Electric connection box

Abstract

To suppress vibration of a bus bar.SOLUTION: An electric connection box includes a bus bar 10 having a flat bus bar base 11 and a male tab-shaped bus bar terminal connection portion 12A erected from the bus bar base, a relay component 20 provided with a relay terminal connection portion 22, an intermediate terminal fitting 30 that physically and electrically connects the bus bar terminal connection portions and also physically and electrically connects the relay terminal connection portions, and a housing 40 that accommodates the bus bar, the relay component, and the intermediate terminal fitting. The housing includes a case member 50 in which a bus bar accommodating chamber 51 for accommodating the bus bar is formed, and a cover member 60 that covers the case member together with the bus bar, and a fixing structure 70 is provided in at least one location between the bus bar base and the case member by inserting one into the other to fix them together. This fixing structure 70 suppresses vibration of the bus bar base when vibrations caused by driving the relay component are transmitted to the bus bar base via the bus bar terminal connection portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical junction box. [Background technology]

[0002] The bus bar is housed in the housing of an electrical connection box such as a junction box, and electrically connects at least two components to be electrically connected. The bus bar is, for example, a plate-shaped conductive member press-formed using a metal plate as a base material, and has a terminal connection portion formed in the shape of a male tab to which the components to be electrically connected are directly or indirectly connected. An electrical connection box equipped with this type of bus bar is disclosed in Patent Document 1 listed below. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-259228 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the case of a bus bar, when the electrically connected component is a relay component that can be a vibration source, the vibration caused by the actuation of the relay component is transmitted to the terminal connection part, and the vibration propagates from the terminal connection part. In addition, since the bus bar is accommodated in the housing of the electrical connection box with some play (backlash), there is a risk of abnormal noise caused by the vibration of the bus bar. In addition, the bus bar may be electrically connected to the relay component via an intermediate terminal fitting, and in this case, the intermediate terminal fitting indirectly connects the male tab-shaped terminal connection part of the bus bar to the male tab-shaped terminal connection part of the relay component. In the case of a bus bar, when the intermediate terminal fitting physically and electrically connects the terminal connection part by using a spring force, it is sufficient that the intermediate terminal fitting absorbs and attenuates the vibration caused by the actuation of the relay component. However, there is a possibility that the vibration is amplified by the intermediate terminal fitting and transmitted to the terminal connection part.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENTS In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical junction box capable of suppressing vibration of a bus bar. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention comprises a bus bar having a flat bus bar base and a male tab-shaped bus bar terminal connection portion erected from the bus bar base, a relay component provided with a relay terminal connection portion, an intermediate terminal fitting that physically and electrically connects the bus bar terminal connection portion and also physically and electrically connects the relay terminal connection portion, and a housing that accommodates the bus bar, the relay component, and the intermediate terminal fitting, wherein the housing comprises a case member in which a bus bar accommodating chamber that accommodates the bus bar is formed, and a cover member that covers the case member together with the bus bar, and a fixing structure is provided in at least one location between the bus bar base and the case member by inserting one of them into the other to fix them together. This fixing structure suppresses vibration of the bus bar base when vibrations accompanying the operation of the relay component are transmitted to the bus bar base via the bus bar terminal connection portion. Effect of the Invention

[0007] The electrical junction box according to the present invention can attenuate vibrations caused by driving of the relay components and transmitted to the bus bar base via the bus bar terminal connection portion by fixing the bus bar base and the case member with a fixing structure provided between the bus bar base and the case member. Thus, the electrical junction box can suppress vibrations of the bus bar and the generation of abnormal noise caused by the vibrations of the bus bar. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an electrical junction box according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the electrical junction box according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the bus bar and the intermediate terminal metal fitting housed in the bus bar housing. [Figure 4]4 is a cross-sectional view of the periphery of the intermediate terminal metal fitting taken along the line X1-X1 in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the fixing structure of the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a bus bar provided with a press-fit portion according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a part of a bottom wall of a busbar accommodating chamber in which a press-fit hole is provided according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a view obtained by rotating a part of the cross section taken along line YY in FIG. 5 by 90 degrees, and shows the state in which the press-fit portion is pressed into the press-fit hole. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a simulation analysis result of an equivalent radiation power level regarding a bus bar of an electric junction box provided with a fixing structure according to an embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the fixing structure of the first modified example. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line X2-X2 of FIG. 10, showing a state in which the press-fit portion is pressed into the press-fit hole. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a result of a simulation analysis of an equivalent radiation power level regarding a bus bar of an electric junction box provided with the fixing structure of the first modification. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a plan view of the fixing structure of the second modification seen from the bus bar base side. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a plan view of the fixing structure of the second modification, as viewed from the tip end side of the press-fitting portion. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a bus bar provided with a press-fit portion according to the second modification. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a part of a bottom wall of a bus bar accommodating chamber in which a press-fit hole according to the second modification is provided. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a result of a simulation analysis of an equivalent radiation power level regarding a bus bar of an electric junction box provided with the fixing structure of the second modification. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a plan view of the fixing structure of the third modification seen from the bus bar base side. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a plan view of the fixing structure of the third modified example, as viewed from the tip side of the spring insertion part. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing a bus bar provided with a spring insertion portion according to the third modification. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing a part of a bottom wall of a bus bar accommodating chamber in which an insertion hole of the third modification is provided. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a result of a simulation analysis of an equivalent radiation power level regarding a bus bar of an electric junction box provided with the fixing structure of the third modification. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is a plan view showing a fixing structure of the fourth modified example. [Figure 24] FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing a bus bar provided with a hook portion according to the fourth modification. [Diagram 25] FIG. 25 is a plan view showing a part of a bottom wall of a bus bar accommodating chamber in which an insertion hole according to Modification 4 is provided. [Figure 26] FIG. 26 is a partially extracted cross-sectional view taken along line X3-X3 in FIG. 23, showing the hook portion inserted into the insertion hole. [Figure 27] FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a result of a simulation analysis of an equivalent radiation power level regarding a bus bar of an electric junction box provided with the fixing structure of the fourth modification. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an electrical junction box according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

