FUSE BOX WITH IPXXB PROTECTION PLATE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES

Abstract

One aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle fuse box 2 for a motor vehicle 1 comprising a receptacle 3 for at least one fuse 41, 42, 43, 44 and an electrical protection plate 6 made of an electrically insulating material, said electrical protection plate 6 covering said at least one fuse 41, 42, 43, 44 and closing said receptacle 3, said fuse box 2 being notable in that the electrical protection plate 6 comprises at least one opening 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 allowing the passage of a test probe of an electrical testing device. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: FUSE BOX EQUIPPED WITH AN IPXXB PROTECTION PLATE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

[0001] The present invention relates to a fuse box for a motor vehicle making it possible to protect different electric current lines by fuses.

[0002] One area of ​​application envisaged is in particular, but not exclusively, that of electric motor vehicles, and in particular electrical power networks connected to a power battery, for example having a voltage of 400V.

[0003] An electric motor vehicle generally comprises an electrical power network comprising electrical equipment electrically powered via a power battery. This electrical equipment may, for example, be formed by one or more electric motor(s).

[0004] In order to avoid overvoltages that could damage electrical equipment, the latter are connected to the power battery via fuses located in a box.

[0005] When electrical equipment malfunctions, an operator sometimes needs to access the fuses to perform electrical operating tests. To test the proper functioning of a fuse, it is necessary to open the housing in order to connect a measuring device directly to the fuse terminals. The operator thus has direct access to the bare electrical wires. Such an operation can present risks of electrocution.

[0006] In order to protect the operator when opening a box containing electrical elements, it is for example known from document CN-U-216872160U to insert an electrically insulating plate between the active parts and the cover of the box. Thus, when the operator opens the cover of the box, he is electrically protected, then he removes the insulating plate to directly access the active parts. However, once the insulating plate is removed, there is still an electrical risk for the operator.

[0007] The aim of the invention is in particular to propose a motor vehicle fuse box making it possible to reduce the risks of electrocution for the operator.

[0008] In this context, the invention thus relates, in its broadest sense, to a motor vehicle fuse box comprising a receptacle receiving at least one fuse and an electrical protection plate made of an electrically insulating material, said electrical protection plate covering said at least one fuse and closing said receptacle.

[0009] The fuse box according to this aspect of the invention is remarkable in that the electrical protection plate comprises at least one orifice allowing the passage of a test probe of an electrical testing device. In other words, this orifice does not allow electrical contact between the operator's hand and the terminals of the fuse.

[0010] Thus, thanks to this orifice allowing only the passage of a test probe of an electrical testing device, for example a multimeter, it is not necessary to remove the electrical protection plate to electrically test a fuse contained in the box.

[0011] Not being in direct contact with the electrical parts, the operator's hands are electrically insulated from the electrical parts of the fuse box.

[0012] In addition to the characteristics which have just been mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the fuse box according to the invention may have one or more additional characteristics among the following, considered individually or according to all technically possible combinations.

[0013] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the orifice has a maximum width of 12 mm.

[0014] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, each fuse is provided with a positive terminal and the electrical protection plate comprises an orifice arranged opposite each positive fuse terminal.

[0015] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the fuse box comprises a positive terminal and a negative terminal for the general electrical supply of all the fuses and the electrical protection plate comprises an orifice arranged opposite the positive terminal for the general electrical supply and an orifice arranged opposite the negative terminal for the general electrical supply.

[0016] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the electrical protection plate is fixed to the receptacle via first fixing means.

[0017] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the first fixing means are formed by clipping means.

[0018] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the fuse box comprises a sealing plate, said sealing plate covering the electrical protection plate.

[0019] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the sealing plate is fixed to the receptacle via second fixing means.

[0020] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the second fixing means are formed by screws.

[0021] Another aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one fuse box according to any one of the aforementioned aspects of the invention.

[0022] The invention and its various applications will be better understood upon reading the description which follows and the examination of the figures which accompany it.

[0023] [Fig. 1] illustrates, schematically, a motor vehicle according to the invention.

[0024] [Fig.2] illustrates, schematically, an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment non-limiting illustration of a motor vehicle fuse box according to the invention.

