JPH11215651A - Connection structure of vehicle circuit device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an instrument panel circuit device which can easily deal with different requirements such as left side/right side steering wheel specifications, types of cars, etc. SOLUTION: An instrument panel circuit device consists of box housing units 2-4 provided in a panel main part 1, base circuits 20 and 21 with which the central box housing unit 3 is connected to both the side box housing units 2 and 4, a branch box 25 and a through-circuit box 27 which have branch lines 33 and 37 for the connections of auxiliary apparatuses, are interchangeably housed in the box housing units 2 and 4 and are connected to the base circuits with connectors and a central relay box 26 to which the base circuits are connected. Wires 31 and 42 which are connected to both the sides of the panel main part with connectors are lead out of the boxes 25 and 27. Wire guide channels 5-7 and 10-11 in which the wires and the branch lines are laid are formed in the panel main part. Bus-bars 20 and 21 of which base circuits consist are unified with the panel main part by insert-molding. The respective boxes 25-27 have built-in bus-bars whose terminals are connected to the terminals of the base circuits. The wires 31 and 42 are connected to the terminals of the bus-bars.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connection structure of a circuit for a vehicle, which can easily cope with a difference between left and right steering wheel specifications, a model and a grade in an instrument panel of an automobile, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 shows a conventional structure for connecting a wiring harness to an instrument panel (hereinafter referred to as an instrument panel) as a connection structure for a circuit body for a vehicle. The trunk line 82 of the wire harness 81 is routed in a substantially horizontal direction inside the instrument panel 80, and a plurality of branch lines 8 extend from the trunk line 82.
3 branches and extends, and a connector 84 is provided at the tip of the branch line 83.

A large number of auxiliary devices (not shown) such as a meter unit, electric components (radio, etc.) and various switch units are provided on the instrument panel 80, and each branch line 83 is connected to the connector. The branch lines 83 are arranged mainly concentrated on both sides and the center of the wire harness 81, that is, on the cowl side 85 side and the center cluster 86 side, corresponding to the position of the accessory.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a wire harness 87 for an instrument panel.
8 and tubes (not shown) are attached.
The tape is wound around the branch line 90. Protector 8
8 is provided with a clip 91 for locking, and the wire harness 87 is fixed by fitting the clip 91 into an engagement hole (not shown) of the instrument panel.

[0005]

However, in the above-described conventional structure, the wire harnesses 81, 87 are changed for a right-hand drive vehicle for domestic use, for a left-hand drive vehicle for overseas use, or for each vehicle type and vehicle grade. Must be manufactured individually, so that the types of wire harnesses increase, the production cost increases, and the management of products is difficult. Further, since many accessories such as the protector 88, the tube, and the tape must be attached to the wire harness, the cost of parts is increased, the number of assembling steps is increased, and a large space for assembling the wire harness is required. Also, since the clip 91 has to be fitted into the hole of the instrument panel 80 almost blindly, the assembling operation is also difficult.

In view of the above, the present invention minimizes the waste of manufacturing wire harnesses for right-hand drive vehicles, left-hand drive vehicles, and vehicle types and grades, and involves the use of accessory parts such as protectors, tubes, and tapes. It is an object of the present invention to provide a connection structure of a circuit body which can eliminate an increase in cost and assembling man-hours and an increase in an assembling space, and can also improve an assembling property to an instrument panel or the like.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a box receiving portion provided at the center of the panel main body and on both sides thereof, and a box receiving portion at the center and boxes on both sides thereof. A branch circuit and a through circuit box, which have a base circuit connecting the housing section and a branch line for connecting auxiliary equipment, are housed interchangeably in each box housing section on both sides, and are connected to the base circuit by a connector, It is based on a connection structure of a vehicle circuit body including a central box housing portion and a relay box for connecting the base circuits on both sides (claim 1). Electric wires connected to both sides of the panel main body by connectors are led out from the branch box and the through circuit box (claim 2). An electric wire guide groove for accommodating the electric wire and the branch line is provided in the panel body (claim 3). The bus bar as the base circuit is insert-molded in the panel body (claim 4). A bus bar is built in the branch box, the relay box, and the through circuit box, and a terminal of each bus bar is connected to a terminal of the base circuit through a relay terminal.
The branch line is pressed against a pressure terminal provided on the bus bar (claim 5). Wires connected to both sides of the panel body by connectors are connected to terminals of the box bus bars of the branch box and the through circuit box (claim 6).

