JP6178182B2 - Electrical junction box - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical junction box mounted on an automobile.

  The electrical junction box shown in FIGS. 13 to 18 is the electrical junction box disclosed in Patent Document 1. The electrical connection box 301 includes a frame 302 to which electronic parts such as relays and fuses and wiring parts such as bus bars and electric wires W1 are attached, a connector C1 electrically connected to the electronic parts via the electric wires W1, and a frame 302. An upper cover (not shown) attached to the upper surface 302 a of the frame 302, a lower cover 303 attached to the lower surface 302 b of the frame 302, and a side cover 304 attached to one side surface 302 c constituting the peripheral wall of the frame 302.

  An opening 320 is formed at the lower end of one side 302 c of the frame 302. As shown in FIG. 14, the connector C <b> 1 is attached to the frame 302 through the opening 320 from the outside of the frame 302. The outer edge of the connector C1 protrudes out of the frame 302 from the opening 320 as shown in FIG. Further, the mating connector C2 that fits with the connector C1 is a connector that constitutes a wire harness routed in the automobile, and is electrically connected to the end of the electric wire W2.

JP 2005-31254 A

  The electrical junction box 301 described above has the following problems.

  In the electrical junction box 301, as shown in FIG. 15, the electric wire W1 is routed from the other side of the peripheral wall of the frame 302 to the one side 302c. As described above, the connector C 1 is attached to the frame 302 through the opening 320 from the outside of the frame 302. For these reasons, in order to attach the connector C1 to the frame 302, the electric wire W1 has to have an extra length, and there is a problem that the extra length of the electric wire W1 becomes an obstacle after the assembly of the connector C1.

  The main reason for attaching the connector C1 to the frame 302 from the outside of the frame 302 through the opening 320 is that there is a restriction on the mold for manufacturing the connector C1. The attachment direction of the connector C1 to the frame 302 is determined by the engagement direction of the lock arm and the lock receiving portion provided on the connector C1 and the frame 302. The shapes of the lock arm and the lock receiving portion are greatly restricted in the direction in which the connector C1 is manufactured. Further, the direction in which the connector C1 is manufactured is parallel to the fitting direction between the connector C1 and the mating connector C2. Although it is not impossible to use the slide piece or the like so that the engagement direction of the lock arm and the lock receiving portion intersects with the direction in which the manufacturing mold is pulled out, the connector C1 is particularly multipolar. In addition, since the connector is small, it is extremely difficult to make a manufacturing mold in which the engagement direction of the lock arm and the lock receiving portion intersects with the pulling direction in terms of both technology and cost. It was.

  Further, in the electrical junction box 301, after the mating connector C2 is fitted to the connector C1, the side cover 304 is attached to one side 302c of the frame 302, but high-pressure washing water or the like is sprayed on the electrical junction box 301. In some cases, water may enter between the side surface 302 c and the side cover 304. In that case, as shown to FIGS. 16-18, there existed a problem that water might splash on the connector C1 and the other party connector C2. The arrows in FIGS. 16 to 18 indicate the path of water that has entered between the side surface 302 c and the side cover 304.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical junction box that can minimize the extra length of the electrical wire in an electrical junction box in which a connector electrically connected to an end of the electrical wire is fixed to the frame. .

The invention described in claim 1 has a frame to which a connector electrically connected to an end portion of the electric wire is fixed, an opening is formed in a peripheral wall of the frame, and at least one of the electric wires has the opening. In the electrical junction box routed from the side away from the part to the connector side, the electrical connection box further has a connector holder that holds the connector and the mating connector fitted to the connector and is attached to the frame at the opening, The connector is inserted into the connector holder in substantially the same direction as at least one wiring direction of the electric wire, and the mating connector is inserted into the connector holder in a direction opposite to the wiring direction. fitted to the connector, wherein the connector holder is mounted to said frame in a direction intersecting the arranging direction, the is fitted to the frame The second connector has one end fitted into the frame, and an electric wire is led out from the other end, and the fitting direction of the second connector to the frame And the mounting direction of the connector holder to the frame is the same direction, and the connector holder is attached to the frame with the second connector fitted to the frame, and the second The electrical connection box is characterized in that the connector holder comes into contact with the second connector in a state where the connector is normally fitted to the frame and the connector holder is attached to the frame .

  The invention described in claim 2 is the invention described in claim 1, wherein the connector and the mating connector are held by the connector holder, and the upper end of the mating connector and the side away from the connector The outer edge is located on the inner side of the upper edge of the connector holder and the outer edge on the side away from the connector.

