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 surrounded by an outer peripheral wall 11; an electric connection tool 20 provided with conductive members 21, 22, 24 that electrically connect first shield wires We1 and second shield wires We2 led into the storage chamber from the outside of the housing, and insulating members 27, 28 that hold the conductive members and fix, with screws, parts to be fixed 27c to fixing parts 15 of the housing in the storage chamber; a terminal fitting 30 that has electric connection parts 31 to which braided bodies of the second shield wires are physically and electrically connected; and a conductive terminal fixing member 40 that is interposed between the terminal fitting and the fixing parts and electrically connects the terminal fitting to the fixing parts. The terminal fixing member has a part to be assembled 41 that is assembled to the insulating members, a terminal fixing part 42 that is arranged on outer walls of the insulating members and physically and electrically connects the terminal fitting, and a co-fastened fixing part 43 that is fastened to the fixing part together with the part to be fixed and electrically connected to the fixing part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

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 an electrical connecting device including a metal housing having a housing chamber surrounded by an outer peripheral wall and fixed to a conductive vehicle body, a conductive member that electrically connects a core wire of a first shielded electric wire on a first connection object side drawn into the housing from the outside of the housing and a core wire of a second shielded electric wire on a second connection object side, and an electrically insulating member that holds the conductive member and screws a fixed portion to a fixed portion of the housing in the housing in the housing, and an electrical connecting device that physically and electrically connects a braid of the second shielded electric wire and a conductive terminal fixing member to which the terminal fittings are physically and electrically connected, the terminal fixing member being interposed between the terminal fittings and the fixing portion of the housing to electrically connect the terminal fittings to the fixing portion of the housing, the terminal fixing member comprising: an assembly receiving portion to be assembled to the insulating member; a terminal fixing portion that is disposed on an outer wall of the insulating member and physically and electrically connects the terminal fittings; and a co-fastening fixing portion that is fastened together with the assembly receiving portion of the insulating member to the fixing portion of the housing by the screw member and electrically connects the terminal fittings to the fixing portion of the housing. the housing has a bottom wall that closes an opening at one end of the outer peripheral wall and forms the accommodating chamber together with the outer peripheral wall, and the terminal fixing portion is disposed on a wall portion of the outer wall of the insulating member that faces an inner wall surface of the bottom wall in the accommodating chamber. It is characterized by the following.

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, a wire harness according to the present invention includes a first shielded electric wire on a first object to be connected, a second shielded electric wire on a second object to be connected, a metal housing having a receiving chamber surrounded by an outer wall and fixed to a conductive vehicle body, a conductive member that electrically connects a core wire of the first shielded electric wire and a core wire of the second shielded electric wire drawn into the receiving chamber from outside the housing, and an electrically insulating member that holds the conductive member and screws a fixed portion to a fixing portion of the housing in the receiving chamber with a screw member; and a conductive terminal fixing member to which the terminal fittings are physically and electrically connected, the terminal fixing member being interposed between the terminal fittings and the fixed portion of the housing to electrically connect the terminal fittings to the fixed portion of the housing, the terminal fixing member comprising: a mounting portion to be mounted to the insulating member; a terminal fixing portion that is disposed on an outer wall of the insulating member and physically and electrically connects the terminal fittings; and a co-fastening portion that is fastened together with the fixed portion of the insulating member to the fixed portion of the housing by the screw member and electrically connects the terminal fittings to the fixed portion of the housing. the housing has a bottom wall that closes an opening at one end of the outer peripheral wall and forms the accommodating chamber together with the outer peripheral wall, and the terminal fixing portion is disposed on a wall portion of the outer wall of the insulating member that faces an inner wall surface of the bottom wall in the accommodating chamber. It is characterized by the following. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] In the electrical junction box according to the present invention, the terminal fixing member and the terminal fittings can be pre-assembled to the insulating member of the electrical connecting device, and the braid of the second shielded electric wire connected to the electrical connecting device can be pre-assembled to the terminal fittings. Therefore, in this electrical junction box, it is not necessary to assemble the terminal fittings inside the accommodating chamber. Therefore, in this electrical junction box, it is not necessary to provide a space in the accommodating chamber for assembling the terminal fittings, so the accommodating chamber can be made more compact, and the size of the housing can be prevented from increasing. Therefore, the electrical junction box according to the present invention can prevent the overall size from increasing. Furthermore, a wire harness according to the present invention includes such an electrical junction box and can similarly achieve the effects obtained by 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 an exploded perspective view showing the electric connecting device and the terminal fixing member with the cover member removed. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the joint fastening points of the housing, the electric connecting device, and the terminal fixing member. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the fixing points of the terminal fitting and the terminal fixing member. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view seen from the bottom wall side (excluding the bottom wall) for explaining the arrangement of the terminal fittings in a modified form. 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.

