Electrical junction box

Abstract

To suppress enlargement of an electric connection box in which a connector temporary holding part is provided in a frame.SOLUTION: A frame 2 of an electric connection box 1 is provided with a first accommodating part 21 accommodating a power integration, a second accommodating part 22 accommodating a resin block 6, and a connector temporary holding part 23 temporarily holding a connector 7 before accommodating the power integration in the first accommodating part 21. The power integration is retrofitted in an automotive assembly plant. The connector 7 is attached to a terminal of a wire group of a wire harness (illustration of the wire group is omitted), and is fitted to a bottom surface of the power integration. The first accommodating part 21 and the second accommodating part 22 are adjacently arranged. The connector temporary holding part 23 is provided at a position from a space above the second accommodating part 22 to the first accommodating part 21.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical connection box mounted on an automobile.

Background Art

[0002] An electrical connection box mounted on an automobile and performing power distribution from the power supply side to the load side is known. There are various structures of electrical connection boxes. For example, there is one in which a plurality of electronic components such as relays, fuses, and power integrations are mounted on the upper surface side of a resin frame, and bus bars, electric wires, connectors, etc. are mounted on the lower surface side of the frame.

[0003] The work of mounting the above-mentioned various components on the frame is mainly carried out at the manufacturing factory of the electrical connection box, but in some cases, some components may be retrofitted at the automobile assembly factory. For example, power integration may be mounted on the frame at the automobile assembly factory. In this case, the connector of the wire harness connected to the power integration is transported to the automobile assembly factory in a state of being temporarily held by a temporary holding portion provided on the upper surface side of the frame (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the above-mentioned conventional product, since the connector of the wire harness is transported to the automobile assembly factory in a state of being temporarily held by the upper surface side of the frame, the connection work between the power integration and the connector at the automobile assembly factory can be easily performed. However, in this conventional product, there is a problem that the electrical connection box becomes larger by providing a temporary holding portion for the connector on the frame.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to suppress the increase in size of electrical connection boxes in which a temporary connector holding portion is provided on the frame. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention relates to an electrical junction box comprising a frame, an upper cover attached to the upper surface of the frame, and an electric wire that runs along the outer surface of the outer wall of the frame and passes between the frame and the upper cover, with its end fixed to the upper surface of the frame, wherein an electric wire attitude control wall is formed on the outer wall of the frame, extending vertically and along the electric wire, and the electric wire attitude control wall extends from the lower end of the outer wall to above the upper end of the outer wall. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the increase in size of an electrical connection box in which a temporary connector holding portion is provided on the frame. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of an electrical junction box according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the electrical junction box, showing the state in which the connector is temporarily held in the connector temporary holding section before the power integration is housed in the first housing section. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the electrical junction box with the resin block removed. [Figure 4] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing only the frame. [Figure 5] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the electrical junction box from a different angle. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 5. [Figure 7] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the frame from a different angle. [Figure 8] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the frame from a different angle. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] An "electrical junction box" according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8.

[0011] The electrical junction box 1 shown in Figure 1 is mounted in a vehicle and distributes power from the power source to the load. This electrical junction box 1 comprises a frame 2 on which multiple components are attached, an upper cover attached to the top surface 2a of the frame 2, and a lower cover 4 attached to the bottom surface 2b of the frame 2.

[0012] Frame 2 is made of an insulating synthetic resin and is obtained by injection molding using a mold. Frame 2 has a double wall consisting of a cylindrical outer wall 20 with openings on the upper surface 2a and lower surface 2b, and an inner wall 25 provided inside the outer wall 20. Inside this double wall are a first housing section 21, a second housing section 22, a connector temporary holding section 23, and a connector temporary holding section 24. These are integrally molded.

[0013] The first housing section 21 is the part that houses the power integration 5 as the "first component". The power integration 5 is an electronic component that is retrofitted at the automobile assembly plant. The power integration 5 has a rectangular shape when viewed from above. Connectors 7 and 8 of the wire harness are connected to the bottom surface of the power integration 5. For this reason, the electrical connection box 1 is transported to the automobile assembly plant with the connectors 7 and 8 temporarily held in the connector temporary holding sections 23 and 24. At the automobile assembly plant, the connectors 7 and 8 are removed from the connector temporary holding sections 23 and 24 and fitted onto the bottom surface of the power integration 5 above the frame 2, and the power integration 5 is housed in the first housing section 21 with the connectors 7 and 8 connected.

