Junction box and vehicle

Abstract

This invention discloses a junction box and a vehicle. The junction box is applied to a vehicle including a passenger compartment and a wiring harness assembly. The wiring harness assembly includes an internal wiring harness and an external wiring harness. The junction box includes a housing and a power terminal block. The housing is used to connect to the side wall of the passenger compartment and has a first mounting position. The internal and external wiring harnesses are connected via a connector, and the first mounting position is used for mounting the connector. The power terminal block is located in the housing and includes a first end and a second end connected to each other. The first end is used to connect to the power line of the internal wiring harness, and the second end is used to connect to the power line of the external wiring harness. The technical solution of this invention can improve the functional integration of the junction box and is beneficial to simplifying the vehicle structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vehicle technology, and in particular to a junction box and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] Existing vehicles typically have junction boxes on the side walls of the passenger compartment to allow for the connection and securing of internal and external wiring harnesses. These junction boxes also enhance the dust and water resistance of the passenger compartment. For example, commercial vehicles often have a front junction box on the front bulkhead of the passenger compartment. Connectors for the instrument panel wiring harness (i.e., internal wiring harness) and the chassis wiring harness (i.e., external wiring harness) can be connected and secured within the connector mounting slots of the front junction box.

[0003] With the increasing sophistication of vehicle features and the diversification of electrical components, higher demands are being placed on vehicle electrical design. Current front junction boxes, however, are functionally limited and have low integration, merely providing a connector mounting structure, thus failing to meet the more complex and diverse electrical design requirements. Therefore, there is an urgent need to provide a new junction box structure solution to overcome these technical shortcomings. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to provide a junction box that improves the functional integration of the junction box and helps to simplify the vehicle structure.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the junction box proposed in this invention is applied to a vehicle, the vehicle including a passenger compartment and a wiring harness assembly, the wiring harness assembly including an internal wiring harness and an external wiring harness, and the junction box including:

[0006] A housing for connection to the side wall of the passenger compartment, the housing having a first mounting position, wherein at least a portion of the internal wiring harness and at least a portion of the external wiring harness are connected via a connector, and the first mounting position is for mounting the connector; and

[0007] A power terminal block is provided in the housing. The power terminal block includes a first end and a second end connected to each other. The first end is used to connect to the power line of the wiring harness inside the cabin, and the second end is used to connect to the power line of the wiring harness outside the cabin.

[0008] Optionally, the first end and / or the second end are configured as terminals, and the outer peripheral surface of the terminals is provided with threads.

[0009] Optionally, the housing is further provided with a protective cover that extends circumferentially along the terminal block, and the terminal block is at least partially located inside the protective cover.

[0010] Optionally, the terminal block and the housing are integrally injection molded.

[0011] Optionally, the first mounting position is configured as a first through hole, and the connector can be at least partially inserted into the first through hole.

[0012] Optionally, multiple first through holes are provided, and the multiple first through holes are distributed at intervals along the length direction and / or width direction of the box body.

[0013] Optionally, the first through hole has snap-fit ​​ribs on both opposite side walls in the width direction. The snap-fit ​​ribs are used to abut against the side of the connector. There are multiple snap-fit ​​ribs, and the multiple snap-fit ​​ribs are distributed at intervals along the length direction of the first through hole.

[0014] Optionally, the passenger compartment includes a front bulkhead, the box is disposed on the front bulkhead, the wiring harness inside the compartment includes an instrument panel wiring harness, the vehicle also includes an instrument electrical box connected to the instrument panel wiring harness, and the box is further provided with a second mounting position for mounting the instrument electrical box.

[0015] Optionally, the second mounting position includes a second through hole, a fastening part disposed on the upper side edge of the second through hole, and a supporting part disposed on the lower side edge of the second through hole. The supporting part protrudes from the hole wall of the second through hole and is used to support the instrument electrical box. One end of the fastener can pass through the instrument electrical box and be connected to the fastening part.

[0016] Optionally, the supporting part has a limiting pin protruding upward at the end away from the second through hole, and the instrument electrical box has a corresponding socket. The limiting pin is inserted into the socket, and the supporting part abuts against the edge of the socket.

[0017] Optionally, the fastening part is configured as a threaded hole, the fastener is configured as a bolt, the instrument electrical box is provided with a first through hole, and one end of the bolt can pass through the first through hole and be locked with the threaded hole.

[0018] Optionally, the wiring harness assembly further includes an additional wiring harness, wherein a pre-set notch is provided on the lower edge of the second through hole for the additional wiring harness to pass through, the additional wiring harness including an Ethernet wiring harness and / or an LVDS wiring harness and / or an HSD wiring harness.

[0019] Optionally, the support portion is provided in multiple ways, and the multiple support portions are distributed at intervals along the width direction of the box body, with the pre-set notch formed between two adjacent support portions;

[0020] Optionally, the housing is further provided with a pre-set boss located on the lower side of the support portion and has a pre-set locking hole for installing the additional wiring harness.