[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 connecting device 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, and a conductive terminal fixing member 40 that indirectly fixes the terminal fitting 30 to the housing 10 (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 surrounded by an outer peripheral wall 11 (FIGS. 2 to 4). The housing 10 is also 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 accommodating chamber 10a accommodates the first shielded electric wire We1, the second shielded electric wire We2, the electric connecting device 20, the terminal fitting 30, and the terminal fixing member 40. In this housing 10, the electric connecting device 20 assembled with the second shielded electric wire We2, the terminal fitting 30, and the terminal fixing member 40 is inserted into the accommodating chamber 10a through the access opening 10b, and then the first shielded electric wire We1 is inserted into the accommodating chamber 10a through the access opening 10b.

[0019] In the housing 10 shown here, the outer peripheral wall 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and an opening at one end of the outer peripheral wall 11 is closed by a bottom wall 12 (FIGS. 1 to 4). Therefore, in the housing 10, an accommodation chamber 10a is formed that is enclosed by the outer peripheral wall 11 and the bottom wall 12. Specifically, the housing 10 shown here includes a metal case body 10A that has the outer peripheral wall 11 and the bottom wall 12, and the other end of the outer peripheral wall 11 is open (FIGS. 1 to 4).

[0020] In this case body 10A, an opening at the other end of the outer peripheral wall 11 is used as an access opening 10b. In this case body 10A, an 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 screws through the access opening 10b. In this case body 10A, a first shielded electric wire We1 is inserted into the accommodation chamber 10a through the access opening 10b, and a connector 51 at one end of the first shielded electric wire We1 is physically and electrically connected to the electric connecting device 20 in the accommodation chamber 10a (FIGS. 2 and 3). Furthermore, before the electric connecting device 20 is placed in the accommodation chamber 10a, a terminal fitting 30 and a terminal fixing member 40 are pre-assembled, and a connector 52 at one end of the second shielded electric wire We2 is physically and electrically connected to the electric connecting device 20 (FIG. 3). Therefore, in the case body 10A, when the electric connecting device 20 is inserted into the accommodation chamber 10a through the access opening 10b, the terminal fitting 30, the terminal fixing member 40, and the second shielded electric wire We2 are also inserted into the accommodation chamber 10a through the access opening 10b. Although not shown in the drawings, a connector is provided at the other end of the first shielded electric wire We1 for electrical connection to the first object to be connected. Also, a connector is provided at the other end of the second shielded electric wire We2 for electrical connection to the second object to be connected.

[0021] The case body 10A has a first notch 13a 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 the first notch 13a on the access opening 10b side is used as an insertion opening 13a1 for inserting the pair of first shielded electric wires We1, We1 into the first notch 13a. When a cover 10B (described later) is attached to the case body 10A, the insertion opening 13a1 of the first notch 13a is closed by the cover 10B. In this case, the 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 first notch 13a may be provided for each of the first shielded electric wires We1.

[0022] 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 ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The electric wire holder 55 is disposed in the first notch 13a. The electric wire holder 55 is 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 fixed to the electric wire fixing part 14 by screwing a male screw member B1 ( FIG. 2 ) into the female screw portion N1.

