Electrical junction boxes and wire harnesses

Abstract

To provide an electric connection box and a wire harness to maintain proper cooling performance.SOLUTION: An electric connection box 10 includes a heat generating component 11 ( relay 1 and bus bar 2) and a cooling portion 12 that cools the heat generating component 11, and the cooling portion 12 includes: a metal cooling plate 3; a heat transfer member 4 having insulating properties and being interposed between the bus bar 2 of the heat generating component 11 and the metal cooling plate 3; and a spacer 5 having insulating properties, being in contact with the bus bar 2 of the generating component 11 and the metal cooling plate 3, and maintaining a predetermined interval between the heat generating component 11 and the metal cooling plate 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an electrical junction box configured to transfer heat from a relay and a bus bar to a housing via a heat transfer sheet. This electrical junction box has a holder on the bottom plate of the housing that protrudes toward the heat transfer sheet and holds the bus bar via the heat transfer sheet.

[0003] Furthermore, for example, Patent Document 2 discloses an electrical junction box equipped with a heat transfer plate that cools a relay and a bus bar. This electrical junction box has a case provided with mounting bosses to which the heat transfer plate is attached via mounting screws. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-153362 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-087173 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Here, in an electrical connection box, it is necessary for the heat-generating components and heat-transfer members to be in close contact with each other in order to cool the heat-generating components, but if the heat-transfer member and the heat-generating components are pressed against each other, the heat-transfer member will be compressed and crushed, making it difficult to maintain the insulation distance.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electric junction box and a wire harness that can ensure proper cooling performance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the electrical connection box of the present invention comprises a heat-generating component and a cooling section for cooling the heat-generating component, and the cooling section includes a metal cooling plate, a heat transfer member having insulating properties and interposed between the heat-generating component and the metal cooling plate, and a spacer having insulating properties and abutting the heat-generating component and the metal cooling plate to maintain a predetermined distance between the heat-generating component and the metal cooling plate.

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the wire harness of the present invention comprises a conductive wiring material and an electrical connection box electrically connected to the wiring material, wherein the electrical connection box comprises a heat-generating component and a cooling section for cooling the heat-generating component, and the cooling section comprises a metal cooling plate, a heat transfer member having insulating properties and interposed between the heat-generating component and the metal cooling plate, and a spacer having insulating properties and abutting the heat-generating component and the metal cooling plate to maintain a predetermined distance between the heat-generating component and the metal cooling plate. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The electrical junction box and the wire harness according to the present invention can ensure proper cooling performance. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical junction box and a wire harness according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical junction box according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical junction box according to the embodiment during assembly. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical junction box according to the embodiment in an assembled state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiments include those that are easily replaceable by those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same.

[0012] In the following description, the three intersecting directions are conveniently referred to as the "length direction (first direction) X," the "width direction (second direction) Y," and the "height direction (third direction) Z." Here, the length direction X, the width direction Y, and the height direction Z are perpendicular to one another. Typically, the length direction X and the width direction Y correspond to the horizontal direction. Also, typically, the height direction Z corresponds to the vertical direction, with the vertically upward direction being referred to as the upper portion or upper side, and the vertically downward direction being referred to as the lower portion or lower side.

[0013] The electrical junction box 10 of the embodiment is mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, and is incorporated into a wire harness WH as shown in FIG. 1 . The wire harness WH is configured to connect a plurality of wiring materials W used for power supply and signal communication to each device mounted on the vehicle using connectors or the like, for example, to connect the devices. The wire harness WH includes a conductive wiring material W and an electrical junction box 10 electrically connected to the wiring material W. The wiring material W is configured, for example, by a metal rod, an electric wire, a bundle of electric wires, etc. The metal rod is a conductive rod-shaped member whose outside is covered with an insulating coating. The electric wire is a conductor portion (core wire) made of a plurality of conductive metal wires whose outside is covered with an insulating coating. The wire harness WH may further include a grommet, a protector, a fixing device, etc.

[0014] The electrical junction box 10 houses electronic components such as connectors, fuses, relays, capacitors, branches, electronic control units, and electronic component units that combine these components. The electrical junction box 10 is installed, for example, in the engine compartment or passenger compartment of a vehicle. The electrical junction box 10 is connected between a power source such as a battery and various electronic devices installed in the vehicle via wiring material W or the like. The electrical junction box 10 distributes power supplied from the power source to the various electronic devices in the vehicle. The electrical junction box 10 may also be called a junction box, fuse box, relay box, etc., but in this embodiment, these are collectively referred to as an electrical junction box. Note that each drawing schematically illustrates a portion of the electrical junction box 10.

