Electrical component housing box

Abstract

To provide an electrical component storage box in which rotation of a housing can be suppressed when the housing is fastened to a vehicle-side fixing member.SOLUTION: An electrical component storage box (fuse box 1) includes an electrical component (fuse 2), a housing (5) that stores the electrical component and has a bottomed box-shaped electrical component storage part (fuse storage part 51) and a fixing wall part (4) extending into the electrical component storage part, and a bracket (8) that extends along the direction of extension of the fixing wall part, is fixed to the fixing wall part, and is connected to a vehicle-side fixing member (9) by means of a fastening member (bolt 6). The fixing wall part has a pair of bosses (44) protruding towards the bracket, the pair of bosses being inserted into a pair of boss inserting parts (9b) provided in the vehicle-side fixing member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical component housing box.

Background Art

[0002] As a fuse box, the one described in Patent Document 1 is known. In this fuse box, terminals at both ends of a fuse are fastened by nuts and bolts to a pair of pedestals erected from the bottom surface of a box body with an open upper surface. The box body is provided with a vehicle connecting portion protruding outward on the outer bottom surface, and a vehicle connecting member is inserted through the vehicle connecting portion to be fixed to the vehicle.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above fuse box, depending on the mold extraction direction during the molding of the box body, the vehicle connection direction, that is, the insertion direction of the vehicle connection member, becomes the same direction as the fastening direction of the fuse. Therefore, when connecting the fuse box to the vehicle, the installation location on the vehicle is restricted.

[0005] Therefore, the inventors have developed an electrical component housing box configured to fasten a housing containing electrical components to a vehicle-side fixing member via a bracket. This electrical component housing box can freely set the installation location of the electrical component housing box in the vehicle without being restricted in the connection direction with the vehicle.

[0006] However, when fastening the housing to the vehicle-side fixing member in the above electrical component housing box, the housing may rotate due to the torque generated in the fastening member, which may cause rattling.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide an electrical component housing box that can suppress the rotation of the housing when fastening the housing to a vehicle-side fixing member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve the aforementioned objectives, the electrical component housing box according to the present invention is characterized by the following: Electrical components and, A housing having a bottomed box-shaped electrical component housing section for housing the aforementioned electrical components, and a fixing wall section extending from the electrical component housing section, The system includes a bracket that extends along the extending direction of the fixing wall, is fixed to the fixing wall, and is connected to the vehicle-side fixing member by a fastening member, The aforementioned fixing wall portion has a pair of bosses that protrude toward the bracket side, The pair of bosses are inserted into a pair of boss insertion portions provided on the vehicle-side fixing member. Electrical component housing box. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electrical component housing box that can suppress the rotation of the housing when fastening the housing to a vehicle-side fixing member.

[0010] The present invention has been briefly described above. Furthermore, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by referring to the attached drawings and reading through the embodiments for carrying out the invention described below (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments"). [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fuse box showing a first embodiment of the electrical component housing box of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the fuse box shown in Figure 1, viewed from the rear. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the fuse shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the housing shown in Figure 1. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the bus bar shown in Figure 1. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the bracket shown in Figure 1. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the vehicle-side fixing member shown in Figure 1. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the fuse box of Reference Example 1 viewed from the back side. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the fuse box showing the second embodiment of the electrical component housing box of the present invention. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a rear view showing the state of the fuse box shown in Figure 9 during assembly. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in Figure 10. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a rear view showing the state of the fuse box shown in Figure 9 after assembly. [Figure 13] Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in Figure 12. [Figure 14] Figure 14 is a rear view showing the state of the fuse box of Reference Example 2 during assembly. [Figure 15] Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XV-XV in Figure 14. [Figure 16] Figure 16 is a rear view showing the state of the fuse box of Reference Example 2 after assembly. [Figure 17] Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVII-XVII in Figure 16. [Figure 18] Figure 18 is a perspective view of the fuse box showing the third embodiment of the electrical component housing box of the present invention viewed from the back side. [Figure 19] Figure 19 is a perspective view of the housing shown in Figure 18. [Figure 20]Figure 20 is a perspective view of the bracket in Figure 18. [Figure 21] Figure 21 is a rear view showing the fuse box in the process of being assembled, as shown in Figure 18. [Figure 22] Figure 22 is a rear view showing the fuse box after assembly, as shown in Figure 18. [Figure 23] Figure 23 is a cross-sectional view of the line XXIII-XXIII in Figure 22. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the figures.

[0013] (First Embodiment) Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fuse box 1 showing a first embodiment of the electrical component housing box of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the fuse box 1 shown in Figure 1 viewed from the rear. Figures 1 and 2 show the fuse box 1 connected to the vehicle-side fixing member 9. Figures 3 to 6 show the components that make up the fuse box 1, respectively. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a fuse 2 and a bolt B for fastening the fuse 2, Figure 4 is a perspective view of the housing 5, Figure 5 is a perspective view of a pair of busbars 3, and Figure 6 is a perspective view of the bracket 8. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the vehicle-side fixing member 9 to which the fuse box 1 is connected, and a bolt 6 for fastening the fuse box 1 to the vehicle-side fixing member 9. Figure 8 is a perspective view of the fuse box 101 of Reference Example 1 viewed from the rear. In Figure 8, parts or components that are the same or equivalent as those shown in Figure 1, etc., are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience of explanation, the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction are defined as shown in Figure 1. The front-to-back, left-to-right, and up-and-down directions are perpendicular to each other.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, the fuse box 1 comprises a fuse 2 as an example of an electrical component, a pair of busbars 3, a housing 5 for housing the fuse 2, and a bracket 8. In the fuse box 1, a wire terminal connected to the end of a wire (not shown) and the fuse terminal 22 shown in Figure 3 are electrically connected via the busbars 3.