[0023] Furthermore, the case body 10A has a second notch 13b formed at the end of the outer peripheral wall 11 on the access opening 10b side for drawing the pair of second shielded electric wires We2, We2 from outside the housing 10 into the accommodation chamber 10a (in other words, for drawing the second shielded electric wires We2, We2 from the accommodation chamber 10a to outside the housing 10) (FIGS. 2 to 4). The end face of this second notch 13b on the access opening 10b side is used as an insertion opening 13b1 for inserting the pair of second shielded electric wires We2, We2 into this second notch 13b. When a cover 10B (described later) is attached to the case body 10A, this insertion opening 13b1 of this second notch 13b forms an opening whose insertion opening 13b1 is blocked by the cover 10B. 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 second shielded electric wires We2, We2. The second notch 13b is provided for each pair of second shielded electric wires We2, We2. Note that the second notch 13b may be provided for each second shielded electric wire We2. In addition, the drawing shows only one second notch 13b as an example.

[0024] 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.

[0025] The housing 10 shown here also includes a metal cover 10B that is attached to the peripheral edge of the outer wall 11 of the case body 10A on the access opening 10b side and closes the access opening 10b (FIGS. 1 to 3). The cover 10B is fixed to the case body 10A with screws. Here, a plurality of female screw portions N2 are formed on the end face of the outer wall 11 of the case body 10A on the access opening 10b side, and the cover 10B is fixed to the case body 10A with screws by screwing a male screw member B2 into each of the female screw portions N2 (FIG. 2).

[0026] The electric connecting device 20 is housed in the housing 10 in the housing chamber 10a and is fixed to the housing 10 by screws in the housing chamber 10a. The electric connecting device 20 electrically connects the core wire of the first shielded electric wire We1 and the core wire of the second shielded electric wire We2 in the housing chamber 10a.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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 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 (FIG. 5). A main body 24a of the third bus bar 24 is formed into a plate shape from a metal material. The fuse 23 and third bus bar 24 are provided for each of the second shielded electric wires We2.

[0029] 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).

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] Furthermore, in this 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.

[0034] 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 N3 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 is formed in the fixed portion 27c, through which the male screw member B3 is inserted (FIGS. 4 and 5). The other flat surface of the fixed portion 27c is disposed opposite one flat surface of the fixing portion 15, and the male screw member B3 inserted into the through hole 27c1 is screwed into the female screw portion N3, 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.

[0035] 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 B3 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 B3 to fix the fixing portion 15 and the fixed portion 27c together.

[0036] Here, 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. Also, 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.

[0037] The terminal fitting 30 and the terminal fixing member 40 are made of a metal material. The terminal fitting 30 physically and electrically connects the braid of the second shielded wire We2 and is also physically and electrically connected to the terminal fixing member 40. The terminal fixing member 40 is interposed between the terminal fitting 30 and the fixed portion 15 of the housing 10, and electrically connects the terminal fitting 30 to the fixed portion 15 of the housing 10. Thus, the terminal fitting 30 is indirectly electrically connected to the housing 10 via the terminal fixing member 40. Therefore, in this electrical junction box 1, noise carried on the braid of the second shielded wire We2 is dissipated from the housing 10 to the vehicle body via the terminal fitting 30 and the terminal fixing member 40.

[0038] The terminal fitting 30 has an electrical connection portion 31 to which the braid of the second shielded wire We2 is physically and electrically connected, and a fixed portion 32 to be fixed to the terminal fixing member 40 (FIGS. 3 and 4).

[0039] 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.

[0040] The fixed portion 32 is formed as a flat plate-like piece, and has a circular through-hole 32a formed therein (FIG. 4).

[0041] 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.

[0042] 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.

[0043] The terminal fixing member 40 has an assembly receiving portion 41 that is assembled to the insulating member of the electrical connecting device 20, a terminal fixing portion 42 that is disposed on the outer wall of the insulating member and that physically and electrically connects the terminal fitting 30, and a co-fastening portion 43 that is fastened together with the assembly receiving portion 27c of the insulating member to the fixing portion 15 of the housing 10 with a male screw member B3 and that electrically connects to the fixing portion 15 of the housing 10 (FIGS. 3 and 5). In other words, the terminal fixing member 40 is a conductor that electrically connects the braid of the second shielded wire We2 to the housing 10 via the terminal fitting 30. Here, the terminal fixing member 40 is formed as a plate-shaped bus bar (earth bus bar).

