Ground structure and surrounding body

Abstract

To provide a ground structure capable of obtaining a stable grounding state by fastening and fixing a ground terminal with a fastening body having conductivity to a ground location, in which a fastening part is provided, having conductivity and a surrounding body.SOLUTION: A terminal cover 30 is mounted so as to be conducted by being fastened and fixed to a ground panel 100 having conductivity using a bolt 70 having conductivity. In the state where the terminal cover is mounted to the ground panel 100, the terminal cover includes a base part 40, which is disposed between a ground terminal 20 provided in a tip end of a covered conductor 11 and the ground panel 100, and a cover part 50 which is mounted to the base part 40. A space S in which the ground terminal 20 is stored is formed from the base part 40 and the cover part 50, a through hole 45 through which the bolt 70 is inserted is provided in the base part 40, and the ground terminal 20 is surrounded together with a head 71 of the bolt 70.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a grounding structure and an enclosure, for example, in which a conductive body is used as a grounding point, and an earth terminal is attached and grounded.

Background Art

[0002] Electrical equipment installed in automobiles and the like is connected to other electrical equipment or a power supply device via a wire harness formed by bundling coated wires to form an electrical circuit. And, as shown in Patent Document 1, an earth terminal is attached and installed at a conductive grounding point provided with a fastening portion. Thereby, electrical equipment and the like to which the earth terminal is electrically connected can operate stably.

[0003] However, the earth terminal and the grounding point that are conductively connected are exposed, and there is a risk that the conductivity may decrease due to damage or corrosion caused by external factors. Thus, when the conductivity at the connection portion between the earth terminal and the grounding point decreases, the operating state of electrical equipment and the like to which the earth terminal is electrically connected may become unstable.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] An object of this invention is to provide a grounding structure and an enclosure that can obtain a stable grounding state by fastening and fixing an earth terminal with a fastening body having conductivity to a conductive grounding point provided with a fastening portion.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention is a grounding structure in which an earth terminal provided at the tip of an electric wire is fastened and fixed to a conductive grounding location provided with a fastening portion by a fastening body having conductivity, and is attached so as to be conductive. At least a part of the fastening body is provided with an insulating surrounding body that surrounds the earth terminal. The surrounding body includes a base portion that is arranged at least partially between the base portion and the grounding location in a state of being fixed to the grounding location, and a cover portion that is attached to the base portion. A housing space for housing the earth terminal is formed between the base portion and the cover portion. The base portion is provided with an insertion hole through which the fastening body or a part of the fastening portion is inserted.

[0007] Further, the present invention is provided with a fastening portion, and in a state where it is fastened and fixed to a conductive grounding location by a fastening body having conductivity and is attached so as to be conductive, an insulating base portion having at least a part arranged between the earth terminal provided at the tip of the electric wire and the grounding location, and a cover portion attached to the base portion are provided. A housing space for housing the earth terminal is formed between the base portion and the cover portion. The base portion is provided with an insertion hole through which the fastening body or a part of the fastening portion is inserted, and is a surrounding body that surrounds the earth terminal together with at least a part of the fastening body.

[0008] The above earth terminal includes terminals such as LA terminals and U-shaped terminals that can be fastened and fixed to a grounding location by a fastening body. The above fastening portion includes screw holes, nuts provided at the installation location, or bolts implanted at the installation location. The above fastening body includes bolts that fasten to screw holes, nuts provided at the installation location, or nuts that fasten to bolts implanted at the installation location.

[0009] According to the present invention, by fastening and fixing an earth terminal with a fastening body having conductivity to a conductive grounding location provided with a fastening portion, a stable grounding state can be obtained. Specifically, since an insulating surrounding body that surrounds the ground terminal is provided together with at least a part of the fastening body that fastens and fixes the ground terminal provided at the tip of the electric wire to the grounding location, the ground terminal is surrounded by the surrounding body together with at least a part of the fastening body to be fastened and fixed and is not exposed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the fastening body and the ground terminal from being damaged or corroded by external factors.

[0010] Further, the surrounding body is composed of a base portion disposed between the surrounding body and the grounding location in a state of being fixed to the grounding location, and a cover portion attached to the base portion and accommodating the ground terminal therein. An insertion hole through which at least a part of the fastening body or the fastening portion is inserted is provided in the base portion. Therefore, by arranging the grounding location, the base portion, and the ground terminal in this order and fastening and fixing them with a fastening body inserted through the insertion hole provided in the base portion, the ground terminal can be firmly fixed to the grounding location. Further, since the base portion is disposed between the ground terminal and the grounding location, the ground terminal and the grounding location are electrically connected via the fastening body. Therefore, it is also possible to prevent problems such as corrosion of the contact portion between the ground terminal and the grounding location and a decrease in conductivity.

[0011] Furthermore, a cover portion is provided that forms a space for accommodating the ground terminal inside the surrounding body by being attached to the base portion. For this reason, by attaching the cover portion to the base portion interposed between the grounding location and the ground terminal as described above, the ground terminal can be easily surrounded together with at least a part of the fastening body. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the fastening body and the ground terminal from being damaged or corroded by external factors.

[0012] As an aspect of this invention, the ground terminal has a mounting portion for mounting the fastening body fastened to the grounding location and a wire connection portion for connecting the electric wire. The surrounding body is provided with a mounting accommodation portion for accommodating the mounting portion and a connection accommodation portion for accommodating the wire connection portion, and the mounting accommodation portion and the connection accommodation portion may be integrally formed. According to the present invention, the mounting portion can be accommodated in the mounting accommodation portion, and the wire connection portion can be accommodated in the connection accommodation portion, so that the ground terminal can be more reliably surrounded by the surrounding body.

[0013] As an aspect of the present invention, the connection accommodation portion may be provided with an insertion port through which the wire is inserted and a water stop portion for stopping water between the outer periphery of the wire. According to the present invention, the wire connected to the wire connection portion of the ground terminal can be led out from the insertion port to the outside of the surrounding body, and it is possible to prevent water droplets from entering the inside of the surrounding body along the outer surface of the led-out wire.

[0014] As an aspect of the present invention, the mounting portion may be provided with a rotation prevention portion for preventing rotation in a fixed state, and the base portion constituting the mounting accommodation portion may be provided with a prevention accommodation portion for accommodating the rotation prevention portion. According to the present invention, the rotation prevention portion provided on the mounting portion is accommodated in the prevention accommodation portion provided on the base portion constituting the mounting accommodation portion, so that the base portion of the surrounding body and the ground terminal can be prevented from rotating relative to each other due to the rotation of the fastening body fastened to the fastening portion.

[0015] As an aspect of the present invention, the base portion constituting the mounting accommodation portion may be provided with a rotation prevention protrusion that protrudes toward the grounding portion and prevents rotation in a fixed state, and the prevention accommodation portion may be disposed inside the rotation prevention protrusion.

[0016] According to the present invention, the rotation prevention protrusion provided on the base portion constituting the mounting accommodation portion fits into the recess provided at the grounding portion in a fixed state, so that the base portion of the surrounding body and the grounding portion can be prevented from rotating relative to each other due to the rotation of the fastening body that fastens them. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ground terminal and the grounding portion from rotating relative to each other due to the rotation of the fastening body fastened to the fastening portion via the rotation prevention protrusion provided on the base portion.

[0017] As an aspect of the present invention, ribs protruding inward along the outer periphery of the insertion hole may be provided. According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent water from entering through the fastening body fastened to the fastening portion or a part of the fastening portion to which the fastening body is fastened through the insertion hole.

[0018] As an aspect of the present invention, a hinge portion that pivotally connects the cover portion and the base portion may be provided. According to the present invention, the cover portion can be pivotally moved with respect to the base portion by the hinge portion and can be easily closed. Further, since the cover portion and the base portion are integrated by the hinge portion, the handleability of the surrounding body can be improved as compared with the case where the cover portion and the base portion are constituted by separate members.

[0019] As an aspect of the present invention, one of the cover portion and the base portion may be formed in an open box shape having an opening that opens toward the other, and the other of the cover portion and the base portion may be formed in a substantially plate shape that closes the opening. According to the present invention, an enclosure having a housing space for housing the ground terminal inside can be configured by closing the opening of the cover portion or the base portion having an open box shape with the base portion or the cover portion having a substantially plate shape.

