Electrical junction boxes and wire harnesses

Abstract

To prevent an increase in the size of a figure.SOLUTION: An electric connection box has: a metal housing 10 that has a storage chamber 10a and is fixed to a conductive vehicle body; an electric connection tool 20 that electrically connects core wires of first shield wires We1 on the side of a first connection object and core wires of second shield wires We2 on the side of a second connection object, which are led into the storage chamber from the outside of the housing; and a terminal fitting 30 that has electric connection parts 31 to which braided bodies of the second shield wires are physically and electrically connected. The housing includes a case body 10A having the storage chamber surrounded by a cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11 and an opening 10b inside an annular end at one end of the outer peripheral wall, and a cover 10B that covers the opening at one end. The case body has a flange part 16 that is annularly projected from the annular end to the outside. The terminal fitting has a part to be fixed 32 that places the second shield wires on a flat surface of the flange part to be fixed to the surface so that the wires are led into the storage chamber from the outside of the housing through the electric connection parts.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical junction box and a wire harness. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, vehicles have been equipped with an electrical junction box that electrically connects electric wires on a first connection object side and electric wires on a second connection object side within a housing, for example, by being interposed between a secondary battery and multiple power supply objects to distribute power to each of the power supply objects. The housing contains various components in an internal chamber, such as components that electrically connect the electric wires and components (relays, fuses, etc.) that are arranged on the electrical circuit. Furthermore, some electrical junction boxes have a housing molded from a metal material to prevent noise from entering the chamber. For example, Patent Document 1 listed below discloses this type of electrical junction box. Such an electrical junction box, together with multiple electric wires drawn into the chamber from the first connection object side and the second connection object side, constitutes a wire harness. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-93888 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a known electrical junction box, a shielded electric wire is pulled from a first connection object side or a second connection object side into a housing chamber of a metal housing, and the braid of the shielded electric wire is fixed to the housing via terminal fittings within the housing, thereby dissipating noise carried on the braid from the housing to the vehicle body. In an electrical junction box with such noise countermeasures, the housing must provide not only storage space for the various components to be placed in the housing and space for attachment and detachment, but also storage space for the noise-removing terminal fittings and space for attachment and detachment. For this reason, conventional electrical junction boxes require housings with large storage chamber volumes, which can lead to an increase in the overall size of the box.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an electrical junction box that can prevent the size from increasing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the electrical connection box of the present invention comprises: a metal housing having an accommodation chamber and fixed to a conductive vehicle body; an electric connecting device that electrically connects a core wire of a first shielded electric wire on a first connection object side that is drawn into the accommodation chamber from outside the housing to the core wire of a second shielded electric wire on a second connection object side; and a terminal fitting having an electrical connection portion to which the braided body of the second shielded electric wire is physically and electrically connected, wherein the housing comprises: a case main body having the accommodation chamber surrounded by a cylindrical outer wall and an opening on the inside of an annular end portion at one end of the outer wall; and a cover that covers the opening at one end, wherein the case main body has a flange portion that protrudes outward in an annular shape from the annular end portion, and the terminal fitting has a fixed portion that is placed on and fixed to the flat surface of the flange portion so that the second shielded electric wire is drawn into the accommodation chamber from outside the housing via the electrical connection portion.

