JP6554136B2 - Electrical connection box, and connection structure between the electrical connection box and the protector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical connection box, and a connection structure between the electrical connection box and a protector.

  Conventionally, there is an electrical junction box. Patent Document 1 discloses a technology of an electric connection box including a box body to which a terminal of a wire harness is attached, and a cover member attached to the box body and covering the terminal of the wire harness when attached to the box body. It is disclosed. The box body includes a body portion to which the terminal of the wire harness is attached, and a harness lead-out portion extending from the body portion outward of the body portion and accommodating the wire harness. The cover member includes a cover main body attached to the main body, and a lead-out cover that is separate from the cover main body and attached to the harness lead-out portion.

  According to the electrical connection box of Patent Document 1, even if the harness lead-out portion becomes thinner, the box body and the cover member can be easily assembled.

JP 2006-166620 A

  In the electrical connection box, when the width of the passage for leading out the electric wire is narrowed, the opening width for inserting the electric wire into the passage is also narrowed. If the opening width is narrow, the workability for arranging the electric wire in the passage portion is reduced. It is desirable to be able to improve the workability of the routing work.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connection box capable of improving the workability of wiring work, and a connection structure between the electrical connection box and a protector.

  The electrical connection box of the present invention includes a frame having a housing portion for housing an electronic component, and a passage portion in which an electric wire drawn from the housing portion is routed and the sectional shape of the passage portion is deep The U-shape having a dimension in the longitudinal direction larger than the dimension in the width direction, and the distal end portion of the passage portion has an engagement portion which engages with the widening member which spreads the passage portion in the width direction. The joint portion is characterized by including a guide portion which protrudes from the side wall portion of the passage portion and extends along the depth direction and guides the widening member along the depth direction.

  The connection structure between the electrical connection box and the protector according to the present invention includes an accommodating portion for accommodating an electronic component, and a passage portion in which an electric wire drawn from the accommodating portion is wired, and constitutes an electrical connection box. And a protector that is connected to the tip of the passage to protect the electric wire, and the cross-sectional shape of the passage is U-shaped with the dimension in the depth direction being larger than the dimension in the width direction The distal end portion of the passage portion has an engagement portion which engages with the widening member which spreads the passage portion in the width direction, and the engagement portion protrudes from the side wall portion of the passage portion and is deep A guide portion extending along the longitudinal direction and guiding the widening member along the depth direction, and the protector is connected to the frame while being guided by the guide portion. To do.

  An electrical junction box according to the present invention includes a frame having a housing portion that houses an electronic component and a passage portion in which an electric wire drawn from the housing portion is routed. The cross-sectional shape of the passage portion is a U shape in which the dimension in the depth direction is larger than the dimension in the width direction. The distal end portion of the passage portion has an engaging portion that engages with a widening member that widens the passage portion in the width direction. The engaging portion protrudes from the side wall portion of the passage portion and extends along the depth direction, and includes a guide portion that guides the widening member along the depth direction.

  According to the electrical connection box according to the present invention and the connection structure between the electrical connection box and the protector, the guide portion not only engages with the widening member but also guides the widening member along the depth direction. Therefore, the workability of the process of widening the passage portion by the widening member is improved. Therefore, the electrical connection box according to the present invention has the effect of being able to improve the workability of the wiring operation for wiring electric wires.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the electrical connection box and the protector according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connection box according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the frame according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a side view of the frame according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the passage portion according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the passage portion according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the protector according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the protector according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the pressing portion according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a side view of the pressing portion according to the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a front view of the pressing unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 12 is a view showing a connecting process of the frame and the protector. FIG. 13 is a bottom view showing the connection structure between the frame and the protector. FIG. 14 is a side view showing a connection structure between the frame and the protector. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a frame according to a second embodiment. FIG. 16 is a plan view of a frame according to the second embodiment. FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a protector according to the second embodiment. FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the protector according to the second embodiment. FIG. 19 is a view showing a connecting process of the frame and the protector. FIG. 20 is a bottom view showing the connection structure between the frame and the protector. FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a jig according to the second embodiment. FIG. 22 is a view showing a process of inserting a frame into a jig. FIG. 23 is a view showing the widening of the passage portion by the jig. FIG. 24 is a view showing a state in which a wire is installed in the passage portion.

  Hereinafter, an electrical connection box according to an embodiment of the present invention and a connection structure of the electrical connection box and the protector will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited by this embodiment. In addition, constituent elements in the following embodiments include those that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art or those that are substantially the same.

First Embodiment
The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The present embodiment relates to an electrical connection box, and a connection structure between the electrical connection box and a protector. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the electric connection box and the protector according to the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electric connection box according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the frame according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a side view of the frame according to the first embodiment, FIG. 5 is a plan view of the passage according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the passage according to the first embodiment. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the protector according to the first embodiment, FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the protector according to the first embodiment, FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the pressing portion according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 11 is a front view of the pressing portion according to the first embodiment, FIG. 12 is a view showing a process of connecting a frame and a protector, and FIG. 13 is a frame and a protector. 14 is a bottom view showing the connection structure with the frame, and FIG. 14 shows the connection structure between the frame and the protector It is a surface view. FIG. 6 shows a VI-VI cross section of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the electrical junction box 1 and the protector 10 according to the present embodiment are connected to each other by a connection structure 50 between the electrical junction box and the protector described below. The connected electrical connection box 1 and the protector 10 are fixed to the structure. The electrical junction box 1 and the protector 10 of this embodiment are attached to the vehicle body of a vehicle such as an automobile.