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a connection structure of a circuit body according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows an instrument panel body on the inside of an instrument panel (instrument) of an automobile except for a skin portion. Grooves (box housing portions) 2 to 4 are formed in parallel, wire guide grooves 5 to 7 connecting each box housing groove 2 to 4 with the front end of the instrument panel body, left and right box housing grooves 2 and 4, and both ends of the instrument panel body. And the wire guide grooves 10 and 11 connecting the cowl side portions (cowl side boxes) 8 and 9 with each other.

The left and right box housing grooves 2, 4 and the wire guide grooves 10, 11 are formed symmetrically and have the same size. A female connector 1 is provided between the inner portions of the right and left box receiving grooves 2 and 4 and both side portions of the central box receiving groove 3.
2 to 15 are provided respectively. Each female connector part 1
Male tab terminals 16 to 19 are protruded from 2 to 15.

In the instrument panel main body 1, bus bars (base circuits common to vehicles) 20 and 21 connecting the central box housing groove 3 and the left and right box housing grooves 2 and 4 are horizontally buried. The terminal portions on both sides of the male and female terminals 20 and 21 are bent upward to form the male tab terminals 16 to 19. The bus bars 20 and 21 are insert-molded simultaneously with the resin molding of the instrument panel body 1. Alternatively, a busbar accommodating groove (not shown) connecting the central box accommodating groove 3 and the left and right box accommodating grooves 2 and 4 is formed in the instrument panel body 1.
It is also possible to fit the bus bars 20, 21 in this groove.

Since the bus bars 20, 21 are firmly fixed by insert molding or fitting into the bus bar accommodating grooves, there is no need for any component for fixing the bus bars 20, 21. The number of bus bars 20 and 21 is set to a sufficient number as a common circuit between vehicle types according to the number of auxiliary devices such as electrical components and switch units. The bus bars 20, 2
Some unillustrated wires other than 1 are also used as common circuits between vehicle types. By storing each box, bus bar, and electric wire in the instrument panel main body, space saving is achieved.

Cowl side portions 8, 9 on both sides of the instrument panel body
The female connector portion 22 of the junction box (cowl side box) follows the wire guide grooves 10 and 11.
Are formed. A male tab terminal 23 is accommodated in the female connector portion 22, and the male tab terminal 23 is
The power supply line and the lead wires of auxiliary equipment are connected through a junction box (not shown) on the 9th side.

A branch box 25 is fitted into the box housing groove 2 on the right side in FIG. 1 from above. Branch box 25
Has a male connector portion 28 for connection to the female connector portion 12 of the box housing groove 2 on the left side. A male connector 3 is provided at the right end (female connector portion 29) of the branch box 25.
0 is connected, and the male connector 30 is connected to the male connector 32 for connection to the right cowl side portion 8 via the electric wire 31. The electric wire 31 is electrically connected to the left male connector portion 28. The electric wire 31 is accommodated in the electric wire guide groove 10.

From the center of the upper part of the branch box 25, a branch line 33 (an optional circuit for handling specifications and destinations).
And the branch line 33 is a male connector 3 for connecting a meter.
It continues to 4. The branch line 33 is connected to the male connector 28 on the left side.
It is conducting. The branch line 33 is accommodated in the wire guide groove 5.

A relay box 26 is fitted into the central box receiving groove 3 from above. The relay box 26 has male connector portions 35 and 36 facing downward on both sides. A branch line (optional circuit) 37 is led out from the upper center of the relay box 26, and the branch line 37 continues to a male connector 38 for center cluster connection. Male connector part 3
5 and 36 are mutually conductive, and the branch line 37 is a double male connector 3.
It is conducting to 5,36. The branch line is accommodated in the wire guide groove 6. It is of course possible to use some of the branch lines 33 and 37 not as optional circuits but as fixed circuits.

A through circuit box 27 is fitted into the left box housing groove 4 from above. The through circuit box 27 is provided on the right side with the female connector portion 15 of the box accommodation groove 4.
Has a male connector portion 39 for connection to the. A male connector 41 is connected to the left end (female connector portion 40) of the through circuit box 27, and the male connector 41 is connected to an electric wire 42.
Through the male connector 43 for connection to the left cowl side portion 9. The electric wire 42 is electrically connected to the male connector 39. The electric wire 42 is housed in the electric wire guide groove 11.

