Electrical junction box

Abstract

An electrical junction box includes a housing main body having a plurality of connector portions, a power supply side circuit board housed in the housing main body, and a spare connector mounting portion provided at an upper portion of the housing main body, the spare connector mounting portion being configured such that a spare connector is attached to and detached from the spare connector mounting portion. The spare connector includes a fuse configured to electrically connect the power supply side circuit board to a device side terminal connected to one end of an electric wire configured to be electrically connected to an electronic device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The subject matter currently disclosed pertains to an electrical junction box. Background Technology

[0002] Electrical junction boxes of related technologies can flexibly handle differences in vehicle type or class, further reducing development and manufacturing costs and time (see JP2014-193073A). In an electrical junction box including circuitry connected to loads disposed on the vehicle body, the junction box comprises multiple types of optional units, each optional unit including additional circuitry selectively used according to the vehicle type or class relative to a base unit, the base unit including a common circuitry common to multiple vehicle types or classes. When optional units are selectively combined with a base unit, the common circuitry of the base unit and the additional circuitry of the selected optional unit form a circuit. The base unit and the selected optional unit are attached to a housing made of synthetic resin prepared for each vehicle type or class and secured to the vehicle body.

[0003] Furthermore, an electrical junction box that can be used across vehicle types has been proposed (see JP2015-231309A). The electrical junction box includes an electrical junction box housing (shell body), a common relay block, individual corresponding relay blocks, a common power supply block, and individual corresponding semiconductor modules. The individual corresponding semiconductor modules, as well as one or more of the common relay blocks, individual corresponding relay blocks, and common power supply blocks, are housed within receiving chambers in the electrical junction box housing, and any unreceived blocks are housed within receiving chambers formed within the housed blocks.

[0004] However, in electrical junction boxes of the relevant technology, in order to obtain power later, the cover must be removed from the housing of the electrical junction box and the electrical junction box must be disassembled, which requires complicated work. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The illustrative aspect of the currently disclosed subject matter provides an electrical junction box in which an external power source can be easily obtained without complicated operations.

[0006] According to the illustrative aspects of the currently disclosed subject matter, an electrical junction box includes a housing body having multiple connector portions, a power-side circuit board housed within the housing body, and a spare connector mounting portion disposed in the upper portion of the housing body. The spare connector mounting portion is configured such that a spare connector can be attached to and detached from the spare connector mounting portion. The spare connector includes a fuse configured to electrically connect the power-side circuit board to a device-side terminal, which is connected to one end of a wire configured to electrically connect to electronic equipment.

[0007] Other aspects and advantages of the subject matter disclosed herein will become apparent from the following description, accompanying drawings and claims. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 This is an exploded perspective view of the main parts of an electrical junction box according to an embodiment of the currently disclosed subject matter;

[0009] Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view of the fuse wire socket shown together with the power supply side circuit board;

[0010] Figure 3 This is a perspective view showing the fuse socket;

[0011] Figure 4 It is a perspective view showing the fuse wire socket, in which the wire pulled out from the lower side of the connector housing is led upward through the wire retaining portion;

[0012] Figure 5 This is an exploded perspective view of the fuse socket shown together with the power supply side circuit board;

[0013] Figure 6 This is a perspective view showing the fuse socket;

[0014] Figure 7 It is a perspective view showing the fuse socket, in which the wire pulled out from the lower side of the connector housing is led upward through the wire retaining portion;

[0015] Figure 8 This is an enlarged perspective view of the main body of the housing, showing the fuse wire socket and fuse holder mounted on the spare connector mounting section;

[0016] Figure 9 This is a perspective view showing a fuse socket mounted on a spare connector mounting portion of the housing body via a spare connector connecting block;

[0017] Figure 10 This is an exploded perspective view of the spare connector connection block;

[0018] Figure 11 This is a perspective view of a spare connector connection block with a deformation-resistant protection structure in the connector mounting section; and

[0019] Figure 12 This is an enlarged perspective view of the main body of the housing, showing the state of the spare connector connecting block installed on the spare connector mounting part, with the fuse socket installed on the spare connector connecting block. Detailed Implementation

[0020] In the following description, embodiments based on the currently disclosed subject matter will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1This is an exploded perspective view of the main parts of an electrical junction box 11 according to an embodiment of the currently disclosed subject matter. For example, a "fuse block" in which a large number of fuses can be inserted and removed is used in vehicle power lines to protect the circuits of various electronic devices. Because a fuse block can have relays, it is also referred to as a "relay box" or "junction block." In this specification, fuse blocks, relay boxes, and junction blocks are collectively referred to as electrical junction box 11.