[0020] As an aspect of the present invention, a fitting portion to be fitted may be provided at a connecting portion between the cover portion and the base portion, the fitting portion to be fitted being housed in a housing fitting portion provided on one of the cover portion and the base portion and provided on the other. According to the present invention, in the connecting portion between the cover portion and the base portion, the fitting portion to be fitted provided on one of the cover portion and the base portion is housed in the housing fitting portion provided on the other, so that water can be prevented from entering from the connecting portion between the cover portion and the base portion.

[0021] As an aspect of the present invention, the grounding portion and the fastening body may be made of the same kind of metal, and the ground terminal may be made of a different kind of metal from the grounding portion and the fastening body. According to the present invention, the dissimilar metal contact portion can be surrounded by an enclosure. Specifically, since at least a part of the fastener that fastens to the grounding location provided with the fastening portion is made of the same metal, dissimilar metal contact corrosion (galvanic corrosion) does not occur.

[0022] In contrast, although the fastener and the earth terminal are made of dissimilar metals, the earth terminal is surrounded by an enclosure together with at least a part of the fastener. That is, since the dissimilar metal contact portion, which is the contact portion between at least a part of the fastener made of dissimilar metal and the earth terminal, is surrounded by the enclosure, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of dissimilar metal contact corrosion caused by water contacting the dissimilar metal contact portion.

Advantages of the Invention

[0023] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a grounding structure and an enclosure that can obtain a stable grounding state by fastening and fixing an earth terminal with a conductive fastener to a conductive grounding location provided with a fastening portion.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0025] One embodiment of this invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. FIGS. 1 and 2 show explanatory drawings of the grounding structure 1, FIG. 3 shows a schematic exploded perspective view of the grounding structure 1, FIG. 4 shows an explanatory drawing of the wire 10 with terminals, FIGS. 5 and 6 show explanatory drawings of the terminal cover 30, and FIG. 7 shows a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view of the grounding structure 1. Note that FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the grounding structure 1, and FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view in a state where the cover portion 50 is opened in order to clarify the structure of the terminal cover 30. Also, in FIGS. 1 and 2, only a part of the grounding panel 100 is shown.

[0026] FIGS. 4 to 7 will be described in detail. FIG. 4(a) shows a schematic enlarged plan view of the coated wire 11 to which the earth terminal 20 is crimped, and FIG. 4(b) shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 4(a). FIG. 5(a) shows a schematic plan view of the terminal cover 30, and FIG. 5(b) shows a schematic front view of the terminal cover 30 viewed from the base end side Lb.

[0027] FIG. 6(a) shows a view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 5(a), and FIG. 5(b) shows a view taken along the line C-C in FIG. 4(a). FIG. 7(a) shows a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view of the tip end side La in the grounding structure 1, and FIG. 7(b) shows a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view of the base end side Lb in the grounding structure 1. Note that FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) are cross-sectional views corresponding to the view taken along the line C-C in FIG. 5(a).

[0028] Here, the direction along the extension direction of the wire 10 with a terminal is defined as the longitudinal direction L. In FIG. 1, the left back side is defined as the tip side La, and the front right side is defined as the base end side Lb. Among the directions orthogonal to the longitudinal direction L, the direction connecting the front left side and the back right side is defined as the width direction W, and the vertical direction is defined as the height direction H. And in FIG. 1, the front left side in the width direction W is defined as the left side Wl, and the back right side is defined as the right side Wr. Also, the upper side in the height direction H is defined as the upper side Hu, and the lower side is defined as the lower side Hd. Hereinafter, the same shall apply in FIGS. 2 to 7.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the grounding structure 1 includes a wire 10 with a terminal in which an earth terminal 20 is crimped to the tip of a covered wire 11, a terminal cover 30 that houses the earth terminal 20 of the wire 10 with a terminal, a metal grounding panel 100 that attaches the earth terminal 20 via the terminal cover 30, and a bolt 70 that fixes the earth terminal 20 to the grounding panel 100.

[0030] The grounding panel 100 for grounding the wire 10 with a terminal is a plate-like body made of a conductive material, and is provided with a panel hole 101 that penetrates the grounding panel 100 and a fastening hole 102 to which a bolt 70 described later is fastened (see FIG. 2). Also, the grounding panel 100 is made of aluminum and has a greater ionization tendency than the metal constituting the earth terminal 20. The panel hole 101 is provided on the upper side Hu surface of the grounding panel 100 and is formed to have a size capable of housing a lower convex portion 47 described later.

[0031] The fastening hole 102 is a hole that penetrates the grounding panel 100 in the height direction H and is formed to have an inner diameter substantially equal to that of the through hole 45. On the bottom surface of the fastening hole 102, a nut 103 to which a screw portion 72 of a bolt 70 described later is screwed is provided.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 3, 4(a), and 4(b), the wire 10 with a terminal is composed of a covered wire 11 in which a conductor 11a is exposed from the tip, and an earth terminal 20 crimped to the tip of the covered wire 11. The covered wire 11 is a long wire in which a conductive conductor 11a is surrounded by an insulating coating 11b. Note that at the tip side La of the covered wire 11, the insulating coating 11b is peeled off and the conductor 11a is exposed, and an earthing terminal 20 described later is crimped. An electrical equipment (not shown) is connected to the base end side of the earthing terminal 20.

[0033] The earthing terminal 20 crimped to the tip side La of the covered wire 11 is a so-called round terminal made of metal, and as shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), it is integrally composed of a wire connection part 21 arranged on the base end side Lb and a tip attachment part 22 provided on the tip side La of the wire connection part 21.

[0034] The wire connection part 21 is a so-called open barrel for crimping the covered wire 11 with barrel pieces. The wire connection part 21 includes a connection part main body 211 which is a plate-like body, and an insulation barrel 212 and a wire barrel 213 provided on the connection part main body 211 in a crimped state. The connection part main body 211 is a plate-like body that is substantially rectangular in plan view and longer in the longitudinal direction L than in the width direction W, and has a predetermined thickness in the height direction H.

[0035] The insulation barrel 212 is provided at the end of the base end side Lb of the wire connection part 21, and forms a cylindrical shape by winding two barrel pieces around the insulating coating 11b of the terminal wire 10 and crimping them. The wire barrel 213 is provided at the end of the tip side La of the wire connection part 21, and forms a cylindrical shape by winding two barrel pieces around the conductor 11a of the terminal wire 10 and crimping them.

[0036] Note that the crimping forms of the insulation barrel 212 and the wire barrel 213 to the insulating coating 11b and the conductor 11a are not limited to the above-described cylindrical shape, and various crimping forms can be adopted. For example, each of the two barrel pieces may be curved in a gable shape when viewed from the front, and may be crimped so that the main surfaces of the tip portions face each other on the connection portion main body 211, or the two barrel pieces may be crimped so that the barrel pieces are adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction L by shifting the positions of the two barrel pieces. Further, two barrel pieces having different lengths may be curved and crimped with their tips overlapped.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), the tip attachment portion 22 is provided on the tip side La of the wire connection portion 21, and is composed of an attachment portion main body 221 and a retaining piece 222 that protrudes from the tip side La of the attachment portion main body 221. The attachment portion main body 221 is a plate-like body having a substantially annular shape in plan view, and has a circular terminal through-hole 223.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 3(a), the terminal through-hole 223 is a hole provided at the center of the attachment portion main body 221 in plan view, and has an inner diameter through which the screw portion 72 of a bolt 70 described later can be inserted (see FIG. 4(a)).

[0039] The retaining piece 222 includes a protruding portion 222a that protrudes from the center portion of the attachment portion main body 221 on the tip side La and in the width direction W toward the tip side La with a plate thickness substantially equal to the plate thickness of the attachment portion main body 221, and a tip bending portion 222b that is bent downward Hd from the tip of the protruding portion 222a. The ground terminal 20 configured as described above is formed from a metal plate material into the predetermined shape as described above.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 5(a), a terminal cover 30 that houses the tip portion of the covered wire 11 and the ground terminal 20 in the wire 10 with a terminal is arranged in this order from the base end side Lb toward the tip side La, with a connection housing portion 31 that houses the wire connection portion 21 and an attachment housing portion 32 that houses the tip attachment portion 22 and the tip portion of the covered wire 11. Further, an insertion port 34 through which the covered wire 11 of the wire 10 with a terminal housed inside is inserted is provided at the end of the connection housing portion 31 on the base end side Lb, and a sealing portion 33 that seals around the covered wire 11 led out from the insertion port 34 is provided inside the connection housing portion 31.