  The electrical junction box 1 accommodates electronic components and constitutes a wire harness WH together with the electric wires W. The wire harness WH is mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile and connects each device mounted on the vehicle. The wire harness WH has a plurality of electric wires W used for power supply and signal communication. One end of each electric wire W is connected to an electronic component housed in the electrical junction box 1. The other end of each wire W is connected to each device (external device) such as a battery or an electrical component via a connector or the like. The electrical connection box 1 may also be called a junction box, a fuse box, a relay box or the like depending on the type of electronic component to be accommodated, but in the present embodiment, these are collectively referred to as an “electrical connection box”.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the electrical junction box 1 has a frame 2 and a lower cover 3. The frame 2 has a body 4 and a passage 5. The main body 4 and the passage portion 5 are integrally molded of synthetic resin or the like. The main body 4 is a cylindrical component. The lower cover 3 closes the opening of the frame 2. The electric connection box 1 of the present embodiment is attached to the vehicle body in a posture in which the lower cover 3 is located on the lower side in the vehicle vertical direction Z with respect to the frame 2. Therefore, the lower cover 3 closes the lower opening of the vehicle 2 in the vehicle vertical direction Z from below. The electrical connection box 1 may further have an upper cover closing the upper opening of the frame 2.

  The main body 4 of the frame 2 has a housing portion 4a for housing electronic components. The accommodating portion 4a may hold the electronic component directly or may hold a block or the like that holds the electronic component. The housing portion 4a may be partitioned inside. The channel | path part 5 is a structure part by which the electric wire W pulled out from the accommodating part 4a is routed inside. The passage portion 5 is a semi-cylindrical component extending from the side surface of the main body 4. The frame 2 has an opening that communicates the internal space of the accommodating portion 4 a with the internal space of the passage portion 5.

  FIG. 3 shows a state in which the frame 2 is viewed from below the vehicle vertical direction Z. The passage 5 is formed in a shape along the wiring path of the electric wire W in the vehicle. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the passage 5 has a first side wall 51, a second side wall 52, and a bottom wall 53. The pair of side wall portions 51 and 52 and the bottom wall portion 53 are integrally molded. The pair of side wall portions 51 and 52 and the bottom wall portion 53 are connected to each other such that the cross-sectional shape is U-shaped. More specifically, the pair of side wall portions 51 and 52 are opposed to each other. The direction in which the pair of side wall portions 51 and 52 face each other is, for example, a direction orthogonal to the vehicle vertical direction Z. In the present specification, a direction in which the pair of side wall portions 51 and 52 face each other is referred to as a “width direction Wd”.

  The bottom wall portion 53 connects the pair of side wall portions 51 and 52, and together with the side wall portions 51 and 52, forms a space portion in which the electric wire W is arranged. The bottom wall portion 53 connects the upper end portions of the side wall portions 51 and 52 in the vehicle vertical direction Z with each other. In other words, the first side wall 51 extends from one end of the bottom wall 53 in the width direction Wd toward the lower side of the vehicle, and the second side wall 52 is the other end of the bottom wall 53 in the width direction Wd. Extends out from the bottom of the vehicle. In the present specification, in the description of the passage portion 5 and the like, the height direction of the U-shape in the passage portion 5 is referred to as “depth direction D”. That is, the depth direction D is a direction orthogonal to the width direction Wd in which the pair of side wall portions 51 and 52 oppose each other in the cross-sectional shape of the passage portion 5. The depth direction D of the present embodiment is a vehicle vertical direction Z in a state where the electrical junction box 1 is mounted on the vehicle.

  In the passage portion 5 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the dimension D1 in the depth direction D is larger than the dimension Wd1 in the width direction Wd. In the following description, the dimension D1 in the depth direction D of the passage portion 5 is simply referred to as “depth D1”, and the dimension Wd1 in the width direction Wd is simply referred to as “width Wd1”. In the electric connection box 1 of the present embodiment, by narrowing the width Wd1 of the passage portion 5, the electric wire W can be arranged in a narrow space. In the passage portion 5, a plurality of electric wires W are arranged in the depth direction D. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of electric wires W are arranged in a line and routed inside the passage 5. Each electric wire W is inserted into the inside of the passage 5 toward the bottom wall 53 from the gap 54 on the free end side of the side walls 51 and 52.

