Electrical junction box

Abstract

Electrical junction box (1), comprising: a frame (2) having a cylindrical outer wall (21) and a first engagement element (23) arranged in the outer wall (21); and a cover (3) having a side wall (31) inserted into a first end portion (211) in an axial direction of the outer wall (21), the first end portion (211) being one end of the outer wall (21) in the axial direction, and a second engagement element (38) engaged with the first engagement element (23) and provided on the side wall (31), the side wall (31) has an insert wall portion (37) which is inserted into an inner side of the outer wall (21) in the axial direction, the insert wall section (37) has a thick section (7) which is thicker than a neighboring section in the insert wall section (37), and when the thick portion (7) is arranged outside the outer wall (21), the first engagement element (23) and the second engagement element (38) are shifted in a thickness direction of the thick portion (7) and the engagement between the first engagement element (23) and the second engagement element (38) becomes impossible, and the thick portion (7) has an inclined surface (71, 72, 73) which guides the thick portion (7) to the inside of the outer wall (21) in abutment with the outer wall (21) in the axial direction.

Description

Background of the invention 1. Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical junction box. 2. Description of the state of the art

[0002] In the prior art, there is a technology for assembling a housing body and a cover. An electrical connection box in which a first housing and a second housing are assembled with a locking piece provided in a peripheral wall of the first housing and a locking recess portion and an engaging portion provided in a peripheral wall of the second housing is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-77060.

[0003] The goal is to improve work efficiency when assembling a frame and cover. For example, in an electrical junction box where a side panel of a cover is inserted into the outer wall of a frame, work efficiency is improved by allowing a worker to detect a resulting misassembly if the assembly is not performed correctly. Summary of the invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical junction box capable of improving work efficiency in assembling a frame and a cover.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned problem and achieve the object, an electrical connection box according to one aspect of the present invention includes a frame having a cylindrical outer wall and a first engagement member disposed in the outer wall; and a cover having a side wall fitted into a first end portion in an axial direction of the outer wall, the first end portion being one end of the outer wall in the axial direction, and a second engagement member engaging with the first engagement member and provided on the side wall. The side wall has an insert wall portion inserted into an inner side of the outer wall in the axial direction. The insert wall portion has a thick portion that is thicker than a neighboring portion in the insert wall portion. When the thick portion is disposed outside the outer wall,the first engagement element and the second engagement element are shifted in a thickness direction of the thick portion and the engagement between the first engagement element and the second engagement element is impossible, and the thick portion has an inclined surface that guides the thick portion to the inside of the outer wall adjacent to the outer wall in the axial direction.,

[0006] According to another aspect of the present invention, the thick portion in the electrical connection box is preferably arranged in a bent portion in which an extension direction of the insert wall portion changes.

[0007] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, preferably, in the electrical connection box, the insert wall portion extends in a circumferential direction around the side wall, a part in the circumferential direction in the insert wall portion is a front wall portion located on a front end side when the insert wall portion is inserted into the inside of the outer wall, a part of a portion excluding the front wall portion in the insert wall portion is a rear wall portion located on a rear end side when the insert wall portion is inserted into the inside of the outer wall, and the thick portion is located in the front wall portion.

[0008] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, in the electrical connection box, the thick portion is preferably arranged at an end portion in the circumferential direction of the front wall portion.

[0009] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, preferably, in the electrical connection box, the insert wall portion connects an end portion of the front wall portion and an end portion of the rear wall portion and has an inclined wall portion inclined in the axial direction, and the thick portion is arranged in a connecting portion between the front wall portion and the inclined wall portion.

[0010] The above and other objects, features, advantages, as well as the technical and industrial significance of this invention will be better understood when the following detailed description of the presently mentioned embodiments of the invention is read and considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Short description of the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical junction box according to an embodiment; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical junction box according to the embodiment; Fig. 3 is a bottom view of a frame according to the embodiment; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a projecting portion according to the embodiment; Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the protruding portion according to the embodiment; Fig. 6 is a plan view of a lower cover according to the embodiment; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a vicinity of an edge portion in the lower cover of the embodiment; Fig. 8 is a front view illustrating an assembling process of the embodiment; Fig. 9 is a front view showing a state in which a side portion of the projecting portion and the edge portion of the lower cover are aligned with each other; Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing the state where the side portion of the projecting portion and the edge portion of the lower cover are aligned with each other; Fig. 11 is a sectional view showing a state in which the edge portion abuts against the side portion; Fig. 12 is a sectional view of a vicinity of a thick portion in the lower cover of the embodiment; Fig. 13 is a plan view of the vicinity of the thick portion in the lower cover of the embodiment; Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the thick portion in the lower cover of the embodiment; Fig. 15 is an enlarged view for explaining an assembling process of the embodiment; Fig. 16 is a sectional view showing a state where the thick portion abuts against an outer wall; Fig. 17 is a sectional view illustrating a state in which the thick portion is located outside the outer wall; and Fig. 18 is a view illustrating a positional relationship between a first engagement member and a second engagement member. Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

[0011] Below, an electrical junction box according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that this invention is not limited to the embodiment. Furthermore, components in the following embodiment also include elements that are easily understood by those skilled in the art or that are essentially the same. Example

[0012] An embodiment is described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 18. The present embodiment relates to an electrical junction box. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical junction box according to the embodiment, Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical junction box according to the embodiment, Fig. 3 is a bottom view of a frame according to the embodiment, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a projecting portion according to the embodiment, Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the above portion according to the embodiment, Fig. 6 is a plan view of a lower cover according to the embodiment, Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a vicinity of an edge portion in the lower cover of the embodiment, Fig. 8 is a front view illustrating an assembling process of the embodiment, Fig. 9 is a front view of a state in which a side portion of the projecting portion and the edge portion of the lower cover are aligned with each other, Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing a state in which the side portion of the projecting portion and the edge portion of the lower cover are aligned with each other, and Fig. 11 is a sectional view of a state in which the edge portion is in contact with the side portion. An XX cross section of Fig. 9 is in Fig. 10 shown.