[0021] The electrical junction box 11 according to this embodiment includes a housing body 13 forming the outer shell, a power-side circuit board 10 integrally disposed with the housing body 13, a lower cover 21 covering the lower opening of the housing body 13, and an upper cover (not shown) covering the upper opening of the housing body 13. For example, a plurality of connector portions are provided on the upper surface of the housing body 13, and electrical components such as fuses and fuse wires are mounted on the connector portions. In addition, a spare connector mounting portion is provided in the upper portion of the housing body 13, which allows the fuse wire socket 23 and fuse socket 25, which serve as spare connectors, to be detachably attached.

[0022] In this embodiment, the spare connector mounting portions are spare connector mounting portion 17 and spare block mounting portion 19, which are box-shaped recesses open on the upper surface of the housing body 13, obtained by separating the housing body 13 with multiple partition walls 15. Terminal portions 14 (see...) are respectively provided in spare connector mounting portion 17 and spare block mounting portion 19. Figure 2 ) and terminal connection portion 12 (see Figure 9 The circuit board 10 is located in the power-side circuit board 10, which is formed by bending or cutting the plate-shaped busbar. The terminal portion 14 and the terminal connection portion 12 of the power-side circuit board 10 are electrically connected to the power-side terminals of the knife-shaped fuse 51 and the fuse wire 31 to be installed.

[0023] The upper cover covers the electrical components mounted on the upper part of the housing body 13, and the lower cover 21 leads the wires out from the lower part of the housing body 13.

[0024] In the electrical junction box 11 according to this embodiment, a spare connector is mounted on the spare connector mounting portion 17. In this embodiment, the spare connector is a fuse wire socket 23 and a fuse socket 25. Furthermore, the spare connector can be connected via a spare connector connecting block 27 (see [link to spare connector mounting portion 17]). Figure 9 It is installed on the spare block mounting part 19, which serves as the spare connector mounting part.

[0025] Figure 2This is an exploded perspective view of the fuse socket 23 shown together with the power supply side circuit board 10. A fuse 31 is mounted on the fuse socket 23. The fuse 31 electrically connects the device side terminal 35 and the terminal portion 14, whereby the device side terminal 35 is connected to one end of a wire 33 that is electrically connected to an electronic device, and the terminal portion 14 is part of the terminal connection portion of the power supply side circuit board 10.

[0026] In the fuse socket 23, a power-side connection terminal 37 is mounted in the fuse socket housing 45 made of insulating resin. The power-side connection terminal 37 is electrically connected to the power-side terminal (not shown) of the fuse 31 mounted on the fuse socket 23. The power-side connection terminal 37 includes electrical contact pieces 41 as a pair of tab terminals. Each of these electrical contact pieces 41 is inserted between a pair of different retaining pieces 43 of the terminal portion 14, which serves as a tuning fork terminal, and is conductive. Furthermore, a device-side terminal 35 is mounted on the fuse socket 23. The device-side terminal 35 is electrically connected to the load-side terminal (not shown) of the fuse 31.

[0027] Figure 3 This is a perspective view showing the fuse socket 23. In the electrical junction box 11, the fuse socket housing (connector housing) 45 of the fuse socket 23 has a wire retaining portion 47. The wire retaining portion 47 is formed in a C-shape in the plan view, and one end of the wire retaining portion 47, which holds the wire insertion port 49, is connected to the side of the fuse socket housing 45. The other end of the wire retaining portion 47 serves as a free end.

