JP5474364B2 - Electrical junction box - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric junction box attached to an engine room of an automobile.

  A variety of electronic devices are mounted on automobiles. In order to supply electric power to these various electronic devices, the automobile has an electrical junction box configured by integrating electrical components such as fuses and relays at appropriate positions between the power source and the electronic device. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  The electrical junction box is also called a junction block, a fuse block, or a relay box. In the present specification, the junction block, the fuse block, and the relay box described above are collectively referred to as an electric connection box.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional electrical junction box. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion where the starter relay of the electrical junction box shown in FIG. 4 is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the electrical connection box 201 includes, for example, a plurality of electrical components including a starter relay 202 connected to a starter motor, a connector 204 connected to the starter relay 202, and the plurality of the plurality of electrical components. It has a cassette block 203 on which electrical parts are mounted, and a case 208. The case 208 is composed of a cassette block 203, that is, a case main body 206 to which a plurality of electrical components are attached, and a cover 207 attached to the case main body 206.

  Moreover, the code | symbol 205 in FIG. 4 is an electric wire with one side connected with the battery, and the other is an electric wire connected with the starter motor. Reference numeral 210 denotes an electric wire bundle constituting the wire harness, and reference numeral 261 denotes a through hole for drawing the electric wire bundle 210 into the case main body 206. An arrow K indicates a direction parallel to the vertical line. The electrical junction box 201 is attached to the vehicle body with the cover 207 positioned above the case body 206.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the starter relay 202 includes a relay body 220 and a plurality of tab-like terminals 221 protruding from the housing of the relay body 220. The connector 204 includes a mating terminal fitting 211 that electrically connects the tab-shaped terminal 221 and the electric wire 205, and a connector housing 240 provided with a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 241 that accommodate the mating terminal fitting 211. Have. The mating terminal fitting 211 has a female terminal connection portion 212 that receives the tab-like terminal 221 and a wire connection portion 213 that crimps the electric wire 205. The starter relay 202 and the connector 204 are fitted in a cylindrical mounting portion 231 provided in the cassette block 203 and are fitted to each other.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-341514

  In the electrical junction box 201 described above, when the automobile is submerged in a river, the sea, or the like, the contact of the starter relay 202 is turned on due to the occurrence of water in the case 208. There has been a problem that a pair of mating terminal fittings 211 connected to each other may become conductive and cause the starter motor to malfunction. In addition, if the starter motor malfunctions in this way, the battery may run out, and the power window may not operate when the occupant tries to escape outside the vehicle. In addition, in the electrical components other than the starter relay 202 described above, the problem of malfunction of the electronic device due to contact with water is a problem that also occurs.

  Therefore, the present invention pays attention to the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide an electrical junction box that can protect a specific electrical component accommodated in a case from being wet when the automobile is submerged. And

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of electrical components, a connector connected to a specific electrical component among the plurality of electrical components, and the plurality of electrical components are mounted. An electrical junction box having a cassette block and a case in which the cassette block is mounted and accommodates the plurality of electrical components, wherein the connector is positioned below the specific electrical component, and the specific A cylindrical mounting portion into which the electrical component and the connector are fitted, and a groove surrounding the mounting portion are provided, and a waterproof cylindrical portion having a cylindrical shape and a shape in which the upper end of the cylindrical shape is closed is provided. The waterproof cylindrical portion is positioned in the groove and surrounds the specific electrical component and the connector, and the connector is connected to the end of the electric wire and connected to the electrical component. A plurality of mating terminal fittings, a connector housing provided with a plurality of terminal housing chambers for housing the mating terminal fittings, and a watertight seal between the electric wire and the connector housing attached to the terminal housing chamber. A waterproof stopper, and a lower end of the waterproof cylinder part and a lower end of the mounting part are positioned below the lower end of the connector, and when the water is immersed in the case, the waterproof cylinder part This is an electrical connection box characterized in that air remains in the waterproof cylinder portion by closing the upper end of the waterproof cylinder portion.

The invention described in claim 2 is the invention described in claim 1, wherein an upper end of the mounting portion is positioned above an upper end of the connector, and an outer peripheral surface of the mounting portion is the waterproof cylindrical portion. It overlaps with the inner peripheral surface of .

The invention described in claim 3 is the invention described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the case is composed of a case main body to which the cassette block is attached and a cover attached to the case main body. The waterproof cylinder is provided on the cover.

The invention described in claim 4, characterized in that in has been the invention according to any one of claims 1 to claim 3, wherein the specific electrical component is a starter relay which is connected to the starter motor It is what.