[0021] Optionally, the front panel is provided with mounting holes for the box body to be fitted, the box body is provided with a box flange corresponding to the edge of the mounting hole, a nut is fixed on the box flange, and a second through hole is provided corresponding to the edge of the mounting hole, one end of the bolt can pass through the second through hole and be connected to the nut.

[0022] Optionally, the nut is made of metal, the box is made of plastic, and the nut and the box are injection molded as a single unit.

[0023] Optionally, the outer peripheral surface of the box body is also provided with at least two opposing elastic protrusions, which can be locked onto the edge of the mounting hole.

[0024] Optionally, the box body is provided with mounting cavities penetrating opposite side walls, and the side walls of the passenger compartment are provided with mounting holes for the box body to be fitted. The mounting cavity has opposite outer cavity openings and inner cavity openings, and the outer cavity openings are located outside the mounting holes. The power supply terminal and the first mounting position are both located in the mounting cavity. The junction box also includes a cover, which covers the outer cavity opening and has a cover clearance opening for the external wiring harness to pass through.

[0025] Optionally, the box body has a box flange corresponding to the edge of the mounting hole, the cover body has a cover flange corresponding to the box flange, and the junction box further includes a waterproof gasket, which is sandwiched between the box flange and the cover flange.

[0026] Optionally, the sidewall of the outer cavity is provided with a box clearance opening corresponding to the cover clearance opening. The cover clearance opening and the box clearance opening are connected and together form a wire passage. The wire passage is used for the external wiring harness to pass through. The axis of the wire passage is orthogonal to the mating direction of the connector.

[0027] Optionally, the junction box further includes a resilient sealing sleeve embedded within the wiring channel.

[0028] Optionally, the sealing sleeve has an annular flange on its outer peripheral surface near the mounting cavity. The outer peripheral surface of the annular flange has a plurality of annular protrusions, which are spaced apart along the axial direction of the sealing sleeve. The sidewall of the box relief opening has an annular groove corresponding to the annular protrusions, and the annular protrusions are embedded in the annular grooves. The end face of the cover relief opening near the mounting cavity abuts against the end face of the annular flange away from the mounting cavity.

[0029] Optionally, the junction box further includes a rigid support sleeve inserted into the sealing sleeve. The rigid support sleeve has an annular plate portion on its outer peripheral surface near the mounting cavity. The annular plate portion abuts against the end face of the annular flange near the mounting cavity. The annular plate portion has a pin protruding towards the annular flange. The annular flange has a pin hole for inserting the pin.

[0030] The present invention also proposes a vehicle including a passenger compartment, a wiring harness assembly, and the aforementioned junction box. The wiring harness assembly includes an internal wiring harness and an external wiring harness connected to each other. The junction box is disposed on the side wall of the passenger compartment and is used to install the internal wiring harness and the external wiring harness.

[0031] Optionally, the passenger compartment includes a front bulkhead, with a mounting hole on the passenger side of the front bulkhead. The junction box is mounted in the mounting hole. The interior wiring harness includes an instrument panel wiring harness, and the exterior wiring harness includes a chassis wiring harness. A connector between the instrument panel wiring harness and the chassis wiring harness is mounted in a first mounting position on the junction box. The power cable of the instrument panel wiring harness is connected to a first end of the power terminal of the junction box, and the power cable of the exterior wiring harness is connected to a second end of the power terminal.

[0032] In this invention, by integrating power terminals onto the junction box, the junction box not only performs basic functions such as installing and fixing external and internal wiring harnesses and providing protection, but also supports high-current transmission through the power terminals, thereby enriching the junction box's functionality and improving its functional integration. Secondly, since the power terminals are integrated into the junction box, at least one set of molds for the terminal box is saved, and the structure of the passenger compartment is simplified, thus reducing the overall vehicle manufacturing cost and weight. Attached Figure Description

[0033] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0034] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a junction box according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A structural schematic diagram of the middle box;

[0036] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Another structural diagram of the middle box;

[0037] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the vehicle of the present invention from an inside view;

[0038] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the vehicle's structure from an outside view.

[0039] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A structural diagram of a vehicle after the cover and chassis wiring harness have been removed.

[0040] Figure 7 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the middle cover structure;

[0041] Figure 8 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of the waterproof gasket;

[0042] Figure 9 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the central sealing sleeve.