[0044] This terminal fixing member 40 may be assembled to the bus bar holding member 27 serving as the insulating member of the electric connecting device 20, or may be assembled to the cover member 28 serving as the insulating member. Here, the terminal fixing member 40 is assembled to the bus bar holding member 27. For this reason, if the terminal fixing portion 42 and the co-tightening fixing portion 43 cannot be exposed by assembling the cover member 28 to the bus bar holding member 27, a notch (not shown) is formed in the cover member 28 to expose at least the terminal fixing portion 42 and the co-tightening fixing portion 43 of the terminal fixing member 40.

[0045] Here, this terminal fixing member 40 is formed to have at least one terminal fixing portion 42 that physically and electrically connects at least one terminal fitting 30. For example, the terminal fixing member 40 shown here has one terminal fixing portion 42 that physically and electrically connects two terminal fittings 30 (FIG. 4). The electrical junction box 1 shown here includes a plurality of such terminal fixing members 40. Note that the figure shows one terminal fixing member 40 as an example.

[0046] The terminal fixing portion 42 shown here is formed in a generally rectangular flat plate shape, and has a through hole 42a formed for each terminal fitting 30 (FIGS. 4 to 6). The terminal fitting 30 is placed in this terminal fixing portion 42 by aligning the through hole 42a with the through hole 32a of the fixed portion 32, and the fixed portion 32 is fixed by screwing together a male screw member B4 and a female screw member N4 that are inserted into the respective through holes 32a, 42a (FIGS. 3 and 6).

[0047] For example, in the terminal fixing member 40 shown here, the terminal fixing portion 42 is assembled along a plane to the terminal fixing portion 27d on the outer wall of the bus bar holding member 27 (FIGS. 5 and 6). Here, the periphery of the terminal fixing portion 42 is fitted into the groove-shaped terminal fixing portion 27d, thereby fitting the periphery of the terminal fixing portion 42 into the terminal fixing portion 27d. Thus, the outer wall of the bus bar holding member 27 has an accommodating portion 27e, which is a generally rectangular, flat recess formed by recessing the outer wall surface, in which the terminal fixing portion 42 is disposed (FIGS. 5 and 6). The terminal fixing portion 27d surrounds the periphery of the accommodating portion 27e and is formed in a groove shape into which the periphery of the terminal fixing portion 42 inserted into the accommodating portion 27e is fitted. In the terminal fixing member 40 shown here, the periphery of the terminal fixing portion 42 that fits into the terminal fixing portion 27d is used as the assembled portion 41.

[0048] Furthermore, in the bus bar holding member 27, a through hole 27f is formed for each terminal fitting 30 in a flat wall portion that forms the wall surface of the accommodation portion 27e, and a female screw member N4 that is coaxial with the axis of the through hole 27f is arranged for each terminal fitting 30 on the back side of the accommodation portion 27e via the through hole 27f (FIGS. 5 and 6). When the terminal fixing portion 42 is assembled to the terminal fixing portion 27d, the through hole 27f is arranged coaxially with the through hole 42a of the terminal fixing portion 42. Therefore, here, the terminal fitting 30 is arranged so that the through hole 42a of the fixed portion 32 is aligned with the through hole 42a, and the male screw member B4 inserted through the respective through holes 32a, 42a, 27f is screwed into the female screw member N4, thereby fastening the fixed portion 32 and the terminal fixing portion 42 together to the bus bar holding member 27.

[0049] Here, the terminal fixing portion 42 is arranged on a side wall 27g that is arranged within the outer wall of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) and that faces the inner wall surface 11a of the outer peripheral wall 11 in the accommodation chamber 10a (FIG. 5). Thus, in the bus bar holding member 27, the terminal fixed portion 27d and the accommodation portion 27e are formed at predetermined locations on the side wall 27g around the entire periphery, for each terminal fixing member 40. For example, the terminal fixed portion 27d and the accommodation portion 27e are formed in the vicinity of the fixed portion 27c on the side wall 27g.