[0015] 1 to 4, the electrical junction box 10 of the embodiment includes a heat-generating component 11 and a cooling unit 12. Although not shown in the drawings, the heat-generating component 11 and the cooling unit 12 of the electrical junction box 10 are housed in a resin housing.

[0016] The heat-generating component 11 is a component that generates heat when current is applied. In this embodiment, the heat-generating component 11 is a relay 1 and a bus bar 2. The heat-generating component 11 may also be an electronic component such as a connector, a fuse, a capacitor, a branching section, an electronic control unit, or an electronic component unit that combines these components.

[0017] The cooling unit 12 cools the heat-generating component 11. The cooling unit 12 includes a metal cooling plate 3, a heat transfer member 4, and a spacer 5.

[0018] The metal cooling plate 3 has a metal plate 3a formed into a plate shape from a metal material. In each drawing, the metal plate 3a has a rectangular plate surface that is arranged along the length direction X and width direction Y and facing the height direction Z. The metal plate 3a is formed to have a constant plate thickness in the height direction Z. The metal cooling plate 3 also has two bosses 3b on the upper plate surface of the metal plate 3a. The bosses 3b extend upward in the height direction Z, and bolts 8 for fixing the heat-generating component 11 are screwed in from above.

[0019] Here, the heat-generating component 11 of the embodiment is the relay 1 and the busbar 2, as described above. This heat-generating component 11 has a pair of busbars 2 provided below the relay 1. That is, in the heat-generating component 11, two busbars 2A and 2B are connected to one relay 1. The busbars 2A and 2B are formed in a plate shape, and in each drawing, the plate surfaces are arranged along the length direction X and the width direction Y and toward the height direction Z. The busbars 2A and 2B are formed to be bent in an L-shape when viewed from the height direction Z. One end of the busbars 2A and 2B bent in an L-shape is configured as relay connection portions 2Aa and 2Ba connected to the relay 1, and the other end is configured as wiring material connection portions 2Ab and 2Bb connected to the wiring material W. The relay 1 has a main body 1A and a fixing piece 1B. The main body 1A is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is provided at its bottom with connection terminals 1Aa that are connected to the relay connection portions 2Aa, 2Ba of the busbars 2A, 2B (see FIGS. 3 and 4). That is, the busbars 2A, 2B are connected to the bottom (the lower side in the height direction Z) of the main body 1A of the relay 1. The fixing piece 1B is a portion through which the above-mentioned bolt 8 passes along the height direction Z. The fixing pieces 1B are provided at two locations on the main body 1A, and each fixing piece 1B is provided on a side of the main body 1A, extending in opposite directions that include the length direction X and the horizontal direction that includes the width direction Y. Therefore, the relay 1 is pressed against the lower metal plate 3a along with the busbars 2A, 2B in the height direction Z by the bolt 8 that is screwed into the boss 3b from above, and is fixed to the boss 3b.

[0020] The heat transfer member 4 is made of an insulating and elastic material and is interposed between the heat-generating component 11 and the metal cooling plate 3. The heat transfer member 4 has a plate-shaped heat transfer plate 4a. In each drawing, the heat transfer plate 4a is arranged with its plate surface extending in the length direction X and width direction Y and facing the height direction Z. The heat transfer plate 4a has a rectangular plate surface that is substantially the same as the metal plate 3a of the metal cooling plate 3. The heat transfer plate 4a is formed with a constant plate thickness in the height direction Z. The heat transfer member 4 also has two through holes 4b that penetrate the heat transfer plate 4a along the height direction Z. The through holes 4b are portions into which the bosses 3b of the metal cooling plate 3 are inserted. With the heat-generating component 11 fixed to the bosses 3b, the heat transfer member 4 is positioned by the bosses 3b inserted into the through holes 4b, and is arranged so that the lower plate surface of the heat transfer plate 4a is in contact with the upper plate surface of the metal plate 3a. The heat transfer member 4 also has a plurality of accommodating holes 4c penetrating the heat transfer plate 4a in the height direction Z. The accommodating holes 4c are arranged side by side so as to be positioned below the plate surfaces of the busbars 2A, 2B along the L-shape of the busbars 2A, 2B when the heat-generating component 11 is fixed to the boss 3b. In this embodiment, the accommodating holes 4c are rectangular holes penetrating the heat transfer plate 4a. The shape of the accommodating holes 4c is not limited to rectangular and may be various other shapes.