[0028] The wire 33 can be inserted from the wire insertion port 49 into the wire holding portion 47 in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction. In the wire holding portion 47, the wire 33, which is connected to the device side terminal 35 housed in the fuse socket housing 45 and extends toward the lower side of the fuse socket housing 45, can be held in a state where it is pulled out to the upper side of the fuse socket housing 45.

[0029] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the fuse socket 23, in which a wire 33 pulled out from the lower side of the fuse socket housing 45 is led upward by a wire holding portion 47. In the fuse socket 23, the wire 33 pulled out from the lower side of the fuse socket housing 45 is inserted into a wire insertion port 49 and led out to the upper portion of the fuse socket housing 45. Thus, the wire 33 is led out by turning towards the upper portion while bent 180 degrees between the lower portion of the fuse socket housing 45 and the wire holding portion 47.

[0030] Figure 5This is an exploded perspective view of the fuse socket 25 shown together with the power-side circuit board 10. The fuse socket 25 can also be mounted on the spare connector mounting portion 17. The power-side terminals 39 of the various knife-shaped fuses 51 mounted on the fuse socket 25 are inserted and connected between a pair of retaining tabs 43, which are different from the terminal portion 14 of the power-side circuit board 10 housed in the housing body 13.

[0031] Furthermore, the device-side terminal 35 attached to the end of the wire 33 is inserted into the fuse socket 25. The device-side terminal 35 inserted into the fuse socket 25 is directly connected to the load-side terminal 53 of the knife-type fuse 51 in the fuse socket 25.

[0032] Figure 6 This is a perspective view showing the fuse socket 25. In the case of the fuse socket 25, similar to the fuse wire socket 23, the fuse socket housing (connector housing) 55, made of insulating resin, includes a wire retaining portion 47. The wire retaining portion 47 is formed in a C-shape in the plan view, and the wire 33 can be inserted from the wire insertion port 49 into the wire retaining portion 47 in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction.

[0033] Figure 7 This is a perspective view of the fuse socket 25, in which a wire 33 pulled out from the lower side of the fuse socket housing 55 is led upward by a wire holding portion 47. In the fuse socket 25, the wire 33 pulled out from the lower side of the fuse socket housing 55 is inserted into a wire insertion port 49 and led out to the upper portion of the fuse socket housing 55. Therefore, the wire 33 is led out to the upper portion with a 180-degree bend between the lower portion of the fuse socket housing 55 and the wire holding portion 47.

[0034] Figure 8 This is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the housing body 13, showing the state in which the fuse wire socket 23 and the fuse holder 25 are mounted on the spare connector mounting portion 17. In the electrical junction box 11 according to this embodiment, when a power supply needs to be ensured when adding options, accessories, etc., the fuse wire socket 23 and the fuse holder 25 are inserted into the spare connector mounting portion 17 of the housing body 13. Therefore, power via the fuse wire 31 and the knife fuse 51 can be easily obtained from the electrical junction box 11 later.

[0035] Note that the wires 33 leading from the fuse socket 23 and the fuse socket 25 to the upper part of the housing body 13 are led out from, for example, between the housing body 13 and the top cover, or from an outlet provided in the side cover to the outside of the electrical junction box 11.

[0036] Figure 9This is a perspective view showing the fuse socket 23 mounted on the spare block mounting portion 19 of the housing body 13 via the spare connector connecting block 27. One of the spare connector mounting portions located in the upper portion of the housing body 13 within the electrical junction box 11 can be, for example... Figure 1 The spare block installation section 19 is shown. Figure 9 The spare connector connection block 27 shown is mounted on the spare block mounting part 19.

[0037] The fuse socket 23 or fuse receptacle 25 is selectively mounted on the spare connector mounting portion 19 via the spare connector connecting block 27. The connector mounting portion 57 is formed in the spare connector connecting block 27. The fuse socket 23 or fuse receptacle 25 can be selectively mounted on the connector mounting portion 57.