[0043] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0044] label name label name 10 box 31 Cover the opening 10a Mounting cavity 32 Flip-edge 10b inner cavity 40 Waterproof gasket 10c Lateral cavity 50 Sealing sleeve 11 First mounting position, first through hole 51 Annular flange 12 Protective shield 51a Annular protrusion 13 Second installation position 51b pin hole 131 Second through hole 60 Rigid support sleeve 132 Fastening part, first through hole 61 Annular plate 133 Supporting Department 62 plug 134 Limit pin 81 Front panel 141 Pre-set gap 811 Mounting holes 142 Pre-set boss 812 Second via 15 Box fold 91 Instrument panel wiring harness 16 Nut 92 chassis wiring harness 17 Elastic convex 93 connector 18 Box gives way to opening 94 Instrument Electrical Box 18a Annular groove 941 Socket 20 Power terminal 942 Threaded hole

[0045] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0046] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0047] It should be noted that if the embodiments of the present invention involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0048] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connection," "fixed," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixed" can mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can mean a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can mean a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can mean the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0049] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this invention involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the meaning of "and / or" throughout the text includes three parallel solutions; for example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0050] Existing vehicles typically have junction boxes on the side walls of the passenger compartment to allow for the connection and securing of internal and external wiring harnesses. These junction boxes also enhance the dust and water resistance of the passenger compartment. For example, commercial vehicles often have a front junction box on the front bulkhead of the passenger compartment. Connectors for the instrument panel wiring harness (i.e., internal wiring harness) and the chassis wiring harness (i.e., external wiring harness) can be connected and secured within the connector mounting slots of the front junction box.

[0051] With the increasing sophistication of vehicle features and the diversification of electrical components, higher demands are being placed on vehicle electrical design. Current front-panel junction boxes, however, are functionally limited and have low integration, merely providing connector mounting structures, failing to meet the more complex and diverse electrical design requirements. For example, in existing technology, when the chassis wiring harness power lines are electrically connected to a high-power inverter in the passenger compartment, a separate terminal box is typically used to achieve stable high-current transmission between the two. This terminal box requires an additional mold, increasing overall vehicle cost and complicating the structure. Therefore, a new junction box structure solution is urgently needed to overcome these technical shortcomings.

[0052] In view of this, the present invention proposes a junction box applicable to vehicles such as commercial vehicles or passenger vehicles, wherein commercial vehicles include, but are not limited to, heavy trucks, light trucks, and vans. The vehicle includes a passenger compartment and a wiring harness assembly. The wiring harness assembly includes interconnected internal and external wiring harnesses. The internal wiring harnesses include wiring harnesses located within the vehicle's interior environment, such as instrument panel wiring harnesses, seat wiring harnesses, and roof wiring harnesses, which are not directly exposed to the external environment. The external wiring harnesses include wiring harnesses located within the chassis, engine compartment, and bumper wiring harnesses, which are directly exposed to the external environment.

[0053] Please refer to Figures 1 to 5 In one embodiment of the present invention, the junction box includes:

[0054] A housing 10 for connection to the side wall of the passenger compartment, the housing 10 having a first mounting position 11, wherein at least a portion of the internal wiring harness and at least a portion of the external wiring harness are connected via a connector 93, and the first mounting position 11 is for mounting the connector 93; and

[0055] A power terminal 20 is provided on the housing 10. The power terminal 20 includes a first end and a second end connected to each other. The first end is used to connect to the power line of the wiring harness inside the cabin, and the second end is used to connect to the power line of the wiring harness outside the cabin.

[0056] In this invention, by integrating a power terminal block 20 into the junction box, the junction box not only performs basic functions such as installing and fixing external and internal wiring harnesses and providing protection, but also supports high-current transmission through the power terminal block 20, thereby enriching the junction box's functionality and improving its functional integration. Secondly, since the power terminal block 20 is integrated into the junction box, at least one set of molds for the terminal block box is saved, and the structure of the passenger compartment is simplified, thus reducing the overall vehicle manufacturing cost and weight.

[0057] It should be noted that connector 93 refers to the inner connector, often called the mating connector, which is a plug that connects wire harnesses to each other to achieve circuit connection. It consists of a male end sheath and a female end sheath, such as a PIN type connector.

[0058] Please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3In one embodiment, the first end and / or the second end are configured as terminals, and the outer circumferential surface of the terminals is provided with threads. Thus, the power cord terminal is correspondingly provided with an annular or U-shaped insert. The annular or U-shaped insert is first fitted onto the terminal, and then secured to the thread of the terminal using a nut 16, facilitating the installation and removal of the power cord and the power terminal 20. Specifically, the terminal may be configured as an M8 terminal, and the terminal and housing 10 are integrally injection molded. This type of terminal can carry a current of over 300A, thus meeting the transmission requirements of most high-current electrical devices without causing significant performance overkill. Of course, in some embodiments, the terminal may also be configured as an M6 or M10 terminal. In other embodiments, the first end and / or the second end may be configured as a terminal nut 16, and the power cord terminal is correspondingly welded with a terminal bolt, which is threadedly connected to the terminal nut 16. In other embodiments, the first end and / or the second end may be configured as wiring bosses, and the wiring terminals of the power cord may be fixed to the wiring bosses by welding.

