Junction box

Abstract

To provide a junction box in which intrusion of salt water can be prevented.SOLUTION: A junction box according to one embodiment includes: a casing having a first casing part and a second casing part overlapping with the first casing part in a first direction so as to form an accommodation chamber for accommodating an electronic component together with the first casing part; and a sealing member which is disposed outside the accommodation chamber when viewed from the first direction and is compressed in the first direction by the first casing part and the second casing part. A sealing groove which is formed outside the accommodation part when viewed from the first direction so as to be open in the first direction and in which the sealing member is placed is formed in the first casing part. A clearance groove which is formed in a surface in contact with the sealing member is formed in at least one of the first casing part and the second casing part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention relates to a junction box. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a junction box mounted on a vehicle, in which a plurality of electronic components are mounted. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-99475 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In recent electric vehicles, the diversification of vehicle architectures and the optimization of circuit branches have created a need for high-voltage junction boxes with waterproofing capabilities to withstand salt damage. For example, saltwater can seep in through the gap between the junction box housing and the gasket, causing the salt in the saltwater to crystallize inside the junction box. For these reasons, there is a need to prevent saltwater from seeping into the junction box.

[0005] One embodiment provides a junction box that can inhibit saltwater ingress. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In one embodiment, the junction box comprises a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion that is stacked on top of the first housing portion in a first direction and that, together with the first housing portion, forms a storage chamber in which electronic components are stored; and a sealing member that is arranged outside the storage chamber when viewed from the first direction and is compressed in the first direction by the first housing portion and the second housing portion, wherein the first housing portion has a sealing groove that is formed outside the storage chamber when viewed from the first direction, opens in the first direction, and in which the sealing member is placed, and at least one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion has an escape groove formed on a surface that comes into contact with the sealing member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the junction box can suppress the ingress of saltwater. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a junction box according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a housing according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the case according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cover according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion V in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of a sealing member before sealing according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is a plan view of a first relief groove according to the embodiment as viewed from the Z direction. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a relief groove according to a modified example of the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a relief groove according to a modified example of the embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a relief groove according to a modified example of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] (junction box) 1, the junction box 1 includes a housing 2, a sealing member 3, a base member 4, electronic components 5, and a bus bar 6. For example, the junction box 1 is mounted on the outside of a battery pack of an electric vehicle or the like.

[0011] (Housing) The housing 2 has an accommodation chamber 7 therein for accommodating a plurality of electronic components 5 and the like. The housing 2 is made of a conductive material such as aluminum. The housing 2 has a case 10 (first housing portion) and a cover 15 (second housing portion). The case 10 and the cover 15 are arranged opposite to each other.

[0012] Hereinafter, the direction in which the case 10 and the cover 15 face each other will be referred to as the Z direction (first direction). The direction from the case 10 toward the cover 15 will be referred to as the +Z direction, and the direction from the cover 15 toward the case 10 will be referred to as the -Z direction. The directions that intersect with each other in a plane facing the Z direction will be referred to as the X direction and the Y direction. In one example of this embodiment, the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction are directions that are perpendicular to each other. In this example, the Z direction is the "up-down direction." In this example, the +Z direction is the upward direction, and the -Z direction is the downward direction.

[0013] (case) As shown in Fig. 2, case 10 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. Case 10 has an opening 10a that opens in the +Z direction. Inside case 10, a base member 4, multiple electronic components 5, bus bars 6, etc. are housed. As shown in Fig. 3, case 10 has a bottom wall 11, a peripheral wall 12, and a protrusion 13.

[0014] The bottom wall 11 is formed in the shape of a rectangular plate extending in the X and Y directions. The peripheral wall 12 extends in the +Z direction from each edge of the bottom wall 11. A protrusion 13 is formed at the end of the peripheral wall 12 in the +Z direction. The protrusion 13 protrudes from the peripheral wall 12 in the +Z direction. As shown in FIG. 3 , the protrusion 13 is formed along the entire periphery of the opening 10a of the case 10. A sealing groove 20 and a relief groove 25, which will be described later, are formed in the protrusion 13.

