Electric connection box

Abstract

To provide an electric connection box in which an improvement of an operability when switching a setting frequency can be made.SOLUTION: An electric connection box 10 comprises: a housing 11; a switching connector 21 for switching a setting frequency; an electric wire 22 connected to the switching connector 21; a first connector fitting part 31 and a second connector fitting part 32 that are provided to an internal part of the housing 11. Each of the first connector fitting part 31 and a second connector fitting part 32 is constructed so as to enable the switching connector 21. Then, the electric connection box 10 is constructed so that the setting frequency can be switched in accordance with whether the switching connector 21 is fitted to any one of the first connector fitting part 31 and the second connector fitting part 32.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, vehicles have been known that are equipped with a function for supplying AC power to household electrical appliances and the like using power from a power storage device mounted on the vehicle (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Such a power supply function is considered to be useful during outdoor leisure activities, during disasters, and the like. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-56646 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] For example, vehicles shipped to Japan need to be equipped with a function to switch the AC power frequency between 50 Hz and 60 Hz, taking into consideration the compatible frequencies of electrical appliances. In this case, a frequency changeover switch for switching the AC power frequency could be provided in the luggage compartment of the vehicle. However, if the frequency changeover switch is provided in the luggage compartment of the vehicle, there is a risk that luggage placed in the luggage compartment will make it difficult to switch the AC power frequency.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an electrical junction box that can improve the ease of operation when switching the set frequency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The electrical connection box of the present disclosure is an electrical connection box having a housing, and includes a switching connector for switching a set frequency, an electric wire connected to the switching connector, and a plurality of connector fitting portions provided inside the housing, each of the plurality of connector fitting portions being configured to be able to fit the switching connector, and configured to be able to switch the set frequency depending on which of the plurality of connector fitting portions the switching connector is fitted to. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the electrical junction box of the present disclosure, it is possible to improve the workability when switching the set frequency. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an enlarged plan view showing a part of an electrical junction box according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state after the mating destination of the switching connector has been switched to a second connector mating portion in the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The electrical connection box of the present disclosure comprises: [1] An electrical connection box having a housing, comprising: a switching connector for switching a set frequency; electric wires connected to the switching connector; and a plurality of connector fittings provided inside the housing, each of the plurality of connector fittings configured to be able to fit the switching connector, and configured to be able to switch the set frequency depending on which of the plurality of connector fittings the switching connector is fitted to.

[0010] According to this configuration, the set frequency can be switched by fitting the switching connector to one of a plurality of connector fittings provided in the electrical connection box. The electrical connection box is generally installed in a location in the vehicle where maintenance work can be easily performed, since maintenance of the internal electrical components is required. Therefore, by providing the electrical connection box with a switching structure for switching the set frequency, it is possible to improve the workability when switching the set frequency.

[0011] [2] In the above item [1], the electrical junction box may include a bundling member that changes the length of the movable range of the electric wires. According to this configuration, by varying the length of the movable range of the electric wires with the bundling member, it is possible to limit the fitting destinations into which the switching connector is fitted among the multiple connector fitting portions.

[0012] [3] In the above [1] or [2], the number of the multiple connector fitting portions may be two, one of the two connector fitting portions may be an electrical contact portion having a connection terminal electrically connected to the switching connector, and one of the two connector fitting portions may be a non-electrical contact portion not electrically connected to the switching connector.

[0013] According to this configuration, it is possible to determine the connector fitting portion to which the switching connector is fitted based on the presence or absence of a current signal through the switching connector and the electric wire, and as a result, it is possible to set the set frequency according to the connector fitting portion to which the switching connector is fitted.

[0014] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the electrical connection box of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, for convenience of explanation, some of the configuration may be exaggerated or simplified. Furthermore, the dimensional ratio of each part may differ in each drawing. Furthermore, the terms "first", "second", etc. in this specification are used simply to distinguish objects, and do not rank the objects. Note that the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is indicated by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0015] An electric junction box 10 shown in FIG. 1 is mounted, for example, in an engine room of a vehicle. Examples of the electric junction box 10 include a relay box, a fuse box, and a junction box. The electric junction box 10 has a housing 11. Various electric components Ea (not shown), such as fuses and capacitors, are accommodated inside the housing 11. The housing 11 is formed, for example, from a synthetic resin. For convenience of explanation, a cover that closes an opening 12 that opens upward in the housing 11 is not shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The opening 12 of the housing 11 is liquid-tightly closed by the cover. That is, the surrounding area of ​​the opening 12 inside the housing 11 is configured as a waterproof area that is difficult for water to penetrate.

