Electrical junction box and manufacturing method

Abstract

To provide an electric connection box that can be reduced in manufacturing cost and size, and a manufacturing method.SOLUTION: An electric connection box 1 has an internal space in which electronic components are housed, and includes: power supply bus bars 31, 32, 33, 34 connected to corresponding power supply systems among a plurality of power supply systems; and a spare bus bar 35 not connected to the power supply system. The plurality of power supply bus bars 31, 32, 33, 34 and the spare bus bar 35 are configured to be connectable to each other via a connection component.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical junction box and a manufacturing method thereof. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, electrical junction boxes have been proposed that house blocks capable of holding electronic components and are mounted on vehicles (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Such electrical junction boxes may need to have their circuits expanded depending on the type and grade of the vehicle on which they are mounted (see, for example, Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-7425 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-87943 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Among the conventional electrical junction boxes mentioned above, there are some that are connected to various power supply systems of a vehicle. In such electrical junction boxes, a spare compartment for circuit expansion is provided for each of the various power supply systems, which increases the number of parts in the electrical junction box and tends to increase the size of the electrical junction box. In other words, there is room for improvement in conventional electrical junction boxes.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical junction box that can be reduced in manufacturing cost and in size, and a manufacturing method thereof. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the electrical junction box according to the present invention has the following features.

[0007] An electrical connection box having an internal space for accommodating electronic components, power supply bus bars connected to corresponding power supply systems among the plurality of power supply systems; Not connected to the power supply system In this state, the A spare bus bar and 、 Complex number of The aforementioned The power supply bus bar and the spare bus bar are configured to be connectable to each other via connecting parts; It must be an electrical junction box.

[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the manufacturing method according to the present invention is characterized as follows.

[0009] A method for manufacturing an electrical connection box including the above-mentioned electrical connection box and the connection component, connecting at least one of the plurality of power supply bus bars to the spare bus bar using the connection component, It is a manufacturing method. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] A method for manufacturing an electrical junction box according to the present invention will now be described. Conventional electrical junction boxes are provided with spare spaces (i.e., compartments) for each of multiple power supply systems to accommodate circuit expansion. In the electrical junction box of the present configuration, a compartment for each power supply system is defined by multiple power supply bus bars, and a spare compartment (i.e., for circuit expansion) is similarly defined by a spare bus bar. In other words, it is sufficient to provide one spare compartment (i.e., spare bus bar) for each of the compartments for multiple power supply systems (i.e., power supply bus bars). In this way, the electrical junction box of the present configuration can reduce the spare compartment (i.e., the number of spare bus bar components) compared to conventional electrical junction boxes, and only requires one spare compartment (i.e., the space for one spare bus bar). In other words, the electrical junction box of the present configuration can reduce manufacturing costs and be made smaller. As a further advantage, the electrical junction box of this configuration can connect the power supply bus bar and the spare bus bar using the connecting parts, which makes the connection work easier.

[0011] The manufacturing method according to the present invention can also achieve the same functions and effects as the electrical junction box.

[0012] The present invention has been briefly described above. The details of the present invention will become clearer by reading the following detailed description of the invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical junction box according to an embodiment of the present invention (an upper cover is not shown). [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the main part of the electrical junction box shown in FIG. 1 (the upper cover is not shown). [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a top view of the electrical junction box shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 3 with fuses removed, and is a schematic diagram for explaining the sections and spare sections of the various power supply systems. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 4, and is a schematic diagram for explaining the power supply bus bar and the spare bus bar. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] <Embodiment> For ease of explanation, the following definitions are used for "front," "rear," "left," "right," "upper," and "lower" as shown in Figures 1 to 5. The "front-rear direction," "left-right direction," and "upper-lower direction" are perpendicular to one another. When the electrical junction box 1 is mounted on a vehicle, the "front-rear direction," "left-right direction," and "upper-lower direction" correspond to the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and upper-lower direction of the vehicle, respectively. Furthermore, the side of the electrical junction box 1 facing the inside is referred to as the "inner" side, and the side of the electrical junction box 1 facing the outside is referred to as the "outer" side.

[0015] First, an overview of an electrical junction box 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The electrical junction box 1 is typically mounted on a vehicle and houses a block B (see FIGS. 3 to 5) that holds a fuse F and a shorting pin P (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The electrical junction box 1 is composed of a frame 11, a lower cover 12 attached to the bottom of the frame 11 so as to close the bottom opening of the frame 11, and an upper cover (not shown) attached to the top of the frame 11 so as to close the top opening of the frame 11. All three of the above components that make up the electrical junction box 1 are resin molded bodies. Below, the frame 11, lower cover 12, and upper cover that make up the electrical junction box 1 will be described in order.