[0015] As shown in Figure 3, fuse 2 has a cylindrical fuse body portion 21 that extends in the left-right direction, The fuse body 21 has fuse terminals 22 protruding from both ends. Each fuse terminal 22 has a roughly square plate shape and a through hole 22a in the center. Bolt B is inserted, and fuse 2 is fastened to housing 5.

[0016] As shown in Figure 4, the housing 5 has a bottomed box-shaped fuse housing 51 for housing the fuse 2 and a fixing wall portion 4 extending from the fuse housing 51, and is made of an insulating resin such as synthetic resin. In this disclosure, a bottomed box shape is defined as a shape having at least a bottom surface and sides, and the shape of the bottom surface and sides is not limited to a rectangular shape.

[0017] The fuse housing 51 is an example of an electrical component housing. The fuse housing 51 has a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape with an open top, and a recess 51a for housing the fuse body 21 is provided at the center of the bottom portion 511 in the front-rear and left-right directions. Nuts 52, which are screwed onto bolt B, are embedded on the left and right sides of the recess 51a.

[0018] The fixing wall section 4 has a roughly rectangular plate-shaped wall section body 41, and the rear wall of the fuse housing section 51 is erected from the bottom 511 along the vertical direction, which is the direction in which the fuse 2 is housed. The fixing wall section 4 is erected adjacent to the fuse housing section 51. The fixing wall section 4 has a U-shaped cutout opening 7 in the center of the upper edge of the wall section body 41.

[0019] As shown in Figure 2, the wall body 41 has a pair of locking pieces 45 and a pair of bosses 44 on its rear surface. The locking pieces 45 protrude rearward from the rear surface of the wall body 41 and are inserted into and engage with a pair of locking holes 8c provided near the left and right ends of the plate-shaped bracket 8. The engagement of the locking pieces 45 and the locking holes 8c holds and fixes the bracket 8 to the wall body 41. The bosses 44 are cylindrical members that protrude rearward, i.e., towards the bracket 8, from the rear surface of the wall body 41. The bosses 44 are inserted into the boss insertion portion 9b of the vehicle-side fixing member 9 through the insertion hole 8b of the bracket 8. The pair of locking pieces 45 and the pair of bosses 44 are arranged symmetrically with respect to a straight line passing vertically through the fastening hole 8a while the bracket 8 is held to the wall body 41.

[0020] As shown in Figure 5, a pair of busbars 3 are provided symmetrically. Each busbar 3 has a busbar body 31 which is a bent conductive metal plate, and bolts 32 fixed to the busbar body 31. The busbar body 31 has a first portion 311 that extends in the vertical direction, and a second portion 312 that extends in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction.

[0021] The first part 311 is provided with a bolt 32 that extends in the front-rear direction and to which the wire terminal TA is connected. The first part 311 and the bolt 32 function as a wire connection part connected to the wire W. The second part 312 is provided with a through hole 33 through which the bolt B is inserted. The portion of the second part 312 with the through hole 33 functions as a terminal connection part connected to the fuse terminal 22.

[0022] As shown in Figure 6, the bracket 8 is flat and has a bracket body 81 that extends in the left-right direction and in the up-down direction, which is the direction in which the fixing wall portion 4 extends. The bracket 8 is fixed to the rear side of the fixing wall portion 4. The bracket 8 is formed, for example, by punching out a metal plate, but it may also be formed of a resin that is more rigid than the fixing wall portion 4 of the housing 5. The bracket 8 has a fastening hole 8a at the center in the left-right direction above the bracket body 81. The fastening hole 8a functions as a first fastening hole through which a bolt 6 is inserted in the thickness direction of the bracket 8, i.e., in the front-rear direction, and fastens the bolt 6 to the vehicle-side fixing member 9. The bracket 8 has rectangular locking holes 8c on the left and right sides of the fastening hole 8a, and a pair of insertion holes 8b on the left and right sides below the fastening hole 8a. The pair of insertion holes 8b are arranged symmetrically with respect to a straight line passing through the fastening hole 8a in the up-down direction. The insertion hole 8b is formed in a position, shape, and size such that the boss 44 avoids interference with the bracket 8 when the housing 5 is connected to the vehicle-side fixing member 9.

[0023] As shown in Figure 7, the vehicle-side fixing member 9 has a flat plate shape, and an insertion hole 9a through which a bolt 6 is inserted is provided at the center of the left-right direction on the upper part, and a pair of boss insertion parts 9b through which a pair of bosses 44 are inserted are provided below the insertion hole 9a. The pair of boss insertion parts 9b are arranged symmetrically with respect to a straight line passing through the insertion hole 9a in the vertical direction. The boss insertion parts 9b are formed in a shape and size corresponding to the shape and size of the bosses 44. The vehicle-side fixing member 9 is an example of a mounting target for the fuse box 1.

[0024] Next, we will explain how to assemble fuse box 1.

[0025] First, the worker places a pair of busbars 3 into the housing 5. Each busbar 3 is placed in the housing 5 such that its first portion 311 is in contact with the front of the fixing wall portion 4, and the through-hole 33 of its second portion 312 is positioned on the nut 52 of its bottom portion 511. Next, the worker places the fuse 2 on the busbars 3. The fuse body 21 is housed in the recess 51a of the housing 5, and the through-holes 22a of each fuse terminal 22 are positioned to correspond to the through-holes 33 of the busbars 3. As a result, the nut 52, the through-hole 33, and the through-hole 22a are aligned and overlap in the vertical direction. Then, the bolt B is inserted through the through-holes 33 and 22a and screwed into the nut 52, thereby fastening and securing the fuse 2 and busbars 3 to the housing 5.