[0013] Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a vicinity of a thick portion in the lower cover of the embodiment, Fig. 13 is a plan view of the vicinity of the thick portion in the lower cover of the embodiment, Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the thick portion in the lower cover of the embodiment, Fig. 15 is an enlarged view illustrating an assembling process of the embodiment, Fig. 16 is a sectional view of a state in which the thick portion is in contact with the outer wall, Fig. 17 is a sectional view illustrating a state in which the thick portion is located outside the outer wall, and Fig. 18 is a view illustrating a positional relationship between a first engagement element and a second engagement element. A XVI-XVI cross section of Fig. 15 is in Fig. 16 shown.

[0014] As in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, an electrical junction box 1 according to the present embodiment includes a frame 2, a lower cover 3, and an upper cover 4. Furthermore, a wire harness 100 according to the present embodiment includes the electrical junction box 1 and the electrical wire W. The wire harness 100 is mounted in a vehicle such as an automobile and connects devices mounted in the vehicle. The wire harness 100 includes a plurality of electrical wires W used for power supply or signal communication. One end of each electrical wire W is connected to, for example, an electronic component arranged in the electrical junction box 1.The other end of each electric wire W is connected to a respective device (external device) such as a battery or an electrical component via a connector or the like. Depending on the type of electronic component housed, the electrical junction box 1 is referred to as a distribution box, fuse box, relay box, or the like. However, in the present embodiment, the term "electrical junction box" is used collectively.

[0015] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the frame 2 has a cylindrical outer wall 21 and a partition wall 24. The outer wall 21 and the partition wall 24 are integrally formed from an insulating synthetic resin or the like. The outer wall 21 forms a housing space 22 in which an electronic component is arranged. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, a block 5 is housed in the housing space 22. The block 5 contains various electronic components and is fixed to the frame 2. The electronic components are fixed to the outer wall 21, for example, via the block 5. Both ends in an axial direction of the outer wall 21 of the present embodiment are open.

[0016] The lower cover 3 is assembled with a first end portion 211, which is one end in the axial direction of the outer wall 21, and closes the first end portion 211. That is, the lower cover 3 is a cover that closes an opening of the first end portion 211. The upper cover 4 is assembled with a second end portion 212, which is the other end in the axial direction of the outer wall 21, and closes the second end portion 212. That is, the upper cover 4 is a cover that closes an opening of the second end portion 212.

[0017] As in Fig. 3, a shape of the outer wall 21, viewed in the axial direction, is an elongated shape having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction. In the present embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the outer wall 21 is referred to as a "first direction X," and the transverse direction of the outer wall 21 is referred to as a "second direction Y." The first direction X and the second direction Y are orthogonal to each other. In the present embodiment, the axial direction of the outer wall 21 is referred to as a "third direction Z." The first direction X and the second direction Y are directions orthogonal to the third direction Z.

[0018] The outer wall 21 surrounds the housing space 22. The outer wall 21 has a first wall section 21A, a second wall section 21B, a third wall section 21C, and a fourth wall section 21D. The first wall section 21A and the second wall section 21B are wall sections that extend in the first direction X. The first wall section 21A and the second wall section 21B are opposite each other in the second direction Y. The third wall section 21C and the fourth wall section 21D are wall sections that extend in the second direction Y. The third wall section 21C connects one end of the first wall section 21A and one end of the second wall section 21B.

[0019] The fourth wall portion 21D connects the other end of the first wall portion 21A and the other end of the second wall portion 21B. The third wall portion 21C and the fourth wall portion 21D are opposite each other in the first direction X.

[0020] A plurality of fixing portions 21e and 21f protrude from an outer side surface of the outer wall 21. The fixing portions 21e and 21f are portions that are fixed to a body of a vehicle or the like and have through holes.

[0021] A plurality of first engagement elements 23 are provided in the outer side surface of the outer wall 21. Each of the first engagement elements 23 is a component having a hollow cylindrical shape and extending in the third direction Z. The first engagement element 23 has an engagement claw 23x. The outer wall 21 of the present embodiment has five first engagement elements 23A, 23B1, 23B2, 23C, and 23D. The first engagement element 23A is disposed in the first wall portion 21A. Two first engagement elements 23B1 and 23B2 are disposed in the second wall portion 21B. The first engagement element 23C is disposed in the third wall portion 21C, and the first engagement element 23D is disposed in the fourth wall portion 21D.

[0022] As in Fig. 2 to Fig. 4, the first end portion 211 of the outer wall 21 has a protruding portion 6. The protruding portion 6 is a plate-shaped projection that protrudes in the third direction Z. As can be seen from Fig. 4 and the like, a shape of the protruding portion 6 according to the present embodiment is substantially rectangular in a front view. The protruding portion 6 is arranged on the first wall portion 21A. The protruding portion 6 is arranged, for example, near the center in the first direction X of the first wall portion 21A. As shown in Fig. 3, the first wall portion 21A of the present embodiment is bent at a position adjacent to the protruding portion 6. A width direction of the protruding portion 6 is the first direction X, and a thickness direction of the protruding portion 6 is the second direction Y.

