Electrical junction box

Abstract

To provide an electric connection box that can be improved in workability in assembling.SOLUTION: An electronic connection box 1 comprises a cylindrical auxiliary housing 6 which is interposed between a first housing 4 and a second housing 5 with a second terminal 3 in complete contact with a first terminal 2. The auxiliary housing 6 has: a holding part 52 which positions and holds the first terminal 2 between itself and the first housing 4 with the auxiliary housing 6 arranged on the side of an opening 4a of the first housing 4; and a guide part 53 which guides the second terminal 3 toward the first terminal 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical junction box. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is an electric junction box that is mounted on a vehicle and connected to a control circuit of the vehicle's motor, etc. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an electric junction box that is configured so that when a terminal portion of an electronic component is inserted into the block from the other side in a first direction, the end portion of the cavity on the other side in the first direction picks up the terminal portion. Also, Patent Document 2 describes an electric junction box that is configured so that a connector housing is provided with second side support ribs, and the pair of side support ribs sandwich the connection portion of the connection terminal from both sides in the width direction. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-51876 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-3854 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional electrical junction boxes, there is room for improvement in terms of assembly workability, since rattle of the female terminals can cause interference with the male terminals when the electrical junction box is assembled.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical junction box that can improve workability during assembly. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, an electrical junction box according to the present invention includes a cylindrical first housing that accommodates a conductive first terminal from one opening thereof, a lid-like second housing that holds a second terminal that contacts and is electrically connected to the first terminal and covers the opening, and a cylindrical auxiliary housing that is interposed between the first housing and the second housing when the second terminal is in complete contact with the first terminal, and the auxiliary housing has a holding portion that positions and holds the first terminal between itself and the first housing when the auxiliary housing is placed on the opening side of the first housing, and a guide portion that guides the second terminal toward the first terminal, The holding portion has a first opposing surface that restricts movement of the first terminal in a direction intersecting a direction of inserting and removing the second terminal with respect to the first housing, and the first opposing surface is located inside an inner circumferential surface of a portion of the first housing that accommodates the first terminal when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the inserting and removing direction. It is characterized by: [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The electrical junction box according to the present invention has the effect of improving workability during assembly. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an electrical junction box according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the electrical junction box shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a main part of the electrical junction box shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an electrical junction box according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment. That is, the components in the following embodiment include those that can be easily imagined by a person skilled in the art or those that are substantially the same, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0010] [Embodiment] The electrical junction box 1 according to this embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 is mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile and is interposed between a control circuit (not shown) and a motor (not shown) to electrically connect them to each other. The electrical junction box 1 is incorporated into, for example, a wire harness WH. The wire harness WH is, for example, a component in which a plurality of wiring materials W used for power supply and signal communication are bundled together to connect various devices mounted on the vehicle, and the plurality of wiring materials W are connected to each device using connectors or the like.

[0011] The electrical junction box 1 in this embodiment includes a first terminal 2, a second terminal 3, a first housing 4, a second housing 5, and an auxiliary housing 6.

[0012] In the following description, the "X" direction shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 corresponds to one width direction of the electrical junction box 1 and is referred to as the "first width direction X." The "Y" direction corresponds to the other width direction of the electrical junction box 1 and is referred to as the "second width direction Y." The "Z" direction corresponds to the insertion / removal direction of the second terminal 3 relative to the first terminal 2 and is referred to as the "insertion / removal direction Z." The first width direction X, the second width direction Y, and the insertion / removal direction Z are mutually orthogonal. In addition, in FIGS. 1 and 2, locking protrusions 43 and locked portions 56, which will be described later, are each indicated by two-dot chain lines, while in FIG. 3, locking protrusions 43 and locked portions 56, and locking protrusions 55 and locked portions 22, are each omitted.

