JP3209937B2 - Drainage structure of electrical junction box - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a drainage structure of an electric connection box used for connecting electric parts such as fuses and relays to a wire harness laid in a vehicle and for storing spare electric parts. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a vehicle such as an automobile, an electric connection formed of an insulating synthetic resin is used for connecting electric parts such as fuses and relays to a wire harness laid in the vehicle and for storing spare electric parts. It is common to use boxes.

The electric connection box is installed in a vehicle room or an engine room. When the electric connection box is installed in an engine room, the electric connection box is used when cleaning the engine room or running in rainy weather.
It is necessary to provide waterproofness so that water splashing into the engine room (hereinafter referred to as flying water) does not enter the box.

[0004] However, if the electric connection box is made to have a water-tight structure having no air permeability or the like in order to achieve waterproofness, when dew condensation occurs in the box due to changes in the temperature or humidity of the outside air, the dew condensation occurs. There is a concern that the water droplets cannot be discharged and accumulate in the box, thereby contaminating electrical components and conductors in the box, or causing inconvenience in the electrical connection state.

Therefore, in an electric junction box mounted on a vehicle,
It is an important issue to form a water draining structure that can quickly discharge water droplets generated in the box due to dew condensation while preventing infiltration of the flying water into the box.

The drainage structure of a conventional electric junction box as shown in FIG. 4 is such that a drain pipe 3 is integrally formed on a bottom wall 2 of an electric junction box 1 made of synthetic resin. It is provided so as to hang vertically from the wall 2. In the inside thereof, ribs 4 for partially closing the drainage pipe are formed alternately at appropriate intervals in the axial direction of the drainage pipe 3 to meander the flow path in the drainage pipe 3 to prevent inflow of flying water. .

Another conventional drainage structure of an electric junction box shown in FIG. 5 is one in which a drain pipe 6 separate from the electric junction box is fitted to the bottom of the electric junction box. This drain pipe 6
4 is the same as the drainage structure shown in FIG. 4 except that a mounting groove 7 to be fitted into a drainage opening formed in the bottom wall of the electric connection box is formed on the outer periphery of the upper end. That is, the ribs 4 meandering the flow path are formed alternately inside the drain pipe 6.

[0008]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional drainage structure, since the ribs 4 are formed so as to protrude in the drainage pipe, the structure of the mold for forming the drainage pipe becomes complicated, resulting in an increase in cost. There was a problem. Also, since the drainpipe is always open downward, for example, when washing the engine room, etc., if the flying water hits the body frame etc. and reflects and jumps into the drainpipe from below, the flying water that jumped in In the case where is a small amount of water droplets, since the flow path in the drain pipe is meandering by the ribs 4, it is possible to prevent water from entering the box. However, at the time of cleaning the engine room, etc., the flying water that jumps into the lower end openings of the drain pipes 3 and 6 is in a continuous flowing state and jumps with a predetermined water pressure.
The water droplet that jumped earlier is pushed up into the pipe by water pressure,
I was worried about getting inside the box.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has a high effect of preventing the inflow of flying water. An object of the present invention is to provide a drainage structure for an electric connection box, which can surely prevent water from entering into a connection box and can simplify the configuration of a mold for forming a drain pipe to reduce costs. .

[0010]

An object of the present invention is to provide a water draining structure for an electric junction box according to claim 1;
A drainage structure of an electric connection box used for connection between electric parts such as fuses and relays and a wire harness laid in a vehicle, storage of spare electric parts, and the like, and a bottom wall of the electric connection box. It is composed of a box bottom opening formed at the lowermost part, and a drain pipe connected to the bottom wall so as to hang down from the box bottom opening, wherein the drain pipe has a straight pipe opened at both ends, A connection in which a substantially spherical outer shell is formed on the outer periphery near the upper end, and the straight pipe is tiltably connected in any direction by fitting into a spherical shell-shaped universal joint extending from the periphery of the box bottom opening. And a weight portion that sets a center of gravity near a lower portion of the straight pipe so that the straight pipe tilts in a direction in which the external force acts when an external force greater than a predetermined value acts in a direction intersecting the axis of the straight pipe. The drainage structure of the electrical junction box It can be solved Te.

