Electrical connection box unit

Abstract

To provide an electric connection box unit capable of reducing a mounting space.SOLUTION: An electric connection box unit 100 includes an electric connection box 1. A connection part 30 of the electric connection box includes: a bus bar 5 that is connected to an electronic component; a terminal 4 that has a through hole into which the bus bar 5 is inserted and that holds a part of the bus bar 5 in the through hole; a female connection part 31 that is formed into a roughly cylindrical shape, the other part different from the part of the bus bar 5 being disposed in a cylindrical hole; and a male connection part 32 that holds the terminal 4 and that is configured integrally with the female connection part 31. When a male connection part 32b in the other electric connection box 1b is inserted into a cylindrical hole of a female connection part 31a of one electric connection box 1a, the other part of the bus bar 5a in the one electric connection box 1a is inserted into the through hole of the terminal 4b in the other electric connection box 1b and the one electric connection box 1a and the other electric connection box 1b are connected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an electrical connection box such as a relay box (hereinafter also referred to as a "conventional electrical connection box") that is mounted on a vehicle and has an accommodation space for accommodating electronic components such as relays has been proposed. Such electrical connection boxes may be mounted in plurality in response to various conditions such as the vehicle type of the vehicle on which they are mounted and the specifications of options. In this case, for example, one electrical connection box and another electrical connection box are connected to each other via an electric wire (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the connection between the above-described conventional electrical connection boxes, so-called thick electric wires are often used, and an electric wire surplus length is required to ensure the flexibility of the electric wire. For this reason, when the electrical connection boxes are mounted adjacent to each other, it is necessary to complicate the wiring of the electric wires or secure a mounting space for the electric wires.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described situation, and an object thereof is to provide an electrical connection box unit capable of reducing a mounting space.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to achieve the above-described object, the electrical connection box unit according to the present invention is characterized by the following. An electrical connection box unit including at least two electrical connection boxes, wherein the at least two electrical connection boxes are connected to each other. The electrical connection box has a frame having an accommodation space capable of accommodating electronic components therein, and a connection portion disposed outside the accommodation space. The connection portion has a bus bar connected to the electronic component, a terminal having a through hole into which the bus bar is inserted and holding a part of the bus bar in the through hole, a female connection portion formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and having another part of the bus bar disposed in a cylindrical hole thereof different from the above-mentioned part, and a male connection portion that holds the terminal and is integrally formed with the female connection portion. The outer peripheral shape of the male connection portion is formed corresponding to the cylindrical hole shape of the female connection portion. The electrical connection box unit is configured such that the male connection portion of one electrical connection box is inserted into the cylindrical hole of the female connection portion of another electrical connection box, so that the other part of the bus bar in the one electrical connection box is inserted into the through hole of the terminal in the other electrical connection box, and the one electrical connection box and the other electrical connection box are connected. It is an electrical connection box unit.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, by inserting the male connection portion of one electrical connection box into the cylindrical hole of the female connection portion of another electrical connection box, the other part of the bus bar in the one electrical connection box is inserted into the through hole of the terminal in the other electrical connection box, and the one electrical connection box and the other electrical connection box are connected. As a result, compared with the case of connecting electrical connection boxes to each other via electric wires as in the conventional art, there is no need to secure a wiring space for the electric wires, and the mounting space for the electrical connection box unit in a vehicle or the like can be reduced. Furthermore, according to the present invention, by providing both the male connection portion and the female connection portion in the connection portion of the electrical connection box, it is possible to achieve commonality of the electrical connection box.

[0008] The above is a brief description of the present invention. Furthermore, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading through the embodiments for carrying out the invention described below (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0010] <Embodiment> Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, an electrical connection box unit 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0011] Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, as shown in FIG. 1 and the like, "front", "rear", "left", "right", "up" and "down" are defined. The "front-rear direction", "left-right direction" and "up-down direction" are orthogonal to each other.

[0012] <Electrical connection box unit 100> Hereinafter, the electrical connection box unit 100 will be described. The electrical connection box unit 100 is typically mounted on a vehicle and, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 2, is composed of one electrical connection box 1a and another electrical connection box 1b. Each electrical connection box 1 is a relay box having an internal space for accommodating electronic components such as relays and other components.

[0013] <Electrical connection box 1> Hereinafter, the electrical connection box 1 will be described. For the sake of convenience of explanation, although different reference numerals are given to one electrical connection box 1a and the other electrical connection box 1b, both are electrical connection boxes 1.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the electrical connection box 1 is composed of a substantially rectangular cylindrical frame 11 and a lower cover 12 assembled below the frame 11 so as to close the lower end opening of the frame 11. The electrical connection box 1 further includes an upper cover (not shown) assembled above the frame 11 so as to close the upper end opening of the frame 11. All of these components constituting the electrical connection box 1 are resin molded bodies. Hereinafter, the frame 11 and the lower cover 12 constituting the electrical connection box 1 will be described in order.