[0026] The worker attaches the bracket 8 to the rear surface of the fixing wall portion 4 of the housing 5. The bracket 8 is positioned such that each locking piece 45 is located in front of each locking hole 8c, and each boss 44 protruding rearward from the housing 5 is located within each insertion hole 8b. In this state, when the worker brings the front surface of the bracket 8 into contact with the rear surface of the wall portion body 41, the locking pieces 45 engage with the side walls of the locking holes 8c, fixing the bracket 8 to the fixing wall portion 4 of the housing 5, and the bosses 44 protrude to the rear of the bracket 8 through the insertion holes 8b.

[0027] Next, we will explain how to connect and secure the fuse box 1, which has been assembled as described above, to the vehicle-side fixing member 9.

[0028] The worker brings the bracket 8 of the fuse box 1 close to the vehicle-side fixing member 9. The bracket 8 is positioned such that the fastening hole 8a of the bracket 8 is aligned front to back with the insertion hole 9a of the vehicle-side fixing member 9, and a pair of bosses 44 are inserted into a pair of boss insertion parts 9b. The worker then inserts the bolt 6 from the rear through the fastening hole 8a and the insertion hole 9a and screws it into the nut located in the opening 7 of the wall body 41. When the bolt 6 is screwed into the nut, The housing 5 is fastened and secured to the vehicle-side fixing member 9 via a bracket 8 held on the rear surface of the fixing wall portion 4. Alternatively, the bolt 6 may be inserted in the reverse direction, i.e., from the front of the bracket 8 and the vehicle-side fixing member 9, and screwed into a nut located on the rear side.

[0029] Here, when connecting the bracket 8, which is fixed to the fixing wall portion 4 of the housing 5, to the vehicle-side fixing member 9 with a bolt 6, the torque generated in the bolt 6 tries to rotate the bracket 8. For this reason, as in the fuse box 101 of Reference Example 1 shown in Figure 8, if the fixing wall portion 104 does not have a boss 44, the bracket 108 does not have an insertion hole 8b, and the vehicle-side fixing member 109 does not have a boss insertion portion 9b, this torque may cause the housing 5 to rotate. If the housing 5 is connected to the vehicle-side fixing member 109 while rotated, it will be misaligned from its original mounting position, and rattling may occur after connection. On the other hand, in the fuse box 1 of the first embodiment, this torque is received by a pair of bosses 44 inserted into a pair of boss insertion portions 9b of the vehicle-side fixing member 9. Therefore, when assembling the housing 5 to the vehicle-side fixing member 9 with a bolt 6, the rotation of the housing 5 fixed to the bracket 8 can be suppressed. Consequently, even if the fuse box 1 connected to the vehicle side is affected by vehicle vibrations, rattling can be suppressed.

[0030] Next, the worker fastens the wire terminals to the busbar 3. The wire terminals are round terminals with through holes and are attached to one end of the wire. Each wire terminal is fastened and secured by inserting a bolt 32 through the through hole and sandwiching it between the first portion 311 of the busbar 3 and a nut. By fastening the wire terminals to the busbar 3 in this way, the busbar 3 is electrically connected to the external load connected to the other end of the wire.

[0031] When the fuse box 1 is fixed to the vehicle-side fixing member 9 by fastening bolts 6 and the wire terminals are fastened to bolts 32 of the busbar 3, the fastening direction of the wire terminals fastened to bolts 32 of the busbar 3 and the fastening direction of bolts 6 are both in the front-to-back direction and coincide. Therefore, the worker can install the fuse box 1 and fasten the wire terminals without changing their working posture, thus improving work efficiency.

[0032] Furthermore, in the fuse box 1, the fixing wall portion 4 of the housing 5 is fastened to the vehicle-side fixing member 9 via a bracket 8 by bolts 6 located in the opening 7. Therefore, the protrusion of the bolts 6 directly above the fuse 2 can be suppressed, making it possible to replace the fuse 2 without removing the fuse box 1, thus improving work efficiency.

[0033] As described above, in the fuse box 1 of this embodiment, the housing 5 containing the fuses 2 is fastened to the vehicle-side fixing member 9 via a bracket 8 fixed to the fixing wall portion 4. With this configuration, the housing 5 and the vehicle-side fixing member 9 can be connected in a direction corresponding to the extending direction of the fixing wall portion 4. Therefore, by appropriately setting the extending direction of the fixing wall portion 4 according to the requirements of the vehicle, the mounting position of the fuse box 1 in the vehicle can be freely set without being restricted by the direction of connection to the vehicle.

[0034] In the fuse box 1, when connecting the bracket 8, which is fixed to the fixing wall portion 4 of the housing 5, to the vehicle-side fixing member 9 with bolts 6, the torque generated in the bolts 6 attempts to rotate the bracket 8. The fuse box 1 receives this torque with a pair of bosses 44 inserted into a pair of boss insertion portions 9b of the vehicle-side fixing member 9. Therefore, when assembling the housing 5 to the vehicle side with bolts 6, the rotation of the housing 5 fixed to the bracket 8 can be suppressed. Consequently, even if the fuse box 1 connected to the vehicle side is affected by vehicle vibrations, rattling can be suppressed.

[0035] As a structure different from fuse box 1, a possible design for fuse box 101 in Figure 8 is to connect the bracket 108 and the vehicle-side fixing member 109 with fastening members at two points, but this would increase the number of parts. Also, if an anti-rotation structure is to be provided for the bracket 108 in fuse box 101, the structure or shape of the bracket 108 would become more complex, potentially leading to poor manufacturability and increased costs.