[0050] The co-tightening fixing portion 43 is a flat piece 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. A through-hole 43a is formed in the co-tightening fixing portion 43, with the hole axis perpendicular to the flat surface (FIGS. 5 and 7). The co-tightening fixing portion 43 shown here is perpendicular to the terminal fixing portion 42. When the terminal fixing member 40 is assembled to the insulating member (busbar holding member 27), one flat surface of the co-tightening fixing portion 43 is brought into surface contact with the other flat surface of the fixed portion 27c. In other words, the other flat surface of the co-tightening fixing portion 43 is brought into surface contact with one flat surface of the fixing portion 15 in the accommodation chamber 10a, and the co-tightening fixing portion 43 is sandwiched between the fixing portion 15 and the fixed portion 27c. Therefore, the co-tightening fixing portion 43 is fastened together with the fixed portion 27c and the fixing portion 15 by screwing the male screw member B3 inserted into the through hole 27c1 of the fixed portion 27c and the through hole 43a of the co-tightening fixing portion 43 into the female screw portion N3 of the fixing portion 15. As a result, the co-tightening fixing portion 43 is electrically connected to the housing 10 via the fixing portion 15.

[0051] Here, when the fixed portion 27c is interposed between the co-tightening fixing portion 43 and the fixing portion 15, the co-tightening fixing portion 43 cannot directly contact the fixing portion 15. Therefore, in this case, the co-tightening fixing portion 43 is electrically connected to the fixing portion 15 via the male screw member B3.

[0052] Also, here, a female screw portion N3 is formed in the fixing portion 15. However, if good assembly workability is taken into consideration, a male screw member (not shown) serving as a stud bolt may be provided in the fixing portion 15, and the fixing portion 15, the fixed portion 27c, and the co-tightening fixing portion 43 may be fastened together by screwing the male screw member into the female screw member (not shown).

[0053] In the electrical connection box 1 shown above, the terminal fixing member 40 is assembled to the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) of the electrical connecting device 20, and then the terminal fitting 30 is fixed to the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) and the terminal fixing member 40. In addition, in this electrical connection box 1, the second shielded electric wire We2 with the connector 52 is assembled to the electrical connecting device 20, and the braid of this second shielded electric wire We2 is connected to the terminal fitting 30. In this electrical connection box 1, the electrical connecting device 20, with the terminal fitting 30, terminal fixing member 40, and second shielded electric wire We2 with the connector 52 pre-assembled, is accommodated in the accommodation chamber 10a through the access opening 10b of the case body 10A. During accommodation, the second shielded electric wire We2 is pulled out from the second notch 13b of the case body 10A. Then, in this electrical junction box 1, the fixed portion 27c of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) and the co-fastening portion 43 of the terminal fixing member 40 are screwed to the fixing portion 15 of the case body 10A through the access opening 10b. Furthermore, in this electrical junction box 1, the first shielded electric wire We1 with the connector 51 is assembled to the electric connecting device 20, and this first shielded electric wire We1 is pulled out from the first notch 13a of the case body 10A. Thereafter, in this electrical junction box 1, the cover 10B is screwed to the case body 10A.

[0054] As described above, in the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment, the terminal fixing member 40 and the terminal fittings 30 can be pre-assembled to the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) of the electrical connecting device 20, and the braid of the second shielded electric wire We2 connected to the electrical connecting device 20 can be pre-assembled to the terminal fittings 30. Therefore, in the electrical junction box 1, the assembly work of the terminal fittings 30 inside the accommodating chamber 10a is not necessary. Therefore, in the electrical junction box 1, since there is no need to provide a space for assembling the terminal fittings 30 in the accommodating chamber 10a, the accommodating chamber 10a can be made compact, and the size of the case main body 10A can be prevented from increasing. Therefore, in the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment, the size of the housing 10 can be prevented from increasing, and the overall size can be prevented from increasing. Furthermore, by preventing the overall size of the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment from increasing, costs can be reduced.

[0055] Furthermore, in the electric junction box 1 of this embodiment, the terminal fitting 30, the terminal fixing member 40, and the second shielded electric wire We2 with the connector 52 are pre-assembled to the electric connecting device 20. Therefore, inside the accommodation chamber 10a, the electric connecting device 20 is assembled to the housing 10, and the first shielded electric wire We1 with the connector 51 of this electric connecting device 20 is assembled. Therefore, the electric junction box 1 of this embodiment can improve the ease of assembly inside the accommodation chamber 10a.