[0014] The connectors 7 and 8 are attached to the ends of the wire harness, and the wires are routed between the frame 2 and the lower cover 4. The wires are connected to the connectors 7 and 8 while the connectors 7 and 8 are temporarily held in the connector temporary holding parts 23 and 24, but these are not shown in Figures 2, 3, 5, and 6.

[0015] As shown in Figures 4, 7, and 8, the first housing section 21 is composed of four walls 31, 32, 33, and 34 surrounding the power integration 5, and a locking structure for engaging with the power integration 5. Wall 31 is part of the inner wall 25 of the double wall described above. Wall 31 and wall 32 are arranged opposite each other. Also, wall 33 and wall 34 are arranged opposite each other. The locking structure is provided with a rib 31a protruding from the end of wall 31 near wall 33 toward wall 32, a rib 32a protruding from the end of wall 32 near wall 33 toward wall 31, and a recess 33a formed in wall 33. These ribs 31a, rib 32a, and recess 33a engage with one end of the power integration 5 in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, as a locking structure for engaging with the other end of the power integration 5 in the longitudinal direction, a rib 31b protruding from the end of wall 31 closer to wall 34 toward wall 32, a rib 32b protruding from the end of wall 32 closer to wall 34 toward wall 31, and a recess 34a formed in wall 34 are provided.

[0016] The power integration 5 is fitted into the first housing 21 from above, and is attached to the first housing 21 by the locking structure described above.

[0017] The second housing portion 22 is a site for housing the resin block 6 as the "second component". The resin block 6 is made of an insulating synthetic resin, and a plurality of electronic components such as relays and fuses are mounted on the upper surface side, and bus bars, electric wires, etc. are mounted on the lower surface side. As shown in FIG. 6, a lock receiving portion 66 for locking to the second component lock 26 of the second housing portion 22 is provided on the side surface of the resin block 6. The lock receiving portions 66 are provided on a plurality of side surfaces of the resin block 6. Each lock receiving portion 66 is composed of a lock arm 66a and a pair of rails 66b arranged on both sides of the lock arm 66a and extending in the vertical direction.

[0018] The second housing portion 22 is composed of an inner wall 25 and a wall 32 along the side surface of the resin block 6, and a plurality of second component locks 26 provided on these inner walls 25 and the wall 32. The wall 32 surrounds the power integration 5 as described above and is along the side surface of the resin block 6. That is, the first housing portion 2: and the second housing portion 22 share the wall 32 and are adjacently arranged via the wall 32. Each second component lock 26 is composed of a protrusion 26a that engages with the lock arm 66a of the lock receiving portion 66, and a pair of rails 26b arranged on both sides of the protrusion 26a and extending in the vertical direction. The pair of rails 26b meshes with the pair of rails 66b of the lock receiving portion 66.

[0019] The resin block 6 is fitted into the second housing portion 22 from below the second housing portion 22, so that each lock receiving portion 66 is locked to each second component lock 26 and attached to the second housing portion 22.

[0020] The connector temporary holding portion 23 is a site for temporarily holding the connector 7 before the power integration 5 is housed in the first housing portion 21. Similarly, the connector temporary holding portion 24 is a site for temporarily holding the connector 8 before the power integration 5 is housed in the first housing portion 21.

[0021] As shown in Figures 2-8, the connector temporary holding portion 23 consists of a notch 31c cut out from the upper end of the wall 31, a notch 32c cut out from the upper end of the wall 32, a wall 35 connected to the inner edge of the notch 32c and bulging out on the opposite side of the wall 31, and a connector lock 36. The connector lock 36 is made up of a part of the wall 35 and consists of an arm portion 36a that can bend on the opposite side of the wall 31, and a claw 36b that protrudes from the upper end of the arm portion 36a toward the wall 31. The arm portion 36a is formed in a cantilever shape with its upper end as a free end by forming two slits in the wall 35.