[0036] In contrast to these structures, the fuse box 1 has a pair of bosses 44 on the fixing wall portion 4 of the housing 5, and each boss 44 is inserted into each boss insertion portion 9b of the vehicle-side fixing member 9, This prevents the housing 5 from rotating. Therefore, it does not increase the number of parts or complicate the bracket 8. Thus, the fuse box 1 prevents the housing 5 from rotating and suppresses rattling while keeping manufacturing costs down.

[0037] Furthermore, according to the fuse box 1, the bracket 8 has an insertion hole 8b, By inserting the boss 44 into the through hole 8b, interference between the boss 44 and the bracket 8 can be avoided. Therefore, the housing 5 can be assembled to the vehicle with ease of installation.

[0038] Furthermore, with the fuse box 1, the fixing wall portion 4 is erected along the vertical direction, which is the direction in which the fuse 2 is housed, so that the bracket 8 can be attached along the housing direction and fastened to the vehicle-side fixing member 9. Therefore, compared to an electrical component housing box in which a part of the housing 5 that houses the fuse 2 is provided with a vehicle connection portion that protrudes, for example, in the front-rear direction, and a fastening member is inserted through the vehicle connection portion to fix it to the vehicle side, the amount of protrusion of the vehicle connection portion can be reduced. Therefore, it becomes possible to miniaturize the fuse box.

[0039] (Second Embodiment) Figure 9 is a perspective view of a fuse box 1A showing a second embodiment of the electrical component housing box of the present invention. Figure 10 is a rear view showing the fuse box 1A shown in Figure 9 in the process of assembly, and Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in Figure 10. Figure 12 is a rear view showing the fuse box 1A shown in Figure 9 after assembly, and Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in Figure 12. Figures 14 to 17 show a fuse box 101A of Reference Example 2. Figure 14 is a rear view showing the fuse box 101A of Reference Example 2 in the process of assembly, and Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XV-XV in Figure 14. Figure 16 is a rear view showing the fuse box 101A of Reference Example 2 after assembly, and Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVII-XVII in Figure 16. In Figures 9 to 17, parts or components that are the same or equivalent to those shown in Figure 1, etc., are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals.

[0040] The fuse box 1A shown in Figures 9 to 13 has a housing 5A, a fixing wall 4A, and a bracket 8A instead of the housing 5, fixing wall 4, and bracket 8 in the fuse box 1 of the first embodiment. The fixing structure of the fixing wall 4A of the housing 5A and the bracket 8A in the fuse box 1 differs from the fixing structure of the fixing wall 4 of the housing 5 and the bracket 8 in the fuse box 1. The differences from the first embodiment will be mainly explained below.

[0041] The fixing wall portion 4A has a pair of guide grooves 42, a pair of guide grooves 43, a pair of bosses 44, and a pair of locking pieces 46 on the rear surface of the wall portion body 41. The guide grooves 42 and 43 each extend in the vertical direction, and the left and right side edges of the plate-shaped bracket 8A are inserted into them. The guide groove 42 is defined by the wall portion body 41 and the groove wall 421, and the guide groove 43 is defined by the wall portion body 41 and the groove wall 431. The locking pieces 46 protrude rearward from the rear surface of the wall portion body 41 and are inserted into and engage with a pair of locking holes 8c provided near the left and right ends of the narrow portion 82 of the plate-shaped bracket 8A. The bracket 8A is held and fixed to the wall portion body 41 by the engagement of the locking pieces 46 and the locking holes 8d.

[0042] The boss 44 is a cylindrical member that protrudes from the rear surface of the wall body 41, towards the rear, i.e., towards the bracket 8A. The boss 44 is inserted into the boss insertion portion (see Figure 7) of the vehicle-side fixing member through the insertion hole 8b of the bracket 8A. The pair of locking pieces 46 and the pair of bosses 44 are each arranged symmetrically with respect to a straight line passing through the fastening hole 8a in the vertical direction while the bracket 8A is held by the wall body 41.

[0043] As shown in Figure 10, the bracket 8A is flat and has a bracket body 81 that extends in the left-right direction and in the up-down direction, which is the direction in which the fixing wall portion 4A extends. The bracket 8A is fixed to the rear side of the fixing wall portion 4A. The bracket 8A is formed, for example, by punching out a metal plate, but it may also be formed of a resin that has higher rigidity than the fixing wall portion 4A of the housing 5A. The bracket body 81 has a substantially rectangular narrow portion 82 and a wide portion 83 that is wider than the narrow portion 82, and both ends in the width direction, i.e., the left-right direction, are stepped. The bracket 8B has a fastening hole 8a at the center position in the left-right direction above the narrow portion 82. The fastening hole 8a functions as a first fastening hole for fastening fastening members such as bolts to the vehicle-side fixing member, through which fastening members are inserted in the thickness direction, i.e., the front-rear direction, of the bracket 8A.

[0044] Bracket 8A has oval-shaped through holes 8b1 extending vertically on the left and right sides of the fastening hole 8a, and rectangular locking holes 8d on the outside of each through hole 8b1, i.e., on the side edge of bracket 8A. The pair of through holes 8b1 and the pair of locking holes 8d are arranged symmetrically with respect to a straight line passing through the fastening hole 8a in the vertical direction. When connecting housing 5A to bracket 8A, bosses 44 are inserted into each through hole 8b1 and slid downward within the through hole 8b1. The locking pieces 46 of the wall body 41 engage with the pair of locking holes 8d, thereby holding and fixing bracket 8A to the wall body 41.

[0045] Next, we will explain how to assemble fuse box 1A.