[0016] First, the frame 11 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the frame 11 has a side wall 111 that is a generally rectangular cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction. The side wall 111 constitutes most of the exterior of the side of the electrical junction box 1. Locked portions 112 each including a through-hole extending in the vertical direction are integrally formed on the outer surface of the lower end of the side wall 111 at a plurality of locations (four locations in this example) in the circumferential direction. The locked portions 112 function to assemble the lower cover 12 to the frame 11. Note that a locked portion (not shown) that functions to assemble the upper cover to the frame 11 is provided on the outer surface of the upper end of the side wall 111.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a block B that holds a fuse F and a short pin P is attached to the frame 11. Connection portions 21 to 24 that are connected to the respective power supply systems are provided in the block B, and further, power supply bus bars 31 to 34 and a spare bus bar 35 are attached to the block B.

[0018] Specifically, a power supply bus bar 31 is connected to the connection portion 21, and is also connected to, for example, an alternator (not shown) mounted on a vehicle. This allows the power supply bus bar 31 to function as a conductive part of the alternator system (see FIG. 5). In other words, the right side area of ​​the block B in the left-right direction is used as a section S1 of the alternator system (see FIG. 4).

[0019] Similarly, a power supply bus bar 32 is connected to the connection portion 22, and is also connected to, for example, a battery (not shown) mounted on the vehicle. This allows the power supply bus bar 32 to function as a conductive part of the battery system (see FIG. 5). In other words, the approximately central region in the left-right direction and the front region in the front-rear direction of the block B are used as a section S2 of the battery system (see FIG. 4).

[0020] Similarly, power supply bus bars 33 and 34 are connected to connection portions 23 and 24, respectively, and are also connected to power supply systems other than the alternator and battery (hereinafter referred to as "other power supply systems"). As a result, power supply bus bars 33 and 34 function as conductive parts for the other power supply systems (see FIG. 5). In other words, the left side area of ​​block B in the left-right direction is used as section S3 for the other power supply systems (see FIG. 4). The other power supply systems are appropriately selected from power supply systems other than the alternator and battery mounted on the vehicle.

[0021] The spare bus bar 35 is disposed between the power supply bus bars 31-34 (see FIG. 5). That is, the approximately left-right central region and the rear region in the front-rear direction of the block B are utilized as a spare section S4 that is not connected to the connection portions 21-24 (i.e., the power supply systems) (see FIG. 4). In other words, the spare section S4 is positioned adjacent to the sections S1-S3 of the power supply systems.

[0022] Block B is also provided with a plurality of fuse insertion portions 25 into which fuses F can be inserted (see FIG. 5). Block B is also provided with pin insertion portions 26-28 into which short pins P can be inserted (see FIG. 5). When circuit expansion is required in a given power supply system, short pins P are inserted into the corresponding pin insertion portions 26-28 to connect the corresponding power supply bus bars 31-34 to the spare bus bar 35 (this will be described in detail below).

[0023] Next, the lower cover 12 will be described. As shown in Fig. 2, the lower cover 12 integrally comprises an annular side wall portion 121 that constitutes most of the exterior of the lower side surface of the electrical junction box 1, and a bottom wall portion 122 that closes the annular lower end opening of the side wall portion 121 and constitutes most of the exterior of the bottom surface of the electrical junction box 1. The annular upper edge portion of the side wall portion 121 has a shape that corresponds to the annular lower edge portion of the side wall portion 111 of the frame 11, and is capable of fitting with the annular lower edge portion of the side wall portion 111. Locking pieces 123 that extend upward are integrally provided on the outer surface of the upper end portion of the side wall portion 121 at multiple locations (four locations in this example) in the circumferential direction, corresponding to the multiple locked portions 112 of the frame 11, respectively.

[0024] Next, the upper cover will be described. The upper cover integrally includes, for example, an annular side wall portion that constitutes most of the appearance of the upper side surface of the electrical junction box 1, and an upper wall portion that closes the annular upper end opening of the side wall portion and constitutes most of the appearance of the top surface of the electrical junction box 1. The annular lower edge portion of the side wall portion has a shape that corresponds to the annular upper edge portion of the side wall portion 111 of the frame 11, and is able to fit with the annular upper edge portion of the side wall portion 111. Locking portions are provided on the circumferential outer surface of the side wall portion, each corresponding to a plurality of locked portions of the frame 11.

[0025] The above describes the frame 11, the lower cover 12, and the upper cover that constitute the electrical junction box 1. Next, a method for manufacturing the electrical junction box 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0026] To manufacture an electrical junction box, it is necessary to "assemble the lower cover 12 to the frame 11" and "assemble the block B to the frame 11 and insert the fuse F (shorting pin P) into the block B." The order of "assembling the lower cover 12 to the frame 11" and "assembling the block B to the frame 11 and inserting the fuse F (shorting pin P) into the block B" does not matter.