[0022] As shown in Figures 2, 3, 5, and 6, the connector 7 is inserted into the notches 31c and 32c, and the connector lock 36 is temporarily held in place by the connector temporary holding part 23 by fitting along its sides and top surface (i.e., temporarily locking it).

[0023] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, when viewed from the second housing section 22 towards the first housing section 21 (direction of arrow L1 in Figure 6), the connector lock 36 is positioned above the second component lock 26. Also, when viewed from above (direction of arrow L2 in Figure 6), the connector lock 36 is positioned further away from the first housing section 21 than the second component lock 26. Because the second component lock 26 and the connector lock 36 are positioned in this way, the frame 2 can be injection molded using a mold that opens and closes in the vertical direction (depth direction) of the frame 2.

[0024] As shown in Figure 6, when the resin block 6 is housed in the second housing section 22 and the connector 7 is temporarily held in the connector temporary holding section 23, the lock receiving section 66 of the resin block 6 is positioned below the connector 7. Also, the electronic component 9 mounted on the resin block 6 is positioned adjacent to the connector 7. The electronic component 9 is positioned adjacent to the connector 7 with a space that prevents interference when the connector lock 36 is bent.

[0025] Thus, the temporary connector holding section 23 is provided from the space above the second housing section 22 to the first housing section 21. In other words, the temporary connector holding section 23 is provided using the space where the power integration 5 will ultimately be housed and the space directly above the locking receiver 66 of the resin block 6. As a result, the projected area of ​​the frame 2 is the same as when the temporary connector holding section 23 is not provided, and the size of the electrical connection box 1 can be suppressed. In addition, since the locking receiver 66 does not need to be replaced like the electronic component 9, there is no inconvenience in placing it below the temporary connector holding section 23.

[0026] As shown in Figures 2-4, 7, and 8, the connector temporary holding portion 24 is composed of a notch 31d cut out from the upper end of the wall 31, a notch 32d cut out from the upper end of the wall 32, the upper end surface of the rib 32b, and the connector lock 37. The connector lock 37 protrudes from the inner edge of the notch 34b cut out from the upper end of the wall 34.

[0027] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the connector 8 is inserted into the notches 31d and 32d, respectively, and placed on the upper end surface of the rib 32b. The connector lock 37 is then temporarily held in place by the connector temporary holding portion 24 by being positioned along its side and top surfaces (i.e., temporarily locked).

[0028] Since the temporary connector holding section 24 is also provided using the space where the power integration 5 will ultimately be housed, the projected area of ​​the frame 2 is the same as when the temporary connector holding section 24 is not provided, thus suppressing the enlargement of the electrical connection box 1.

[0029] In the embodiments described above, a power integration 5 as the first component and a resin block 6 as the second component were used as examples, but the first and second components are not limited to these.

[0030] The embodiments described above merely represent typical forms of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. That is, it can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the core principles of the present invention. As long as such modifications still possess the configuration of the present invention, they are of course included within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1. Electrical junction box 2 frames 5. Power Integration (Part 1) 6. Resin block (second component) 21. First containment section 22 Second containment section 23 Temporary connector holding section 26 Second component lock 36 Connector Lock

Claims

1. It comprises a first component, a connector connected to the first component, a second component, and a frame. The frame is provided with a first housing section for housing the first component, a second housing section for housing the second component, and a connector temporary holding section for temporarily holding the connector before the first component is housing in the first housing section. The first storage section and the second storage section are arranged adjacent to each other. The connector temporary holding portion is provided extending from the space above the second housing portion to the first housing portion. An electrical junction box characterized by the following features.

2. The second housing section is equipped with a second component lock that engages with the second component, The connector temporary holding portion includes a connector lock for temporarily securing the connector, When viewed from the second housing side toward the first housing side, the connector lock is positioned on top of the second component lock, and when viewed from above, the connector lock is positioned further away from the first housing than the second component lock. The electrical junction box according to feature 1.

3. The second component is a resin block on which multiple electronic components are mounted. With the resin block housed in the second housing and the connector temporarily held in the connector temporary holding portion, The locking receiver in the resin block that engages with the second component lock is positioned below the connector, and the electronic component mounted on the resin block is positioned adjacent to the connector. The electrical junction box according to feature 2.

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