According to the water draining structure of the electric connection box having the above-described structure, the drainage pipe for draining water is formed separately from the electric connection box, and a substantially spherical connection formed on the outer periphery near the upper end of the straight pipe. The parts are connected by fitting the parts into a universal joint part formed on the bottom wall of the electric junction box. And the connection between the bottom wall of the electric junction box and the upper end of the drainage pipe is a universal joint structure, and the drainage pipe can be tilted like a pendulum in any direction. When an external force exceeding a specified level acts on the drain pipe in a direction intersecting with the axis of the straight pipe, the straight pipe tilts in a direction in which the external force acts.

Due to the inclination of the straight pipe, the opening at the lower end of the drainpipe faces in the direction opposite to the direction in which the flying water enters, so that the flying water does not enter from the opening at the lower end of the drainpipe. Instead, the lower end opening of the drain pipe is located downstream of the flying water and wind pressure, so that the negative pressure that draws water droplets in the drain pipe out of the drain pipe is applied to the lower opening of the drain pipe by the flying water and wind pressure become. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent flying water having a predetermined water pressure from flying into the lower end opening of the drain pipe in a continuous flowing state.

Further, a small amount of flying water which has flown into the drain pipe before the drain pipe falls due to collision of the flying water is sucked out by the negative pressure acting on the open end of the drain pipe after the drain pipe falls. In addition, it is possible to prevent the flying water that has entered the drain pipe from further entering the interior of the drain pipe due to the water pressure of the flying water or the wind pressure during traveling.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drainage structure for an electric connection box, wherein the drainage pipe is connected to the straight pipe with the straight pipe. This can be solved by a configuration in which a portion and the weight portion are integrally formed, and the universal joint portion is configured to be capable of fitting / removing the connecting portion by elastic deformation.

According to the drainage structure of the electric junction box having the above-described structure, the number of parts can be minimized, the cost can be reduced, and the work efficiency of the assembling work can be improved. In addition, since the drain pipe does not need to form ribs or the like serving as baffles for the infiltrated flying water in the pipe, the configuration of the mold for forming the drain pipe can be simplified.

Further, the object is a drainage structure for an electric junction box according to claim 3. In the drainage structure for an electric junction box according to claim 1 or 2, the straight pipe is inclined at a predetermined angle or more. At the same time, the upper end opening of the straight pipe is closed by the universal joint, and the opening diameter of the box bottom opening is such that the straight pipe communicates with the box bottom opening when the straight pipe is in a substantially vertical state. The problem can be solved by being set substantially equal to the inner diameter.

According to the drainage structure of the electric junction box having the above-described structure, when the drainage pipe is tilted due to the flying water or wind pressure, the upper end opening of the drainage pipe is closed by the universal joint on the box side. Intrusion prevention can be further ensured, and when the straight pipe returns to a substantially vertical state, it communicates with the opening at the bottom of the box, so that air permeability in the electric connection box can be secured.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a drainage structure for an electric junction box according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing one embodiment of a drainage structure of an electric junction box according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory view of the drainage structure in FIG. The electric connection box 10 adopting the drainage structure of the electric connection box according to the present embodiment is used to connect electric parts such as fuses and relays to a wire harness laid in a vehicle, and to store spare electric parts. It is a molded article made of an insulating synthetic resin used for the above. As shown in FIG. 1, the drainage structure of the present embodiment has a box bottom opening 1 formed at the bottom of the bottom wall 10 a of the electric connection box 10.
2 and the bottom wall 1 so as to hang below the box bottom opening 12.
0a.

The drain pipe 14 is a straight pipe 1 having both ends opened.
6, a connecting portion 17 having a substantially spherical outer periphery formed on the outer periphery near the upper end of the straight pipe 16, and a weight portion 18 formed on the outer periphery of the lower end of the drain pipe 14 are integrally formed of metal or synthetic resin. No.

The connecting portion 17 is fitted into a spherical joint 20 extending from the periphery of the box bottom opening 12 so that the straight pipe 16 can be tilted in any direction. Is connected to the bottom wall 10a.

As shown in FIG. 2, when an external force F exceeding a prescribed level acts on the weight portion 18 in a direction intersecting with the axis of the straight tube 16, the straight tube 16 tilts in the direction in which the external force F acts. The center of gravity is set near the lower part of the straight pipe 16 so that the straight pipe 16 returns to the vertical state when F stops working. In the present embodiment, the weight portion 18 has a substantially spherical outer shape.