  Here, when the passage portion 5 is formed in such a shape in which the depth D1 is larger than the width Wd1, there is a problem that the gap 54 tends to be narrowed. Due to the characteristics of the resin molding, the passage portion 5 may be deformed after being taken out from the mold, and the width of the gap 54 (hereinafter referred to as “opening width”) Wd2 may be narrower than that at the time of molding. When the opening width Wd2 is narrowed, the workability of the work of inserting the electric wire W into the passage portion 5 is reduced.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the path portion 5 is pushed and expanded in the width direction Wd by the protector 10. The electric wire W is inserted into the passage 5 pushed and spread by the protector 10. Therefore, the connection structure 50 of the electrical connection box of this embodiment and a protector can improve the workability of the operation | work which wires the electric wire W. FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the distal end portion 5 a of the passage portion 5 has an engaging portion 60. The tip 5 a is an end of the passage 5 opposite to the main body 4. The engaging portion 60 is a portion that engages with a widening member that widens the passage portion 5 in the width direction Wd. In the present embodiment, the protector 10 functions as a widening member. The engagement portion 60 has a guide portion 61 and an engagement hole 62. The guide portion 61 protrudes from the first side wall portion 51 of the passage portion 5 and extends in the depth direction D. The guide portion 61 of the present embodiment protrudes from the inner side surface of the first side wall portion 51 toward the second side wall portion 52.

  The guide portion 61 has a first rib 63, a second rib 64, and a third rib 65. The first rib 63, the second rib 64, and the third rib 65 extend in the depth direction D from the vicinity of the opening in the depth direction D toward the bottom wall portion 53. The three ribs 63, 64, 65 are connected to each other in the vicinity of the bottom wall 53, as shown in FIG. The first rib 63 and the third rib 65 are ribs having an L-shaped cross section perpendicular to the depth direction D. More specifically, the first rib 63 and the third rib 65 have base portions 63a and 65a and opposing portions 63b and 65b. The bases 63 a and 65 a project in the width direction Wd from the first side wall 51 toward the second side wall 52. The facing portions 63 b and 65 b protrude from the tips of the base portions 63 a and 65 a and face the inner side surface of the first side wall 51 in the width direction Wd. The facing portion 63 b of the first rib 63 protrudes toward the third rib 65 side. The facing portion 65b of the third rib 65 protrudes toward the first rib 63 side.

  The second rib 64 is a rib whose cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the depth direction D is T-shaped. The second rib 64 has a base 64a, a first facing portion 64b, and a second facing portion 64c. The base 64 a protrudes in the width direction Wd from the first side wall 51 to the second side wall 52. The first facing portion 64b and the second facing portion 64c protrude from the tip of the base portion 64a, and face the inner side surface of the first side wall portion 51 in the width direction Wd. The first facing portion 64 b protrudes toward the first rib 63, and the second facing portion 64 c protrudes toward the third rib 65.

  The tip of the facing portion 63b of the first rib 63 and the tip of the first facing portion 64b of the second rib 64 face each other with a gap. Further, the tip of the second facing portion 64c of the second rib 64 and the tip of the facing portion 65b of the third rib 65 face each other with a gap.

  The engagement hole 62 is a through hole provided in the bottom wall portion 53. The shape of the engagement hole 62 in the present embodiment is circular. The engagement hole 62 is provided at a position between the second rib 64 and the second side wall 52 in the width direction Wd.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the protector 10 includes a main body 11 and a cover 12. The main body 11 includes a main part 13, a protective wall part 14, a lead-out part 15, and a pressing part 16. The main portion 13, the protective wall portion 14, the lead-out portion 15, and the pressing portion 16 are integrally molded of synthetic resin or the like. The main portion 13 is a semi-cylindrical component. The electric wire W passes through the inside of the main portion 13 from the protective wall portion 14 and is routed so as to be drawn out from the lead-out portion 15. The cross-sectional shape of the main portion 13 is, like the cross-sectional shape of the passage portion 5, a U-shape in which the dimension in the depth direction D is larger than the dimension in the width direction Wd. The main portion 13 has mounting portions 13a and 13b. The protector 10 is fixed to the vehicle body by screws or the like at the attachment portions 13a and 13b.

  The protective wall portion 14 is a flat plate-shaped component extending from the main portion 13 along the wiring direction of the electric wire W. The electric wire W is routed in the gap between the protective wall portion 14 and the vehicle body. The protective wall portion 14 divides the wire W and the device mounted on the vehicle and protects the wire W. The lead-out portion 15 is connected to the end portion of the main portion 13 opposite to the protective wall portion 14 side. The electric wire W is drawn from the main portion 13 via the lead-out portion 15. The plurality of electric wires W are, for example, bundled concentrically in the lead-out portion 15. The bundled electric wire bundle is fixed to the lead-out portion 15 by a binding member or the like. By fixing the electric wire W to the lead-out portion 15, the length of the electric wire W from the housing portion 4a of the electrical junction box 1 to the lead-out portion 15 can be guaranteed. The cover 12 is engaged with the main portion 13 to cover the electric wire W.