[0007] Furthermore, in order to achieve the above object, a wire harness according to the present invention comprises: a first shielded electric wire on a first connection object side; a second shielded electric wire on a second connection object side; a metal housing having an accommodation chamber and fixed to a conductive vehicle body; an electric connecting device that electrically connects a core wire of the first shielded electric wire drawn into the accommodation chamber from outside the housing to a core wire of the second shielded electric wire; and a terminal fitting having an electrical connection portion to which the braided body of the second shielded electric wire is physically and electrically connected, wherein the housing comprises: a case main body having the accommodation chamber surrounded by a cylindrical outer wall and an opening on the inside of an annular end portion at one end of the outer wall; and a cover that covers the opening at the one end, wherein the case main body has a flange portion that protrudes outward in an annular shape from the annular end portion, and the terminal fitting has a fixed portion that is placed on and fixed to a flat surface of the flange portion so that the second shielded electric wire is drawn into the accommodation chamber from outside the housing via the electrical connection portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] In the electrical junction box according to the present invention, the terminal fittings are assembled to the flange portion of the case body outside the accommodating chamber, eliminating the need to assemble the terminal fittings inside the accommodating chamber. Therefore, in this electrical junction box, there is no need to provide a space for assembling the terminal fittings within the accommodating chamber, allowing the accommodating chamber to be made more compact, and the size of the case body can be reduced. Therefore, the electrical junction box according to the present invention reduces the size of the housing and the overall size. Furthermore, a wire harness according to the present invention includes such an electrical junction box and can similarly achieve the effects of this electrical junction box. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an electric junction box and a wire harness according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the electrical junction box and the wire harness according to the embodiment. [Figure 3]FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic representation of the electrical junction box and the wire harness according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the case body and the electrical connecting device. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the electric connecting device with the cover member removed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an electrical junction box and a wire harness according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

[0011] [Embodiment] An embodiment of an electrical junction box and a wire harness according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG.

[0012] 1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes an electric junction box of this embodiment, and reference numeral WH denotes a wire harness of this embodiment that includes the electric junction box 1.

[0013] The electric junction box 1 is interposed between a first object to be connected (not shown) and a second object to be connected (not shown), and pulls inward a first electric wire We1 on the first object to be connected and a second electric wire We2 on the second object to be connected, thereby electrically connecting them (FIGS. 1 to 3). The electric junction box 1, together with the first electric wire We1 and the second electric wire We2, constitutes a wire harness WH. The electric junction box 1 and the wire harness WH use at least one first electric wire We1 and one second electric wire We2. For example, the electric junction box 1 and the wire harness WH shown here use shielded electric wires for the first electric wire We1 and the second electric wire We2, respectively, to prevent external noise from entering. Therefore, the electric junction box 1 and the wire harness WH will be described below as including a first shielded electric wire We1 as an example of the first electric wire We1 and a second shielded electric wire We2 as an example of the second electric wire We2.

[0014] Although not shown, the first shielded wire We1 includes a cylindrical conductive core wire, a cylindrical insulating inner coating (inner sheath) concentrically covering the core wire, a cylindrical conductive braided body concentrically covering the inner coating, and a cylindrical insulating outer coating (outer sheath) concentrically covering the braided body. Also, although not shown, the second shielded wire We2 includes a cylindrical conductive core wire, a cylindrical insulating inner coating (inner sheath) concentrically covering the core wire, a cylindrical conductive braided body concentrically covering the inner coating, and a cylindrical insulating outer coating (outer sheath) concentrically covering the braided body.

[0015] The electric junction box 1 and wire harness WH illustrated here are mounted on vehicles such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, and distribute power to the power distribution objects by electrically connecting a secondary battery as a first connection object with a power distribution object as a second connection object (e.g., an auxiliary device to be supplied with power). Thus, the electric junction box 1 and wire harness WH illustrated here use a pair of first shielded electric wires We1, We1 (the first shielded electric wire We1 for the positive electrode and the first shielded electric wire We1 for the negative electrode) electrically connected to the secondary battery, and a pair of second shielded electric wires We2, We2 (the second shielded electric wire We2 for the positive electrode and the second shielded electric wire We2 for the negative electrode) electrically connected to the power distribution objects. Furthermore, the electric junction box 1 and wire harness WH illustrated here use multiple pairs of the second shielded electric wires We2, We2.

[0016] The electrical junction box 1 includes a metal housing 10 (FIGS. 1 to 3). The electrical junction box 1 also includes a conductive electrical connector 20 that electrically connects the first shielded electric wire We1 and the second shielded electric wire We2 inside the housing 10 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The electrical junction box 1 also includes a terminal fitting 30 that releases noise carried on the braid of the second shielded electric wire We2 (FIG. 3).

[0017] The housing 10 is made of a metal material such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and is fixed to a conductive vehicle body (not shown). The housing 10 has a housing chamber 10a (FIGS. 2 to 4). The housing 10 is provided with an access opening 10b for inserting and assembling components to be placed in the housing chamber 10a (FIGS. 2 to 4).

