Electric connection box

Abstract

To provide an electric connection box capable of stably supporting a housing main body.SOLUTION: A housing 11 comprises: a housing main body 12 that includes a peripheral wall 14; and a plurality of fixed members 13 that is fixed to the peripheral wall 14. Each of the plurality of fixed members 13 is fixed to a fixed object. The peripheral wall 14 contains: a pair of first side walls 21 that is opposite each other to a first direction (a X-shaft direction); a pair of second side walls 22 that is faced each other to a second direction (a Y-shaft direction) orthogonal to the first direction; and a corner part 23 that is formed in a part connected to each first side wall 21 and each second side wall 22. The plurality of fixed members 13 contains: a first fixed member 31 that is fixed to any one of four side walls of the pair of first side walls 21 and the pair of second side walls 22; a second fixed member 32 that is fixed to the side wall different from the side wall to which the first fixed member 31 from the four side walls is fixed; and a third fixed member 33 that is fixed over each first side wall 21 and each second side wall 22 in the corner part 23.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electrical connection box.

Background Art

[0002] For example, the housing of the electrical connection box described in Patent Document 1 includes a housing body having a peripheral wall and a plurality of fixing members fixed to the peripheral wall. Each of the plurality of fixing members is fixed to a fixing target. Thereby, the housing body is fixed to the fixing target.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Regarding the configuration of a plurality of fixing members that can support the housing body more stably in the electrical connection box as described above, studies have been made. An object of the present disclosure is to provide an electrical connection box capable of stably supporting a housing body.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The electrical connection box of the present disclosure is an electrical connection box having a housing, the housing comprising a housing body having a peripheral wall and a plurality of fixing members fixed to the peripheral wall, each of the plurality of fixing members being fixed to an object to be fixed, the peripheral wall including a pair of first side walls facing each other in a first direction, a pair of second side walls facing each other in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a corner formed at a portion where the first side wall and the second side wall are connected, the plurality of fixing members including a first fixing member fixed to any one of a total of four side walls including the pair of first side walls and the pair of second side walls, a second fixing member fixed to a side wall different from the side wall to which the first fixing member is fixed among the four side walls, and a third fixing member fixed across the first side wall and the second side wall at the corner.

Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to the electrical connection box of the present disclosure, it is possible to stably support the housing body.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The electrical connection box of the present disclosure is [1]An electrical connection box having a housing, the housing comprising a housing body having a peripheral wall and a plurality of fixing members fixed to the peripheral wall, each of the plurality of fixing members being fixed to a fixing target, the peripheral wall including a pair of first side walls facing each other in a first direction, a pair of second side walls facing each other in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a corner formed at a portion where the first side wall and the second side wall are connected, the plurality of fixing members including a first fixing member fixed to any one of a total of four side walls of the pair of first side walls and the pair of second side walls, a second fixing member fixed to a side wall different from the side wall to which the first fixing member is fixed among the four side walls, and a third fixing member fixed across the first side wall and the second side wall at the corner.

[0009] According to this configuration, the plurality of fixing members that support the housing body include a first fixing member, a second fixing member, and a third fixing member. The first fixing member and the second fixing member are fixed to different side walls among the plurality of side walls forming the peripheral wall of the housing body. The third fixing member is fixed across the first side wall and the second side wall at the corner of the peripheral wall. Therefore, it is possible to greatly suppress the vibration components in both the first direction and the second direction by the third fixing member. Accordingly, it is possible to stably support the housing body by the plurality of fixing members including the first fixing member, the second fixing member, and the third fixing member.

[0010] [2]In the above [1], the third fixing member may have a first support portion that abuts against and supports the first side wall in the first direction and a second support portion that abuts against and supports the second side wall in the second direction.

[0011] According to this configuration, in the third fixing member, it is possible to suppress the vibration component in the first direction by the first support portion and suppress the vibration component in the second direction by the second support portion.

[0012] [3] In [1] or [2] above, each of the first fixing member, the second fixing member, and the third fixing member includes a first fixing portion fixed to the peripheral wall and a second fixing portion fixed to the object to be fixed. In each of the first fixing member, the second fixing member, and the third fixing member, when the distances between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion are defined as a first support distance, a second support distance, and a third support distance, respectively, the third support distance may be set shorter than both the first support distance and the second support distance.

[0013] According to this configuration, when the support distances of the first fixing member and the second fixing member are long, the vibration of the housing body is likely to increase with only the support of the two fixing members, namely the first fixing member and the second fixing member. Therefore, it becomes possible to effectively suppress the vibration by the third fixing member whose support distance is shorter than that of the first fixing member and the second fixing member.