[0015] (cover) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cover 15 is superimposed on the case 10 in the Z direction. The cover 15 forms the storage chamber 7 together with the case 10. The cover 15 is formed in a plate shape extending in the X and Y directions. The cover 15 closes the opening 10a of the case 10. The surface of the cover 15 facing the -Z direction abuts against the entire surface of the protrusion 13 facing the +Z direction. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, a relief groove 25, which will be described later, is formed on the surface of the cover 15 facing the -Z direction that abuts against the protrusion 13.

[0016] (Sealing groove) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 , the sealing groove 20 is disposed outside the accommodation chamber 7 when viewed from the Z direction. The sealing groove 20 is formed along the entire periphery of the opening 10a of the case 10 when viewed from the Z direction. That is, the sealing groove 20 is formed along the entire periphery of the edge 7a of the accommodation chamber 7 when viewed from the Z direction. The sealing groove 20 is formed in a rectangular frame shape when viewed from the Z direction. The sealing groove 20 also has a rectangular cross section. As shown in FIG. 5 , the sealing groove 20 opens in the +Z direction. The depth H1 of the sealing groove 20 (in the example of FIG. 5 , the depth H1 of the sealing groove 20 in the Z direction) is equal to the protruding height of the protruding portion 13 (in the example of FIG. 5 , the protruding height of the protruding portion 13 in the Z direction). Due to this relationship, the bottom surface 21 of the sealing groove 20 facing the +Z direction is located on the same plane as the end surface of the peripheral wall 12 of the case 10 on the +Z direction side.

[0017] (Sealing member) The sealing member 3 is disposed outside the storage chamber 7 when viewed from the Z direction. The sealing member 3 is disposed along the entire periphery of the opening 10a of the case 10 when viewed from the Z direction. That is, the sealing member 3 is disposed along the entire periphery of the edge 7a of the storage chamber 7 when viewed from the Z direction. The sealing member 3 is formed in a rectangular frame shape when viewed from the Z direction. The sealing member 3 is compressed in the Z direction by the case 10 and the cover 15. The storage chamber 7 is sealed by the sealing member 3 being compressed by the case 10 and the cover 15.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 6 , before the storage chamber 7 is sealed, the sealing member 3 extends in the +Z direction from the bottom surface 21 of the sealing groove 20 and protrudes in the +Z direction from the protrusion 13. The sealing member 3 before sealing is formed in a rectangular shape extending in the Z direction in a cross-sectional view. The sealing member 3 before sealing has four chamfered corners 3a in a cross-sectional view. Due to the chamfered shape of the corners 3a, the corners 3a of the sealing member 3 are spaced from the corners 23 of the sealing groove 20 in a cross-sectional view before the storage chamber 7 is sealed. After the storage chamber 7 is sealed, the sealing member 3 is compressed in the Z direction by the case 10 and the cover 15. Hereinafter, the surfaces of the case 10 and the cover 15 that come into contact with the sealing member 3 after the storage chamber 7 is sealed are referred to as compressed surfaces 16. The compressed surfaces 16 of the case 10 include the bottom surface 21 of the sealing groove 20 and side surfaces 22 of the sealing groove 20 that extend from the bottom surface 21 in the +Z direction. After sealing, the sealing member 3 is in close contact with the compression surface 16 of the case 10 and the compression surface 16 of the cover 15. The sealing member 3 is a packing made of an insulating material such as rubber. When the case 10 and the cover 15 are separated in the Z direction, the sealing member 3 returns to its pre-sealing shape due to its own elasticity.

[0019] (relief groove) The relief groove 25 is formed in the compression surface 16. As shown in Fig. 7, the relief groove 25 extends along the sealing groove 20. In this embodiment, the relief groove 25 is formed in both the case 10 and the cover 15. Hereinafter, the relief groove 25 formed in the case 10 will be referred to as a first relief groove 25a, and the relief groove 25 formed in the cover 15 will be referred to as a second relief groove 25b.

