Electrical junction box

Abstract

To provide an electric connection box capable of preventing a mating part of a frame and a lower cover from biting an electric wire and preventing water running into from the mating part from being splashed on an electronic component.SOLUTION: A frame 2 of an electric connection box 1 includes: a frame-like peripheral wall; a component housing part 3 provided inside the peripheral wall; an inclined wall 23; and reinforcing ribs 24 and 25. A lower end part of the peripheral wall makes a mating part 10 overlapped with an outer face of a lower cover 4. A single wall 31 constituting the component housing part 3 is a part of the peripheral wall. A connector 7 attached to a terminal of an electric wire group 6 is fitted to a bottom face of a power integration 5 attached to the component housing part 3. The inclined wall 23 extends from a portion higher than the mating part 10 in an inner face of the single wall 31 and lower than the power integration 5 to a lower and inside of the peripheral wall.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] An electrical connection box mounted on an automobile for distributing power from a power source side to a load side is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). There are various structures for this electrical connection box, and as an example, there is one with the structure shown in FIG. 7.

[0003] The electrical connection box 501 shown in FIG. 7 includes a resin frame 502, a power integration 505 mounted on the frame 502, a connector 507 fitted to the bottom surface of the power integration 505, and a resin lower cover 504.

[0004] The frame 502 includes a frame-shaped peripheral wall 521. Inside the peripheral wall 521, a component accommodation portion 503 for accommodating the power integration 505 is provided. The lower cover 504 is attached to the lower surface of the frame 502.

[0005] The connector 507 is attached to the terminal of a wire group 506 routed between the frame 502 and the lower cover 504.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] In the conventional electrical junction box 501 described above, there was a risk of wires getting caught in the joint 510 where the lower end of the peripheral wall 521 and the outer surface of the lower cover 504 overlap. Also, as shown by the arrow in Figure 7, there was a risk of water entering from the joint 510 and the terminals at the bottom of the power integration 505 being exposed to water.

[0008] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide an electrical connection box that can prevent wires from getting caught in the joint between the frame and the lower cover, and that can prevent water entering through the joint from coming into contact with electronic components. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention relates to an electrical connection box comprising a frame having a frame-shaped peripheral wall, an electronic component mounted in a component housing inside the peripheral wall, a connector attached to the end of a group of electric wires and fitted to the bottom surface of the electronic component, and a lower cover attached to the lower surface of the frame, wherein the lower end of the peripheral wall forms a joint that overlaps with the outer surface of the lower cover, the component housing comprises a plurality of walls surrounding the electronic component and is open to the top and bottom, one of the plurality of walls is part of the peripheral wall, and the inner surface of the one wall comprises an inclined wall extending downward and inward from a portion above the joint and below the electronic component and inward of the peripheral wall. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent electric wires from getting caught in the joint between the frame and the lower cover, and to prevent water that enters through the joint from coming into contact with electronic components. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of an electrical junction box according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the lower part of the component housing. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing only the frame. [Figure 5] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the component housing section upside down. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view along line BB in Figure 5. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view of a conventional electrical junction box. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] An "electrical junction box" according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6.

[0013] The electrical junction box 1 shown in Figure 1 is mounted in a vehicle and distributes power from the power source to the load. This electrical junction box 1 comprises a frame 2 on which multiple components are attached, an upper cover attached to the top surface 2a of the frame 2, and a lower cover 4 attached to the bottom surface 2b of the frame 2.

[0014] In this specification, the depth direction of frame 2 is defined as the vertical direction, and one surface in the depth direction, on which relays and fuses are mainly mounted, is defined as the upper surface 2a. The other surface in the depth direction, on which wires and busbars that are mainly electrically connected to relays and fuses are mainly mounted, is defined as the lower surface 2b.

[0015] Frame 2 is made of an insulating synthetic resin and is obtained by injection molding using a mold. Frame 2 has a frame-shaped peripheral wall 20, and a component housing section 3 is provided inside the peripheral wall 20.

[0016] The perimeter wall 20 is a double wall consisting of an inner perimeter wall 21 and an outer perimeter wall 22. The outer perimeter wall 22 is not formed over the entire perimeter wall 20, but rather partially formed in areas where waterproofing and strength are required.

[0017] The inner peripheral wall 21 is formed over substantially the entire area of the peripheral wall 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the lower end portion 21b of the inner peripheral wall 21 overlaps with the upper end portion 41a of the peripheral wall 41 of the lower cover 4. Also, the inner surface of the inner peripheral wall 21 and the outer surface of the peripheral wall 41 of the lower cover 4 overlap. This overlapping portion is referred to as the "joint portion 10". A stepped portion 42 against which the lower end of the inner peripheral wall 21 abuts is provided on the outer surface of the peripheral wall 41 of the lower cover 4.

[0018] The component housing portion 3 is a portion for housing the power integration 5 as an "electronic component". The power integration 5 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape in plan view. As shown in FIG. 2, a connector 7 is fitted to the bottom surface of the power integration 5. The connector 7 is attached to the terminal of a group of electric wires 6 routed between the frame 2 and the lower cover 4.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the component housing portion 3 includes four walls 31, 32, 33, 34 that surround the power integration 5, locking structures 35, 36 for locking to the power integration 5, and a fall prevention wall 37, and is open at the top and bottom.