[0023] As in Fig. 4, a plurality of first ribs 63 and a plurality of second ribs 64 are formed in the protruding portion 6. The first ribs 63 and the second ribs 64 are arranged on the outer side surface of the protruding portion 6. The first ribs 63 and the second ribs 64 protrude in the second direction Y. The first ribs 63 are ribs extending in the first direction X. The plurality of first ribs 63 are arranged parallel to each other and at predetermined intervals in the third direction Z. The second ribs 64 are ribs extending in the third direction Z. The plurality of second ribs 64 are arranged parallel to each other and at predetermined intervals in the first direction X.

[0024] The protruding portion 6 has a pair of side portions 60A and 60B extending in the third direction Z. Between the pair of side portions 60A and 60B, the first side portion 60A is located at one end in the width direction of the protruding portion 6, and a second piece portion 60B is located at the other end in the width direction. In the following description, the first side portion 60A and the second piece portion 60B are simply referred to as "side portions 60" when referred to together. Each of the side portions 60 is open in two directions, which are the first direction X and the second direction Y. The side portion 60 has a first guide surface 61 and a second guide surface 62. The first guide surface 61 is a surface exposed in a thickness direction of the protruding portion 6.The second guide surface 62 is a surface exposed outward in a width direction of the protruding portion 6.

[0025] The first guide surface 61 of the present embodiment is a front end surface in the protrusion direction of each of the first ribs 63. The first guide surface 61 is directed toward an outer side of the frame 2. The first guide surface 61 includes an end portion 63a in the first direction X of the first rib 63. In the first rib 63, the first end portion 63a has a smaller protrusion height in the first direction X than a middle portion 63b in the first direction X. A plurality of first guide surfaces 61 are arranged in the third direction Z on the protruding portion 6. The plurality of first guide surfaces 61 are located on a common plane. That is, the plurality of first ribs 63 are formed to form an imaginary plane with the front end surfaces of the end portions 63a.When the lower cover 3 abuts against the plurality of first guide surfaces 61, a posture of the lower cover 3 is stabilized. In other words, the protruding portion 6 has a virtual plane that makes surface contact with the lower cover 3 over a wide range in the third direction Z.

[0026] The second guide surface 62 is a side surface of the respective second ribs 64. The second ribs 64A and 64B are respectively provided at both ends in the first direction X of the projecting portion 6. The second rib 64A is a rib provided on the first side portion 60A, and the second rib 64B is a rib provided on the second piece portion 60B. The second guide surface 62 of the first side portion 60A is a side surface of the second rib 64A. The second guide surface 62 of the second support portion 60B is a side surface of the second rib 64B. The second guide surface 62 of the first side portion 60A and the second guide surface 62 of the second piece portion 60B are aligned in opposite directions.

[0027] A fastening portion 65 is provided at a front end portion of the protruding portion 6. The fastening portion 65 has a groove extending in the first direction X. This groove is formed in the outer side surface of the protruding portion 6. The fastening portion 65 is a portion around which a fastening element for fixing the electric wire W is wound. As shown in Fig. 1, the electric wire W is pulled out of the electrical connection box 1 along the protruding portion 6. A bundle of electric wires W is fixed to the fixing portion 65 by means of a tape, an adhesive tape, or the like.

[0028] As in Fig. As shown in FIG. 5, a recessed portion 6a corresponding to an electric wire W is formed in the inner side surface of the protruding portion 6. A cross-sectional shape of the recessed portion 6a is an arc shape. The recessed portion 6a extends in the third direction Z, and an extending portion thereof is a portion at a front end side of the center in the third direction Z. The electric wire W is guided along the recessed portion 6a and drawn out of the electrical connection box 1.

[0029] As in Fig. 4 and Fig. As shown in Fig. 5, a retained portion 66 is provided at the front end portion of the protruding portion 6. The retained portion 66 is a portion adjacent to the fixing portion 65 in the first direction X. In the retained portion 66, a protrusion height of a first rib 63 and a second rib 64 is kept low. The retained portion 66 is retained by the lower cover 3, as described later.

[0030] As in Fig. 6, the lower cover 3 includes a bottom wall 30 and a side wall 31. The bottom wall 30 and the side wall 31 are integrally molded from an insulating resin or the like. The bottom wall 30 is a wall portion facing the housing space 22 of the frame 2 in the third direction Z. The side wall 31 is a first wall portion fitted into the outer wall 61 of the frame 2. More specifically, the side wall 31 is fitted into the first end portion 211 of the outer wall 21 in the third direction Z. When the side wall 31 is fitted into the outer wall 21 of the first end portion 211, it is closed by the lower cover 3.

[0031] The side wall 31 is provided to protrude in the third direction Z from an edge portion of the bottom wall 30. The side wall 31 includes a first wall portion 31A, a second wall portion 31B, a third wall portion 31C, and a fourth wall portion 31D. The first wall portion 31A is a wall portion corresponding to the first wall portion 21A of the frame 2. Similarly, the second wall portion 31B, the third wall portion 31C, and the fourth wall portion 31D of the lower cover 3 are wall portions corresponding to the second wall portion 21B, the third wall portion 21C, and the fourth wall portion 21D of the frame 2, respectively. The first wall portion 31A and the second wall portion 31B extend in the first direction X and oppose each other in the second direction Y. The third wall section 31C connects one end of the first wall section 31A to one end of the second wall section 31B.The fourth wall portion 31D connects the other end of the first wall portion 31A and the other end of the second wall portion 31B. The third wall portion 31C and the fourth wall portion 31D extend in the second direction Y and oppose each other in the first direction X.