[0038] Figure 10 This is an exploded perspective view of the spare connector connection block 27. In the spare connector connection block 27, the housing body 59, formed of insulating resin, is rectangular in shape in the plan view. A busbar connection housing portion 60, having a roughly square shape in the plan view, is integrally formed at one end of the housing body 59 in the longitudinal direction. Within the busbar connection housing portion 60, a busbar connection portion 61 (see figure 60) accommodates the tuning fork terminal 29. Figure 10 The tuning fork terminal 29 is connected to the terminal connection portion 12 of the power-side circuit board 10 housed in the housing body 13. In addition to the connector mounting portion 57, the housing body 59 is provided with a plurality of fuse mounting portions 58 for mounting, for example, knife fuses 51, etc.

[0039] Tuning fork terminals 29 connected to the power supply side circuit board 10 are mounted on the housing body 59. That is, in the spare connector connection block 27 mounted on the housing body 13 that houses the power supply side circuit board 10, the tuning fork terminals 29 are connected to the power supply side circuit board 10 of the housing body 13 via the busbar connection portion 61.

[0040] In the tuning fork terminal 29, which is part of the terminal connection portion of the power supply side circuit board 10, multiple pairs (eight pairs in this embodiment) of retaining pieces 43, which are erected in the shape of tuning forks, are formed along the longitudinal direction of the housing body 59. The tuning fork terminal 29 is electrically connected to the power supply side connection terminal 37 of the fuse socket 23 or to the power supply side terminal 39 of the knife-shaped fuse 51, which is inserted between a pair of retaining pieces 43.

[0041] Figure 11This is a perspective view of a spare connector block 27 with a deformation-resistant protection structure in the connector mounting portion 57. The spare connector block 27 has a deformation-resistant protection structure in the connector mounting portion 57. The deformation-resistant protection structure includes a peripheral wall portion 63 surrounding the tuning fork terminals 29 exposed in the connector mounting portion 57. The peripheral wall portion 63 prevents the tuning fork terminals 29 from deforming due to external forces. The peripheral wall portion 63 has an upper opening portion 65 provided for each pair of retaining tabs 43, through which the paired retaining tabs 43 are exposed. Furthermore, in the peripheral wall portion 63, a slit 67 is formed by cutting downwards from the upper opening portion 65, allowing the electrical contact tab 41 of the power supply side connection terminal 37 and the power supply side terminal 39 of the knife-shaped fuse 51 to be inserted between the paired retaining tabs 43 in the slit 67.

[0042] In the peripheral wall portion 63, the periphery of the upper opening portion 65 serves as the upper end surface 69 of the opening. The upper end surface 69 of the opening faces the upper stepped portion 71 of the fuse wire socket 23 or fuse socket 25 (see...). Figure 6 and 11 In the folded portion of the peripheral wall portion 63, a seat portion 73, parallel to the upper end surface 69 of the opening, is formed to extend from the peripheral wall portion 63. Fuse wire socket 23 or fuse socket 25 (see...) Figure 6 and 11 The lower end of the engaging rib 75 contacts or approaches the seat portion 73.

[0043] A placement rib 79, having a placement surface parallel to the upper end surface 69 of the opening, is provided in a protruding manner on the inner wall surface 77 of the connector mounting portion 57. The lower stepped portion 81 of the fuse socket 23 or fuse socket 25 (see...) Figure 6 and 11 The rib 75 is placed on the placement rib 79. The placement rib 79 extends toward the peripheral wall portion 63 and is connected to the seat portion 73 in an L-shape by hanging down relative to the peripheral wall portion 63 with a certain gap. The gap between the peripheral wall portion 63 and the suspended placement rib 79 serves as an engagement groove 83. The engagement rib 75 is inserted into the engagement groove 83 from above.

[0044] Then, the lower stepped portion 81 of the fuse socket 23 or fuse receptacle 25, which is at least mounted on the connector mounting portion 57 of the spare connector connecting block 27, is placed on the placement rib 79, and the engagement rib 75 is fitted into the engagement groove 83. Therefore, the fuse socket 23 or fuse receptacle 25 is restricted to movement in the front-back direction (parallel to the inner wall surface 77 and perpendicular to the peripheral wall portion 63), the left-right direction (the longitudinal direction of the connector mounting portion 57), and the downward direction (the mounting direction of the fuse socket 23 and fuse receptacle 25 relative to the connector mounting portion 57).