[0015] First, the frame 11 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the frame 11 includes a substantially rectangular cylindrical side wall portion 13 extending in the vertical direction. The side wall portion 13 constitutes most of the outer appearance of the side surface of the electrical connection box 1.

[0016] On the outer surfaces of a plurality of locations (in this example, four locations) of the side wall portions 13 on both sides in the left-right direction, engaged portions 14 each including a through hole extending in the vertical direction are integrally provided. The engaged portions 14 have a function of assembling the lower cover 12 to the frame 11.

[0017] On the outer surface of the side wall portion 13 on one side in the left-right direction (the right side in FIG. 3), a connection portion 30 is integrally provided. The connection portion 30 is a physical and electrical connection portion when one electrical connection box 1a and the other electrical connection box 1b are connected.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 6, the connection part 30 is configured to include a terminal 4, a bus bar 5, a female connection part 31, a male connection part 32, and a bus bar holding part 33.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 3, the terminal 4 is integrally formed with a substantially rectangular cylindrical first connection part 41, a substantially rectangular cylindrical second connection part 42 spaced apart from the first connection part 41 in the vertical direction, and a connection part 43 that connects the first connection part 41 and the second connection part 42 and also serves as the right side wall of the first connection part 41 and the second connection part 42.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 6, the first connection part 41 and the second connection part 42 have cylindrical holes (corresponding to the "through holes" of the present invention) communicating with each other in the vertical direction. In each cylindrical hole, contact parts 44 with the bus bar 5 are respectively provided on the opposing walls facing the connection part 43 in the left - right direction, and holding parts 45 for holding the bus bar 5 are respectively provided on the connection part 43.

[0021] The holding part 45 is configured to be elastically deformable, and presses and holds the bus bar 5 against the contact part 44. In this example, the first connection part 41 and the second connection part 42 have the same configuration, and the shape of one is the shape obtained by inverting the other in the vertical direction.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 3, the bus bar 5 is composed of a substantially L - shaped bus bar body 51 formed by bending the front end of a strip - shaped member extending in the left - right direction forward, and a pair of connection parts 52 projecting vertically from both side surfaces in the vertical direction at the front end of the bus bar body 51. The bus bar body 51 and the pair of connection parts 52 are formed to have substantially equal widths in the short - hand direction. The lower end of the bus bar body 51 is electrically connected to electronic components or the like housed in the internal space of the electrical connection box 1 (not shown).

[0023] In a substantially central region of the right end surface of the pair of connection portions 52, protruding surfaces 53 protruding rightward are respectively formed. The protruding surface 53 has a function as a contact surface with the holding portion 45 of the terminal 4. When the protruding surface 53 is pressed against the contact portion 44 by the holding portion 45, the portion of the connection portion 52 excluding the protruding surface 53 and the opposing wall are surely in surface contact, so that the holding force of the bus bar 5 in the terminal 4 is improved.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 6, in the pair of connection portions 52, the upper connection portion 52 (corresponding to "a part of the bus bar" in the present invention) is held in the through hole of the second connection portion 42 in the terminal 4, and the lower connection portion 52 (corresponding to "the other part of the bus bar" in the present invention) is disposed in the connection space 34 of the female connection portion 31 described later.

[0025] When the male connection portion 32 is inserted into the female connection portion 31 of the mating electrical connection box 1, the upper connection portion 52 becomes an electrical connection portion with the mating electrical connection box 1. On the other hand, when the male connection portion 32 of the mating electrical connection box 1 is inserted into the female connection portion 31, the lower connection portion 52 becomes an electrical connection portion with the mating electrical connection box 1. Specifically, in one electrical connection box 1a, the lower connection portion 52 becomes the electrical connection portion, and in the other electrical connection box 1b, the upper connection portion 52 becomes the electrical connection portion (see FIG. 7).

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the female connection portion 31 is formed in a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape with a bottom, extending in the vertical direction and having an upper end opening closed by a bottom wall. The cylindrical hole of the female connection portion 31 functions as a connection space 34 into which the male connection portion 32 of the mating electrical connection box 1 can be inserted (see FIG. 7).

[0027] A slit 35 as an insertion port for the bus bar 5 is provided on the rear side wall of the female connection portion 31 so as to extend over the entire vertical direction of the female connection portion 31.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 5, the male connection part 32 is formed in a hollow substantially rectangular column shape extending in the vertical direction. The outer peripheral shape of the male connection part 32 is formed to correspond to the inner peripheral shape of the female connection part 31, that is, the shape of the connection space 34. The hollow part of the male connection part 32 functions as a holding space 36 for holding the terminal 4.