[0059] Please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In one embodiment, the housing 10 is further provided with a protective cover 12, which extends circumferentially along the terminal block, and the terminal block is at least partially disposed within the protective cover 12. This protects and isolates the terminal block, reducing the risk of accidental contact between the terminal block or power cord terminal and other surrounding wiring harnesses. Of course, in other embodiments, the protective cover 12 may not be provided.

[0060] Please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In one embodiment, the first mounting position 11 is configured as a first through hole 11, and the connector 93 can be at least partially inserted into the first through hole 11. That is, this facilitates the installation and fixation of the connector 93, thereby improving the assembly efficiency on the production line. Of course, in other embodiments, the first mounting position 11 can also be configured as a snap-fit ​​hole, and a snap fastener is installed on the outer side wall of the connector 93. The snap fastener can be locked in the snap-fit ​​hole to complete the installation of the connector 93 and the housing 10.

[0061] In one embodiment, multiple first through holes 11 are provided, and the multiple first through holes 11 are distributed at intervals along the length and / or width direction of the housing 10. In this way, more connectors 93 can be integrated and installed in the housing 10, thereby further improving the functional integration of the junction box. Of course, in other embodiments, there may be only one first through hole 11.

[0062] In one embodiment, the first through hole 11 has snap-fit ​​ribs on both opposite side walls in the width direction. These snap-fit ​​ribs abut against the side of the connector 93. Multiple snap-fit ​​ribs are provided, spaced apart along the length direction of the first through hole 11. Thus, because the first through hole 11 is covered with snap-fit ​​ribs along its length direction, connectors 93 of different sizes can be fixed in place, and at least two smaller connectors 93 can be inserted into the same first through hole 11, thereby improving the universal adaptability of the first through hole 11 and facilitating connector insertion by workers. Optionally, in this embodiment, the width and length dimensions of the multiple first through holes 11 are configured to be the same. Of course, in other embodiments, the length dimensions of the multiple first through holes 11 can be configured to be different, and / or the width dimensions of the multiple first through holes 11 can be configured to be different.

[0063] Please refer to Figures 1 to 4 In one embodiment, the passenger compartment includes a front bulkhead 81, a housing 10 is disposed on the front bulkhead 81, the internal wiring harness includes an instrument panel wiring harness 91, the external wiring harness includes a chassis wiring harness 92, and the vehicle also includes an instrument electrical box 94 connected to the instrument panel wiring harness 91. The housing 10 is further provided with a second mounting position 13 for mounting the instrument electrical box 94. This further enhances the functional integration of the junction box. Compared to the prior art where the instrument electrical box 94 is located on the instrument panel beam (i.e., the instrument panel crossbeam), the technical solution of this embodiment integrates the instrument electrical box 94 into the junction box of the front bulkhead 81, saving the mounting bracket originally used for mounting the instrument electrical box 94 on the instrument panel beam, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost and weight of the instrument panel beam. It should be noted that the instrument electrical box 94 refers to a fuse box located inside the instrument panel, which typically houses multiple fuses, thus requiring high convenience for later maintenance.

[0064] It is understood that the junction box of the present invention is not limited to application on the front bulkhead 81, but can also be applied to other areas of the passenger compartment, such as the rear bulkhead or side bulkhead of the passenger compartment. Those skilled in the art can adjust the installation position and structure of the junction box according to actual design needs.

[0065] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3In one embodiment, the second mounting position 13 includes a second through hole 131, a fastening portion 132 disposed on the upper side edge of the second through hole 131, and a supporting portion 133 disposed on the lower side edge of the second through hole 131. The supporting portion 133 protrudes from the hole wall of the second through hole 131 and supports the instrument electrical box 94. The instrument electrical box 94 is connected to the fastening portion 132 by fasteners. Thus, the cooperation of the fasteners and the fastening portion 132 ensures reliable installation of the instrument electrical box 94, and the supporting portion 133 reduces the number of fasteners and fasteners, improving assembly efficiency. Of course, in other embodiments, the fastening portion 132 may be provided on both the upper and lower sides of the second through hole 131, without the supporting portion 133.

[0066] To further improve the installation reliability of the instrument electrical box 94, in one embodiment, the supporting part 133 has a limiting pin 134 protruding upward at the end away from the second through hole 131. The instrument electrical box 94 has a corresponding insertion hole 941, and the limiting pin 134 is inserted into the insertion hole 941. The supporting part 133 abuts against the edge of the insertion hole 941. In this way, by hooking the insertion hole 941 with the limiting pin 134, the instrument electrical box 94 can be more reliably abutted against the end face of the second through hole 131. Of course, in other embodiments, the limiting pin 134 may not be provided.