[0056] Furthermore, in the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment, the terminal fitting 30 is disposed in the accommodation chamber 10a, thereby enhancing the effect of reducing noise flowing through the braid of the second shielded electric wire We2. Furthermore, in the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment, the airtightness and liquid-tightness of the accommodation chamber 10a can be enhanced by closing the access opening 10b of the case body 10A with the bottom wall 12 with the cover 10B, thereby further improving the effect of reducing noise and enhancing the effect of preventing the intrusion of dust and liquid. For these reasons, the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment can improve its product quality.

[0057] Furthermore, in the electric junction box 1 of this embodiment, the electric connecting devices 20, the terminal fittings 30, the terminal fixing member 40, the first shielded electric wire We1 with the connector 51, and the second shielded electric wire We2 with the connector 52 are housed in the accommodation chamber 10a, and the first shielded electric wire We1 and the second shielded electric wire We2 are led out to the outside. Therefore, the electric junction box 1 of this embodiment can protect the components inside the accommodation chamber 10a from surrounding components and the surrounding environment, which also improves product quality.

[0058] 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.

[0059] 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.

[0060] In the electrical connection box 1 of this embodiment described so far, the terminal fixing portion 42 of the terminal fixing member 40 is arranged against a side wall 27g that is arranged inside the outer wall of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) and that faces the inner wall surface 11a of the outer peripheral wall 11 in the accommodating chamber 10a, so that the terminal fitting 30 is arranged between the inner wall surface 11a of the outer peripheral wall 11 and the side wall 27g of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27).

[0061] However, for example, in the electrical junction box 1, there may not be enough space between the inner wall surface 11a of the outer peripheral wall 11 and the side wall 27g of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) to accommodate the terminal fittings 30. In this case, instead of using the terminal fixing member 40 that arranges the terminal fixing portion 42 therebetween, it is possible to use a terminal fixing member 140 that arranges the terminal fixing portion 142 on a wall portion 27h of the outer wall of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) that faces the inner wall surface 12a (FIG. 3) of the bottom wall 12 in the accommodation chamber 10a (FIG. 8). In addition, there may not be enough space between the inner wall surface 11a of the outer peripheral wall 11 and the side wall 27g of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) to accommodate all of the terminal fittings 30. In this case, together with a terminal fixing member 40 that positions the terminal fixing portion 42 therebetween, a terminal fixing member 140 that positions the terminal fixing portion 142 on a wall portion 27h that is positioned opposite the inner wall surface 12a of the bottom wall 12 in the accommodating chamber 10a within the outer wall of the insulating member (busbar holding member 27).

[0062] One or more terminal fixing members 140 are arranged on the wall portion 27h. Note that the drawing shows an example of one terminal fixing member 140.

[0063] This terminal fixing member 140 is similar to the terminal fixing member 40 described above, and includes a terminal fixing portion 142, an attached portion 141, and a co-tightened fixed portion 143. For example, the terminal fixing member 140 shown here is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. The attached portion 141 shown here is formed as a common portion with the terminal fixing portion 142, and is attached to the wall portion 27h of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) together with the fixed portion 32 of the terminal fitting 30. Here, a through hole 142a coaxial with the through hole 32a of the fixed portion 32 is formed in the terminal fixing portion 142 (attached portion 141), and the fixed portion 32 and the terminal fixing portion 142 (attached portion 141) are fastened together to the wall portion 27h using a male screw member B4 (not shown) and a female screw member (not shown) of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27). As a result, the terminal fitting 30 is disposed on the wall portion 27h of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27). The co-tightening fixing portion 143 shown here is fastened together with the fixed portion 27c of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) and the fixing portion 15 of the housing 10 by a male screw member B3 (not shown), and is electrically connected to the fixing portion 15 of the housing 10.