[0027] First, we will explain how to attach the lower cover 12 to the frame 11. To attach the lower cover 12 to the frame 11, first, the multiple locking pieces 123 (see FIG. 2) of the lower cover 12 are inserted from below into the through holes of the locked portions 112 (see FIG. 2) of the frame 11, and from this state, the annular upper edge portion of the side wall portion 121 of the lower cover 12 is fitted into the annular lower edge portion of the side wall portion 111 of the frame 11, and the multiple locking pieces 123 are locked to the multiple locked portions 112. This completes the attachment of the lower cover 12 to the frame 11.

[0028] Next, the assembly of block B to frame 11 and the accommodation of fuse F (short pin P) in block B will be described. To assemble block B to frame 11, for example, a locking portion (not shown) provided on block B is engaged with a locking portion (not shown) provided on the inner surface of side wall portion 111 of frame 11, thereby assembling. Then, fuse F is inserted and accommodated in fuse insertion portion 25 of each of compartments S1 to S3 for the power supply system according to the vehicle in which electrical junction box 1 is to be installed. Note that frame 11 and block B may be formed integrally, and if they are formed integrally, the operation of assembling block B to frame 11 is omitted.

[0029] Depending on the vehicle in which the electrical junction box 1 is mounted, it may be necessary to expand the power supply system. In such a case, in order to use the spare section S4, it is necessary to connect the power supply bus bars 31 to 34 with the spare bus bar 35. That is, short pins P are inserted and accommodated in the corresponding pin insertion portions 26 to 28. In other words, the power supply bus bars 31 to 34 and the spare bus bar 35 are connected by the short pins P.

[0030] Specifically, for example, if the power supply system requiring expansion is an alternator system, inserting and receiving short pin P into pin insertion portion 26 connects power supply bus bar 31 and spare bus bar 35. Similarly, if the power supply system requiring expansion is a battery system, inserting and receiving short pin P into pin insertion portion 27 connects power supply bus bar 32 and spare bus bar 35. Similarly, if the power supply system requiring expansion is another power supply system, inserting and receiving short pin P into pin insertion portion 28 connects power supply bus bars 33 and 34 and spare bus bar 35. In this way, the specified power supply system requiring expansion is expanded.

[0031] If the power supply system does not need to be expanded, the short pins P are not inserted into or accommodated in the pin insertion portions 26 to 28. In addition, in this example, the short pins P are used as the connecting parts, but this is not limitative, and for example, electric wires may be used as the connecting parts.

[0032] Next, we will explain how to assemble the upper cover to the frame 11. To do this, the annular lower edge of the side wall of the upper cover is fitted into the annular upper edge of the side wall 111 of the frame 11, and the multiple locking portions of the upper cover are locked to the multiple locked portions 112 of the frame 11. This completes the assembly of the upper cover to the frame 11 (not shown).

[0033] When the assembly of the electrical junction box 1 is complete, the engagement between the multiple locking pieces 123 and the multiple locked portions 112 prevents the lower cover 12 from separating downward from the frame 11. Similarly, the engagement between the multiple locking portions of the upper cover and the multiple locked portions of the frame 11 prevents the upper cover from separating upward from the frame 11.

[0034] <Actions and Effects> The electrical junction box 1 according to this embodiment will be described below. Conventional electrical junction boxes are provided with spare spaces (i.e., compartments) for each of a plurality of power supply systems to accommodate circuit expansion. In the electrical junction box 1 according to this embodiment, the power supply bus bars 31-34 define the sections S1-S3 for each power supply system, and the spare bus bar 35 similarly defines the spare section S4 (i.e., for circuit expansion). In other words, it is sufficient to provide one spare section S4 (i.e., spare bus bar 35) for each of the sections S1-S3 for the plurality of power supply systems (i.e., power supply bus bars 31-34). Thus, compared to conventional electrical junction boxes, the electrical junction box 1 according to this embodiment can reduce the spare section S4 (i.e., reduce the number of spare bus bar 35 components) and only require one spare section S4 (i.e., the space for one spare bus bar 35). In other words, the electrical junction box 1 according to this embodiment can reduce manufacturing costs and be made smaller. As a further effect, according to the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment, the power supply bus bars 31 to 34 and the spare bus bar 35 can be connected by the short pin P, which makes the connection work easier.

[0035] Furthermore, in the electrical junction box 1 according to this embodiment, the spare bus bar 35 is disposed between the plurality of power supply bus bars 31 to 34. As a result, when connecting the power supply bus bars 31 to 34 to the spare bus bar 35, the electrical junction box 1 according to this embodiment facilitates connection between the power supply bus bars 31 to 34 and the spare bus bar 35, making the connection work easier.

