JPH11273813A - Connecting structure of wire harness to electrical connection box - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To contact a wire harness cable to an internal circuit of an electrical connection box without using a connector. SOLUTION: A pressure contact terminal mounting part 16 which protrudes stepwise from the external surface of an electrical connection box is provided, pressure contact blade parts 20a of plural pressure contact terminals 20 connected to the internal circuit of the electric connection box are protruded in a staggered arrangement state from an opening formed in a center of a tip surface of the pressure contact terminal mounting part, while the cable which forms a wire harness can be connected by pressure contact to the pressure contact terminal by wiring the wire harness along the external surface of the cable.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connection structure between a wire harness for an automobile and an electric connection box, and more particularly, to an internal circuit of an electric connection box such as a junction box and a wire harness.
This is to connect the wires constituting the nest without a connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when wires constituting a wire harness are connected to an internal circuit of an electric junction box such as a junction box, crimp terminals are crimped to core wires exposed from the ends of these wires, and these crimp terminals are connected. While the connector is housed in the connector, the connector is fitted in a connector housing portion formed in the electric connection box, and the crimp terminal housed in the connector is relayed to a tab provided on a bus bar constituting an internal circuit of the electric connection box. They are often connected via terminals. Further, when the internal circuit of the electric connection box is constituted by a single core wire and a press contact terminal, a tab for connecting an external terminal of the press contact terminal, or a relay terminal connected to the tab is provided in the connector housing portion. It protrudes and is connected to the crimp terminal in the connector connected to the wire harness terminal.

[0003] As described above, since the electric connection box and the wire harness are connected via a connector, crimp terminals are crimp-connected to the ends of the wires of the wire harness, and these crimp terminals are connected. Must be housed in connector. Therefore, there is a problem that the number of working steps is increased, required parts (crimp terminals, connectors, etc.) are increased, and the cost is increased. Furthermore, since the terminals connected to the internal circuit are laid out in a line in the connector accommodating portion provided in the electric connection box, there is a problem that a large number of terminals takes up space.

[0004] In order to solve the above problem, the present applicant has previously disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-22738 a connection structure of a connectorless electric connection box and a wire harness shown in FIG. In this connection structure, the terminal of the electric wire w of the external circuit constituting the wire harness is connected to the lower case 1 of the electric connection box.
Of the external circuit and the conductor of the internal circuit are connected to each other by welding or press-connecting terminals 3 without a connector. The lower case 1 is attached to the lower case 2.

However, in the above connection structure, since the electric wire terminal of the wire harness is inserted into the electric connection box and connected to the internal circuit, the electric connection box can be assembled only by the actual binding on the wire harness assembly work table. And the workability is very poor. In other words, the temporary binding harness obtained by sub-assembly of the electric wire group cannot be connected to the electric junction box that houses and assembles the internal circuit. As described above, when the connection work between the terminal of the wire harness and the electric connection box is performed on the wire harness assembly work table at the time of the actual binding, the connection work is extremely increased, and there is a problem that the cost is increased.

Further, in the above connection structure, only the terminal of the wire harness can be connected to the electric connection box, and the intermediate portion of the wire harness cannot be connected to the electric connection box. Furthermore, since the electric wire to be inserted into the electric junction box is not fixed, if a pulling force acts on the electric wire outside, tension is applied to the connection with the internal circuit in the electric junction box, and in terms of connection reliability, There was a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has an intermediate portion of a temporary binding harness connected to an electric connection box without a connector, and a large number of terminals and electric wires on the electric connection box side have a large space. It is another object of the present invention to make connection possible without any tension, to improve connection reliability without applying tension to the connection portion, and to make connection easily with a small number of work steps.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a press-fit terminal mounting portion projecting from an outer surface of a case of an electric connection box, and an opening at a center of a front end surface of the press-fit terminal mounting portion. The press-contact blades of the plurality of press-contact terminals connected to the internal circuit of the electric connection box are projected from the opening in a staggered arrangement to reduce the pitch of the adjacent press-contact blades, while reducing the wire harness. There is provided a connection structure of a wire harness and an electric connection box, which are wired along the outer surface of the case and press-connects an electric wire constituting the wire harness to the press-connecting terminal.