[0020] The first relief groove 25a is formed within the sealing groove 20. The first relief groove 25a is formed at a position overlapping with the sealing member 3 in the Z direction. In the illustrated example, the entire first relief groove 25a is located within the sealing groove 20 when viewed from the Z direction. The first relief groove 25a is open in the +Z direction. That is, the first relief groove 25a is formed on the bottom surface 21 of the sealing groove 20 facing the +Z direction. As shown in FIG. 3 , the first relief groove 25a extends along the sealing groove 20 in a direction intersecting the Z direction. More specifically, the first relief groove 25a is formed along the entire periphery of the opening 10a of the case 10. That is, the first relief groove 25a is formed along the entire periphery of the edge 7a of the accommodation chamber 7 when viewed from the Z direction. The first relief groove 25a is formed in the shape of a rectangular frame when viewed from the Z direction. The first relief groove 25a has a rectangular cross section.

[0021] A width W2 of the first relief groove 25a (in the example of FIG. 5, the width W2 of the first relief groove 25a in the X direction) is narrower than a width W1 of the sealing groove 20 (in the example of FIG. 5, the width W1 of the sealing groove 20 in the X direction). A depth H2 of the first relief groove 25a (in the example of FIG. 5, the depth H2 of the first relief groove 25a in the Z direction) is shallower than a depth H1 of the sealing groove 20 (in the example of FIG. 5, the depth H1 of the sealing groove 20 in the Z direction).

[0022] The second relief groove 25b is formed at a position overlapping with the sealing member 3 in the Z direction. In the illustrated example, the entire second relief groove 25b is located within the sealing groove 20 when viewed from the Z direction. Furthermore, the second relief groove 25b is formed at a position facing the first relief groove 25a in the Z direction. The second relief groove 25b opens in the -Z direction. As shown in FIG. 3 , the second relief groove 25b extends along the sealing groove 20 in a direction intersecting the Z direction. More specifically, the second relief groove 25b is formed along the entire periphery of the opening 10a of the case 10, similar to the first relief groove 25a. That is, the second relief groove 25b is formed along the entire periphery of the edge 7a of the accommodation chamber 7 when viewed from the Z direction. The second relief groove 25b is formed in the same shape as the first relief groove 25a. That is, the second relief groove 25b is formed in a rectangular frame shape when viewed from the Z direction, similar to the first relief groove 25a. The second relief groove 25b is formed to have a rectangular cross section.

[0023] The width W3 of the second relief groove 25b (in the example of FIG. 5, the width W3 of the second relief groove 25b in the X direction) is narrower than the width W1 of the sealing groove 20. The depth H3 of the second relief groove 25b (in the example of FIG. 5, the depth H3 of the second relief groove 25b in the Z direction) is shallower than the depth H1 of the sealing groove 20. Furthermore, the width W3 of the second relief groove 25b is equal to the width W2 of the first relief groove 25a. The depth H3 of the second relief groove 25b is equal to the depth H2 of the first relief groove 25a.

[0024] (Contents inside the enclosure) As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 2 contains a base member 4, electronic components 5, and bus bars 6. The base member 4 is disposed on a bottom wall 11 of a case 10. The base member 4 is made of an insulating material such as resin. Examples of the base member 4 include a resin case and a resin plate. In the illustrated example, the base member 4 extends in the X direction.

[0025] The electronic components 5 are arranged on the base member 4. Examples of the electronic components 5 include relays, fuses, and batteries. In the illustrated example, a plurality of electronic components 5 are provided. These plurality of electronic components 5 are arranged in the X direction. Alternatively, a substrate (not shown) may be arranged on the base member 4, and the electronic components 5 may be arranged on the substrate. The bus bar 6 connects the plurality of electronic components 5 (two in the illustrated example).

[0026] (Action and effect) Junction box 1 accommodates multiple electronic components 5 in an internal accommodation chamber 7. Accommodation chamber 7 is sealed by a sealing groove 20 formed in case 10 (first housing portion) and a sealing member 3 disposed in sealing groove 20. However, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, it is possible that saltwater L may infiltrate accommodation chamber 7 through a gap between case 10 and cover 15 (second housing portion), causing salt in saltwater L to crystallize in the gap between case 10 and cover 15 and within accommodation chamber 7. In FIGS. 5 and 7, the possible infiltration paths of saltwater L are indicated by arrows.