[0010] [Embodiment] One embodiment of an electrical junction box according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0011] Reference numeral 1 in Fig. 1 indicates an electrical connection box of this embodiment. This electrical connection box 1 is also called a junction box or the like, and electrically connects at least two electrical connection target components. This electrical connection box 1 includes a bus bar 10, a relay component 20 as an electrical connection target component, an intermediate terminal fitting 30 interposed between this bus bar 10 and the relay component 20, and a housing 40 that houses these (Figs. 1 and 2). In this electrical connection box 1, the relay component 20 is electrically connected to another electrical connection target component via the bus bar 10 and the intermediate terminal fitting 30 (Fig. 1).

[0012] The bus bar 10 is a conductive member formed into a plate shape from a conductive material such as a metal material. For example, the bus bar 10 is press-formed using a metal plate as a base material. The bus bar 10 has a flat base portion (hereinafter referred to as a "bus bar base portion") 11 and a male tab-shaped terminal connection portion (hereinafter referred to as a "bus bar terminal connection portion") 12 standing upright from the bus bar base 11 (FIGS. 1 and 3). The bus bar 10 shown here has a plurality of bus bar terminal connection portions 12, and a relay component 20 is electrically connected to one of the plurality of bus bar terminal connection portions 12 (hereinafter referred to as a "bus bar terminal connection portion 12A") via a relay terminal fitting 30 (FIGS. 1, 3, and 4).

[0013] Here, the relay component 20 includes a relay body 21 and a terminal connection portion (hereinafter referred to as a "relay terminal connection portion") 22 protruding from the relay body 21 (FIG. 1). The relay component 20 shown here is provided with the relay terminal connection portion 22 formed in the shape of a male tab.

[0014] The intermediate terminal fitting 30 physically and electrically connects the bus bar terminal connection portion 12A and has an electrical connection portion 31 inside a cylindrical terminal body 32 that physically and electrically connects the bus bar terminal connection portion 12A and the relay terminal connection portion 22 (FIG. 4). Therefore, the bus bar terminal connection portion 12A is electrically connected to the relay terminal connection portion 22 via the intermediate terminal fitting 30. The intermediate terminal fitting 30 shown here is press-formed using a metal plate as a base material.

[0015] The electrical connection portion 31 is flexed and deformed as the bus bar terminal connection portion 12A is inserted, and the reaction force (spring force) acts on the plane of the bus bar terminal connection portion 12A to sandwich the bus bar terminal connection portion 12A between the electrical connection portion 31 and the inner wall surface of the terminal body 32 (FIG. 4). Therefore, the bus bar terminal connection portion 12A is physically and electrically connected to the relay terminal fitting 30 by the spring force applied by the relay terminal fitting 30 to the plane of the bus bar terminal connection portion 12A. Furthermore, the electrical connection portion 31 is flexed and deformed as the relay terminal connection portion 22 is inserted, and the reaction force (spring force) acts on the plane of the relay terminal connection portion 22 to sandwich the relay terminal connection portion 22 between the electrical connection portion 31 and the inner wall surface of the terminal body 32 (FIG. 4). Therefore, the relay terminal connection portion 22 is physically and electrically connected to the relay terminal fitting 30 by the spring force applied by the relay terminal fitting 30 to the plane of the relay terminal connection portion 22. However, here, relay terminal connection portion 22 is sandwiched between bulging portion 33 that bulges out from the inner wall surface of terminal body 32 and electrical connection portion 31. Electrical connection portion 31 shown here is formed in a U-shape that is sandwiched between bus bar terminal connection portion 12A and relay terminal connection portion 22 inside the cylindrical terminal body 32, and applies reaction forces (spring forces) in opposite directions to bus bar terminal connection portion 12A and relay terminal connection portion 22.

[0016] As described above, the electrical junction box 1 includes a housing 40 that houses the bus bar 10, the relay component 20, and the relay terminal fitting 30. The housing 40 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin, and includes a case member 50 and a cover member 60 that are assembled together (FIG. 1).

[0017] An accommodation chamber (hereinafter referred to as the "bus bar accommodation chamber") 51 for accommodating the bus bar 10 is formed in the case member 50 (FIGS. 1 and 3). The bus bar 10 is accommodated in the bus bar accommodation chamber 51 with the intermediate terminal fitting 30 attached to the bus bar terminal connection portion 12A. Therefore, the bus bar accommodation chamber 51 also accommodates the intermediate terminal fitting 30.

[0018] The cover member 60 is attached to the case member 50 to cover the case member 50 together with the bus bar 10. The cover member 60 shown here covers the relay terminal fittings 30 together with the bus bar 10. Thus, the cover member 60 is formed with a through hole for inserting the relay terminal connecting portion 22 into the relay terminal fitting 30. In the cover member 60, a vertical wall surrounding the through hole is provided on the outer wall surface, and the space inside the vertical wall is used as an accommodation chamber 61 for the relay component 20 (hereinafter referred to as the "relay accommodation chamber") (Fig. 1).

[0019] In addition, a part of the vertical wall of the cover member 60 is cut out, and a holding portion (hereinafter referred to as "relay holding portion") 62 that holds the relay component 20 in the relay accommodating chamber 61 is provided in the cutout portion (FIG. 1). The relay holding portion 62 constitutes a so-called locking mechanism that hooks onto the claw portion 23 protruding from the outer wall surface of the relay body 21 to hold the claw portion 23 (FIG. 1).