[0046] First, the worker places a pair of busbars 3 on the housing 5A, similar to the fuse box 1 in the first embodiment, and positions the fuses 2 on the busbars 3. The fuse body 21 of the fuse 2 is housed in a recess in the housing 5A, and the through holes of each fuse terminal 22 are positioned to correspond to the through holes in the busbars 3. Then, bolts B are sequentially inserted through the through holes in the busbars 3 and the through holes in the fuse terminals 22, and screwed into nuts embedded in the bottom of the housing 5, thereby fastening and fixing the fuses 2 and busbars 3 to the housing 5A.

[0047] The worker attaches the bracket 8A to the rear surface of the fixing wall portion 4A of the housing 5A. As shown in Figure 10, the bracket 8A is inserted into each insertion hole 8b1 such that each boss 44 protruding rearward from the housing 5A contacts the upper edge of each insertion hole 8b1, and the front surface of the bracket body 81 abuts against the rear surface of the fixing wall portion 4A. At this time, the bracket 8A is positioned such that the left and right shoulder portions 821 of the narrow portion 82 are located below the pair of groove walls 421, and the left and right shoulder portions 831 of the wide portion 83 are located below the pair of groove walls 431. In this state, when the worker slides the bracket 8A upward, the bracket 8A moves upward, with each shoulder portion 821 and each shoulder portion 831 being guided by the pair of guide grooves 42 and the pair of guide grooves 43, respectively. As the bracket 8A slides, the upper edge of the bracket 8A pushes forward and overcomes each locking piece 46, and as shown in Figure 12, each locking piece 46 engages with each locking hole 8d of the bracket 8A, fixing the bracket 8A to the fixing wall 4. In the assembled state shown in Figure 12, the guide groove 42 holds the narrow portion 82, the guide groove 43 holds the wide portion 83, the shoulder portion 821 is flush with the upper edge of the wall body 41, and the shoulder portion 831 is in contact with the upper wall inside the guide groove 43. Also in the assembled state, the shoulder portions 821 and 831 of the bracket 8A are sandwiched in the guide grooves 42 and 43, respectively, and the boss 44 protrudes to the rear of the bracket 8 through the insertion hole 8b1.

[0048] The assembled fuse box 1A is connected and fixed to the vehicle-side fixing member, similar to the fuse box 1 of the first embodiment. In the fuse box 1A of the second embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, the boss 44 is inserted into the boss insertion part of the vehicle-side fixing member, thereby fastening and fixing the housing 5A, which is fixed to the bracket 8A, to the vehicle-side fixing member while suppressing its rotation.

[0049] As a method for fixing the bracket to the housing, the inventors initially considered the structure of Reference Example 2 shown in Figures 14 to 17. In Reference Example 2, the fuse box 101A has a pair of groove walls 1421 provided in the wall body 41 of the housing, forming a pair of guide grooves 1420 that extend in the vertical direction. When the bracket 108A is slid and attached to the wall body 41, the left and right side edges of the bracket 108A are guided by the pair of guide grooves 1420. In the fuse box 101A, the clearance between the left and right side edges of the bracket 108A and the bottom wall of the guide groove 1420, and the guide groove amount L' (see Figure 17), which is the vertical length of the guide groove 1420, are set to the extent that the bracket 108A can be fixed without rattling. As a result, the slide stroke amount A' (see Figure 15) becomes longer, and the parts become larger. Furthermore, in the fuse box 101A of Reference Example 2, an insertion hole 108b1 is provided extending downward from the upper edge of the bracket 108A to avoid interference with the boss 44. As a result, there is concern about a decrease in the strength of the bracket 108A, and if the thickness of the bracket 108A is increased to maintain strength, the size of the fuse box 101A in the front-to-back direction will increase.

[0050] Therefore, the inventors adopted a configuration for the fuse box 1A of the second embodiment in which the guide groove 1420 is divided into two. According to the fuse box 1A of the second embodiment, each part of the left and right side edges of the bracket 8A is guided by the two divided guide grooves 42 and 43, so the guide shape for each part is shortened. As a result, the manufacturability of the housing 5A is improved. In addition, since the slide stroke amount A (see Figure 11) in each guide groove 42 and 43 can be shortened, assembly workability is improved and the bracket 8A can be made smaller. Although the slide stroke amount A is shorter than the slide stroke amount A' in the fuse box 101A, the guide groove amount L (see Figure 13) is about the same as the guide groove amount L' (see Figure 17) in the fuse box 101A, satisfying the length necessary to prevent rattling. Furthermore, the positions of the groove walls 421 and 431 are set such that the clearance between the shoulder portions 821 and 831 on the left and right side edges of the bracket 8A and the bottom walls of the guide grooves 42 and 43 is sufficient to securely fix the bracket 8A without any rattling.

[0051] The fuse box 1A of the second embodiment has a stepped structure in which the guide groove 43 is located outside the guide groove 42. Therefore, the assembly of the bracket 8A can be done in two stages: first, the boss 44 is inserted into the insertion hole 8b1 in the front-to-back direction, and then it is slid in the up-and-down direction. As a result, the slide stroke amount A can be shortened, improving workability, and the bracket 8A can be made smaller, thus reducing costs. Furthermore, by making the assembly method two stages, the insertion hole 8b1 can be closed to form an oval shape without opening the upper edge of the insertion hole 8b1. Therefore, the strength of the bracket 8A can be improved compared to the case in which a part is cut out, as in the bracket 108A of Reference Example 2.