The invention described in claim 3, in the invention described in claim 1 or claim 2, said second connector, an intermediate portion of its is formed in an L-shape that is bent, before Symbol connector The connector holder abuts against an intermediate portion of the second connector in a state where the holder is attached to the frame.

  The invention described in claim 4 is the invention described in claim 3, further comprising a cover attached to the frame and covering the connector holder, wherein the cover abuts the connector holder and The connector holder is sandwiched between two connectors.

  According to the invention described in claim 1, the connector further includes a connector holder that holds the connector and the mating connector fitted to the connector, and is attached to the frame at the opening. Inserted into the connector holder in approximately the same direction as at least one routing direction, and the mating connector is fitted into the connector by being inserted into the connector holder in a direction opposite to the routing direction; Since the connector holder is attached to the frame in a direction crossing the wiring direction, the extra length of the electric wire can be minimized.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, in the state where the connector and the mating connector are held by the connector holder, the outer edge on the side away from the upper end of the mating connector and the connector is Since it is located on the inner side of the upper edge and the outer edge on the side away from the connector, when the water splashes on the frame and the water travels around the peripheral wall, the connector holder becomes an umbrella and prevents the mating connector from being splashed with water it can. Further, even if the outer edge of the connector on the side away from the mating connector is located outside the connector holder, the portion is located in the frame, so that water is not originally applied.

According to the invention described in claim 3, when the second connector is half-fitted, it is possible to detect half-fitting when the connector holder is attached. Further, if the second connector is semi-fitted, it can be properly fitted by pushing the second connector with the connector holder. Furthermore, the connector holder can prevent the second connector from falling off.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further includes a cover that is attached to the frame and covers the connector holder, the cover being in contact with the connector holder and between the second connector and the second connector. Since the connector holder is sandwiched, the second connector can be reliably prevented from falling off.

It is an exploded view of the electrical junction box concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the attachment direction to the frame of the connector holder shown by FIG. 1, and the insertion direction to the said connector holder of a connector and the other party connector. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the connector and the mating connector shown in FIG. 2 are held by a connector holder and the connector holder is attached to a frame. It is explanatory drawing explaining the path | route of the water which permeated between the flame | frame shown in FIG. 1, and a side cover. It is explanatory drawing explaining the path | route of the water which permeated between the flame | frame and the side cover like FIG. It is explanatory drawing explaining the path | route of the water which permeated between the flame | frame and the side cover like FIG. It is sectional drawing of the location by which the 2nd connector in the electrical-connection box shown by FIG. 1 was arrange | positioned. It is explanatory drawing explaining the fitting direction to the flame | frame of the 2nd connector shown by FIG. It is sectional drawing along the BB line in FIG. It is a perspective view of the side cover shown by FIG. It is a top view of the side cover shown by FIG. It is sectional drawing along the AA line in FIG. It is an exploded view of the conventional electrical junction box. It is explanatory drawing explaining the attachment direction to the flame | frame of the connector shown by FIG. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the connector shown in FIG. 14 is attached to the frame and the mating connector is fitted to the connector. It is explanatory drawing explaining the path | route of the water which permeated between the flame | frame shown in FIG. 13, and a side cover. It is explanatory drawing explaining the path | route of the water which permeated between the flame | frame and the side cover like FIG. It is explanatory drawing explaining the path | route of the water which permeated between the flame | frame and the side cover in the cross section along CC line in FIG. 13 similarly to FIG.

  An “electric connection box” according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1-3 is mounted on an automobile and mainly performs power distribution. The electrical connection box 1 includes a frame 2 to which electronic parts such as a relay 10 and a fuse 11 and wiring parts such as a bus bar and an electric wire W1 are attached, a connector 7 electrically connected to an end of the electric wire W1, and the connector 7 A connector holder 5 that holds the mating connector 8, a second connector 6 (see FIG. 7) that is fitted to the frame 2, an upper cover (not shown) that is attached to the upper surface 2 a of the frame 2, and a frame 2, a lower cover (corresponding to a “cover” in the claims) 3, and a side cover 4 attached to one side surface 2 c constituting the peripheral wall of the frame 2.

  The mating connector 8 is a connector constituting a wire harness routed in the automobile, and is electrically connected to the end of the electric wire W2. In the present embodiment, three connectors 7 and three mating connectors 8 are provided.