Specifically, in an internal circuit composed of a press contact terminal protruding from a bus bar constituting an internal circuit of an electric connection box, and / or a press contact terminal connected to the electric wire by press contact with the press contact terminal, The blades project in a staggered arrangement along the long side of the rectangular box-shaped press-connecting terminal mounting portion (accordingly, at a constant pitch smaller than the conventional one on the same line), and the tip of the press-connecting terminal mounting portion. Insert the wires of the wire harness to be wired along the outer surface of the case by inserting them into the guide grooves formed on both sides of the surface and the long side, and after press-connecting with the press-connecting terminal, cover the cover and cover the cover. The electric wire is bent and fixed between the lower end of the side surface and the outer surface of the case. As described above, since the press contact terminals projecting from the opening of the press contact terminal mounting portion on the case side are arranged in a staggered manner, the installation space can be reduced compared to the conventional case, and the terminals and the electric wires can be efficiently connected. In other words, in the same space, the number of connection between the press contact terminal and the electric wire can be increased.

[0010] Further, with the above structure, the connector-less operation can be easily performed by simply pushing the electric wire constituting the wire harness into the press contact blade portion of the press contact terminal protruding from the press contact terminal mounting portion on the outer surface of the case of the electric connection box. Thus, it can be connected to the internal circuit. Therefore, as a wire harness,
The sub-assembly temporary binding harness can be used, and the electric connection box can be assembled by containing the internal circuit. As described above, since the temporary binding harness is connected on the outer surface of the electric connection box, the connection operation on the wire harness assembly work table can be facilitated, and the number of operation steps can be reduced.

As an internal circuit of the electric connection box, a horizontal bus bar is laminated via an insulating plate, is bent from the bus bar to form the press contact terminal, and a press contact blade provided at a tip of the press contact terminal. Are preferably projected from the opening of the press contact terminal mounting portion, and the adjacent press contact terminals in the staggered arrangement are protruded from the bus bars of different layers.

That is, when the press contact terminals are protruded from the bus bar of the same layer, it is necessary to leave a required pitch to secure an insulating space. The pitch can be reduced as compared with the case where the projection is provided from one layer. Further, in the case of bus bars of the same layer, it is difficult to reduce the pitch in processing the bus bar, but in the case of different layers, the above problem does not occur.
Usually, two rows are arranged in a zigzag pattern, but if the height of the pressure contact terminals connected to the electric wires is changed, three or more rows are arranged in a zigzag pattern, so that the space can be used more effectively.

The wire harness is composed of a temporarily tied wire harness connecting terminals to wire terminals and connecting these terminals to a connector. An intermediate portion of a wire group constituting the wire harness is connected to the press-connecting terminal. ing.

As described above, in the above-described conventional example, only the terminal of the wire harness can be connected to the internal circuit of the electric connection box without a connector. However, in the present invention, the intermediate portion of the wire harness is connected without a connector to the electric connection box. Can be connected to internal circuits.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a connectorless direct connection section 12 is provided in a lower case 11 of a junction box 10, and connectors 13A and 13B are attached to both ends, and an intermediate portion of a wire harness 15 temporarily bound is provided. The connection is made by the direct connection section 12 and connected to the bus bar 14 housed in the junction box 10.

In the direct connection portion 12, a rectangular box-shaped press contact terminal mounting portion 16 is formed so as to protrude stepwise from the lower surface 11a (the upper surface in the figure) of the lower case 11. Tip surface (top surface in the figure) of the press contact terminal mounting portion 16
An opening 16b for protruding the press contact terminal is formed at the center of the press contact terminal 16a, and a pair of press contact terminal guides 16c are provided to extend from both sides of the opening 16b to the inside. Further, the wire guide grooves 16f are formed at a constant pitch P between the both side surfaces 16d and 16e in the long side direction of the press contact terminal mounting portion 16 and the above-mentioned front end surface 16a.

Further, a pair of cover mounting plate portions 17 project from the lower case lower surface 11a at both sides of the short side of the press contact terminal mounting portion 16 at a required interval. These cover mounting plate portions 17 are projected from the press contact terminal mounting portion 16 by a required dimension, and lock claws 17a for fixing the cover are provided on the outer surface.
Is provided.

In the junction box 10, a horizontal bus bar 14 is accommodated in a layer via an insulating plate 18. The bus bar 14 is bent vertically from the bus bar 14, and a press contact terminal having a press contact blade portion 20a formed at the upper end thereof. 20 are provided. The press contact terminal 20 passes through the inside of the press contact terminal guide 16c, and the press contact blade portion 20a protrudes from the opening 16b.

As shown in FIG. 3, the press contact terminal 20 is
The press contact blades of the first row of press contact terminals 20-1 are arranged at a constant pitch P1 on the same horizontal line L1, and the press contact blades of the second row of press contact terminals 20-2 on the same horizontal line L2. Although the sections are arranged at a constant pitch P1, the first and second rows are not arranged in the same vertical direction but are phased, and the first and second rows are arranged in a staggered manner. In other words, the second row of press contact terminals 20-2 is located between the first row of press contact terminals 20-1, and the pitch P2 between the adjacent first and second row press contact terminals is reduced (P1>). P2).