[0032] As in Fig. 2 and the like, the side wall 31 has an insert wall portion 37. The insert wall portion 37 is a portion of the side wall 31 that is inserted into an inner side of the outer wall 21 in the third direction Z. The insert wall portion 37 is inserted into the frame 2 in the third direction Z and is aligned with the outer wall 21. The insert wall portion 37 is a front end portion in the third direction Z in the side wall 31. The insert wall portion 37 extends in a circumferential direction around the side wall 31. The circumferential direction is a direction around an edge of the bottom wall 30, that is, a direction around an inner side surface of the outer wall 21. The insert wall portion 37 is provided in almost an entire circumference of the side wall 31.

[0033] A plurality of second engagement elements 38 are provided in the side wall 31. The second engagement elements 38 are each projections having a plate-like configuration and extend along the third direction Z. A front end portion of the second engagement element 38 protrudes in the third direction Z from the front end portion of the side wall 31. The second engagement element 38 has a recessed portion 38x that engages with an engagement claw 23x of a first engagement element 23.

[0034] The side wall 31 of the present embodiment has five second engagement elements 38A, 38B1, 38B2, 38C, and 38D. The second engagement element 38A is provided in the first wall portion 31A and arranged at a position corresponding to the first engagement element 23A of the frame 2. Two second engagement elements 38B1 and 38B2 are arranged in the second wall portion 31B. The second engagement elements 38B1 and 38B2 are arranged at positions corresponding to the two first engagement elements 23B1 and 23B2 of the frame 2. The second engagement element 38C is provided in the third wall portion 31C and arranged at a position corresponding to the first engagement element 23C of the frame 2. The second engagement element 38D is provided in the fourth wall portion 31D and arranged at a position corresponding to the first engagement element 23D of the frame 2.

[0035] The first wall portion 31A has a notched portion 32 having a shape corresponding to the protruding portion 6 of the frame 2. The notched portion 32 is provided at a position corresponding to the protruding portion 6. The notched portion 32 divides the first wall portion 31A into a portion located on one side in the first direction X and a portion located on the other side in the first direction X. In other words, the notched portion 32 is also a wide slit provided in the first wall portion 31A. A shape of the notched portion 32 is substantially rectangular when the first wall portion 31A is viewed from above.

[0036] The first wall portion 31A has a pair of edge portions 33 (first edge portion 33A and second edge portion 33B) that enclose the notched portion 32. In other words, the first wall portion 31A has a notch between the pair of edge portions 33A and 33B. The pair of edge portions 33A and 33B extend in the third direction Z. The pair of edge portions 33A and 33B correspond to the pair of side portions 60A and 60B, respectively. The first edge portion 33A corresponds to the first side portion 60A, and the second edge portion 33B corresponds to the second piece portion 60B.

[0037] The first edge portion 33A and the second edge portion 33B face each other in the first direction X. Each of the first pair of edge portions 33A and 33B has a first visible surface 34 and a second visible surface 35. The first visible surface 34 is a surface aligned with the second direction Y and is, for example, a plane. The second visible surface 34 abuts the pair of side portions 60A and 60B in the second direction Y. The second visible surface 35 is a surface aligned with the first direction X and is, for example, a plane. The second visible surface 35 is aligned with the pair of side portions 60A and 60B in the first direction X.

[0038] In the following description, when distinguishing between a first visible surface 34 of the first edge portion 33A and a first visible surface 34 of the second edge portion 33B, the visible surface belonging to the first edge portion 33A is referred to as a first visible surface 34A, and the visible surface belonging to the second edge portion 33B is referred to as a first visible surface 34B. Furthermore, when distinguishing between a second visible surface 35 of the first edge portion 33A and a second visible surface 35 of the second edge portion 33B, the visible surface belonging to the first edge portion 33A is referred to as a second visible surface 35A, and the visible surface belonging to the second edge portion 33B is referred to as a second visible surface 35B.

[0039] The two first visible surfaces 34A and 34B face the same side in the second direction Y. More specifically, the two first visible surfaces 34A and 34B of the present embodiment are aligned with an inner side of the lower cover 3 and face the side wall portion 31B. The two second visible surfaces 35A and 35B face each other in the first direction X.

[0040] The lower cover 3 has a holding portion 36. The holding portion 36 holds the held portion 66 of the frame 2. As shown in Fig. 7, the holding portion 36 of the present embodiment is a groove-shaped depressed portion. The holding portion 36 has an outer side wall portion 36a, a connecting wall portion 36b, and an inner side wall portion 36c. The outer side wall portion 36a is connected to the second edge portion 33B and extends in the first direction X from the second edge portion 33B toward the first edge portion 33A. The outer side wall portion 36a and the inner side wall portion 36c oppose each other in the second direction Y and extend in the third direction Z. The connecting wall portion 36b connects one end portion of the outer side wall portion 36a and one end portion of the inner side wall portion 36c and extends substantially orthogonal to the third direction Z.When the lower cover 3 is fitted into the frame 2, the held portion 66 of the frame 2 is inserted into the holding portion 36 and fitted into the holding portion 36.

[0041] As in Fig. 6 and the like, the bottom wall 30 has an insert portion 30a. The insert portion 30a is a notched portion through which the electric wire W is inserted. The electric wire W is drawn from the interior of the electrical connection box 1 to an external space through the insert portion 30a. In the electrical connection box 1 of the present embodiment, a channel of the electric wire W drawn from the housing space 22 is formed by the insert portion 30a and the protruding portion 6 of the frame 2.