[0025] [Fig.3] illustrates, schematically, an example of the production of a plate of electrical protection according to the invention.

[0026] The figures are presented for information purposes only and in no way limit the invention.

[0027] Unless otherwise specified, the same element appearing in different figures has a single reference.

[0028] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a motor vehicle 1, for example electric, comprising a fuse box 2 according to the invention.

[0029] [Fig. 2] illustrates an exploded view of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of a fuse box 2 for a motor vehicle according to the invention.

[0030] The fuse box 2 comprises a receptacle 3.

[0031] In this non-limiting example embodiment, the receptacle 3 comprises four fuses 4i, 42, 43, 44. Each of the fuses 4b 42, 43, 44 comprises a positive terminal 4+.

[0032] Furthermore, the receptacle 3 comprises a positive terminal and a negative terminal for the general electrical supply 5+, 5- of the set of fuses 4b 42, 43, 44.

[0033] The fuse box 2 also comprises an electrical protection plate 6 made of an electrically insulating material. An exemplary embodiment of this electrical protection plate 6 is shown in [Fig.3].

[0034] The electrical protection plate 6 is intended to cover the four fuses 4b 42, 43, 44 and to close the receptacle 3 so as to electrically isolate the fuses 4b 42, 43, 4 4 from the outside, and more particularly from direct contact with the hands of an operator.

[0035] Indeed, once the electrical protection plate 6 is positioned, the operator cannot directly touch with his fingers the electrically active parts contained in the fuse box 2, and in particular the positive terminals 4+ of the fuses 4b 42, 43, 44, nor even the positive and negative general electrical supply terminals 5+, 5- of all the fuses 4b 42, 43, 44.

[0036] In order to secure the electrical protection plate 6 to the receptacle 3, the electrical protection plate 6 may comprise first clipping means (not shown) constructed and arranged to cooperate by clipping with a complementary shape formed in the walls of the receptacle 3.

[0037] It should also be noted that according to this non-limiting embodiment, the electrical protection plate 6 comprises six orifices 7b 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 each allowing the passage of a test probe of an electrical testing device.

[0038] For example, each orifice 7b 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 may have a maximum width of 12 mm. Since, according to this embodiment, the orifices 7b 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 are formed by circles, the maximum width of 12 mm is formed by a maximum diameter of the order of 12 mm.

[0039] It should be noted that once clipped onto the receptacle 3, the electrical protection plate 6 comprises: • A first orifice 7i arranged opposite the positive terminal 4+ of a first fuse 4i; • A second orifice 72 arranged opposite the positive terminal 4+ of a second fuse 42; • A third orifice 73 arranged opposite the positive terminal 4+ of a third fuse 43; and • A fourth orifice 74, arranged opposite the positive terminal 4+ of a fourth fuse 44.

[0040] Thus, when the fuse box 2 is mounted in the vehicle 1, the operator can test the correct operation: • From the first fuse 4b by putting the test tip of a multimeter into electrical contact, through the first hole 7b, with the positive terminal 4+ of the first fuse 4b • From the second fuse 42, by placing the test probe of the multimeter in electrical contact, through the second orifice 72, with the positive terminal 4+ of the second fuse 42; • From the third fuse 43, by putting the multimeter's test tip into electrical contact, through the third orifice 73, with the positive terminal 4+ of the third fuse 43; and • From the fourth fuse 44, by putting the multimeter test tip into electrical contact, through the fourth orifice 74, with the positive terminal 4+ fourth fuse 44.

[0041] It should also be noted that once clipped onto the receptacle 2, the electrical protection plate 6 comprises: • A fifth orifice 75 arranged opposite the positive general electrical supply terminal 5+ of the set of first, second, third and fourth fuses 4b 42, 43, 44; and • A sixth orifice 76 arranged opposite the negative general power supply terminal 5- of the set of first, second, third and fourth fuses 4b 42, 43, 44.

