JP6277110B2 - Electrical junction box - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical junction box mounted on an automobile or the like, and more particularly to an electrical junction box provided with a lock mechanism that detachably attaches a cover member to a box body.

  Conventionally, electrical connection boxes such as relay boxes, fuse boxes, and junction boxes have been used in automobile electrical systems, and a large number of electrical components such as relays and fuses are concentrated in such electrical connection boxes. As a result, the efficiency of electrical wiring and the maintenance such as replacement are improved.

  Such an electrical junction box accommodates an internal circuit composed of electrical components such as fuses and relays, current-carrying members such as bus bars, etc., as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-182586 (Patent Document 1). A box body is provided. The upper and lower openings of the box body are covered with a cover member of an upper cover and a lower cover that are detachably attached to the box body via a lock mechanism.

  Here, the lock mechanism is, for example, a frame-like locked part protruding from the peripheral wall part of the box body, an elastically deformable lock part protruding from the peripheral wall part of the cover member, and both sides thereof. A pair of guide ribs is included. And by inserting the lock part of the cover member together with the guide rib inside the frame-like locked part of the box body, the lock part is engaged with the locked part and the cover member is in a cover state with respect to the box body It is fixed so that it can be detached. At that time, the pair of guide ribs are respectively positioned inside the left and right side walls of the frame-shaped locked part, so that the lock part is locked while the box body and the cover member are guided to the normal fitting position. It is surely engaged with the part.

  However, in the electrical junction box of the conventional structure, when the cover member is locked and attached to the box body, one of the guide ribs has accidentally protruded outside the one side wall of the locked portion due to deformation of the cover member, etc. Thus, there is a possibility that the lock portion is engaged with the locked portion. In other words, the conventional locking mechanism has a problem that one of the guide ribs is allowed to be erroneously fitted in a state where it is displaced to the outside of the side wall of the locked portion. As a result, it is impossible to prevent the box body and the cover member from being locked by forced fitting at the irregular fitting position, and a gap is generated between the box body and the cover member so that water can enter. There was also a risk of problems.

JP 2011-182586 A

  The present invention has been made in the background of the above-mentioned circumstances, and the problem to be solved is a novel structure that can surely prevent erroneous fitting at an irregular position between the box body and the cover member. It is to provide an electrical junction box.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention made to solve the above-described problems will be described. In addition, the component employ | adopted in each aspect as described below is employable by arbitrary combinations as much as possible.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a first lock portion provided on one of the peripheral wall portion of the cover member and the peripheral wall portion of the box body and the first lock portion provided on the other and engaged with the first lock portion. And a pair of guide portions are disposed on both the left and right sides of the first lock portion, while the first lock portion is inserted into the guide portion and the first lock portion. A pair of stoppers projecting outward in the left-right direction are projected from the lower end sides of the left and right side walls constituting the frame body portion of the first locked portion. And when one of the guide portions is inserted on the outer side of one of the side walls of the frame body portion, it is before the engagement between the first lock portion and the first locked portion. in, while the guide portion is adapted to abut the stopper portion, contact the cover member and the box body The other side surface of each of the peripheral wall portions disposed opposite to one side surface of each of the peripheral wall portions provided with the first lock portion and the first locked portion is provided with a second lock portion and A second locked part is formed, and the second locked part and the second locked part are rotated in a state where the second locked part is engaged with the second locked part. The first lock part is fitted to the first locked part by rotating the cover member toward the box body as a center .

  According to this aspect, the pair of stopper portions protruding outward in the left-right direction are provided at the lower end portion of the side wall of the frame body portion of the first locked portion. As a result, when the first lock part is inserted into the frame body part of the first locked part together with the guide part, one of the guide parts has accidentally protruded outside the side wall of the first locked part. Even when the first lock portion comes into contact with the stopper portion, the first lock portion is engaged with the first locked portion, and the upper cover is attached to the box body. It is possible to advantageously prevent the fixing. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent erroneous fitting of the box body and the cover member at the irregular position.

Furthermore, in this aspect, the cover member is rotated toward the box body, and the first lock portion and the first locked portion are fitted. At this time, in the conventional structure, even when the cover member is deformed and the box main body and the cover member are displaced from each other, the first locking portion and the first locked portion are caused by the rotational fitting force even in the irregular fitting position. May be misengaged vigorously. In this aspect, even in such a case, such erroneous fitting can be prevented beforehand by the stopper portion. In addition, since the lower end side of the side wall of the first locked portion to which excessive stress due to rotation fitting is applied is thickened and reinforced by the stopper portion, it is advantageous for occurrence of problems such as deformation and breakage. It is possible to improve durability.