The same boxes 25 to 27 are commonly used without being changed depending on the type of vehicle, grade, or specifications of left and right steering wheels. The length of the bus bars 20, 21 is changed according to the type of vehicle (the width of the instrument panel). In a right-hand drive vehicle and a left-hand drive vehicle, the branch box 25 and the through circuit box 27 are exchanged for the left and right box housing grooves 2 and 4. That is, the through circuit box 27 is fitted into the box receiving groove 2 on the right side in FIG. 1, and the branch box 25 is fitted into the box receiving groove 4 on the left side. The branch line 33 on the branch box 25 side is housed in the wire housing groove 7.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the branch box 25 is fitted into the box receiving groove 2 on the right side. The branch box 25 is covered with a box body 45 made of an insulating resin, and has a plurality of substantially L-shaped box bus bars 46 in parallel on the inside. One end of each bus bar 46 is bent downward, enters the accommodation room 47 of the male connector 28 as the male tab terminal 52, and is connected to one of the female-female relay terminals 48 in the accommodation room 47. 49. The female-female relay terminal 48 is locked in the storage chamber 47 by, for example, a locking lance (not shown). At the bottom of the box accommodating groove 2 of the instrument panel body 1, one male tab terminal 16 of a bus bar (base circuit) 20 in the instrument panel body projects, and the male tab terminal 16 is connected to the other electrical contact portion of the female-female relay terminal 48. 50 are connected.

In the branch box 25, the other end of each bus bar 46 extends straight in the horizontal direction, and the female connector 29
The male tab terminal 53 is formed by entering into the fitting chamber 51 of FIG. Electric wire 31 for connecting cowl side to male tab terminal 53
(Not shown) in the male connector 30 is connected. A press contact terminal 54 is formed upright at an intermediate portion of the bus bar 46, and one end of the branch line 33 for meter connection is pressed to the press contact terminal 54. The press contact terminals 54 are provided one by one for each bus bar 46, or a plurality of press contact terminals 54 are provided for one bus bar 46.

A female terminal (not shown) is crimped to the other end of the branch line 33, and the female terminal is inserted into a male connector housing to constitute the male connector 32. The number of branch lines 33 is appropriately set according to the number of optional parts, and constitutes a specification / destination correspondence circuit. If the same number of bus bars 46 in the branch box are set as the number of bus bars 20 in the instrument panel main body, the bus bar 46 becomes a common circuit between vehicle types, and if it is set according to the number of optional parts, it becomes a circuit corresponding to specifications and destinations. Branch line 33
And the electric wire 31 is led out from the guide grooves 5 and 10. The busbar in the instrument panel is maintenance-free, and the busbar in the box can be maintenance-free as a common circuit between vehicle types.

The box upper wall (cover) 45a above the press contact terminal 54 is preferably openable and closable. When the branch box 25 is fitted in the box receiving groove 2, the box upper wall 45a is in contact with the upper surface of the instrument panel body 1. It is preferable that they are on the same plane. Each box 25 to 27 and branch lines 33 and 37
The wires 31 and 42 are stably held by covering the instrument panel body 1 with a skin (not shown).

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the relay box 26 is fitted in the box receiving groove 3 in the center. The relay box 26 is covered with a box body 56 made of insulating resin, and has a plurality of substantially U-shaped box bus bars 57 inside. Both ends of the bus bar 57 are bent downward to form male tab terminals 58 and 59, and each male connector 3
Each of the female-female relay terminals 60, 61 in one of the electric contact portions 62, 64 is connected to one of the electric contact portions 62, 64. The other electrical contact portions 63 and 65 of the female-female relay terminals 60 and 61 are connected to the other male tabs of the bus bars 20 and 21 as common circuits between vehicle types in the female connector portions 13 and 14 of the box housing groove 3. Connect to terminals 17 and 18.

A press contact terminal 66 is formed upright at an intermediate portion of the bus bar 57 in the relay box 26.
One end of an electric wire (branch line) 37 that is connected to an auxiliary device (not shown) such as an electric component on the center cluster side is press-contacted. The number of branch lines 37 is set according to the number of accessories including optional parts. The other end of each branch line 37 is integrated into a male connector 38. The branch line 37 is led out from the wire guide groove 6.

The relay box 26 has male connector portions 35 and 36 symmetrically, and the female connector portions 13 and 14 on both sides of the box housing groove 3 are also formed symmetrically. It can be fitted in the box housing groove 3. This makes it possible to accurately cope with left and right steering wheel specifications. When the branch line 37 is led out from the center of the relay box 26 as in this example, the relay box 2
The inversion operation of No. 6 is unnecessary.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the through circuit box 27 is fitted into the box housing groove 4 on the left side. The through circuit box 27 is a box body 68 made of insulating resin.
A plurality of substantially L-shaped box bus bars 69 are provided therein, and one end of the bus bar 69 is bent downward to serve as a male tab terminal 70, one of the female-female relay terminals 71 in the male connector portion 39. Of the bus bar 69
The other terminal portion extends straight and constitutes a male tab terminal 74 in the female connector portion 41. The other electrical contact portion 73 of the female-female relay terminal 71 is connected to one male tab terminal 19 of the bus bar 21 in the instrument panel main body, and the female connector portion 41 is
It is connected to the male connector 41 of the electric wire 42 for connecting the cowl side portion.

