Electrical junction box

Abstract

To provide an electric connection box that eliminates the need for complicated work and enables an external power supply to be easily obtained.SOLUTION: An electric connection box 11 comprises: a case body which has a plurality of connector parts; a power supply-side circuit board and a power supply-side circuit terminal 40 housed in the case body; a ground-side terminal 87 housed in the case body; and a preliminary block mount part which is provided at an upper part of the case body to enable a fuse socket 51 to be freely attached and detached. The fuse socket 51 has: a blade fuse 71 electrically connected between a plus-side terminal 77 connected to a plus-side electric wire 75 of electronic equipment and the power supply-side circuit terminal 40; and a short pin 81 electrically connected between a minus-side terminal 78 connected to a minus-side electric wire 76 of the electronic equipment and the ground-side terminal 87.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] There has been proposed an electrical connection box that can flexibly respond to differences in vehicle types and grades and can reduce further development man-hours and manufacturing costs (see Patent Document 1). This electrical connection box is an electrical connection box provided with an electrical circuit connected to a load provided on a vehicle body. For a base unit provided with a common circuit commonly used for a plurality of vehicle types or grades, a plurality of types of option units each provided with an additional circuit selectively used according to the vehicle type or grade are prepared. Then, by selectively combining the option units with the base unit, an electrical circuit is configured by the common circuit of the base unit and the additional circuit of the selected option unit. These base units and the selected option units are attached to a case made of a synthetic resin prepared for each vehicle type or grade and fixed to the vehicle body.

[0003] In addition, there has been proposed an electrical connection box that can be used across vehicle types (see Patent Document 2). This electrical connection box is composed of an electrical connection box housing (case body), a common relay block, an individually corresponding relay block, a common power supply block, and an individually corresponding semiconductor module. In the accommodation chamber of the electrical connection box housing, one or more blocks of the common relay block, the individually corresponding relay block, and the common power supply block, and the individually corresponding semiconductor module are accommodated, and the blocks that are not accommodated are configured to be accommodated in the accommodation chamber formed in the accommodated blocks.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

[0005] However, with conventional electrical junction boxes, adding power and ground circuits later required removing the lower cover from the casing and disassembling it, which was a cumbersome process.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide an electrical connection box that eliminates the need for complicated work and allows for easy connection of an external power source. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The above objective according to the present invention is achieved by the following configuration. The device comprises a case body having multiple connector sections, a positive-side circuit body housed in the case body, a ground-side circuit body housed in the case body, and a spare connector mounting section provided on the upper part of the case body for attaching and detaching spare connectors. The spare connector is an electrical connection box characterized by having a fuse electrically connected between the positive terminal connected to the positive wire of the electronic device and the positive circuit body, and a shorting pin electrically connected between the negative terminal connected to the negative wire of the electronic device and the ground circuit body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the electrical junction box of the present invention, complicated procedures are eliminated, and an external power supply can be easily obtained.

[0009] 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]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the main parts of an electrical junction box according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the spare connector connection block shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the fuse socket, showing the power supply side circuit terminals of the spare connector connection block. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the fuse socket from below. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the main part of a spare connector connection block in which a fuse socket is mounted on the connector mounting section. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a shorting pin that is installed in a fuse socket mounted on the connector mounting portion of a spare connector connection block. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a key part showing the fuse socket and shorting pin installed in the connector mounting portion of the spare connector connection block. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the case body illustrating the state in which a spare connector connection block equipped with a fuse socket is installed in the spare connector mounting section. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the main part of a spare connector connection block in which a modified fuse socket is mounted on the connector mounting portion. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a perspective view of a modified fuse socket, seen from above. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a perspective view of a modified fuse socket, seen from below. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a perspective view showing a shorting pin to be installed in a modified fuse socket, which is mounted on the connector mounting portion of a spare connector connection block. [Figure 13]FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state in which a short pin is attached to a fuse socket according to a modified example attached to a connector attachment portion of a preliminary connector connection block.