[0018] The accommodation chamber 10a accommodates an electric connecting device 20 that electrically connects the core wire of the first shielded electric wire We1 and the core wire of the second shielded electric wire We2. The electric connecting device 20, the first shielded electric wire We1, and the second shielded electric wire We2 are inserted into the accommodation chamber 10a through the access opening 10b.

[0019] The housing 10 shown here comprises a metal case body 10A and a metal cover 10B (FIGS. 1 to 3). The housing 10 is fixed to the vehicle body with the access opening 10b facing upward. For example, the case body 10A is fixed to the floor panel of the vehicle body with screws.

[0020] Case body 10A has a cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11 (FIGS. 1 to 4). In this case body 10A, the inner space surrounded by outer peripheral wall 11 is used as storage chamber 10a, and an opening on the inside of an annular end portion at one end of outer peripheral wall 11 in the cylindrical axis direction is used as working opening 10b. In addition, this case body 10A has an opening at the other end of outer peripheral wall 11 closed by bottom wall 12 (FIGS. 1 to 4). Therefore, in this case body 10A, storage chamber 10a is formed that is surrounded by both outer peripheral wall 11 and bottom wall 12 and is in communication with working opening 10b at one end of outer peripheral wall 11.

[0021] In this case body 10A, the electric connecting device 20 is inserted into the accommodation chamber 10a through the access opening 10b, and the electric connecting device 20 is fixed with a screw through the access opening 10b.

[0022] The electric connecting device 20 includes a conductive member that electrically connects the core wire of the first shielded electric wire We1 and the core wire of the second shielded electric wire We2. The electric connecting device 20 shown here includes, as its conductive members, a first bus bar 21 that electrically connects the core wire of one of the pair of first shielded electric wires We1, We1 and electrically connects the core wire of one of the pair of second shielded electric wires We2, We2, and a second bus bar 22 that electrically connects the core wire of the other of the pair of first shielded electric wires We1, We1 and electrically connects the core wire of the other of the pair of second shielded electric wires We2, We2 (FIG. 5). Main bodies 21a, 22a of the first bus bar 21 and the second bus bar 22 are formed into plate shapes from a metal material. The first shielded electric wire We1 is electrically connected to the first bus bar 21 or the second bus bar 22 via a connector 51 (FIGS. 2 and 3) at one end. Although not shown here, a connector is provided at the other end of the first shielded electric wire We1 for electrical connection to the first connection object.

[0023] The electric connecting device 20 also includes a fuse 23 that physically and electrically connects a first terminal portion 23a to the first bus bar 21 and is interposed between the first bus bar 21 and one of the second shielded electric wires We2 (FIG. 5). The electric connecting device 20 further includes a third bus bar 24 (FIG. 5) as another conductive member that physically and electrically connects a second terminal portion 23b of the fuse 23 and electrically connects a core wire of one of the second shielded electric wires We2. A main body 24a of the third bus bar 24 is formed into a plate shape from a metal material. The fuse 23 and the third bus bar 24 are provided for each of the second shielded electric wires We2. The second shielded electric wire We2 is electrically connected to the second bus bar 22 or the third bus bar 24 via a connector 52 (FIG. 3) at one end. Although not shown in the drawings, the other end of the second shielded electric wire We2 is provided with a connector for electrical connection to the second connection object.

[0024] Furthermore, the electrical connecting device 20 includes a male screw member 25A for screwing and fixing the first terminal portion 23a of the fuse 23 to the first bus bar 21, and a male screw member 25B for screwing and fixing the second terminal portion 23b of the fuse 23 to the third bus bar 24. The electrical connecting device 20 also includes female screw members 26 that are screwed into the male screw members 25A and 25B, respectively (FIG. 5).