[0029] An insertion port 37 penetrating in the vertical direction is provided on the upper side wall of the male connection part 32 so as to extend in the front-rear direction (see FIG. 4). The insertion port 37 functions as an insertion port for the connection part 52 of the bus bar 5 (specifically, the lower side) in the other electric connection box 1.

[0030] The lower side wall of the male connection part 32 is integrally formed with the bottom wall (upper side wall) of the female connection part 31. A communication path 38 that communicates the connection space 34 of the female connection part 31 and the holding space 36 of the male connection part 32 is defined on the lower side wall of the male connection part 32 and the bottom wall (upper side wall) of the female connection part 31 (see FIG. 6). The communication path 38 functions to hold the front end part of the bus bar 5 (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

[0031] The female connection part 31 and the male connection part 32 function as a physical connection part with the other electric connection box 1.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 4, the bus bar holding part 33 connects the side wall part 13 of the frame 11, the female connection part 31, and the male connection part 32. A bus bar housing part 39 for housing and holding the bus bar 5 is formed in the bus bar holding part 33, and a part of the bus bar 5 excluding the front end part is housed and held in the bus bar housing part 39.

[0033] Next, the lower cover 12 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the lower cover 12 integrally includes a side wall part 15 that constitutes most of the appearance of the lower side surface of the electric connection box 1, and a bottom wall part (not shown) that closes the lower end opening of the side wall part 15 and constitutes most of the appearance of the bottom surface of the electric connection box 1.

[0034] On the outer surfaces of a plurality of locations (in this example, four locations) at the upper ends of the side wall portions 15 on both the left and right sides, locking pieces 16 extending in the vertical direction are integrally provided corresponding to the plurality of locked portions 14 of the frame 11, respectively.

[0035] As described above, the frame 11 and the lower cover 12 constituting the electrical connection box 1 have been explained. To obtain the electrical connection box 1, it is necessary to assemble the frame 11 and the lower cover 12. To assemble the frame 11 and the lower cover 12, first, the locking pieces 16 (see FIG. 3) of the lower cover 12 are respectively inserted into a plurality of through holes of the locked portions 14 (see FIG. 3) of the frame 11 from below. From this state, the annular upper edge portion of the side wall portion 15 of the lower cover 12 is fitted to the annular lower edge portion of the side wall portion 13 of the frame 11, and the plurality of locking pieces 16 are respectively locked to the plurality of locked portions 14. Thereby, the lower cover 12 is assembled to the frame 11, and the electrical connection box 1 is completed (see FIG. 2).

[0036] <Connection Structure of Electrical Connection Boxes 1a and 1b> Hereinafter, the connection structure of the electrical connection boxes 1a and 1b will be described. To obtain the electrical connection box unit 100, it is necessary to connect one electrical connection box 1a and the other electrical connection box 1b to each other.

[0037] First, the connection portion 30a of one electrical connection box 1a is disposed above the connection portion 30b of the other electrical connection box 1b (see FIG. 2), and the male connection portion 32b of the other electrical connection box 1b is inserted into the connection space 34a of the female connection portion 31a of one electrical connection box 1a. This insertion may be a simple insertion, a press-fit, or even a fitting, and is not particularly limited.

[0038] In the middle of inserting the male connection part 32b into the connection space 34a, the lower connection part 52 of the bus bar 5 in one electrical connection box 1a is inserted into the through hole of the terminal 4b (specifically, the first connection part 41b) from the insertion port 37 of the male connection part 32b. Then, when the insertion (press-fitting, fitting, etc.) of the male connection part 32b into the normal position in the connection space 34a is completed, the lower connection part 52a of the bus bar 5 in one electrical connection box 1a is held by the holding part 45b of the first connection part 41b, and the bus bars 5a and 5b are electrically connected via the terminal 4b. As a result, one electrical connection box 1a and another electrical connection box 1b are physically and electrically connected, and the electrical connection box unit 100 is completed (see FIGS. 1 and 7).

[0039] <Function and Effect> According to the present embodiment, by inserting the male connection part 32b of another electrical connection box 1b into the connection space 34a of the female connection part 31a of one electrical connection box 1a, the lower connection part 52a of the bus bar 5a in one electrical connection box 1a is inserted into the through hole of the terminal 4b in another electrical connection box 1b, and one electrical connection box 1a and another electrical connection box 1b are electrically connected. As a result, compared with the case of connecting electrical connection boxes to each other via electric wires as in the prior art, there is no need to secure a wiring space for the electric wires, and the mounting space for the electrical connection box unit in a vehicle or the like can be reduced.

[0040] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, by providing both the female connection part 31 and the male connection part 32 in the connection part 30 of the electrical connection box 1, the electrical connection box 1 can be made common.