[0045] The fuse socket 23 or fuse holder 25 is selectively locked and secured to the housing body 13 and the spare connector connection block 27 by a locking mechanism that can be released from above the housing body 13. The locking mechanism includes... Figure 1 and 10 The locking arm 85 and the engagement recess 87 are shown.

[0046] For example, when the fuse socket 23 is installed on the spare connector mounting portion 17 or the connector mounting portion 57 of the spare connector connecting block 27, the locking claw 89 is pressed in and pushed in. When the fuse socket 23 is inserted (installed) to the predetermined position, the locking claw 89 of the locking arm 85, which is displaced by the elastic restoring force, is locked into the engagement recess portion 87.

[0047] Therefore, the fuse socket 23 is restricted from being separated from the spare connector mounting portion 17 or the connector mounting portion 57. On the other hand, when the locking arm 85 is moved using a clamp or the like, the engagement with the engagement recess 87 is released, and the fuse socket 23 can be separated from the spare connector mounting portion 17 or the connector mounting portion 57.

[0048] Figure 12 This is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the housing 13, showing the state in which the spare connector connection block 27, with the fuse wire socket 23 mounted, is installed on the spare block mounting portion 19. Figure 12 In the electrical junction box 11 shown, when power is required to add options, accessories, etc., the fuse socket 23 is inserted into the spare connector connection block 27 mounted on the spare block mounting portion 19 of the housing body 13. The fuse socket 25 can be inserted into the spare connector connection block 27.

[0049] Therefore, according to the electrical junction box 11, the power supply of the fuse wire 31 or the knife fuse 51 connected in series to a spare connector block 27 can later be easily obtained from the electrical junction box 11.

[0050] Next, the function of the above configuration will be described. In the electrical junction box 11 according to this embodiment, the housing body 13 includes a plurality of connector portions, a spare connector mounting portion 17, and a spare block mounting portion 19. The power supply side circuit board 10 is housed in the housing body 13. The power supply side circuit board 10 is made of a highly conductive metal such as copper, and is integrally embedded and housed in the housing body 13 made of insulating resin, for example, during molding.

[0051] A spare connector is detachably mounted on a spare connector mounting portion 17 or a spare block mounting portion 19, which is located in the upper portion of the housing body 13. The spare connector is a fuse socket 23 or a fuse socket 25. The case where the spare connector is a fuse socket 25 will be described below as an example.

[0052] When the fuse socket 25 is installed on the spare connector mounting portion 17 or spare block mounting portion 19 of the housing body 13, the knife fuse 51 is connected in series between the power supply side circuit board 10 and the device side terminal 35, which is connected to one end of the wire 33 that is electrically connected to the electronic device.

[0053] The wire 33 extending from the fuse socket 25 passes through the fuse socket housing 55 of the fuse socket 25 in the vertical direction and is led out to the upper part. As a result, in the electrical junction box 11 according to this embodiment, even when power needs to be ensured when adding options, accessories, etc., it is only necessary to insert (install) the fuse socket 25 into the spare connector mounting portion 17 or spare block mounting portion 19 in the upper part of the housing body 13.

[0054] In other words, the power supply via the knife-shaped fuse 51 can then be easily obtained from the electrical junction box 11. As a result, it is not necessary to remove the lower cover 21 from the housing body 13 and disassemble the electrical junction box 11, and an external power supply can be easily obtained without complicated work.

[0055] In the electrical junction box 11 according to this embodiment, in the spare connector mounting portion 17 and the spare block mounting portion 19, the power-side terminal 39 of the knife-shaped fuse 51 mounted on the fuse socket 25 can be electrically connected to the terminal portion 14 or the tuning fork terminal 29, which is part of the terminal connection portion of the power-side circuit board 10. The knife-shaped fuse 51 includes a power-side terminal 39 on one side and a load-side terminal 53 on the other side.

