JPH11225416A - Structure for preventing mis-insertion of connector into electric junction box - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a structure capable of preventing erroneous insertion of connectors into an electric junction box at the time of connecting the connectors to the junction box. SOLUTION: A structure for preventing erroneous insertion of connector into an electric junction box is constructed so that the insertion of the corresponding connectors 23a-23c to be respectively inserted in the connecting sections 24a-24c of an electric junction box 21 is allowed, only when the detecting pins 25a of detecting members correspond to the arrangement of the detecting recessed sections of the connecting section 24a-24c, when the pins 25a are put in terminal housing chambers 26a-26c of the connectors 23a-23c, so that the pins 25a protrude from an inserting surface 28.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure for preventing erroneous fitting of a connector to an electric connection box used for connection of a wire harness for an automobile, and more particularly to a structure for fitting a connector to an electric connection box. This makes it possible to use a connector having the same shape by making it possible to distinguish between fitting positions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electric junction box for an automobile is one in which wire harnesses divided for each system are connected, and circuit connections are made by bus bars arranged inside. As shown in FIG. 6, connectors 3a, 3b, 3c connected to terminals of each wire harness are provided on the surface of the base portion 2 of the electric connection box 1.
Connector connecting portions 4a, 4b, 4
c is provided. Each of the connector connection portions 4a, 4
b, 4c and the connectors 3a, 3b, 3c have different shapes of the connectors 3a, 3b, 3c so as to be connected to corresponding portions without being erroneously fitted. For this reason, the types of the connectors 3a, 3b, 3c increase, which increases the cost and complicates the parts management.

Therefore, even if connectors have the same shape,
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 6-275341 discloses a device capable of preventing erroneous fitting to an electric connection box. As shown in FIG. 7, this erroneous fitting prevention structure is such that an erroneous assembly prevention tab 15 formed by bending a bus bar is protruded in a connector connection portion 14 of an electric connection box 11 so that the tab 15
Can be inserted into a specific terminal accommodating chamber of the connector 13 so that the corresponding connector 13 can be distinguished.

[0004]

In the above case, the detection structure for preventing erroneous fitting is provided only on the electric connection box side, and on the connector side, whether or not the terminal is inserted into a predetermined terminal accommodating chamber. At first glance, the appearance cannot be distinguished. For this reason, it is difficult to judge whether or not they correspond to each other unless the connector is fitted to the electric connection box, which is disadvantageous in terms of workability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and can detect erroneous fitting of a connector when the connector is fitted to an electric connection box, and can also show the difference between the connectors even before the fitting. The challenge is to do so.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, there is provided an electric connection box having a plurality of connector connection portions into which connectors of the same shape can be fitted, and a wire harness. A structure for preventing erroneous fitting between a plurality of connectors of the same shape attached to the terminal and fitted to and connected to the connector connecting portion, wherein the connector connecting portion has a terminal of a connector to be fitted. A detection recess is formed at a position corresponding to at least one of the predetermined terminal accommodating chambers into which no connector is inserted, and a fitting condition of each connector connection portion is distinguished by a difference in the location of the detection recess. A separate detection member having a mating detection pin at one end is provided, and the other end of the detection member is mountable from a mating surface side to a predetermined terminal accommodating chamber into which the terminal of the connector is not inserted. Protruding from each of the above The detection pins are respectively mounted in the terminal receiving chambers of the corresponding connectors to be fitted to the connector connection portions so as to protrude from the fitting surface, and the detection pins of the detection member mounted on the connector and the connector connection portions are connected to the connector pins. A structure for preventing erroneous fitting of a connector to an electric connection box is provided, wherein the structure is such that fitting of the connector to the connector connecting portion is permitted only when the arrangement of the detection concave portions corresponds.

Specifically, it is preferable that the detecting member is formed of an elastic member such as rubber, and the mounting pin of the detecting member is elastically fitted and mounted in the terminal accommodating chamber of the connector to maintain the mounted state. Is done.