[0052] As described above, the fuse box 1A of the second embodiment offers the same advantages as the fuse box 1 of the first embodiment, but the manufacturability of the housing 5A is improved because the guide grooves 42 and 43 have a stepped structure. Furthermore, the fuse box 1A improves the workability when assembling the bracket 8A to the housing 5A, allows for cost reduction through miniaturization of the bracket 8A, and improves the strength of the bracket 8A by making the insertion hole 8b1 oval-shaped.

[0053] (Third embodiment) Figure 18 is a perspective view of a fuse box 1B showing a third embodiment of the electrical component housing box of the present invention. Figure 19 is a perspective view of the housing 5B, and Figure 20 is a perspective view of the bracket 8B. Figure 21 is a rear view showing the fuse box 1B in the process of assembly. Figure 22 is a rear view showing the fuse box 1B after assembly, and Figure 23 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXIII-XXIII in Figure 22. In Figures 18 to 23, parts or components that are the same or equivalent to those shown in Figure 1, etc., are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals.

[0054] The fuse box 1B shown in Figures 18 to 23 has a housing 5B, a fixing wall 4B, and a bracket 8B instead of the housing 5A, fixing wall 4A, and bracket 8A in the fuse box 1A of the second embodiment. The fixing structure between the fixing wall 4B of the housing 5B and the bracket 8B in the fuse box 1B is different from the fixing structure between the fixing wall 4A of the housing 5A and the bracket 8A in the fuse box 4A. The differences from the second embodiment will be mainly explained below.

[0055] The fixing wall portion 4B has a pair of guide grooves 42, a pair of guide grooves 43, a pair of bosses 44, a pair of lock grooves 47, and a pair of lock protrusions 48 on the rear surface of the wall portion body 41B. The guide grooves 42 and 43 each extend in the vertical direction, and the left and right side edges of the plate-shaped bracket 8B are inserted into them. The guide groove 42 is defined by the wall portion body 41 and the groove wall 421, and the guide groove 43 is defined by the wall portion body 41 and the groove wall 431. The lock groove 47 accommodates the locking arm 85 of the bracket 8B, which will be described later. The lock protrusion 48 is provided at the lower end of the lock groove 47 and locks with the locking arm 85 when the bracket 8B is assembled to the housing 5B, at the position where the locking arm 85 has been fully inserted into the lock groove 47 (insertion completion position). The bracket 8B is held and fixed to the wall body 41B by the locking arm 85's tip (lower end) engaging with the locking projection 48.

[0056] The boss 44 is a cylindrical member that protrudes rearward, i.e., toward the bracket 8B, from the rear surface of the wall body 41. The boss 44 is inserted into the boss insertion portion (see Figure 7) of the vehicle-side fixing member through the insertion hole 8b of the bracket 8B. The pair of lock grooves 47, the pair of lock projections 48, and the pair of bosses 44 are each arranged symmetrically with respect to a straight line passing vertically through the fastening hole 8a while the bracket 8B is held by the wall body 41.

[0057] As shown in Figure 20, the bracket 8B is flat and has a bracket body 81 that extends in the left-right direction and the up-down direction which is the direction in which the fixing wall portion 4B extends, and a pair of locking arms 85 which are formed by cutting and bending a part of the bracket body 81. The bracket 8B is fixed to the rear side of the fixing wall portion 4B. The bracket 8B is formed, for example, by punching out a metal plate. The locking arm 85 has an arm body 851 which is a cantilevered locking piece that extends diagonally downward toward the front, and a thin-walled portion 852 which is a part of the arm body 851 that has a V-groove shape. The thin-walled portion 852 is formed in the center of the locking arm 85 in the vertical direction and extends in the left-right direction. The locking arm 85 is elastically deformable in the front-rear direction, and the thin-walled portion 852 is provided so that it can bend easily even if the plate thickness is thick. Furthermore, the bracket 8B can be easily manufactured because the bracket body 81 and the arm body 851 can be formed by punching out a metal plate, and the thin-walled portion 852 can be formed by processing a V-groove in the arm body 851 with a punch or the like. The thin-walled portion 852 is appropriately set at a vertical position on the arm body 851 corresponding to the point where the locking arm 85 is to be bent.

[0058] The bracket body 81B has a narrow section 82 that is roughly rectangular and a wide section 83 that is wider than the narrow section 82, and both ends in the width direction, i.e., the left-right direction, are stepped. The bracket 8B has a fastening hole 8a at the center in the left-right direction above the narrow section 82. The fastening hole 8a functions as a first fastening hole through which a fastening member such as a bolt is inserted in the thickness direction, i.e., the front-rear direction of the bracket 8A, and fastens the fastening member to the vehicle-side fixing member.

[0059] Bracket 8B has oval-shaped through holes 8b1 extending vertically on both the left and right sides of the fastening hole 8a, and each through hole 8b1 has a locking arm 85 on the outside, i.e., on the side edge of bracket 8B. The pair of through holes 8b1 and the pair of locking arms 85 are arranged symmetrically with respect to a straight line passing through the fastening hole 8a in the vertical direction. When connecting housing 5B to bracket 8B, bosses 44 are inserted into each through hole 8b1 and slid downward within the through hole 8b1. At this time, the lower end of the locking arm 85 abuts against the tapered surface below the lock projection 48 of the fixing wall portion 4B and is displaced to the rear as it slides upward. When bracket 8B is slid to a predetermined position, the lower end of the locking arm 85 overcomes the lock projection 48 of the fixing wall portion 4B, falls into the lock groove 47 by elastic restoring force and is housed there, and is locked to the upper surface of the lock projection 48. As a result, with the narrow portion 82 and the wide portion 83 of the bracket 8B housed in the guide grooves 42 and 43, the bracket 8B is held and fixed to the wall body 41B, preventing it from falling downward.