[0020] In this housing 40, the case member 50 is not provided with a holding mechanism for holding the bus bar 10 in the bus bar accommodating chamber 51 (for example, a mechanism for holding the bus bar 10 in the bus bar accommodating chamber 51 by providing a through hole in the bus bar 10, providing a claw portion to be inserted into the through hole on a vertical wall of the bus bar accommodating chamber 51, and hooking the claw portion on the periphery of the through hole). However, in this housing 40, the bus bar 10 is indirectly held by the cover member 60 via the relay component 20 held by the cover member 60 and the relay terminal fitting 30 to which the relay terminal connecting portion 22 of the relay component 20 is fitted and connected.

[0021] In the relay component 20, a vibration is generated by switching between ON and OFF, and the vibration is transmitted to the relay terminal connection portion 22. The vibration caused by the driving of the relay component 20 is transmitted from the relay terminal connection portion 22 to the bus bar terminal connection portion 12A via the intermediate terminal fitting 30, and is then propagated from the bus bar terminal connection portion 12A to the bus bar base 11. Since the bus bar 10 is not fixed to the case member 50, when the vibration of the relay component 20 is propagated to the bus bar base 11, the vibration of the bus bar base 11 may cause abnormal noise. Even if the bus bar 10 in the bus bar accommodating chamber 51 is held in the case member 50 by the above-mentioned holding mechanism, the holding mechanism has a play (backlash) between the claw portion and the through hole, and therefore the bus bar 10 can move relative to the case member 50 in the bus bar accommodating chamber 51 by the amount of the play. Therefore, even if the bus bar 10 is held in the case member 50 by its holding mechanism, if vibrations of the relay component 20 are transmitted to the bus bar base 11, there is a risk that the vibrations of the bus bar base 11 will cause abnormal noise.

[0022] Therefore, in this embodiment, a fixing structure 70 is provided at least in one location between the busbar base 11 and the case member 50, by inserting one into the other and fixing them together, thereby suppressing vibration of the busbar base 11 when vibrations caused by driving the relay component 20 are transmitted to the busbar base 11 via the busbar terminal connection portion 12A (Figures 5 to 8).

[0023] The fixing structure 70 of the present embodiment is a press-fit structure including a press-fit portion 71 standing from the busbar base 11 in the plate thickness direction thereof, and a press-fit hole 72 provided in the bottom wall 51a of the busbar accommodating chamber 51 in the case member 50, into which the press-fit portion 71 is inserted and fixed by being press-fitted (FIGS. 5 to 8). In the electrical junction box 1, when vibrations caused by driving the relay component 20 are transmitted to the busbar base 11 via the busbar terminal connection portion 12A, the vibrations are attenuated before being transmitted to the fixing structure 70, so that the vibrations of the busbar 10 can be suppressed.

[0024] The press-fit portion 71 is erected from the busbar base 11 in the plate thickness direction toward the bottom wall 51a of the busbar accommodating chamber 51 (FIGS. 6 and 8). The press-fit portion 71 shown here is formed in a one-piece shape in which a plurality of trapezoidal plate-shaped portions of the same shape, with their upper bases facing the bottom wall 51a, are connected in the press-fit direction (FIGS. 6 and 8). Here, three of the plate-shaped portions are connected together. The press-fit hole 72 is formed as a through hole penetrating the bottom wall 51a (FIGS. 7 and 8). The press-fit hole 72 shown here is formed as a rectangular through hole (FIGS. 7 and 8). The press-fit portion 71 is press-fitted and fixed into the press-fit hole 72 while the inner peripheral wall of the press-fit hole 72 is scraped by inclined side walls connecting the upper and lower bases of each plate-shaped portion.

[0025] The location of the fixing structure 70 is determined as follows. Here, the equivalent radiated power level for the conventional bus bar 10conv is obtained by simulation analysis (double-dashed line in FIG. 9). In the conventional bus bar 10conv, the fixing structure 70 is not provided, and the relay component 20 is attached to the bus bar terminal connection portion 12A via the relay terminal fitting 30. As a result of the analysis, in the conventional bus bar 10conv, vibration occurs in the vicinity of the bus bar terminal connection portion 12A in the bus bar base 11 (i.e., in the vicinity of the input portion of the vibration of the relay component 20 in the bus bar base 11). Therefore, in the electric connection box 1 of this embodiment, the fixing structure 70 is provided in the vicinity of the bus bar terminal connection portion 12A in the bus bar base 11 (i.e., in the vicinity of the input portion of the vibration of the relay component 20 in the bus bar base 11). In this example, the fixing structures 70 are provided in positions and in quantities that reduce the equivalent radiated power level at a specific frequency (the frequency of vibration accompanying the driving of the relay component 20) Fs.

[0026] In this example, fixing structures 70 are provided in two locations between the busbar base 11 and the case member 50, and vibration of the busbar base 11 is suppressed at each location where the fixing structures 70 are provided. The solid line in Fig. 9 indicates the equivalent radiated power level of the busbar 10 in the electrical junction box 1 provided with the fixing structures 70. In this busbar 10, the equivalent radiated power level at a specific frequency Fs can be reduced more than that of a conventional busbar 10conv that does not employ the fixing structure 70.