[0027] In this embodiment, the case 10 is formed with a sealing groove 20 that is formed outside the accommodation chamber 7 when viewed from the Z direction (first direction), opens in the Z direction, and accommodates the sealing member 3. The case 10 and the cover 15 are formed with an escape groove 25 on the compression surface 16 that comes into contact with the sealing member 3. As shown in FIG. 6 , the junction box 1 can allow saltwater L moving from the outside to the inside of the accommodation chamber 7 to escape into the escape groove 25. This prevents the saltwater L from entering the accommodation chamber 7, and extends the time it takes for the saltwater L to enter the accommodation chamber 7. Furthermore, because it is only necessary to form the escape groove 25 in the case 10 and the cover 15, it is possible to use a general rubber packing or the like as the sealing member 3.

[0028] In addition, in this embodiment, the first escape groove 25a of the escape grooves 25 is formed inside the sealing groove 20. Salt water L tends to accumulate inside the sealing groove 20, but in this embodiment, the junction box 1 can allow the salt water L accumulated inside the sealing groove 20 to escape into the first escape groove 25a. This further prevents the salt water L from entering the storage chamber 7.

[0029] Furthermore, saltwater L attempting to infiltrate into the storage chamber 7 moves in a direction intersecting the Z direction, but in this embodiment, the escape groove 25 is formed at a position overlapping with the sealing groove 20 in the Z direction and is open in the Z direction. The escape groove 25 that opens in the Z direction allows the junction box 1 to allow the saltwater L to escape in the Z direction intersecting the infiltration direction (a direction perpendicular to the infiltration direction of the saltwater L). This further prevents the saltwater L from infiltrating into the storage chamber 7.

[0030] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the escape grooves 25 are formed in both the case 10 and the cover 15. Compared to when the escape grooves 25 are formed in only one of the case 10 and the cover 15, the junction box 1 can allow a larger amount of salt water L to escape into the escape grooves 25. Therefore, the intrusion of salt water L into the storage chamber 7 is further suppressed.

[0031] Moreover, in this embodiment, the escape groove 25 extends in a direction intersecting the Z direction. Therefore, the junction box 1 can further allow the salt water L collected in the escape groove 25 to escape in a direction intersecting the Z direction. Furthermore, the escape groove 25 is formed along the entire periphery of the edge 7a of the storage chamber 7 when viewed from the Z direction. Therefore, the junction box 1 can allow the salt water L to escape along the entire periphery of the edge 7a of the storage chamber 7. Therefore, the intrusion of the salt water L into the storage chamber 7 is further suppressed.

[0032] In this embodiment, the housing 2 has a case 10 that opens in the +Z direction and houses the electronic components 5 therein, and a cover 15 that extends in a direction intersecting the Z direction and closes the opening 10a of the case 10. The clearance groove 25 is formed along the entire periphery of the opening 10a of the case 10 when viewed from the Z direction. This makes it easy to assemble the case 10 and the cover 15 and to form the clearance groove 25. This allows the worker to easily manufacture the junction box 1.

[0033] In this embodiment, the widths W2 and W3 of the relief groove 25 are narrower than the width W1 of the sealing groove 20, and the depths H2 and H3 of the relief groove 25 are shallower than the depth H1 of the sealing groove 20. Due to the size of the relief groove 25, the junction box 1 can allow the salt water L to escape into the relief groove 25 without compromising the airtightness of the accommodation chamber 7.

[0034] <Other variations> In the above-described embodiment, the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction are perpendicular to each other. The X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction only need to intersect, and do not have to be perpendicular to each other. Although the Z direction is described as the "vertical direction," the Z direction does not have to be the "vertical direction." For example, the Z direction may be a direction inclined relative to the "vertical direction," or may be the "horizontal direction." Although the +Z direction is described as the upward direction and the -Z direction is described as the downward direction, the +Z direction may be the downward direction and the -Z direction may be the upward direction.