[0020] The wall 31 is a part of the inner peripheral wall 21 described above. The wall 31 and the wall 32 are arranged opposite to each other. Also, the wall 33 and the wall 34 are arranged opposite to each other.

[0021] The locking structure 35 is composed of a rib 31a protruding from the end of the wall 31 near the wall 33 toward the wall 32, a rib 32a protruding from the end of the wall 32 near the wall 33 toward the wall 31, and a recess 33a formed in the wall 33. These rib 31a, rib 32a, and recess 33a lock to one end side in the longitudinal direction of the power integration 5.

[0022] Also, the locking structure 36 for locking to the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the power integration 5 is composed of a rib 31b protruding from the end of the wall 31 near the wall 34 toward the wall 32, a rib 32b protruding from the end of the wall 32 near the wall 34 toward the wall 31, and a recess 34a formed in the wall 34.

[0023] The fall prevention wall 37 protrudes from the lower part of wall 32 toward wall 31.

[0024] The power integration 5 is fitted into the component housing 3 from above, and is then attached to the component housing 3 by the locking structures 35 and 36 described above.

[0025] Furthermore, frame 2 includes the inclined wall 23 shown in Figures 2, 3, 5, and 6, and a number of reinforcing ribs 24 and 25 that connect the inclined wall 23 and the wall 31 to each other.

[0026] The inclined wall 23 extends downward from the portion above the joint 10 on the inner surface of the wall 31 and below the power integration 5, and inward from the periphery wall 20.

[0027] The reinforcing ribs 24 and 25 connect the side of the inclined wall 23 opposite to wall 32 to the inner surface of wall 31, i.e., the inner surface of the inner peripheral wall 21. Multiple reinforcing ribs 24 and 25 are arranged at equal intervals in the opposing directions of walls 33 and 34. Furthermore, multiple reinforcing ribs 24 and 25 are formed so that the height of the lower end positions of adjacent reinforcing ribs 24 and 25 are different, and furthermore, the height of the lower end positions of one reinforcing rib 24 or 25 and the reinforcing rib 24 or 25 two adjacent to it are the same. In other words, long reinforcing ribs 24 and short reinforcing ribs 25 are arranged alternately in the vertical direction. These reinforcing ribs 24 and 25 prevent the inclined wall 23 from collapsing or deforming.

[0028] In the electrical junction box 1 described above, the routing direction of the wire group 6 hanging down from the bottom surface of the power integration 5 can be directed inward towards the surrounding wall 20 by the inclined wall 23, preventing the wires from getting caught in the joint 10.

[0029] Furthermore, in the electrical junction box 1, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 2, water entering from the joint 10 can be directed downward by the inclined wall 23, preventing the lower part of the power integration 5 from being submerged in water. In addition, by arranging the reinforcing ribs 24 and 25 alternately in length, it is possible to avoid the water entering from the joint 10 concentrating in one area, thereby improving waterproofing. Specifically, in each section B1, B2, B3, and B4 shown in Figure 6, the central reinforcing rib 25 is short, causing water to bounce off in various directions as indicated by the dashed arrow, resulting in wider water dispersion than if all reinforcing ribs 24 were long.

[0030] Furthermore, in the electrical connection box 1 described above, even if the power integration 5 becomes detached from the locking structures 35 and 36, the fall prevention wall 37 and the inclined wall 23 can prevent the power integration 5 from falling.

[0031] In the embodiments described above, the power integration 5 was used as an example of an electronic component, but the electronic component is not limited to the power integration.

[0032] In the embodiment described above, the lower end positions of adjacent reinforcing ribs 24 and 25 were formed to be at different heights, but they may also be formed to be at the same height at the lower end positions of adjacent reinforcing ribs.

[0033] The embodiments described above merely represent typical forms of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. That is, it can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the core principles of the present invention. As long as such modifications still possess the configuration of the present invention, they are of course included within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1. Electrical junction box 2 frames 3. Parts housing section 4 Lower Cover 5. Power Integration (Electronic Components) 6 wire group 7 Connectors 10 Joint 20 Peripheral wall 23 Slanted wall 24,25 Ribs 31, 32, 33, 34 Wall

Claims

1. It comprises a frame with a frame-shaped peripheral wall, electronic components mounted in a component housing inside the peripheral wall, a connector attached to the end of a group of wires and fitted to the bottom surface of the electronic components, and a lower cover attached to the lower surface of the frame, The lower end of the peripheral wall forms a joint that overlaps with the outer surface of the lower cover. The component housing comprises a plurality of walls surrounding the electronic component, and has openings at the top and bottom, with one of the plurality of walls being part of the peripheral wall. The inner surface of the first wall includes an inclined wall that extends downward and inward from a portion above the joint and below the electronic component, and inward from the peripheral wall. An electrical junction box characterized by the following features.

2. The device is equipped with multiple reinforcing ribs connecting the aforementioned inclined wall and the aforementioned wall. The electrical junction box according to feature 1.

3. The reinforcing ribs are formed so that the height of the lower end positions of adjacent ribs is different. The electrical junction box according to feature 2.

4. The reinforcing rib is formed so that the height of the lower end position of one reinforcing rib and the two reinforcing ribs adjacent to it are the same. The electrical junction box according to feature 3.

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