[0067] In one embodiment, the fastening part 132 is configured as a first through hole 132, the fastener is configured as a bolt, and the instrument electrical box 94 is correspondingly provided with a threaded hole 942. One end of the bolt can pass through the first through hole 132 and be locked with the threaded hole 942. During assembly, the limiting pins 134 of the box body 10 are first aligned and inserted into the insertion hole 941 of the instrument electrical box 94 from top to bottom, so that the first through hole 132 of the instrument electrical box 94 can be aligned with the threaded hole 942 of the box body 10. Then, one end of the bolt passes through the first through hole 132 and is locked with the threaded hole 942. In this way, the installation and removal of the instrument electrical box 94 can be facilitated, and when the instrument electrical box 94 and the fuse on it need to be repaired or replaced, the instrument electrical box 94 can be removed from the junction box, thereby improving the convenience of maintenance. Of course, in other embodiments, the fastening part 132 can also be configured as a riveting hole, and the fastener can be correspondingly configured as a rivet.

[0068] Generally speaking, with the development of vehicle intelligence, vehicles have a greater need for additional wiring harnesses such as Ethernet, LVDS (Low Voltage Differential Signaling), and HSD (High Speed ​​Data), but the existing junction box structure does not take into account these additional wiring harnesses.

[0069] Please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 To improve the compatibility of the junction box, in one embodiment, the wiring harness assembly further includes an additional wiring harness (not shown in the figure). A pre-set notch 141 is provided on the lower edge of the second through hole 131 for the additional wiring harness to pass through. The additional wiring harness includes an Ethernet harness and / or an LVDS harness and / or an HSD harness. That is, when the instrument cluster box 94 is installed into the housing 10, the pre-set notch 141 between the two can serve as a wiring channel for additional wiring harnesses in more intelligent vehicle models. For example, it can provide a wiring channel for additional wiring harnesses such as Ethernet harnesses required for L4 level autonomous driving new energy commercial vehicles. Of course, in other embodiments, the pre-set notch 141 may not be provided.

[0070] In one embodiment, multiple support portions 133 are provided, spaced apart along the width direction of the housing 10, with a pre-set notch 141 formed between adjacent support portions 133; and / or, the housing 10 also provides a pre-set boss 142, located on the lower side of the support portion 133, and having a pre-set locking hole for mounting the additional wiring harness. Thus, the sidewalls of the support portion 133 and the pre-set boss 142 can jointly limit and guide the additional wiring harness, which can be fixed in the pre-set locking hole by wiring harness clips, thereby improving the routing and installation reliability of the additional wiring harness, resulting in better compatibility and avoiding quality problems such as poor signal transmission and frame loss. Of course, in other embodiments, the pre-set boss 142 may not be provided.

[0071] Please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 6 In one embodiment, the front panel 81 is provided with mounting holes 811 for the box body 10 to be fitted into. The box body 10 has a box flange 15 corresponding to the edge of the mounting hole 811. A nut 16 is fixed on the box flange 15. A second through hole 812 is provided corresponding to the edge of the mounting hole 811. One end of a bolt can pass through the second through hole 812 and connect to the nut 16. Optionally, the box flange 15 is circumferentially arranged around the periphery of the box body 10, and multiple nuts 16 are provided, spaced apart along the extending direction of the box flange 15. Thus, by fixing the box body 10 with multiple bolt and nut pairs, the installation reliability of the box body 10 can be improved. Of course, in other embodiments, the box body 10 may also have a buckle on the side facing the front panel 81, and a locking hole is provided corresponding to the edge of the mounting hole 811 of the front panel 81, allowing the buckle to be locked into the locking hole.

[0072] In one embodiment, the nut 16 is made of metal, and the box body 10 is made of plastic. The nut 16 and the box body 10 are integrally injection molded. That is, the nut 16 is pre-embedded in the box body 10, which not only improves the connection strength between the nut 16 and the box body 10, but also saves the assembly and fixing process. Of course, in other embodiments, the nut 16 can also be glued or welded to the box body 10.

[0073] Please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In one embodiment, the outer peripheral surface of the box body 10 is further provided with at least two opposing elastic locking protrusions 17, which can be locked onto the edge of the mounting hole 811. Thus, by cooperating with the nut 16, the box body 10 can be assembled by first locking and then screwing together; that is, the elastic locking protrusions 17 serve a pre-installation function to facilitate subsequent screwing operations, thereby improving assembly convenience and production efficiency. Of course, in other embodiments, the elastic locking protrusions 17 may not be provided.