[0008] With the above configuration, since the detection member is mounted in the terminal accommodating chamber in which a different terminal is not inserted for each connector, and the detection pin of the detection member protrudes from the mating surface of the connector, each connector has the same shape. Even in this case, the connector can be distinguished in appearance by the difference in the projecting position of the detection pin. In this case, if the detection member is a member having a color different from that of the connector, the distinction in appearance can be made more remarkable.

When the connector on which the detection member is mounted is fitted to the connector connection portion of the electric connection box, if the combination is correct, the detection pin is inserted into the detection recess of the connector connection portion, and the proper connection is made. The fitting state is established. On the other hand, in the case of erroneous fitting of the connector, the erroneous fitting can be detected by the contact of the detection pin with the terminal on the other side or the base portion of the connector connecting portion.

The detection pin and the mounting pin of the detection member are formed in the same shape, and a stopper for regulating the mounting depth of the mounting pin in the terminal accommodating chamber is formed at an intermediate portion between the detection pin and the mounting pin. (Claim 2).

With this configuration, it is not necessary to consider the direction of the detection member when mounting the detection member in the terminal accommodating chamber, so that the workability of mounting the detection member can be improved and the mounting depth in the terminal accommodating chamber can be reduced. The restricting stopper can ensure a constant amount of protrusion of the detection pin and improve the appearance of the protruding portion.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, an electric connection box 21 as a joint box or a connector connection unit is
Connector connecting portions 24a, 24b, 2 fitted and connected to the surface of the base portion 22 in correspondence with the plurality of connectors 23a, 23b, 23c attached to the terminals of the wire harness.
4c. In the present invention, a separate detecting member 25 is provided to prevent the erroneous fitting between the electric connection box 21 and the connectors 23a, 23b, 23c.

The connectors 23a, 23b and 23c have the same shape, and a female terminal Ta is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 26. Empty terminal receiving chambers 26a, 26 into which the terminals Ta are not inserted are located in predetermined portions of the terminal receiving chamber 26, which are different for each of the connectors 23a, 23b, 23c.
b and 26c are set at least one each.

On the other hand, the connector connecting portions 24a, 24b, 24c of the electric connection box 21
A male terminal Tb, which is formed by projecting the end of the bus bar, protrudes in correspondence with the arrangement of the terminals Ta of a, 23b, and 23c.
Around the connector connection parts 24a, 24b, 24c, a frame-shaped peripheral wall 22a for fitting the connectors 23a, 23b, 23c is integrally protruded from the base part 22. In each of the connector connecting portions 24a, 24b, 24c, empty terminal accommodating chambers 26a, 26b, 26c into which the terminals Ta of the corresponding connectors 23a, 23b, 23c are not inserted.
As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the detection recesses 27 a, 2
7b and 27c are formed. Then, the detection concave portion 27
The fitting conditions of the connector connecting parts 24a, 24b, 24c can be distinguished by the difference in the setting parts of a, 27b, 27c.

The detecting member 25 is, as shown in FIG.
One end is provided with a detection pin 25a that can be fitted into the detection recesses 27a, 27b, 27c, and the other end has an empty terminal accommodating chamber 26a of the connector 23a, 23b, 23c.
Attachment pins 25b that can be attached to 26b, 26c are protruded. A stopper 2 is provided at an intermediate portion between the mounting pin 25b and the detection pin 25a to abut the fitting surface 28 of the connector 23a, 23b, 23c to regulate the mounting depth of the mounting pin 25b.
5c is formed so that the detection pin 25a protrudes from the fitting surface 28 in a state of being mounted in the terminal accommodating chambers 26a, 26b, 26c.

The detecting member 25 having the above-described structure is preferably made of an elastic member such as rubber or the like.
a, 26b, and 26c can be maintained in a state of being fitted elastically. Further, the detecting member 25 is connected to the connector 23.
a, 23b, and 23c, the connectors 23a, 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, 23d, 23d, 23d, 23d, 23d, 23d, 23d, 23d, 23d, and 23d are set according to the protruding positions of the detection pins 25a.
The distinction in appearance between b and 23 can be further clarified. The detection pin 25a and the mounting pin 25b of the detection member 25 have the same shape, and the connector connection portions 24a,
The detection recesses 27a, 27b, 27c of 4b, 24c may also be made to correspond in the same manner, so that the mounting direction of the detection member 25 may be eliminated, and the mounting workability may be improved.