[0014] [4] In any one of [1] to [3] above, the plurality of fixing members may be composed of only three members, namely the first fixing member, the second fixing member, and the third fixing member.

[0015] According to this configuration, it is possible to stably support the housing body by the first fixing member, the second fixing member, and the third fixing member while suppressing an increase in the number of parts by minimizing the number of fixing members.

[0016] [Details of the Embodiment of the Present Disclosure] A specific example 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, a part of the configuration may be shown in an exaggerated or simplified manner. Also, the dimensional ratios of each part may differ in each drawing. Each drawing shows an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis that are orthogonal to each other. In this specification, the direction along the X-axis is referred to as the X-axis direction, the direction along the Y-axis is referred to as the Y-axis direction, and the direction along the Z-axis is referred to as the Z-axis direction. Also, the "orthogonal" in this specification includes not only the case of strict orthogonality but also the case of generally orthogonal within the range where the actions and effects in this embodiment are achieved. Further, the term "annular" used in the description of this specification may refer to any structure forming a loop, or a continuous shape without an end, and a generally loop-shaped structure having a gap such as a C-shape. Note that the "annular" shape includes, but is not limited to, a circular shape, an elliptical shape, and a polygon having sharp or rounded corners. Also, the "opposite" in this specification means that surfaces or members are in front of each other, including not only the case where they are completely in front of each other but also the case where they are partially in front of each other. Also, the "opposite" in this specification includes both the case where a member different from the two parts is interposed between the two parts and the case where nothing is interposed between the two parts. Also, the terms such as "first", "second", "third", etc. in this specification are merely used to distinguish objects and do not rank the objects. Note that the present invention is not limited to these examples, and is intended to be indicated by the claims and to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0017] (Electrical connection box 10) The electrical connection box 10 shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on, for example, a vehicle. Examples of the electrical connection box 10 include a relay box, a fuse box, a junction box, and the like. The electrical connection box 10 has a housing 11. Inside the housing 11, for example, electrical components (not shown) are accommodated.

[0018] (Housing 11) The housing 11 includes a housing body 12 and a plurality of fixing members 13. The housing body 12 and each fixing member 13 are formed of, for example, a synthetic resin.

[0019] The housing body 12 has a peripheral wall 14 that opens upward and downward along the Z-axis, respectively. The peripheral wall 14 forms a continuous ring shape when viewed from the Z-axis direction. The housing 11 is configured to include an upper cover 15 that covers the upper opening in the peripheral wall 14 and a lower cover 16 that covers the lower opening in the peripheral wall 14.

[0020] The peripheral wall 14 of the housing body 12 includes a pair of first side walls 21 that face each other in the X-axis direction (the first direction) and a pair of second side walls 22 that face each other in the Y-axis direction (the second direction). The peripheral wall 14 formed by the pair of first side walls 21 and the pair of second side walls 22 forms, for example, a substantially rectangular ring shape when viewed from the Z-axis direction. The electrical component is housed inside the peripheral wall 14. Further, the peripheral wall 14 includes a corner portion 23 formed at a portion where the first side wall 21 and the second side wall 22 are connected. Since the peripheral wall 14 of the present embodiment forms a substantially rectangle when viewed from the Z-axis direction, it has corner portions 23 at the four corners, respectively.

[0021] (A plurality of fixing members 13) The plurality of fixing members 13 are components for supporting the housing body 12. Each fixing member 13 is fixed to the outer surface of the peripheral wall 14. The electrical connection box 10 of the present embodiment includes, for example, only three fixing members 13. Let the three fixing members 13 be a first fixing member 31, a second fixing member 32, and a third fixing member 33. The first fixing member 31 is fixed to a first fixing target P1, the second fixing member 32 is fixed to a second fixing target P2, and the third fixing member 33 is fixed to a third fixing target P3. Each of the first fixing target P1, the second fixing target P2, and the third fixing target P3 is, for example, a part of a vehicle body panel.

[0022] (The first fixing member 31 and the second fixing member 32) In the electrical connection box 10 of the present embodiment, for example, the first fixing member 31 is fixed to one of the pair of second side walls 22 in the peripheral wall 14, and the second fixing member 32 is fixed to the other of the pair of second side walls 22. That is, the first fixing member 31 is fixed to one of the four side walls including the pair of first side walls 21 and the pair of second side walls 22. Further, the second fixing member 32 is fixed to a side wall different from the side wall to which the first fixing member 31 is fixed among the four side walls including the pair of first side walls 21 and the pair of second side walls 22.