  The frame 2 is made of synthetic resin. Although the frame of the present invention may be composed of a single member, the frame 2 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of blocks on which a frame member that forms the outline of the frame 2 and the electronic components 10 and 11 are mounted. And are assembled. An opening 20 is formed at the lower end of one side surface 2 c constituting the peripheral wall of the frame 2. 1 and 2 indicate the other side surface constituting the peripheral wall of the frame 2. The other side surface 2d faces the one side surface 2c.

  The connector holder 5 is made of synthetic resin. As shown in FIGS. 2, 8, and 9, the connector holder 5 is formed on the upper surface of the holder main body 50, a block-shaped holder main body 50, lock arms 52 extending from both side surfaces of the holder main body, and the like. An abutment rib 53 is provided. The holder main body 50 is provided with three housing portions 51 in which the respective connectors 7 are housed, and a lock 54 that engages with the connector 7 inserted into the housing portion 51. Moreover, the accommodating part 51 is open in two directions of said one and said other so that the connector 7 can be inserted from one side and the mating connector 8 can be inserted from the other.

  Such a connector holder 5 is attached to the frame 2 at the opening 20 as shown in FIGS. Reference numeral 21 in FIGS. 1 and 2 denotes a lock receiving portion that engages with the lock arm 52 of the connector holder 5. The lock receiving portion 21 is provided on each of a pair of side surfaces orthogonal to the one side surface 2 c on the peripheral wall of the frame 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the connector holder 5 is attached to the frame 2 from the lower surface 2 b side to the upper surface 2 a side (in the arrow Y direction) in a state where the lower cover 3 is not attached to the frame 2. By moving in this direction, the holder main body 50 is fitted into the opening 20, and the lock arm 52 is engaged with the lock receiving portion 52. The outer edge of the holder body 50 protrudes out of the frame 2 from the opening 20. Moreover, the opening part 20 is formed in the magnitude | size according to the external shape of the holder main body 50, as shown to FIG. 4-6, illustration of electric wire W1, W2 is abbreviate | omitted.

  The electric wire W1 is a covered electric wire, and a plurality of the electric wires W1 are provided in this embodiment. In addition, the plurality of electric wires W1 are electrically connected to the electronic components attached to the frame 2 and are not electrically connected to the electronic components attached to the frame 2 only through the frame 2. And are included. In addition to this, in the present invention, the electric wire W1 may be only one that is electrically connected to the electronic component attached to the frame 2, and the electronic attached to the frame 2 simply by passing through the frame 2. The parts may be only those that are not electrically connected. The connector 7 is a multipolar connector. These electric wires W1 are routed from the other side surface 2d side of the frame 2 to the one side surface 2c side (connector 7 side). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the connector 7 is inserted into the connector holder 5 in substantially the same direction as the wiring direction of the electric wire W <b> 1. The mating connector 8 is fitted into the connector 7 by being inserted into the connector holder 5 in the direction opposite to the wiring direction. The connector holder 5 is attached to the frame 2 in a direction crossing the wiring direction after the connector 7 is inserted into the accommodating portion 51 and the mating connector 8 is inserted into the accommodating portion 51 and fitted into the connector 7. .

  Thus, in the electrical junction box 1, the connector 7 and the mating connector 8 are fixed to the frame 2 by using the connector holder 5 whose mounting direction to the frame 2 is the direction intersecting the wiring direction, so that the electric wire W1 Can be made the shortest. Since the connector holder 5 is larger than the connector 7 and has a simple shape, the lock arm 52 that engages with the lock receiving portion 21 and the direction (arrow Y direction) can be formed relatively easily. Moreover, since the connector holder 5 is used, the connector 7 can be arranged side by side in the arrow Y direction.

  Furthermore, in a state where the connector 7 and the mating connector 8 are held by the connector holder 5, the outer edges of the connector 7 and the mating connector 8 are located inside the outer edge of the connector holder 5.