The pressure contact terminals 20 adjacent to each other in the first and second rows are projected from different layers of the bus bars 14 arranged in layers inside the case. The press contact terminals adjacent to each other in the first row or the press contact terminals adjacent in the second row may protrude from the bus bar of the same layer. That is, the pitch between the adjacent press-connecting terminals in the same row is the same as the conventional pitch, leaving a required insulating space.

The first row of press contact terminals 20-1 and the second row of press contact terminals 20-2 are positioned corresponding to the positions of the wire guide grooves 16f formed on the outer surface of the press contact terminal mounting portion 16. .

A cover 23 is provided to cover the press contact terminal mounting portion 16 from above. The cover 23 has a box shape with an opening at the lower surface, and the height H1 is set to the height H of the press-fit terminal mounting portion 16.
2 and the cover 23 with respect to the tip end surface 16a.
Required clearance C between the distal end surface 23a of the blade and the distal end of the press contact blade 20a.
1 is set to open.

Opposite side surfaces 23b and 23c of the long side of the cover 23 are side surfaces 16d and 1
6e and a gap C2 (substantially the same dimension as the outer diameter of one electric wire), and both side faces 23 facing the short side.
d and 23e have dimensions that cover the outer surface of the cover mounting plate portion 17.

The long sides 23b, 23 of the long side of the cover 23
An electric wire holding ball portion 23g is provided at the lower end of c. On the other hand, lock holes 23f are formed in both side surfaces 23d and 23e on the short side.
And a lock claw 17a protruding from the cover mounting plate portion 17.
Is inserted to lock the cover 23.

On the outer surface of the lower case 11 on which the direct connection portion 12 is protruded, the connector housing 2
6, and a fuse and a relay accommodating portion are protruded as required. The heights of the press-contact terminal mounting portion 16 and the cover mounting plate portion 17 of the direct connection portion 12 are made to protrude higher than the heights of the connector housing portion 26, the fuse, and the relay housing portion. Further, mounting portions 31 for connectors, fuses, relays, and the like are provided on the outer surface of the upper case 30 assembled to the lower case 11. In addition, you may provide a direct connection part also in an upper case as needed.

The upper case 30 at a position facing the lower case 11 having the direct connection portion 12 protruding therefrom includes:
A flat portion 36 capable of receiving the receiving jig 35 is provided so as to withstand a pressing load without providing a projecting portion such as a connector, a fuse, and a relay housing portion.

At the time of press-connecting the wire harness 15 to the direct connection portion 12 of the junction box 10, first, the junction box 10 is turned upside down as shown in FIG. 2 so that the lower case 11 is positioned on the upper surface, and Then, the receiving jig 35 is placed on the flat portion 36 of the upper case 30 located directly below the direct connection portion 12. That is, the jig 35 receives the part directly below the direct connection part 12.
Support with.

In this state, the wire harness 15 is wired just above the direct connection portion 12, and the electric wire w for connecting to the internal circuit of the junction box 10 is connected to the press-fit terminal mounting portion 1.
6 through the wire guide groove 16f on the upper surface, and are arranged in parallel at a constant pitch.

Next, the electric wire w is pushed down by a pushing-down jig (not shown), and the electric wire w is pushed down to the press contact blade portion 20a of the press contact terminal 20 projecting from the opening 16b of the press contact terminal mounting portion 16, and the electric wire w is pressed. Cut the insulation coating and connect the core wire to the crimp terminal 2.
0 and electrically connected.

Thereafter, the tip end face 16 of the press contact terminal mounting portion 16
a, The cover 23 is put on the press-contact terminal mounting portion 16 while passing the electric wire w through the electric wire guide grooves 16f of both side surfaces 16d and 16e. At this time, since the gap C2 between the outer peripheral portion of the cover 23 and the outer peripheral portion of the press contact terminal mounting portion 16 is set to be substantially equal to the outer diameter of the electric wire w, the electric wire w is sandwiched while being inserted into the electric wire guide groove 16f. You.