[0041] Incidentally, the connection housing portion 31 is in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped that is longer in the longitudinal direction L than in the width direction W. The mounting housing portion 32 disposed on the distal end side La of the connection housing portion 31 is formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having a length in the width direction W wider than that of the connection housing portion 31 and a longitudinal direction L longer than the width direction W. The interiors of the connection housing portion 31 and the mounting housing portion 32 communicate with each other in the longitudinal direction L, and a space for accommodating the ground terminal 20 of the wire 10 with terminals and the coated wire 11 is formed.

[0042] Also, the terminal cover 30 is composed of a base portion 40 having an opening on the upper side Hu, a cover portion 50 capable of closing the opening of the base portion 40, and a hinge portion 60 that pivotally connects the base portion 40 and the cover portion 50. By closing the opening of the base portion 40 with the cover portion 50, a space S for accommodating the above-described ground terminal 20 is formed inside.

[0043] Incidentally, the terminal cover 30 composed of the base portion 40, the cover portion 50, and the hinge portion 60 is made of an insulating resin material. Specifically, the terminal cover 30 is composed of a fiber-reinforced plastic in which a thermosetting resin such as an epoxy resin or a phenol resin is combined with a fiber such as glass fiber to improve the strength.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 5(a), the base portion 40 is formed with a concave cross-section by a bottom surface portion 41 and a side wall portion 42 erected upward on the outer edge of the bottom surface portion 41 along the upper side Hu, and includes a water stop wall 43 that forms a sealing portion 33 on the proximal end side Lb. In addition, a U-shaped groove 44 that forms an insertion port 34 through which the coated wire 11 of the wire 10 with terminals accommodated inside the terminal cover 30 is inserted is provided in a portion along the width direction W of the proximal end side Lb of the side wall portion 42 (hereinafter referred to as the width direction side wall portion 42a).

[0045] The bottom surface portion 41 is plate-shaped with an appropriate thickness, and includes a first bottom surface portion 41a that is rectangular in plan view corresponding to the connection accommodation portion 31, and a second bottom surface portion 41b that is rectangular in plan view corresponding to the attachment accommodation portion 32. The first bottom surface portion 41a is formed wider in the width direction W than the wire connection portion 21 of the ground terminal 20, and the second bottom surface portion 41b is formed wider in the width direction W than the tip attachment portion 22 of the ground terminal 20. And the bottom surface portion 41 is formed longer in the longitudinal direction L than the ground terminal 20. In addition, the second bottom surface portion 41b is provided with a circular through hole 45, a circular rib 46 provided along the periphery of the through hole 45, and a downward convex portion 47 that protrudes downward Hd from the bottom surface of the second bottom surface portion 41b.

[0046] The side wall portion 42 is formed along the outer edge of the bottom surface portion 41 that includes a first bottom surface portion 41a that is rectangular in plan view corresponding to the connection accommodation portion 31 and a second bottom surface portion 41b that is rectangular in plan view corresponding to the attachment accommodation portion 32. The side wall portion 42 is formed with an appropriate thickness and an appropriate height. Specifically, the side wall portion 42 is formed to be higher than the height in the height direction H of the tip attachment portion 22 and the head 71 of the bolt 70 so that the tip attachment portion 22 can be accommodated in the connection accommodation portion 31.

[0047] Also, a fitting convex portion 49 that protrudes upward Hu is provided at the upper end of the side wall portion 42 (see FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b)). The fitting convex portion 49 is disposed at the center in the plate thickness direction of the side wall portion 42 and is a rib having a width and a height approximately the same as the width of about one-third of the thickness of the side wall portion 42.

[0048] Furthermore, a U-shaped groove 44 that constitutes the insertion port 34 is provided in the width direction side wall portion 42a that is the side wall portion 42 along the width direction W at the base end side Lb. As shown in FIG. 5(b), the U-shaped groove 44 is a notch that is provided at the center in the width direction W in the width direction side wall portion 42a and is U-shaped when viewed from the base end side Lb with the upper side Hu open. The U-shaped groove 44 is formed with a width and a depth into which the coated wire 11 of the wire 10 with a terminal can be fitted.

[0049] The water stop wall 43 is a wall provided to connect a pair of side wall portions 42 facing each other in the width direction W in a portion constituting the connection housing portion 31, and two are provided at a predetermined interval from the width direction side wall portion 42a toward the tip side La. Note that the water stop wall 43 is formed at substantially the same height as the side wall portion 42.

[0050] Specifically, between the width direction side wall portion 42a and the water stop wall 43 on the base end side Lb, and between the water stop walls 43, they are arranged with a space approximately equal to the thickness of the plate material constituting the terminal cover 30. At the upper end of the upper side Hu of the water stop wall 43, a water stop groove 431, which is a U-shaped notch when viewed from the base end side Lb where the upper side Hu is open, is provided.

[0051] Specifically, the water stop groove 431 is a U-shaped notch formed at the center in the width direction W of the water stop wall 43 that connects a pair of side wall portions 42 in the width direction W, with a depth approximately equal to that of the above-described U-shaped groove 44 and a width slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the covered electric wire 11, that is, the outer diameter of the insulating coating 11b.

[0052] As described above, the second bottom surface portion 41b has a circular through hole 45, a circular rib 46 provided along the periphery of the through hole 45, and a downward convex portion 47 protruding downward Hd from the bottom surface of the second bottom surface portion 41b.

[0053] The through hole 45 is a hole provided on the tip side La rather than the central portion in the longitudinal direction L in the second bottom surface portion 41b, and is formed with an inner diameter smaller than that of the terminal through hole 223 and a diameter through which the screw portion 72 of the bolt 70 can be inserted. The circular rib 46 is formed to protrude upward Hu along the periphery of the through hole 45. The circular rib 46 is formed with an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the terminal through hole 223.

[0054] As shown in Fig. 5(b), the downward convex portion 47 is a convex portion protruding downward Hd from the bottom surface of the second bottom surface portion 41b at the tip side La of the through hole 45, and forms a recessed space 48 into which the pre-bent portion 222b can be inserted.

[0055] The cover portion 50 that can close the opening of the base portion 40 is a plate-like body having substantially the same shape as the base portion 40 in a plan view. The cover portion 50 has a fitting groove 51 along the outer edge and a water stop rib 52 on the base end side Lb on the surface facing the base portion 40 in a state where the opening of the base portion 40 is closed (see Fig. 5(a)). The fitting groove 51 is a groove having a shape into which the fitting convex portion 49 can be inserted, and is provided on the surface on the side facing the fitting convex portion 49 in the height direction H in a state where the cover portion 50 closes the opening of the base portion 40.

[0056] The water stop rib 52 is plate-shaped and formed along the width direction W in order to form the sealing portion 33 together with the water stop wall 43 of the base portion 40, and an arcuate notch 521 is provided at the center in the width direction W. The notch 521 is an arcuate groove having a diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the covered electric wire 11, that is, the outer diameter of the insulating coating 11b (see Fig. 5(b)).

[0057] The water stop rib 52 is provided with an arcuate notch 521 at the center in the width direction W, and two water stop ribs 52 are provided at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction L (see Fig. 5(a)). Specifically, one of the two water stop ribs 52 is disposed at a position in the longitudinal direction L corresponding to the position between the width direction side wall portion 42a and the water stop wall 43 on the base end side Lb of the base portion 40, and the other water stop rib 52 is disposed at a position in the longitudinal direction L corresponding to the position between the water stop walls 43 in the base portion 40. And the water stop rib 52 is formed with substantially the same thickness as that between the width direction side wall portion 42a and the water stop wall 43 on the base end side Lb and between the water stop walls 43, that is, the same thickness as the thickness of the plate material constituting the terminal cover 30.

[0058] Further, the base portion 40 and the cover portion 50 configured as described above are connected via two hinge portions 60, and are configured to be able to perform an opening and closing operation by pivoting the cover portion 50 with respect to the base portion 40. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5(b) and 6(a), the hinge portion 60 pivotally connects the upper end of the side wall portion 42 of the portion forming the mounting and accommodating portion 32 and the outer edge of the cover portion 50 in the base portion 40 and the cover portion 50. The hinge portion 60 that pivotally connects the upper end of the side wall portion 42 and the outer edge of the cover portion 50 is formed with a thickness thinner than that of the base portion 40 and the cover portion 50 constituting the terminal cover 30, and has improved flexibility compared to other portions. Therefore, the cover portion 50 is configured to be openable and closable with respect to the base portion 40.