[0016] (Switching connector 21 and electric wire 22) The electrical junction box 10 includes a switching connector 21 and an electric wire 22 connected to the switching connector 21 inside the housing 11. The switching connector 21 is a connector for switching the set frequency. The electric wire 22 is connected to a connector terminal (not shown) provided inside the switching connector 21. The electric wire 22 is also drawn out to the outside of the electrical junction box 10 and is electrically connected to a control unit 23 such as an ECU mounted on the vehicle.

[0017] 1 and 2, the housing 11 has, for example, two connector fitting portions (a first connector fitting portion 31 and a second connector fitting portion 32) inside the housing 11. Each of the first connector fitting portion 31 and the second connector fitting portion 32 is configured to be able to fit the switching connector 21. The opening shapes of the first connector fitting portion 31 and the second connector fitting portion 32 are, for example, the same as each other.

[0018] The switching connector 21 can be selectively fitted to either the first connector fitting portion 31 or the second connector fitting portion 32. The set frequency is determined depending on whether the switching connector 21 is fitted to the first connector fitting portion 31 or the second connector fitting portion 32. The set frequency is, for example, the frequency of AC power supplied to a not-shown outlet in the vehicle interior. For example, when the switching connector 21 is fitted to the first connector fitting portion 31, the frequency of the AC power is set to a first frequency. When the switching connector 21 is fitted to the second connector fitting portion 32, the frequency of the AC power is set to a second frequency. The first frequency is, for example, 50 Hz, and the second frequency is, for example, 60 Hz.

[0019] (First connector fitting portion 31) The first connector fitting portion 31 has a connection terminal 33 (see FIG. 2). A current signal Sa is applied to the connection terminal 33. When the switching connector 21 is fitted into the first connector fitting portion 31, the connection terminal 33 is electrically connected to the connector terminal of the switching connector 21. This causes the current signal Sa to be input from the connection terminal 33 via the switching connector 21 and the electric wire 22 to the control portion 23. Based on the input of the current signal Sa, the control portion 23 sets the frequency of the AC power to a first frequency (for example, 50 Hz).

[0020] (Second connector fitting portion 32) The second connector fitting portion 32 does not have a terminal that can be connected to the connector terminal of the switching connector 21. In other words, when the switching connector 21 is fitted into the second connector fitting portion 32, no current flows through the connector terminal of the switching connector 21 and the electric wire 22, and no current signal Sa is input to the control portion 23. When no current signal Sa is input, the control portion 23 sets the frequency of the AC power to a second frequency (e.g., 60 Hz).

[0021] (Regarding the setting positions of the first connector fitting portion 31 and the second connector fitting portion 32) A fixed point 22a to which the electric wire 22 is fixed is set inside the housing 11. The electric wire 22 can be moved freely within a range from the fixed point 22a to the tip 22b of the electric wire 22 to which the switching connector 21 is connected. A distance D2 from the fixed point 22a to the second connector fitting portion 32 is set longer than a distance D1 from the fixed point 22a to the first connector fitting portion 31. As shown in FIG. 1, the distance D2 is set longer than the distance D1, for example, in a plan view (as viewed in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIGS. 1 and 2). In addition, the positions of the first connector fitting portion 31 and the second connector fitting portion 32 in the height direction of the housing 11 (direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIGS. 1 and 2) are set to be offset from each other. Specifically, the height positions of the fixed point 22a, the first connector fitting portion 31, and the second connector fitting portion 32 are set in the following order from the top in the height direction: fixed point 22a, first connector fitting portion 31, and second connector fitting portion 32. In other words, the first connector fitting portion 31 is provided closer to the fixed point 22a than the second connector fitting portion 32 in the height direction as well.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, in the shipping state of the vehicle, a part of the portion of the electric wire 22 from the fixed point 22a to the tip 22b is bound by a binding member 41 so that the switching connector 21 reaches the first connector fitting portion 31 but does not reach the second connector fitting portion 32. That is, in the shipping state of the vehicle, the length from the fixed point 22a to the tip 22b, which is the length of the movable range of the electric wire 22, is set to a length equal to or greater than the distance D1 and less than the distance D2 by binding with the binding member 41. For example, an adhesive tape or a cable tie can be used as the binding member 41. In addition, in the shipping state of the vehicle, the switching connector 21 is fitted into the first connector fitting portion 31.