[0027] As described above, the electric junction box 1 of the present embodiment can attenuate the vibration caused by the driving of the relay component 20, which is propagated to the bus bar base 11 via the bus bar terminal connection portion 12A, by fixing the bus bar base 11 and the case member 50 with the fixing structure 70 provided between them. Therefore, the electric junction box 1 can suppress the vibration of the bus bar 10 and suppress the generation of abnormal noise caused by the vibration of the bus bar 10. Furthermore, in the electric junction box 1, when the intermediate terminal fittings 30 absorb and attenuate the vibration caused by the driving of the relay component 20, the propagation of the vibration to the bus bar base 11 can be suppressed, so that the generation of abnormal noise caused by the vibration of the bus bar 10 can be further suppressed. On the other hand, in the electric junction box 1, even if the intermediate terminal fittings 30 amplify the vibration caused by the driving of the relay component 20, the fixing structure 70 can be provided at an appropriate position to suppress the vibration of the bus bar 10 and suppress the generation of abnormal noise caused by the vibration.

[0028] Furthermore, the electrical junction box 1 of the present embodiment can suppress vibration of the bus bar 10, so that wear of the contacts between the bus bar terminal connection portions 12A and the intermediate terminal fittings 30 can also be suppressed.

[0029] [Variation 1] A modified example of the electrical junction box according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0030] In the electrical junction box 2 of this modification, the bus bar 10 and the case member 50 of the housing 40 in the electrical junction box 1 of the above-described embodiment are replaced with a bus bar 110 and a case member 150 described below, and the fixing structure 70 of the embodiment provided between the bus bar 10 and the case member 50 is changed to a fixing structure 170 described below (FIGS. 10 and 11). Therefore, in the following, the same reference numerals as in the embodiment are used for the same parts and the like as those shown in the embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0031] The busbar 110 of this modified example has a busbar base 11 and a busbar terminal connection portion 12 similar to those of the busbar 10 of the embodiment ( FIG. 10 ), and a relay component 20 is electrically connected to a busbar terminal connection portion 12A of the multiple busbar terminal connection portions 12 via an intermediate terminal fitting 30. Meanwhile, the busbar 110 of this modified example has rivet holes 171, which will be described later, provided in the busbar base 11 instead of the press-fit portions 71 provided in the busbar base 11 of the busbar 10 of the embodiment ( FIG. 11 ).

[0032] Case member 150 of this modified example has bus bar accommodating chamber 51 similar to that of case member 50 of the embodiment ( FIG. 10 ), and bus bar 110 and intermediate terminal fitting 30 are accommodated in bus bar accommodating chamber 51. Meanwhile, case member 150 of this modified example has rivet portions 172 (described later) provided in bottom wall 51 a instead of press-fit holes 72 provided in bottom wall 51 a of bus bar accommodating chamber 51 in case member 50 of the embodiment ( FIGS. 10 and 11 ).

[0033] Fixing structure 170 of this modified example is a riveted structure including rivet hole 171 in the shape of a through hole provided in busbar base 11, and rivet portion 172 that protrudes from bottom wall 51a of busbar accommodating chamber 51 in case member 150 to be inserted into rivet hole 171 and fixes busbar base 11 to case member 150 with a plastically deformed end (FIGS. 10 and 11). In this electrical junction box 2, when vibrations caused by driving of relay component 20 are transmitted to busbar base 11 via busbar terminal connection portion 12A, the vibrations are attenuated before being transmitted to fixing structure 170, so that vibrations of busbar 110 can be suppressed.

[0034] The rivet hole 171 is formed as a through hole penetrating the bus bar base 11 (FIG. 11). The rivet hole 171 shown here is formed as a circular through hole. The rivet portion 172 is erected from the bottom wall 51a of the bus bar accommodating chamber 51 toward the bus bar base 11 in the plate thickness direction (FIG. 11). The rivet portion 172 shown here is formed as a cylindrical shaft portion before plastic deformation, and after being inserted into the rivet hole 171, the tip is crushed and plastically deformed (FIGS. 10 and 11). In the fixing structure 170, the bus bar base 11 is sandwiched between the bottom wall 51a and the end of the rivet portion 172 after plastic deformation, and the bus bar base 11 is fixed to the case member 150 (FIG. 11).

[0035] The location of the fixing structure 170 is determined, like the fixing structure 70 of the embodiment, by obtaining an equivalent radiation power level by simulation analysis of a conventional busbar 10conv in which the fixing structure 170 is not provided and the relay component 20 is attached to the busbar terminal connection portion 12A via the relay terminal fitting 30 (double-dashed line in FIG. 12 ). Therefore, in the electrical junction box 2 of this modification, the fixing structure 170 is disposed near the busbar terminal connection portion 12A of the busbar base 11 (i.e., near the vibration input portion of the relay component 20 of the busbar base 11).

[0036] In this example, fixing structures 170 are provided at two locations between the busbar base 11 and the case member 150, and vibration of the busbar base 11 is suppressed at each location where the fixing structures 170 are provided. The solid line in Fig. 12 indicates the equivalent radiated power level of the busbar 110 in the electric junction box 2 provided with the fixing structures 170. With this busbar 110, the equivalent radiated power level at a specific frequency Fs can be reduced more than that of a conventional busbar 10conv that does not employ the fixing structure 170.

[0037] As described above, the electrical connection box 2 of this modification can attenuate the vibration caused by the driving of the relay component 20, which is propagated to the bus bar base 11 via the bus bar terminal connection portion 12A, by fixing the bus bar base 11 and the case member 150 with the fixing structure 170 provided between them. Thus, the electrical connection box 2 can suppress the vibration of the bus bar 110 and suppress the generation of abnormal noise caused by the vibration of the bus bar 110. Furthermore, in the electrical connection box 2, when the intermediate terminal fittings 30 absorb and attenuate the vibration caused by the driving of the relay component 20, the propagation of the vibration to the bus bar base 11 can be suppressed, so that the generation of abnormal noise caused by the vibration of the bus bar 110 can be further suppressed. On the other hand, in the electrical connection box 2, even if the intermediate terminal fittings 30 amplify the vibration caused by the driving of the relay component 20, the fixing structure 170 can be provided at an appropriate position to suppress the vibration of the bus bar 110 and suppress the generation of abnormal noise caused by the vibration.