  A pressing portion 16 is provided at the tip of the protective wall portion 14. The pressing portion 16 extends in the plate thickness direction of the protective wall portion 14 from the tip end portion of the protective wall portion 14. In other words, the pressing portion 16 extends from the protective wall portion 14 in the width direction Wd. The pressing portion 16 has an engagement protrusion 17. The engagement protrusion 17 engages with the engagement hole 62 of the passage portion 5 and constitutes a lock mechanism together with the engagement hole 62. A pair of engagement claws 17 a and 17 a are provided at the distal end portion of the engagement protrusion 17. The engaging claw 17a is supported in a cantilever shape so as to be deformable. The engagement claws 17 a and 17 a are inclined such that the distance between the engagement claws 17 a and 17 a increases toward the proximal end side of the engagement projection 17.

  FIG. 8 shows a state in which the main body 11 of the protector 10 is viewed from below the vehicle vertical direction Z. The pressing portion 16 is a plate-shaped component having a rectangular shape when viewed from the bottom. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the protection wall portion 14 is provided with a guided portion 18. The guided portion 18 is disposed on the wall surface of the protective wall portion 14 opposite to the pressing portion 16 side. The guided portion 18 includes a first rib 21, a second rib 22, a third rib 23, and a fourth rib 24. The first rib 21, the second rib 22, the third rib 23, and the fourth rib 24 are aligned in this order toward the tip of the protective wall portion 14. The ribs 21, 22, 23, 24 extend in the depth direction D, respectively. The ribs 21, 22, 23, 24 extend from one end to the other end in the depth direction D of the protective wall portion 14.

  The first rib 21 and the fourth rib 24 are linear protrusions. The first rib 21 and the fourth rib 24 are ribs having a rectangular cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the depth direction D. The second rib 22 and the third rib 23 are ribs having a T-shaped cross section perpendicular to the depth direction D. The second rib 22 and the third rib 23 have base portions 22a and 23a, first support portions 22b and 23b, and second support portions 22c and 23c. The base portions 22a and 23a protrude from the protective wall portion 14 in the width direction Wd. The first support portions 22b and 23b and the second support portions 22c and 23c protrude from the tips of the base portions 22a and 23a, and are opposed to the protective wall portion 14 in the width direction Wd. The first support portions 22b and 23b protrude toward the first rib 21 side. The second support portions 22c, 23c protrude toward the fourth rib 24 side.

  The tip of the second support portion 22c of the second rib 22 and the tip of the first support portion 23b of the third rib 23 face each other with a gap. A groove 22 d is formed by the first support 22 b of the second rib 22. A groove portion 22 e is formed by the second support portion 22 c of the second rib 22. A groove portion 23 d is formed by the first support portion 23 b of the third rib 23. A groove portion 23 e is formed by the second support portion 23 c of the third rib 23.

  The groove 22 d corresponds to the facing portion 63 b (see FIG. 5) of the frame 2. The groove 22 e corresponds to the first facing portion 64 b of the frame 2. The groove 23 d corresponds to the second facing portion 64 c of the frame 2. The groove 23 e corresponds to the facing portion 65 b of the frame 2. The grooves 22d, 22e, 23d, 23e are guided by the facing portions 63b, 64b, 64c, 65b. The first rib 21 (see FIG. 9) of the protector 10 is guided by the base 63a (see FIG. 5) of the frame 2. The fourth rib 24 (see FIG. 9) of the protector 10 is guided by the base 65a (see FIG. 5) of the frame 2.

  As shown in FIG. 11, a support wall 25 is provided on the side of the pressing part 16 opposite to the protective wall 14. The support wall 25 bulges in the depth direction D at the tip of the pressing portion 16 in the width direction Wd. The support wall 25 supports the second side wall 52 as described later, and suppresses the falling of the second side wall 52.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the pressing portion 16 of the protector 10 is inserted into the distal end portion 5 a of the passage portion 5 along the depth direction D. More specifically, the pressing part 16 is inserted between the first side wall part 51 and the second side wall part 52 with the engaging projection 17 side facing the bottom wall part 53. The pressing portion 16 enters between the first side wall 51 and the second side wall 52, and presses the first side wall 51 and the second side wall 52 in the width direction Wd in a direction away from each other. That is, the pressing portion 16 pushes the passage portion 5 in the width direction Wd.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the pressing portion 16 is guided by the guiding portion 61 of the frame 2. More specifically, the opposing portions 63b, 64b, 64c, and 65b of the frame 2 guide the groove portions 22d, 22e, 23d, and 23e of the protector 10, respectively. As a result, the pressing portion 16 is positioned in the width direction Wd and the extending direction of the passage portion 5. When the pressing portion 16 is inserted to the back along the depth direction D, the engaging protrusion 17 engages with the engaging hole 62 of the frame 2 as shown in FIG. The engagement between the engagement protrusion 17 and the engagement hole 62 completes the connection between the frame 2 and the protector 10, and the frame 2 and the protector 10 are connected. The engaging protrusion 17 positions the relative position between the frame 2 and the protector 10. As shown in FIG. 13, the support wall 25 abuts on the proximal end 52 b of the second side wall 52 to support the second side wall 52. The support wall portion 25 applies an outward force F <b> 1 to the second side wall portion 52. Therefore, the support wall 25 restricts the second side wall 52 from falling to the side of the first side wall 51, thereby suppressing the opening width Wd2 from becoming narrower than an appropriate width.