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of an electrical connection box 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the preliminary connector connection block 21 shown in FIG. 1. For example, in a power transmission line of a vehicle, a “fuse block” in which a number of fuses are arranged so as to be removable is used to protect the electric circuits of various electronic devices. Since the fuse block may have a relay or the like, it is also called a “relay box” or a “junction block”. In this specification, these fuse blocks, relay boxes, and junction blocks are collectively referred to as an electrical connection box 11.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the electrical connection box 11 according to this embodiment includes a case body 13 forming an outer shell, a power supply side circuit board 10 as a positive side circuit body housed in the case body 13, and a preliminary block mounting portion 19 provided on the upper part of the case body 13 as a preliminary connector mounting portion for making the preliminary connector detachable, a power supply side circuit terminal 40 as a positive side circuit body housed in a preliminary connector connection block 21 attached to the preliminary block mounting portion 19, a ground side terminal 87 (see FIG. 7) as a ground side circuit body housed in the preliminary connector connection block 21, a lower cover 14 covering the lower opening of the case body 13, and an upper cover (not shown) covering the upper opening of the case body 13.

[0013] For example, on the upper surface of the case body 13, a plurality of connector portions for mounting electrical components such as fuses and fusible links are provided. Further, on the upper part of the case body 13, a preliminary connector mounting portion for making a fuse socket 51, which is a preliminary connector, and a fusible link socket (not shown) detachable is provided.

[0014] In the provisional connector mounting part in the electrical connection box 11 of the present embodiment, by partitioning the case main body 13 with a plurality of partition walls 15, a box-shaped recess forming an opening on the upper surface of the case main body 13, the provisional connector mounting part 17, and the provisional block mounting part 19 are formed. In each of the provisional connector mounting part 17 and the provisional block mounting part 19, terminal parts (not shown) and terminal connection parts 12 on the power supply side circuit board 10 formed by bending or notch-cutting a plate-shaped bus bar are arranged.

[0015] Therefore, for example, the terminal connection part 12 of the power supply side circuit board 10 is electrically connected to the power supply side terminal 73 (refer to FIG. 7) of the blade fuse 71 through the power supply side circuit terminal 40 of the provisional connector connection block 21 mounted on the provisional block mounting part 19. That is, the power supply side circuit board 10 and the power supply side circuit terminal 40 constitute a plus side circuit body connected to the terminal of the power supply side electric wire electrically connected to a battery (not shown).

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, a provisional connector connection block 21 is mounted on this provisional block mounting part 19. And a connector mounting part 25 is formed on the provisional connector connection block 21, and a fuse socket 51 can be mounted. Note that a fusible link socket (not shown) can also be mounted on the connector mounting part 25.

[0017] Also, an earth side terminal mounting part 35 is formed on the provisional connector connection block 21, and an earth side terminal 87 as an earth side circuit body can be mounted. The earth side terminal 87 is connected to the terminal of an earth side electric wire 85 electrically connected to a vehicle body earth part (not shown). The earth side terminal mounting part 35 in the present embodiment has the same configuration as other fuse mounting parts 24.

[0018] In this embodiment, the fuse socket 51 is mounted on the spare block mounting section 19 of the electrical connection box 11 via a spare connector connection block 21. However, the fuse socket 51 can also be directly mounted on the spare connector mounting section 17. In this case, the terminal portion of the power supply side circuit board 10 will be directly connected to the power supply side terminal 73 of the blade fuse 71 mounted on the fuse socket 51.

[0019] The upper cover covers the electrical components mounted on the top of the case body 13, and the lower cover 14 allows the wires to be routed out from the bottom of the case body 13.

[0020] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the fuse socket 51, shown together with the power supply side circuit terminal 40 of the spare connector connection block 21. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the fuse socket 51 from below. The fuse socket 51 has a fuse socket housing (connector housing) 52 made of insulating resin, which has a pair of fuse mounting parts 60, 61 and a wire holding part 53.

[0021] A blade fuse 71 is installed in one of the fuse mounting sections 60, and a short pin 81, which will be described later, is installed in the other fuse mounting section 61. The blade fuse 71 mounted on the fuse mounting section 60 is electrically connected when its power supply side terminal 73 is directly inserted between the pair of clamping pieces 43 of the power supply side circuit terminal 40 housed in the spare connector connection block 21.

