Electrical junction box

Abstract

This electrical junction box includes an electrical component holder (11) and a bus bar (12). The bus bar (12) is housed in the electrical component holder (11). The electrical component holder (11) has a cylindrical connector housing (22) in which a connector (C1) is fitted in a first direction (D1). The connector (C1) has a lock section (62) that hooks on a locking section (36) of the connector housing (22) in a second direction (D2), which is the opposite direction to the first direction (D1). The connector housing (22) has a protrusion (51) protruding from a tip of the connector housing (22) in the second direction (D2). The connector (C1) has a contact section (63). The protrusion (51) is configured such that the contact section (63) can contact the outer surface of the protrusion (51).

Description

Electrical junction box

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electrical junction box.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an electrical junction box including a case, an electrical component holder, and a bus bar. The electrical component holder is housed in the case. The bus bar is housed in the electrical component holder and connected to the electrical components held in the electrical component holder. The electrical component holder has a cylindrical connector housing into which a connector is fitted. The bus bar has a connection portion located within the connector housing. The connection portion of the bus bar is connected to a connector fitted into the connector housing. The connector has a locking portion that engages with a locking portion provided on the connector housing. The connector is maintained attached to the connector housing by the engagement between the locking portion of the connector and the locking portion of the connector housing.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-78146

[0004] In the electrical junction box described above, there is a concern that if the orientation of the connector mated to the connector housing changes, for example, the connector tilts relative to the connector housing, causing the locking portion to disengage from the engaging portion, and in this case, there is a risk that the connector will fall off the connector housing.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an electrical junction box that can prevent a connector from falling off.

[0006] The electrical connection box of the present disclosure is an electrical connection box including an electrical component holder and a bus bar, wherein the bus bar is accommodated in the electrical component holder, the electrical component holder having a cylindrical connector housing into which a connector is fitted in a first direction, the bus bar having a connection portion located within the connector housing, the connection portion being connected to the connector fitted into the connector housing, the connector housing having a latching portion, the connector having a locking portion that latches onto the latching portion in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, the connector housing having a protrusion protruding from a tip end of the connector housing in the second direction, and the connector having an abutment portion that is configured to be able to abut against an outer surface of the protrusion.

[0007] According to the electrical junction box of the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent the connector from falling off.

[0008] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of an electrical junction box according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing a part of the electrical junction box according to the embodiment. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of an electrical component holder.

[0009] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. The present disclosure provides an electrical junction box including: [1] an electrical component holder and a bus bar, the bus bar being accommodated in the electrical component holder, the electrical component holder having a cylindrical connector housing into which a connector is fitted in a first direction, the bus bar having a connection portion located within the connector housing, the connection portion being connected to the connector fitted into the connector housing, the connector housing having a locking portion, the connector having a locking portion that engages with the locking portion in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, the connector housing having a protrusion protruding from a tip end of the connector housing in the second direction, and the connector having an abutment portion that is configured to be able to abut against an outer surface of the protrusion.

[0010] With this configuration, the abutting portion of the connector abuts against the outer surface of the protrusion of the connector housing, thereby preventing the connector from changing its posture when mated with the connector housing, particularly preventing the connector from tilting relative to the connector housing. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the connector from falling off the connector housing due to the connector tilting, which would cause the locking portion of the connector to come off the engaging portion of the connector housing.

[0011] [2] In the above [1], the connection portion may be a first connection portion, the bus bar may have a second connection portion connected to an electrical component held in the electrical component holder, and a linking portion connecting the first connection portion and the second connection portion, the connector housing may have a notch portion extending from the tip end of the connector housing along the first direction, and the linking portion may be inserted into the notch portion along the first direction.

[0012] According to this configuration, the connector housing has a cutout portion into which the connecting portion of the bus bar is inserted. This allows the bus bar to be assembled to the electrical component holder from a first direction. Furthermore, because the cutout portion is formed to extend from the tip of the connector housing along the first direction, the connector housing is more likely to deform so that the opening at the tip opens. That is, the formation of the cutout portion makes the connector more likely to tilt relative to the connector housing. In this regard, the abutment between the abutting portion and the protruding portion prevents the connector from tilting relative to the connector housing, so it is possible to effectively prevent the connector from falling off the connector housing even when the cutout portion is formed in the connector housing.