[0025] The electric connecting device 20 also includes an electrically insulating member that holds the conductive members (first bus bar 21, second bus bar 22, third bus bar 24) and is screwed to the housing 10 in the accommodation chamber 10a. The electric connecting device 20 includes, as its insulating member, a holding member (hereinafter referred to as a "bus bar holding member") 27 that holds the conductive members (first bus bar 21, second bus bar 22, third bus bar 24) and screws them to the housing 10 (FIGS. 4 and 5). The bus bar holding member 27 is molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The bus bar holding member 27 shown here is integrally molded with the conductive members (first bus bar 21, second bus bar 22, third bus bar 24) by insert molding. Here, the bus bar holding member 27 is also integrally molded with the male screw members 25A and 25B by insert molding.

[0026] In this bus bar holding member 27, the main bodies 21a, 22a, and 24a of the first bus bar 21, the second bus bar 22, and the third bus bar 24 are exposed at a top surface 27U on the access opening 10b side (FIG. 5), and the male screw members 25A and 25B protrude from the top surface 27U toward the access opening 10b. In the first bus bar 21 and the third bus bar 24, the exposed surfaces of the main bodies 21a and 24a are used as fuse connection portions. The electrical connecting device 20 further includes a cover member 28 as another insulating member, which is attached to the bus bar holding member 27 and covers the main bodies 21a, 22a, and 24a and the male screw members 25A and 25B from the access opening 10b side (FIGS. 2 to 4). The cover member 28 is molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin.

[0027] In the electric connecting device 20, a first connector portion 28a and a second connector portion 28b, which protrude toward the access opening 10b side of the accommodation chamber 10a, are formed on the cover member 28 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The connector 51 of one first shielded electric wire We1 is mated and connected to the first connector portion 28a, thereby electrically connecting the core wire of one first shielded electric wire We1 to the terminal portion of the inner first bus bar 21. The connector 51 of the other first shielded electric wire We1 is mated and connected to the second connector portion 28b, thereby electrically connecting the core wire of the other first shielded electric wire We1 to the terminal portion of the inner second bus bar 22.

[0028] In the case main body 10A, the first shielded electric wire We1 is inserted into the storage chamber 10a through the access opening 10b, and the connector 51 at one end of the first shielded electric wire We1 is fitted and connected to the first connector portion 28a or the second connector portion 28b of the electrical connecting device 20 in the storage chamber 10a (Figures 2 and 3).

[0029] In this case main body 10A, a notch 13 is formed at the end of the outer peripheral wall 11 on the access opening 10b side for drawing the pair of first shielded electric wires We1, We1 from outside the housing 10 into the accommodation chamber 10a (in other words, for drawing the first shielded electric wires We1, We1 from the accommodation chamber 10a to outside the housing 10) ( FIGS. 2 to 4 ). The end face of this notch 13 on the access opening 10b side is used as an insertion opening 13a for inserting the pair of first shielded electric wires We1, We1 into this notch 13. This notch 13 forms an opening whose insertion opening 13a is blocked by a cover 10B, which will be described later, when the cover 10B is attached to the case main body 10A. In this case, this opening connects the inside and outside of the housing 10 and is used as an inlet or outlet for the pair of first shielded electric wires We1, We1. The notch 13 may be provided for each first shielded electric wire We1.

[0030] The pair of first shielded electric wires We1, We1 shown here are held together by an electric wire holder 55 made of, for example, synthetic resin, and are fixed to the housing 10 via this electric wire holder 55 (FIG. 2). The electric wire holder 55 is disposed in the cutout 13. The electric wire holder 55 is then fixed to the housing 10 by being screwed to the case main body 10A. An electric wire fixing part 14 having a female screw portion N1 is provided in the accommodation chamber 10a of the case main body 10A so as to protrude from the inner wall surface 11a of the outer peripheral wall 11 (FIGS. 2 and 4). The electric wire holder 55 is screwed to the electric wire fixing part 14 by screwing a male screw member B1 (FIG. 2) into the female screw portion N1.