  According to this invention, a pair of stopper part which protrudes in the left-right direction outward is provided in the lower end part of the side wall of the frame part which comprises a 1st to-be-locked part. Therefore, when engaging the first lock portion with the first locked portion, one guide portion of the first lock portion accidentally protrudes outside the side wall of the first locked portion. In addition, the guide portion comes into contact with the stopper portion before the engagement between the first lock portion and the first locked portion. Therefore, it is possible to advantageously prevent the upper cover from being fixed to the box body due to the engagement of the first lock part and the first locked part, and the box body and the cover member at the non-regular positions. Misfits can be reliably prevented.

The perspective view which shows the electric junction box as one Embodiment of this invention (at the time of a cover member lid closing). The perspective view which shows the electrical junction box as one Embodiment of this invention (in the middle of a cover member lid closing). The perspective view which looked at the electrical junction box shown in FIG. 2 from the reverse direction. The front view of the electrical-connection box shown in FIG. The front enlarged view of the electrical junction box shown in FIG. The perspective view which shows the assembly | attachment state in the non-regular position of the box main body and cover member shown in FIG. The front enlarged view of the electric junction box shown in FIG.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 7 show an electrical junction box 10 as an embodiment of the present invention. The electrical junction box 10 includes a box body 12, an upper cover 14 that is a cover member that covers the box body 12 from above, and a lower cover (not shown) that covers the box body 12 from below. In the following description, “upper” means the upper part in FIG. 2, “lower” means the lower part in FIG. 2, “front” means the right side in FIG. 2, and “rear” means the left side in FIG. Shall.

  The box body 12 has a long rectangular block shape as a whole, and is integrally formed by injection molding or the like with an insulating synthetic resin such as polypropylene (PP) or polyamide (PA). As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of relay mounting portions 18 and fuse mounting portions are formed in the upper surface 16 of the box body 12 so as to open upward. In addition, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, in the lower surface of the box main body 12, several terminal accommodation holes, a bus-bar accommodation groove | channel, etc. are opened and formed below. That is, a crimp terminal or the like crimped to the end of an electric wire constituting a wire harness (not shown) is mounted and supported in the terminal accommodation hole, and a bus bar or the like constituting an internal circuit is accommodated and arranged in a bus bar accommodation groove or the like. It is supposed to be done.

  Then, from the upper surface 16 side of the box body 12, relays and fuses (not shown) are mounted on the relay mounting portions 18 and the fuse mounting portions. As a result, a tab terminal (not shown) protruding from the relay or fuse is connected to the above-described crimp terminal or bus bar of the end of the electric wire to be conducted.

  The peripheral part of the box body 12 is provided with a peripheral wall part 20 that has a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape by extending in the vertical direction over the entire periphery. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a first locked portion 24 projects from the peripheral wall 20 a in front of the peripheral wall portion 20 in the vicinity of the upper opening of the peripheral wall portion 20. The first locked part 24 is configured to lock the upper surface 16 of the box body 12 in a cover state by fitting with a first lock part 50 of the upper cover 14 described later. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, a pair of second lock portions 26, 26 project from the peripheral wall 20 c facing the peripheral wall 20 a on the left and right sides on the upper end side of the peripheral wall portion 20. . The second lock part 26 can be locked in a cover state on the upper surface 16 of the box body 12 by fitting with a second locked part 52 of the upper cover 14 described later. Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a plurality of lock portions 28 project from the peripheral walls 20 a, 20 b, and 20 d other than the rear of the peripheral wall portion 20 in the vicinity of the lower opening of the peripheral wall portion 20. Yes. The lock portion 28 is configured to lock the lower surface of the box body 12 in a cover state by fitting with a locked portion of a lower cover (not shown).

  In addition, a locking portion 30 for fixing projects from the peripheral wall 20 d on the near side of the peripheral wall 20 near the lower opening of the peripheral wall 20. The fixing lock part 30 can be fixed to the fixing bracket 10 by being fitted to a fixing bracket (not shown). Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a mounting leg portion 32 extending in a substantially strip shape downward is formed on the peripheral wall 20 c behind the peripheral wall portion 20, and is attached to the distal end portion of the mounting leg portion 32. Is provided with a bolt fixing portion 34 extending outward in a substantially rectangular flat plate shape. The electric connection box 10 can be disposed at a desired position of the vehicle by fixing the bolt fixing portion 34 to a predetermined position of the vehicle.