[0059] The bolt 70 for fixing the terminal cover 30 to the ground panel 100 is a so-called hexagon bolt, and is composed of a head 71 in the shape of a hexagonal disk in plan view and a cylindrical screw portion 72 protruding from the head 71 (see FIG. 3). Note that the thickness of the head 71 of the bolt 70 is formed thinner than the height of the side wall portion 42. In addition, screw threads are formed on the surface of the screw portion 72, and the diameter of the screw portion 72 is formed slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the terminal through hole 223. Further, the length of the screw portion 72 in the height direction H is longer than the total length of the ground terminal 20, the second bottom surface portion 41b, and the ground panel 100 in the height direction H. Note that the bolt 70 is composed of the same kind of metal as the ground panel 100.

[0060] The terminal cover 30 configured as described above is placed on the ground panel 100, and a part of the tip side La of the ground terminal 20 and the covered electric wire 11 is accommodated, and the ground structure 1 can be configured by fastening and fixing the ground terminal 20 to the ground panel 100 with the bolt 70. Hereinafter, the configuration method of the ground structure 1 will be briefly described.

[0061] First, the downward convex portion 47 is inserted into the panel hole 101 of the ground panel 100, and the terminal cover 30 is placed on the ground panel 100. Thereby, the terminal cover 30 can be arranged with respect to the ground panel 100 in a state where the fastening hole 102 and the through hole 45 are communicated.

[0062] Subsequently, the tip of the wire 10 with terminals is accommodated in the terminal cover 30. Specifically, after arranging the terminal through-hole 223 of the ground terminal 20 and the through-hole 45 so that the anti-rotation piece 222 faces the lower side Hd, the ground terminal 20 is moved downward to the lower side Hd.

[0063] As a result, the tip attachment part 22 can be accommodated in the part of the base part 40 that constitutes the attachment and accommodation part 32, and the wire connection part 21 can be accommodated in the part of the base part 40 that constitutes the connection and accommodation part 31. Since the U-shaped groove 44 is provided in the width-direction side wall part 42a of the base part 40, the coated wire 11 can be led out from the inside of the part of the base part 40 that constitutes the connection and accommodation part 31 through the U-shaped groove 44. Further, when the ground terminal 20 is accommodated in the terminal cover 30, the tip bent part 222b is inserted into the recessed space 48, and the circular rib 46 is inserted into the terminal through-hole 223. Thereby, the ground terminal 20 can be accurately arranged at a predetermined position inside the terminal cover 30.

[0064] Then, from the upper side Hu of the terminal cover 30, the bolt 70 is screwed into the nut 103 fixed to the back surface side of the grounding panel 100 through the communicating terminal through-hole 223, through-hole 45, and fastening hole 102. At this time, when the head 71 of the bolt 70 abuts against the ground terminal 20 by screwing the bolt 70 into the fastening hole 102, a rotational force for rotating the bolt 70 acts on the ground terminal 20. However, as described above, the tip bent part 222b of the ground terminal 20 is inserted into the recessed space 48 (see Fig. 7(a)). Thereby, since the recessed space 48 can restrict the movement of the ground terminal 20 in the rotational direction, the ground terminal 20 is fixed to the terminal cover 30 without rotating together with the bolt 70 even when the above rotational force acts.

[0065] In this way, by inserting the pre-bent portion 222b into the recessed space 48, a rotational force for rotating the bolt 70 acts, preventing the ground terminal 20 and the terminal cover 30 from rotating relative to each other. Therefore, for example, it is possible to prevent the coated wire 11 from bending or the ground terminal 20 itself from being damaged due to the rotation of the ground terminal 20 inside the terminal cover 30.

[0066] Also, the lower convex portion 47 having the above-described recessed space 48 is inserted into the panel hole 101 of the ground panel 100 (see Fig. 7(a)). Thereby, since the movement of the terminal cover 30 in the rotational direction can be restricted by the lower convex portion 47, the terminal cover 30 is fixed to the ground panel 100 without rotating together with the bolt 70 even when the above-described rotational force acts.

[0067] In this way, since the relative rotation between the terminal cover 30 and the ground panel 100 can be prevented, for example, even when other components are arranged around the ground panel 100 and the space for placing the terminal cover 30 is limited, it is possible to prevent the coated wire 11 led out from the terminal cover 30 from interfering with other components due to the relative rotation between the ground panel 100 and the terminal cover 30.

[0068] Also, when the bolt 70 is screwed in, the bolt 70 can be supported by the above-described circular rib 46, and the gap between the threaded portion 72 of the screwed bolt 70 and the through hole 45 can be filled (see Fig. 7(a)). Therefore, for example, in addition to being able to stabilize the fastening posture of the bolt 70 with respect to the through hole 45, it is also possible to prevent water from entering through the gap between the threaded portion 72 and the through hole 45.

[0069] Note that when the bolt 70 is screwed into the terminal cover 30 and the ground panel 100, it can be screwed together with the nut 103 fixed to the back side of the fastening hole 102 of the ground panel 100 to fasten and fix the terminal cover 30 to the ground panel 100.

[0070] In this way, by fastening and fixing the ground terminal 20 of the wire 10 with a terminal to the ground panel 100 via the terminal cover 30 arranged on the ground panel 100 with bolts 70, the grounding structure 1 can be configured, and one grounding circuit C can be configured. Specifically, in the grounding circuit C, the current conducted from the coated wire 11 is conducted to the bolt 70 via the ground terminal 20, and further conducted to the ground panel 100 which is a grounding body (see Fig. 7(a)).

[0071] And as described above, the terminal cover 30 is provided with a hinge portion 60. Therefore, by closing the cover portion 50 via the hinge portion 60, the opening on the upper side Hu of the base portion 40 that houses the coated wire 11 and the ground terminal 20 is blocked, and the insertion port 34 can be formed by the U-shaped groove 44 and the end portion of the cover portion 50.

[0072] Here, the base portion 40 is provided with a fitting convex portion 49 that protrudes upward to the upper side Hu, and the cover portion 50 is provided with a groove-shaped fitting groove 51. Therefore, when the cover portion 50 is closed, the fitting convex portion 49 is inserted into the fitting groove 51 (see Fig. 7(a)). Thereby, since the base portion 40 can be sealed with the cover portion 50, for example, water ingress from the gap between the base portion 40 and the cover portion 50 can be prevented.

[0073] Furthermore, the cover portion 50 is provided with a water stop rib 52. Therefore, when the cover portion 50 is closed, the water stop rib 52 is inserted between the water stop walls 43 of the base portion 40 and fitted to form the insertion port 34. □ Thereby, the housed coated wire 11 can be sandwiched in the height direction H by the water stop rib 52 and the water stop wall 43 (see Fig. 7(b)).

[0074] Furthermore, the water-stopping rib 52 and the water-stopping wall 43 can seal the gap with the covered electric wire 11 led out from the insertion port 34. And since a plurality of such water-stopping ribs 52 and water-stopping walls 43 are provided respectively, the terminal cover 30, together with the above-described fitting convex portion 49 and fitting groove 51, has reliable waterproofness against water intrusion from the outside.

[0075] As described above, in the state where the earth terminal 20 is housed inside the terminal cover 30, the anti-rotation piece 222 is inserted into the recessed space 48 to prevent relative rotation between the earth terminal 20 and the terminal cover 30. Here, the anti-rotation piece 222 is formed in a pre-folded shape with a protruding portion 222a and a pre-bent portion 222b. However, the anti-rotation piece 222 is not limited to this configuration as long as it can prevent relative rotation between the earth terminal 20 and the terminal cover 30, and for example, it may be configured in a flat plate shape.

[0076] (Second Embodiment) Hereinafter, an earth terminal 20x having an anti-rotation piece 222x that is crimped to the wire 10x with a terminal and is configured in a flat plate shape, a terminal cover 30x that houses the wire 10x with a terminal, and a grounding structure 1x using them will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

[0077] Here, FIG. 8(a) shows a schematic enlarged plan view of the front end side La of the terminal cover 30x in a state where the front end of the wire 10x with a terminal is housed in the base portion 40x, FIG. 8(b) shows a schematic plan view of the terminal cover 30x in a state where the cover portion 50x is closed and the door 54 is opened with the front end of the wire 10x with a terminal housed in the base portion 40x, and FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) show schematic enlarged cross-sectional views of the front end side La in the grounding structure 1x using the terminal cover 30x. Note that FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) are cross-sectional views corresponding to the C-C arrow view in FIG. 5(a).