According to the structure for preventing the connector from being erroneously fitted to the electric connection box having the above configuration, first, in each of the connectors 23a, 23b, and 23c on the wire harness side, a predetermined empty terminal accommodating chamber 26a, 26b, 26c is provided. The mounting pin 25b of the detection member 25 is mounted. Then, each connector 2
While checking the position of the detection pin 25a protruding from the fitting surface 28 of 3a, 23b, 23c, it fits into the corresponding connector connection parts 24a, 24b, 24c of the electric connection box 21, respectively.

In the case where the connector 23a and the connector connecting portion 24a correspond to each other during the fitting operation, FIG.
As shown in (A), the detection pin 25a is
The connector 23a is connected to the connector connection portion 2
4a. On the other hand, if an attempt is made to fit a connector 23b that does not correspond to the connector connection portion 24a, the connector shown in FIG.
As shown in (B), the detection pin 25a interferes with the terminal Tb protruding from the inside of the connector connection portion 24a, or when the terminal Tb does not exist, interferes with the base portion 22 so that the connector 23b cannot be fitted. It is in a state, and it is recognized that the fitting is incorrect.

[0019]

As is apparent from the above description, the structure for preventing the connector from being erroneously fitted to the electric connection box according to the present invention has a structure in which the detection member is mounted in the empty terminal accommodating chamber of the connector. Since the connector protrudes from the fitting surface, even if the connector has the same shape, the type of the connector can be distinguished on the appearance according to the protruding position. And when fitting the connector with the detection member into the connector connection portion of the electric connection box, the detection pin interferes with the terminal of the connector connection portion or the base portion, so that erroneous fitting can be confirmed. Therefore, since connectors having the same shape can be adopted as the connectors on the wire harness side, it is possible to contribute to cost reduction and reduction in component management by reducing the types of connector components.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a structure for preventing an erroneous fitting of a connector to an electric junction box according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a detection member is attached to a connector.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a connector connecting portion.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the electric junction box showing an arrangement state of the detection concave portions.

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a normal fitting state of the connector,
(B) is a figure which shows an incorrect fitting state.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Electric connection box 22 Base part 23a, 23b, 23c Connector 24a, 24b, 24c Connector connection part 25 Detection member 25a Detection pin 25b Mounting pin 25c Stopper 26, 26a, 26b, 26c Terminal accommodating chamber 27a, 27b, 27c Detection recess

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An electric connection box having a plurality of connector connection portions into which connectors of the same shape can be fitted, and an electric connection box of the same shape attached to a terminal of a wire harness and fitted and connected to the connector connection portion. An erroneous fitting prevention structure between a plurality of connectors, wherein the connector connection portion has a detection recess at a position corresponding to at least one of predetermined terminal receiving chambers into which terminals of a connector to be fitted are not inserted. And forming a separate detecting member provided at one end with a detecting pin that can be fitted into the detecting concave portion. At the other end of the detecting member, mounting pins protruding from a fitting surface side into a predetermined terminal accommodating chamber into which the terminal of the connector is not inserted, and the corresponding connector to be fitted to each connector connecting portion is provided. In the terminal accommodation room, The detection pins are mounted so as to protrude from the mating surfaces, respectively, and only when the detection pins of the detection member mounted on the connector correspond to the detection recesses of the connector connection portion, the connector is fitted into the connector connection portion. A structure for preventing erroneous fitting of a connector to an electric junction box, wherein the structure is such that connection is allowed. 2. A detection pin and a mounting pin of the detection member are formed in the same shape, and a stopper is formed at an intermediate portion between the detection pin and the mounting pin to regulate a mounting depth of the mounting pin in the terminal accommodating chamber. The structure for preventing erroneous fitting of a connector to an electric connection box according to claim 1.