[0074] It is worth mentioning that, in this embodiment of the invention, optionally, the vehicle also includes an instrument panel located in the passenger compartment. The instrument panel is located in front of the driver's seat and below the windshield. The box 10, the instrument panel, the instrument panel wiring harness 91, the instrument electrical box 94, etc., are first installed and fixed on the instrument panel sub-assembly line in the final assembly workshop to form an instrument panel sub-assembly. Then, the instrument panel sub-assembly is picked up by a robotic arm and sent to the final assembly line for vehicle installation. That is, on the instrument panel sub-assembly line, the instrument panel wiring harness 91 and the instrument panel are successively installed on the instrument panel tube beam. Multiple connectors 93 of some of the instrument panel wiring harness 91 are respectively installed in multiple first mounting positions 11 of the box 10, and the instrument electrical box 94 is installed in the second mounting position 13 of the box 10. Some of the instrument panel wiring harness 91 is then plugged into the instrument electrical box 94. At this time, the box 10 is suspended in the air due to the drag of the instrument panel wiring harness 91. During the installation of the instrument panel sub-assembly by the robotic arm, the housing 10 is first aligned with the mounting hole 811 on the front bulkhead 81. Then, the robotic arm pushes the instrument panel sub-assembly closer to the front bulkhead 81, allowing the housing 10 to be smoothly inserted into the mounting hole 811. The elastic locking protrusion 17 of the housing 10 engages and secures with the edge of the mounting hole 811. Finally, the bolt is driven into the nut 16 via the front side of the front bulkhead 81. Generally speaking, the internal operating space of the instrument panel sub-assembly installed on the vehicle body is limited. In this embodiment, since the nut 16 is pre-embedded and fixed in the housing 10, workers do not need to insert tools into the interior of the instrument panel sub-assembly to operate the nut 16. This significantly simplifies the assembly operation, improves production efficiency, and enhances the maintainability of the housing 10.

[0075] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figures 4 to 7In one embodiment, the housing 10 is provided with mounting cavities 10a extending through opposite side walls, and the side walls of the passenger compartment are provided with mounting holes 811 for the housing 10 to be fitted. The mounting cavity 10a has opposite outer cavity openings 10c and inner cavity openings 10b, with the outer cavity opening 10c located outside the mounting hole 811. The power terminal 20 and the first mounting position 11 are both located within the mounting cavity 10a. The junction box also includes a cover, which covers the outer cavity opening 10c and has a cover clearance opening 31 for the external wiring harness to pass through. This improves the protection of the junction box, and the through-hole mounting cavity 10a facilitates the installation of both external and internal wiring harnesses. Specifically, the internal wiring harness extends into the mounting cavity 10a via the inner cavity opening 10b, and the external wiring harness extends into the mounting cavity 10a via the outer cavity opening 10c. After aligning the external wiring harness with the cover clearance opening 31, the cover then covers the outer cavity opening 10c. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the cover may be omitted, and the box body 10 may have a mounting cavity 10a with only an inner cavity opening 10b facing the passenger compartment. The lower side wall of the mounting cavity 10a may have a through hole for the external wiring harness to pass through.

[0076] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 In one embodiment, the box body 10 has a box flange 15 corresponding to the edge of the mounting hole 811, and the cover body has a cover flange 32 corresponding to the box flange 15. The junction box also includes a waterproof gasket 40, which is sandwiched between the box flange 15 and the cover flange 32. Optionally, the waterproof gasket 40 is located on the inner side of the front panel 81.

[0077] In one embodiment, the sidewall of the outer cavity 10c is provided with a housing clearance opening 18 corresponding to the cover clearance opening 31. The cover clearance opening 31 and the housing clearance opening 18 are connected and together form a wiring channel. The wiring channel is used for the external wiring harness to pass through, and the axis of the wiring channel is orthogonal to the docking direction of the connector 93. In this way, the chassis wiring harness 92 can smoothly extend into the mounting cavity 10a and dock with the instrument panel wiring harness 91, which is beneficial to the smooth routing of the wiring harness and thus helps to maintain the docking stability of the connector 93 and the stability of signal transmission. Specifically, the wiring channel is optionally located on the lower sidewall of the housing 10. Of course, in some embodiments, the wiring channel can also be provided on the left or right sidewall of the housing 10. In other embodiments, the housing clearance opening 18 may not be provided, and the external wiring harness only passes through the cover clearance opening 31.

[0078] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 7 and Figure 9 In one embodiment, the junction box further includes a resilient sealing sleeve 50, which is embedded within the wiring channel. This allows the external wiring harness to better fit with the sealing sleeve 50, reducing the risk of dust or moisture entering the mounting cavity 10a via the wiring channel, improving the junction box's waterproof rating and protective function. Furthermore, through cooperation with the waterproof gasket 40, pre-embedded nut 16, and other structures, the junction box achieves an IP54 waterproof rating. Optionally, multiple sealing sleeves 50 and wiring channels are provided and correspondingly arranged, with the multiple sealing sleeves 50 spaced apart along the width of the box body 10. The sealing sleeve 50 can be made of silicone, rubber, etc. Of course, in other embodiments, the sealing sleeve 50 may not be provided, or only one sealing sleeve 50 may be provided.