  After the passage portion 5 and the protector 10 are connected, the electric wire W is installed in the passage portion 5 and the protector 10. The electric wire W is inserted between the first side wall 51 and the second side wall 52 along the depth direction D from the gap 54 of the passage 5. Since the passage portion 5 is pushed and spread so that the opening width Wd2 becomes an appropriate size by the pressing portion 16, the work of inserting the electric wire W into the passage portion 5 is facilitated. Therefore, the connection structure 50 of the electrical connection box of this embodiment and a protector can improve the workability of the wiring operation of the electric wire W.

  The electric wire W passes through the protective wall portion 14 of the protector 10 from the passage portion 5 and is pulled out from the lead-out portion 15 via the main portion 13. When the wiring of the electric wire W is completed, the lower cover 3 is assembled to the frame 2, and the cover 12 is assembled to the main body 11 of the protector 10.

  As described above, the electric connection box 1 of the present embodiment includes the frame 2 having the housing portion 4a for housing the electronic component and the passage portion 5 in which the electric wire W drawn from the housing portion 4a is wired. Is provided. The sectional shape of the passage portion 5 is a U-shape in which the dimension D1 in the depth direction D is larger than the dimension Wd1 in the width direction Wd. The distal end portion 5a of the passage portion 5 has an engaging portion 60 which engages with a widening member which spreads the passage portion 5 in the width direction Wd. The engaging portion 60 protrudes from the first side wall portion 51 of the passage portion 5 and extends along the depth direction D, and includes a guiding portion 61 for guiding the widening member along the depth direction D. In the present embodiment, the protector 10 functions as a widening member. More specifically, the pressing portion 16 of the protector 10 functions as a widening member.

  In the electric connection box 1 of the present embodiment, the protector 10 as a widening member is engaged with the engaging portion 60 and connected to the frame 2. The pressing portion 16 of the protector 10 is guided along the depth direction D by the guide portion 61 of the engaging portion 60. The guide portion 61 facilitates positioning and insertion of the pressing portion 16 with respect to the passage portion 5. As a result, the efficiency of the widening operation for widening the passage portion 5 is improved, and the wiring efficiency of the electric wires W is improved.

  The connection structure 50 between the electrical connection box of this embodiment and the protector includes a frame 2 constituting the electrical connection box 1 and a protector 10. The electrical connection box 1 has a housing portion 4a for housing an electronic component, and a passage portion 5 in which an electric wire W drawn from the housing portion 4a is wired. The protector 10 is connected to the distal end portion 5 a of the passage portion 5 and protects the electric wire W. The cross-sectional shape of the passage portion 5 is a U shape in which the depth D1 is larger than the width Wd1. The distal end portion 5a of the passage portion 5 has an engaging portion 60 which engages with a widening member which spreads the passage portion 5 in the width direction Wd.

  The engaging portion 60 protrudes from the first side wall portion 51 of the passage portion 5 and extends along the depth direction D, and includes a guiding portion 61 for guiding the widening member along the depth direction D. The protector 10 is connected to the frame 2 while being guided by the guide portion 61. The guide part 61 can each guide the widening member and the protector 10. For example, when a widening member different from the protector 10 is used, the guide portion 61 guides the widening member in the widening step of widening the passage portion 5. The electric wire W is arranged in the passage portion 5 which is widened by the widening member. In addition, the guide unit 61 guides the protector 10 when the protector 10 is connected to the passage unit 5. As the widening member and the protector 10 are guided by the common guide portion 61 in this manner, complication of the passage portion 5 is suppressed.

  In the connection structure 50 between the electrical connection box of the present embodiment and the protector, the guide portion 61 is provided on the inner side surface of the first side wall 51. The protector 10 includes a pressing portion 16 that is inserted into the passage portion 5 along the depth direction D while being guided by the guide portion 61 and pushes the passage portion 5 in the width direction Wd. Thus, the workability | operativity of wiring work improves because the protector 10 serves as a widening member.

Second Embodiment
The second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 24. In the second embodiment, components having the same functions as those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a frame according to the second embodiment, FIG. 16 is a plan view of the frame according to the second embodiment, FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a protector according to the second embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a protector according to the second embodiment, FIG. 19 is a view showing a connection process of a frame and a protector, and FIG. 20 is a bottom view showing a connection structure of a frame and a protector. The XVIII-XVIII cross section of FIG. 17 is shown by FIG. The present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that, for example, the protector 10 is fitted to the outside of the passage portion 5.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the passage portion 5 of the second embodiment has an engaging portion 70 which engages with the widening member. The engagement portion 70 has a guide portion 71 and an engagement protrusion 74. In the present embodiment, the engagement protrusion 74 is provided on the frame 2 side. The guide part 71 is provided in both the 1st side wall part 51 and the 2nd side wall part 52, as shown to FIG. 15 and FIG. The guide portion 71 is disposed on the outer side surfaces 51 a and 52 a of the side wall portions 51 and 52 and extends in the depth direction D. The guide portion 71 protrudes from the outer side surfaces 51 a and 52 a of the side wall portions 51 and 52 in the width direction Wd.