[0013] [3] In the above [2], the locking portion may be arranged to protrude from the inner surface of the connector housing, and the abutment portion may be configured to be able to abut against the outer surface of the protrusion in a direction that maintains the engagement of the locking portion with the locking portion.

[0014]

[0013] According to the present invention, the connector housing may have a rectangular frame shape when viewed from the first direction, the connector housing may have a first wall portion, a second wall portion, a third wall portion, and a fourth wall portion that form each side of the rectangular frame shape, the first wall portion and the second wall portion face each other, the third wall portion and the fourth wall portion face each other, the locking portion is provided to protrude from an inner surface of the first wall portion, the protrusion protrudes from a tip end of the first wall portion in the second direction, and the notch is provided in the third wall portion or the fourth wall portion.

[0015] According to this configuration, since the notch is provided in the third wall or the fourth wall, the connector housing is easily deformed in a direction separating the first wall and the second wall. Furthermore, the locking portion of the connector housing is provided in the first wall. By providing the protrusion of the connector housing on the first wall, the abutment between the abutment portion and the protrusion effectively prevents the locking portion of the connector from disengaging from the locking portion of the connector housing.

[0016] [5] In any one of the above [1] to [4], the connector housing may have a reinforcing rib protruding from the protrusion toward the inside of the connector housing.

[0017] According to this configuration, the reinforcing rib can improve the rigidity of the protrusion, and therefore, tilt of the connector relative to the connector housing can be suitably suppressed by the abutment between the abutment portion and the protrusion.

[0018] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the electrical junction box of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, for the sake of convenience, some of the components may be exaggerated or simplified. Furthermore, the dimensional proportions of each part may differ from one drawing to another.

[0019] The term "cylindrical" as used in the description of this specification does not only refer to a cylindrical object having a continuous wall formed around the entire circumference, but also includes a cylindrical object formed by combining multiple parts, or a C-shape having a notch in a portion of the circumference. The "cylindrical" shape also includes a circle, an ellipse, and a polygon with sharp or rounded corners.

[0020] In addition, "facing" in this specification refers to surfaces or components facing each other, and includes not only cases where they are completely facing each other, but also cases where they are partially facing each other. In addition, "facing" in this specification includes both cases where a component separate from the two components is interposed between the two components, and cases where nothing is interposed between the two components.

[0021] 1 , the electrical junction box 10 includes an electrical component holder 11 housed in a case (not shown) of the electrical junction box 10, and a bus bar 12 housed in the electrical component holder 11. The electrical junction box 10 is, for example, a relay box or a junction box mounted on a vehicle.

[0022] (Electrical Component Holder 11) The electrical component holder 11 is formed of an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The electrical component holder 11 includes a holder main body 21 and a connector housing 22. The holder main body 21 houses electrical components EC, such as fuses and relays (not shown). If the electrical components EC include fuses, the electrical component holder 11 is referred to as a fuse block. A connector C1 is fitted into the connector housing 22 from a first direction D1. The first direction D1 is, for example, a direction toward one side in the height direction of the electrical junction box 10. The second direction D2 is a direction toward the other side in the height direction of the electrical junction box 10, i.e., the opposite direction to the first direction D1. In the following description, one side of the holder main body 21 in the height direction will be referred to as a first side 21a, and the back side of the first side 21a of the holder main body 21 will be referred to as a second side 21b. The busbar 12 and a connector C1 (described later) are attached to the electrical component holder 11 from the first side surface 21 a along a first direction D1. The electrical components EC are attached to the holder body 21 from the second side surface 21 b along a second direction D2. Note that, for example, a plurality of electrical components EC may be provided.