[0042] An assembly process for assembling the frame 2 and the bottom cover 3 is carried out, for example, in a method described with reference to Fig. 8 to Fig. 11. In the assembly process, the lower cover 3 is inserted into the frame 2 from above, as shown in Fig. 8. The frame 2 is placed on an assembly table or the like so that the protruding portion 6 faces upward. A worker lowers the lower cover 3 to a position where the edge portion 33 of the lower cover 3 is aligned with the side portion 60 of the protruding portion 6. At this time, the worker lowers the lower cover 3 so that the notched portion 32 is brought closer to the protruding portion 6 while simultaneously holding the lower cover 3 in a posture where the bottom wall 30 faces upward. The worker can lower the lower cover 3 while simultaneously pressing the insert portion 30a against the electric wire W.

[0043] The worker aligns the edge portion 33 to the side portion 60 as shown in Fig. 9 and Fig. 10. The lower cover 3 is positioned so that the edge portion 33 faces the side portion 60 from the outside. In the electrical connection box 1 of the present embodiment, the edge portion 33 can be aligned with the side portion 60 before the first engagement element 23 and the second engagement element 38 come into contact with each other. Fig. 9 illustrates a state in which a part of the edge portion 33 is aligned with the side portion 60. The individual second engagement elements 38 are not in contact with the respective first engagement elements 23, but are separated from the first engagement elements 23 in the third direction Z. That is, in the present embodiment, the edge portion 33 can be aligned with the side portion 60 before the engagement of the first engagement element 23 and the second engagement element 38 is started. In this way, a position of the lower cover 3 with respect to the frame 2 is adjusted before the second engagement element 38 is inserted into the first engagement element 23.

[0044] As shown in the sectional view from Fig. 10, a first viewing surface 34 faces a first guide surface 61 in the second direction Y. More specifically, a first viewing surface 34A faces a first guide surface 61A of the first side portion 60A. The first viewing surface 34B faces a first guide surface 61B of the second side portion 60B. The worker moves the lower cover 3 in the second direction Y, as indicated by an arrow Y2 in Fig. 10, and allows the first visible surface 34 to rest against the first guide surface 61.

[0045] A state in which the first visible surface 34 abuts the first guide surface 61 is shown in Fig. 11. The lower cover 3 is positioned relative to the frame 2 in the second direction Y by abutting the two first visible surfaces 34A and 34B against the first guide surface 61. Furthermore, by surface contact between the lower cover 3 and the frame 2, an inclination of the lower cover 3 in the third direction Z is controlled. That is, due to the surface contact, an axial direction of the lower cover 3 and an axial direction of the frame 2 become parallel, and the generation of assembly errors is controlled.

[0046] The second visible surface 35 faces the side portion 60 in the first direction X in a state where the first visible surface 34 abuts the first guide surface 61. A second visible surface 35A of the first edge portion 33A faces a second guide surface 62 of the first side portion 60A. A second visible surface 35B of the second edge portion 33B faces a second guide surface 62 of the second piece portion 60B. In the projecting portion 6 of the present embodiment, a corner of the side portion 60 has a curved shape such that the projecting portion 6 can be easily inserted between the two second visible surfaces 35A and 35B. In addition, the edge portion 33 has a curved surface between the first visible surface 34 and the second visible surface 35 in a manner corresponding to a curved shape of the second portion 60.

[0047] A size of a gap between the second visible surface 35 and the second guide surface 62 is set so that the lower cover 3 can be properly positioned with respect to the frame 2. The size of the gap between the second visible surface 35 and the second guide surface 62 is, for example, a size that can control a positional shift between a corresponding first engagement element 23 and second engagement element 38, that is, a size that can correctly guide the second engagement element 38 to the second engagement element 23. Furthermore, the size of this gap is, for example, a size that can control a positional shift between the outer wall 21 of the frame 2 and the side wall 31 of the lower cover 3, that is, a size that can correctly guide the side wall 31 into a space on the inner side of the outer wall 21.

[0048] The worker lowers the lower cover 3 while keeping the first viewing surface 34 in contact with the first guide surface 61. At this time, the second viewing surfaces 35A and 35B and the second guide surface 62 control the positional displacement of the lower cover 3 with respect to the frame 2. Since the second viewing surfaces 35A and 35B surround the protruding portion 6 from both sides in the first direction X, a positional displacement in the first direction X is regulated. As the lower cover 3 is lowered toward the frame 2, each second engaging element 38 is guided to a corresponding first engaging element 23. In addition, the side wall 31 of the lower cover 3 is guided to the inside of the frame 2. In this way, the worker can easily insert the lower cover 3 into the frame 2.When the second engagement member 38 is engaged with the first engagement member 23, the lower cover 3 is fully inserted into the frame 2, as shown in FIG. Fig. 1 shown.

[0049] In addition, as will be described below, the lower cover 3 of the present embodiment has a thick portion 7, which can facilitate the operation of inserting the lower cover 3 into the frame 2. As shown in Fig. 12, the thick portion 7 is a part of the side wall 31 in the lower cover 3. The thick portion 7 of the present embodiment has a function of controlling the generation of misfitting between the frame 2 and the lower cover 3 and a function of correcting a relative position of the frame 2 and the lower cover 3 to a correct positional relationship.

[0050] As in Fig. 6 and Fig. 12 to Fig. 14, the thick portion 7 is provided in the second wall portion 31B. More specifically, the thick portion 7 is located at an end portion in the first direction X of the second wall portion 31B, and is provided, for example, near the third wall portion 31C. The thick portion 7 is a portion in which a part of the second wall portion 31B protrudes toward the inside of the lower cover 3. The thick portion 7 is provided at least in the insert wall portion 37 of the second wall portion 31B. The thick portion 7 extends in the third direction Z from a front end 37a of the insert wall portion 37 toward the bottom wall 30. The thick portion 7 of the present embodiment is connected to the bottom wall 30.