[0022] Furthermore, a positive terminal 77 attached to the end of the positive wire 75 of the electronic device is inserted into the equipment-side terminal mounting portion 63 located below one of the fuse mounting portions 60. The positive terminal 77 inserted into the equipment-side terminal mounting portion 63 of one of the fuse mounting portions 60 is directly connected to the load-side terminal 74 of the blade fuse 71 located within one of the fuse mounting portions 60.

[0023] Furthermore, a negative terminal 78 attached to the end of the negative wire 76 of the electronic device is inserted into the equipment-side terminal mounting portion 63 located below the other fuse mounting portion (part of the fuse mounting portion) 61. The negative terminal 78 inserted into the equipment-side terminal mounting portion 63 of the other fuse mounting portion 61 is directly connected to one terminal portion 82a of a shorting pin 81 inserted into the other fuse mounting portion 61.

[0024] The wire holder portion 53 provided on the fuse socket housing 52 is formed in a C-shape in plan view, with one end flanking the wire insertion opening 54 connected to the side surface of the fuse socket housing 52. The other end of the wire holder portion 53 is a free end.

[0025] The wire holding section 53 allows the positive wire 75 and the negative wire 76 to be inserted from the wire insertion opening 54 in a direction perpendicular to the direction of extension. The wire holding section 53 can hold the positive wire 75, which is connected to the positive terminal 77 housed in the fuse socket housing 52 and extends downward from the fuse socket housing 52, and the negative wire 76, which is connected to the negative terminal 78 housed in the fuse socket housing 52 and extends downward from the fuse socket housing 52, in a state where they are pulled out upward from the fuse socket housing 52.

[0026] Therefore, in the fuse socket 51, the positive wire 75 and the negative wire 76, which are initially pulled out from the bottom of the fuse socket housing 52, are inserted into the wire insertion opening 54 and led out to the top of the fuse socket housing 52. Consequently, the positive wire 75 and the negative wire 76 are led out to the top with a 180° bend between the bottom of the fuse socket housing 52 and the wire holding part 53.

[0027] As shown in Figure 2, the spare connector connection block 21 has a housing body 22 molded from insulating resin, which is formed in a roughly rectangular shape in plan view. A busbar connection housing portion 23, which is roughly square in plan view, is integrally molded at one end in the longitudinal direction of the housing body 22. The busbar connection portion 42 of the power supply side circuit terminal 40, which is connected to the terminal connection portion 12 of the power supply side circuit board 10 housed inside the case body 13, is housed in this busbar connection housing portion 23.

[0028] In addition to the connector mounting section 25 and the ground terminal mounting section 35, the housing body 22 is provided with multiple fuse mounting sections 24 and connector mounting sections 34, which allow for the mounting of, for example, a blade fuse 71.

[0029] Furthermore, the housing body 22 is fitted with power supply side circuit terminals 40 that are connected to the power supply side circuit board 10. That is, the spare connector connection block 21, which is attached to the case body 13 that houses the power supply side circuit board 10, has its power supply side circuit terminals 40 connected to the power supply side circuit board 10 of the case body 13 via the busbar connection portion 42.

[0030] The power supply side circuit terminal 40, which is part of the positive side circuit body, is made of a highly conductive metal such as copper, and multiple pairs of tuning fork-shaped clamping pieces 43 are formed along the longitudinal direction of the housing body 22. The power supply side circuit terminal 40 is electrically connected to the power supply side terminal 73 of the blade fuse 71 inserted between the pair of clamping pieces 43. The power supply side circuit terminal 40 is also electrically connected to the terminal of the connector whose tab terminal 44 is attached to the connector mounting part 34.

[0031] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the main part of the spare connector connection block 21 in which the fuse socket 51 is mounted on the connector mounting section 25. The spare connector connection block 21 has a deformation-preventing protective structure in the connector mounting portion 25. The deformation-preventing protective structure has a peripheral wall portion 26 that surrounds the exposed power supply side circuit terminal 40 in the connector mounting portion 25. The peripheral wall portion 26 prevents deformation of the power supply side circuit terminal 40 due to external force. The peripheral wall portion 26 has an upper opening 27 for each pair of clamping pieces 43, which exposes the pair of clamping pieces 43. In addition, the peripheral wall portion 26 is formed by cutting downward from the upper opening 27, allowing the power supply side terminal 73 of the blade fuse 71 to be inserted between the pair of clamping pieces 43.