[0023] (Connector Housing 22) The connector housing 22 is formed in a cylindrical shape into which the connector C1 can be fitted in the first direction D1. The connector housing 22 extends in the second direction D2 from the first side surface 21 a of the holder main body 21, for example. The connector C1 is fitted inside the connector housing 22.

[0024] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the connector housing 22 has, for example, a rectangular frame shape when viewed from the first direction D1. Note that Figure 2 is a plan view of the peripheral portion of the connector housing 22 in the electrical component holder 11 viewed from the first direction D1. The connector housing 22 has a first wall portion 31, a second wall portion 32, a third wall portion 33, and a fourth wall portion 34 that form each side of the rectangular frame shape. The first wall portion 31 and the second wall portion 32 face each other in a direction perpendicular to the first direction D1. The third wall portion 33 and the fourth wall portion 34 face each other in a direction perpendicular to the first direction D1. The connector housing 22 has an opening 22a at its tip end in the second direction D2, through which the connector C1 is inserted. The opening 22a opens in the second direction D2.

[0025] The connector housing 22 has a notch 35. The notch 35 extends linearly along the first direction D1 from the tip of the third wall 33 in the second direction D2. The notch 35 is formed to penetrate the third wall 33.

[0026] The connector housing 22 has a locking portion 36. The locking portion 36 is provided, for example, so as to protrude from the inner surface of the first wall portion 31. The locking portion 36 is configured to be able to be locked with a locking portion 62 provided on the connector C1. The locking portion 62 is caught on the locking portion 36 in the second direction D2, thereby maintaining the connector C1 fitted inside the connector housing 22.

[0027] (Busbar 12) The busbar 12 is made of a conductor such as metal. For example, the busbar 12 is formed by pressing a metal plate. The busbar 12 is attached to the holder main body 21 from the first side surface 21a side along the first direction D1. Furthermore, the electric component EC is attached to the holder main body 21 from the second side surface 21b side.

[0028] 1 , the bus bar 12 has a first connection portion 41 connected to the connector C1, a second connection portion 42 connected to an electric component EC held in the holder main body 21, and a linking portion 43 connecting the first connection portion 41 and the second connection portion 42. The second connection portion 42 is housed in the holder main body 21. For example, a plurality of second connection portions 42 are provided corresponding to a plurality of electric components EC.

[0029] The coupling portion 43 is inserted in the first direction D1 into the notch 35 provided in the third wall portion 33 of the connector housing 22. The coupling portion 43 extends from the outside of the connector housing 22 in the holder main body 21 to the inside of the connector housing 22 through the notch 35. The first connecting portion 41 is located within the connector housing 22. The first connecting portion 41 extends in the second direction D2 inside the connector housing 22. The first connecting portion 41 is connected to the connector C1 fitted into the connector housing 22.

[0030] 3 and 4 , the connector housing 22 has a protrusion 51 that protrudes from a tip end of the connector housing 22 in the second direction D2. The protrusion 51 is provided on, for example, the first wall 31. That is, the protrusion 51 protrudes from a tip end of the first wall 31 in the second direction D2. The width of the protrusion 51 is set to be smaller than the width of the first wall 31, for example.

[0031] The connector housing 22 has reinforcing ribs 52 that protrude from the protrusion 51 toward the inside of the connector housing 22. For example, two reinforcing ribs 52 are provided. The two reinforcing ribs 52 protrude, for example, from both widthwise ends of the protrusion 51 toward the inside of the connector housing 22. For example, each reinforcing rib 52 extends linearly along the first direction D1. Furthermore, each reinforcing rib 52 extends from the protrusion 51 to the bottom of the connector housing 22. In this way, by forming the two reinforcing ribs 52, the protrusion 51 has a substantially U-shape when viewed from the first direction D1.

[0032] (Connector C1) The connector C1 has a connector case 61. Terminals (not shown) connected to the first connection portions 41 of the bus bars 12 are housed inside the connector case 61. For ease of explanation, the internal structure of the connector case 61 is shown in a simplified form in Fig. 3. The connector C1 includes electric wires (not shown) connected to the terminals.