[0078] In the following description of the wire 10x with a terminal, the earth terminal 20x, the terminal cover 30x, and the grounding structure 1x, the same components as the above-described wire 10 with a terminal, the earth terminal 20, the terminal cover 30, and the grounding structure 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and their description is omitted.

[0079] The wire 10x with a terminal has the same configuration as the wire 10 with a terminal, except that an earthing terminal 20x is crimped to the tip instead of the earthing terminal 20. That is, the wire 10x with a terminal is composed of a covered wire 11 with a conductor 11a exposed from the tip and an earthing terminal 20x crimped to the tip of the covered wire 11 (see Fig. 8(a)).

[0080] The earthing terminal 20x has the same configuration as the earthing terminal 20, except that a retaining piece 222x is provided instead of the retaining piece 222. That is, the earthing terminal 20x is a so-called round terminal made of metal. And a retaining piece 222x protrudes from the mounting part main body 221 (see Fig. 8(a)).

[0081] The retaining piece 222x has the same shape as the protruding portion 222a. That is, the retaining piece 222x is a plate-like body that protrudes from the central portion of the mounting part main body 221 in the width direction W and on the tip side La toward the tip side La with a plate thickness substantially equal to the plate thickness of the mounting part main body 221.

[0082] The terminal cover 30x that houses the tip portion of the covered wire 11 and the earthing terminal 20x in the wire 10x with a terminal configured as described above has the same configuration as the terminal cover 30, except that a tip convex portion 47x is provided and a cover window 53 is provided in the cover portion 50x.

[0083] The tip convex portion 47x is a convex portion that protrudes from the central portion of the side wall portion 42 along the width direction W toward the tip side La at the end of the tip side La of the terminal cover 30x, and forms a recessed space 48x into which the retaining piece 222x can be inserted (see Fig. 8(a)).

[0084] In this embodiment as well, a downward convex portion 47 is provided on the second bottom surface portion 41b of the base portion 40x, but different from the above-described embodiment, it is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape with a solid structure in which no recessed space 48 is formed inside (see Figs. 9(a) and 9(b)).

[0085] The cover part 50x that can close the opening of the base part 40x is a plate-like body that is substantially the same shape as the base part 40x in plan view. That is, the cover part 50x has a shape in which the central part on the tip side La and in the width direction W protrudes (see FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b)).

[0086] The cover window 53 is a square hole in plan view that penetrates the cover part 50x (see FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b)), and is provided at a position facing the through hole 45 in the height direction H in a state where the opening of the base part 40x is closed by the cover part 50x. Note that the cover window 53 is formed to be about two sizes larger than the head 71 of the bolt 70 in plan view.

[0087] Also, a door 54 that can close the above-mentioned cover window 53 is attached to the cover part 50x (see FIG. 8(b)). The door 54 is a plate-like body attached to the cover window 53 in the cover part 50x, and is formed larger than the cover window 53 in plan view. Note that the door 54 is provided with a hinge part (not shown), and is configured to be openable and closable by pivoting the door 54 with respect to the cover part 50x.

[0088] Also, the door 54 may be provided with a seal member that can seal the gap between the cover window 53 and the door 54 in a state where the cover window 53 is closed.

[0089] The terminal cover 30x configured as described above can configure a grounding structure 1x similar to the grounding structure 1 configured by the above-mentioned terminal cover 30. Hereinafter, a method of configuring the grounding structure 1x will be briefly described.

[0090] First, the tip of the wire 10x with a terminal is accommodated in the terminal cover 30x. More specifically, after arranging the locking piece 222x and the tip protrusion 47x so as to face each other in the height direction H, the wire 10x with a terminal is moved downward to the lower side Hd. Thereby, the tip of the wire 10x with a terminal and the ground terminal 20x can be accommodated in the space S.

[0091] Then, with the tip of the wire 10x with terminals accommodated in the base portion 40x, insert the bolt 70 through the communicating terminal through-hole 223 and the through-hole 45, and seal the base portion 40x with the cover portion 50x. As a result, at the lower side Hd of the terminal cover 30x, the tip of the threaded portion 72 will be exposed from the through-hole 45.

[0092] Subsequently, insert the downward convex portion 47 into the panel hole 101 of the grounding panel 100, and insert the above-mentioned exposed threaded portion 72 into the fastening hole 102 and the nut 103, and place the terminal cover 30x on the grounding panel 100. Finally, by tightening the bolt 70, the earth terminal 20x is fixed to the terminal cover 30x, and the terminal cover 30x is fixed to the grounding panel 100, respectively, to form the grounding structure 1x and to form a grounding circuit C similar to the grounding structure 1.

[0093] Here, the cover portion 50x is provided with a cover window 53 and a door 54 that can be opened and closed. And by opening the door 54, the upper side Hu of the accommodated bolt 70 is opened. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 9(a), the tool T can be inserted into the terminal cover 30x through the cover window 53 to tighten the bolt 70. In this way, with the cover window 53 and the door 54, without opening the cover portion 50x with respect to the base portion 40x, that is, without releasing the sealed state of the base portion 40x by the cover portion 50x, only by the opening and closing operation of the door 54, the accommodated bolt 70 can be easily tightened with respect to the earth terminal 20x. Therefore, the workability of the operation of fixing the terminal cover 30x to the grounding panel 100 can be improved while maintaining the water-stop state of the terminal cover 30x by the water-stop rib 52, the water-stop wall 43, the fitting convex portion 49 and the fitting groove 51.

[0094] Also, by the cover window 53 and the door 54, the terminal cover 30x can block the base portion 40x with the cover portion 50x before fastening the bolt 70. That is, the terminal cover 30x can be pre-mounted on the wire 10x with a terminal. Thereby, for example, in a state before fastening the bolt 70, it is possible to prevent the wire 10x with a terminal from accidentally falling off from the terminal cover 30x, so that the portability of the terminal cover 30x can be improved.

[0095] Also, when the bolt 70 is fastened to the ground terminal 20x and the head 71 abuts against the ground terminal 20x, a rotational force for rotating the bolt 70 acts on the ground terminal 20x. However, as described above, the rotation prevention piece 222x of the ground terminal 20x is inserted into the recessed space 48x (see Fig. 8(a)). Thereby, since the movement of the ground terminal 20x in the rotational direction can be restricted in the recessed space 48x, the ground terminal 20x is fixed to the terminal cover 30x without rotating together with the bolt 70 even when the above-described rotational force acts.

[0096] Furthermore, the lower convex portion 47 is inserted into the panel hole 101 of the ground panel 100 (see Figs. 9(a) and 9(b)). Thereby, since the movement of the terminal cover 30x in the rotational direction can be restricted by the lower convex portion 47, the terminal cover 30x is fixed to the ground panel 100 without rotating together with the bolt 70 even when the above-described rotational force acts.

[0097] In this way, the terminal cover 30x, like the terminal cover 30, can prevent the relative rotation between the ground terminal 20x and the terminal cover 30x when the bolt 70 is fastened, and can also prevent the relative rotation of the terminal cover 30x with respect to the ground panel 100.

[0098] As described above, the terminal cover 30x prevents the ground terminal 20x and the terminal cover 30x from rotating relative to each other by inserting the rotation prevention piece 222x configured in a flat plate shape into the recessed space 48x of the tip convex portion 47x. Here, the tip convex portion 47x protrudes outward from the terminal cover 30x. However, the tip convex portion 47x is not limited to this configuration as long as it can prevent the ground terminal 20x and the terminal cover 30x from rotating relative to each other. For example, the terminal cover 30x may be configured to be recessed so as to protrude toward the inside of the terminal cover 30x.

[0099] (Third Embodiment) Hereinafter, a terminal cover 30y having a recess protruding toward the inside of the terminal cover 30x and a grounding structure 1y using the terminal cover 30y will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12.