[0032] The peripheral wall portion 26 has a periphery of the upper opening 27 that forms the upper end surface 29 of the opening. This upper end surface 29 of the opening faces the upper stepped portion 57 of the fuse socket 51 (see Figures 3 to 5). At the base of the peripheral wall portion 26, a seating portion 32 is formed extending from the peripheral wall portion 26, parallel to the upper end surface 29 of the opening. The lower end of the engagement rib 56 of the fuse socket 51 (see Figures 3 to 5) abuts against or is close to this seating portion 32.

[0033] A mounting rib 31 is provided protruding from the inner wall surface 30 of the connector mounting portion 25, having a mounting surface parallel to the upper end surface 29 of the opening. The lower stepped portion 55 of the fuse socket 51 (see Figures 3 to 5) is mounted on the mounting rib 31. The mounting rib 31 extends toward the peripheral wall portion 26 and hangs down with a gap between it and the peripheral wall portion 26, forming an L-shape and connecting to the seat portion 32. The gap between the peripheral wall portion 26 and the hanging mounting rib 31 forms an engagement groove 33. An engagement rib 56 is inserted into the engagement groove 33 from above.

[0034] Furthermore, a ground terminal 87, which serves as a ground circuit, can be attached to the ground terminal mounting section 35, which is provided adjacent to the fuse socket 51 attached to the connector mounting section 25. The other terminal portion 82b of the shorting pin 81 is electrically connected to the ground terminal 87 attached to the ground terminal mounting section 35.

[0035] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a shorting pin 81 that is installed in a fuse socket 51 mounted on the connector mounting portion 25 of a spare connector connection block 21. The fuse socket 51 mounted on the connector mounting portion 25 of the spare connector connection block 21 has at least its lower stepped portion 55 resting on the mounting rib 31, and its engaging rib 56 fitted into the engaging groove 33. This restricts the movement of the fuse socket 51 in the front-to-back direction (parallel to the inner wall surface 30 and perpendicular to the peripheral wall portion 26), the left-to-right direction (longitudinal direction of the connector mounting portion 25), and the downward direction (mounting direction of the fuse socket 51 relative to the connector mounting portion 25).

[0036] The fuse socket 51 is locked to the spare connector connection block 21 via a locking mechanism that can be released from above the case body 13. The locking mechanism consists of a locking arm 65 and an engaging recess 37, as shown in Figures 3 and 5.

[0037] For example, when the fuse socket 51 is attached to the connector mounting portion 25 of the spare connector connection block 21, the locking claw 67 is pressed and pushed in. When the fuse socket 51 is inserted (attached) to the predetermined position, the locking claw 67 of the lock arm 65, which has been displaced by the elastic restoring force, is locked into the engagement recess 37.

[0038] This restricts the fuse socket 51 from detaching from the connector mounting portion 25. On the other hand, when the lock arm 65 is moved using a jig or the like, the engagement with the engagement recess 37 is released, allowing the fuse socket 51 to be detached from the connector mounting portion 25.

[0039] In other words, the electrical connection box 11 of this embodiment allows the fuse socket 51 to be fixed to the connector mounting section 25 with a single touch. Furthermore, the electrical connection box 11 of this embodiment allows the fuse socket 51 to be easily attached and detached by operating the lock arm 65 from above the spare connector connection block 21, thereby releasing the lock at the top of the spare connector connection block 21.

[0040] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the main part showing the state in which a blade fuse 71 and a shorting pin 81 are installed in the fuse socket 51 mounted on the connector mounting portion 25 of the spare connector connection block 21. As shown in Figure 7, a shorting pin 81 is installed in the fuse socket 51 mounted on the connector mounting portion 25 of the spare connector connection block 21.

[0041] The short pin 81 has a U-shaped conductor with one terminal portion 82a that is inserted into the other fuse mounting portion 61 of the fuse socket 51 and the other terminal portion 82b that is inserted into the ground-side terminal mounting portion 35 of the spare connector connection block 21, and the connecting portion of the conductor is covered with insulating resin 84.

