Protector

Abstract

The invention provides a protector capable of protecting a connector and a wire harness when the connector and the wire harness are unintentionally displaced. The protector protects the connector and the wire harness by covering the connector and the wire harness, the wire harness is led out from the connector and extends to a structure side which is separated from the connector and is opposite to the connector, and the protector is provided with: a top wall part which covers the connector and the wire harness from the root side to the midway in the leading-out direction; a bent part which extends while being bent from one end (rear end) side of the top wall part; and side wall parts extending from the left and right sides of the top wall part and the bent part, respectively.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a protector. Background Technology

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a "junction box mounted on a vehicle and a structure in which wiring harnesses (main wiring harness, floor wiring harness) are connected to the junction box".

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 5071716 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2009-165328) Summary of the Invention

[0004] In the aforementioned Patent Document 1, it is assumed that in the event of a frontal collision, the junction box and the wiring harness may directly interfere with vehicle-mounted structures such as windshield wipers. Therefore, it is difficult to protect the wiring harness. Furthermore, if a connector is connected to the wiring harness, it is difficult to protect that connector. There is room for improvement in this regard.

[0005] In view of this situation, the object of the present invention is to provide a protector that can protect connectors and wiring harnesses when they are unintentionally displaced.

[0006] The protector of the present invention is used to provide protection by covering a connector and a wire harness, the wire harness being led out from the connector and extending toward a structure configured to be separate from and opposite to the connector. The protector is characterized by having: a top wall portion that covers the midway from the root side of the connector and the wire harness to the lead-out direction; a bend portion that extends downward while bending from one end of the top wall portion; and side wall portions that extend downward from the left and right sides of the top wall portion and the bend portion, respectively.

[0007] According to this structure, assuming the connector, the wiring harness, and the protector are unintentionally displaced towards the structure, the bent portion of the protector will interfere with the structure before the connector and the wiring harness. Therefore, the connector and the wiring harness can be protected; for example, they are less susceptible to damage.

[0008] Assuming that the displacement of the protector is large, the protector as a whole is pressed down obliquely due to the bending portion of the protector interfering with the structure, thus reducing the damage to the structure.

[0009] The protector can be configured such that, at the lowest part of the bend, a flange is configured to protrude toward the structure, the flange gradually bends downward from the root side and then bends upward.

[0010] According to this structure, as described above, when the protector interferes with the structure and causes the protector to tilt downwards, the protector can protect the wire harness even if the flange of the protector comes into contact with the wire harness; for example, the wire harness is not easily damaged.

[0011] Furthermore, the protector can be configured as follows: positioned above a junction box located in the engine compartment of a vehicle, and in the case where the connector is connected to the junction box and the structure is the front of the driver's cab of the vehicle, the other end of the top wall portion is mounted to the rear of the junction box.

[0012] Based on this structure, it is assumed that in the event of a frontal collision, the connector and wiring harness can be protected, and damage to the windshield wipers can be mitigated.

[0013] Invention Effects

[0014] According to the present invention, a protector is provided that can protect connectors and wiring harnesses when they are unintentionally displaced. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a top view showing one embodiment of the protector involved in the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a side view of the protector.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a side view showing the initial stage of interference between the protector and the cab.

[0018] Figure 4 It is used for explanation Figure 3 Side view of the subsequent part. Detailed Implementation

[0019] Hereinafter, the best embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0020] exist Figures 1 to 4 The figure illustrates one embodiment of the invention. The protector 1 in the figure provides protection by completely covering the connector 3 connected to the junction box 2 or the wiring harness (or wiring) 4 extending from the connector 3.

[0021] Junction box 2, for example, is installed in vehicles such as fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). In order to ensure the smooth operation of the onboard electrical equipment, it is installed in the input / output section of the high-voltage battery pack (not shown). It is a box component that integrates relays for switching ON / OFF, fuses for cutting off the circuit in case of abnormality, current sensors for detecting the current value of charging and discharging, etc.

[0022] As is widely known, FCEVs are vehicles equipped with a fuel cell stack (FC: FuelCell) that generates electricity through the chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen.

[0023] The junction box 2 is, for example, positioned above the FC stack 5 located in the engine compartment (symbol omitted).

[0024] like Figure 2 As shown, connector 3 or wiring harness 4 protrudes towards the front of the cab (not shown), which is an example of a structure (partition 6 and cover 7 mounted on it), and is configured to be separate from and opposite to partition 6 or cover 7. Therefore, in the event of a frontal collision, wiring harness 4 or connector 3 may interfere with partition 6 or cover 7.