[0056] When the fuse socket 25 is installed on the spare connector mounting portion 17 or spare block mounting portion 19 of the housing body 13, the power side terminal 39 of the knife fuse 51 installed on the fuse socket 25 is electrically connected to the power side circuit board 10 housed in the housing body 13 of the electrical junction box 11.

[0057] The power supply terminal 39 of the knife-type fuse 51 is connected to the load-side terminal 53 via a fuse wire component. The device-side terminal 35, which is connected to the end of the wire 33, is electrically connected to the load-side terminal 53. That is, the wire 33 attached to the end of the device-side terminal 35 is connected to the load-side terminal 53 of the knife-type fuse 51 in the fuse socket and is led out to the outside of the fuse socket 25.

[0058] Therefore, according to the electrical junction box 11, the wire 33 that connects the knife-shaped fuse 51 in series with the power supply side circuit board 10 can be easily obtained via the fuse socket 25 mounted on the spare connector mounting portion 17 or spare block mounting portion 19 of the housing body 13.

[0059] In the electrical junction box 11 according to this embodiment, the fuse socket 25 includes a wire holding portion 47. When the fuse socket 25 with the knife-shaped fuse 51 attached is mounted on the spare connector mounting portion 17 or the spare block mounting portion 19, the power-side terminal 39 of the knife-shaped fuse 51 is electrically connected to the power-side circuit board 10 of the housing body 13. In the knife-shaped fuse 51 where the power-side circuit board 10 is connected to the power-side terminal 39, the device-side terminal 35 is electrically connected to the load-side terminal 53 within the fuse socket 25. The device-side terminal 35 connected to the load-side terminal 53 of the knife-shaped fuse 51 is attached to the end of the wire 33.

[0060] Since the device-side terminal 35 is inserted from below the fuse socket 25, the wire 33 attached to its end extends downward from the fuse socket 25 and is led out. The wire retaining portion 47 formed in the fuse socket 25 retains the wire 33 extending to the lower side of the fuse socket 25 by, for example, bending the wire 33 180 degrees into a semi-circular arc, so that the wire 33 led out from the lower side can be kept in the state of being pulled out above the fuse socket 25.

[0061] Therefore, in the electrical junction box 11 of this embodiment, when the fuse socket 25 is installed in the upper part of the housing body 13, the wire 33 can be easily led out from the upper part of the housing body 13.

[0062] Furthermore, in the electrical junction box 11 of this embodiment, a locking mechanism is provided between the spare connector mounting portion 17 or the spare block mounting portion 19 and the fuse socket 25. The locking mechanism includes, for example, a locking arm 85 and an engagement recess 87. In the locking mechanism, the locking arm 85 is provided in the fuse socket 25, and the engagement recess 87 is provided in the spare connector mounting portion 17 or the spare block mounting portion 19. When the locking arm 85 engages with the engagement recess 87, the fuse socket 25 is prevented from separating from the spare connector mounting portion 17 or the spare block mounting portion 19.

[0063] By mounting the fuse socket 25 onto the spare connector mounting portion 17 or the spare block mounting portion 19, the locking mechanism causes the locking arm 85 to elastically deform and lock by engaging with the engagement recess portion 87 in a predetermined mounting position. The locking arm 85, locked to the engagement recess portion 87, is configured to be movable from above the housing body 13 in a direction away from the engagement recess portion 87.

[0064] As a result, in the electrical junction box 11 according to this embodiment, the fuse socket 25 can be fixed to the spare connector mounting portion 17 or the spare block mounting portion 19 by a single-touch operation. Furthermore, in the electrical junction box 11 according to this embodiment, the lock at the upper part of the housing body 13 can be released by operating the locking arm 85 from above the housing body 13, and the fuse socket 25 can be easily attached and detached.

[0065] In the above description, the case where the spare connector is a fuse socket 25 has been described as an example, and the same effect as described above can be obtained even when the spare connector is a fuse wire socket 23 on which a fuse wire 31 is installed. Therefore, the electrical junction box 11 according to this embodiment can easily obtain an external power supply without complicated operations.