[0042] When the shorting pin 81 is attached to the spare connector connection block 21, the negative terminal 78 attached to the equipment-side terminal attachment portion 63 of the other fuse attachment portion (part of the fuse attachment portion) 61 is electrically connected to one terminal portion 82a of the shorting pin 81. At the same time, the ground terminal 87 inserted into the ground-side terminal attachment portion 35 of the spare connector connection block 21 is electrically connected to the other terminal portion 82b of the shorting pin 81.

[0043] Therefore, the ground terminal 87 connected to the end of the ground wire 85 becomes electrically connected to the negative terminal 78 attached to the end of the negative wire 76 via the short pin 81 mounted on the spare connector connection block 21.

[0044] Next, I will explain the function of the above-described configuration. In the electrical connection box 11 according to this embodiment, the case body 13 has a plurality of connector sections and spare connector mounting sections 17 and spare block mounting sections 19. The case body 13 houses a power supply side circuit board 10 as a positive side circuit body. The power supply side circuit board 10 is made of a highly conductive metal such as copper and is housed inside the case body 13, which is made of insulating resin, for example, by being integrally embedded during molding.

[0045] A spare block mounting section 19, located on the upper part of the case body 13, is detachably fitted with a spare connector connection block 21 equipped with a fuse socket 51. When the spare connector connection block 21 is attached to the spare block mounting section 19 of the case body 13, the blade fuse 71 installed in the fuse socket 51 will be electrically connected in series between the positive terminal 77 attached to the end of the positive wire 75 of the electronic device and the power supply side circuit board 10, which is a positive side circuit, via the power supply side circuit terminal 40, which is a positive side circuit.

[0046] Furthermore, the shorting pin 81 attached to the spare connector connection block 21 is electrically connected in series between the negative terminal 78 attached to the end of the negative wire 76 of the electronic device and the ground terminal 87 which serves as the ground circuit.

[0047] The positive wire 75 and negative wire 76, which are led out from the fuse socket 51, pass through the fuse socket housing 52 of the fuse socket 51 vertically and are led out to the top. As a result, in the electrical connection box 11 of this embodiment, even when it is necessary to secure a power supply when adding options or aftermarket parts, all that is required is to insert the fuse socket 51 into the spare connector connection block 21 mounted on the spare block mounting section 19 at the top of the case body 13, and then insert the shorting pin 81.

[0048] Furthermore, in the electrical connection box 11 of this embodiment, the fuse socket 51 has a pair of fuse mounting portions 60 and 61, each capable of mounting a blade fuse 71. The negative terminal 78 attached to the equipment-side terminal attachment portion 63 of the other fuse attachment portion 61 is electrically connected to one terminal portion 82a of the shorting pin 81. At the same time, the ground terminal 87, which is located adjacent to the fuse socket 51 attached to the connector attachment portion 25 of the spare connector connection block 21, is electrically connected to the other terminal portion 82b of the shorting pin 81.

[0049] Therefore, if the ground wire 85 can be connected to the vehicle body ground point located near the electronic device, and there is no need to take out a ground circuit from the electrical connection box 11, the positive terminal 77 attached to the end of the positive wire 75 of the electronic device can also be inserted into the device-side terminal mounting point 63 of the other fuse mounting point 61. Then, blade fuses 71 are mounted in the pair of fuse mounting points 60 and 61, respectively. As a result, power can be supplied for two separate electronic devices.

[0050] Furthermore, in the electrical junction box 11 of this embodiment, the fuse socket 51 has a wire holding portion 53. The wire holding portion 53 allows the positive wire 75 and the negative wire 76 to be inserted from the wire insertion opening 54 in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction.

[0051] Therefore, in the fuse socket 51, the positive wire 75 and the negative wire 76, which are initially pulled out from the bottom of the fuse socket housing 52, are inserted into the wire insertion opening 54 and led out to the top of the fuse socket housing 52. Consequently, the positive wire 75 and the negative wire 76 are led out to the top with a 180° bend between the bottom of the fuse socket housing 52 and the wire holding part 53.