[0035] In one example of the above-described embodiment, the housing 2 is made of a conductive material such as aluminum. However, the conductive material forming the housing 2 may be a metal other than aluminum. Furthermore, the housing 2 may be made of a resin material.

[0036] In one example of the above-described embodiment, a protrusion 13 is provided at the end of the peripheral wall 12 of the case 10 in the +Z direction. A sealing groove 20 for accommodating the sealing member 3 is formed in the protrusion 13. Note that the case 10 may not be provided with the protrusion 13, and the sealing groove 20 may be formed at the end of the peripheral wall 12 of the case 10 in the +Z direction.

[0037] In one example of the above-described embodiment, the clearance groove 25 is formed in both the case 10 and the cover 15. However, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the clearance groove 25 may be formed in either the case 10 or the cover 15. In other words, only one of the first clearance groove 25a and the second clearance groove 25b may be formed in the housing 2.

[0038] In one example of the above-described embodiment, the first relief groove 25a is formed in the bottom surface 21 of the sealing groove 20 facing the Z direction. Note that, as shown in Fig. 10, the first relief groove 25a may be formed in the side surface 22 of the sealing groove 20 extending from the bottom surface 21 in the Z direction. In this case, the first relief groove 25a opens in a direction intersecting the Z direction (in the illustrated example, the X direction).

[0039] The shape and size of the sealing groove 20 can be changed as appropriate. The shape, size, and formation position of the relief groove 25 can be changed as appropriate. For example, only a portion of the relief groove 25 may overlap with the sealing groove 20 in the Z direction. The first relief groove 25a and the second relief groove 25b may be formed so as to be shifted in a direction intersecting the Z direction. The size of the first relief groove 25a and the size of the second relief groove 25b do not have to be equal.

[0040] In one example of the above-described embodiment, the first housing portion is a case 10 that opens in the -Z direction, and the second housing portion is a plate-shaped cover 15 that closes the opening 10a of the case 10. The first housing portion and the second housing portion only need to form the housing chamber 7 in which the electronic component 5 is housed. The shapes of the first housing portion and the second housing portion can be changed as appropriate. For example, the shape of the second housing portion may be formed to be the same as that of the case 10. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1 junction box 2. Case 3 Sealing member 3a Corner 4 Base material 5. Electronic Components 6 Busbar 7 Containment Cell 7a Edge 10 Case (first housing part) 10a opening 11 Bottom wall 12 Surrounding wall 13 Protrusion 15 Cover (second housing part) 16 Compression Surface 20 Sealing groove 21 Bottom 22 Side 23 Corner 25 Relief groove 25a First relief groove 25b Second relief groove H1 Depth H2 Depth H3 Depth L salt water W1 width W2 width W3 width

Claims

1. a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion that is superimposed on the first housing portion in a first direction and that, together with the first housing portion, forms an accommodating chamber in which an electronic component is accommodated; a sealing member that is disposed outside the accommodation chamber when viewed from the first direction and is compressed in the first direction by the first housing portion and the second housing portion; Equipped with a sealing groove formed in the first housing portion, the sealing groove being formed on the outer side of the accommodation chamber when viewed from the first direction, the sealing groove being open in the first direction, and the sealing member being disposed therein; At least one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion has an escape groove formed on a surface that comes into contact with the sealing member. Junction box.

2. The relief groove is formed in the sealing groove. The junction box according to claim 1 .

3. the relief groove is formed at a position overlapping with the sealing member in the first direction and is open in the first direction. The junction box according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The relief groove is formed in both the first housing portion and the second housing portion. The junction box according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The relief groove is formed along the entire periphery of the edge of the accommodation chamber when viewed from the first direction. The junction box according to claim 1 or 2.

6. the first housing portion is a case that opens in a direction from the first housing portion toward the second housing portion in the first direction and accommodates the electronic component therein; the second housing portion is a cover that extends in a direction intersecting the first direction and closes an opening of the case, The relief groove is formed along the entire periphery of the opening of the case when viewed from the first direction. The junction box according to claim 1 or 2.

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