[0079] Please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 9 In one embodiment, the sealing sleeve 50 has an annular flange 51 on its outer peripheral surface near the mounting cavity 10a. Multiple annular protrusions 51a protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the annular flange 51, and these protrusions are spaced apart along the axial direction of the sealing sleeve 50. An annular groove 18a is provided on the sidewall of the box clearance opening 18 corresponding to the annular protrusions 51a, and the annular protrusions 51a are embedded in the annular groove 18a. The end face of the cover clearance opening 31 near the mounting cavity 10a abuts against the end face of the annular flange 51 away from the mounting cavity 10a. Thus, the cooperation between the annular protrusions 51a and the annular groove 18a, and the cooperation between the cover clearance opening 31 and the annular flange 51, further enhances the waterproof rating of the sealing sleeve 50 and improves its installation reliability, while also simplifying the structure of the cover. Of course, in other embodiments, the annular flange 51 may not be provided, and multiple annular protrusions 51a may be provided at intervals on the outer peripheral surface of the sealing sleeve 50. The side wall surfaces of the cover clearance opening 31 and the box clearance opening 18 are provided with annular grooves 18a corresponding to the annular protrusions 51a.

[0080] Please refer to Figure 9In one embodiment, the junction box further includes a rigid support sleeve 60 inserted into the sealing sleeve 50. The rigid support sleeve 60 has an annular plate portion 61 on its outer peripheral surface near the mounting cavity 10a. The annular plate portion 61 abuts against the end face of the annular flange 51 near the mounting cavity 10a. A pin 62 protrudes from the annular plate portion 61 towards the annular flange 51, and the annular flange 51 has a pin hole 51b for the pin 62 to be inserted. Thus, the rigid support sleeve 60 allows the sealing sleeve 50 to better maintain its shape and ensures a tight fit with the wiring channel and external wiring harness, thereby improving the protective effect of the sealing sleeve 50. Furthermore, the cooperation between the pin 62 and the pin hole 51b facilitates the installation of the rigid support sleeve 60 and the sealing sleeve 50, and also improves the installation reliability of the rigid support sleeve 60. Specifically, the rigid support sleeve 60 can be made of metal or plastic, etc. Of course, in other embodiments, the rigid support sleeve 60 may not be provided.

[0081] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figures 4 to 6 The present invention also proposes a vehicle, including a passenger compartment, a wiring harness assembly, and the aforementioned junction box. The specific structure of the junction box is as described in the above embodiments. Since this vehicle adopts all the technical solutions of all the above embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, which will not be described in detail here. The wiring harness assembly includes connected internal and external wiring harnesses. The junction box is located on the side wall of the passenger compartment and is used to install the internal and external wiring harnesses.

[0082] In one embodiment, the passenger compartment includes a front bulkhead 81. A mounting hole 811 is provided on the passenger side of the front bulkhead 81. The junction box housing 10 is mounted in the mounting hole 811. The internal wiring harness includes an instrument panel wiring harness 91, and the external wiring harness includes a chassis wiring harness 92. A connector 93 between the instrument panel wiring harness 91 and the chassis wiring harness 92 is mounted in a first mounting position 11 of the housing 10. The power cable of the instrument panel wiring harness 91 is connected to the first end of the power terminal 20 of the junction box, and the power cable of the external wiring harness is connected to the second end of the power terminal 20. Thus, by placing the mounting hole 811 and the junction box on the passenger side of the front bulkhead 81—that is, the right side of the front bulkhead 81 in a left-hand drive vehicle or the left side of the front bulkhead 81 in a right-hand drive vehicle—the arrangement and operating space in this area are relatively large, facilitating the maintenance of the junction box. Furthermore, it frees up space for the upper right area of ​​the instrument panel.

[0083] The above description is merely an optional embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. All equivalent structural transformations made using the contents of the present invention's specification and drawings under the inventive concept of the present invention, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A junction box for use in a vehicle, the vehicle including a passenger compartment, an instrument panel, an instrument cluster box, and a wiring harness assembly, the passenger compartment including a front bulkhead with mounting holes, the wiring harness assembly including an internal wiring harness and an external wiring harness, the internal wiring harness including an instrument panel wiring harness, the instrument cluster box having a plurality of fuses and disposed inside the instrument panel, the instrument panel wiring harness being electrically connected to the instrument cluster box, characterized in that, The junction box includes: A housing for mounting in the mounting holes, the housing having a first mounting position and a second mounting position, wherein at least a portion of the internal wiring harness and at least a portion of the external wiring harness are connected via connectors, the first mounting position is for mounting the connectors, and the second mounting position is for mounting the instrument and electrical box; and A power terminal block is provided in the housing. The power terminal block includes a first end and a second end connected to each other. The first end is used to connect to the power line of the wiring harness inside the cabin, and the second end is used to connect to the power line of the wiring harness outside the cabin. The first end and the second end are configured as terminals, and the outer circumferential surface of the terminals is provided with threads.

2. The junction box as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The housing is also provided with a protective cover, which extends circumferentially along the terminal block, and the terminal block is at least partially located inside the protective cover; And / or, the terminal block and the housing are integrally injection molded.

3. The junction box as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first mounting position is configured as a first through hole, and the connector can be at least partially inserted into the first through hole.