[0038] Furthermore, since the electrical junction box 2 of this modified example can suppress vibration of the bus bar 110, wear of the contacts between the bus bar terminal connection portion 12A and the intermediate terminal fittings 30 can also be suppressed.

[0039] [Variation 2] A modified example of the electrical junction box according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0040] In the electrical junction box 3 of this modification, the bus bar 10 and the case member 50 of the housing 40 in the electrical junction box 1 of the above-described embodiment are replaced with a bus bar 210 and a case member 250 described below, and the fixing structure 70 of the embodiment provided between the bus bar 10 and the case member 50 is changed to a fixing structure 270 described below (FIGS. 13 to 16). Therefore, in the following, the same reference numerals as in the embodiment are used for the same parts and the like as those shown in the embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0041] The busbar 210 of this modified example has a busbar base 11 and a busbar terminal connection portion 12 similar to the busbar 10 of the embodiment (FIGS. 13 to 15), and a relay component 20 is electrically connected to a busbar terminal connection portion 12A of the multiple busbar terminal connection portions 12 via an intermediate terminal fitting 30. Meanwhile, the busbar 210 of this modified example has a press-fit portion 271, which will be described later, provided in the busbar base 11 instead of the press-fit portion 71 provided in the busbar base 11 of the busbar 10 of the embodiment (FIGS. 13 to 15).

[0042] Also, case member 250 of this modified example has bus bar accommodating chamber 51 similar to that of case member 50 of the embodiment (FIGS. 13, 14 and 16), and bus bar 210 and intermediate terminal fitting 30 are accommodated in this bus bar accommodating chamber 51. Meanwhile, case member 250 of this modified example has press-fit hole 272 (described later) provided in bottom wall 51a instead of press-fit hole 72 provided in bottom wall 51a of bus bar accommodating chamber 51 in case member 50 of the embodiment (FIGS. 14 and 16).

[0043] Fixing structure 270 of this modification is a slide press-fit structure including press-fit portion 271 protruding from busbar base 11 along its plane, and press-fit hole 272 provided in case member 250, into which press-fit portion 271 is slidably inserted along the protruding direction and press-fitted (FIGS. 13 to 16). In this electrical junction box 3, when vibrations caused by driving of relay component 20 are transmitted to busbar base 11 via busbar terminal connection portion 12A, the vibrations are attenuated before being transmitted to fixing structure 270, and the vibrations of busbar 210 can be suppressed.

[0044] The press-fit portion 271 protrudes from a part of the outer periphery of the busbar base 11 along the plane of the busbar base 11 (FIG. 15). The press-fit portion 271 shown here is formed in a rectangular one-piece shape on the same plane as the busbar base 11 (FIG. 15). The press-fit hole 272 is provided in a bulging portion 272a bulging from a flat bottom wall 51a toward the busbar base 11 (FIGS. 14 and 16). The bulging portion 272a shown here is formed in a rectangular shape with two wall surfaces arranged perpendicular to the slide insertion direction of the press-fit portion 271 and the remaining four wall surfaces arranged parallel to the slide insertion direction of the press-fit portion 271 (FIG. 16). In the bulging portion 272a, a rectangular through hole that is as if it is hollowed out along the plane of the busbar base 11 in the slide insertion direction of the press-fit portion 271 is used as the press-fit hole 272.

[0045] When the busbar 210 of this modified example is accommodated in the busbar accommodating chamber 51, for example, the press-fit portion 271 is shifted from the bulging portion 272a and the busbar base 11 is placed on the bottom wall 51a of the busbar accommodating chamber 51. Then, the busbar 210 inserts the press-fit portion 271 into the press-fit hole 272 while sliding the busbar base 11 along the bottom wall 51a in the sliding insertion direction of the press-fit portion 271. As a result, the press-fit portion 271 is press-fitted and fixed in the press-fit hole 272.

[0046] The location of the fixing structure 270 is determined, like the fixing structure 70 of the embodiment, by obtaining an equivalent radiation power level by simulation analysis of a conventional busbar 10conv in which the fixing structure 270 is not provided and the relay component 20 is attached to the busbar terminal connection portion 12A via the relay terminal fitting 30 (double-dashed line in FIG. 17 ). Therefore, in the electrical junction box 3 of this modification, the fixing structure 270 is disposed near the busbar terminal connection portion 12A of the busbar base 11 (i.e., near the vibration input portion of the relay component 20 of the busbar base 11).

[0047] In this example, a fixing structure 270 is provided at one location between the bus bar base 11 and the case member 250, and vibration of the bus bar base 11 is suppressed at the location where this fixing structure 270 is disposed. The solid line in Fig. 17 indicates the equivalent radiation power level of the bus bar 210 in the electric junction box 3 provided with this fixing structure 270. In this bus bar 210, the equivalent radiation power level at a specific frequency Fs can be reduced more than that of a conventional bus bar 10conv that does not employ the fixing structure 270.

[0048] As described above, the electrical connection box 3 of this modification can attenuate the vibration caused by the driving of the relay component 20, which is propagated to the bus bar base 11 via the bus bar terminal connection portion 12A, by fixing the bus bar base 11 and the case member 250 with the fixing structure 270 provided between them. Therefore, the electrical connection box 3 can suppress the vibration of the bus bar 210 and suppress the generation of abnormal noise caused by the vibration of the bus bar 210. Furthermore, in the electrical connection box 3, when the intermediate terminal fittings 30 absorb and attenuate the vibration caused by the driving of the relay component 20, the propagation of the vibration to the bus bar base 11 can be suppressed, so that the generation of abnormal noise caused by the vibration of the bus bar 210 can be further suppressed. On the other hand, in the electrical connection box 3, even if the intermediate terminal fittings 30 amplify the vibration caused by the driving of the relay component 20, the fixing structure 270 can be provided at an appropriate position to suppress the vibration of the bus bar 210 and suppress the generation of abnormal noise caused by the vibration.