[0042] Thus, when the fuse box 2 is mounted in the vehicle 1, the operator can test the electrical supply of the fuse box 2: • by putting into electrical contact, through the fifth orifice 75, one of the multimeter test probes with the general power supply positive terminal 5+ of the set of first, second, third and fourth fuses 4b 42, 43, 44; and • by placing the other test probe of the multimeter in electrical contact, through the sixth orifice 76, with the negative terminal of the general electrical supply 5- of the set of first, second, third and fourth fuses 4b 42, 43, 44.

[0043] Furthermore, according to this non-limiting embodiment, in order to ensure the sealing of the fuse box 2, the latter comprises a sealing plate 8.

[0044] The sealing plate 8 covers the electrical protection plate 6. This sealing plate 8 makes it possible to close the orifices 7b 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 which the electrical protection plate 6 comprises.

[0045] The sealing plate 8 is fixed to the receptacle 3 via second fixing means 9.

[0046] According to this non-limiting embodiment, the second fixing means 9 are formed by nine screws whose head rests on the sealing plate 8 and whose body is screwed into tapped holes 10 provided in the receptacle 3.

[0047] Thus, in order to carry out electrical tests in this fuse box 2, the operator removes the screws 9 allowing him to remove the sealing plate 8. Then, equipped with his multimeter, he can connect the two test probes, through the fifth and sixth orifices 75, 76, to the positive and negative general electrical supply terminals 5+, 5- of all the first, second, third and fourth fuses 4b 42, 43, 4 4*

[0048] By this test, the operator is able to confirm that the current from the battery is arriving or not arriving at the positive and negative terminals of the general electrical supply 5+, 5- of the fuse box 2.

[0049] If the current is present, in order to identify a possible defective fuse, the operator is able to test, through the first, second, third and fourth orifices 7b 72, 73, 74, one by one each of the first, second, third and fourth fuses 4i, 42, 43, 44.

[0050] During these tests, the operator is electrically protected by the electrical protection plate 6.

[0051] If a fuse is defective, it is then possible to electrically isolate the power battery from the vehicle by electrically disconnecting it from the power network. The operator can then remove the electrical protection plate 6 to replace the defective fuse.

[0052] In other words, the electrical protection plate 6 allows voltage or absence of voltage checks to be carried out without being removed, thus allowing a optimum protection for the electrician during his intervention.

[0053] The example of the fuse box 2 according to the invention illustrated in [Fig.2] comprises four fuses, but it is understood that the invention is in no way limited to such a number of fuses. The fuse box 2 according to the invention may actually comprise a single fuse or comprise several fuses, for example ten or twenty.

Claims

Claims

1. Fuse box (2) for a motor vehicle (1) comprising a receptacle (3) receiving at least one fuse (4b 42, 43, 44) and an electrical protection plate (6) made of an electrically insulating material, said electrical protection plate (6) covering said at least one fuse (4i, 42, 43, 44) and closing said receptacle (3), said fuse box (2) being characterized in that the electrical protection plate (6) comprises at least one orifice (7b 72, 73, 74, 75, 76) allowing the passage of a test probe of an electrical testing device.

2. Fuse box (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the orifice (7b 72, 73, 74, 75, 76) has a maximum width of 12 mm.

3. Fuse box (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each fuse (4b 42, 43, 44) is provided with a positive terminal (4+) and in that the electrical protection plate (6) comprises an orifice (7b 72, 73, 74) arranged opposite each positive fuse terminal (4+).

4. Fuse box (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a positive terminal and a negative general electrical supply terminal (5+, 5-) of the set of fuses (4b 42, 43, 44) and in that the electrical protection plate (6) comprises an orifice (75) arranged opposite the positive general electrical supply terminal (5+) and an orifice (76) arranged opposite the negative general electrical supply terminal (5-).

5. Fuse box (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical protection plate (6) is fixed to the receptacle (3) via first fixing means.

6. Fuse box (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first fixing means are formed by clipping means.

7. Fuse box (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a sealing plate (8), said sealing plate (8) covering the electrical protection plate (6).

8. Fuse box (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the sealing plate (8) is fixed to the receptacle (3) via second fixing means (9).

9. Fuse box (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the second fixing means (9) are formed by screws.

10. Motor vehicle (1), characterized in that it comprises at least one fuse box (2) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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