[0023] The first fixing member 31 includes a first connecting portion 34, a first extending portion 35, and a first fastening and fixing portion 36. The first connecting portion 34 is connected and fixed to the second side wall 22 of the peripheral wall 14. The first extending portion 35 extends obliquely downward between the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction from the first connecting portion 34. The first fastening and fixing portion 36 is provided, for example, at the tip of the first extending portion 35. The first fastening and fixing portion 36 is fastened and fixed to the first object to be fixed P1 by a bolt or the like (not shown). In the first fixing member 31, the distance from the first connecting portion 34 to the first fastening and fixing portion 36 is defined as the first support distance L1.

[0024] The second fixing member 32 includes a second connecting portion 37, a second extending portion 38, and a second fastening and fixing portion 39. The second connecting portion 37 is connected and fixed to the second side wall 22 of the peripheral wall 14. The second extending portion 38 extends obliquely downward between the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction from the second connecting portion 37. The second fastening and fixing portion 39 is provided, for example, at the tip of the second extending portion 38. The second fastening and fixing portion 39 is fastened and fixed to the second object to be fixed P2 by a bolt or the like (not shown). In the second fixing member 32, the distance from the second connecting portion 37 to the second fastening and fixing portion 39 is defined as the second support distance L2.

[0025] (Third fixing member 33) The third fixing member 33 is fixed to one of the four corner portions 23 of the peripheral wall 14 of the housing body 12. Further, the third fixing member 33 is fixed across the first side wall 21 and the second side wall 22 at the corner portion 23.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the third fixing member 33 includes a third connecting portion 41 and a third fastening and fixing portion 42. The third connecting portion 41 is connected and fixed to a connected portion 24 formed at a corner portion 23 on the peripheral wall 14.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, the connected portion 24 formed at the corner portion 23 of the peripheral wall 14 is formed so as to straddle the first side wall 21 and the second side wall 22 at the corner portion 23. That is, the connected portion 24 has a first portion 24a formed on the first side wall 21 and a second portion 24b formed on the second side wall 22.

[0028] The third connecting portion 41 of the third fixing member 33 is attached to the connected portion 24 formed at the corner portion 23 of the peripheral wall 14 in a manner straddling from the first side wall 21 side to the second side wall 22 side. Specifically, the third connecting portion 41 has a first support portion 43 and a second support portion 44. The first support portion 43 abuts against and supports the first portion 24a of the connected portion 24 in the X-axis direction. The second support portion 44 abuts against and supports the second portion 24b of the connected portion 24 in the Y-axis direction.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 3, the third fastening and fixing portion 42 of the third fixing member 33 is fastened and fixed to a third fixing target P3 by, for example, bolts B and nuts N (both shown in FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 2, the third fastening and fixing portion 42 has an insertion hole 45 through which the bolt B is inserted. The insertion hole 45 is formed, for example, by a metal collar 46 embedded in the third fastening and fixing portion 42.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 1, in the third fixing member 33, the distance from the third connecting portion 41 to the third fastening and fixing portion 42 is defined as a third support distance L3. The third support distance L3 is set to be shorter than both the first support distance L1 in the first fixing member 31 and the second support distance L2 in the second fixing member 32.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 3, the third fixing member 33 has an extension portion 47 in which the contact surface contacting the third fixing target P3 in the third fixing member 33 extends to the outside in the X-axis direction from the first side wall 21 of the housing body 12. Thereby, when assembling the electrical connection box 10 in the assembling direction D1 along the X-axis, the extension portion 47 makes it possible to easily place the third fixing member 33 on the third fixing target P3.

[0032] The third fixing member 33 has a front end wall portion 48 that continuously extends from the front end portion of the extension portion 47 in the assembling direction D1. The front end wall portion 48 is provided above the extension portion 47 in the Z-axis direction. The surface of the front end wall portion 48 is inclined downward in the Z-axis direction toward the assembling direction D1, for example.

[0033] By the third fixing member 33 having the front end wall portion 48, the workability when placing the third fixing member 33 on the third fixing target P3 is improved. Specifically, when assembling the electrical connection box 10 toward the third fixing target P3 in the assembling direction D1, consider the case where the third fixing member 33 is positioned below the proper position as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3. At this time, since the front end wall portion 48 in the third fixing member 33 abuts against the edge portion P3a of the third fixing target P3 early, the operator can easily grasp that the third fixing member 33 is not in the proper position. Therefore, by the third fixing member 33 having the front end wall portion 48, it can contribute to the improvement of the workability when placing the third fixing member 33 on the third fixing target P3.