[0031] Furthermore, in the electric connecting device 20, a first connector portion 27a and a second connector portion 27b protruding toward the bottom wall 12 in the accommodation chamber 10a are formed on a lower surface 27L of the bus bar holding member 27 on the bottom wall 12 side (FIGS. 3 and 5). The first connector portion 27a electrically connects the core wire of one of the second shielded electric wires We2 to a terminal portion of the inner third bus bar 24 by fitting and connecting the connector 52 of one of the second shielded electric wires We2 to the first connector portion 27a. This first connector portion 27a is provided for each third bus bar 24 (for each of one of the second shielded electric wires We2). Furthermore, the second connector portion 27b electrically connects the core wire of the other second shielded electric wire We2 to a terminal portion of the inner second bus bar 22 by fitting and connecting the connector 52 of the other second shielded electric wire We2 to the second connector portion 27b. This second connector portion 27b is provided for each terminal portion of the second bus bar 22 (for each of the other second shielded electric wires We2). The first connector portion 27a and the second connector portion 27b are combined into a pair, and the electric connecting device 20 is provided with a plurality of combinations of the first connector portion 27a and the second connector portion 27b.

[0032] In this electrical connecting device 20, the bus bar holding member 27 or the cover member 28 is fixed to the fixing portion 15 of the housing 10 in the accommodation chamber 10a by a screw member (male screw member or female screw member) (FIGS. 3 and 4). The fixing portion 15 is a flat plate-like piece that protrudes from the inner wall surface 11a of the outer peripheral wall 11 of the case body 10A, and is disposed with one flat surface facing the access opening 10b and the other flat surface facing the bottom wall 12. The fixing portion 15 is formed with a female screw portion N2 whose screw axis is perpendicular to the flat surface (FIG. 4). The bus bar holding member 27 or the cover member 28 is provided with a fixed portion 27c that is a flat plate-like piece that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface and is disposed in the accommodation chamber 10a with one flat surface facing the access opening 10b and the other flat surface facing the bottom wall 12 (FIGS. 3 to 5). A through hole 27c1 for inserting the male screw member B2 is formed in this fixed portion 27c (FIGS. 4 and 5). The other flat surface of this fixed portion 27c is disposed opposite one flat surface of the fixing portion 15, and the male screw member B2 inserted into the through hole 27c1 is screwed into the female screw portion N2, thereby fixing the fixed portion 27c to the fixing portion 15. In this way, the bus bar holding member 27 or the cover member 28 is fixed to the case main body 10A in the accommodation chamber 10a. Here, the fixed portion 27c is provided on the bus bar holding member 27, and the bus bar holding member 27 is fixed to the fixing portion 15 of the housing 10 by screwing.

[0033] This electrical junction box 1 is provided with a plurality of pairs (four pairs in this example) of fixing portions 15 and fixed portions 27c. In this electrical junction box 1, a male screw member B2 such as a stud bolt may be provided on the fixing portion 15, and a female screw member (not shown) may be screwed into this male screw member B2 to fix the fixing portion 15 and the fixed portion 27c together.

[0034] The accommodation chamber 10a is roughly divided into a space (hereinafter referred to as the "first accommodation chamber") 10a1 from the assembled electric connecting device 20 to the access opening 10b, and a space (hereinafter referred to as the "second accommodation chamber") 10a2 from the electric connecting device 20 to the bottom wall 12 (FIG. 3). In this accommodation chamber 10a, a first shielded electric wire We1 with a connector 51 is accommodated in the first accommodation chamber 10a1, and this first shielded electric wire We1 is drawn out from the first accommodation chamber 10a1. In this accommodation chamber 10a, a second shielded electric wire We2 with a connector 52 is accommodated in the second accommodation chamber 10a2, and this second shielded electric wire We2 is drawn from the second accommodation chamber 10a2 to the first accommodation chamber 10a1 and drawn out from the first accommodation chamber 10a1.

[0035] Here, before the electric connecting device 20 is accommodated in the accommodating chamber 10a, the connector 52 at one end of the second shielded electric wire We2 is physically and electrically connected to the electric connecting device 20 (FIGS. 3 and 4). Therefore, when the electric connecting device 20 is inserted into the accommodating chamber 10a through the access opening 10b, the second shielded electric wire We2 is inserted into the accommodating chamber 10a together with the electric connecting device 20 through the access opening 10b. Furthermore, a terminal fitting 30 is assembled to the second shielded electric wire We2 before the electric connecting device 20 is accommodated in the accommodating chamber 10a (FIG. 4).