[0041] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, a holding part 45 capable of holding the lower connection part 52 of the bus bar 5 in the other electrical connection box 1 on the terminal 4 is provided. As a result, the connection state between one electrical connection box 1a and another electrical connection box 1b is maintained, and thus the connection reliability is excellent.

[0042] <Other Forms> Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified, improved, etc. In addition, the material, shape, dimensions, number, arrangement location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary as long as the present invention can be achieved, and are not limited.

[0043] Here, the features of the embodiments of the electrical connection box unit according to the present invention described above are briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [2].

[0044] [1] An electrical connection box unit (100) including at least two electrical connection boxes (1a, 1b), wherein the at least two electrical connection boxes (1a, 1b) are connected to each other, The electrical connection box (1) includes: A frame (11) having an accommodation space capable of accommodating electronic components inside, A connection part (30) disposed outside the accommodation space, The connection part (30) includes: A bus bar (5) connected to the electronic component, A terminal (4) having a through hole into which the bus bar (5) is inserted and holding a part (upper connection part 52) of the bus bar (5) inside the through hole, A female connection part (31) formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and having another part (lower connection part 52) of the bus bar (5) different from the above-mentioned part disposed in a cylindrical hole (connection space 34), A male connection part (32) that holds the terminal (4) and is integrally formed with the female connection part (31), The outer peripheral shape of the male connection part (32) is formed corresponding to the shape of the cylindrical hole (connection space 34) of the female connection part (31), The electrical connection box unit (100) is: By inserting the male connection part (32b) of the other electrical connection box (1b) into the cylindrical hole (connection space 34a) of the female connection part (31a) of the one electrical connection box (1a), the other part (lower connection part 52a) of the bus bar (5a) in the one electrical connection box (1a) is inserted into the through hole of the terminal (4b) in the other electrical connection box (1b), and the one electrical connection box (1a) and the other electrical connection box (1b) are connected. Electrical connection box unit (100).

[0045] According to the configuration of [1] above, by inserting the male connection part of the other electrical connection box into the cylindrical hole of the female connection part of one electrical connection box, the other part of the bus bar in one electrical connection box is inserted into the through hole of the terminal in the other electrical connection box, and one electrical connection box and the other electrical connection box are electrically connected. Thereby, compared with the case of connecting electrical connection boxes via electric wires as in the prior art, there is no need to secure a wiring space for the electric wires, and the mounting space of the electrical connection box unit in a vehicle or the like can be reduced. Furthermore, according to the configuration of [1] above, by providing both a male connection part and a female connection part in the connection part of the electrical connection box, the commonization of the electrical connection box can be achieved.

[0046] [2] The electrical connection box unit (100) according to [1] above, The terminal (4) is provided with a holding part (45) capable of holding the other part (lower connection part 52) of the bus bar (5) in the other electrical connection box (1) on the opposite side. Electrical connection box unit (100).

[0047] According to the configuration of [2] above, the terminal is provided with a holding part capable of holding the other part of the bus bar in the other electrical connection box on the opposite side. Thereby, since the connection state between one electrical connection box and the other electrical connection box is maintained, the connection reliability is excellent.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0048] 1 Electrical connection box 1a One electrical connection box 1b Other electrical connection boxes 4, 4a, 4b Terminals 5, 5a, 5b Busbars 11 Frame 12 Lower cover 30, 30a, 30b Connection parts 31, 31a, 31b Female connection parts 32, 32a, 32b Male connection parts 33 Busbar holding part 34, 34a Connection spaces 41, 41b First connection parts 42 Second connection part 43 Linking part 44 Contact part 45, 45b Holding parts 51 Busbar body 52, 52a Connection parts 100 Electrical connection box unit

Claims

1. An electrical connection box unit including at least two electrical connection boxes, wherein the at least two electrical connection boxes are connected to each other, The electrical connection box includes a frame having an accommodation space capable of accommodating electronic components therein, and a connection portion disposed outside the accommodation space, The connection portion includes a bus bar connected to the electronic component, a terminal having a through hole into which the bus bar is inserted and holding a part of the bus bar within the through hole, a female connection portion formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and having another part of the bus bar, different from the above-mentioned part, disposed within the cylindrical hole, and a male connection portion that holds the terminal and is integrally formed with the female connection portion, The outer peripheral shape of the male connection portion is formed corresponding to the cylindrical hole shape of the female connection portion, In this electrical connection box unit, by inserting the male connection portion of one electrical connection box into the cylindrical hole of the female connection portion of the other electrical connection box, the other part of the bus bar in the one electrical connection box is inserted into the through hole of the terminal in the other electrical connection box, thereby connecting the one electrical connection box and the other electrical connection box, Electrical connection box unit.

2. The electrical connection box unit according to claim 1, wherein the terminal is provided with a holding portion capable of holding the other part of the bus bar in the electrical connection box on the other side, Electrical connection box unit.

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