  The first locked portion 24 includes a U-shaped frame body portion 36 in a plan view of the electrical junction box 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the frame body portion 36 connects a pair of side walls 38, 38 formed on both sides in the left-right direction in front view of the first locked portion 24, and the pair of side walls 38, 38. It is comprised from the connection board part 40 to do. The pair of side walls 38, 38 have base end portions 38a, 38a connected to the peripheral wall 20a, projecting toward the outer peripheral side of the peripheral wall 20a, and then leading end portions 38b, 38b extending upward in the vertical direction of the peripheral wall 20a. It is formed to take out. The tip portions 38b, 38b are separated from the peripheral wall 20a. Therefore, each side wall 38 is substantially L-shaped when viewed from the side, and the base end portions 38a, 38a are connected to the peripheral wall 20a in a cantilevered manner. Further, the base end portions 38a, 38a which are the lower end sides of the pair of side walls 38, 38 are directed outwardly in the left-right direction from the pair of side walls 38, 38 in the left-right direction of the frame body portion 36 (left-right direction in FIG. 4). A pair of stopper portions 42 and 42 projecting in a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape are integrally provided. The pair of stopper portions 42, 42 are integrally connected to the peripheral wall 20 a as well as the base end portions 38 a, 38 a of the pair of side walls 38, 38. The connection of the base end portions 38a, 38a on the lower end side of 38 to the box body 12 is reinforced.

  Further, the connecting plate portion 40 for connecting the pair of side walls 38, 38 is provided over substantially the entire length of the pair of side walls 38, 38 in the vertical direction, and has a substantially rectangular flat plate shape extending in parallel to the peripheral wall 20a as a whole. Has been. As shown in FIG. 2, locking protrusions 44 that protrude with a substantially constant height toward the peripheral wall 20 a are provided on the upper end of the connecting plate 40, as shown in FIG. It is provided over substantially the entire length of the width dimension in the direction.

  The upper cover 14 has a box shape that opens downward, and is formed in a substantially rectangular shape substantially the same as the upper surface 16 of the box body 12 in plan view. For example, polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA ) And the like, and is integrally formed by injection molding or the like.

  A peripheral wall 48 that protrudes downward in the vertical direction is provided on the peripheral edge of the upper wall 46 of the upper cover 14 over the entire periphery. As shown in FIG. 2, a first lock portion 50 that is engaged with the first locked portion 24 is provided on the peripheral wall 48 a in front of the peripheral wall portion 48 in the vicinity of the lower opening of the peripheral wall portion 48. Projected. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, a pair of second locked parts 52, 52 project from the peripheral wall 48 c facing the peripheral wall 48 a on the left and right sides of the lower end of the peripheral wall part 48. Yes.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the first lock portion 50 extends from the lower end portion of the peripheral wall 48 a downward in the vertical direction in a substantially rectangular extension portion 54 (FIG. 4). Reference) and an elastic lock piece 56 whose base end portion is cantilevered with respect to the distal end portion of the extension portion 54. More specifically, the elastic lock piece 56 is formed to protrude outward from the tip of the extension portion 54 and then extend upward so as to be gradually separated from the peripheral wall 20a along the peripheral wall 20a. And has a substantially L shape in a side view. A lock claw 58 that protrudes outward in a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape is provided at the center of the elastic lock piece 56, while a U-shaped lock is provided at the tip of the elastic lock piece 56 in plan view. A release portion 60 is formed. Further, in the left-right direction of the first lock portion 50 in the front view (left-right direction in FIG. 4), the side surfaces of the elastic lock pieces 56 projecting outward from the peripheral wall 48 a and the extension portion 54 on the left and right sides. A pair of guide portions 62 and 62 having a substantially rectangular flat plate shape as viewed are provided over substantially the entire vertical length of the elastic lock piece 56.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the second locked portion 52 is a substantially U-shaped frame body in a rear view. More specifically, the second locked portion 52 has a base end portion connected to the lower end portions on both the left and right sides of the peripheral wall 48c, and a distal end portion that protrudes downward from the lower opening of the peripheral wall 48c. It is formed as follows. An engagement hole 64 having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape is provided at the tip of the second locked part 52.