[0060] Next, we will explain how to assemble fuse box 1B.

[0061] First, the worker places a pair of busbars on the housing 5B, similar to the fuse box 1A in the second embodiment, places the fuses on the busbars, and fastens and secures the fuses and busbars to the housing 5B.

[0062] The worker attaches the bracket 8B to the rear surface of the fixing wall portion 4B of the housing 5B. As shown in Figure 21, the bracket 8B is inserted into each insertion hole 8b1 such that each boss 44 protruding rearward from the housing 5B contacts the upper edge of each insertion hole 8b1, and the front surface of the bracket body 81B abuts against the rear surface of the fixing wall portion 4B. At this time, the lower end of the locking arm 85 is located below the lock projection 48. Also at this time, the bracket 8B is positioned such that the left and right shoulder portions 821 of the narrow portion 82 are located below the pair of groove walls 421, and the left and right shoulder portions 831 of the wide portion 83 are located below the pair of groove walls 431. In this state, when the worker slides the bracket 8B upward, the bracket 8B moves upward, guided by each of the pair of guide grooves 42 and each of the pair of guide grooves 43, with each of the shoulder portions 821 and 831 being guided by the respective guide grooves 42 and 43. As the bracket 8B slides, each locking arm 85 bends backward and overcomes each locking projection 48, and as shown in Figures 22 and 23, the tip (lower end) of each locking arm 85 is housed in each locking groove 47, completing the locking. In this way, the bracket 8B is fixed to the fixing wall portion 4B. In the assembled state shown in Figures 22 and 23, the guide groove 42 holds the narrow portion 82, the guide groove 43 holds the wide portion 83, the shoulder portion 821 is flush with the upper edge of the wall portion body 41, and the shoulder portion 831 is in contact with the upper wall inside the guide groove 43. Also, in the assembled state, the bracket 8B has its shoulder portions 821 and 831 sandwiched in the guide grooves 42 and 43, respectively, the boss 44 protrudes to the rear of the bracket 8 through the insertion hole 8b1, and each locking arm 85 is prevented from coming off by each locking projection 48.

[0063] The assembled fuse box 1B is connected and fixed to the vehicle-side fixing member, similar to the fuse box 1A in the second embodiment. In the fuse box 1B of the third embodiment, similar to the second embodiment, the boss 44 is inserted into the boss insertion part of the vehicle-side fixing member, thereby fastening and fixing the housing 5B, which is fixed to the bracket 8B, to the vehicle-side fixing member while suppressing its rotation.

[0064] Furthermore, the fuse box 1B of the third embodiment, like the fuse box 1A of the second embodiment, has a stepped structure in which the guide groove 43 is located outside the guide groove 42. Therefore, the assembly of the bracket 8B can be done in two stages: first, the boss 44 is inserted into the insertion hole 8b1 in the front-rear direction, and then it is slid in the up-down direction. As a result, the amount of slide stroke can be shortened, improving workability, and the bracket 8B can be made smaller, thus reducing costs. Moreover, by making the assembly method two stages, the insertion hole 8b1 can be closed to form an oval shape without opening the upper edge of the insertion hole 8b1. Therefore, the strength of the bracket 8B can be improved compared to the case in which a part is cut out, such as the bracket 108A of Reference Example 2 shown in Figure 14, etc.

[0065] Furthermore, while the first and second embodiments provided locking pieces 45 and 46 on the housings 5 ​​and 5A, the third embodiment of the fuse box 1B provides the locking arm 85 on the bracket 8B instead of the housing 5B. This configuration avoids complicating the shape of the housing 5B, thereby improving the manufacturability of the parts.

[0066] As described above, the fuse box 1B of the third embodiment offers the same advantages as the fuse box 1A of the second embodiment, but also avoids complicating the shape of the housing 5B, thereby improving the manufacturability of the components.

[0067] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified, improved, etc., as appropriate. In addition, the material, shape, dimensions, numerical values, form, number, placement, etc. of each component in the embodiments described above are arbitrary and not limited, as long as they can achieve the present invention.

[0068] In the first embodiment described above, the fixing wall portion 4 was formed by extending the side wall of the fuse housing portion 51 upward. However, the fixing wall portion only needs to extend from the fuse housing portion 51, and for example, it may be formed by extending the bottom wall of the fuse housing portion 51 in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction. Similarly, the fixing wall portion 4A in the second embodiment and the fixing wall portion 4B in the third embodiment also need to extend from the fuse housing portion.

[0069] Herein, the features of the embodiments of the electrical component housing box according to the present invention described above are briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [5].

[0070] [1] Electrical components (fuse 2) and A housing (5, 5A, 5B) having a bottomed box-shaped electrical component housing section (fuse housing section 51) for housing the aforementioned electrical components, and fixing wall sections (4, 4A, 4B) extending from the electrical component housing section, The system includes brackets (8, 8A, 8B) that extend along the extending direction of the fixing wall, are fixed to the fixing wall, and are connected to the vehicle-side fixing member (9) by fastening members (bolts 6), The fixing wall portion has a pair of bosses (44) that protrude toward the bracket side, The pair of bosses are inserted into a pair of boss insertion portions (9b) provided on the vehicle-side fixing member. Electrical component housing box (fuse box 1, 1A, 1B).

[0071] In the electrical component housing box with the configuration described in [1] above, when the bracket fixed to the fixing wall of the housing is connected to the vehicle-side fixing member by a fastening member, the torque generated in the fastening member tries to rotate the bracket, but this torque is received by a pair of bosses inserted into a pair of boss insertion parts of the vehicle-side fixing member. Therefore, when the housing is assembled to the vehicle side by the fastening member, the rotation of the housing fixed to the bracket can be suppressed. Consequently, even if the electrical component housing box connected to the vehicle side is affected by vehicle vibrations, rattling can be suppressed.

