, which will cause damage and safety. Has a point.
[0004]
The reason why the fuse is inserted / removed when the voltage is applied is that the service plug (safety plug) that can turn off the power supply system is not provided near the junction box. Conceivable.
[0005]
This invention is made | formed in view of the situation mentioned above, and makes it a subject to provide the arc generation | occurrence | production prevention structure of the junction box for implement | achieving fuse insertion / extraction in the state in which the damage and the consideration of safety were made.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The connector detachment structure of the present invention according to claim 1, which has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, includes a rectangular case in plan view made of an insulating synthetic resin, and a fuse cavity that houses a plurality of fuses on the upper wall of the case. And is integrally formed so as to protrude from the upper wall of the case, and at least one side wall thereof is formed with one or a plurality of slits notched in the vertical direction, and a plurality of males (or Female) a connector portion for receiving a terminal, and an opening formed in a rectangular shape in plan view so that the connector portion is inserted and penetrates vertically according to the outer shape of the connector housing A protective cover made of synthetic resin having a ceiling wall in which a portion is formed, and a side wall that is formed on the periphery of the ceiling wall and covers the side wall of the case, and a connector portion of the main body A connector housing formed of an insulating synthetic resin, which is formed in a fitting shape and has a convex portion extending in a vertical direction at a position corresponding to a slit of the connector portion of the main body on the side wall; and the connector A plurality of male (or female) terminals that are fitted in a plurality of male (or female) terminals that are housed in the housing and housed in the connector portion of the main body, and that are connected to ends of the plurality of wire harnesses. And the terminal connector is covered with the protective cover, and the lower end of the protruding portion of the terminal connector protruding from the slit of the connector portion by attaching the terminal connector is the edge of the opening. The protective cover is pressed down by the lower end of the convex part that abuts against the edge and abuts against the edge of the opening .
[0012]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the terminal connector of the wire harness is connected to the connector of the main body of the junction box, it is impossible to remove the protective cover that covers at least the upper side of the fuse. Thus, when the terminal connector is detached from the connector portion, the protective cover can be removed. In other words, since the protective cover cannot be removed during energization, it becomes impossible to insert or remove the fuse during energization, and the fuse can be inserted or removed only when the power is shut off. Therefore, no arc is generated when the fuse is inserted or removed.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a junction box showing an embodiment of an arc generation preventing structure for a junction box according to the present invention. 2 is a schematic perspective view when the protective cover is attached to the main body of the junction box (or a schematic perspective view when the terminal connector of the wire harness is detached from the main body), and FIG. It is a typical perspective view at the time of connecting the terminal connector of a wire harness to a main body from the state of this.
[0019]
1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a junction box mounted on an automobile. The junction box 1 has an arc generation prevention structure described below, and consideration is given so that no arc is generated when a plurality of fuses 3 inserted into and removed from the main body 2 are inserted or removed. The main body 2 of the junction box 1 is provided with a protective cover 4 that is separate from the main body 2. Further, terminal connectors 6 and 6 of wire harnesses 5 and 5 (not limited to this number) connected to the power source for automobiles are connected to the main body 2 by connectors. The protective cover 4 and the terminal connectors 6 and 6 constitute an arc generation preventing structure. First, each said structural member is demonstrated.
[0020]
The main body 2 is used for connection processing between various electrical components such as a relay (not shown) and a fuse 3 used in an automobile electric system and a plurality of wire harnesses (including the wire harnesses 5 and 5). The plan view includes a rectangular case 7 made of an insulating synthetic resin and a laminated wiring board (not shown) housed in the case 7. On the upper wall of the case 7, known fuse cavities 8, 8 for the plurality of fuses 3 and connector portions 9, 9 for the terminal connectors 6, 6 (connectors are connected) are formed.
[0021]
The connector portions 9 and 9 are configured to have connector housings 10 and 10 and a plurality of terminals 11 and 11 respectively accommodated in the connector housings 10 and 10. The connector housings 10 and 10 are integrally formed so as to protrude from the upper wall of the case 7, and at least one side wall thereof is formed with one or a plurality of slits 12 and 12 cut out in the vertical direction. Has been. Although not particularly illustrated, it is assumed that the connector housings 10 and 10 are formed with engaging portions for engaging, for example, locking arms (not shown) of the terminal connectors 6 and 6.