[0049] Furthermore, since the electrical junction box 3 of this modified example can suppress vibration of the bus bar 210, wear of the contacts between the bus bar terminal connection portion 12A and the intermediate terminal fittings 30 can also be suppressed.

[0050] [Variation 3] A modified example of the electrical junction box according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0051] In the electric junction box 4 of this modification, the bus bar 10 and the case member 50 of the housing 40 in the electric junction box 1 of the above-described embodiment are replaced with a bus bar 310 and a case member 350 described below, and the fixing structure 70 of the embodiment provided between the bus bar 10 and the case member 50 is changed to a fixing structure 370 described below (FIGS. 18 to 21). Therefore, in the following, the same reference numerals as in the embodiment are used for the same parts and the like as those shown in the embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0052] A bus bar 310 of this modification has a bus bar base 11 and a bus bar terminal connection portion 12 similar to those of the bus bar 10 of the embodiment (FIGS. 18 to 20), and a relay component 20 is electrically connected to a bus bar terminal connection portion 12A of the multiple bus bar terminal connection portions 12 via an intermediate terminal fitting 30. Meanwhile, the bus bar 310 of this modification has a spring insertion portion 371, which will be described later, provided on the bus bar base 11 instead of the press-fit portion 71 provided on the bus bar base 11 of the bus bar 10 of the embodiment (FIGS. 18 to 20).

[0053] Also, case member 350 of this modified example has bus bar accommodating chamber 51 similar to that of case member 50 of the embodiment (FIGS. 18, 19 and 21), and bus bar 310 and intermediate terminal fitting 30 are accommodated in this bus bar accommodating chamber 51. Meanwhile, case member 350 of this modified example has insertion holes 372 (described later) provided in bottom wall 51a instead of press-fit holes 72 provided in bottom wall 51a of bus bar accommodating chamber 51 in case member 50 of the embodiment (FIGS. 19 and 21).

[0054] Fixing structure 370 of this modification is a spring holding structure including flexible spring insertion portion 371 protruding from bus bar base 11, and insertion hole 372 provided in case member 350, the inner peripheral wall of which receives a resilient force from spring insertion portion 371 after insertion and bending deformation to hold spring insertion portion 371 (FIGS. 18 to 21). In this electrical junction box 4, when vibrations caused by driving of relay component 20 are transmitted to bus bar base 11 via bus bar terminal connection portion 12A, the vibrations are attenuated by fixing structure 370, thereby suppressing vibrations of bus bar 310.

[0055] The spring insertion portion 371 has multiple cantilever beam portions that are bent midway in the protruding direction in a direction intersecting the plane of the bus bar base 11 and then bent again at the end to form a crank shape (FIGS. 18 to 20). At least one of the multiple cantilever beam portions is bent toward the bottom wall 51a in a direction intersecting the plane of the bus bar base 11, and at least one of the remaining cantilever beam portions is bent toward the side opposite the bottom wall 51a in a direction intersecting the plane of the bus bar base 11 (FIG. 20). The spring insertion portion 371 shown here has a first cantilever portion 371a and a second cantilever portion 371b that are arranged at a distance from each other in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the busbar base 11 and the insertion direction into the insertion hole 372, and are bent toward the bottom wall 51a, as well as a third cantilever portion 371c that is arranged between the first cantilever portion 371a and the second cantilever portion 371b and is bent toward the side opposite the bottom wall 51a (Figures 18 to 20).

[0056] The insertion hole 372 is provided in a bulging portion 372a that bulges from the flat bottom wall 51a toward the busbar base 11 (FIGS. 19 and 21). The bulging portion 372a shown here is formed in a rectangular shape with two wall surfaces arranged perpendicular to the insertion direction of the spring insertion portion 371 and the remaining four wall surfaces arranged parallel to the insertion direction of the spring insertion portion 371 (FIG. 21). In the bulging portion 372a, a rectangular through hole that seems to have been hollowed out along the plane of the busbar base 11 in the insertion direction of the spring insertion portion 371 is used as the insertion hole 372.

[0057] When the bus bar 310 of this modification is accommodated in the bus bar accommodating chamber 51, for example, the spring insertion portion 371 is shifted from the bulging portion 372a, and the bus bar base 11 is slid along the bottom wall 51a in the insertion direction of the spring insertion portion 371 while the spring insertion portion 371 is inserted into the insertion hole 372. After the insertion, the free end of the spring insertion portion 371 is pressed against the inner peripheral wall of the insertion hole 372 (here, the bottom wall 51a) to cause the first cantilever portion 371a and the second cantilever portion 371b to bend and deform, and the free end of the spring insertion portion 371 is pressed against the inner peripheral wall of the insertion hole 372 (here, the wall of the bulging portion 372a facing the bottom wall 51a) to cause the third cantilever portion 371c to bend and deform. Therefore, in the fixing structure 370 of this modified example, the elastic forces of the first cantilever portion 371a, the second cantilever portion 371b and the third cantilever portion 371c each act on the inner wall of the insertion hole 372, thereby pressing and fixing the spring insertion portion 371 into the insertion hole 372.