[0013] The first terminal 2 is a metal terminal formed from, for example, a conductive flat-plate metal material, and is a so-called female terminal. When accommodated in the first housing 4, the first terminal 2 is interposed between the second terminal 3 and the motor terminal 8 shown in FIG. 1 to electrically connect the second terminal 3 and the motor terminal 8. The first terminal 2 is formed to allow the second terminal 3 and the motor terminal 8 to be inserted and removed according to the shapes of the second terminal 3 and the motor terminal 8. The first terminal 2 has a shape in which two cylindrical portions are connected along the insertion / removal direction Z. The first terminal 2 has a first cylindrical portion 11, a second cylindrical portion 12, and a connecting portion 13. The first cylindrical portion 11, the second cylindrical portion 12, and the connecting portion 13 are integrally formed.

[0014] The first cylindrical portion 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape with both ends in the insertion / removal direction Z of the first terminal 2 open, and is the portion into which the second terminal 3 is inserted from the removal direction Z2 toward the insertion direction Z1 and into which it comes into contact. The first cylindrical portion 11 is formed to have a rectangular cross-sectional shape when viewed from the insertion / removal direction Z. The first cylindrical portion 11 is provided with a conductive portion (not shown) on the inside, and when the second terminal 3 is inserted into the first cylindrical portion 11, the conductive portion comes into contact with the second terminal 3, thereby electrically connecting the first terminal 2 and the second terminal 3.

[0015] Similar to the first cylindrical portion 11, the second cylindrical portion 12 is formed in a cylindrical shape with both ends in the insertion / removal direction Z open, and is the portion into which the motor terminal 8 shown in FIG. 1 is inserted from the insertion direction Z1 toward the removal direction Z2 and comes into contact. The second cylindrical portion 12 is formed to have a rectangular cross section when viewed from the insertion / removal direction Z. The second cylindrical portion 12 is provided on the inside with a conductive portion (not shown) that is different from the conductive portion of the first cylindrical portion 11. When the motor terminal 8 is inserted into the second cylindrical portion 12, the conductive portion comes into contact with the motor terminal 8, and the first terminal 2 and the motor terminal 8 are electrically connected.

[0016] The connecting portion 13 is formed in a flat plate shape and is a portion that connects the first cylindrical portion 11 and the second cylindrical portion 12 in the insertion / removal direction Z. The connecting portion 13 is molded integrally with the first cylindrical portion 11 and the second cylindrical portion 12.

[0017] The second terminal 3 is, for example, a metal terminal formed from a conductive flat metal material, and is a so-called male terminal. When held in the second housing 5, the second terminal 3 is interposed between the control circuit and the first terminal 2 and electrically connects the control circuit and the first terminal 2. The second terminal 3 has an L-shaped cross section when viewed from the second width direction Y. The second terminal 3 has a held portion 31, a connecting portion 32, and a bent portion 33. The held portion 31, the connecting portion 32, and the bent portion 33 are integrally formed.

[0018] The held portion 31 is a portion of the second terminal 3 formed to extend in the first width direction X, with one end in the first width direction X connected to the connecting portion 32 via a bent portion 33 and the other end connected to the control circuit side. The held portion 31 is accommodated and held in a terminal accommodating groove 41a provided in the second housing 5, which will be described later.

[0019] The connecting portion 32 is a portion of the second terminal 3 that is formed to extend in the insertion / removal direction Z, and is inserted into and held in an opening 41b provided in the second housing 5, which will be described later.

[0020] The first housing 4 is formed in a cylindrical shape with both ends open in the insertion / removal direction Z, and receives the first terminal 2 through one of the openings 4a. The first housing 4 is molded from an insulating resin material or the like. The first housing 4 is formed to have a rectangular cross-sectional shape when viewed from the insertion / removal direction Z. The opening 4a is provided on the removal direction Z2 side, which is one side of the insertion / removal direction Z, and is formed to have a rectangular shape when viewed from the removal direction Z2 side. The first housing 4 is formed so that, when the first terminal 2 is accommodated inside the first housing 4, the end of the first terminal 2 on the removal direction Z2 side protrudes from the opening 4a toward the removal direction Z2. The first housing 4 has a main body 21 and a pair of locked portions 22. The main body 21 and the pair of locked portions 22 are integrally molded.