According to the invention described in claim 1, protected during submersion of the automobile, wherein it is possible to prevent the water in the waterproof cylindrical portion by the air that remains in the waterproof cylindrical portion is flooded, the specific electrical components from the water wet can do. As a result, it is possible to prevent the electronic device connected to the specific electrical component from malfunctioning.
A plurality of mating terminal fittings connected to a terminal of an electric wire and connected to the electrical component; a connector housing provided with a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers for housing the mating terminal fittings; and the terminals A waterproof plug that is attached to the accommodation chamber and keeps the watertight between the electric wire and the connector housing, so that it is possible to prevent water from entering the terminal accommodation chamber, Can be prevented from being caused to malfunction due to electrical conduction caused by water and the electronic device connected to the specific electrical component.

According to the invention described in claim 3, the case includes a case main body to which the cassette block is attached and a cover to be attached to the case main body, and the waterproof cylinder portion is provided on the cover. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced. Further, by attaching the cover to the case body, wherein it is possible to surround the specific electrical components by the waterproof tube portion, it can be easily assembled.

According to the invention described in claim 4, wherein the specific electrical components, since it is a starter relay which is connected to the starter motor, the starter motor and the like contact of the starter relay is turned ON by the water Can be prevented from malfunctioning, and as a result, the problem that the power window does not operate due to battery exhaustion can be avoided.

It is sectional drawing which shows the electrical junction box which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the cover which comprises the case of the electrical junction box shown by FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the part in which the specific one electrical component of the electrical junction box shown by FIG. 1 was provided. It is sectional drawing which shows the conventional electrical junction box. It is sectional drawing which shows the part in which the starter relay of the electrical-connection box shown by FIG. 4 was provided.

  An electrical junction box according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The electric junction box 1 of the present invention is attached to an engine room of an automobile and supplies electric power to various electronic devices mounted on the automobile. In the present specification, the junction block, the fuse block, and the relay box are collectively referred to as an “electric connection box”.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the electrical junction box 1 includes a plurality of electrical components including a starter relay 2 as “a specific electrical component” connected to a starter motor, and a connector 4 connected to the starter relay 2. And a synthetic resin cassette block 3 on which the plurality of electrical components are mounted, and a synthetic resin case 8. The case 8 includes a cassette block 3, that is, a case main body 6 to which a plurality of electrical components are attached, and a cover 7 attached to the case main body 6.

  Moreover, the code | symbol 10 in FIG. 1 is an electric wire bundle which comprises a wire harness, and the code | symbol 61 is a through-hole for drawing in the electric wire bundle 10 in the case main body 6. FIG. An arrow K indicates a direction parallel to the vertical line. The electrical junction box 1 is attached to the vehicle body with the cover 7 positioned above the case body 6.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the starter relay 2 includes a relay main body 20 and a plurality of tab-like terminals 21 protruding from the housing of the relay main body 20.

  The connector 4 accommodates a pair of mating terminal fittings 11 that electrically connect the pair of tab-like terminals 21 and the pair of electric wires 5 among the tab-like terminals 21 described above, and the mating terminal fittings 11 respectively. A synthetic resin connector housing 40 provided with a pair of terminal accommodating chambers 41, and a pair of waterproof plugs 14 that are respectively attached in the terminal accommodating chambers 41 to keep the electric wire 5 and the connector housing 40 watertight. ,have.

  The pair of electric wires 5 are well-known covered electric wires whose conductors are covered with an insulating outer sheath. One of the pair of electric wires 5 is connected to a battery, and the other is connected to a starter motor. The starter motor is accommodated in the case 8.

  The mating terminal fitting 11 is obtained by pressing a conductive metal plate, and includes a female terminal connection portion 12 that receives the tab-like terminal 21 on the inside, a conductor of the terminal of the electric wire 5, and And an electric wire connecting portion 13 for crimping the insulating outer cover.

  The waterproof plug 14 is made of a material such as synthetic rubber, and is in close contact with the inner surface of the terminal accommodating chamber 41 and the outer periphery of the electric wire 5, and accommodates the terminal from the opening into which the electric wire 5 of the terminal accommodating chamber 41 is inserted. Water is prevented from entering the chamber 41.

  Such a starter relay 2 and the connector 4 are fitted into a cylindrical mounting portion 31 provided in the cassette block 3 so that the starter relay 2 is positioned above the connector 4 and a pair of tab-like terminals. 21 are fitted into each other by being inserted into the terminal connection portion 12 of the pair of mating terminal fittings 11.

  The cover 7 is attached to the case body 6 so as to cover the upper surface of the case body 6 formed in a box shape. As shown in FIG. 2 and the like, the cover 7 includes a ceiling wall 70 facing the upper surface of the case body 6, a plurality of side walls 71 that are erected from the outer edge of the ceiling wall 70 and overlap the side walls of the case body 6, have. Further, the cover 7 is provided with a waterproof cylinder portion 9 surrounding the starter relay 2 described above.