The cover 23 is fixed to the lower case 11 with the lock claw 17a of the cover mounting plate 17 inserted and locked in the lock hole 23f on the short side of the cover 23. In this state, the electric wire w is clamped and fixed between the electric wire holding ball 23g at the lower end of the cover 23 and the surface of the lower case 11 in a bent state. As described above, since the cover 23 is fixed to the case, the wire w connected to the press-contact terminal 20 is bent and fixed without opening the cover 23 even when a tensile force acts on the wire. As a result, it is possible to prevent the tensile force acting on the electric wire w from acting on the press-connecting portion. Further, in this state, the distal end surface 23a of the cover 23 is spaced from the distal end surface 16a of the press contact terminal mounting portion 16 so that the load by the cover 23 is not applied to the press contact terminal 20.

The wire harness 1 thus temporarily bound is
5 is routed along the outer surface of the case with respect to the junction box 10 housing and assembling the internal circuit, and a required electric wire is pushed into the press-connecting terminal protruding from the press-fit terminal mounting portion 16 on the outer surface of the case. With only this, the internal circuit and the electric wire of the wire harness can be directly connected (that is, without a connector).

Further, since the press contact terminals 20 connected to the electric wires are staggered, when the same number of connection portions are provided as shown in FIG. Space can be reduced. Therefore, in the case of the same space, the number of connections can be increased.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show a second embodiment.
In the first embodiment, the pressure contact terminals 20 are arranged in two rows in a staggered manner, but in the second embodiment, the pressure contact terminals 20 are arranged in three rows in a staggered manner.
In this case, the first and second columns (L1), (L2), and third (L3) vertically adjacent press-contact terminals 20-1 and 20-
The pitch P3 of 2, 20-3 is the pitch P2 of the first embodiment.
(P1>P2> P3).

When the adjacent pitch P3 is reduced as described above, the height of the press contact blades protruding in the first, second, and third rows is changed, and the electric wire connected to one press contact blade is changed. It does not come into contact with other press contact blades.

Although the above embodiment is an example in which the press contact terminal mounting portion is provided on the lower case, it may be provided on the upper surface of the upper case and also on the side surfaces of the lower case and the upper.

[0037]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the temporarily tied wire harness can be directly connected to an electric connection box containing an internal circuit and assembled without a connector. . Therefore, as compared with the case where a terminal is crimp-connected to a wire terminal of a conventional wire harness, the terminal is inserted into a connector, and this connector is fitted into a connector accommodating portion of an electric connection box and connected to an internal circuit, The number of parts can be greatly reduced, such as the elimination of terminals and connectors.

Further, electrical connection can be achieved only by press-connecting the wire harness to the press-contact terminal protruding from the outer surface of the case of the electric connection box, and the number of working steps can be greatly reduced.

Further, since the press contact terminals protruding from the outer surface of the case are arranged in a staggered manner, the required space can be reduced in the case of the same number of connections. In the case of the same space, the number of connections can be increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 3A is a plan view of a press contact terminal mounting plate, and FIG.
Is a front view, and (C) is a sectional view.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a press contact terminal provided on a bus bar constituting an internal circuit of the junction box.

FIG. 5 is a drawing comparing the required space of a press-connecting portion between the present invention and a conventional example.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment, in which (A) is a schematic plan view,
(B) is a schematic sectional view.

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

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Junction box 11 Lower case 13A, 13B Connector 15 Wire harness 16 Pressure contact terminal attaching part 17 Cover attaching plate part 18, 19 Locking piece 18a, 19a Locking claw 20 (20-1, 20-2, 20-3) Pressure contact terminal 20a Pressure contact blade 23 Cover

Claims (3)

[Claims] An electric connection box is provided with a press-fit terminal mounting portion projecting from the outer surface of the case, an opening is formed at the center of the front end surface of the press-fit terminal mounting portion, and the internal circuit of the electric connection box is connected through the opening. The press-contact blades of the plurality of press-contact terminals project in a staggered arrangement to reduce the pitch between adjacent press-contact blades, and wire harness is routed along the outer surface of the case to form a wire harness. The connection structure of the wire harness and the electric connection box, which press-connects the electric wire constituting the above to the press-connecting terminal. 2. An internal circuit of the electric connection box, in which horizontal bus bars are stacked and arranged via an insulating plate, and are bent by the bus bars to form the press contact terminals. The press contact terminals provided at the tips of the press contact terminals are provided. 2. The connection structure between a wire harness and an electric connection box according to claim 1, wherein a blade portion protrudes from an opening of the press contact terminal mounting portion, and the staggered adjacent press contact terminals protrude from bus bars of different layers. 3. The wire harness is composed of a temporarily tied wire harness connecting terminals to electric wire terminals and connecting these terminals to a connector, and an intermediate portion of a group of electric wires constituting the wire harness is connected to the press contact terminal. Claim 1 which is connected
Or the connection structure of the wire harness of Claim 2 and an electric junction box.