[0021] The spacer 5 is made of an insulating material having hardness equal to or greater than that of the heat-generating component 11 (bus bar 2) and the metal plate 3a. For example, the spacer 5 is made of a resin material. The spacer 5 is inserted into and accommodated in the accommodating hole 4c of the heat-transfer member 4. The spacer 5 is formed to have the same shape as the hole 4c. Therefore, when inserted into the accommodating hole 4c, the spacer 5 accommodates the heat-transfer member 4 so as not to elastically deform the heat-transfer member 4 in a direction intersecting the height direction Z, which is the penetration direction of the accommodating hole 4c. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , during assembly of the electrical junction box 10, the spacer 5 is accommodated in the accommodating hole 4c of the heat-transfer member 4 and penetrates the heat-transfer member 4 so as to be able to abut against the heat-generating component 11 (bus bar 2) and the metal plate 3a. Therefore, the spacer 5, together with the heat-transfer member 4, is interposed between the heat-generating component 11 (bus bar 2) and the metal plate 3a. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the spacer 5 has an interval dimension T1 in the height direction Z where it is interposed together with the heat transfer member 4 between the heat generating component 11 (bus bar 2) and the metal plate 3a.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the electrical junction box 10 configured as described above is stacked in the height direction Z in the order of the metal cooling plate 3, the heat transfer member 4, and the heat-generating component 11 from below. As shown in FIG. 3, the electrical junction box 10 has a spacer 5 housed inside the housing hole 4c of the heat transfer member 4. In this state, as shown in FIG. 3, the bolt 8 is passed through the fixing piece 1B of the relay 1 from above and screwed into the boss 3b of the metal cooling plate 3. As shown in FIG. 4, the bolt 8 is screwed into the boss 3b of the electrical junction box 10 until the upper surface of the metal plate 3a of the metal cooling plate 3 and the plate-shaped lower surface of the heat-generating component 11 (bus bar 2) abut against the spacer 5. Therefore, in the electrical junction box 10, the distance between the upper surface of the metal plate 3a of the metal cooling plate 3 and the plate-shaped lower surface of the heat-generating component 11 (bus bar 2) is maintained at the spacing dimension T1 of the spacer 5 interposed therebetween. At this time, the heat transfer member 4 is elastically compressed between the heat-generating component 11 (bus bar 2) and the metal plate 3a, and comes into contact with the upper plate surface of the metal plate 3a of the metal cooling plate 3 and the plate-shaped lower surface of the heat-generating component 11 (bus bar 2). As shown in FIG. 3, in the free state before being compressed, the heat transfer member 4 has an interval dimension T2 between the upper plate surface of the metal plate 3a of the metal cooling plate 3 and the plate-shaped lower surface of the heat-generating component 11 (bus bar 2), which exceeds the interval dimension T1 of the spacer 5. As shown in FIG. 4, in the compressed state, the heat transfer member 4 has an interval dimension T2' equal to the interval dimension T1 of the spacer 5. In this state, the spacer 5 penetrates the heat transfer member 4 through the accommodation hole 4c and comes into contact with the upper plate surface of the metal plate 3a of the metal cooling plate 3 and the plate-shaped lower surface of the heat-generating component 11 (bus bar 2).

[0023] 4, the electrical junction box 10 has improved heat transfer performance because the upper surface of the metal plate 3a of the metal cooling plate 3 and the plate-shaped lower surface of the heat-generating component 11 (bus bar 2) are in close contact with the plate surfaces of the heat transfer plates 4a of the heat transfer member 4. Furthermore, the spacer 5 in the electrical junction box 10 maintains a predetermined distance between the upper surface of the metal plate 3a of the metal cooling plate 3 and the plate-shaped lower surface of the heat-generating component 11 (bus bar 2), ensuring an insulation distance through which the heat transfer plates 4a of the insulating heat transfer member 4 are interposed.

[0024] As described above, the electrical connection box 10 of the embodiment comprises a heat-generating component 11 and a cooling section 12 that cools the heat-generating component 11, and the cooling section 12 includes a metal cooling plate 3, a heat transfer member 4 that is insulating and is interposed between the heat-generating component 11 and the metal cooling plate 3, and a spacer 5 that is insulating and abuts against the heat-generating component 11 and the metal cooling plate 3 to maintain a predetermined distance between the heat-generating component 11 and the metal cooling plate 3.

[0025] In addition, the wire harness WH of the embodiment includes a conductive wiring material W and an electrical connection box 10 electrically connected to the wiring material W, and the electrical connection box 10 includes a heat-generating component 11 and a cooling section 12 that cools the heat-generating component 11, and the cooling section 12 includes a metal cooling plate 3, a heat transfer member 4 that is insulating and is interposed between the heat-generating component 11 and the metal cooling plate 3, and a spacer 5 that is insulating and abuts against the heat-generating component 11 and the metal cooling plate 3 to maintain a predetermined distance between the heat-generating component 11 and the metal cooling plate 3.