[0100] Here, FIG. 10(a) shows a schematic plan view of the terminal cover 30y, and FIG. 10(b) shows a schematic enlarged front view of the terminal cover 30y viewed from the base end side Lb. FIG. 11(a) shows a schematic plan view of the terminal cover 30y in a state where the covered electric wire 11 is held by the electric wire holding portion 80, and FIG. 11(b) shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D in FIG. 11(a). FIG. 12(a) shows a schematic enlarged plan view of the tip side La of the terminal cover 30y in a state where the tip of the electric wire 10x with a terminal is accommodated in the base portion 40, and FIG. 12(b) shows a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view of the base end side Lb in the grounding structure 1y using the terminal cover 30y. Note that FIG. 12(b) is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the view taken along the line C-C in FIG. 5(a) and shows a state before the cover portion 50 is attached to the base portion 40. In the following description of the terminal cover 30y, the same components as those of the terminal cover 30 and the terminal cover 30x are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

[0101] The terminal cover 30y has the same configuration as the terminal cover 30x, except that a tip recess 47y is provided instead of the tip convex portion 47x, an electric wire holding portion 80 is provided on the base end side Lb of the base portion 40y, and the cover window 53 and the door 54 are not provided in the cover portion 50y.

[0102] As shown in FIG. 9(a), the tip recess 47y is formed by indenting the corner of the tip side La and the right side Wr of the terminal cover 30y toward the base side Lb and the left side Wl. The length of the tip recess 47y in the width direction W is formed to be shorter than the distance between the end of the right side Wr of the base portion 40y and the locking piece 222x in a state where the ground terminal 20x is accommodated in the base portion 40y.

[0103] As shown in FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b), the wire holding portion 80 provided on the base side Lb of the base portion 40y is composed of a holding portion main body 81 on which the coated wire 11 can be placed, and a holding piece 82 that sandwiches and holds the coated wire 11 with the holding portion main body 81.

[0104] The holding portion main body 81 is a block-shaped body integrally formed with the width direction side wall portion 42a on the base side Lb of the base portion 40y. On the upper side Hu surface, a holding groove 811 is provided at the central portion in the width direction W, and a locking recess 812 is provided near the end of the left side Wl.

[0105] The holding groove 811 is an arc-shaped groove formed in substantially the same shape as the arc portion of the U-shaped groove 44 in a front view. That is, the holding groove 811 is formed with a width and depth into which the coated wire 11 can be fitted. The locking recess 812 is a circular depression in a plan view having a predetermined diameter, and is formed to be able to insert the locking shaft portion 822 of the holding piece 82 described later.

[0106] The holding piece 82 that sandwiches and holds the coated wire 11 with the holding portion main body 81 is provided with a holding groove 821 and a locking shaft portion 822 on the surface facing the holding portion main body 81 in a state where the coated wire 11 is held.

[0107] The holding groove 821 has the same shape as the holding groove 811 and is provided at the central portion in the width direction W of the holding piece 82. The locking shaft portion 822 is a cylinder having a diameter slightly smaller than that of the locking recess 812, and is disposed at a position facing the locking recess 812 in a state where the covered electric wire 11 is held, and is formed to be lockable in a state of being inserted into the locking recess 812.

[0108] And the holding portion main body 81 and the holding piece 82 configured as described above are connected via a holding portion hinge 60x having the same shape as the hinge portion 60 of the terminal cover 30 and the terminal cover 30x, and are configured to be openable and closable by pivoting the holding piece 82 with respect to the holding portion main body 81. Further, when the holding piece 82 is attached to the holding portion main body 81, a holding portion outlet 83 having a circular shape in a front view can be formed by the holding groove 811 and the holding groove 821.

[0109] The terminal cover 30y configured as described above can form a grounding structure 1y similar to the grounding structure 1 and the grounding structure 1x formed by the above-described terminal cover 30 and the terminal cover 30x. Hereinafter, a method of configuring the grounding structure 1y will be briefly described.

[0110] First, the tip of the wire 10x with a terminal is accommodated in the terminal cover 30y. More specifically, after arranging the terminal through-hole 223 of the ground terminal 20x and the through-hole 45 so as to face each other in the height direction H, the ground terminal 20 is moved downward to the lower side Hd. As a result, inside the base portion 40y, the locking piece 222x is disposed on the left side Wl of the tip recess 47y (see FIG. 10(a)).

[0111] Further, when the tip of the wire 10x with a terminal is accommodated in the base portion 40y, the covered electric wire 11 led out through the U-shaped groove 44 fits into the holding groove 811. Then, with the covered electric wire 11 fitted in the holding groove 811, the holding piece 82 is pivoted, and the locking shaft portion 822 is inserted into the locking recess 812. As a result, the covered electric wire 11 constituting the wire 10x with a terminal can be sandwiched and held in the height direction H by the holding portion main body 81 and the holding piece 82, and the covered electric wire 11 can be led out through the holding portion outlet 83 (see FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b)).

[0112] Then, with the wire-with-terminal 10x held by the wire holding portion 80, a bolt 70 is inserted through the communicating terminal through-hole 223 and the through-hole 45. As a result, at the lower side Hd of the terminal cover 30y, the tip of the threaded portion 72 is exposed from the through-hole 45.

[0113] Subsequently, the downward convex portion 47 is inserted into the panel hole 101 of the ground panel 100, and the exposed threaded portion 72 described above is inserted into the fastening hole 102 and the nut 103, and the terminal cover 30y is placed on the ground panel 100.

[0114] Finally, by fastening the bolt 70, a grounding structure 1y can be configured in which the ground terminal 20x is conductively fixed to the ground panel 100. Note that the grounding structure 1y fixes the ground terminal 20x to the terminal cover 30y and fixes the terminal cover 30y to the ground panel 100.

[0115] As described above, the wire-with-terminal 10x is held by the wire holding portion 80 (see FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b)). Thereby, even if the ground terminal 20x is not accommodated inside the terminal cover 30y, the terminal cover 30y can be pre-mounted on the wire-with-terminal 10x by the wire holding portion 80. That is, the terminal cover 30 can be mounted on the wire-with-terminal 10x without closing the base portion 40y with the cover portion 50y. Therefore, in the terminal cover 30y in a state where the cover portion 50y is open with respect to the base portion 40y, after fastening the bolt 70, the base portion 40y can be closed with the cover portion 50y. Thus, the workability of the operation for configuring the above-described grounding structure 1y can be improved. In addition, for example, in a state before fastening the bolt 70, it is possible to prevent the wire-with-terminal 10x from accidentally falling off from the terminal cover 30y, so that the portability of the terminal cover 30y can also be improved.

[0116] Also, when the bolt 70 is fastened to the ground terminal 20x, if the ground terminal 20x and the head 71 come into contact with each other, a rotational force for rotating the bolt 70 acts on the ground terminal 20x. However, as described above, the tip recess 47y is arranged on the right side Wr, which is the rotational direction of the rotation prevention piece 222x of the ground terminal 20x (see FIG. 12). Thereby, since the movement of the ground terminal 20x in the rotational direction can be restricted by the tip recess 47y, the ground terminal 20x is fixed to the terminal cover 30y without rotating together with the bolt 70 even when the above-described rotational force acts.

[0117] Furthermore, the lower convex portion 47 is inserted into the panel hole 101 of the grounding panel 100. Thereby, since the movement of the terminal cover 30y in the rotational direction can be restricted by the lower convex portion 47, the terminal cover 30y is fixed to the grounding panel 100 without rotating together with the bolt 70 even when the above-described rotational force acts.

[0118] In this way, similar to the terminal covers 30 and 30x, the terminal cover 30y can prevent relative rotation between the ground terminal 20x and the terminal cover 30y when fastening the bolt 70, and can also prevent relative rotation of the terminal cover 30y with respect to the grounding panel 100.

[0119] In the above description, the holding grooves 811 and 821 capable of holding the covered electric wire 11 are provided in both the holding part main body 81 and the holding piece 82 constituting the electric wire holding part 80. However, only the holding groove 811 may be provided in the holding part main body 81, or only the holding groove 821 may be provided in the holding piece 82.

[0120] Also, the electric wire holding part 80 is configured to be locked by inserting the locking shaft part 822 provided on the holding piece 82 into the locking recess 812 provided on the holding part main body 81. However, for example, the locking shaft part 822 may be provided on the holding part main body 81 and the locking recess 812 may be provided on the holding piece 82.

[0121] Furthermore, the locking means between the holding portion main body 81 and the holding piece 82 is not limited to the one in which the shaft portion is inserted into the concave portion as described above, and any configuration may be used as long as the holding state of the covered electric wire 11 by the holding portion main body 81 and the holding piece 82 can be maintained.