  The guide portion 71 has a first rib 72 and a second rib 73. The first rib 72 and the second rib 73 are continuously provided from one end to the other end in the depth direction D of the side walls 51 and 52. The first rib 72 is disposed closer to the distal end side of the passage portion 5 than the second rib 73. The first rib 72 and the second rib 73 are ribs having a T-shaped cross section perpendicular to the depth direction D. More specifically, the first rib 72 and the second rib 73 have base portions 72a and 73a, first opposing portions 72b and 73b, and second opposing portions 72c and 73c.

  The base portions 72a and 73a protrude from the outer side surfaces 51a and 52a of the side wall portions 51 and 52 in the width direction Wd. The first opposing parts 72b and 73b protrude from the tip of the bases 72a and 73a toward the tip of the passage part 5. The second opposing parts 72c and 73c protrude from the tip of the bases 72a and 73a toward the opposite side to the first opposing parts 72b and 73b. The first facing portions 72b and 73b and the second facing portions 72c and 73c respectively face the outer side surfaces 51a and 52a of the side wall portions 51 and 52 in the width direction Wd. The tip of the second facing portion 72c and the tip of the first facing portion 73b face each other with a gap.

  The engagement protrusion 74 is provided on the outer surface of the bottom wall portion 53. The engagement protrusion 74 protrudes in the depth direction D from the bottom wall portion 53. The shape of the engagement protrusion 74 is the same as the shape of the engagement protrusion 17 of the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the protector 10 of the second embodiment has a fitting portion 30 that functions as a widening member. The fitting portion 30 fits with the distal end portion 5 a of the passage portion 5 to accommodate the distal end portion 5 a therein. The fitting part 30 has a first holding wall part 31, a second holding wall part 32, and a bottom wall part 33. The first holding wall portion 31 and the second holding wall portion 32 face each other in the width direction Wd. The holding wall portions 31 and 32 are wall portions facing the outer side surfaces 51 a and 52 a of the side wall portions 51 and 52 of the passage portion 5, respectively. The bottom wall portion 33 corresponds to the bottom wall portion 53 of the passage portion 5. End portions of the holding wall portions 31 and 32 in the depth direction D are connected to each other by a bottom wall portion 33.

  As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the holding wall portions 31 and 32 each have a guided portion 40. The guided portion 40 has a first rib 41, a second rib 42, and a third rib 43. The first rib 41, the second rib 42, and the third rib 43 are aligned in this order toward the tip of the protective wall portion 14. The ribs 41, 42, and 43 are provided on the inner side surfaces of the first holding wall portion 31 and the second holding wall portion 32. The ribs 41, 42, 43 extend in the depth direction D. The ribs 41, 42, 43 extend, for example, from one end to the other end in the depth direction D in the holding wall portions 31, 32.

  The first rib 41 and the third rib 43 are ribs having an L-shaped cross section perpendicular to the depth direction D. The second rib 42 is a rib whose cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the depth direction D is T-shaped. The first rib 41 and the third rib 43 have base portions 41a and 43a and support portions 41b and 43b. The base portions 41a and 43a protrude from the holding wall portions 31 and 32 in the width direction Wd. The support portions 41 b and 43 b protrude from the ends of the base portions 41 a and 43 a in the direction orthogonal to the width direction Wd. The support portions 41b and 43b are opposed to the inner side surfaces of the holding wall portions 31 and 32 in the width direction Wd. The bottom wall portion 33 is provided with an engagement hole 45. The engagement holes 45 are through holes that engage with the engagement protrusions 74 of the frame 2.

  The second rib 42 has a base portion 42a, a first support portion 42b, and a second support portion 42c. The base portion 42 a protrudes from the holding wall portions 31 and 32 in the width direction Wd. The 1st support part 42b protrudes toward the 1st rib 41 side from the front-end | tip of the base 42a. The second support part 42c protrudes from the tip of the base part 42a toward the third rib 43 side. The support portions 42b and 42c face the inner side surfaces of the holding wall portions 31 and 32 in the width direction Wd, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 19, the protector 10 is connected to the frame 2 so that the fitting portion 30 covers the distal end portion 5 a of the passage portion 5 along the depth direction D. The distal end portion 5 a of the passage portion 5 is inserted into the fitting portion 30 along the depth direction D with the engagement protrusion 74 directed to the bottom wall portion 33. The first rib 72 and the second rib 73 of the passage portion 5 guide the guided portion 40 of the fitting portion 30. As shown in FIG. 20, the first rib 41 and the second rib 42 of the fitting portion 30 are guided by the first rib 72 of the passage portion 5. The second rib 42 and the third rib 43 of the fitting part 30 are guided by the second rib 73 of the passage part 5. That is, the guided portions 40 (ribs 41, 42, 43) of the fitting portion 30 are guided by the guiding portions 71 (ribs 72, 73) of the passage portion 5.

