Electrical junction box

Abstract

To provide an electric connection box with improved waterproofness.SOLUTION: A frame 4 has a tube-like opening section 41 on the upper side. An upper cover 6 covers the opening section 41 on the upper side of the frame 4. An annular packing 7 is attached to the upper cover 6 so as to be mated along with the edge of the opening section 41 on the upper side. An upper end section 42 of the frame 4 prevents a gap G between the frame 4 and the upper cover 6 by contacting the packing 7. A first magnet 8 is fixed to the frame 4, and a second magnet 9 is fixed to the upper cover 6. The first magnet 8 and the second magnet 9 are arranged so as to face each other in the vertical direction, which is the contact direction between the packing 7 and the upper end section 42, in a state that the upper cover 6 is attached to the frame 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] An electrical connection box mounted on a vehicle and housing electronic components is known (Patent Document 1). The electrical connection box of Patent Document 1 has a frame and a cover that closes the opening of the frame. By attaching a packing to the cover, the gap between the frame and the cover is blocked to achieve waterproofing.

[0003] However, in the above-described conventional electrical connection box, the packing may sag due to aging deterioration or the like, a gap may form between the frame or the cover and the packing, and water may enter through the gap.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an electrical connection box with improved waterproof performance.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the electrical connection box according to the present invention is characterized by the following. An electrical connection box comprising: a cylindrical frame having an opening formed therein; a cover attached to the frame and covering the opening; and an annular packing attached to one of the frame and the cover and provided along the edge of the opening, wherein the other of the frame and the cover is provided with a packing contact portion that contacts the packing and seals the gap between the frame and the cover, A first magnet fixed to the frame, The cover is fixed to a second magnet, The first magnet and the second magnet are fixed so as to face each other in the direction of contact between the packing and the packing contact portion when the cover is attached to the frame. It must be an electrical junction box. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electrical connection box with improved waterproofing.

[0008] 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]

[0009] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a right-hand perspective view showing one embodiment of the electrical junction box of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a left-side perspective view of the electrical connection shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical junction box shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Figure 1. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of the case where the cover is assembled in the wrong direction. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the figures. The electrical junction box is equipped with electronic components and is located in the engine compartment of the vehicle.

[0011] For the sake of explanation, the terms "front," "back," "left," "right," "up," and "down" are defined below as shown in Figures 1 to 4. The "front-back direction," "left-right direction," and "up-down direction" are mutually orthogonal. The up-down direction corresponds to the "contact direction" of this invention, and the left-right direction corresponds to the "opposing direction" of this invention.

[0012] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the electrical junction box 1 comprises electronic components 2 such as relays and fuses, and a case 3 that houses the electronic components 2. The case 3 comprises a frame 4, a lower cover 5 and an upper cover 6, an annular packing 7, a first magnet 8 and a second magnet 9. The frame 4, lower cover 5 and upper cover 6 are made of insulating resin.

[0013] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the frame 4 is provided in a cylindrical shape with an upper opening 41 and a lower opening (not shown) facing each other in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the frame 4 is provided in a roughly rectangular cylindrical shape that is elongated in the front-rear direction. The lower cover 5 is attached to the frame 4 and covers the lower opening. The upper cover 6 is attached to the frame 4 and covers the upper opening 41. The packing 7 is made of an elastic material such as foamed rubber. In this embodiment, the packing 7 is attached to the upper cover 6 and is provided in an annular shape along the edge of the upper opening 41.

[0014] As shown in Figure 4, the upper cover 6 has a cover body 61 (see Figures 1 to 3) that covers the upper opening 41, an inner wall portion 62, a wall portion 63, and an outer wall portion 64. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the cover body 61 is provided in a rectangular shape that is elongated in the front-to-back direction. The inner wall portion 62 is erected downward from the entire periphery of the cover body 61 and is provided in a rectangular tubular shape with an opening at the bottom.

[0015] The wall portion 63 stands upright outward from the inner wall portion 62. In the present embodiment, the wall portion 63 is provided to stand upright across the entire circumference of the square tubular inner wall portion 62. The outer wall portion 64 stands upright downward from the entire outer edge portion of the wall portion 63 and faces the inner wall portion 62. As shown in FIG. 4, the lower end of the outer wall portion 64 is provided so as to be lower than the lower end of the inner wall portion 62.