[0025] And, as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a wiper unit (including a wiper motor 8a, a wiper linkage 8b, a wiper bushing 8c, etc.) is provided on the upper part of the cover 7.

[0026] The wiring harness 4 is connected, for example, to electrical equipment (e.g., not shown, such as an air conditioning compressor, DC-DC converter, etc.) located in the engine compartment.

[0027] The protector 1 has a top wall portion 11, a curved portion 12, and left and right side wall portions 13, 13, etc. The top wall portion 11 is formed into a rectangle and is sized to cover the middle of the path from the root side of the connector 3 and the wire harness 4 to the lead-out direction.

[0028] The curved portion 12 extends downwards from one end of the top wall portion 11 while bending laterally. The left and right side wall portions 13, 13 extend downwards from the left and right sides of the top wall portion 11 and the curved portion 12, respectively. In addition, the "one end" of the top wall portion 11 refers to the end located on the rear side in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, which can be called the rear end.

[0029] At the lowest part of the curved section 12, a flange 14 is provided that protrudes toward the partition 6. The flange 14 gradually bends downward from its root side and then bends upward.

[0030] A mounting plate 15 extending upwards is provided at the other end of the top wall portion 11. This mounting plate 15 is mounted to the rear of the junction box 2 by bolts 16, thereby mounting the protector 1 to the junction box 2. Furthermore, the other end of the top wall portion 11 refers to the end located at the front side in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, and can be referred to as the front end.

[0031] As for the material of protector 1, ferrous metals are preferred in terms of cost and strength, but aluminum alloys or the like can also be used.

[0032] Furthermore, the junction box 2 is configured in a rearward and upward tilted position relative to the horizontal line along the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and similarly, the protector 1 is also configured in a rearward and upward tilted position.

[0033] Next, refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 It explains the actions taken when a vehicle is involved in a head-on collision.

[0034] For example, such as Figure 3 As shown, if the junction box 2 is displaced towards the cab (not shown) due to a frontal collision with the vehicle, the bent portion 12 of the protector 1 will interfere with the partition 6 or cover 7 in front of the connector 3 and wiring harness 4. Therefore, the connector 3 and wiring harness 4 are less likely to be damaged.

[0035] like Figure 4 As shown, assuming that the displacement of the protector 1 is large, the protector 1 as a whole will tilt downwards due to the bending part 12 of the protector 1 interfering with the partition 6 or the cover 7, thus reducing the damage to the partition 6.

[0036] Moreover, as described above, even if the flange 14 at the front end of the protector 1, which is tilted downwards, interferes with the wire harness 4, the wire harness 4 can be protected because the flange 14 is bent, for example, the wire harness 4 is not easily damaged.

[0037] As explained above, according to the protector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the connector 3 and the wiring harness 4 are unintentionally displaced toward the cab (not shown), the bent portion 12 of the protector 1 will interfere with the partition 6 or the cover 7 in front of the connector 3 and the wiring harness 4, thus protecting the connector 3 and the wiring harness 4.

[0038] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and appropriate modifications can be made within the scope of the claims and within the scope equivalent to that scope.

[0039] For example, in the above embodiments, an example of installing a protector 1 on the junction box 2 of a fuel cell vehicle (FCEV) is given, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0040] For example, although not shown, the protector 1 of the present invention can be applied to vehicles equipped only with an engine, hatchbacks equipped with an engine and a motor, etc.

[0041] Industrial availability

[0042] This invention can be preferably used in protectors.

[0043] Symbol Explanation

[0044] 1-Protector, 11-Top wall, 12-Bend, 13-Side wall, 14-Flange, 15-Mounting plate, 16-Bolt, 2-Junction box, 3-Connector, 4-Wire harness, 5-FC stack, 6-Block, 7-Cover, 8a-Wipe motor, 8b-Wipe linkage, 8c-Wipe bushing.

Claims

1. A protector for providing protection by covering a connector and a wire harness, the wire harness extending from the connector and toward a structure configured to be separate from and opposite the connector, the protector being characterized by having: The top wall portion covers the middle of the direction from the root of the connector and the wire harness to the lead-out direction; the bend portion extends downwards from one end of the top wall portion; and the side wall portions extend downwards from the left and right sides of the top wall portion and the bend portion, respectively.

2. The protector according to claim 1, characterized in that, At the lowest part of the bend, the flange is configured to project toward the structure. The flange gradually bends downwards from the root side and then bends upwards.

3. The protector according to claim 1 or 2, disposed above a junction box located in the engine compartment of a vehicle, characterized in that, When the connector is connected to the junction box and the structure is the front of the vehicle's cab, the other end of the top wall is mounted to the rear of the junction box.

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