  The support portions 41 b, 42 b, 42 c, 43 b of the ribs 41, 42, 43 can widen the passage portion 5. The support portions 41b, 42b, 42c, 43b enter between the facing portions 72b, 72c, 73b, 73c of the ribs 72, 73 and the outer surfaces 51a, 52a of the side wall portions 51, 52, respectively, and the facing portions 72b, 72c, 73b and 73c are supported. For example, the support portion 41 b is located between the outer surfaces 51 a and 52 a of the side wall portions 51 and 52 and the facing portion 72 b and faces the facing portion 72 b in the width direction Wd. , 52 side. The same applies to the support portions 42b, 42c, 43b, and supports the facing portions 72c, 73b, 73c from the side wall portions 51, 52 side.

  Therefore, when the side wall portions 51 and 52 are inclined so as to approach each other, the support portions 41b, 42b, 42c and 43b apply an outward force F2 to the facing portions 72b, 72c, 73b and 73c. Therefore, the fitting part 30 functions as a widening member that widens the passage part 50 in the width direction Wd. The side walls 51 and 52 are separated in the width direction Wd by the outward force F2, so that the opening width Wd3 (see FIG. 15) becomes an appropriate width. Therefore, the connection structure 50 of the electrical connection box according to the present embodiment and the protector can improve the workability of the wiring work of the electric wire W.

  The widening of the passage portion 5 may be performed by a jig 80 shown in FIG. The jig 80 is a widening member having a shape similar to that of the fitting portion 30 described above. The jig 80 is formed of a high rigidity material such as metal. The jig 80 has a first holding wall 81, a second holding wall 82, and a bottom wall 83 similar to the walls 31, 32, 33 of the fitting portion 30. Each holding wall portion 81, 82 has a guided portion 90. The guided portion 90 is provided on the inner side surface of the holding wall portions 81 and 82. The guided portion 90 has a first rib 91, a second rib 92, and a third rib 93 similar to the first rib 41, the second rib 42, and the third rib 43 of the guided portion 40. Specifically, the first rib 91 has a support portion 91b similar to the support portion 41b. The second rib 92 has a first support 92 b and a second support 92 c similar to the first support 42 b and the second support 42 c. The third rib 93 has a support portion 93b similar to the support portion 43b. The guided portion 90 is guided by the ribs 72 and 73 (see FIG. 16) of the passage portion 5.

  The jig 80 is fixed to a jig board or the like. As shown in FIG. 22, the jig 80 is fixed with the bottom wall 83 facing downward. The distal end portion 5 a of the passage portion 5 is inserted into the jig 80 with the engagement protrusion 74 facing the bottom wall portion 83. As shown in FIG. 23, the jig 80 applies a force F3 in the direction of widening to the side wall portions 51 and 52 of the passage portion 5. The passage portion 5 is widened by the force F3 in the direction of the widening. As shown in FIG. 24, the electric wire W is routed in the passage portion 5 widened by the jig 80. When the electric wire W is routed in the passage portion 5, the lower cover 3 is assembled to the frame 2. Thereafter, the passage portion 5 is removed from the jig 80, and the protector 10 is connected to the passage portion 5.

  When the passage portion 5 is widened by the jig 80, the electric wire W may be arranged on the vehicle body without using the protector 10. In other words, when the protector 10 does not double as a widening member, the protector 10 may be omitted in the wiring of the electric wire W.

  As described above, in the connection structure 50 of the electrical connection box of the second embodiment and the protector, the guide portions 71 are provided on the outer side surfaces 51a and 52a of the side wall portions 51 and 52 on both sides. The guide portion 71 includes base portions 72a and 73a that protrude in the width direction Wd from the outer surfaces 51a and 52a, and opposing portions 72b, 72c, 73b, and 73c that protrude from the base portions 72a and 73a and face the outer surfaces 51a and 52a. Have.

  The protector 10 is a widening member, and is provided on a pair of holding wall portions 31 and 32 facing each of the outer side surfaces 51a and 52a on both sides, and the holding wall portions 31 and 32, and facing portions 72b 72c 73b 73c. And support portions 41b, 42b, 42c, and 43b that support the facing portions 72b, 72c, 73b, and 73c by being inserted between the outer side surfaces 51a and 52a. The passage portion 5 is inserted between the pair of holding wall portions 31 and 32 along the depth direction D while guiding the support portions 41b, 42b, 42c and 43b by the facing portions 72b, 72c, 73b and 73c. It can be expanded in the width direction. By thus widening the passage portion 5 while the protector 10 holds the outer side surfaces 51 a and 52 a of the passage portion 5, the workability of the wiring work of the electric wire W to the passage portion 5 is improved.

  Further, in the electric connection box 1 of the second embodiment, the passage portion 5 may be widened by the jig 80 as a widening member. The jig 80 is provided on a pair of holding wall portions 81, 82 facing the outer side surfaces 51a, 52a, and the holding wall portions 81, 82, and the opposing portions 72b, 72c, 73b, 73c and the outer side surfaces 51a, 52a Support portions 91b, 92b, 92c, 93b are provided to support the opposing portions 72b, 72c, 73b, 73c by being interposed therebetween. The passage portion 5 is inserted between the pair of holding wall portions 81, 82 along the depth direction D while guiding the support portions 91b, 92b, 92c, 93b by the facing portions 72b, 72c, 73b, 73c. Is expanded in the width direction Wd.