[0036] Furthermore, according to the manufacturing method of this embodiment, if at least one power supply system (e.g., an alternator, a battery, etc.) requires expansion, the corresponding power supply bus bars 31-34 can be connected to the spare bus bar 35 by the short pin P. In this way, the electrical junction box 1 manufactured by the manufacturing method of this embodiment can reduce the spare section S4 (i.e., the number of parts of the spare bus bar 35) compared to conventional electrical junction boxes, and only one spare section S4 (i.e., the space for the spare bus bar 35) needs to be secured. In other words, the manufacturing method of this embodiment reduces the manufacturing cost of the electrical junction box 1 and also enables miniaturization.

[0037] <Other forms> The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified, improved, etc. Furthermore, the material, shape, size, number, location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary and not limited as long as they can achieve the present invention.

[0038] Here, the features of the embodiments of the electrical junction box and manufacturing method according to the present invention described above will be briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [3]. [1] An electrical connection box (1) having an internal space for accommodating an electronic component (fuse F), power supply bus bars (31 to 34) each connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of power supply systems; a spare bus bar (35) that is not connected to the power supply system, The plurality of power supply bus bars (31 to 34) and the spare bus bar (35) are The components are connectable to each other via a connecting part (short pin P). Electrical junction box (1). [2] In the electrical connection box (1) described in [1] above, The spare bus bar (35) disposed between the plurality of power supply bus bars (31 to 34), Electrical junction box (1). [3] A manufacturing method of an electric connection box (1) including the electric connection box (1) described in [1] or [2] above and the connection part (short pin P), and connecting at least one of the plurality of power supply bus bars (31 to 34) to the spare bus bar (35) by the connecting part (short pin P). Manufacturing method.

[0039] The electrical junction box having the configuration [1] above will be described below. Conventional electrical junction boxes have spare spaces (i.e., compartments) for each of multiple power supply systems to accommodate circuit expansion. In the electrical junction box of the present configuration, multiple power supply bus bars define compartments for each power supply system, and spare bus bars similarly define spare compartments (i.e., for circuit expansion). In other words, it is sufficient to provide one spare compartment (i.e., spare bus bar) for each of the compartments for multiple power supply systems (i.e., power supply bus bars). In this way, the electrical junction box of the present configuration can reduce the spare compartment (i.e., the number of spare bus bar components) compared to conventional electrical junction boxes, and only requires one spare compartment (i.e., the space for one spare bus bar). In other words, the electrical junction box of the present configuration can reduce manufacturing costs and be made smaller. As a further advantage, the electrical junction box of this configuration can connect the power supply bus bar and the spare bus bar using the connecting parts, which makes the connection work easier.

[0040] According to the electrical junction box having the configuration [2] above, the spare bus bar is disposed between the plurality of power supply bus bars. This makes it easy to connect any of the power supply bus bars to the spare bus bar when connecting the power supply bus bar to the spare bus bar, thereby facilitating the connection work.

[0041] According to the manufacturing method [3] above, if at least one power supply system needs to be expanded, for example, the corresponding power supply bus bar can be connected to a spare bus bar using a connecting component. Thus, compared to conventional electrical junction boxes, the electrical junction box manufactured by this manufacturing method can reduce the spare compartment (i.e., the number of spare bus bar components) and only requires one spare compartment (i.e., the space for the spare bus bar). In other words, this manufacturing method reduces the manufacturing cost of the electrical junction box and allows for a more compact design. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1 Electrical junction box 11 frames 12 Lower cover 21, 22, 23, 24 Connections 25 Fuse insertion section 26, 27, 28 Pin insertion section 31, 32, 33, 34 Power bus bar 35 Spare bus bar 111,121 Side wall 112 Locked part 122 bottom wall 123 Locking piece Block B F fuse P Short pin S1, S2, S3, S4 sections

Claims

1. An electrical connection box having an internal space for accommodating electronic components, power supply bus bars connected to corresponding power supply systems among the plurality of power supply systems; a spare bus bar that is pre-assembled in the internal space in a state where it is not connected to the power supply system, The plurality of power supply bus bars and the spare bus bar include: configured to be connectable to each other via connecting parts; Electrical junction box.

2. 2. The electrical connection box according to claim 1, The spare bus bar is disposed between the plurality of power supply bus bars, Electrical junction box.

3. 3. A method for manufacturing an electrical connection box including the electrical connection box according to claim 1 or 2 and the connection component, comprising: connecting at least one of the plurality of power supply bus bars to the spare bus bar using the connection component, Manufacturing method.

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