[0021] The main body 21 is a portion of the first housing 4 that accommodates the first terminal 2 inserted from the opening 4a in the insertion direction Z1. The main body 21 is configured with, for example, a pair of peripheral walls facing each other in the first width direction X and a pair of peripheral walls facing each other in the second width direction Y.

[0022] The engaging portions 22 are provided on the outer surfaces of a pair of wall portions of the first housing 4 that face each other in the second width direction Y, and engage with engaging protrusions 55 provided on the auxiliary housing 6 described later, thereby connecting the first housing 4 and the auxiliary housing 6 in the insertion / removal direction Z.

[0023] The second housing 5 is a lid-like member that holds the second terminal 3 and covers the opening 4a side of the first housing 4. The second housing 5 is molded from an insulating resin material or the like. The second housing 5 has an upper wall portion 41, a main body portion 42, and a locking protrusion 43. The upper wall portion 41, the main body portion 42, and the locking protrusion 43 are molded integrally.

[0024] The upper wall portion 41 is a wall portion formed on the second housing 5 at an end portion of the main body portion 42 on the removal direction Z2 side, and holds the second terminal 3 inserted from the opening 41b in the insertion direction Z1. The opening 41b is located on the bottom surface of the terminal accommodating groove 41a, and is formed penetrating the upper wall portion 41 in the plate thickness direction (insertion / removal direction Z). The connection portion 32 of the second terminal 3 is inserted into the opening 41b from the removal direction Z2 side in the insertion direction Z1. The terminal accommodating groove 41a accommodates the held portion 31 when the second terminal 3 is held in the second housing 5. Both ends of the upper wall portion 41 in the first width direction X and both ends in the second width direction Y protrude outward from the main body portion 42.

[0025] The main body portion 42 is a portion that is interposed between the upper wall portion 41 and the first housing 4 and accommodates a portion of the second terminal 3 when the second housing 5 covers the opening 4a side of the first housing 4. The main body portion 42 is configured, for example, with a pair of peripheral walls facing each other in the first width direction X, a pair of peripheral walls facing each other in the second width direction Y, and an internal space 44 (see FIG. 3 ) formed by these four peripheral walls. When the second terminal 3 is held in the second housing 5, the connection portion 32 of the second terminal 3 is inserted into the internal space 44 in the insertion / removal direction Z. When the second terminal 3 is held in the second housing 5, an end of the second terminal 3 on the insertion direction Z1 side protrudes outward from the internal space 44.

[0026] The locking protrusions 43 are provided on the outer surfaces of a pair of wall portions facing each other in the second width direction Y, and engage with the locking portions 56 provided on the auxiliary housing 6 described later, connecting the second housing 5 and the auxiliary housing 6 in the insertion / removal direction Z.

[0027] The auxiliary housing 6 is a cylindrical member interposed between the first housing 4 and the second housing 5 when the second terminal 3 is in complete contact with the first terminal 2. The auxiliary housing 6 is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from the insertion / removal direction Z. The auxiliary housing 6 has a main body portion 51, a holding portion 52, a guide portion 53, a pair of locking protrusions 55, and a pair of locked portions 56.

[0028] The main body portion 51 is a portion that is interposed between the first housing 4 and the second housing 5 when the second terminal 3 is in complete contact with the first terminal 2, and that accommodates a portion of the connection portion 32 and a portion of the first tubular portion 11.

[0029] The retaining portion 52 is a portion that positions and retains the first terminal 2 between the auxiliary housing 6 and the first housing 4 when the auxiliary housing 6 is disposed on the opening 4a side of the first housing 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the retaining portion 52 has a first opposing surface 52a and a second opposing surface 52b.