[0066] According to one aspect of the above embodiments, the electrical junction box (11) includes a housing body (13) having multiple connector portions, a power-side circuit board (10) housed within the housing body, and a spare connector mounting portion (17, e.g., a spare block mounting portion 19). The spare connector mounting portion is disposed in the upper portion of the housing body (13) and is configured such that a spare connector (e.g., a fuse wire socket 23, a fuse socket 25) is attached to and detached from the spare connector mounting portion. The spare connector includes a fuse (e.g., a fuse wire 31, a knife-type fuse 51) configured to electrically connect the power-side circuit board (10) to a device-side terminal (35) connected to one end of a wire (33) configured to be electrically connected to an electronic device.

[0067] According to the electrical junction box (11) having the above-described structure, the housing body (13) includes multiple connector portions and spare connector mounting portions (17, spare block mounting portion 19). A power-side circuit board (10) is housed within the housing body. The power-side circuit board is made of a highly conductive metal, such as copper, and is housed within the housing body made of insulating resin. Spare connectors (fuse wire socket 23, fuse socket 25) are detachably attached to the spare connector mounting portion located in the upper part of the housing body. The spare connector includes a fuse (fuse wire 31, knife-type fuse 51). When the spare connector is mounted on the spare connector mounting portion of the housing body, the fuse is electrically connected in series between the power-side circuit board and the device-side terminal (35), which is connected to the end of the electrical connection of the wire (33) to the electronic device. Wires leading from the spare connector pass vertically through the connector housing (fuse wire socket housing 45 and fuse socket housing 55) of the spare connector and are led out to the upper part. As a result, with this electrical junction box, even when power needs to be ensured when adding options, accessories, etc., only the spare connector needs to be inserted (installed) into the spare connector mounting portion of the upper part of the housing body. In other words, power via the fuse can be easily obtained from the electrical junction box later. As a result, it is not necessary to remove the lower cover (21) from the housing body or disassemble the electrical junction box, and external power can be easily obtained without complicated work.

[0068] The power supply side terminal (39) of the fuse (fuse wire 31, knife fuse 51) can be configured to be electrically connected to the terminal connection portion (e.g., terminal portion 14, tuning fork terminal 29) of the power supply side circuit board (10).

[0069] With this configuration, in the spare connector mounting section (17, spare block mounting section 19), the power-side terminal (39) of the fuse (fuse wire 31, knife fuse 51) mounted on the spare connector (fuse wire socket 23, fuse socket 25) can be electrically connected to a portion of the terminal connection section (terminal section 14, tuning fork terminal 29) of the power-side circuit board (10). The fuse (fuse wire 31, knife fuse 51) includes a power-side terminal (39) on one side and a load-side terminal (53) on the other side. When the spare connector (fuse wire socket 23, fuse socket 25) is installed on the spare connector mounting portion (17, spare block mounting portion 19) of the housing body (13), the power-side terminal (39) of the fuse (fuse wire 31, knife fuse 51) installed on the spare connector (fuse wire socket 23, fuse socket 25) is electrically connected to the power-side circuit board (10) housed in the housing body (13) of the electrical junction box (11). The power-side terminal (39) of the fuse (fuse wire 31, knife fuse 51) is connected to the load-side terminal (53) via the fuse wire component. The device-side terminal (35) connected to the end of the wire (33) is electrically connected to the load-side terminal (53). In other words, the wire (33) attached to the end of the device-side terminal (35) is connected to the load-side terminal (53) of the fuse (fuse wire 31, knife fuse 51) in the spare connector (fuse wire socket 23, fuse socket 25) and is led out to the outside of the spare connector (fuse wire socket 23, fuse socket 25). As a result, according to the electrical junction box (11), the wire (33) that connects the fuse (fuse wire 31 and knife fuse 51) in series with the power supply side circuit board (10) can be easily obtained via the spare connector (fuse wire socket 23, fuse socket 25) mounted on the spare connector mounting portion (17, spare block mounting portion 19) of the housing body (13).

[0070] The spare connector (fuse receptacle 23, fuse receptacle 25) may include a wire retaining portion (47) configured to retain a wire (33) which, when pulled out toward the upper side of the spare connector, has one end connected to a device-side terminal (35) housed in a connector housing (e.g., fuse receptacle housing 45, fuse receptacle housing 55) and extends toward the lower side of the spare connector.