  In the electrical junction box 1, after the connector holder 5 is attached to the frame 2, the side cover 4 is attached to one side surface 2 c of the frame 2, but when high-pressure washing water or the like is sprayed on the electrical junction box 1, one side surface is attached. Water sometimes entered between 2c and the side cover 4. In this case, water flows from one side to the other side along the side surface 2c as shown by the arrows in FIGS. 4 to 6, but the connector holder 5 serves as an umbrella and can prevent the connector 7 and the mating connector 8 from being splashed with water. . In this embodiment, as described above, the outer edges of the connector 7 and the mating connector 8 are located on the inner side of the outer edge of the connector holder 5, but the upper edge of the mating connector 8 and the outer edge on the side away from the connector 7 are If the outer edge of the connector 7 away from the mating connector 8 is located outside the connector holder 5 if the upper edge of the connector holder 5 is located inside the outer edge away from the connector 7 Since the part is located in the frame 2, water is not splashed on it.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the second connector 6 is fitted below a power supply connection portion 13 provided in the frame 2. The power supply connection portion 13 is a portion where the LA terminal connected to the end of the power supply line is bolted and electrically connected. The second connector 6 is electrically connected to the LA terminal via a bus bar or the like by being fitted below the power supply connection portion 13. The second connector 6 is formed in an L shape in which one end portion 61 is fitted to the frame 2, one electric wire W <b> 3 is led out from the other end portion 62, and an intermediate portion 63 is bent.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the second connector 6 is fitted to the frame 2 from the lower surface 2b side to the upper surface 2a side (arrow Y direction) in a state where the connector holder 5 is not attached to the frame 2. . The connector holder 5 is attached to the frame 2 after the second connector 6 is fitted to the frame 2. The fitting direction of the second connector 6 to the frame 2 and the mounting direction of the connector holder 5 to the frame 2 are the same direction. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the contact rib 53 of the connector holder 5 is in contact with the second connector 6 in a state where the second connector 6 is normally fitted to the frame 2 and the connector holder 5 is attached to the frame 2. It contacts the intermediate part 63.

  In the electrical junction box 1, the connector holder 5 cannot be attached to the frame 2 if the second connector 6 is half-fitted. In other words, since the second connector 6 is positioned below the position at the time of normal fitting, the lock arm 52 does not reach the position where it engages with the lock receiving portion 21. Thereby, half-fitting of the second connector 6 can be detected. When half-fitting of the second connector 6 is detected, the second connector 6 may be directly pushed into the regular fitting, or the second connector 6 may be pushed into the connector holder 5 to be properly fitted. You can also. Furthermore, the connector holder 5 can prevent the second connector 6 from falling off.

  The lower cover 3 is made of a synthetic resin. The lower cover 3 is attached to the frame 2 after the connector holder 5 is attached to the lower surface 2 b of the frame 2 to cover the connector holder 5. Further, the lower cover 3 is in contact with the connector holder 5 while being attached to the frame 2 and sandwiches the connector holder 5 with the second connector 6. The lower cover 3 can prevent the connector holder 5 from falling off the frame 2. Further, this can surely prevent the second connector 6 from falling off.

  The side cover 4 is made of synthetic resin. The side cover 4 is attached to one side 2c of the frame 2 after the connector holder 5 is attached to the frame 2, and covers the connector holder 5, the mating connector 8, and the like. As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the water collected in the upper portion of the side cover 4 by spraying high-pressure washing water or the like onto the electrical connection box 1 is drained downward by avoiding the opening 20. A drainage channel 41 is provided. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the connector 7 and the mating connector 8 from being splashed with water.

  In addition, embodiment mentioned above only showed the typical form of this invention, and this invention is not limited to embodiment. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1 Electrical connection box 2 Frame 5 Connector holder 7 Connector 8 Mating connector 20 Opening W1 Electric wire

Claims (4)

A frame to which a connector electrically connected to the end of the electric wire is fixed;
An opening is formed in the peripheral wall of the frame;
In the electrical junction box in which at least one of the electric wires is routed from the side away from the opening to the connector side,
A connector holder for holding the connector and a mating connector fitted to the connector and attached to the frame at the opening;
The connector is inserted into the connector holder in substantially the same direction as at least one of the wires.
The mating connector is fitted into the connector by being inserted into the connector holder in a direction opposite to the wiring direction, and the connector holder is attached to the frame in a direction intersecting the wiring direction ,
A second connector fitted to the frame, the second connector having one end fitted to the frame, and an electric wire led out from the other end;
The fitting direction of the second connector to the frame and the mounting direction of the connector holder to the frame are the same direction, and
The connector holder is attached to the frame with the second connector fitted to the frame; and
An electrical junction box , wherein the connector holder abuts against the second connector in a state in which the second connector is normally fitted to the frame and the connector holder is attached to the frame . With the connector and the mating connector held by the connector holder,
The upper edge of the mating connector and the outer edge on the side away from the connector are located inside the upper edge of the connector holder and the outer edge on the side away from the connector. Electrical junction box. Said second connector is formed in an L-shaped intermediate portion is bent in its,
In a state where the front Symbol connector holder is attached to the frame, electrical connection box according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the connector holder comes into contact with the intermediate portion of the second connector. A cover attached to the frame and covering the connector holder;
The electrical connection box according to claim 3, wherein the cover abuts the connector holder and sandwiches the connector holder between the cover and the second connector.

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