[0030] The first opposing surface 52a forms the inner circumferential surface of the auxiliary housing 6, and is composed of a surface facing in the first width direction X and a surface facing in the second width direction Y. When the auxiliary housing 6 is arranged on the opening 4a side of the first housing 4, the first opposing surface 52a faces the first tubular portion 11 of the first terminal 2 accommodated in the first housing 4 in a direction intersecting the insertion / removal direction Z, and restricts movement of the first terminal 2 in the direction intersecting the insertion / removal direction Z of the first terminal 2. As shown in FIG. 3 , the first opposing surface 52a is located inside the inner circumferential surface 21a of the main body 21 when viewed from, for example, the first width direction X and the second width direction Y.

[0031] The second opposing surface 52b forms the inner circumferential surface of the auxiliary housing 6 and is formed by a surface that intersects with the first opposing surface 52a. When the auxiliary housing 6 is arranged on the opening 4a side of the first housing 4, the second opposing surface 52b faces the first cylindrical portion 11 of the first terminal 2 accommodated in the first housing 4 in the insertion / removal direction Z, and restricts movement of the first terminal 2 in the removal direction Z2. The first opposing surface 52a and the second opposing surface 52b, together with a guide portion 53 described later, form the inner circumferential surface of the auxiliary housing 6.

[0032] The guide portion 53 is a portion that guides the second terminal 3 toward the first terminal 2. The guide portion 53 is formed so that the opening width gradually narrows from the second housing 5 side of the auxiliary housing 6 toward the first housing 4 side. In other words, the guide portion 53 is formed so that the opening width gradually narrows from the removal direction Z2 side toward the insertion direction Z1 side. As shown in FIG. 3 , the width of the inner opening end 53a of the guide portion 53 in the second width direction Y is wider than the width of the connection portion 32 of the second terminal 3 in the second width direction Y.

[0033] The locking protrusions 55 are provided on the outer surfaces of a pair of wall portions facing each other in the second width direction Y, and engage with the locking portions 22 of the first housing 4 to connect the first housing 4 and the auxiliary housing 6 in the insertion / removal direction Z.

[0034] The engaging portions 56 are provided on the outer surfaces of a pair of wall portions of the auxiliary housing 6 that face each other in the first width direction X, and engage with the engaging protrusions 43 of the second housing 5 to connect the second housing 5 and the auxiliary housing 6 in the insertion / removal direction Z.

[0035] Next, a method for connecting the second terminal 3 to the first terminal 2 configured as described above will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The connection method described below is assumed to be performed manually by an assembly worker, for example, but is not limited to this. It is assumed that the first terminal 2 is accommodated in the first housing 4 in advance, and the second terminal 3 is assembled to the second housing 5. It is also assumed that the auxiliary housing 6 is assembled to the first housing 4 in advance.

[0036] First, while grasping both ends of the upper wall portion 41 of the second housing 5 in the second width direction Y, the assembler positions the second housing 5 relative to the first housing 4 in the removal direction Z2. The assembler then inserts the connection portion 32 of the second terminal 3, which protrudes from the insertion direction Z1 side of the first housing 4, toward the open end 53a of the auxiliary housing 6. When the end of the connection portion 32 on the insertion direction Z1 side abuts against the guide portion 53, the end slides along the guide portion 53 and moves toward the open end 53a. When the assembler pushes the second housing 5 in the insertion direction Z1, the connection portion 32 of the second terminal 3 is inserted into the first tubular portion 11 of the first terminal 2, and the first terminal 2 and the second terminal 3 come into contact with each other. This allows the assembler to suppress interference between the first terminal 2 and the second terminal 3 due to play during assembly of the electrical junction box 1, improving workability during assembly.

[0037] As described above, the electrical junction box 1 according to this embodiment includes the cylindrical auxiliary housing 6 interposed between the first housing 4 and the second housing 5 in a state in which the second terminal 3 is in complete contact with the first terminal 2. The auxiliary housing 6 has a holding portion 52 that positions and holds the first terminal 2 between itself and the first housing 4 in a state in which the auxiliary housing 6 is disposed on the opening 4a side of the first housing 4, and a guide portion 53 that guides the second terminal 3 toward the first terminal 2.