[0064] As described above, in the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment, if there is not enough space between the inner wall surface 11a of the outer peripheral wall 11 and the side wall 27g of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) to accommodate the terminal fittings 30, the terminal fixing member 140 may be installed on the wall portion 27h of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) on the bottom wall 12 side, and the terminal fittings 30 may be arranged between the bottom wall 12 and the wall portion 27h. Also, in the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment, if there is not enough space between the inner wall surface 11a of the outer peripheral wall 11 and the side wall 27g of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) to accommodate all of the terminal fittings 30, for example, the remaining terminal fittings 30 may be attached to the terminal fixing portions 142 of the terminal fixing member 140 installed on the wall portion 27h on the bottom wall 12 side, and the terminal fittings 30 may also be arranged between the bottom wall 12 and the wall portion 27h. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1 Electrical junction box 10. Cabinet 10a Containment Cell 10A case body 10B Cover 11 Peripheral wall 11a Inner wall 12 Bottom wall 12a Inner wall 15 Fixed part 20 Electrical connectors 21 First bus bar (conductive member) 22 Second bus bar (conductive member) 24 Third bus bar (conductive member) 27c Fixed part 27c1 through hole 27g side wall 27 Bus bar holding member (insulating member) 27h wall 28 Cover material (insulating material) 30 Terminal fittings 31 Electrical Connections 40,140 Terminal fixing member 41,141 Mounting part 42,142 Terminal fixing part 43,143 Co-fastening fixing 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 surrounded by an outer wall and fixed to a conductive vehicle body; an electrical connecting device including a conductive member 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, both of which are drawn into the accommodation chamber from outside the housing; and an electrically insulating member that holds the conductive member and fixes a fixed portion to a fixing portion of the housing in the accommodation chamber by a screw member; a terminal fitting having an electrical connection portion to which the braid of the second shielded electric wire is physically and electrically connected; a conductive terminal fixing member to which the terminal metal fittings are physically and electrically connected, the conductive terminal fixing member being interposed between the terminal metal fittings and the fixing portion of the housing, and electrically connecting the terminal metal fittings to the fixing portion of the housing; Equipped with the terminal fixing member has an assembly receiving portion to be assembled to the insulating member, a terminal fixing portion to be disposed on an outer wall of the insulating member and to which the terminal fitting is physically and electrically connected, and a co-fastening fixing portion to be fastened together with the assembly receiving portion of the insulating member to the fixing portion of the housing by the screw member and to which the terminal fitting is electrically connected; the housing has a bottom wall that closes an opening at one end of the outer peripheral wall and forms the storage chamber enclosed together with the outer peripheral wall, The electrical connection box is characterized in that the terminal fixing portion is disposed on a wall portion of the outer wall of the insulating member that faces the inner wall surface of the bottom wall in the accommodating chamber.

2. 2. The electrical junction box according to claim 1, wherein the terminal fixing member has at least one terminal fixing portion that physically and electrically connects at least one of the terminal fittings.

3. 3. The electrical junction box according to claim 1, wherein the terminal fixing portion is disposed on a side wall of the insulating member that faces the inner wall surface of the outer peripheral wall in the accommodating chamber.

4. An electrical connection box as described in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the terminal fittings are flag terminals.

5. A first shielded electric wire on the first connection object side; a second shielded wire on the second connection object side; a metal housing having a storage chamber surrounded by an outer wall and fixed to a conductive vehicle body; an electrical connecting device including a conductive member that electrically connects a core wire of the first shielded electric wire and a core wire of the second shielded electric wire that are drawn into the accommodating chamber from the outside of the housing, and an electrically insulating member that holds the conductive member and fixes a fixed portion to a fixing portion of the housing in the accommodating chamber by a screw member; a terminal fitting having an electrical connection portion to which the braid of the second shielded electric wire is physically and electrically connected; a conductive terminal fixing member to which the terminal metal fittings are physically and electrically connected, the conductive terminal fixing member being interposed between the terminal metal fittings and the fixing portion of the housing, and electrically connecting the terminal metal fittings to the fixing portion of the housing; Equipped with the terminal fixing member has an assembly receiving portion to be assembled to the insulating member, a terminal fixing portion to be disposed on an outer wall of the insulating member and to which the terminal fitting is physically and electrically connected, and a co-fastening fixing portion to be fastened together with the assembly receiving portion of the insulating member to the fixing portion of the housing by the screw member and to which the terminal fitting is electrically connected; the housing has a bottom wall that closes an opening at one end of the outer peripheral wall and forms the storage chamber enclosed together with the outer peripheral wall, The wire harness is characterized in that the terminal fixing portion is disposed on a wall portion of the outer wall of the insulating member that faces an inner wall surface of the bottom wall in the accommodating chamber.

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