[0034] In the third fastening and fixing portion 42 of the third fixing member 33, the seat surface 42a to which the bolt B is fastened has a planar shape inclined with respect to the Z-axis. That is, the fastening axis line La in the third fastening and fixing portion 42 is inclined with respect to the Z-axis. Thereby, for example, even when a part (the protruding part P4) of the vehicle body panel including the third fixing target P3 is located above the third fixing member 33 in the Z-axis direction, it is possible to perform the fastening work without the tool for fastening the bolt B interfering with the protruding part P4.

[0035] The operation of this embodiment will be described. In the electrical connection box 10, the first connecting portion 34 of the first fixing member 31 is fixed to one of the pair of second side walls 22 on the peripheral wall 14 of the housing main body 12. Further, the second connecting portion 37 of the second fixing member 32 is fixed to the other of the pair of second side walls 22. Since the first fixing member 31 and the second fixing member 32 each have a first extending portion 35 and a second extending portion 38, the first supporting distance L1 of the first fixing member 31 and the second supporting distance L2 of the second fixing member 32 tend to be long. For this reason, with only the support of the first fixing member 31 and the second fixing member 32, it is difficult to stably support the housing main body 12 against vehicle vibrations. Therefore, in the electrical connection box 10 of this embodiment, a third fixing member 33 that is fixed across the first side wall 21 and the second side wall 22 at one corner portion 23 of the peripheral wall 14 is added. By this third fixing member 33, it is possible to greatly suppress the vibration components in both the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

[0036] The effects of this embodiment will be described. (1) The plurality of fixing members 13 that support the housing main body 12 include a first fixing member 31, a second fixing member 32, and a third fixing member 33. The first fixing member 31 and the second fixing member 32 are fixed to different side walls among the plurality of side walls (a pair of first side walls 21 and a pair of second side walls 22) that form the peripheral wall 14 of the housing main body 12. The third fixing member 33 is fixed across the first side wall 21 and the second side wall 22 at the corner portion 23 of the peripheral wall 14. For this reason, by the third fixing member 33, it is possible to greatly suppress the vibration components in both the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. Therefore, it is possible to stably support the housing main body 12 by the plurality of fixing members 13 including the first fixing member 31, the second fixing member 32, and the third fixing member 33.

[0037] (2) The third fixing member 33 has a first support portion 43 that abuts against and supports the first side wall 21 in the X-axis direction, and a second support portion 44 that abuts against and supports the second side wall 22 in the Y-axis direction. According to this configuration, in the third fixing member 33, it is possible to suppress the vibration component in the X-axis direction by the first support portion 43 and suppress the vibration component in the Y-axis direction by the second support portion 44.

[0038] (3) The first fixing member 31 includes a first connecting portion 34 as a first fixing portion fixed to the peripheral wall 14, and a first fastening and fixing portion 36 as a second fixing portion fixed to the first fixing target P1. The second fixing member 32 includes a second connecting portion 37 as a first fixing portion fixed to the peripheral wall 14, and a second fastening and fixing portion 39 as a second fixing portion fixed to the second fixing target P2. The third fixing member 33 includes a third connecting portion 41 as a first fixing portion fixed to the peripheral wall 14, and a third fastening and fixing portion 42 as a second fixing portion fixed to the third fixing target P3. In each of the first fixing member 31, the second fixing member 32, and the third fixing member 33, the distances between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion are defined as a first support distance L1, a second support distance L2, and a third support distance L3, respectively. The third support distance L3 is set shorter than both the first support distance L1 and the second support distance L2. According to this configuration, when each of the first support distance L1 in the first fixing member 31 and the second support distance L2 in the second fixing member 32 is long, with only the support of the two first fixing member 31 and the second fixing member 32, the vibration of the housing main body 12 tends to increase. Therefore, it is possible to effectively suppress the vibration by the third fixing member 33 in which the third support distance L3 is shorter than the first support distance L1 and the second support distance L2.

[0039] (4) The plurality of fixing members 13 are composed of only three members: the first fixing member 31, the second fixing member 32, and the third fixing member 33. According to this configuration, it is possible to suppress an increase in the number of parts by minimizing the number of fixing members 13, and to stably support the housing main body 12 by the first fixing member 31, the second fixing member 32, and the third fixing member 33.