[0036] The terminal fitting 30 is an earthing member for dissipating noise carried on the braid of the second shielded wire We2 from the housing 10 to the vehicle body. Therefore, the terminal fitting 30 is made of a metal material and physically and electrically connects the braid of the second shielded wire We2. The terminal fitting 30 is also physically and electrically connected to the housing 10.

[0037] The terminal fitting 30 has an electrical connection part 31 to which the braid of the second shielded wire We2 is physically and electrically connected, and a fixed part 32 to be fixed to the housing 10 (FIGS. 2 and 4).

[0038] Specifically, the electrical connection portion 31 is a tubular portion that is physically and electrically connected to the braid of the second shielded electric wire We2, which has had its outer covering partially or entirely stripped away and is exposed. The electrical connection portion 31 shown here has the exposed braid placed inside a tube, and the inner circumferential wall of the tube is physically and electrically connected to the exposed braid. For example, before being connected to the braid, the electrical connection portion 31 has a single-piece shape, and the inner circumferential wall of the tubular portion is physically and electrically connected to the braid by wrapping it around the exposed braid from the outside and crimping it.

[0039] The fixed portion 32 is formed as a flat plate-like piece, and has a circular through-hole 32a formed therein (FIGS. 2 and 4).

[0040] The terminal fitting 30 shown here is formed as a flag terminal (Fig. 4). A flag terminal is a terminal in which two electrical connection portions 31 are arranged in parallel with their cylindrical axes aligned in the same direction, and the fixed portion 32 is offset from the assembly of the two electrical connection portions 31. The terminal fitting 30 in the figure is an example of a flag terminal.

[0041] This terminal fitting 30 is provided for each combination of a pair of first connector portion 27a and second connector portion 27b. In this terminal fitting 30, the braided body of the second shielded wire We2 connected to one of the pair of first connector portion 27a and second connector portion 27b is physically and electrically connected to one of the two electrical connection portions 31, and the braided body of the second shielded wire We2 connected to the other of the pair of first connector portion 27a and second connector portion 27b is physically and electrically connected to the other of the two electrical connection portions 31. Note that the drawings show one terminal fitting 30 as an example.

[0042] This terminal fitting 30 is fixed to the housing 10 outside the accommodation chamber 10a. Therefore, in the case main body 10A, the second shielded electric wire We2 and the electric connecting device 20 are inserted into the accommodation chamber 10a through the access opening 10b, with the terminal fitting 30 connected to the second shielded electric wire We2 left outside the accommodation chamber 10a.

[0043] Here, the terminal fitting 30 is fixed to the case body 10A outside the accommodating chamber 10a. The case body 10A has a flange portion 16 that protrudes outward in an annular shape from the annular end portion of the outer peripheral wall 11 on the access opening 10b side, and the terminal fitting 30 is fixed to this flange portion 16 (FIGS. 2 to 4). The cover 10B is also fixed to this flange portion 16. The flange portion 16 shown here is formed as a flat annular body, and its flat surface on the cover 10B side is arranged on the same plane as the end face of the annular end portion of the outer peripheral wall 11 on the access opening 10b side. The terminal fitting 30 is fixed by placing the fixed portion 32 on the flat surface of the flange portion 16 so that the second shielded electric wire We2 is drawn into the accommodating chamber 10a from outside the housing 10 via the electrical connection portion 31.

[0044] The fixed portion 32 is screwed to the flange portion 16 with a screw member having a screw axis perpendicular to the plane of the flange portion 16. For example, a female screw portion N3 is formed in the flange portion 16, and the fixed portion 32 is placed with the center of the through hole 32a aligned coaxially with the female screw portion N3 (FIGS. 2 and 4). The fixed portion 32 is screwed to the flange portion 16 by threading a male screw member B3 inserted into the through hole 32a into the female screw portion N3. Also, for example, a male screw member B3 (not shown), such as a stud bolt, is vertically provided on the flange portion 16, and the fixed portion 32 is placed with the male screw member B3 inserted into the through hole 32a (not shown). The fixed portion 32 is screwed to the flange portion 16 with a female screw member (not shown) threaded onto the male screw member B3.