[0058] As with the fixing structure 70 of the embodiment, the location of the fixing structure 370 is determined based on the analysis results of an equivalent radiation power level of a conventional busbar 10conv that is not provided with the fixing structure 370 and in which the relay component 20 is attached to the busbar terminal connection portion 12A via the relay terminal fitting 30, which is obtained by simulation analysis (double-dashed line in FIG. 22). Therefore, in the electrical junction box 4 of this modification, the fixing structure 370 is disposed near the busbar terminal connection portion 12A of the busbar base 11 (i.e., near the vibration input portion of the relay component 20 of the busbar base 11).

[0059] In this example, a fixing structure 370 is provided at one location between the busbar base 11 and the case member 350, and vibration of the busbar base 11 is suppressed at the location of this fixing structure 370. The solid line in Fig. 22 indicates the equivalent radiated power level of the busbar 310 in the electric junction box 4 provided with this fixing structure 370. With this busbar 310, the equivalent radiated power level at a specific frequency Fs can be made lower than that of a conventional busbar 10conv that does not employ the fixing structure 370.

[0060] As described above, the electrical connection box 4 of this modification can attenuate the vibration caused by the driving of the relay component 20, which is propagated to the bus bar base 11 via the bus bar terminal connection portion 12A, by fixing the bus bar base 11 and the case member 350 with the fixing structure 370 provided between them. Therefore, the electrical connection box 4 can suppress the vibration of the bus bar 310 and suppress the generation of abnormal noise caused by the vibration of the bus bar 310. Furthermore, in the electrical connection box 4, when the intermediate terminal fittings 30 absorb and attenuate the vibration caused by the driving of the relay component 20, the propagation of the vibration to the bus bar base 11 can be suppressed, so that the generation of abnormal noise caused by the vibration of the bus bar 310 can be further suppressed. On the other hand, in the electrical connection box 4, even if the intermediate terminal fittings 30 amplify the vibration caused by the driving of the relay component 20, the fixing structure 370 can be provided at an appropriate position to suppress the vibration of the bus bar 310 and suppress the generation of abnormal noise caused by the vibration.

[0061] Furthermore, since the electrical junction box 4 of this modified example can suppress vibration of the bus bar 310, wear of the contacts between the bus bar terminal connection portion 12A and the intermediate terminal fittings 30 can also be suppressed.

[0062] [Variation 4] A modified example of the electrical junction box according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figs.

[0063] In the electric junction box 5 of this modification, the bus bar 10 and the case member 50 of the housing 40 in the electric junction box 1 of the above-described embodiment are replaced with a bus bar 410 and a case member 450 described below, and the fixing structure 70 of the embodiment provided between the bus bar 10 and the case member 50 is changed to a fixing structure 470 described below (FIGS. 23 to 26). Therefore, in the following, the same reference numerals as in the embodiment are used for the same parts and the like as those shown in the embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0064] The bus bar 410 of this modification has a bus bar base 11 and a bus bar terminal connection portion 12 similar to those of the bus bar 10 of the embodiment (FIGS. 23 and 24), and a relay component 20 is electrically connected to a bus bar terminal connection portion 12A of the multiple bus bar terminal connection portions 12 via an intermediate terminal fitting 30. Meanwhile, the bus bar 410 of this modification has a hook portion 471 (described later) provided on the bus bar base 11 instead of the press-fit portion 71 provided on the bus bar base 11 of the bus bar 10 of the embodiment (FIGS. 23, 24 and 26).

[0065] Also, case member 450 of this modification has bus bar accommodating chamber 51 similar to that of case member 50 of the embodiment (FIGS. 23, 25 and 26), and bus bar 410 and intermediate terminal fitting 30 are accommodated in this bus bar accommodating chamber 51. Meanwhile, case member 450 of this modification has insertion holes 472 (described later) provided in bottom wall 51a instead of press-fit holes 72 provided in bottom wall 51a of bus bar accommodating chamber 51 in case member 50 of the embodiment (FIGS. 25 and 26).

[0066] The fixing structure 470 of this modification includes a cantilevered hook portion 471 protruding in a crank shape from the busbar base 11, and an insertion hole 472, which is a through hole provided in a flat plate portion (here, bottom wall 51a) of the case member 450 and through which the hook portion 471 is inserted and hooked on the periphery of the hole (FIGS. 23 to 26). The fixing structure 470 is a hooking and holding structure in which a force is applied from a free end of the hook portion 471 inserted into the insertion hole 472 to one flat surface of the flat plate portion (bottom wall 51a) and a force is applied from a fixed end of the hook portion 471 to the other flat surface of the flat plate portion (bottom wall 51a) to hook and hold the hook portion 471 on the periphery of the insertion hole 472 (FIG. 26). In this electrical connection box 5, when vibrations caused by the operation of the relay component 20 are transmitted to the bus bar base 11 via the bus bar terminal connection portion 12A, the vibrations are attenuated before being transmitted to the fixed structure 470, thereby suppressing the vibration of the bus bar 410.

[0067] The hook portion 471 is bent toward the bottom wall 51a in a direction intersecting the plane of the busbar base 11 midway in the protruding direction, and is bent again at the tip to form a crank-like cantilever shape (FIGS. 24 and 26). The hook portion 471 shown here is formed in a one-piece shape. The insertion hole 472 is formed as a through hole penetrating the bottom wall 51a (FIGS. 25 and 26). The insertion hole 472 shown here is formed as a rectangular through hole (FIG. 25). The hook portion 471 is inserted into the insertion hole 472 from its tip. As a result, the hook portion 471 applies force to one plane of the bottom wall 51a from the free end at the inserted tip, and applies force to the other plane of the bottom wall 51a from the fixed end, and is hooked and fixed on the periphery of the insertion hole 472.

