Automotive Electric Connection Box Terminal Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric connection boxes in automobiles are prone to short circuits due to water ingress, particularly because the bus bar terminals are closely spaced, leading to potential electrical failures when moisture contacts them.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a terminal support structure with first ribs and second ribs that create grooves and recessed areas to increase the distance between bus bar terminals, prevent moisture accumulation, and guide water away from the terminals, while maintaining the terminal's structural integrity and current-carrying capacity by narrowing only specific portions of the terminals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If bus bar terminals are disposed closely to each other in the case, then space utilization is improved, but the risk of short circuit due to water ingress increases
Solution Approach 1:
The case bottom is segmented into multiple recessed portions, each accommodating a bus bar terminal. These recessed portions are separated by raised portions, creating physical isolation barriers that prevent water from reaching adjacent terminals while maintaining compact spacing.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined portions on the recessed case bottom act as intermediary structures that guide water away from the bus bar terminals. The inclination directs water flow toward drainage paths, preventing accumulation near the terminals while maintaining close spacing between adjacent terminals.
2Reliability
If the distance between bus bar terminals is increased to prevent short circuit, then reliability is improved, but space utilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing horizontal distance between terminals, the solution uses vertical dimension by creating recessed portions in the case bottom. This allows terminals to be positioned close horizontally while maintaining electrical isolation through the recessed structure and inclined water guidance paths.
3Strength
If moisture accumulates in angular portions formed by contact surfaces, then water drainage is hindered, but structural support is provided
Solution Approach 1:
The contact surfaces are designed with inclined portions rather than sharp angular portions. This curved/angled design prevents water from pooling in corners by directing it along the inclination toward drainage paths, while still providing adequate structural support for the bus bar terminals.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric connection box provided with a circuit structure, a casing for accommodating the circuit structure therein, a plurality of bus bar terminals disposed on a cabling path crossing the casing in a horizontal direction and electrically connecting the circuit structure and an external connecter to each other, and a terminal support portion for supporting a horizontal portion crossing the casing in the horizontal direction in the plurality of bus bar terminals from below, in which a first rib capable of contact with the horizontal portion from below are projected on a surface opposite to the horizontal portion in the terminal support portion, and a space between the first rib is a first groove portion recessed downward.