  When assembling the upper cover 14 having such a configuration in the upper opening of the box body 12, first, as shown in FIG. 3, the pair of second lock portions 26, 26 of the box body 12 is provided. The second lock portion 26 and the second locked portion 52 are engaged with each other by inserting the engagement holes 64 of the pair of second locked portions 52 and 52 of the upper cover 14. Subsequently, while maintaining this engaged state, by rotating the upper cover 14 toward the box body 12 around the engaging portion of the second lock portion 26 and the second locked portion 52 as a rotation center, As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first locking portion 50 is fitted to the first locked portion 24. More specifically, when the first lock portion 50 is fitted to the first locked portion 24, first, the first lock portion 50 together with the guide portion 62 is the first locked portion. 24 is inserted between the frame body portion 36 and the peripheral wall 20a. Further, when the first lock portion 50 is pushed into the box body 12, the lock claw 58 protruding from the elastic lock piece 56 of the first lock portion 50 is moved to the lock protrusion 44 of the first locked portion 24. The elastic lock piece 56 bends inwardly and deforms to allow further pushing. As shown in FIG. 5, when the lock claw 58 of the elastic lock piece 56 gets over the lock projection 44 and the elastic lock piece 56 is elastically restored, the lock claw 58 is moved to the lower end of the lock projection 44. Thus, the upper cover 14 is locked in the mounted state in the upper opening of the box body 12. In FIG. 5 (FIG. 7), the lock protrusion 44 is indicated by a virtual line for easy understanding. Further, the lock can be released by pushing up the upper cover 14 in a state where the lock release portion 60 provided on the elastic lock piece 56 is pushed in the direction of the peripheral wall portion 48.

  By the way, depending on the momentum at the time of rotational fitting, the first lock portion 50 is inserted into the first locked portion 24 in a state where the box body 12 and the upper cover 14 are displaced, that is, in an irregular fitting position. May be. That is, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, one of the pair of guide portions 62, 62 (left side in FIG. 7) is one of the pair of side walls 38, 38 of the frame body portion 36 (in FIG. 7, This is the case where it is inserted outside the left side). In this embodiment, in this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the lock claw 58 of the first lock portion 50 engages with the lower end portion of the lock protrusion 44 of the first locked portion 24. Before that, one of the pair of guide parts 62, 62 (left side in FIG. 7) comes into contact with the stopper part 42. Therefore, in this embodiment, even in such a case, the lock claw 58 of the first lock portion 50 is engaged with the lower end portion of the lock projection 44 of the first locked portion 24 due to erroneous fitting. Occurrence can be prevented by the stopper portion 42 in advance. In addition, since the lower end side of the pair of side walls 38, 38 to which excessive stress due to rotational fitting is applied is formed thick and reinforced by the stopper portion 42, deformation, breakage, etc. are advantageous. Therefore, the durability can be improved. In addition, on the upper end side of the frame body portion 36 of the first locked portion 24 into which the first lock portion 50 is inserted together with the guide portion 62, the pair of side walls 38, 38 constituting the frame body portion 36 are peripheral walls. It is not connected to 20 a and is not thickened by the stopper portion 42. Therefore, since the bending deformation is easy, the insertion force when the first lock portion 50 is inserted into the first locked portion 24 is reduced.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited by the specific description. For example, in the present embodiment, the first locked portion 24 is provided on the peripheral wall portion 20 of the box body 12, while the first lock portion 50 is provided on the peripheral wall portion 48 of the upper cover 14. The reverse is also possible. That is, the first lock portion 50 may be provided on the peripheral wall portion 20 of the box body 12, while the first locked portion 24 may be provided on the peripheral wall portion 48 of the upper cover 14. Further, in the present embodiment, the upper cover 14 is rotated toward the box body 12 and the first lock part 50 and the first locked part 24 are fitted, but the present invention is limited to such rotational fitting. Of course there is nothing.

10: electrical connection box, 12: box body, 14: upper cover (cover member), 20: peripheral wall, 20a to d: peripheral wall, 24: first locked part, 26: second lock part, 36: Frame body part, 38: side wall, 42: stopper part, 48: peripheral wall part, 48a to d: peripheral wall, 50: first lock part, 52: second locked part, 62: guide part

Claims (1)

A first lock portion provided on one of the peripheral wall portion of the cover member and the peripheral wall portion of the box body and a first locked portion provided on the other and engaged with the first lock portion;
While a pair of guide portions are disposed on the left and right sides of the first lock portion, the first locked portion includes a frame body portion into which the guide portion and the first lock portion are inserted. And
A pair of stopper portions projecting outward in the left-right direction are projected from the lower end sides of the left and right side walls constituting the frame body portion of the first locked portion, and one of the guide portions is The guide portion is inserted into the stopper portion before the engagement between the first lock portion and the first locked portion when the frame body portion is inserted at one outer side of the side wall of the frame body portion. While it comes to abut
In the box body and the cover member, on the other side surface of each peripheral wall portion disposed to face one side surface of each peripheral wall portion provided with the first lock portion and the first locked portion, A second lock portion and a second locked portion are formed respectively,
With the second locking portion engaged with the second locked portion, the cover member is directed toward the box body with the second locking portion and the second locked portion as the center of rotation. The electrical connection box , wherein the first lock part is fitted to the first locked part by rotating .

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