[0023] After the vehicle is shipped, the fitting destination of the switching connector 21 is changed from the first connector fitting portion 31 to the second connector fitting portion 32 depending on the region where the vehicle is used. At this time, the length of the movable range of the electric wire 22 (the length from the fixed point 22a to the tip end 22b) is lengthened by releasing the bundling member 41 of the electric wire 22. As a result, the length of the movable range of the electric wire 22 reaches the second connector fitting portion 32, and the switching connector 21 can be fitted to the second connector fitting portion 32.

[0024] The operation of this embodiment will be described. The electric junction box 10 is installed in an engine room or the like that is easily accessible in the vehicle, since the electric components Ea inside the box 10 need to be inspected, replaced, etc. In this embodiment, the switching connector 21 for switching the set frequency is provided in the electric junction box 10 that is easily accessible during work, so that the fitting destination of the switching connector 21 can be easily switched.

[0025] As a comparative example of this embodiment, a configuration in which a switching connector for switching the frequency of AC power is provided in the trunk of a vehicle is considered. In this case, luggage placed in the trunk may get in the way and make it difficult to switch the switching connector. In this regard, by providing a switching structure for switching the frequency of AC power in the electrical connection box 10 as in this embodiment, the switching operation of the AC power frequency can be simplified.

[0026] In this embodiment, when the vehicle is shipped, the switching connector 21 is fitted into the first connector fitting portion 31. At this time, the bundling member 41 makes the length of the movable range of the electric wire 22 shorter than the distance D2 from the fixed point 22a to the second connector fitting portion 32. This prevents the switching connector 21 from reaching the second connector fitting portion 32, making it possible to prevent the switching connector 21 from being erroneously fitted into the second connector fitting portion 32 when the vehicle is shipped.

[0027] Moreover, the electrical connection box 10 has a waterproof structure in which the opening 12 is sealed with a cover to prevent the electrical component Ea from being wetted. Therefore, the switching connector 21, the first connector fitting portion 31, and the second connector fitting portion 32 are unlikely to be wetted, so it is possible to use a non-waterproof connector for the switching connector 21.

[0028] The effects of this embodiment will be described. (1) The electric connection box 10 includes, inside the housing 11, the switching connector 21 to which the electric wire 22 is connected, and a first connector fitting portion 31 and a second connector fitting portion 32 configured to be able to fit the switching connector 21. The electric connection box 10 is configured to be able to switch the set frequency depending on whether the switching connector 21 is fitted into the first connector fitting portion 31 or the second connector fitting portion 32. With this configuration, it is possible to switch the set frequency depending on whether the switching connector 21 is fitted into the first connector fitting portion 31 or the second connector fitting portion 32 provided in the electric connection box 10. The electric connection box 10 is generally installed in a place in the vehicle where maintenance work is easy to perform, since maintenance of the electric components Ea inside the electric connection box 10 is required. Therefore, by providing the electric connection box 10 with a switching structure for switching the set frequency, it is possible to improve the workability when switching the set frequency.

[0029] (2) The electric connection box 10 includes a bundling member 41 that changes the length of the movable range of the electric wire 22 (the length from the fixed point 22a to the tip 22b). According to this configuration, by changing the length of the movable range of the electric wire 22 with the bundling member 41, it is possible to restrict the fitting destination of the switching connector 21 in the first connector fitting portion 31 and the second connector fitting portion 32. In this embodiment, at the time of shipping the vehicle, the length of the movable range of the electric wire 22 is set to a length that does not reach the second connector fitting portion 32 by the bundling member 41. This makes it possible to prevent erroneous assembly in which the switching connector 21 is fitted into the second connector fitting portion 32 at the time of shipping the vehicle.