4. The junction box as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The first through hole is provided in multiple ways, and the multiple first through holes are distributed at intervals along the length direction and / or width direction of the box body; And / or, the first through hole is provided with snap-fit ​​ribs on both opposite side walls in the width direction. The snap-fit ​​ribs are used to abut against the side of the connector. There are multiple snap-fit ​​ribs, and the multiple snap-fit ​​ribs are distributed at intervals along the length direction of the first through hole.

5. The junction box as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The second mounting position includes a second through hole, a fastening part located on the upper edge of the second through hole, and a supporting part located on the lower edge of the second through hole. The supporting part protrudes from the hole wall of the second through hole and is used to support the instrument electrical box. The instrument electrical box is connected to the fastening part by fasteners.

6. The junction box as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The supporting part has a limiting pin protruding upward at the end away from the second through hole, and the instrument electrical box has a corresponding socket. The limiting pin is inserted into the socket, and the supporting part abuts against the edge of the socket. And / or, the fastening part is configured as a first through hole, the fastener is configured as a bolt, the instrument electrical box is provided with a corresponding threaded hole, and one end of the bolt can pass through the first through hole and be locked with the threaded hole.

7. The junction box as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The wiring harness assembly further includes an additional wiring harness, and a pre-set notch is provided on the lower edge of the second through hole for the additional wiring harness to pass through. The additional wiring harness includes an Ethernet wiring harness and / or an LVDS wiring harness and / or an HSD wiring harness.

8. The junction box as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The support portion is provided in multiple ways, and the multiple support portions are distributed at intervals along the width direction of the box body, with the pre-set notch formed between two adjacent support portions; And / or, the housing is further provided with a pre-set protrusion, the pre-set protrusion being located on the lower side of the support portion and having a pre-set locking hole for installing the additional wiring harness.

9. The junction box as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The box body has a box flange corresponding to the edge of the mounting hole, and a nut is fixed on the box flange. The edge of the mounting hole has a second through hole, and one end of the bolt can pass through the second through hole and be connected to the nut.

10. The junction box as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The nut is made of metal, the box is made of plastic, and the nut and the box are injection molded as a single unit. And / or, the outer peripheral surface of the box body is also provided with at least two opposing elastic protrusions, which can be locked onto the edge of the mounting hole.

11. The junction box as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The box body is provided with a mounting cavity that runs through the opposite side walls. The mounting cavity has an opposite outer cavity opening and an inner cavity opening. The outer cavity opening is located outside the mounting hole. The power terminal and the first mounting position are both located in the mounting cavity. The junction box also includes a cover. The cover covers the outer cavity opening and has a cover clearance opening for the external wiring harness to pass through.

12. The junction box as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The box body has a box flange corresponding to the edge of the mounting hole, and the cover body has a cover flange corresponding to the box flange. The junction box also includes a waterproof gasket, which is sandwiched between the box flange and the cover flange.

13. The junction box as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The side wall of the outer cavity is provided with a box clearance opening corresponding to the cover clearance opening. The cover clearance opening and the box clearance opening are connected and together form a wire passage. The wire passage is used for the external wiring harness to pass through. The axis of the wire passage is orthogonal to the docking direction of the connector.

14. The junction box as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The junction box also includes a resilient sealing sleeve, which is embedded in the wire passage.

15. The junction box as described in claim 14, characterized in that, The sealing sleeve has an annular flange on its outer peripheral surface near the mounting cavity. The outer peripheral surface of the annular flange has multiple annular protrusions, which are spaced apart along the axial direction of the sealing sleeve. The side wall of the box clearance opening has an annular groove corresponding to the annular protrusions, and the annular protrusions are embedded in the annular grooves. The end face of the cover clearance opening near the mounting cavity abuts against the end face of the annular flange away from the mounting cavity.

16. The junction box as described in claim 15, characterized in that, The junction box further includes a rigid support sleeve inserted into the sealing sleeve. The rigid support sleeve has an annular plate portion on its outer peripheral surface near the mounting cavity. The annular plate portion abuts against the end face of the annular flange near the mounting cavity. The annular plate portion has a pin protruding towards the annular flange. The annular flange has a pin hole for inserting the pin.

17. A vehicle, characterized in that, The system includes a passenger compartment, an instrument panel, an instrument electrical box, a wiring harness assembly, and a junction box as described in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the wiring harness assembly includes connected internal and external wiring harnesses, and the junction box is located on the front bulkhead and is used to install the internal and external wiring harnesses.

18. The vehicle as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that, The front bulkhead has a mounting hole on the passenger side. The internal wiring harness includes an instrument panel wiring harness, and the external wiring harness includes a chassis wiring harness. The connector between the instrument panel wiring harness and the chassis wiring harness is installed at the first mounting position of the junction box. The power lines of the instrument panel wiring harness and the external wiring harness are both connected to the power terminals of the junction box.

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