The universal joint portion 20 is formed integrally with the bottom wall 10a of the electric connection box 10, and is configured so that the connecting portion 17 can be fitted and detached by elastic deformation.

The box bottom opening 12 communicates with the flow path 16a in the straight pipe 16 when the straight pipe 16 is in a substantially vertical state.
The air permeability in the electric connection box can be ensured. Also,
The opening diameter is set to be substantially equal to the inner diameter of the straight pipe 16 so that the upper end opening of the straight pipe 16 is closed by the universal joint part 20 when the straight pipe 16 is tilted by a certain angle or more.

In the drainage structure of this embodiment described above, the drainage drainage pipe 14 is formed separately from the electric connection box 10 and is formed substantially on the outer periphery near the upper end of the straight pipe 16. The spherical connecting portion 17 is fitted to the universal joint formed integrally with the bottom wall 10a of the electric connection box 10 to be connected to the bottom wall 10a of the electric connection box 10. The bottom wall 10a of the electrical junction box 10 and the upper end of the drain pipe 14 are connected in a universal joint structure, and the drain pipe 14 connected to the bottom wall 10a of the electrical junction box 10 can be pendulum-like in any direction. It is possible to lean. Therefore, when an external force F exceeding a specified value acts in a direction intersecting with the axis of the straight pipe 16 of the drain pipe 14 due to a collision of flying water against the drain pipe 14 or a wind pressure at the time of traveling of the vehicle or the like, the external force F The straight pipe 16 tilts in the direction of action.

Due to the tilting action, the opening at the lower end of the drain pipe 14 is directed to the side opposite to the direction in which the flying water enters, so that the opening at the lower end of the drain pipe 14 continuously allows the flying water to enter. It will no longer be pointing in the direction to come. Since the lower end opening of the drain pipe 14 is located downstream of the flying water and the wind pressure, the water droplets in the drain pipe 14 are discharged to the lower end opening of the drain pipe 14 by the flying water and the wind pressure. The negative pressure to be drawn comes into operation.

Therefore, when the electric junction box 10 is installed in the engine room, it is possible to reliably prevent the water from being jetted into the lower end opening of the drain pipe 14 by the high pressure water jet washing. In addition, a small amount of water that has flown into the drain pipe 14 before the drain pipe 14 inclines due to collision of
After the tilting of the drain pipe 4, the water is sucked out by the negative pressure acting on the open end of the drain pipe 14, and the flying water entering the drain pipe 14 is also prevented from entering the depth of the drain pipe 14 due to the wind pressure during traveling or the like.

Therefore, the effect of preventing the inflow of flying water is high, and it is possible to reliably prevent infiltration into the electrical junction box 10 even with continuous high-pressure flying water such as washing water. In addition, since the drain pipe 14 does not need to form ribs or the like serving as baffles for the infiltrating water in the pipe, the configuration of a mold for forming the drain pipe 14 can be simplified and cost can be reduced. . Further, the drain pipe 14 is an integrally molded product, and the number of parts can be minimized.

Further, when the drainage pipe 14 is tilted due to flying water or wind pressure, the upper end opening of the draining pipe 14 is closed by the universal joint portion 20 on the box side. it can. Then, when the drain pipe 14 returns to a substantially vertical state, the drain pipe 14 communicates with the flow path 16a in the straight pipe 16, and the air permeability in the electric connection box can be secured again.

The shape of the weight portion 18 in the present embodiment need not be limited to a spherical shape. For example, as shown in FIG. It may be formed in a cross shape. When the position of the center of gravity can be set at the lower side of the straight pipe 16 by setting the length of the straight pipe 16 and the dimension of the connecting portion 17, it is not particularly necessary to provide the weight portion 22 in a bulged form. However, against the pressure of the water and the wind pressure,
It is preferable to form the plate-shaped or spherically bulging weight portion 22 so that the tilting operation of the drain pipe 14 reacts sensitively.