[0052] Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the case body 13, illustrating the state in which the spare connector connection block 21 equipped with a fuse socket 51 is mounted on the spare block mounting section 19. In the electrical connection box 11 of this embodiment, when it becomes necessary to secure a power supply when adding options or aftermarket parts, a fuse socket 51 is inserted into a spare connector connection block 21 mounted on the spare block mounting section 19 of the case body 13. This makes it possible to easily extract power via the blade fuse 71 and the ground circuit via the shorting pin 81 from the electrical junction box 11 later. As a result, it is no longer necessary to remove the lower cover 14 from the case body 13 and disassemble the electrical junction box 11, eliminating complicated work and making it easy to obtain an external power supply.

[0053] The positive wire 75 and negative wire 76, which are led from the fuse socket 51 to the top of the case body 13, are led out to the outside of the electrical connection box 11, for example, between the case body 13 and the upper cover, or through an outlet opening provided in the side cover.

[0054] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the main part of the spare connector connection block 21 in which the modified fuse socket 91 is mounted on the connector mounting portion 25. Figures 10 and 11 are perspective views of the modified fuse socket 91 viewed from above and below. Note that components of the fuse socket 91 similar to those of the fuse socket 51 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed explanations are omitted.

[0055] The fuse socket 91 has a fuse socket housing 52 made of insulating resin, which includes a fuse mounting portion 60, a terminal mounting portion 100 on which a negative terminal 78 can be attached, and a wire holding portion 53.

[0056] A blade fuse 71 is installed in the fuse mounting section 60, and a shorting pin 111, which will be described later, is installed in the terminal mounting section 100. The blade fuse 71 mounted on the fuse mounting section 60 is electrically connected when its power supply side terminal 73 is directly inserted between the pair of clamping pieces 43 of the power supply side circuit terminal 40 housed in the spare connector connection block 21A.

[0057] Furthermore, a positive terminal 77 attached to the end of the positive wire 75 of the electronic device is inserted into the equipment-side terminal mounting section 63 of the fuse mounting section 60. The positive terminal 77 inserted into the equipment-side terminal mounting section 63 of the fuse mounting section 60 is directly connected to the load-side terminal 74 of the blade fuse 71 inside the fuse mounting section 60.

[0058] Figure 12 is a perspective view showing a shorting pin 111 that is attached to a modified fuse socket 91, which is mounted on the connector mounting portion 25 of the spare connector connection block 21A. A negative terminal 78 attached to the end of the negative wire 76 of the electronic device is inserted into the equipment-side terminal mounting portion 101 located below the terminal mounting portion 100. The negative terminal 78 inserted into the equipment-side terminal mounting portion 101 is directly connected to one terminal portion 112a of the shorting pin 111 inserted into the terminal mounting portion 100.

[0059] Furthermore, a ground terminal 87, which serves as a ground circuit, can be attached to the ground terminal mounting section 35A, which is provided adjacent to the fuse socket 91 attached to the connector mounting section 25. The other terminal portion 112b of the shorting pin 111 is electrically connected to the ground terminal 87 attached to the ground terminal mounting section 35A.

[0060] Figure 13 is a perspective view showing a modified fuse socket 91 with a shorting pin 111 attached, mounted on the connector mounting portion 25 of the spare connector connection block 21A. As shown in Figure 13, a shorting pin 111 is installed in the fuse socket 91 mounted on the connector mounting portion 25 of the spare connector connection block 21A.

[0061] The short pin 111 has a U-shaped conductor with one terminal portion 112a that is inserted into the terminal mounting portion 100 of the fuse socket 91 and the other terminal portion 112b that is inserted into the ground-side terminal mounting portion 35A of the spare connector connection block 21A, and the connecting portion of the conductor is covered with insulating resin 114.

[0062] When the shorting pin 111 is attached to the spare connector connection block 21A which is mounted on the spare block mounting section 19, the negative terminal 78 mounted on the equipment-side terminal mounting section 101 of the terminal mounting section 100 is electrically connected to one terminal section 112a of the shorting pin 111. At the same time, the ground terminal 87 inserted into the ground-side terminal mounting section 35A of the spare connector connection block 21A is electrically connected to the other terminal section 112b of the shorting pin 111.

[0063] Therefore, the ground terminal 87 connected to the end of the ground wire 85 becomes electrically connected to the negative terminal 78 attached to the end of the negative wire 76 via the short pin 111 mounted on the spare connector connection block 21A.