[0122] The terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y configured as described above are conductive and are fastened and fixed to the grounding panel 100 provided with the fastening holes 102 by conductive bolts 70 so as to be electrically connected. And in the state of being attached to the grounding panel 100, base portions 40, 40x, 40y disposed between the ground terminals 20, 20x provided at the tip of the covered electric wire 11 and the grounding panel 100, and cover portions 50, 50x, 50y attached to the base portions 40, 40x, 40y are provided, and a space S for accommodating the ground terminals 20, 20x is formed inside by the base portions 40, 40x, 40y and the cover portions 50, 50x, 50y. Further, through holes 45 through which the bolts 70 are inserted are provided in the base portions 40, 40x, 40y, and together with the heads 71 of the bolts 70, the ground terminals 20, 20x are surrounded. Also, the grounding structures 1, 1x, 1y have the terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y, the grounding panel 100, and the bolts 70 as described above, and the terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y are fixed to the grounding panel 100.

[0123] Thereby, the ground terminals 20, 20x are fastened and fixed to the grounding panel 100 provided with the fastening holes 102 by the conductive bolts 70 having conductivity, and a stable grounding state can be obtained. Specifically, insulating terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y that surround the ground terminals 20, 20x are provided together with the heads 71 of the bolts 70 that fasten and fix the ground terminals 20, 20x provided at the tip of the covered electric wire 11 to the grounding panel 100. For this reason, the ground terminals 20, 20x together with the heads 71 of the bolts 70 to be fastened and fixed are surrounded by the terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y and are not exposed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress damage and corrosion of the heads 71 of the bolts 70 and the ground terminals 20, 20x due to external factors.

[0124] Also, the terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y are each disposed between the ground terminals 20, 20x and the ground panel 100 in a state of being fixed to the ground panel 100, and include base portions 40, 40x, 40y and cover portions 50, 50x, 50y. The base portions 40, 40x, 40y are attached to the cover portions 50, 50x, 50y to form a space S for accommodating the ground terminals 20, 20x therein. And, through holes 45 for inserting bolts 70 are provided in the base portions 40, 40x, 40y.

[0125] Therefore, by arranging the ground panel 100, the base portions 40, 40x, 40y, and the ground terminals 20, 20x in this order and fastening and fixing them with bolts 70 inserted through the through holes 45 provided in the base portions 40, 40x, 40y, the ground terminals 20, 20x can be firmly fixed to the ground panel 100. Also, since the base portions 40, 40x, 40y are disposed between the ground terminals 20, 20x and the ground panel 100, the ground panel 100 and the ground terminals 20, 20x are electrically connected via the bolts 70. Thus, it is possible to prevent problems such as corrosion at the contact portion between the ground terminals 20, 20x and the ground panel 100 and a decrease in conductivity.

[0126] Furthermore, cover portions 50, 50x, 50y are provided which, by being attached to the base portions 40, 40x, 40y, form a space S for accommodating the ground terminals 20, 20x inside the terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y. For this reason, by attaching the cover portions 50, 50x, 50y to the base portions 40, 40x, 40y intervening between the ground panel 100 and the ground terminals 20, 20x as described above, it is possible to easily surround the ground terminals 20, 20x together with the heads 71 of the bolts 70. Thus, it is possible to suppress damage or corrosion of the bolts 70 and the ground terminals 20, 20x due to external factors.

[0127] Also, the ground terminals 20, 20x have a tip attachment portion 22 for attaching a bolt 70 to be fastened to the grounding panel 100, and a wire connection portion 21 for connecting the covered wire 11. And the terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y are provided with an attachment accommodation portion 32 for accommodating the tip attachment portion 22 and a connection accommodation portion 31 for accommodating the wire connection portion 21, and the attachment accommodation portion 32 and the connection accommodation portion 31 are integrally formed. Thereby, the tip attachment portion 22 can be accommodated in the attachment accommodation portion 32, and the wire connection portion 21 can be accommodated in the connection accommodation portion 31, and the ground terminals 20, 20x can be more reliably surrounded by the terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y.

[0128] Also, the connection accommodation portion 31 is provided with an insertion port 34 through which the covered wire 11 is inserted, and a sealing portion 33 for preventing water from passing between the outer periphery of the covered wire 11. Thereby, the covered wire 11 connected to the wire connection portion 21 of the ground terminals 20, 20x can be led out from the insertion port 34 to the outside of the terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y, and it is possible to prevent water droplets from entering the inside of the terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y along the outer surface of the covered wire 11 led out by the sealing portion 33.

[0129] Also, the tip attachment portion 22 is provided with anti-rotation pieces 222, 222x for preventing rotation in the fixed state, and the base portions 40, 40x constituting the attachment accommodation portion 32 are provided with recessed spaces 48, 48x for accommodating the tip bent portions 222b of the anti-rotation pieces 222 and the anti-rotation pieces 222x. Thereby, the tip bent portions 222b of the anti-rotation pieces 222 provided on the tip attachment portion 22 and the anti-rotation pieces 222x are accommodated in the recessed spaces 48, 48x of the lower convex portions 47 and the tip convex portions 47x provided on the base portions 40, 40x constituting the attachment accommodation portion 32, so that the base portions 40, 40x of the terminal covers 30, 30x and the ground terminals 20, 20x can be prevented from relatively rotating due to the rotation of the bolt 70 fastened to the fastening hole 102.

[0130] In addition, the base portion 40 that constitutes the mounting and accommodating portion 32 is provided with a downward convex portion 47 that protrudes toward the grounding panel 100 and prevents rotation in the fixed state, and the recessed space 48 is disposed inside the downward convex portion 47.

[0131] As a result, the downward convex portion 47 provided on the base portion 40 that constitutes the mounting and accommodating portion 32 fits into the panel hole 101 provided on the grounding panel 100 in the fixed state, thereby preventing the base portion 40 of the terminal cover 30 and the grounding panel 100 from rotating relative to each other due to the rotation of the fastening bolt 70. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the earth terminal 20 and the grounding panel 100 from rotating relative to each other due to the rotation of the bolt 70 that fastens the fastening hole 102 via the downward convex portion 47 provided on the base portion 40.

[0132] In addition, since a circular rib 46 that protrudes inward along the outer periphery of the through hole 45 is provided, it is possible to prevent water from entering from the through hole 45 through which the bolt 70 that fastens the fastening hole 102 is inserted.

[0133] In addition, since a hinge portion 60 that pivotally connects the cover portions 50, 50x, 50y and the base portions 40, 40x, 40y is provided, the cover portions 50, 50x, 50y can be pivoted by the hinge portion 60 with respect to the base portions 40, 40x, 40y, and can be easily closed with the cover portions 50, 50x, 50y. Further, since the cover portions 50, 50x, 50y and the base portions 40, 40x, 40y are integrated by the hinge portion 60, the handleability of the terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y can be improved as compared with the case where the cover portions 50, 50x, 50y and the base portions 40, 40x, 40y are configured as separate members.

[0134] Further, the base portions 40, 40x, 40y are formed in an open box shape having an opening that opens toward the cover portions 50, 50x, 50y, and since the cover portions 50, 50x, 50y are formed in a substantially plate shape that closes the opening, the opening of the open box-shaped base portions 40, 40x, 40y can be closed with the substantially plate-shaped cover portions 50, 50x, 50y to constitute terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y having a space S for accommodating the ground terminals 20, 20x therein.

[0135] Further, at the connecting portion between the cover portions 50, 50x, 50y and the base portions 40, 40x, 40y, since the base portions 40, 40x, 40y are provided with fitting convex portions 49 to be accommodated in fitting grooves 51 provided in the cover portions 50, 50x, 50y, at the connecting portion between the cover portions 50, 50x, 50y and the base portions 40, 40x, 40y, the fitting convex portions 49 provided on the base portions 40, 40x, 40y can be accommodated in the fitting grooves 51 provided in the cover portions 50, 50x, 50y, thereby preventing water from entering from the connecting portion between the cover portions 50, 50x, 50y and the base portions 40, 40x, 40y.

[0136] Further, the grounding panel 100 and the bolt 70 are made of the same kind of metal, and since the ground terminals 20, 20x are made of a different kind of metal from the grounding panel 100 and the bolt 70, the dissimilar metal contact portions can be surrounded by the terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y. More specifically, since the head 71 of the bolt 70 that fastens to the grounding panel 100 provided with the fastening hole 102 is made of the same kind of metal, dissimilar metal contact corrosion (galvanic corrosion) does not occur.