[0030] (3) The number of the multiple connector fitting parts is two (the first connector fitting part 31 and the second connector fitting part 32). The first connector fitting part 31 is an electrical contact part having a connection terminal 33 electrically connected to the switching connector 21 to be fitted. The second connector fitting part 32 is a non-electrical contact part that is not electrically connected to the switching connector 21 to be fitted. According to this configuration, the switching connector 21 can be configured to output the current signal Sa to the control part 23 by fitting the switching connector 21 to the first connector fitting part 31, and not to output the current signal Sa to the control part 23 by fitting the switching connector 21 to the second connector fitting part 32. Therefore, it is possible to determine the connector fitting part to which the switching connector 21 is fitted, depending on the presence or absence of the current signal Sa through the switching connector 21 and the electric wire 22. As a result, it is possible to set the setting frequency according to the connector fitting part to which the switching connector 21 is fitted.

[0031] In this embodiment, even if the second connector fitting portion 32 is omitted, the control portion 23 can switch the set frequency. However, in this case, when the set frequency is set to the second frequency, there is no place to fit the switching connector 21, so the position of the switching connector 21 inside the housing 11 is not determined, and the switching connector 21 may interfere with the electric component Ea. In this respect, the second connector fitting portion 32 in this embodiment is effective as a place for the switching connector 21 when the set frequency is set to the second frequency. In other words, by fitting the switching connector 21 into the second connector fitting portion 32, it is possible to prevent the switching connector 21 from interfering with the electric component Ea.

[0032] (Other embodiments) The above embodiment can be modified as follows: The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that no technical contradiction occurs.

[0033] In the above embodiment, a connection terminal electrically connectable to the switching connector 21 may also be provided in the second connector fitting portion 32. In this case, a different current signal is output to the control unit 23 when the switching connector 21 is fitted into the first connector fitting portion 31 and when the switching connector 21 is fitted into the second connector fitting portion 32. This allows the control unit 23 to determine whether the switching connector 21 is fitted into the first connector fitting portion 31 or the second connector fitting portion 32.

[0034] In the electrical junction box 10 of the above embodiment, the electric wire 22 is electrically connected to the control unit 23, and the current signal Sa is applied to the connection terminal 33. However, this is not particularly limited, and a configuration in which the connection terminal 33 is electrically connected to the control unit 23, and the current signal Sa is applied to the electric wire 22 and the switching connector 21 may also be used.

[0035] In the above embodiment, the set frequencies that can be switched by the switching connector 21 are only two, the first frequency and the second frequency, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be configured to be switchable among three or more frequencies.

[0036] In the above embodiment, the set frequency switched by the switching connector 21 is the frequency of AC power supplied to the outlet in the vehicle cabin. However, for example, the set frequency switched by the switching connector 21 may be a wireless communication channel.

[0037] In the above embodiment, the binding member 41 may be omitted. The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects, and the present invention is not limited to these examples. That is, the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, and it is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 10 Electrical junction box 11. Housing 12 Opening 21 Switching connector 22 Electric wire 22a Fixed point 22b Tip 23 Control Unit 31 First connector fitting portion (electrical contact portion) 32 Second connector fitting portion (non-electrical contact portion) 33 Connection terminal 41 Binding material D1,D2 distance Ea Electrical parts Sa Current signal

Claims

1. An electrical junction box having a housing, A switching connector for switching the set frequency; An electric wire connected to the switching connector; a plurality of connector fitting portions provided inside the housing; Each of the plurality of connector fitting portions is configured to be able to fit the switching connector therein, The set frequency is switchable depending on which of the plurality of connector fitting portions the switching connector is fitted to. Electrical junction box.

2. The electrical connection box includes a bundling member that changes the length of the movable range of the electric wire.

2. The electrical junction box according to claim 1.

3. The number of the plurality of connector fitting portions is two, one of the two connector fitting portions is an electrical contact portion having a connection terminal electrically connected to the switching connector, One of the two connector fitting portions is a non-electrical contact portion that is not electrically connected to the switching connector.

2. The electrical junction box according to claim 1.

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