[0068] The location of the fixing structure 470 is determined, like the fixing structure 70 of the embodiment, by obtaining an equivalent radiation power level by simulation analysis of a conventional busbar 10conv in which the fixing structure 470 is not provided and the relay component 20 is attached to the busbar terminal connection portion 12A via the relay terminal fitting 30 (double-dashed line in FIG. 27 ). Therefore, in the electrical junction box 5 of this modification, the fixing structure 470 is disposed near the busbar terminal connection portion 12A of the busbar base 11 (i.e., near the vibration input portion of the relay component 20 of the busbar base 11).

[0069] In this example, fixing structures 470 are provided at two locations between the busbar base 11 and the case member 150, and vibration of the busbar base 11 is suppressed at each location where the fixing structures 470 are provided. The solid line in Fig. 27 indicates the equivalent radiated power level of the busbar 410 in the electric junction box 5 provided with the fixing structures 470. With this busbar 410, the equivalent radiated power level at the specific frequency Fs can be reduced more than that of a conventional busbar 10conv that does not employ the fixing structure 470.

[0070] As described above, the electrical connection box 5 of this modification can attenuate the vibration caused by the driving of the relay component 20, which is propagated to the bus bar base 11 via the bus bar terminal connection portion 12A, by fixing the bus bar base 11 and the case member 450 with the fixing structure 470 provided between them. Thus, the electrical connection box 5 can suppress the vibration of the bus bar 410 and suppress the generation of abnormal noise caused by the vibration of the bus bar 410. Furthermore, in the electrical connection box 5, when the intermediate terminal fittings 30 absorb and attenuate the vibration caused by the driving of the relay component 20, the propagation of the vibration to the bus bar base 11 can be suppressed, so that the generation of abnormal noise caused by the vibration of the bus bar 410 can be further suppressed. On the other hand, in the electrical connection box 5, even if the intermediate terminal fittings 30 amplify the vibration caused by the driving of the relay component 20, the fixing structure 470 can be provided at an appropriate position to suppress the vibration of the bus bar 410 and suppress the generation of abnormal noise caused by the vibration.

[0071] Furthermore, since the electrical junction box 5 of this modified example can suppress vibration of the bus bar 410, wear of the contacts between the bus bar terminal connection portion 12A and the intermediate terminal fittings 30 can also be suppressed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 1,2,3,4,5 Electrical junction box 10,110,210,310,410 Busbar 11 Busbar base 12A Busbar terminal connection 20 Relay parts 22 Relay terminal connection 30 Intermediate terminal fitting 40 Case 50,150,250,350,450 Case material 51 Bus Bar Containment Room 51a Bottom wall 60 Cover member 70 Fixed structure (press-in structure) 71 Press-fit section 72 Press-fit hole 170 Fixed structure (riveted structure) 171 Rivet hole 172 Rivet section 270 Fixed structure (slide press-fit structure) 271 Press-fit part 272 Press-fit hole 370 Fixed structure (spring retaining structure) 371 Spring insertion part 372 Insertion hole 470 Fixed structure (hook retention structure) 471 Hook part 472 Insertion hole

Claims

1. a bus bar having a flat bus bar base and a male tab-shaped bus bar terminal connection portion erected from the bus bar base; a relay component provided with a relay terminal connection portion; a relay terminal fitting that physically and electrically connects the bus bar terminal connection portion and also physically and electrically connects the relay terminal connection portion; a housing that accommodates the bus bar, the relay component, and the relay terminal metal fitting; Equipped with the housing includes a case member having a bus bar accommodating chamber for accommodating the bus bar, and a cover member for covering the case member together with the bus bar, an electrical connection box including a fixing structure provided at least in one location between the bus bar base and the case member, one of which is inserted into the other to fix them together, thereby suppressing vibration of the bus bar base when vibrations caused by driving the relay component are transmitted to the bus bar base via the bus bar terminal connection portion.

2. 2. The electrical connection box according to claim 1, wherein the fixing structure is a press-fit structure including a press-fit portion extending from the bus bar base in a thickness direction of the bus bar base, and a press-fit hole provided in a bottom wall of the bus bar accommodating chamber in the case member, into which the press-fit portion is inserted and fixed by being press-fitted.

3. 2. The electrical connection box according to claim 1, wherein the fixing structure is a riveting structure including a through-hole shaped rivet hole provided in the bus bar base, and a rivet portion protruding from a bottom wall of the bus bar accommodating chamber in the case member to be inserted into the rivet hole and fixing the bus bar base to the case member with a plastically deformed end portion.

4. 2. The electrical connection box according to claim 1, wherein the fixing structure is a slide press-in structure including a press-in portion protruding from the bus bar base along a plane thereof, and a press-in hole provided in the case member, into which the press-in portion is slidably inserted along the protruding direction and press-in and fixed.

5. 2. The electrical connection box according to claim 1, wherein the fixing structure is a spring holding structure including: a flexible spring insertion portion protruding from the bus bar base; and an insertion hole provided in the case member, the inner wall of which receives a resilient force from the spring insertion portion after it is inserted and bent and deformed, thereby holding the spring insertion portion.

6. 2. The electrical connection box according to claim 1, wherein the fixing structure comprises a cantilevered hook portion protruding in a crank shape from the bus bar base, and an insertion hole which is a through hole provided in the flat portion of the case member and through which the hook portion is inserted and hooked onto a periphery of the hole, and a hook retaining structure in which a force is applied from a free end of the hook portion inserted into the insertion hole to one flat surface of the flat portion and a force is applied from a fixed end of the hook portion to the other flat surface of the flat portion, thereby hooking and holding the hook portion on the periphery of the insertion hole.

7. 7. The electrical connection box according to claim 1, wherein the bus bar terminal connection portion is physically and electrically connected to the intermediate terminal fitting by a spring force applied by the intermediate terminal fitting to a flat surface of the bus bar terminal connection portion.

Images