[0016] According to the above configuration, the packing mounting groove 65 that opens downward is formed by the inner wall portion 62, the wall portion 63, and the outer wall portion 64. The packing 7 is mounted in this packing mounting groove 65. That is, the packing 7 is mounted between the inner wall portion 62 and the outer wall portion 64. The upper end portion 42 as the packing contact portion of the frame 4 contacts the packing 7 mounted in the packing mounting groove 65 in the vertical direction to close the gap between the frame 4 and the upper cover 6.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, the first magnet 8 is fixed to the frame 4. The second magnet 9 is fixed to the upper cover 6. As shown in FIG. 4, the first magnet 8 and the second magnet 9 are respectively fixed so as to face each other in the vertical direction in a state where the upper cover 6 is attached to the frame 4.

[0018] More specifically, the first magnet 8 is fixed to the outer surface of the frame 4. As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, an annular fixing portion 43 penetrating in the vertical direction for fixing the first magnet 8 protrudes from the outer surface of the frame 4. As shown in FIG. 4, a groove 81 is provided in the first magnet 8 around an axis along the vertical direction, and the fixing portion 43 can be fitted into this groove 81 to fix the first magnet 8 and the frame 4.

[0019] Further, the second magnet 9 is fixed to the outer surface of the outer wall portion 64 of the upper cover 6. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the second magnet 9 is fixed to the upper cover 6 such that the lower end of the second magnet 9 and the lower end of the outer wall portion 64 are at the same position. As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, an annular fixing portion 66 penetrating in the vertical direction for fixing the second magnet 9 is provided so as to project from the outer wall portion 64 of the upper cover 6. As shown in FIG. 4, a groove 91 is provided in the second magnet 9 around an axis along the vertical direction, and the second magnet 9 and the upper cover 6 can be fixed by fitting the fixing portion 66 into the groove 91.

[0020] Also, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the present embodiment, two first magnets 8 are respectively fixed to the right outer surface and the left outer surface of the frame 4. As shown in FIG. 1, the two first magnets 8 fixed to the right outer surface of the frame 4 are fixed side by side in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the two first magnets 8 fixed to the left outer surface of the frame 4 are also fixed side by side in the front-rear direction. The front sides of the two first magnets 8 fixed to the right outer surface of the frame 4 and the front sides of the two first magnets 8 fixed to the left outer surface of the frame 4 are fixed side by side in the left-right direction. The rear sides of the two first magnets 8 fixed to the right outer surface of the frame 4 and the rear sides of the two first magnets 8 fixed to the left outer surface of the frame 4 are fixed side by side in the left-right direction.

[0021] Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the first magnet 8 fixed to the right outer surface of the frame 4 is arranged such that the upper side is the S pole and the lower side is the N pole, and the S pole faces the second magnet 9. As shown in FIG. 2, the first magnet 8 fixed to the left outer surface of the frame 4 is arranged such that the upper side is the N pole and the lower side is the S pole, and the N pole faces the second magnet 9. That is, the first magnets 8 fixed side by side in the left-right direction have different magnetic poles on the surfaces facing the second magnet 9.

[0022] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, in this embodiment, the second magnet 9 is fixed to the right outer surface and the left outer surface of the outer wall portion 64 of the upper cover 6, respectively. As shown in Figure 1, the two second magnets 9 fixed to the right outer surface of the outer wall portion 64 are fixed side by side in the front-to-back direction. As shown in Figure 2, the two second magnets 9 fixed to the left outer surface of the outer wall portion 64 are also fixed side by side in the front-to-back direction. The front of the two second magnets 9 fixed to the right outer surface of the outer wall portion 64 and the front of the two second magnets 9 fixed to the left outer surface of the outer wall portion 64 are fixed side by side in the left-to-right direction. The rear of the two second magnets 9 fixed to the right outer surface of the outer wall portion 64 and the rear of the two second magnets 9 fixed to the left outer surface of the outer wall portion 64 are fixed side by side in the left-to-right direction.

[0023] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, the second magnet 9 fixed to the right outer surface of the outer wall 64 is positioned so that its upper side is the south pole and its lower side is the north pole, with the north pole facing the first magnet 8. As shown in Figure 2, the second magnet 9 fixed to the left outer surface of the outer wall 64 is positioned so that its upper side is the north pole and its lower side is the south pole, with the south pole facing the first magnet 8. In other words, the second magnets 9 fixed side by side in the left-right direction have different magnetic poles on the faces facing the first magnet 8.

[0024] Next, the procedure for attaching the upper cover 6 to the frame 4 described above will be explained. First, attach the upper cover 6 from above the frame 4. If, by mistake, the right side of the upper cover 6 is attached with the left side facing left and the left side with the right side facing right, as shown in Figure 5, the same poles of the first magnet 8 and the second magnet 9 will face each other in the vertical direction, creating a repulsive force, and the upper cover 6 cannot be attached to the frame 4.