[0137] On the other hand, although the head 71 of the bolt 70 and the ground terminals 20, 20x are made of different kinds of metal, the ground terminals 20, 20x together with the head 71 of the bolt 70 are surrounded by the terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y. That is, since the dissimilar metal contact portion, which is the contact portion between the head 71 of the bolt 70 and the ground terminals 20, 20x made of different kinds of metal, is surrounded by the terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of dissimilar metal contact corrosion caused by water coming into contact with the dissimilar metal contact portion.

[0138] In the correspondence between the configuration of the present invention and the above-described embodiment, The electric wire of the present invention corresponds to the coated electric wire 11 of the embodiment, and similarly hereinafter, The ground terminal corresponds to the ground terminals 20, 20x, The fastening part corresponds to the fastening hole 102 The grounding location corresponds to the grounding panel 100, The fastening body corresponds to the bolt 70, The grounding structure corresponds to the grounding structures 1, 1x, 1y, The surrounding body corresponds to the terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y, The base part corresponds to the base parts 40, 40x, 40y, The cover part corresponds to the cover parts 50, 50x, 50y, The accommodation space corresponds to the space S, The insertion hole corresponds to the through hole 45, The attachment part corresponds to the tip attachment part 22, The electric wire connection part corresponds to the electric wire connection part 21, The attachment accommodation part corresponds to the attachment accommodation part 32, The connection accommodation part corresponds to the connection accommodation part 31, The insertion port corresponds to the U-shaped groove 44, The water stop part corresponds to the water stop wall 43, The rotation prevention part corresponds to the rotation prevention pieces 222, 222x, The prevention accommodation part corresponds to the recessed spaces 48, 48x, The rotation prevention protrusion corresponds to the downward convex part 47, The rib corresponds to the circular rib 46, The hinge part corresponds to the hinge part 60, The accommodation fitting part corresponds to the fitting groove 51, The fitted part corresponds to the fitting convex part 49, The present invention is not limited to only the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and many embodiments can be obtained.

[0139] For example, in the above description, the ground terminals 20, 20x are round terminals, but it is not limited to this as long as they are terminals that can be fastened and fixed to the ground panel 100 with bolts 70. For example, they may be U-shaped terminals with bifurcated tips.

[0140] Also, a fitting convex portion 49 is provided at the upper end of the side wall portion 42, and a fitting groove 51 is provided in the cover portion 50. However, the configurations of the base portion 40 and the cover portion 50 are not limited to this. For example, a fitting groove 51 may be provided at the upper end of the side wall portion 42, and a fitting convex portion 49 may be provided in the cover portion 50.

[0141] Also, box-shaped terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y are constituted by base portions 40, 40x, 40y having a concave cross-section and cover portions 50, 50x, 50y in the form of plate-like bodies. However, both the base portions 40, 40x, 40y and the cover portions 50, 50x, 50y may be formed with a concave cross-section to constitute the box-shaped terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y. Furthermore, the box-shaped terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y may be constituted by base portions 40, 40x, 40y having a substantially plate-like configuration and cover portions 50, 50x, 50y having a concave cross-section.

[0142] Furthermore, the base portions 40, 40x, 40y and the cover portions 50, 50x, 50y are pivotally connected by a hinge portion 60. However, the base portions 40, 40x, 40y and the cover portions 50, 50x, 50y may be configured as separate bodies, and the terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y may be constituted by mounting one on the other.

[0143] Also, the terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y are fastened and fixed to the ground panel 100 by screwing bolts 70 through the through holes 45, but it is not limited to this. For example, bolts 70 may be screwed through the fastening holes 102 for the terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y installed on the ground panel 100, or nuts 103 may be attached to the screw portions 72 welded to the ground panel 100.

[0144] Furthermore, although the bolt 70 is constituted by a so-called hexagonal bolt, it is not limited thereto. For example, it may be constituted by a flange bolt provided with an annular flange on the head 71. In that case, since the contact area between the bolt 70 and the ground terminals 20, 20x can be increased, a more stable grounding state can be achieved.

[0145] Also, the terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y are configured such that the downward convex portions 47 protruding toward the ground panel 100 are inserted into the panel holes 101 of the ground panel 100 to restrict relative rotation between them. However, the configuration for restricting relative rotation between the terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y and the ground panel 100 is not limited thereto. For example, the ground panel 100 may be provided with convex portions protruding toward the terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y, and the relative rotation between them may be restricted by inserting them into recesses provided in the terminal covers 30, 30x, 30y.

[0146] Also, the terminal cover 30x is configured such that the anti-rotation piece 222x is inserted into the recessed space 48x to restrict relative rotation with the ground terminal 20x. However, like the terminal cover 30y, a tip recess 47y protruding toward the inside of the base portion 40 may be provided, and the relative rotation between them may be restricted by the anti-rotation piece 222x coming into contact with the tip recess 47y.

[0147] Also, the terminal cover 30y is configured such that a tip recess 47y protruding toward the inside of the base portion 40 is provided, and the relative rotation between them may be restricted by the anti-rotation piece 222x coming into contact with the tip recess 47y. However, like the terminal cover 30x, the relative rotation with the ground terminal 20x may be restricted by inserting the anti-rotation piece 222x into the recessed space 48x.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0148] 1, 1x, 1y... grounding structure 11... covered electric wire 20, 20x... ground terminals 22... tip attachment portion 21... wire connection portion 30... terminal cover 31... Connection housing part 32... Mounting housing part 40, 40x, 40y... Base part 43... Watertight wall 44... U-shaped groove 45... Through hole 46... Circular rib 47... Lower convex part 47x... Tip convex part 48, 48x... Depressed space 49... Fitting convex part 50, 50x, 50y... Cover part 51... Fitting groove 60... Hinge part 70... Bolt 100... Grounding panel 102... Panel hole 222, 222x... Locking piece 223... Terminal through hole S... Space

Claims

1. A grounding structure in which a grounding terminal provided at the tip of an electric wire is fastened and fixed to a conductive grounding location provided with a fastening portion by a fastening body having conductivity, and is attached in a conductive manner, An insulating surrounding body that surrounds the grounding terminal is provided together with at least a part of the fastening body, The surrounding body A base portion that is arranged at least in part between the base portion and the grounding location in a state of being fixed to the grounding location, A cover portion attached to the base portion is provided, and A housing space for housing the grounding terminal is formed inside the base portion and the cover portion, An insertion hole through which the fastening body or a part of the fastening portion is inserted is provided in the base portion Grounding structure.

2. The grounding terminal has a mounting portion for mounting the fastening body that fastens to the grounding location and a wire connection portion for connecting the electric wire, The surrounding body is provided with a mounting housing portion for housing the mounting portion and a connection housing portion for housing the wire connection portion, and the mounting housing portion and the connection housing portion are integrally formed The grounding structure according to claim 1.

3. An insertion port through which the electric wire is inserted and a water stop portion for stopping water between the outer periphery of the electric wire are provided in the connection housing portion The grounding structure according to claim 2.

4. A rotation prevention portion for preventing rotation in a fixed state is provided in the mounting portion, A prevention housing portion for housing the rotation prevention portion is provided in the base portion constituting the mounting housing portion The grounding structure according to claim 2.

5. A rotation prevention protrusion that protrudes toward the grounding location and prevents rotation in a fixed state is provided in the base portion constituting the mounting housing portion, The anti-accommodation part is arranged inside the anti-rotation protrusion The grounding structure according to claim 4.

6. A rib protruding inward along the outer periphery of the insertion hole is provided The grounding structure according to claim 1.

7. A hinge part for pivotally connecting the cover part and the base part is provided The grounding structure according to claim 1.

8. One of the cover part and the base part is formed in an open box shape having an opening that opens toward the other, The other of the cover part and the base part is formed in a substantially plate shape that closes the opening The grounding structure according to claim 1.

9. The connecting part between the cover part and the base part is A fitting part to be received is provided on one of the cover part and the base part to be received in a receiving fitting part provided on the other The grounding structure according to claim 8.

10. The grounding location and the fastening body are made of the same kind of metal, and the earth terminal is made of a different kind of metal from the grounding location and the fastening body The grounding structure according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. A fastening body having conductivity is fastened and fixed to a conductive grounding location provided with a fastening part, and in a state of being conductively attached, an insulating base part at least partially disposed between an earth terminal provided at the tip of an electric wire and the grounding location, and a cover part attached to the base part are provided, and a housing space for housing the earth terminal is formed inside by the base part and the cover part, An insertion hole for inserting at least a part of the fastening body or a part of the fastening part is provided in the base part, Surrounding the earth terminal together with at least a part of the fastening body Surrounding body.

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