[0026] In the electric junction box 10 and the wire harness WH, the spacer 5 maintains a predetermined distance between the heat-generating component 11 and the metal cooling plate 3, and the heat transfer member 4 is interposed at this predetermined distance. Therefore, the electric junction box 10 and the wire harness WH of the embodiment can ensure an insulation distance by the heat transfer member 4. As a result, the electric junction box 10 and the wire harness WH of the embodiment can ensure appropriate cooling performance.

[0027] In addition, in the embodiment of the electrical connection box 10 and the wire harness WH, the heat transfer member 4 has an interval dimension T2 in a free state that exceeds the interval dimension T1 of the spacer 5, and is elastically compressed when interposed between the heat-generating component 11 and the metal cooling plate 3.

[0028] In this electrical junction box 10 and wire harness WH, the heat transfer member 4 is disposed at a predetermined distance between the heat-generating component 11 and the metal cooling plate 3 due to the spacing dimension T1 of the spacer 5, and is in close contact with the heat-generating component 11 and the metal cooling plate 3. Therefore, in the electrical junction box 10 and wire harness WH of the embodiment, the spacing dimension T1 of the spacer 5 maintains the compressibility of the heat transfer member 4, preventing the heat transfer member 4 from reaching its compression limit during vibration and improving the durability of the heat transfer member 4. As a result, the electrical junction box 10 and wire harness WH of the embodiment can improve the cooling effect of the heat transfer member 4.

[0029] In addition, in the embodiment of the electrical connection box 10 and the wire harness WH, the heat transfer member 4 is formed with a accommodating hole 4c through which the spacer 5 is inserted, and the spacer 5 is arranged in contact with the heat-generating component 11 and the metal cooling plate 3 through the accommodating hole 4c.

[0030] According to the electric junction box 10 and the wire harness WH, the spacer 5 can ensure an insulating distance by the heat transfer member 4 in the area around the accommodating hole 4c. As a result, the electric junction box 10 and the wire harness WH of the embodiment can ensure appropriate insulating performance by forming the accommodating hole 4c to penetrate and inserting the spacer 5 at a desired position of the heat transfer member 4 where insulation is desired (for example, a position corresponding to the heat-generating component 11 (bus bar 2)).

[0031] The electrical junction box 10 and the wire harness WH according to the embodiment of the present invention described above are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Furthermore, the electrical junction box 10 and the wire harness WH according to this embodiment may be configured by appropriately combining the components of the embodiment and modified examples described above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 3 Metal cooling plate 4 Heat transfer materials 4c Receiving hole 5 spacers 10 Electrical junction box 11 Heat-generating components 12 Cooling section T1 Interposition dimension T2 intervening dimension W Routing material WH Wire Harness

Claims

1. A heat-generating component; a cooling unit that cools the heat-generating component; Equipped with the cooling unit includes a metal cooling plate, a heat transfer member having insulation properties and interposed between the heat generating component and the metal cooling plate, and a spacer having insulation properties and abutting the heat generating component and the metal cooling plate to maintain a predetermined distance between the heat generating component and the metal cooling plate, the metal cooling plate has bosses into which bolts for fixing the heat-generating component are screwed, the heat transfer member is formed with a through hole into which the boss is inserted and an accommodating hole, which is a hole different from the through hole and into which the spacer is inserted, the spacer is provided in contact with the heat-generating component and the metal cooling plate through the accommodation hole; Electrical junction box.

2. the heat transfer member has an interposition dimension in a free state that exceeds an interposition dimension of the spacer, and is elastically compressed while being interposed between the heat generating component and the metal cooling plate; 2. The electrical junction box according to claim 1.

3. The accommodating holes are arranged in a row along the shape of the heat-generating component.

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

4. A conductive wiring material; an electrical connection box electrically connected to the wiring material; Equipped with The electrical connection box comprises: A heat-generating component; a cooling unit that cools the heat-generating component; Equipped with the cooling unit includes a metal cooling plate, a heat transfer member having insulation properties and interposed between the heat generating component and the metal cooling plate, and a spacer having insulation properties and abutting the heat generating component and the metal cooling plate to maintain a predetermined distance between the heat generating component and the metal cooling plate, the metal cooling plate has bosses into which bolts for fixing the heat-generating component are screwed, the heat transfer member is formed with a through hole into which the boss is inserted and an accommodating hole, which is a hole different from the through hole and into which the spacer is inserted, the spacer is provided in contact with the heat-generating component and the metal cooling plate through the accommodation hole; Wire harness.

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