The through circuit box 27 and the branch box 25 are formed symmetrically except for the press contact terminals 54 of the branch box 25, and the through circuit box 27 is fitted into the box housing groove 2 of FIG. By fitting the branch box 25 into the box accommodating groove 4 in FIG. 4, it is possible to easily cope with left and right handle specifications. Each box 25, 2
7, electric wires 31 and 42 for connecting cowl side parts
The male connectors 32 and 43 are also replaced integrally with the boxes 25 and 27. For example, the male connector 32 is fitted to the female connector 22 on the cowl side portion 9 side.

[0028]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, by applying the instrument panel body as the panel body and exchanging the branch box and the through circuit box, all the boxes are shared. It can easily cope with the difference between left and right handle specifications. In addition, all boxes can be shared by increasing or decreasing the number of branch lines according to differences in accessories according to vehicle type and grade, and changing only the length of the base circuit according to the width of the instrument panel body . By sharing these boxes and base circuits,
Production costs are reduced and product management is simplified. Also,
4. The box according to claim 3, wherein each box is housed in the instrument panel body.
As described above, the electric wires and branch lines are accommodated in the electric wire guide grooves, so that the circuit body in the instrument panel main body is saved in space, and the circuit body is fixed and protected in the instrument panel main body, so that the conventional protector and the protective member can be used. The need for assembling the stop clips and insulating tapes becomes unnecessary, thereby reducing the production cost, the man-hour for assembling the circuit body, and the man-hour for assembling the circuit body to the instrument panel body. According to the second and sixth aspects of the present invention, a sufficient number of common circuits or optional circuits between vehicle types are secured by the electric wires following the left and right boxes. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the work for fixing the bus bar, which is the base circuit, and the fixing member are not required, and the man-hour for assembling the circuit body and the cost are reduced. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since each box is fitted into each box accommodating groove and at the same time, the base circuit and each box are connected with a connector, the connection between the boxes is easily and reliably performed. Further, the branch from the bus bar is easily performed by the press contact terminal. According to the invention of claim 6, the connection of the common circuit between the vehicle types or the optional circuit to each box is performed simply and reliably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing one embodiment of a connection structure of a vehicle circuit body according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a connection structure of a branch box.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a connection structure of a relay box.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a connection structure of a through circuit box.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a connection structure of a conventional vehicle circuit body.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a wire harness which is a conventional circuit body.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Instrument panel main body (panel main body) 2-4 Box accommodation groove (box accommodation part) 5-7, 10-11 Electric wire guide groove 20, 21 Bus bar (base circuit) 25 Branch box 26 Relay box 27 Through circuit box 31, 42 Electric wire 33, 37 Branch wire 46, 57, 69 Bus bar for box 48, 60, 61, 71 Relay terminal 54, 66 Pressure contact terminal

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A box circuit provided at the center and near both sides of a panel body, a base circuit connecting the center box housing and each box housing near both sides, and a branch line for connecting auxiliary equipment. A branch box and a through circuit box, which are interchangeably accommodated in the respective box accommodating portions on both sides and are connected to the base circuit by connectors, and are accommodated in the central box accommodating portion and connect the base circuits on both sides. A connection structure for a vehicle circuit body, comprising: 2. The connection structure for a vehicle circuit according to claim 1, wherein electric wires connected to both sides of the panel main body are led out from the branch box and the through circuit box. 3. The connection structure for a vehicle circuit body according to claim 2, wherein an electric wire guide groove for accommodating the electric wire and the branch line is provided in the panel main body. 4. The connection structure for a vehicle circuit body according to claim 1, wherein the bus bar as the base circuit is insert-molded in the panel main body. 5. A box bus bar is built in each of the branch box, the relay box, and the through circuit box, and a terminal of each box bus bar is connected to a terminal of the base circuit via a relay terminal. The connection structure for a vehicle circuit body according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the branch line is pressed against a pressure contact terminal provided on the bus bar. 6. The electric wire according to claim 5, wherein electric wires connected to both sides of the panel main body are connected to terminals of the box bus bar of the branch box and the through circuit box. Connection structure for vehicle circuit.