[0045] This electrical junction box 1 is provided with a plurality of terminal fittings 30, and the fixed portions 32 of all of these terminal fittings 30 are screwed to the flange portion 16 with screw members whose screw axes are perpendicular to the plane of the flange portion 16. As a result, in this electrical junction box 1, the male screw members B3 or female screw members can be tightened into their mating members in the same direction for all of the terminal fittings 30, improving the ease of assembling the terminal fittings 30.

[0046] In this electrical junction box 1, first, the second shielded electric wire We2 with the connector 52 is assembled to the electric connecting device 20, and the terminal fitting 30 is assembled to the second shielded electric wire We2. Next, in this electrical junction box 1, the electric connecting device 20 and the second shielded electric wire We2 are inserted into the accommodation chamber 10a through the access opening 10b, with the terminal fitting 30 left outside the accommodation chamber 10a. Then, in this electrical junction box 1, the terminal fitting 30 is screwed to the flange portion 16 of the case body 10A. Also, in this electrical junction box 1, the first shielded electric wire We1 with the connector 51 is inserted into the accommodation chamber 10a through the access opening 10b, and this is assembled to the electric connecting device 20 in the accommodation chamber 10a and the case body 10A. Thereafter, in this electrical junction box 1, the cover 10B is assembled to the case body 10A, and this cover 10B covers the access opening 10b.

[0047] Here, the cover 10B is formed in a shape that can conceal not only the access opening 10b but also the terminal fittings 30 as much as possible. For example, this cover 10B has a cover main body 10B1 that covers the access opening 10b and the terminal fittings 30, and a cylindrical side wall 10B2 that stands upright from the periphery of this cover main body 10B1 and inside which the terminal fittings 30 are placed (FIGS. 1 to 3). The side wall 10B2 has a notch 10B that allows the second shielded electric wire We2 to be pulled out. 21 (Figure 3)

[0048] This cover 10B is fixed to the flange portion 16 of the case body 10A with screws. As previously described, the terminal fittings 30 are placed on the flat surface of the flange portion 16. For this reason, the flange portion 16 is provided with cover fixing portions 17 at multiple locations that protrude from the flat surface to a position higher than the terminal fittings 30. The cover fixing portions 17 shown here are formed with female screw portions N4, and the screw shafts of these female screw portions N4 are threaded through the through holes 10B. 11 The cover main body 10B1 is placed on the through-hole 10B so that the center of the through-hole 10B is aligned with the center of the through-hole 10B. 11 The male screw member B4 inserted into the cover 10B is screwed into the female screw portion N4, thereby screwing and fixing the cover 10B to the cover fixing portion 17 (FIGS. 1 and 2). In this way, the cover 10B is assembled to the case body 10A.

[0049] A male screw member B4 (not shown), such as a stud bolt, is provided vertically on the cover fixing portion 17, and the male screw member B4 is inserted into the through hole 10B. 11 In this case, the cover main body 10B1 may be fixed to the cover fixing portion 17 by screwing the male screw member B4 of the cover main body 10B1 with a female screw member (not shown).

[0050] As described above, in the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment, the terminal fittings 30 are assembled to the flange portion 16 of the case body 10A outside the accommodation chamber 10a, eliminating the need to assemble the terminal fittings 30 inside the accommodation chamber 10a. Therefore, in this electrical junction box 1, there is no need to provide an assembly space for the terminal fittings 30 within the accommodation chamber 10a, making it possible to make the accommodation chamber 10a more compact and preventing the case body 10A from becoming larger. Therefore, in the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment, the housing 10 does not become larger, and the overall size of the electrical junction box 1 is prevented from becoming larger. Furthermore, by preventing the overall size of the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment from becoming larger, costs can be reduced.

[0051] Furthermore, in the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment, the terminal fittings 30 are disposed outside the accommodation chamber 10a, so that noise carried on the braid of the second shielded electric wire We2 can escape from the housing 10 to the vehicle body before entering the accommodation chamber 10a. Therefore, this electrical junction box 1 can reduce the effects of noise on the electrical connecting devices 20, thereby improving product quality.