[0040] (Other Embodiments) The above embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. The above embodiment and the following modification examples can be implemented in combination with each other as long as they do not technically conflict with each other.

[0041] · In the electrical connection box 10 of the above embodiment, the fixing position of the first fixing member 31 with respect to the peripheral wall 14 is not limited to the second side wall 22, and the first fixing member 31 may be fixed to the first side wall 21. Also, the fixing position of the second fixing member 32 with respect to the peripheral wall 14 is not limited to the second side wall 22, and the second fixing member 32 may be fixed to the first side wall 21.

[0042] · In the electrical connection box 10 of the above embodiment, the third fixing member 33 is provided only at one of the four corner portions 23 of the peripheral wall 14, but not limited thereto, and the third fixing member 33 may be provided at two or more corner portions 23 of the peripheral wall 14.

[0043] · In the electrical connection box 10 of the above embodiment, the plurality of fixing members 13 are composed of only three of the first fixing member 31, the second fixing member 32, and the third fixing member 33. However, it is not limited thereto, and a fixing member different from the first fixing member 31, the second fixing member 32, and the third fixing member 33 may be added.

[0044] · In the housing body 12 of the above embodiment, the number of side walls included in the peripheral wall 14 is a total of four, which is the pair of first side walls 21 and the pair of second side walls 22, but not limited thereto, and the number of side walls included in the peripheral wall 14 may be five or more.

[0045] · In the electrical connection box 10 of the above embodiment, the first fixing member 31, the second fixing member 32, and the third fixing member 33 may be fixed to the first fixing target P1, the second fixing target P2, and the third fixing target P3, respectively, in a manner other than fastening.

[0046] ·The embodiments disclosed this time are illustrative in all respects, and the present invention is not limited to these illustrations. That is, the scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, and it is intended that all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are included.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0047] 10 Electrical connection box 11 Housing 12 Housing body 13 Fixing member 14 Peripheral wall 15 Upper cover 16 Lower cover 21 First side wall 22 Second side wall 23 Corner 24 Connected part 24a First part 24b Second part 31 First fixing member 32 Second fixing member 33 Third fixing member 34 First connecting part (first fixing part) 35 First extending part 36 First fastening fixing part (second fixing part) 37 Second connecting part (first fixing part) 38 Second extending part 39 Second fastening fixing part (second fixing part) 41 Third connecting part (first fixing part) 42 Third fastening fixing part (second fixing part) 42a Seating surface 43 First supporting part 44 Second supporting part 45 Insertion hole 46 Collar 47 Extension part 48 Front end wall part B Bolt D1 Assembly direction L1 First supporting distance L2 Second supporting distance L3 Third supporting distance La Fastening axis N nut P1 First object to be fixed (object to be fixed) P2 Second object to be fixed (object to be fixed) P3 Third object to be fixed (object to be fixed) P3a Edge P4 Protruding part

Claims

1. An electrical connection box having a housing, wherein the housing includes a housing body having a peripheral wall and a plurality of fixing members fixed to the peripheral wall, each of the plurality of fixing members being fixed to a fixing target, the peripheral wall including a pair of first side walls facing each other in a first direction, a pair of second side walls facing each other in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a corner formed at a portion where the first side wall and the second side wall are connected, the plurality of fixing members including a first fixing member fixed to any one of a total of four side walls including the pair of first side walls and the pair of second side walls, a second fixing member fixed to a side wall different from the side wall to which the first fixing member is fixed among the four side walls, and a third fixing member fixed across the first side wall and the second side wall at the corner, the electrical connection box.

2. The third fixing member has a first supporting portion that abuts against and supports the first side wall in the first direction and a second supporting portion that abuts against and supports the second side wall in the second direction. The electrical connection box according to Claim 1.

3. Each of the first fixing member, the second fixing member, and the third fixing member includes a first fixing portion fixed to the peripheral wall and a second fixing portion fixed to the fixing target. When the distances between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion in the first fixing member, the second fixing member, and the third fixing member are defined as a first supporting distance, a second supporting distance, and a third supporting distance, respectively, the third supporting distance is set shorter than both the first supporting distance and the second supporting distance. The electrical connection box according to Claim 1.

4. The plurality of fixing members consists of only the three members, namely the first fixing member, the second fixing member, and the third fixing member. The electrical connection box according to Claim 1.

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