Electric Connection Box Cover-Integrated Terminal Block Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electric connection boxes require complex assembly processes and reduced workability due to the need to assemble both internal and external electric parts and wires, especially during emergency or maintenance operations, where improved assembly efficiency is necessary.

Innovation Solution

An electric connection box design featuring an insulating casing with internal electric parts and a terminal block with a holding member integrated into a removable member, allowing for improved assembly workability by integrating the terminal block's holding member with the removable cover of the casing, enhancing the assembly process and reducing the need for separate assembly steps.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If electric parts are disposed outside the casing, then workability during predetermined work is improved, but assembly workability at the time of manufacturing deteriorates due to the need to assemble both the electric connection box and electric parts separately

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworkability during predetermined workVSAvoidassembly workability at manufacturing
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal block holding member is integrated with the removable member (cover) of the casing, combining the functions of the cover and the terminal block mounting structure into a single component. This allows the terminal block to be disposed outside the casing while maintaining simplified assembly, as the integrated structure is assembled as one unit rather than separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Volume of moving object

If electric parts are accommodated inside the casing, then the structure is more compact, but workability during predetermined work deteriorates due to the need to remove the cover to access electric parts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompactness of structureVSAvoidworkability during predetermined work
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The casing is divided into a fixed portion and a removable member (cover) that can be detached. The terminal block with electric parts is disposed outside the fixed portion but integrated with the removable member, allowing the cover to be removed to access the terminal block without disturbing the internal electric parts accommodated inside the casing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The removable member acts as an intermediary that provides access to the terminal block disposed outside the casing. By attaching or detaching this removable member, workers can access the terminal block for predetermined work while the internal electric parts remain protected inside the casing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If terminal block is disposed outside the casing, then assembly process is simplified, but the structure becomes more complex due to the need for integrated holding member with removable member

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of assembly processVSAvoidstructural complexity of integrated holding member
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The holding member for the terminal block is merged with the removable member (cover) into a single integrated component. This integration simplifies the assembly process by reducing the number of separate parts, and while it increases the complexity of the removable member itself, the overall structure becomes simpler due to fewer assembly steps and components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3831665B1Electric connection box and wire harness
Publication Date: 2024.02.21 YAZAKI CORP
  • EP3831665B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3831665B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3831665B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electric connection box includes: an insulating casing (10); at least one internal electric part that is accommodated inside the casing (10) and is electrically connected to a plurality of internal electric wires (We1) drawn from an inside to an outside of the casing (10); and a terminal block (20) that is provided with at least one external electric part (30) electrically connected to at least one external electric wire (We2) and is assembled into the casing (10) outside the casing (10). The casing (10) includes an accommodation member (10A) that accommodates the internal electric part, and a removable member (10D) that is attached to and detached from the accommodation member (10A). The terminal block (20) includes a holding member (40) that holds the external electric part (30). The holding member (40) is formed as one part integrated with the removable member (10D).