  The waterproof cylinder portion 9 has a plurality of peripheral walls 91 erected from the ceiling wall 70 and is formed in a cylindrical shape. That is, the upper end of the waterproof cylinder portion 9 is closed by the ceiling wall 70. Such a waterproof cylinder portion 9 is attached to the attachment portion 31 by attaching the cover 7 to the case body 6 so that the peripheral wall 91 is positioned in the groove 32 provided around the attachment portion 31 of the cassette block 3. The starter relay 2 is surrounded. In this state, the lower end 9 a of the waterproof cylinder portion 9 is positioned below the lower end 4 a of the connector 4. That is, the lower end 9 a of the waterproof cylinder portion 9 is positioned below the lower end of the mating terminal fitting 11.

  Then, the case where the motor vehicle carrying the electrical junction box 1 of the structure mentioned above is submerged is demonstrated. When the automobile is submerged, water gradually begins to infiltrate into the case 8. At this time, air remains inside the waterproof cylinder 9 because the upper end of the waterproof cylinder 9 is closed by the ceiling wall 70. The air prevents water from entering the waterproof cylinder portion 9. Further, even if water eventually enters the waterproof cylinder 9, the water can be prevented from entering the waterproof cylinder 9 for a certain period of time after the automobile is submerged. Accordingly, at least for a certain period of time after the vehicle is submerged, it is possible to prevent the contact of the starter relay 2 from being turned on by water or the pair of mating terminal fittings 11 from being electrically connected to each other by water. It is prevented that a large current flows through the motor, the starter motor malfunctions, and the battery rises. As a result, it is possible to avoid a problem that the power window does not operate for a certain period of time necessary for the passenger to escape from the vehicle.

  Further, in the present invention, the waterproof cylinder portion 9 does not necessarily have to be provided on the cover 7, but the number of parts of the electrical junction box 1 is reduced by being integrally formed with the cover 7 as in the present embodiment. be able to. Moreover, the electrical junction box 1 can be assembled easily.

Further, in the present invention, the connector 4 has an anti faucet 14, even if water enters the final waterproof tube portion 9, opening the electric wire 5 of the terminal receiving chambers 41 are inserted Thus, it is possible to prevent water from entering the terminal accommodating chamber 41.

  In the present invention, it is needless to say that the electrical components other than the starter relay 2 described above may be surrounded by the waterproof cylinder portion 9 to be protected from water wetting.

  In addition, embodiment mentioned above only showed the typical form of this invention, and this invention is not limited to embodiment. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1 Electrical junction box 2 Starter relay (one specific electrical component)
4 Connector 5 Electric Wire 6 Case Body 7 Cover 8 Case 9 Waterproof Cylinder 9a Lower End 11 Mating Terminal Fitting 14 Waterproof Plug 40 Connector Housing 41 Terminal Housing

Claims (4)

A plurality of electrical components, a connector connected to a specific electrical component among the plurality of electrical components, a cassette block on which the plurality of electrical components are mounted, and the cassette block is attached to accommodate the plurality of electrical components An electrical junction box having:
The connector is positioned below the particular electrical component;
The cassette block is provided with a cylindrical mounting portion into which the specific electrical component and the connector are fitted, and a groove surrounding the mounting portion,
A waterproof cylindrical portion formed in a cylindrical shape and closed at the upper end of the cylindrical shape is provided, and the waterproof cylindrical portion is positioned in the groove so as to surround the specific electrical component and the connector,
A plurality of mating terminal fittings connected to a terminal of an electric wire and connected to the electrical component; a connector housing provided with a plurality of terminal housing chambers for housing the mating terminal fittings; and the terminal housing chamber A waterproof plug that is attached to and keeps watertight between the electric wire and the connector housing,
The lower end of the waterproof cylinder part and the lower end of the mounting part are positioned below the lower end of the connector,
The electrical junction box, wherein when water is immersed in the case, air remains in the waterproof cylinder part by closing an upper end of the waterproof cylinder part.   The upper end of the mounting portion is positioned above the upper end of the connector, and the outer peripheral surface of the mounting portion overlaps the inner peripheral surface of the waterproof cylinder portion.
  The electrical junction box according to claim 1. The case is composed of a case main body to which the cassette block is attached and a cover attached to the case main body,
The electrical junction box according to claim 1, wherein the waterproof cylinder portion is provided on the cover. The electrical connection box according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the specific electrical component is a starter relay connected to a starter motor.

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