[0072] [2] The brackets (8, 8A, 8B) have a pair of through holes (8b, 8b1, 8b2) into which the pair of bosses are inserted, The pair of bosses are inserted into the pair of boss insertion portions provided on the vehicle-side fixing member via the pair of insertion holes. The electrical component housing boxes (fuse boxes 1, 1A, 1B) described in [1] above.

[0073] With the electrical component housing box configured as described in [2] above, interference with the bracket can be avoided by inserting the boss into the through hole, allowing the housing to be easily assembled to the vehicle.

[0074] [3] The brackets (8A, 8B) are plate-shaped and have a narrow portion (82) and a wide portion (83) that is wider than the narrow portion, with both ends in the width direction having a stepped shape. The fixing wall portion has a pair of bottomed first guide grooves (guide grooves 42) for inserting and holding the narrow portion, and a pair of bottomed second guide grooves (guide grooves 43) for inserting and holding the wide portion. The pair of insertion holes (8b1) each have an oval shape extending in the direction of insertion into the first guide groove and the second guide groove, The electrical component housing boxes (fuse boxes 1A and 1B) described in [2] above.

[0075] In the electrical component housing box with the configuration described in [3] above, the fixing wall portion of the housing is fastened to the vehicle-side fixing member via a bracket by a first fastening member positioned at the opening. Therefore, the protrusion of the first fastening member directly above the electrical components can be suppressed, making it possible to replace electrical components without removing the electrical component housing box, thereby improving work efficiency.

[0076] [4] The bracket (8B) is a metal plate and has a locking piece (locking arm 85) which is a part of the metal plate that has been cut out and bent. The fixing wall portion (4B) has a pair of bottomed third guide grooves (guide grooves 42, 43) for inserting and holding the bracket (8B), and a locking portion (lock projection 48) that is locked to the locking piece when the insertion is complete. The locking piece has a thin-walled portion (852), The electrical component housing box (fuse box 1B) described in [2] above.

[0077] According to the electrical component housing box configuration described in [4] above, by providing a locking piece on the bracket, the bracket and the housing can be fitted together, eliminating the need to provide a locking piece on the housing. Therefore, the housing shape does not become complicated, and the manufacturability of the components can be improved.

[0078] [5] The brackets (8, 8A, 8B) have a first fastening hole (fastening hole 8a) through which the fastening member (bolt 6) is inserted in the thickness direction of the bracket, and for fastening the fastening member to the vehicle side fixing member. The housing is fastened to the vehicle-side fixing member by fastening members inserted through the first fastening hole and the second fastening hole (insertion hole 9a) provided in the vehicle-side fixing member. An electrical component housing box (fuse box 1, 1A, 1B) as described in any of the above [1] to [4].

[0079] According to the electrical component housing box with the configuration described in [5] above, when the housing is assembled to the vehicle side by fastening members inserted through the first fastening hole and the second fastening hole, the rotation of the housing fixed to the bracket can be suppressed. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0080] 1, 1A, 1B Fuse Box 2 fuses 3 bus bars 4, 4A, 4B Fixing wall section 5, 5A, 5B Housing 6 bolts (fastening members) 7 Notch (opening) 8, 8A, 8B brackets 8a Fastening hole (first fastening hole) 8b, 8b1 Through holes 9. Vehicle-side fixing member 9a Through hole (second fastening hole) 9b Boss insertion section 31 Busbar body 32 volts 42, 43 Guide grooves (1st guide groove, 2nd guide groove, 3rd guide groove) 44 Boss 51 Fuse housing 82 Narrow part 83 Wide section 85 Locking arm (locking piece) 852 Thin-walled section

Claims

1. Electrical components and, A housing having a bottomed box-shaped electrical component housing section for housing the aforementioned electrical components, and a fixing wall section extending from the electrical component housing section, The system includes a bracket that extends along the extending direction of the fixing wall, is fixed to the fixing wall, and is connected to the vehicle-side fixing member by a fastening member, The aforementioned fixing wall portion has a pair of bosses that protrude toward the bracket side, The pair of bosses are inserted into a pair of boss insertion portions provided on the vehicle-side fixing member. Electrical component housing box.

2. The bracket has a pair of insertion holes into which the pair of bosses are inserted, The pair of bosses are inserted into the pair of boss insertion portions provided on the vehicle-side fixing member via the pair of insertion holes. The electrical component housing box according to claim 1.

3. The bracket is plate-shaped and has a narrow section and a wider section having a wider width than the narrow section, with both ends in the width direction having a stepped shape. The fixing wall portion has a pair of bottomed first guide grooves for inserting and holding the narrow portion, and a pair of bottomed second guide grooves for inserting and holding the wide portion. The pair of insertion holes each have an oval shape extending in the direction of insertion into the first guide groove and the second guide groove, The electrical component housing box according to claim 2.

4. The bracket is a metal plate, and a part of the metal plate has a locking piece that has been cut and bent. The fixing wall portion has a pair of bottomed third guide grooves for inserting and holding the bracket, and a locking portion that is locked to the locking piece when the insertion is complete. The locking piece has a thin-walled portion, The electrical component housing box according to claim 2.

5. The bracket has a first fastening hole through which the fastening member is inserted in the thickness direction of the bracket, and for fastening the fastening member to the vehicle-side fixing member. The housing is fastened to the vehicle-side fixing member by fastening members inserted through the first fastening hole and the second fastening hole provided in the vehicle-side fixing member. An electrical component housing box according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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