  Since the passage portion 5 is expanded in the width direction by the jig 80, the workability of the wiring work of the electric wire W is improved. In addition, when the protector 10 is connected to the passage 5 while being guided by the guide portion 71 in the depth direction D, the workability of the process of assembling the electrical connection box 1 and the protector 10 is improved.

[Modification of the above embodiment]
The shapes and arrangements of the ribs of the engaging portions 60 and 70 are not limited to the illustrated shapes and arrangements. Further, the shape and the arrangement of the ribs of the guided portions 18, 40 and 90 are not limited to the illustrated shapes and the arrangement. The guiding portions 40, 61, 71 may be provided on one side or both sides of the pair of side wall portions 51, 52 facing each other. For example, the guide portion 61 may be provided not only on the inner side surface of the first side wall 51 but also on the inner side surface of the second side wall 52. In this case, the protector 10 may have a guided portion guided by the guiding portion 61 of the second side wall portion 52.

  The contents disclosed in each of the above embodiments and modifications can be executed in appropriate combination.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 electric connection box 2 frame 3 lower cover 4 main body 4a accommodation part 5 passage part 5a tip part 10 protector 11 main body 13 main part 14 protective wall part 15 lead-out part 16 pressing part 17 engagement protrusion 17a engagement claw 18, 40, 90 Guide portion 21, 41, 91 first rib 22, 42, 92 second rib 23, 43, 93 third rib 22b, 23b first support portion 22c, 23c second support portion 22d, 22e, 23d, 23e groove portion 24 Four ribs 25 support wall portion 30 fitting portion 31 first holding wall portion 32 second holding wall portion 33 bottom wall portion 41b, 43b, 91b, 93b support portion 42b, 92b first support portion 42c, 92c second support portion 50 Electrical connection box and protector connection structure 51 first side wall 52 second side wall 51a, 52a outer side surface 53 bottom wall 54 gap 60 engagement portion 61 guiding 62 engagement hole 63 first rib 64 second rib 64b first facing portion 64c second facing portion 65 third rib 63b, 65b facing portion 70 engaging portion 71 guiding portion 72 first rib 73 second rib 72b, 73b first First facing portion 72c, 73c Second facing portion 74 engagement projection 80 jig 81 first holding wall portion 82 second holding wall portion 83 bottom wall portion W electric wire WH wire harness D depth direction D1 depth (depth direction Size)
Wd width direction Wd1 width (dimension in width direction)
Wd2 Opening width Z Vehicle vertical direction

Claims (5)

A frame having a housing portion for housing an electronic component, and a passage portion in which an electric wire drawn from the housing portion is routed inside;
The sectional shape of the passage portion is a U-shape in which the dimension in the depth direction is larger than the dimension in the width direction,
The distal end portion of the passage portion has an engagement portion which engages with a widening member which widens the passage portion in the width direction,
The engagement portion includes a guide portion which protrudes from a side wall portion of the passage portion and extends along the depth direction, and guides the widening member along the depth direction. Electrical connection box. The guide portion is provided on an outer surface of the side wall portion on both sides,
The guide portion includes a base protruding in the width direction from the outer side surface, and a facing portion protruding from the base and facing the outer side surface.
The widening member is provided on a pair of holding wall portions respectively facing the outer side surfaces on both sides, and the holding wall portion, and a support portion which enters between the opposite portion and the outer side surface to support the opposite portion. And a jig having
The electricity may be expanded in the width direction by being inserted between a pair of the holding wall portions along the depth direction while guiding the support portion by the facing portion. Connection box. A frame having an accommodating portion for accommodating an electronic component, and a passage portion in which an electric wire drawn from the accommodating portion is routed and which constitutes an electrical connection box;
A protector that is connected to the tip of the passage and protects the electric wire;
Equipped with
The sectional shape of the passage portion is a U-shape in which the dimension in the depth direction is larger than the dimension in the width direction,
The distal end portion of the passage portion has an engagement portion which engages with a widening member which widens the passage portion in the width direction,
The engagement portion includes a guide portion which protrudes from the side wall portion of the passage portion and extends along the depth direction, and guides the widening member along the depth direction.
The connection structure between an electrical connection box and a protector, wherein the protector is connected to the frame while being guided by the guide portion. The guide portion is provided on an inner surface of the side wall portion,
The electrical connection box and the protector according to claim 3, wherein the protector has a pressing portion which is inserted into the passage along the depth direction while being guided by the guiding portion and spreads the passage in the width direction. Connection structure with. The guide portion is provided on an outer surface of the side wall portion on both sides,
The guide portion includes a base protruding in the width direction from the outer side surface, and a facing portion protruding from the base and facing the outer side surface.
The protector is the widening member, and is provided on a pair of holding wall portions respectively facing the outer side surface on both sides, and the holding wall portion, and enters the space between the opposite portion and the outer side surface And a supporting portion for supporting the
4. The electricity according to claim 3, wherein the passage portion is expanded in the width direction by being inserted between the pair of holding wall portions along the depth direction while guiding the support portion by the facing portion. Connection structure between connection box and protector.

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