[0025] On the other hand, when the upper cover 6 is installed in the correct orientation with the right side facing right and the left side facing left, the opposite poles of the first magnet 8 and the second magnet 9 face each other in the vertical direction, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The attractive force generated between the first magnet 8 and the second magnet 9 allows the upper cover 6 to be attached to the frame 4. In addition, the attractive force generated between the first magnet 8 and the second magnet 9 presses the upper end portion 42 of the frame 4 against the packing 7, thereby improving waterproofing.

[0026] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, when the frame 4 is attached to the upper cover 6, the first magnet 8 and the second magnet 9 are fixed so as to be positioned vertically with a gap G between them.

[0027] Therefore, even if the packing 7 deteriorates and shrinks vertically, the gap G shrinks due to the attractive force of the first magnet 8 and the second magnet 9, further pushing the upper end 42 of the frame 4 toward the packing 7. As a result, the waterproof performance does not decrease even if the packing 7 deteriorates.

[0028] According to the embodiment described above, the first magnet 8 and the second magnet 9 are fixed to the frame 4 with the upper cover 6 attached so as to face each other in the vertical direction, which is the direction of contact between the packing 7 and the upper end portion 42. As a result, the attractive force of the first magnet 8 and the second magnet 9 brings the packing 7 and the upper end portion 42 closer together, thereby improving waterproofing.

[0029] According to the embodiment described above, the packing 7 is installed between the inner wall portion 62 and the outer wall portion 64 of the upper cover 6, the first magnet 8 is fixed to the outer surface of the outer wall portion 64, and the second magnet 9 is fixed to the outer surface of the frame 4. This allows the first magnet 8 and the second magnet 9 to be fixed facing each other in the vertical direction with a simple configuration.

[0030] According to the embodiment described above, the first magnet 8 and the second magnet 9 are fixed to the frame 4 with a gap G between them and each other when the upper cover 6 is attached. As a result, even if the packing 7 deteriorates as described above, the waterproof performance will not decrease.

[0031] According to the embodiment described above, the second magnets 9, which are fixed side by side in the left-right direction, have different magnetic poles on the faces facing the first magnet 8. As a result, if the upper cover 6 is installed incorrectly with its left-right orientation reversed, the same magnetic poles of the first magnet 8 and the second magnet 9 will face each other, making it impossible to attach the upper cover 6 to the frame 4. Therefore, incorrect assembly of the upper cover 6 can be prevented.

[0032] 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.

[0033] In the embodiment described above, the first magnet 8 and the second magnet 9 were fixed to the frame 4 and the upper cover 6 so as to face each other in the vertical direction, but this is not the only configuration. The first magnet 8 and the second magnet 9 may also be fixed to the frame 4 and the upper cover 6 so as to face each other in the left-right direction and the front-back direction.

[0034] In the embodiment described above, the packing 7 was fitted into a packing mounting groove 65 provided in the upper cover 6, but it is not limited to this. The packing 7 may also be fitted into a packing mounting groove 65 provided in the frame 4.

[0035] In the embodiment described above, the first magnet 8 and the second magnet 9 are fixed facing each other with a gap G between them, but this is not the only configuration. The gap G between the first magnet 8 and the second magnet 9 may be omitted.

[0036] According to the embodiment described above, the second magnets 9 fixed to the right and left sides of the upper cover 6 have different magnetic poles on the sides facing the first magnet 8, but this is not the only option. As long as the shape of the upper cover 6 prevents incorrect assembly, the second magnets 9 fixed to the right and left sides of the upper cover 6 may have the same magnetic poles facing the first magnet 8.

[0037] Herein, the features of the embodiments of the electrical junction box according to the present invention described above are briefly listed below in [1] to [4]. [1] An electrical junction box (1) comprising: a cylindrical frame (4) having an opening (41) formed therein; a cover (6) attached to the frame (4) and covering the opening (41); and an annular packing (7) attached to one of the frame (4) and the cover (6) and provided along the edge of the opening (41), wherein the other of the frame (4) and the cover (6) is provided with a packing contact portion that contacts the packing (7) and seals the gap between the frame (4) and the cover (6), The first magnet (8) is fixed to the frame (4), The cover (6) is fixed to a second magnet (9), The first magnet (8) and the second magnet (9) are fixed to the frame (4) with the cover (6) attached so that they face each other in the direction of contact (up and down) between the packing (7) and the packing contact portion (42). Electrical junction box (1).