[0038] With the above configuration, in the assembly work of the electrical junction box 1, in which the second housing 5 is assembled to the first housing 4 and the first terminal 2 and the second terminal 3 are connected, the first terminal 2 is held by the auxiliary housing 6 assembled to the first housing 4 in advance, and the second terminal 3 can be guided toward the first terminal 2. As a result, in the assembly work of the electrical junction box 1, in which the second housing 5 is assembled to the first housing 4 and the first terminal 2 and the second terminal 3 are connected, the assembly workability can be improved.

[0039] Furthermore, in the electrical junction box 1 according to this embodiment, the guide portion 53 is formed so that the opening width gradually narrows from the second housing 5 side of the auxiliary housing 6 toward the first housing 4 side. This makes it possible for the electrical junction box 1 to suppress interference between the first terminal 2 and the second terminal 3 during the assembly work of assembling the second housing 5 to the first housing 4 and connecting the first terminal 2 and the second terminal 3.

[0040] In addition, in the electrical connection box 1 according to this embodiment, the holding portion 52 is The This restricts movement of the first terminal 2 in the removal direction Z2 of the second terminal 3. This makes it possible for the electrical junction box 1 to prevent the first terminal 2 accommodated in the first housing 4 from rattling toward the second housing 5.

[0041] In addition, in the electrical connection box 1 according to this embodiment, the holding portion 52 is The This restricts movement of the first terminal 2 in a direction intersecting the insertion / removal direction Z of the second terminal 3. This allows the electrical junction box 1 to prevent rattling of the first terminal 2 accommodated in the first housing 4 in a direction intersecting the insertion / removal direction Z.

[0042] In the above embodiment, the auxiliary housing 6 shown in Figure 3 is in a state where the first opposing surface 52a and the outer surface of the first tubular portion 11 of the first terminal 2 are not in contact with each other but are spaced apart, but this is not limited to this and they may be in abutting contact with each other.

[0043] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the auxiliary housing 6 shown in Figure 3 is in a state where the second opposing surface 52b and the end of the first tubular portion 11 of the first terminal 2 on the removal direction side are not in contact but are spaced apart, but this is not limited to this and they may be in a state where they abut against each other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1 Electrical junction box 2 First terminal 3 Second terminal 4. First Housing 5 Second Housing 6 Auxiliary Housing 13 Connecting part 21 Main body 22 Locked part 31 Holding part 32 Connection 42 Main body 43 Locking protrusion 51 Main body 52 Holding part 55 Locking protrusion 56 Locked part WH Wire Harness

Claims

1. a first housing formed in a cylindrical shape and accommodating a first terminal having electrical conductivity from one opening; a second housing in the form of a lid that holds a second terminal that is in contact with and electrically connected to the first terminal and that covers the opening; a cylindrical auxiliary housing interposed between the first housing and the second housing when the second terminal is in complete contact with the first terminal, The auxiliary housing includes: a holding portion that positions and holds the first terminal between the auxiliary housing and the first housing when the auxiliary housing is disposed on the opening side of the first housing; a guide portion that guides the second terminal toward the first terminal, The holding portion is a first opposing surface that restricts movement of the first terminal in a direction intersecting a direction in which the second terminal is inserted into or removed from the first housing; The first opposing surface is located inside an inner circumferential surface of a portion of the first housing that accommodates the first terminal when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction. An electrical junction box characterized by:

2. The guide unit is The opening width of the auxiliary housing is gradually narrowed from the opening on the second housing side toward the first housing side.

2. The electrical junction box according to claim 1.

3. The holding portion is The first terminal is prevented from moving in a direction in which the second terminal is removed from the first housing.

3. The electrical junction box according to claim 1 or 2.

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