[0033] As shown in Figure 3, the connector case 61 has the locking portion 62 and the abutment portion 63. The locking portion 62 is an elastic piece extending from the connector case 61. The locking portion 62 has elasticity that allows it to press against the first wall portion 31 of the connector housing 22. The locking portion 62 has a locking protrusion 64. When the connector case 61 is fitted inside the connector housing 22, the locking protrusion 64 of the locking portion 62 is adapted to be caught in the locking portion 36 of the connector housing 22 in the second direction D2. This maintains the connector case 61 fitted inside the connector housing 22.

[0034] 2 , the abutment portions 63 are formed, for example, to connect a pair of base portions 65 protruding from the connector case 61. When the connector case 61 is fitted inside the connector housing 22, the protrusions 51 of the connector housing 22 are inserted into the internal space formed by the base portions 65 and the abutment portions 63. This allows the abutment portions 63 to abut against the outer surfaces of the protrusions 51. More specifically, the abutment portions 63 are configured to abut against the outer surfaces of the protrusions 51 in a direction D3 in which the locking portions 62 move away from the engaging portions 36. That is, the abutment portions 63 are configured to abut against the outer surfaces of the protrusions 51 in a direction that keeps the locking portions 62 engaged with the engaging portions 36.

[0035] The operation of this embodiment will be described. In the connector housing 22 of this embodiment, the notch 35 is formed in the third wall portion 33. This allows the bus bar 12 including the first connection portion 41 disposed in the connector housing 22 to be assembled from the first side surface 21 a of the holder main body 21 along the first direction D1.

[0036] However, providing the cutout 35 in the third wall 33 of the connector housing 22 raises concerns about a decrease in the rigidity of the connector housing 22. Specifically, providing the cutout 35 in the third wall 33 makes the connector housing 22 more susceptible to deformation in the direction separating the first wall 31 and the second wall 32. Furthermore, because the locking portion 36 is provided in the first wall 31, unless some countermeasure is taken, there is a risk that the locking portion 36 will become disengaged from the locking portion 62 of the connector C1 when the connector housing 22 deforms in the direction separating the first wall 31 and the second wall 32. Therefore, in this embodiment, the abutting portion 63 of the connector C1 abuts against the outer surface of the protrusion 51 provided on the first wall 31, thereby preventing the connector C1 from tilting in the direction of the arrow D4 relative to the connector housing 22 due to an external force or the like. As a result, the engagement between the engaging portion 36 and the locking portion 62 is prevented from unintentionally coming off, and the connector C1 is prevented from falling off the connector housing 22.

[0037] The effects of this embodiment will be described. (1) The connector housing 22 has a protruding portion 51 that protrudes from the tip of the connector housing 22 in the second direction D2. The abutting portion 63 provided on the connector C1 is configured to be able to abut against the outer surface of the protruding portion 51. With this configuration, the abutting portion 63 of the connector C1 abuts against the outer surface of the protruding portion 51 of the connector housing 22, thereby preventing the connector C1 mated with the connector housing 22 from changing its posture, particularly from tilting relative to the connector housing 22. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the connector C1 from falling off the connector housing 22 due to the locking portion 62 of the connector C1 disengaging from the engaging portion 36 of the connector housing 22 caused by the connector C1 tilting.

[0038] (2) The bus bar 12 has a first connection portion 41 connected to the connector C1, a second connection portion 42 connected to an electrical component EC held in the electrical component holder 11, and a connecting portion 43 connecting the first connection portion 41 and the second connection portion 42. The connector housing 22 has a notch 35 extending from a tip end of the connector housing 22 along the first direction D1. The connecting portion 43 of the bus bar 12 is inserted into the notch 35 along the first direction D1. With this configuration, the connector housing 22 is formed with the notch 35 into which the connecting portion 43 of the bus bar 12 is inserted. This allows the bus bar 12 to be assembled to the electrical component holder 11 from the first direction D1. Furthermore, because the notch 35 is formed to extend from a tip end of the connector housing 22 along the first direction D1, the connector housing 22 is easily deformed to open the opening 22a at the tip end. That is, the formation of the cutout portion 35 makes it easier for the connector C1 to tilt relative to the connector housing 22. In this regard, the abutment between the abutting portion 63 and the protruding portion 51 suppresses the connector C1 from tilting relative to the connector housing 22, so it is possible to effectively suppress the connector C1 from falling off even while forming the cutout portion 35 in the connector housing 22.