[0051] As in Fig. 12 and Fig. 15, the insert wall portion 37 of the present embodiment has a bent portion 39 whose extension direction is changed. As shown in Fig. 15, the insert wall portion 37 has a front wall portion 37b, an inclined wall portion 37c, and a rear wall portion 37d.

[0052] The front wall portion 37b is a portion located on a front end side when the insert wall portion 37 is inserted into the inside of the outer wall 21. The rear wall portion 37d is a portion located on a rear end side when the insert wall portion 37 is inserted into the inside of the outer wall 21. The front wall portion 37b and the rear wall portion 37d extend in the first direction X. The rear wall portion 37d is located on a middle side in the first direction X with respect to the front wall portion 37b. The inclined wall portion 37c is a portion connecting the front wall portion 37b and the rear wall portion 37d and is inclined in each of the first direction X and the third direction Z. The bent portion 39 is a portion where the front wall portion 37b and the inclined wall portion 37c cross each other.The bent portion 39 protrudes toward a front side in an insertion direction when the insert wall portion 37 is inserted into the frame 2.

[0053] The thick portion 7 of the present embodiment is disposed in the front wall portion 37b, and more specifically, is disposed at an end portion in a circumferential direction of the front wall portion 37b. The thick portion 7 is disposed in a connecting portion between the front wall portion 37b and the inclined wall portion 37c. That is, the thick portion 7 is disposed in the bent portion 39. The thick portion 7 is a portion where a part of the front wall portion 37b and a part of the inclined wall portion 37c protrude toward the inside of the bottom cover 3.

[0054] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 15, a shape of the outer wall 21 of the frame 2 is a shape having a height difference corresponding to a shape of the side wall 31. Specifically, the second wall portion 21B includes a bottom portion 21g, an inclined portion 21h, and an upper portion 21i. When the frame 2 and the bottom cover 3 are joined together, the bottom portion 21g, the inclined portion 21h, and the upper portion 21i oppose the front wall portion 37b, the inclined wall portion 37c, and the rear wall portion 37d, respectively.

[0055] The lower portion 21g and the upper portion 21i extend in the first direction X. The upper portion 21i is located on a middle side in the first direction X with respect to the lower portion 21g. The inclined portion 21h is a portion connecting the lower portion 21g and the upper portion 21i and is inclined in the first direction X and the third direction Z, respectively. The upper portion 21i protrudes in the third direction Z with respect to the lower portion 21g. That is, when the frame 2 is placed so that the first end portion 211 of the outer wall 21 faces upward, the upper portion 21i is placed above the lower portion 21g. An inclination angle of the inclined portion 21h corresponds to an inclination angle of the inclined wall portion 37c.In addition, a height of a projection of the upper portion 21i with respect to the lower portion 21g corresponds to a height of the projection of the front wall portion 37b with respect to the rear wall portion 37d.

[0056] As in Fig. 12 and the like, the thick portion 7 has a first inclined surface 71, a second inclined surface 72, and a curved surface 73. The first inclined surface 71 is a surface facing an opposite side of the bottom wall 30 and is an end surface in the third direction Z of the thick portion 7. The first inclined surface 71 is formed continuously with the front end 37a of the insert wall portion 37 and is inclined in the third direction Z. More specifically, the first inclined surface 71 is inclined toward the opposite side of the bottom wall 30 by moving away from the front end 37a in the second direction Y. In other words, the first inclined surface 71 is inclined in such a manner as to guide the second wall portion 31B toward the inside of the frame 2 when abutting against the outer wall 21 of the frame 2.It should be noted that a hole 71a opens in the first inclined surface 71 provided in the exemplary thick portion 7, but the hole 71a may not be provided.

[0057] The second inclined surface 72 is one of the side surfaces of the thick portion 7 and is a surface located on an opposite side of a side of the third wall portion 31C of the thick portion 7. The second inclined surface 72 faces the opposite side of the third wall portion 31C and faces the opposite side of the first wall portion 31A. The second inclined surface 72 faces the outside of the bottom cover 3 and is inclined to guide the second wall portion 31B toward the inside of the frame 2 when abutting the outer wall 21 of the frame 2.

[0058] The curved surface 73 is a surface connecting the first inclined surface 71 and the second inclined surface 72. The curved surface 73 is curved in a protruding manner and is seamlessly continuous with the first inclined surface 71 and the second inclined surface 72. The curved surface 73 is inclined to guide the second wall portion 31B toward the inside of the frame 2 when adjacent to the outer wall 21 of the frame 2.

[0059] In Fig. Figure 15 shows a state before the insertion of the lower cover 3 into the frame 2 during the assembly process begins. When a relative position between the frame 2 and the lower cover 3 is correct, the thick portion 7 is inserted into the inside of the outer wall 21 in such a way that it passes by the upper portion 21i and the inclined portion 21h. On the other hand, when a position of the lower cover 3 is shifted within a certain range from the correct position, the thick portion 7 abuts the outer wall 21. Fig. 16 shows a state in which the inclined surface 73 of the thick portion 7 abuts against the inclined portion 21h of the frame 2. The curved surface 73 is inclined in such a manner as to be away from the bottom wall 30 in the second direction Y toward the inside of the lower cover 3. By the inclination of the curved surface 73, the second wall portion 31B is drawn into a space on the inside of the outer wall 21, as indicated by an arrow Y3.