[0071] Using this configuration, the spare connector (fuse wire socket 23, fuse socket 25) includes a wire holding portion (47). When the spare connector (fuse wire socket 23, fuse socket 25) with attached fuses (fuse wire 31, knife fuse 51) is mounted on the spare connector mounting portion (17, spare block mounting portion 19), the power-side terminal (39) of the fuse (fuse wire 31, knife fuse 51) is electrically connected to the power-side circuit board (10) of the housing body (13). In the fuse (fuse wire 31, knife fuse 51) connected to the power-side terminal (39) on the power-side circuit board (10), the device-side terminal (35) is electrically connected to the load-side terminal (53) within the spare connector (fuse wire socket 23, fuse socket 25). The device-side terminal connected to the load-side terminal of the fuse is attached to the end of the wire (33). Because the device-side terminal is inserted from below the spare connector, the wires attached to the device-side terminal extend to the lower side of the spare connector and are led out. A wire retaining portion formed in the spare connector retains the wires extending to the lower side of the spare connector, for example, by bending the wires 180 degrees into a semi-circular arc, so that the wires leading out from the lower side can be held in a pulled-out state above the spare connector. Therefore, according to the electrical junction box with this configuration, when the spare connector is installed in the upper part of the housing body, the wires can be easily led out from the upper part of the housing body.

[0072] The spare connector (fuse wire socket 23, fuse socket 25) can be configured to be locked and secured to the spare connector mounting portion (17, spare block mounting portion 19) via a locking mechanism (e.g., locking arm 85 and engagement recess 87) configured to be released from above the housing body (13).

[0073] With this configuration, a locking mechanism (locking arm 85 and engagement recess 87) is provided between the spare connector mounting portion (17, spare block mounting portion 19) and the spare connector (fuse socket 23, fuse socket 25). The locking mechanism includes, for example, a locking arm 85 and an engagement recess 87. In the locking mechanism, for example, the locking arm is provided in the spare connector, and the engagement recess is provided in the spare connector mounting portion. When the locking arm engages with the engagement recess, the spare connector is restricted from separating from the spare connector mounting portion. By mounting the spare connector on the spare connector mounting portion, the locking mechanism elastically deforms the locking arm and locks it by engaging with the engagement recess in a predetermined mounting position. The locking arm locked to the engagement recess is configured to be movable from above the housing body in a direction away from the engagement recess. Therefore, in an electrical junction box with this configuration, the spare connector can be secured to the spare connector mounting portion by a one-touch operation, and the locking arm can be operated from above the housing body (13), thereby releasing the lock at the upper portion of the housing body, and the spare connector can be easily attached and detached.

[0074] Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, and those skilled in the art will understand that various changes and modifications may be made to the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An electrical junction box, comprising: The main body of the shell has multiple connector sections; A power supply side circuit board, which is housed within the housing body; and A spare connector mounting portion is disposed on the upper portion of the housing body and configured such that the spare connector can be attached to and detached from the spare connector mounting portion. The spare connector includes: A connector housing is configured to receive a fuse in an opening on the upper side of the connector housing. A fuse that electrically connects the power supply side circuit board to a device side terminal, which is connected to one end of a wire. The device-side terminals are housed in a connector housing, and the wires are configured for electrical connection to electronic equipment. From one end connected to the device-side terminal housed in the connector housing, the wire extends toward the underside of the spare connector and then toward the topside of the spare connector.

2. The electrical junction box according to claim 1, in, The power supply side terminals of the fuse are configured to be electrically connected to the terminal connection portion of the power supply side circuit board.

3. The electrical junction box according to claim 1 or 2, in, The spare connector includes a wire retaining portion configured to hold the wire in a pulled-out state toward the upper side of the spare connector.

4. The electrical junction box according to claim 1 or 2, in, The spare connector is configured to be locked and secured to the spare connector mounting portion via a locking mechanism configured to be released from above the housing body.

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