[0030]

As described above, according to the drainage structure for an electric connection box of the present invention, a box bottom opening formed at the lowermost portion of the bottom wall of the electric connection box is formed so as to hang from the box bottom opening. A drain pipe connected to the bottom wall, the drain pipe having a straight pipe with both ends opened, and a substantially spherical outer shell formed on the outer periphery near the upper end of the straight pipe, extending from the periphery of the box bottom opening. A connecting portion that connects the straight pipe so that it can tilt in any direction by fitting into the spherical shell-shaped universal joint, and when an external force exceeding a specified value acts in a direction that intersects with the axis of the straight pipe, the direction in which the external force acts And a weight for setting a center of gravity near the lower part of the straight pipe so that the straight pipe is inclined.

Therefore, the opening at the lower end of the drain pipe faces in the direction opposite to the direction in which the flying water enters, so that the opening in the lower end of the drain pipe faces in the direction in which the flying water continuously enters. Will not be there. And since the lower end opening of the drainage pipe is located downstream of the flying water and wind pressure, the negative pressure which draws out water droplets in the drainage pipe to the outside of the drainage pipe by the flying water and wind pressure acts on the lower end opening of the drainage pipe. become. Therefore, the effect of preventing intrusion of flying water is high, and it is possible to reliably prevent infiltration into the electric junction box even with continuous high-pressure flying water due to washing or the like.

Further, the drain pipe has a structure in which a straight pipe, a connecting portion, and a weight portion are integrally formed, and the universal joint portion is configured to be capable of fitting / removing the connecting portion by elastic deformation. It can be minimized, cost can be reduced, and work efficiency of the assembling work can be improved. Further, since it is not necessary to form ribs or the like in the drain pipe, the configuration of a mold for forming the drain pipe can be simplified, and the cost can be further reduced.

When the straight pipe is tilted by a certain angle or more, the upper end opening of the straight pipe is closed by the universal joint, and when the straight pipe is in a substantially vertical state, it communicates with the box bottom opening.
The opening diameter of the box bottom opening is set substantially equal to the inner diameter of the straight pipe. Therefore, when the drainage pipe is tilted due to flying water or wind pressure, the upper end opening of the drainage pipe is closed by the universal joint on the box side, and it is possible to more reliably prevent the inflow of continuous flowing water. A small amount of water that has flown into the drain pipe before the drain pipe is tilted due to a collision of the water is sucked out by the negative pressure acting on the opening end of the drain pipe after the drain pipe is tilted. When the straight pipe returns to the substantially vertical state, the straight pipe communicates with the opening at the bottom of the box, so that the air permeability in the electric connection box can be secured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part showing an embodiment of a drainage structure of an electric junction box according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory view of a drainage structure of the electric junction box shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing another example of the weight portion of the drainage structure of the electric junction box according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a main part showing an example of a drainage structure of a conventional electric junction box.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing another example of a drainage structure of a conventional electric junction box.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electric connection box 10a Bottom wall 12 Box bottom opening 14 Drainage pipe 16 Straight pipe 16a Flow path 17 Connection part 18 Weight part 20 Universal joint part 22 Weight part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H02G 3/08

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A drainage structure of an electric connection box used for connecting electric parts such as fuses and relays to a wire harness laid in a vehicle, storing spare electric parts, and the like. A box bottom opening formed at the bottom of the bottom wall of the box, and a drain pipe connected to the bottom wall so as to hang down from the box bottom opening, and a straight pipe with the drain pipe opened at both ends, A substantially spherical outer shell is formed on the outer periphery near the upper end of the straight pipe, and the straight pipe can be tilted in any direction by fitting into a spherical shell-shaped universal joint extending from the periphery of the box bottom opening. When an external force exceeding a specified value acts in a direction intersecting with the axis of the straight pipe, the center of gravity is set closer to the lower part of the straight pipe so that the straight pipe tilts in the direction of the external force. Water in the electrical junction box, comprising: Tree structure. 2. The drain pipe has a configuration in which the straight pipe, the connecting portion, and the weight portion are integrally formed, and the universal joint portion is configured to be capable of fitting / removing the connecting portion by elastic deformation. The drainage structure for an electric junction box according to claim 1, wherein: 3. An upper end opening of the straight pipe is closed by the universal joint when the straight pipe is tilted by a predetermined angle or more, and communicates with the box bottom opening when the straight pipe is in a substantially vertical state. 3. The drainage structure for an electric connection box according to claim 1, wherein an opening diameter of the box bottom opening is set substantially equal to an inner diameter of the straight pipe.