[0060] As in Fig. 16, the electrical connection box 1 of the present embodiment is configured so that the second wall portion 31B in the opposite wall portions 31A and 31B of the lower cover 3 abuts against the outer wall 21 first. That is, at the position where the thick portion 7 is provided, the second wall portion 31B enters the inside of the outer wall 21 before the first wall portion 31A does. Therefore, when the position of the lower cover 3 is shifted, the position of the lower cover 3 is corrected to a correct position by the thick portion 7, and then the first wall portion 31A is inserted into the outer wall 21. Due to the large width of the thick portion 7 in the second direction Y, the thick portion 7 abuts against the front end of the outer wall 21 even if there is some positional shift.Thus, the thick portion 7 of the present embodiment can control the occurrence of erroneous assembly and correctly guide the side wall 31 to the inside of the outer wall 21.

[0061] In Fig. 17 shows a state in which the position of the lower cover 3 is greatly shifted from the correct position. The thick portion 7 is located outside the outer wall 21. In this case, in the electrical connection box 1 of the present embodiment, the first engagement element 23 and the second engagement element 38 cannot be engaged. For example, as shown in Fig. As shown in FIG. 17, a movement path Y5 of the second engagement element 38B1 is a movement path that passes through the outer side of a corresponding first engagement element 23B1. That is, the first engagement element 23B1 and the second engagement element 38B1 are displaced in the thickness direction of the thick portion 7 and cannot be engaged. Thus, the electrical connection box 1 of the present embodiment can make the worker feel the positional displacement by making it impossible to insert the second engagement element 38B1 into the first engagement element 23B1.

[0062] In addition, as in Fig.18, the engagement between the first engaging element 23C and the second engaging element 38C in the third wall portions 21C and 31C is also impossible. When the thick portion 7 is placed outside the second wall portion 21B, a position of a front end 38f of the second engaging element 38C is shifted with respect to an open area 23W of the first engaging element 23C. Thus, the front end 38f abuts against a frame of the first engaging element 23C, and the second engaging element 38C cannot be inserted into the first engaging element 23C. Since the joining operation is difficult, the worker easily realizes the resulting positional shift.

[0063] As described above, the electrical connection box 1 of the present embodiment includes a frame 2 and a bottom cover 3. The frame 2 has a cylindrical outer wall 21 and a first engagement member 23 disposed in the outer wall 21. The bottom cover 3 has a side wall 31, and a second engagement member 38 engaged with the first engagement member 23 is provided in the side wall 31. The side wall 31 is inserted into a first end portion 211 of the outer wall 21 in an axial direction of the outer wall 21.

[0064] The side wall 31 has an insertion wall portion 37 that is inserted into an inner side of the outer wall 21 in the axial direction. The insertion wall portion 37 has a thick portion 7. The thick portion 7 is thicker than a portion adjacent to the thick portion 7 in the insertion wall portion 37. When the thick portion 7 is placed outside the outer wall 21, the first engagement element 23 and the second engagement element 38 are shifted in the thickness direction of the thick portion 7, and the first engagement element 23 and the second engagement element 38 cannot be engaged. The thick portion 7 has inclined surfaces 71, 72, and 73 that guide the thick portion 7 toward the inner side of the outer wall 21 adjacent to the outer wall 21 in the axial direction.

[0065] In the electrical connection box 1 of the present embodiment, the thick portion 7 is guided to the inside of the outer wall 21 by the inclined surfaces 71, 72, and 73 of the thick portion 7. In this way, a misfit between the outer wall 21 and the side wall 31 can be controlled in advance. In addition, when the thick portion 7 is located outside the outer wall 21, the positions of the first engaging member 23 and the second engaging member 38 are shifted by a thickness of the thick portion 7. Since the engagement between the first engaging member 23 and the second engaging member 38 becomes impossible, the worker realizes the resulting assembly error. In this way, the electrical connection box 1 of the present embodiment can improve work efficiency in assembling the frame 2 and the bottom cover 3.In addition, since the thick portion 7 is provided, deformation of the side wall 31 is controlled by improving the rigidity of the side wall 31 and the like.

[0066] The thick portion 7 of the present embodiment is disposed in a bent portion 39 where an extension direction of the insert wall portion 37 changes. Since the thick portion 7 is provided in the bent portion 39, the deformation of the side wall 31 can be effectively controlled. For example, the thick portion 7 may be provided in such a manner as to connect portions on both sides of the insert wall portion 7 with the bent portion 39 interposed therebetween.

[0067] The insert wall portion 37 of the present embodiment extends in a circumferential direction around the side wall 31. A part in the circumferential direction of the insert wall portion 37 is a front wall portion 37b. The front wall portion 37b is a portion located on a front end side when the insert wall portion 37 is inserted into the inside of the outer wall 21. In the insert wall portion 37, a part of a portion except the front wall portion 37b is a rear wall portion 37d. The rear wall portion 37d is a portion located on a rear end side when the insert wall portion 37 is inserted into the inside of the outer wall 21. The thick portion 7 is arranged in the front wall portion 37b.Since the thick portion 7 is arranged in the front wall portion 37b, a positional relationship between the frame 2 and the lower cover 3 is corrected right at the beginning of an assembling process.

[0068] The thick portion 7 of the present embodiment is arranged at an end portion in the circumferential direction of the front wall portion 37b. With such an arrangement, if the thick portion 7 is located outside the outer wall 21, the worker can easily visually recognize the thick portion 7 and easily realizes an erroneous assembly.