[0038] According to the configuration described in [1] above, the first magnet (8) and the second magnet (9) are fixed to the frame (4) with the cover (6) attached so as to face each other in the direction of contact between the packing (7) and the packing contact portion (42). As a result, the attractive force of the first magnet (8) and the second magnet (9) brings the packing (7) and the packing contact portion (42) closer together, thereby improving waterproofing.

[0039] [2] In the electrical junction box (1) described in [1], The cover (6) comprises a cover body (61) that covers the opening (41), an inner wall portion (62) that extends from the edge of the cover body (61) toward the frame (4), a wall portion (63) that extends outward from the inner wall portion (62), and an outer wall portion (64) that extends from the outer edge of the wall portion (63) toward the frame (4) and faces the inner wall portion (62). The packing (7) is installed between the inner wall portion (62) and the outer wall portion (64), The first magnet (8) is fixed to the outer surface of the outer wall portion (64), The second magnet (9) is fixed to the outer surface of the frame (4). Electrical junction box (1).

[0040] According to the configuration described in [2] above, the first magnet (8) is fixed to the outer surface of the outer wall portion (64) of the cover (6), and the second magnet (9) is fixed to the outer surface of the frame (4). This allows the first magnet (8) and the second magnet (9) to be fixed in a simple configuration so as to face each other in the direction of contact (up and down) between the packing (7) and the packing contact portion (42).

[0041] [3] In the electrical junction box (1) described in [1], The first magnet (8) and the second magnet (9) are fixed to the frame (4) with the cover (6) attached, so as to face each other with a gap (G) between them. Electrical junction box (1).

[0042] According to the configuration described in [3] above, even if the packing (7) deteriorates and shrinks, the gap (G) shrinks due to the attractive force of the first magnet (8) and the second magnet (9) by the amount that the packing (7) has shrunk, and the packing contact portion (42) of the frame (4) can be pushed further toward the packing (7), so that the waterproof performance does not decrease even if the packing (7) deteriorates.

[0043] [4] In the electrical junction box (1) described in any one of items [1] to [3], The cover (6) is provided in a rectangular shape, The second magnet (9) is fixed in the opposite direction (left-right direction) of a pair of opposing sides of the rectangular cover (6), The second magnets (9), which are fixed in the opposite direction (left-right direction), have different magnetic poles on the faces facing the first magnet (8). Electrical junction box (1).

[0044] According to the configuration described in [4] above, if the cover (6) is installed incorrectly with its opposing direction reversed, the same magnetic poles of the first magnet (8) and the second magnet (9) will face each other, generating a repulsive force that prevents the cover (6) from being attached to the frame (4). This prevents incorrect assembly of the cover (6). [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1. Electrical junction box 4 frames 6. Upper cover (cover) 7. Packing 8. First Magnet 9. Second Magnet 41 Opening 42 Upper end (packing contact area) 61 Cover body 62 Inner wall section 63 Wall 64 Exterior wall G Gap

Claims

1. An electrical connection box comprising: a cylindrical frame having an opening formed therein; a cover attached to the frame and covering the opening; and an annular packing attached to one of the frame and the cover and provided along the edge of the opening, wherein the other of the frame and the cover is provided with a packing contact portion that contacts the packing and seals the gap between the frame and the cover, A first magnet fixed to the frame, The cover is fixed to a second magnet, The first magnet and the second magnet are fixed so as to face each other in the direction of contact between the packing and the packing contact portion when the cover is attached to the frame. Electrical junction box.

2. In the electrical junction box according to claim 1, The cover comprises a cover body that covers the opening, an inner wall portion that extends from the edge of the cover body toward the frame, a wall portion that extends from the inner wall portion toward the outside, and an outer wall portion that extends from the outer edge of the wall portion toward the frame and faces the inner wall portion. The packing is installed between the inner wall portion and the outer wall portion. The second magnet is fixed to the outer surface of the outer wall portion, The first magnet is fixed to the outer surface of the frame. Electrical junction box.

3. In the electrical junction box according to claim 1, The first magnet and the second magnet are fixed to the frame so as to face each other with a gap between them when the cover is attached to the frame. Electrical junction box.

4. In the electrical junction box according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The cover is provided in a rectangular shape, The second magnets are fixed in the opposite direction to a pair of opposing sides of the rectangular cover, The second magnets, which are fixed in the opposite direction, have magnetic poles that are different on the faces facing the first magnet. Electrical junction box.

Images