[0064] Therefore, when adding options or aftermarket parts and it becomes necessary to secure a power supply, the fuse socket 91 is inserted into the spare connector connection block 21A mounted on the spare block mounting section 19 of the case body 13.

[0065] This makes it possible to easily extract the power supply via the blade fuse 71 and the ground circuit via the shorting pin 111 from the electrical junction box 11 at a later date. As a result, it is no longer necessary to remove the lower cover 14 from the case body 13 and disassemble the electrical junction box 11, eliminating the need for complicated work and making it easy to obtain an external power supply.

[0066] The above explanation used the example of a spare connector being a fuse socket 51 or 91, but the spare connector performs the same function even if it is a fusible link socket equipped with a fusible link.

[0067] Here, the features of the electrical junction box relating to the embodiment of the present invention described above are briefly summarized and listed below. [1] The device comprises a case body (13) having multiple connector sections, a positive side circuit body (power supply side circuit board 10, power supply side circuit terminal 40) housed in the case body, a ground side circuit body (ground side terminal 87) housed in the case body, and a spare connector mounting section (17, spare block mounting section 19) provided on the upper part of the case body for attaching and detaching spare connectors (fuse sockets 51, 91), The spare connector is an electrical connection box (11) characterized by having a fuse (blade fuse 71) electrically connected between a positive terminal (77) connected to the positive wire (75) of the electronic device and the positive circuit body, and a shorting pin (81, 111) electrically connected between a negative terminal (78) connected to the negative wire (76) of the electronic device and the ground circuit body.

[0068] According to the electrical junction box (11) with the configuration described in [1] above, the case body (13) has a plurality of connector sections and a spare connector mounting section (17, spare block mounting section 19). The case body houses the positive side circuit body (power supply side circuit board 10, power supply side circuit terminals 40). The positive side circuit body is made of a highly conductive metal such as copper. Spare connectors (fuse sockets 51, 91) are detachably mounted in the spare connector mounting section provided on the top of the case body. The spare connector has a fuse (blade fuse 71) and shorting pins (81, 111). When the spare connector is installed in the spare connector mounting section of the case body, the fuse is electrically connected in series between the positive terminal (77) connected to the end of the positive wire (75) electrically connected to the electronic device and the positive circuit body. The shorting pin, when installed in the spare connector mounting section, is electrically connected in series between the negative terminal (78) attached to the end of the negative wire (76) of the electronic device and the ground circuit body (ground terminal 87). As a result, with this electrical junction box configuration, even when adding options or aftermarket parts and needing to secure a power supply, all that is required is to insert (attach) a spare connector to the spare connector mounting area on the top of the case body. In other words, it becomes possible to easily take out power via a fuse and a ground circuit via a shorting pin from the electrical junction box at a later date. As a result, it becomes unnecessary to remove the lower cover (14) from the case body and disassemble the electrical junction box, eliminating complicated work and making it easy to obtain an external power supply.

[0069] [2] The spare connector (fuse socket 51) has a plurality of fuse mounting sections (60, 61) on which the fuses (blade fuses 71) can each be mounted, The negative terminal (78) attached to the equipment-side terminal attachment portion (63) of some of the fuse attachment portions (61) in the plurality of fuse attachment portions is electrically connected to one terminal portion (82a) of the shorting pin (81). The electrical connection box (11) according to (1) above, characterized in that the ground-side circuit body (ground-side terminal 87) provided adjacent to the spare connector mounted on the spare connector mounting portion (spare block mounting portion 19) is electrically connected to the other terminal portion (82b) of the shorting pin.

[0070] According to the electrical junction box (11) with the configuration described in [2] above, the ground wire (85) can be connected to the vehicle body ground located near the electronic equipment, and if it is not necessary to take out the ground circuit from the electrical junction box, the positive terminal (77) attached to the end of the positive wire (75) of the electronic equipment can also be inserted into the equipment-side terminal mounting part (63) of one of the fuse mounting parts (the other fuse mounting part 61). Then, fuses (blade fuses 71) are installed in each of the multiple fuse mounting parts (60, 61). As a result, power can be supplied for multiple electronic equipment systems.