[0022]
The plurality of terminals 11 and 11 are formed in a male shape in this embodiment, and one end thereof is electrically connected to the laminated wiring board (not shown). The other ends of the terminals 11 and 11 are electrically connected to female terminals (not shown) of the terminal connectors 6 and 6 when the connectors are connected.
[0023]
The protective cover 4 is a synthetic resin member having a ceiling wall 13 that is rectangular in plan view and a side wall 14 that is continuous with the periphery of the ceiling wall 13, and covers at least the tops of the plurality of fuses 3. It is formed to be able to. In this embodiment, the ceiling wall 13 covers the upper side of the plurality of fuses 3 and the side wall 14 covers the side wall of the case 7 (not limited to this. Only the fuse cavities 8 and 8. May be covered).
[0024]
In the ceiling wall 13, openings 15 and 15 that allow insertion of the connector portions 9 and 9 are formed. The openings 15 and 15 are formed so as to penetrate in the vertical direction according to the outer shape of the connector housings 10 and 10.
[0025]
The terminal connectors 6 and 6 are configured to have connector housings 16 and 16 made of insulating synthetic resin and a plurality of terminals (female terminals) housed in the connector housings 16 and 16, respectively. Yes. The connector housings 16 and 16 are formed so as to be inserted into the connector housings 10 and 10 of the main body 2, and convex portions 17 and 17 extending in the vertical direction are formed on the side walls thereof.
[0026]
The convex portions 17 and 17 are formed at positions corresponding to the slits 12 and 12 of the main body 2. Moreover, the convex parts 17 and 17 are formed so that the protective cover 4 can be latched. That is, the convex parts 17 and 17 are formed in a rib shape so as to protrude outward from the slits 12 and 12. In this embodiment, the lower ends of the projections 17 and 17 protruding from the slits 12 and 12 come into contact with the edges of the openings 15 and 15.
[0027]
In this embodiment, the wire harnesses 5 and 5 are routed parallel to the ceiling wall 13, for example, along the ceiling wall 13 of the protective cover 4.
[0028]
Next, the assembly process and operation will be described based on the above configuration. In the first step of the assembling process, a plurality of fuses 3 are inserted into the fuse cavities 8 and 8 respectively, and the protective cover 4 is mounted so as to cover the main body 2 (see FIG. 2). At this time, the connector portions 9 and 9 are inserted into the openings 15 and 15. Further, the ceiling wall 13 covers the top of the plurality of fuses 3 so that the fuses 3 cannot be seen from the outside.
[0029]
Thereafter, in the second step in the assembling step, the work of connecting the terminal connectors 6 and 6 to the connector portions 9 and 9 (see FIG. 3) is performed. At this time, the convex portions 17 and 17 are inserted into the slits 12 and 12 and guided by the slits 12 and 12, and the lower ends of the portions protruding from the slits 12 and 12 come into contact with the edge portions of the openings 15 and 15.
[0030]
Thus, a series of assembly steps is completed, and the junction box 1 is energized by supplying power from the automobile power source. In such a state, since the plurality of fuses 3 cannot be seen from the outside, it is impossible to insert and remove the fuses 3 unless the protective cover 4 is removed. However, since the protective cover 4 is in a state in which the edges of the openings 15 and 15 are locked by the convex portions 17 and 17, the insertion and removal of the fuse 3 is completely impossible.
[0031]
On the other hand, when the terminal connectors 6 and 6 are detached from the connector portions 9 and 9, the junction box 1 is turned off, and the locking state by the convex portions 17 and 17 is released, so that the protective cover 4 can be removed freely. become. When the protective cover 4 is removed from the main body 2, the fuse 3 can be inserted and removed.
[0032]
As described above, when the terminal connectors 6 and 6 are connected to the connector portions 9 and 9, it is impossible to remove the protective cover 4 that covers the upper side of the fuse 3, and the terminal connectors 6 and 6 are connected to the connector portions 9 and 9. When detached from 9, the protective cover 4 can be removed freely (arc generation prevention structure).
[0033]
That is, since the protective cover 4 cannot be removed during energization, the fuse 3 cannot be inserted / removed during energization, and the fuse 3 can be inserted / removed only when the power is shut off. Therefore, no arc is generated when the fuse 3 is inserted or removed. In addition, it turns out that generation | occurrence | production of an arc becomes possible with the simple structure from the above description.