[0069] The insert wall portion 37 of the present embodiment includes an inclined wall portion 37c. The inclined wall portion 37c connects one end portion of the front wall portion 37b and one end portion of the rear wall portion 37d and is inclined in the axial direction. The thick portion 7 is disposed in a connecting portion between the front wall portion 37b and the inclined wall portion 37c. With such an arrangement, the side wall 31 can be smoothly guided to the inside of the outer wall 21 by the inclined surfaces 71, 72, and 73 of the thick portion 7. Furthermore, the connecting portion between the front wall portion 37b and the inclined wall portion 37c can be reinforced, and the deformation of the side wall 31 can be controlled. Modification of the embodiment

[0070] A position and shape of the protruding portion 6 are not limited to those shown in the above embodiment. For example, in a protruding portion 6, a first guide surface 61 may be a surface facing an inner side of a frame 2. In this case, an edge portion 33 of a lower cover 3 is shaped to abut against the first guide surface 61 from the inside. For example, a first visible surface 34 of the edge portion 33 is a surface facing an outer side of the lower cover 3.

[0071] A positioning structure by a protruding portion 6 and an edge portion 33 can be applied to the positioning of a frame 2 and a top cover 4. In this case, a protruding portion 6 protruding from a second end portion 212 is provided in the frame 2, and a pair of edge portions 33A and 33B corresponding to the protruding portion 6 are provided in the top cover 4.

[0072] The shapes and arrangements of the first engagement element 23 and the second engagement element 38 are not limited to those shown in the above embodiment. For example, the engagement relationship of the first engagement element 23 and the second engagement element 38 may be opposite to that of the above embodiment.

[0073] A shape and arrangement of a thick portion 7 are not limited to those shown in the above embodiment. For example, one thick portion 7 may be provided in one of the wall portions 31A, 31B, 31C, and 31D of a side wall 31. The side wall 31 may also include a plurality of thick portions 7. For example, one thick portion 7 may be provided in each of the first wall portion 31A and the second wall portion 31B, or two thick portions 7 may be provided in one of the first wall portion 31A and the second wall portion 31B. When the side wall 31 includes a plurality of thick portions 7, one thick portion 7 may be provided at one end portion in a first direction X, and another thick portion 7 may be provided at the other end portion in the first direction X.

[0074] A thick portion 7 may be provided in an upper cover 4. In this case, the thick portion 7 is provided in a wall portion corresponding to a side wall 31 in the upper cover 4.

[0075] The contents disclosed in the above embodiment and the modified example can be combined and executed in an appropriate manner.

[0076] In an electrical connection box according to the present embodiment, when a thick portion is placed outside an outer wall, a first engagement element and a second engagement element are displaced in a thickness direction of the thick portion, and the first engagement element and the second engagement element cannot be engaged. Thus, when a misfit occurs between an outer wall and a side wall, a worker can be alerted to the misassembly. Moreover, the thick portion has an inclined surface that guides the thick portion toward an inner side of the outer wall adjacent to the outer wall in the axial direction. In this way, the generation of misassembly is controlled in advance.According to the electrical connection box of the present embodiment, there is an effect that work efficiency in assembling a frame and a cover can be improved.

[0077] While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments for the purpose of thorough and understandable disclosure, the appended claims are not to be limited thereby and are not to be construed as covering all modifications and alternative constructions that may occur to those skilled in the art and which clearly fall within the basic teachings presented herein.

Claims

[1] Electrical junction box (1), comprising: a frame (2) having a cylindrical outer wall (21) and a first engagement element (23) arranged in the outer wall (21); and a cover (3) having a side wall (31) inserted into a first end portion (211) in an axial direction of the outer wall (21), the first end portion (211) being one end of the outer wall (21) in the axial direction, and a second engagement element (38) engaged with the first engagement element (23) and provided on the side wall (31), the side wall (31) has an insert wall portion (37) which is inserted into an inner side of the outer wall (21) in the axial direction, the insert wall section (37) has a thick section (7) which is thicker than a neighboring section in the insert wall section (37), and when the thick portion (7) is arranged outside the outer wall (21), the first engagement element (23) and the second engagement element (38) are shifted in a thickness direction of the thick portion (7) and the engagement between the first engagement element (23) and the second engagement element (38) becomes impossible, and the thick portion (7) has an inclined surface (71, 72, 73) which guides the thick portion (7) to the inside of the outer wall (21) in abutment with the outer wall (21) in the axial direction. [2] The electrical junction box according to claim 1, wherein the thick portion (7) is arranged in a bent portion (39) in which an extension direction of the insert wall portion (37) changes. [3] Electrical junction box according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the insert wall portion (37) extends in a circumferential direction around the side wall (31), a part in the circumferential direction in the insert wall portion (37) is a front wall portion (37b) which is placed on a front end side when the insert wall portion (37) is inserted into the inside of the outer wall (21), a part of a portion other than the front wall portion (37b) in the insert wall portion (37) is a rear wall portion (37d) placed on a rear end side when the insert wall portion (37) is inserted into the inside of the outer wall (21), and the thick portion (7) is arranged in the front wall portion (37b). [4] An electrical junction box according to claim 3, wherein the thick portion (7) is disposed at an end portion in the circumferential direction of the front wall portion (37b). [5] Electrical junction box according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the insert wall portion (37) connects an end portion of the front wall portion (37b) and an end portion of the rear wall portion (37d) and has an inclined wall portion (37c) which is inclined in the axial direction, and the thick portion (7) is arranged in a connecting portion between the front wall portion (37b) and the inclined wall portion (37c).

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