[0039] (3) The locking portion 36 is provided to protrude from the inner surface of the connector housing 22. The abutting portion 63 is configured to be able to abut against the outer surface of the protruding portion 51 in the direction D3 in which the locking portion 62 moves away from the locking portion 36. In other words, the abutting portion 63 is configured to be able to abut against the outer surface of the protruding portion 51 in a direction that keeps the locking portion 62 hooked onto the locking portion 36. With this configuration, the abutting portion 63 and the protruding portion 51 can effectively prevent the locking portion 62 of the connector C1 from disengaging from the locking portion 36 of the connector housing 22.

[0040] (4) The connector housing 22 has a rectangular frame shape when viewed from the first direction D1. The connector housing 22 has a first wall portion 31, a second wall portion 32, a third wall portion 33, and a fourth wall portion 34 that form each side of the rectangular frame. The first wall portion 31 and the second wall portion 32 face each other. The third wall portion 33 and the fourth wall portion 34 face each other. The locking portion 36 is provided to protrude from the inner surface of the first wall portion 31. The protruding portion 51 protrudes from the tip end of the first wall portion 31 in the second direction D2. The notch portion 35 is provided in the third wall portion 33. With this configuration, because the notch portion 35 is provided in the third wall portion 33, the connector housing 22 is more likely to deform in a direction in which the first wall portion 31 and the second wall portion 32 move apart. Furthermore, the locking portion 36 of the connector housing 22 is provided on the first wall portion 31. In contrast, by providing the protruding portion 51 of the connector housing 22 on the first wall portion 31, it is possible to effectively prevent the locking portion 62 of the connector C1 from coming off the locking portion 36 of the connector housing 22 by the abutment between the abutting portion 63 and the protruding portion 51.

[0041] (5) The connector housing 22 has a reinforcing rib 52 that protrudes from the protrusion 51 toward the inside of the connector housing 22. With this configuration, the reinforcing rib 52 can improve the rigidity of the protrusion 51. As a result, the abutment between the abutment portion 63 and the protrusion 51 can suitably suppress tilt of the connector C1 relative to the connector housing 22.

[0042] (Modifications) This embodiment can be modified as follows: This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0043] The number and other configurations of the reinforcing ribs 52 in the connector housing 22 are not limited to those described in the above embodiment and may be changed as appropriate depending on the configuration. In the connector housing 22, the cutout 35 may be formed in the fourth wall 34 instead of the third wall 33. Also, the cutout 35 may be formed in the first wall 31 or the second wall 32.

[0044] In the connector housing 22, the locking portion 36 may be provided on any one of the second wall portion 32, the third wall portion 33, and the fourth wall portion 34, rather than on the first wall portion 31. In the connector housing 22, the protrusion 51 may be provided on any one of the second wall portion 32, the third wall portion 33, and the fourth wall portion 34, rather than on the first wall portion 31.

[0045] The electrical components EC accommodated in the electrical component holder 11 are not limited to those described in the above embodiment, and may include electrical components other than fuses and relays. Furthermore, the electrical components EC may be composed solely of electrical components other than fuses and relays.

[0046] The illustrated non-limiting embodiment of the electrical junction box 10 is an example of a vehicle-mounted electrical junction box. In the illustrated non-limiting embodiment, the connector C1 is an example of a connector plug. The illustrated non-limiting embodiment of the connector housing 22 is an example of a connector socket configured to receive the connector C1. In the illustrated non-limiting embodiment, the first direction D1 is an example of a normal installation direction of the connector C1 relative to the connector housing 22. The second direction D2 is an example of a normal removal direction of the connector C1 from the connector housing 22. The third direction D3 is an example of an irregular movement direction that differs from the normal installation direction and the normal removal direction. The third direction D3 may be the radial direction of the connector housing 22 (socket). The height direction of the illustrated non-limiting embodiment may be referred to as the depth direction of the connector housing 22 (socket).