[0071] [3] The spare connector (fuse socket 91) has a fuse mounting portion (60) on which the fuse (blade fuse 71) can be mounted and a terminal mounting portion (100) on which the negative terminal (78) can be mounted. The electrical connection box (11) according to [1] above, characterized in that the negative terminal mounted on the terminal mounting portion is electrically connected to one terminal portion (112a) of the shorting pin (111), and the ground side circuit body (ground side terminal 87) provided adjacent to the spare connector mounted on the spare connector mounting portion (spare block mounting portion 19) is electrically connected to the other terminal portion (112b) of the shorting pin.

[0072] According to the electrical junction box (11) with the configuration described in [3] above, when the shorting pin (111) is attached to the spare connector (fuse socket 91), the negative terminal (78) attached to the terminal mounting section (100) is electrically connected to one terminal section (112a) of the shorting pin. At the same time, the ground circuit (ground terminal 87) is electrically connected to the other terminal section (112b) of the shorting pin. Therefore, the ground side circuit (ground side terminal 87) becomes electrically connected to the negative side terminal (78) via a shorting pin attached to the spare connector.

[0073] [4] The spare connector (fuse socket 51, 91) is characterized by having a wire holding portion (53) that holds the positive wire (75), one end of which is connected to the positive terminal (77) housed in the connector housing (fuse socket housing 52) and extends downward from the spare connector, and the negative wire (76), one end of which is connected to the negative terminal (78) housed in the connector housing and extends downward from the spare connector, in a state where they are pulled out above the spare connector. This is the electrical connection box (11) according to any one of [1] to [3] above.

[0074] According to the electrical junction box (11) with the configuration described in [4] above, the spare connector (fuse socket 51, 91) has a wire retaining part (53). In the spare connector, the positive wire (75) and the negative wire (76), which have been drawn out from the bottom of the connector housing (fuse socket housing 52), are led to the top of the connector housing by the wire retaining part. Therefore, with this electrical junction box configuration, by attaching a spare connector to the top of the case body, the positive and negative wires can be easily led out from the top of the case body.

[0075] 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, 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. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 10…Power supply side circuit board (positive side circuit unit) 11… Electrical junction box 13…Case body 17... Spare connector mounting section 19… Spare block mounting section (Spare connector mounting section) 21... Spare connector connection block 22… Housing body 40…Power supply side circuit terminal (positive side circuit body) 51…Fuse socket (spare connector) 71…Blade fuse (fuse) 75...Positive side wire 76... Negative wire 77...Positive terminal 78... Negative terminal 81...Short pin 87...Ground terminal (ground circuit)

Claims

1. The device comprises a case body having multiple connector sections, a positive-side circuit body housed in the case body, a ground-side circuit body housed in the case body, and a spare connector mounting section provided on the upper part of the case body for attaching and detaching spare connectors. The spare connector is an electrical connection box characterized by having a fuse electrically connected between the positive terminal connected to the positive wire of the electronic device and the positive circuit body, and a shorting pin electrically connected between the negative terminal connected to the negative wire of the electronic device and the ground circuit body.

2. The spare connector has a plurality of fuse mounting sections, each capable of mounting a fuse. The negative terminal attached to the equipment-side terminal mounting portion of some of the fuse mounting portions in the plurality of fuse mounting portions is electrically connected to one terminal portion of the shorting pin. The electrical connection box according to claim 1, characterized in that the ground-side circuit body provided adjacent to the spare connector mounted on the spare connector mounting portion is electrically connected to the other terminal portion of the shorting pin.

3. The spare connector has a fuse mounting portion on which the fuse can be attached and a terminal mounting portion on which the negative terminal can be attached. The electrical connection box according to claim 1, characterized in that the negative terminal mounted on the terminal mounting portion is electrically connected to one terminal portion of the shorting pin, and the ground circuit body provided adjacent to the spare connector mounted on the spare connector mounting portion is electrically connected to the other terminal portion of the shorting pin.

4. The electrical connection box according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the spare connector has a wire holding portion that holds the positive wire, one end of which is connected to the positive terminal housed in the connector housing and extends downward from the spare connector, and the negative wire, one end of which is connected to the negative terminal housed in the connector housing and extends downward from the spare connector, in a state where they are pulled out above the spare connector.

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