[0052] Furthermore, in the electrical connection box 1 of this embodiment, as described above, the male screw member B3 or female screw member can be tightened into the mating member in the same direction for all terminal fittings 30, thereby improving the workability of assembling the terminal fittings 30.

[0053] Furthermore, in the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment, the terminal fittings 30 are disposed outside the accommodation chamber 10a, so that the terminal fittings 30 can be assembled to the case body 10A without having to push aside the second shielded electric wire We2 inside the accommodation chamber 10a. Therefore, in this respect as well, the electrical junction box 1 can improve the workability of assembling the terminal fittings 30.

[0054] Furthermore, the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment can have a simple outer wall shape, such as a smooth outer wall shape of the housing 10. Therefore, the electrical junction box 1 can simplify measures to prevent interference with surrounding components when mounted on a vehicle. Furthermore, because the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment has a simple outer wall shape of the housing 10, mold costs can be kept low, for example, by simplifying the mold used to cast the case body 10A.

[0055] The wire harness WH of this embodiment includes such an electric junction box 1, and can similarly achieve the effects obtained by this electric junction box 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1 Electrical junction box 10. Cabinet 10a Containment Cell 10b Working opening (opening at one end) 10A case body 10B Cover 10B1 cover main 10B2 side wall 11 Peripheral wall 12 Bottom wall 16 Flange 20 Electrical connectors 30 Terminal fittings 31 Electrical Connections 32 Fixed part B3 Male screw part (screw part) We1 No. 1 shielded wire We2 Second Shielded Wire WH Wire Harness

Claims

1. a metal housing having a storage chamber and fixed to a conductive vehicle body; an electric connecting tool that electrically connects a core wire of a first shielded electric wire on a first connection object side and a core wire of a second shielded electric wire on a second connection object side, the core wires being drawn into the accommodation chamber from outside the housing; a terminal fitting having an electrical connection portion to which the braid of the second shielded electric wire is physically and electrically connected; Equipped with the housing includes a case body having the storage chamber surrounded by a cylindrical outer wall and an opening on the inside of an annular end portion at one end of the outer wall, and a cover covering the opening at the one end, the case body has a flange portion that protrudes annularly outward from the annular end portion, The terminal fitting has a fixed portion that is placed on and fixed to the flat surface of the flange portion so that the second shielded electric wire is drawn into the accommodating chamber from outside the housing via the electrical connection portion.

2. A plurality of the terminal fittings are provided, 2. The electrical junction box according to claim 1, wherein the fixed portion is fixed to the flange portion by a screw member having a screw axis perpendicular to the plane of the flange portion.

3. 3. The electrical junction box according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a bottom wall that closes the opening at the other end of the outer peripheral wall and defines the accommodating chamber together with the outer peripheral wall.

4. 4. An electrical connection box as described in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the cover has a cover main body that covers the terminal fittings together with the opening at one end, and a side wall that stands upright from the peripheral portion of the cover main body and within which the terminal fittings are arranged.

5. 5. The electrical junction box according to claim 1, wherein the terminal fittings are flag terminals.

6. a first shielded wire on the first connection object side; a second shielded wire on the second connection object side; a metal housing having a storage chamber and fixed to a conductive vehicle body; an electric connecting tool that electrically connects a core wire of the first shielded electric wire and a core wire of the second shielded electric wire, the core wire being drawn into the accommodating chamber from the outside of the housing; a terminal fitting having an electrical connection portion to which the braid of the second shielded electric wire is physically and electrically connected; Equipped with the housing includes a case body having the storage chamber surrounded by a cylindrical outer wall and an opening on the inside of an annular end portion at one end of the outer wall, and a cover covering the opening at the one end, the case body has a flange portion that protrudes annularly outward from the annular end portion, The terminal fitting has a fixed portion that is placed on and fixed to a flat surface of the flange portion so that the second shielded electric wire is drawn into the accommodating chamber from outside the housing via the electrical connection portion.

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