[0047] In the non-limiting embodiment shown in Fig. 3 , the pair of the engaging portion 36 of the connector housing 22 and the locking portion 62 of the connector C1 is an example of a pair of a first socket-side stopper and a first plug-side stopper configured to prevent or minimize movement of the connector C1 in a normal removal direction from the connector housing 22, for example, by engaging with each other in the second direction D2. In the non-limiting embodiment shown in Fig. 3 , the pair of the protruding portion 51 of the connector housing 22 and the abutting portion 63 of the connector C1 is an example of a pair of a second socket-side stopper and a second plug-side stopper configured to maintain the engaging portion 36 of the connector housing 22 and the locking portion 62 of the connector C1 by contacting each other in the third direction D3, for example, or by preventing or minimizing movement of the connector C1 relative to the connector housing 22 in an abnormal movement direction.

[0048] In the illustrated non-limiting embodiment, the set of the first connection portion 41 and the second connection portion 42 of the bus bar 12 may be referred to as a set of input and output terminals of the bus bar 12. The embodiments and modified examples disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects, and the present invention is not limited to these examples. That is, the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, and it is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0049] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Electrical junction box 11 Electrical component holder 12 Bus bar 21 Holder main body 21a First side surface 21b Second side surface 22 Connector housing 22a Opening 31 First wall portion 32 Second wall portion 33 Third wall portion 34 Fourth wall portion 35 Notch portion 36 Locking portion 41 First connection portion (connection portion) 42 Second connection portion 43 Linking portion 51 Protrusion portion 52 Reinforcement rib 61 Connector case 62 Locking portion 63 Contact portion 64 Locking protrusion portion 65 Base portion C1 Connector EC Electrical component D1 First direction D2 Second direction

Claims

1. An electrical connection box comprising an electric component holder and a bus bar, the bus bar being accommodated in the electric component holder, the electric component holder having a cylindrical connector housing into which a connector is fitted in a first direction, the bus bar having a connection portion located within the connector housing, the connection portion being connected to the connector fitted into the connector housing, the connector housing having a latching portion, and the connector having a locking portion that latches onto the latching portion in a second direction that is the opposite direction to the first direction, the connector housing having a protrusion protruding from a tip end of the connector housing in the second direction, and the connector having an abutment portion that is configured to be able to abut against an outer surface of the protrusion.

2. An electrical connection box as described in claim 1, wherein the connection portion is a first connection portion, the bus bar has a second connection portion connected to an electrical component held in the electrical component holder and a linking portion connecting the first connection portion and the second connection portion, the connector housing has a notch portion extending from the tip end of the connector housing along the first direction, and the linking portion is inserted into the notch portion along the first direction.

3. An electrical connection box as claimed in claim 2, wherein the engaging portion is arranged to protrude from an inner surface of the connector housing, and the abutment portion is configured to be able to abut against an outer surface of the protruding portion in a direction that maintains the engagement of the locking portion with the engaging portion.

4. An electrical connection box as described in claim 3, wherein the connector housing has a rectangular frame shape when viewed from the first direction, the connector housing has a first wall portion, a second wall portion, a third wall portion and a fourth wall portion forming each side of the rectangular frame shape, the first wall portion and the second wall portion face each other, the third wall portion and the fourth wall portion face each other, the locking portion is arranged to protrude from an inner surface of the first wall portion, the protruding portion protrudes from an end portion of the first wall portion in the second direction, and the cutout portion is provided in the third wall portion or the fourth wall portion.

5. The electrical junction box according to claim 1, wherein the connector housing has a reinforcing rib protruding from the protruding portion toward the inside of the connector housing.

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