[0034]
In addition, it goes without saying that the present invention can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention. That is, in the above description, an example in which the protective cover 4 is locked by the convex portions 17 and 17 has been described. However, the following structure may be adopted. For example, the connector housings 16 and 16 of the terminal connectors 6 and 6 are formed larger than the connector housings 10 and 10 of the connector portions 9 and 9, and the end portions of the connector housings 16 and 16 and the protective cover 4 are brought into contact with each other. (It is also advantageous that the structure is further simplified). In this case as well, it goes without saying that the protective cover 4 cannot be removed unless the terminal connectors 6, 6 are detached from the connector portions 9, 9.
[0035]
Further, the terminal connectors 6 and 6 do not have a locking function, but may have the following structure. For example, even if the protective cover 4 is to be removed while the terminal connectors 6 and 6 are connected to the connector portions 9 and 9, the protective cover 4 is caught on the wire harnesses 5 and 5 and is prevented from being removed. (In this embodiment, the protective cover 4 is hooked on the wire harnesses 5 and 5. The terminal connectors 6 and 6 are detached from the connector portions 9 and 9. When the power is cut off, the protective cover 4 is not caught by the wire harnesses 5 and 5. Needless to say, the structure is further simplified.
[0036]
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the protective cover 4 'is connected to the terminal connector 6' by crossing the attaching / detaching direction A of the protective cover 4 'and the connector connecting / disconnecting direction B of the terminal connector 6'. It may be configured to be hooked. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 'indicates a junction box, reference numeral 2' indicates a main body, and reference numeral 5 'indicates a wire harness.
[0037]
A plurality of fuses (not shown) are inserted in the same manner as described above on the upper wall of the case constituting the main body 2 '. Further, a connector portion 9 'is provided on the side wall of the case (the main body 2' is basically the same as the main body 2 described above. The position and number of the connector portions 9 are changed). On the other hand, an opening 15 'is formed through the side wall of the protective cover 4' (the protective cover 4 'is basically the same as the above-described protective cover 4. The position of the opening 15) Number has changed). In such a configuration, when the terminal connector 6 'is connected to the connector portion 9' via the opening portion 15 ', the opening portion 15' is removed even if the protective cover 4 'is removed from the main body 2'. The terminal connector 6 'is caught and the fuse (not shown) cannot be inserted / removed when energized.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is not possible to insert / remove a fuse when energized, and it is possible to insert / remove a fuse only when the power is shut off. Therefore, arc generation can be prevented. Further, it is possible to realize the insertion / extraction of the fuse in a state where damage and safety are taken into consideration.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a junction box showing an embodiment of an arc generation preventing structure of the junction box according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view when a protective cover is attached to the main body of the junction box (or a schematic perspective view when the terminal connector of the wire harness is detached from the main body).
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view when the terminal connector of the wire harness is connected to the main body from the state of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a junction box showing another embodiment of the arc generation preventing structure of the junction box according to the present invention (a schematic perspective view when a protective cover is attached to the main body of the junction box). ).
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Junction box 2 Main body 3 Fuse 4 Protection cover 5 Wire harness 6 Terminal connector 7 Case 8 Fuse cavity 9 Connector part 10 Connector housing 11 Terminal 12 Slit 13 Ceiling wall 14 Side wall 15 Opening part 16 Connector housing 17 Convex part

Claims (1)

A rectangular case in plan view made of insulative synthetic resin, a fuse cavity for housing a plurality of fuses on the upper wall of the case, and a single piece projecting from the upper wall of the case. A main body comprising a connector portion that includes one or a plurality of slits cut in the vertical direction on the side wall, each of which has a plurality of male (or female) terminals therein.
A ceiling wall formed in a rectangular shape in plan view and having an opening formed so as to penetrate the connector portion in the vertical direction according to the outer shape of the connector housing, and a peripheral edge of the ceiling wall A protective cover made of synthetic resin having a side wall covering the side wall of the case,
A connector formed of an insulating synthetic resin that is formed in a shape that fits into the connector portion of the main body, and has a convex portion extending in the vertical direction at a position corresponding to the slit of the connector portion of the main body on the side wall. A plurality of female (or male) mated to a housing and a plurality of male (or female) terminals housed in the connector housing and housed in the connector portion of the main body, and connected to ends of a plurality of wire harnesses A terminal connector composed of a terminal,
Consisting of
Covering the main body with the protective cover and attaching the terminal connector, the lower end of the convex part of the terminal connector protruding from the slit of the connector part abuts on the edge of the opening, and the edge of the opening An arc prevention structure for a junction box, wherein the protective cover is pressed by the lower end of the projecting convex portion .

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